30
Aug
2010
Meet Miss Arianna!
Italy is a very beautiful country, so it makes sense that it would also be home to a tattoo artist who does very beautiful work. Miss Arianna makes her home on Italy’s Adriatic Coast at Skinwear Tattoo in the city of Rimini. For more than two years, Arianna went the traditional route of paying her dues and learning the ways of the tattooist through an apprenticeship. To her, the apprenticeship is a vital part of a tattoo artist learning to find their way as a serious artist. It’s this respect for tradition and understanding of its importance that underscores Miss Arianna’s tattoo work, yet at the same time the need to modernize and to move forward with her own twist on the classic American tattoo makes her work fresh and intriguing. “The style I love to perform is my personal version of the traditional. I like it because it’s similar to me: it’s direct, clear and solid. It has a unique strength and balance. I deeply admire big names such as Sailor Jerry, Bert Grimm, Percy Waters, etc, but I think it’s so limiting to use their flash and only employ the colours of that period. I don’t like to reshape their flash and put my name on it, as though they were my drawings. I respect those who do it, but I think that working out my own drawings is definitely more interesting, perceiving what my customer wants, and then perform it in my personal traditional style: solid line, tonnes of black, and full colours.” – Miss Arianna, Skin Deep Magazine, September 2010 The importance of tattoo artists who want to move forward and yet at the same time maintain links and a strong respect for the past is undeniably important. After all, trends come and go, but there is never a substitute for hard work and originality. Miss Arianna proves that. Tags: Inspired , Italy tattoo , meet miss arianna! , miss arianna , Rimini , skin deep magazine , skinwear tattoo , Tattoo Artists , tattoo blog , tattoo blog artist profile , Tattoo Magazines , Workforce Related posts on Tattoo Blog: Yikes. Wine, Cheese…and Tattoos Who’s Tattooed? Who’s #1? When I Grow Up
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Meet Miss Arianna!
21
Aug
2010
A Work of Art
They say that tattoo shops are seeing a new trend with their customers desiring to wear one of their favorite pieces of art forever on their skin. People are covering their skin with classic, vintage and book art. More elaborate stencil designs, premixed inks of hundreds of color variations to choose, more sophisticated machines, have all been reasons for classic works of art to transform so nicely to tattoo art. Another factor is the influx of tattoo artists who formerly studied art in college. Some fans of certain artist even prefer just to get THEIR portrait. The tattoo is there for you to enjoy forever. If you can’t afford a piece of artwork you are in love with, or if you are attracted to a certain piece of sculpture, you can get your kicks from getting the art tattooed instead! Parents are even getting their kids scrawls and stick art tattooed on their skin. My personal opinion is that’ll get old eventually and a cover up or laser removal may be called for…Hang those scribbles on the fridge where they belong! Related posts: Kat’s Tattoos Work Angel Art Dog Tattoo
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A Work of Art
20
Aug
2010
The Heart of Tattoo
‘“We believe the ink becomes the beginning of time. Before there was any light, there was darkness. The black ink can represent our own past and all the knowledge that past contains in a symbol. “By displaying this on our body, we give life to our ancestors and the knowledge they have, so it becomes our guidelines in life, helping us to navigate towards our goals. “It then becomes a living thing, it is very spiritual.”’ - Te Rangitu Netana The tattoo work of New Zealand tattooist Te Rangitu Netana is not about flash, nor does it use the methods that most of us think about whenever we think about tattoos. Netana began his education as a tattooist when he was very young, from his father. However, it wasn’t simply learning how to tattoo that came with this education, it was the culture of the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand that was indelibly linked to the art form that was just as essential – if not more so – than the tattooing itself. At the age of 17, Netana performed his first tattoo and went on to become the official tattoo artist for three of his local tribes in northern New Zealand. From this point he went on to win awards and to tattoo celebrities like British musician Robbie Williams. His tools vary and he does use a tattoo machine, but he also uses everything from traditional hand tools of the Maori people to albatross bones. That in itself is pretty original and fascinating to me. Perhaps what I like the best about Te Rangitu Netana and the Maori approach to tattoo is that it completely removes itself from the concept of tattoo as a fashion statement. Netana’s tattoos are pure representations of the person who wears them and that to me is something that I feel is at the heart of the tattoo art form, be it Maori or not. “It is all about that person’s past and their future, and what they need to feel empowered.” – Te Rangitu Netana Tags: Inspired , maori tattoo , new zealand tattoo artist , Robbie Williams , Tattoo Artists , tattoo blog , Te Rangitu Netana , traditional new zealand tattoo , Workforce Related posts on Tattoo Blog: Yikes. Wine, Cheese…and Tattoos Who’s Tattooed? When I Grow Up VIOLENCE!
