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INKEDblog takes you beneath the skin of today's tattoo culture. Our mission is to celebrate tattooing as a modern art form which incorporates art, fashion, style, and pop culture. While paying homage and respect to the past, we look to present a contemporary take on the present and future of skin art.
Friday Sep 30, 2005
Justin Pelegano's Tattoo Stories - "Stasha’s Skull"
Tattoo conventions: Ink everywhere! A chance for tattoo devotees to link up in person and *gasp* actually blend into a community. Or, just a great excuse to get new work. The skull on Stasha’s neck comes courtesy of the 2005 Pomona Tattoo Convention. And to say she planned on getting it would be a tad off the mark.
Stasha: I got this tat because I wasn’t allowed behind the table to watch my boyfriend [being inked] unless I was getting tatted.
Inkedblog: Strange to me that they wouldn’t let you accompany him. Most artists I know usually allow one companion behind the “curtain”. What up with that?
Stasha: Well, [the artist] said, “You and your ti-- need to get behind that table.” I asked him why, and he said because I might bump him.
Inkedblog: So it meant a lot for you to sit with your boyfriend or, be honest, you just really wanted the skull tat, right?
Stasha: I kinda wanted something, ya sure. I mean, you’re at a convention, there’re like a hundred guns going, how could you not be a little tempted?
A skull…why not, right? No one else has