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The Heart of Tattoo
17
Aug
2010
Bad Press
Tattoo has long been the whipping boy when it comes to talk of its ability to spread blood borne illnesses. And while it’s true that you can catch a disease if your tattoo artist is an irresponsible moron who doesn’t sterilize his equipment, I don’t think it’s quite accurate to report to the public that hepatitis C is more than a little popular amongst the tattooed. That’s what this article/report seems to do, anyway. Okay, fine. There are bad tattoo artists out there and yeah, if you go to them for a tattoo, well then you very well could be at risk for something. But any reputable tattoo artist is sterilizing his/her equipment. You know why? Because they’re fucking professionals . That’s why. And as far as I’m concerned, the biggest risk isn’t whether or not the tattooist’s equipment is sterilized, the number one biggest risk is committing to one tattoo artist over another. If you choose poorly here, you could very well end up at place that might not have the best hygienic practices going, if you catch my drift. Anyway, back to my original complaint…So yeah, some tattoo artists don’t sterilize their gear. And as a way to combat that, I’ve stated many times before that I am fully in favour of tattoo artists being licensed artists who undergo inspections and are legally qualified to tattoo. Not to punish the artists, of course, but to aid them. When artists are licensed by their city to tattoo, the hepatitis rates will drop and the negative image of tattoos spreading hepatitis C will hopefully be on its way out. Still, I don’t think it’s fair to associate hepatitis C and tattoos in such a broad way as the article did. “To help quantify the risks, the researchers reviewed and analyzed 124 studies from 30 countries — including Canada, Iran, Italy, Brazil and the United States. Of those, 83 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Based on these studies, those who had tattoos were 2.74 times as likely to have hepatitis than those who had no tattoos. However, among certain groups the risk could go much higher, they found. For example, non-injection drug users with tattoos were 5.74 times as likely to have hepatitis than their non-tattooed counterparts. So people with tattoos are 2.74 times more likely to have hepatitis than those who have no tattoos. That doesn’t sound like that huge of difference, if you ask me. And furthermore the number of people out there who have tattoos is as massive as it is varied. I’d like a separate study done to tell me where the people in this study who are tattooed and hepatitis positive, got their tattoos done. That is, what sort of establishment was it? Or was it even an establishment? Was it in a friend’s basement? If so, that would explain a lot more than this article is willing to. Tags: Dislike , Health Risks , News , Scratchers , Tattoo Artists , Tips , Workforce
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Bad Press
27
Jul
2010
Angel Art
Body art can be used to describe tattoos as well as many other types of body art. Temporary but elaborate paintings are very popular and are often part of art shows here and in other countries. It’s becoming more respected as an art form. It’s just sad to think they are basically temporary art that will washed (more likely scrubbed) off the skin of these models . Similar to sandcastle art that is admired for such a short time and then lost forever when the tide comes in. It makes you appreciate the effort even more. At least we can appreciate the photos to remind us. I love the planning involved with adding the cherubs to the knee area. Related posts: Only Good Die Young Summertime = Sandcastle Time John Millhouse
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Angel Art
16
Jul
2010
Metanoia, baby!
I love art. Surely an obvious statement if ever there was one to be made on a tattoo blog, but it’s true. Furthermore, not only do I love art, but I love the fact that tattoo artists are now being accepted into the art world more and more every day. It’s so great to see artists as talented as tattooist getting recognition for the work that they do both in the tattoo medium and beyond, in things like sketching and painting and whatever else that their artistic tendencies guide them towards. So today, I don’t have a lot to say about the fact that artists are artists whether they are tattooing or painting or designing a sculpture of some sort. Instead, I just wanted to send out a little heads up for anyone who either lives in New York City or is planning a visit there between now and August 29th. Metanoia is an art exhibit that is taking place in New York’s West Village at P.J.S. Exhibitions. It involves various tattoo artists showing off their artistic skills beyond the tattoo studio. There is a wide range of artistic mediums on display, including drawings, paintings and etched metals. The artists themselves are a diverse bunch with three of them coming from the excellent New York Adorned and Brooklyn Adorned studios. “The tactile properties of the pieces really speak out,” explains Bevin Robinson, co-curator of Metanoia . “Their surfaces tell as much of a story as their colors and content.” Through textured media such as etching, painted wood panels and charcoal, the artists’ works stand out physically, visually and psychologically.” Featured artists are: Chris O’Donnell (New York Adorned), Jason June (Daredevil), Josh Egnew (Three Kings), Ryan Bonilla (Bellum Concepts), Stephanie Tamez (Brooklyn Adorned) and Thomas Hooper (that’s Hooper’s tattoo work above, incidentally) (New York Adorned) Sounds very cool. Good luck to everyone involved and to all those going to go and check it out this summer: enjoy! Tags: art exhibition , brooklyn adorned , Chris O’Donnell , etched metal , Inspired , Jason June , Josh Egnew , metanoia , new york adorned , new york city , News , P.J.S. Exhibitions , Ryan Bonilla , Stephanie Tamez , Tattoo Artists , tattoo blog , Thomas Hooper , west village , Workforce Related posts on Tattoo Blog: Yikes. Wine, Cheese…and Tattoos Who’s Tattooed? When I Grow Up VIOLENCE!
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Metanoia, baby!
2
Jul
2010
John Lynch aka Prince Albert
John Lynch, also known as Prince “John” Albert”, is quite a unique character whose story is just as interesting as his visible appearance. He is known for having the most piercings of anyone in the UK where he resides. You may recognize him from tattoo and piercing sites, tattoo conventions, and magazines. I’ve seen his picture in the media but never thought much about the man behind the metal. Until I read an interesting interview with him. He worked in the banking industry for over 30 years and didn’t start getting tattoos and piercings until after he left this long running career. He was married for over 20 years and has a daughter and two grandchildren. He eventually admitted he was gay and left his marriage. He went from a banking career to managing a gay porn book shop. You might say this was the turning point of John’s life as well as a major career change. Now John is almost 80 years old and still loves his freakiness. He enjoys the people he meets who are curious about his appearance and he has no problem with people taking his picture. And as if his many piercings, facial tattoos and face paint weren’t enough to catch your eye, John is known for wearing mini-skirts. He also sports transdermal implant horns on his head. John’s advice to young people is to never get tattoo or piercings that would interfere with their employment prospects. He followed his own advice and seems to have made up for lost time. Related posts: John Millhouse Jace Masula Talented Artist Marine Policy on Marine Tattoo Policy
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John Lynch aka Prince Albert
1
Jul
2010
Washington’s Way
Over here in Canada, Thursday marks the arrival of a new tax called the HST. As with most taxes, it’s completely unnecessary and doesn’t serve the public in the least. But across the border into the United States, Thursday brings the arrival of a new government sanctioned law that really does serve the public. As of Thursday, July 1st, Washington state will adopt a law that requires tattoo artists to apply for an annual license and tattoo shops must also apply for a license. The cost of these annual licenses are $250 for tattoo artists and $300 for the tattoo shops. In addition to this, all Washington state tattoo studios will now be inspected on a 2 year basis. While these licenses are an expense for tattoo artists, I must admit that I am really glad to see Washington do this. Aside from regulating and legitimizing all tattoo operations and artists that function in the state, this new law gives more respect to the tattoo industry by acknowledging that it is a professional industry that needs to be licensed, and that the government should be responsible for ensuring that these legitimate businesses are on the up and up. Without laws such as these, scratchers and other undesireable elements of the tattoo scene are capable of giving a bad name to all the clean and responsible artists out there. This way, if there is a foul up somewhere along the line, the blame lies strictly with the government institutions whose responsibility it is to ensure that the public are going to have safe and clean environments to be tattooed in. But for the most part, this law will help to strengthen the understanding that tattooists and their places of business are clean and professional places to be tattooed. And the faster the general public’s confidence grows with regards to the cleanliness and professionalism of tattoo artists and studios, the faster old lingering stereotypes and misinformation about the art form becomes a thing of the past. Tags: HST tax unnecessary , licensing tattoo artists , News , Scratchers , Scratchers , Tattoo Artists , washington state tattoo law , Workforce Related posts on Tattoo Blog: Yet Another Reason For Selling To Pros Only. Watertown, Minnesota Bans Tattoo Studios for a Year! Unfair to Scratchers? The problem with scratchers. The Law Cracks Down.
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Washington’s Way
29
Jun
2010
Tattoo For the Turtles
Without a doubt, the worst thing about this summer has been the ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. If you haven’t heard about the BP oil disaster, then I’m guessing you’ve recently scuttled out from beneath a rock. For the rest of us out there who are well aware of the oil spill and cringe every time we think about it, here’s something even worse for you to consider: between April 30th and June 25th, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recovered 555 sea turtles from within the oil spill affected area. Of those 555 turtles, 417 were dead. Man. And that’s just the beginning. Turtles are certainly not the only aquatic life being affected by this nightmare, but of the seven species of sea turtles in the world, five of them inhabit the Gulf of Mexico. Furthermore, the most endangered species of sea-turtle, the Kemp’s Ridley turtle, also lives in the Gulf. All of this is extremely frustrating and distressing news. But what can the average person do? Well, Tantrix Tattoo , a Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada based tattoo shop is doing their best to answer that question. Shop owners Leanne and Mike Thompson-Hill have devised a one day campaign on July 4th, during which time turtle tattoos will be done for $50 each. All the proceeds from these tattoos will then go to Florida based The Turtle Hospital , an organization which works to rescue sea turtles from the oil saturated Gulf of Mexico. In addition to offering tattoos on July 4th, Mike Thompson-Hill will continue to do turtle tattoos for $50 for the remainder of the year, with all the proceeds going to The Turtle Hospital. “The tattoo shop is already nearly booked solid for the event, but shop owner Leanne Thompson-Hill says it’s as much about motivating others to make a difference as it is getting the art. “We’re all a part of it. We all use oil; we all use gas; this is all our problem,” she said.” This is just awesome. I really applaud the Thompson-Hill’s for getting involved in a unique way and doing their part to incorporate their tattoo shop into the ongoing effort to help out with one of the worst manmade disasters in decades. I’d also like to encourage other tattoo shop owners or artists out there to consider doing something similar. What a great way to really emphasize the kindness and sense of community that is so prevalent amongst tattooists and their art. If we could get something like this going at even one tattoo shop in every state or province that have tattoo shops, a really big difference could be made. Come on folks! Let’s make it happen. Tags: BP oil spill , Flash , gulf of mexico oil spill , Inspired , kemp’s ridley turtle , leanne thompson-hill , mike thompson-hill , News , saskatoon , sea turtles , Stories , tantrix tattoo , Tattoo Artists , tattoo blog , the national oceanic and atmospheric administration , the turtle hospital , Workforce Related posts on Tattoo Blog: Yikes. Wine, Cheese…and Tattoos Who’s Tattooed? When I Grow Up VIOLENCE!
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Tattoo For the Turtles
27
Jun
2010
Jace Masula Talented Artist
Jace Masula is still in the early years of his tattoo career. His professional life began as a software developer and graphic designer. He eventually got the calling to express his artistic and creative side by learning how to tattoo. He semi-forced his way into an apprenticeship and finished in eight months but his tattoo journey now began at the age of 31! But this lapse of years, this late start, did not slow his talent down in the least. Looking at his tattoo portfolio, you would think you are eyeing the work of a long term professional. He is currently working out one of the more famous tattoo shops in Atlanta. He keeps company with Brandon Bond at All of Nothing Tattoo. He says he loves to do color as much as he loves doing black and gray. Jace was recently featured in International Tattoo Magazine. Great artist. Related posts: Talented Artist Taylor Cort David Bollt Artist Talented Tattoo Artist
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Jace Masula Talented Artist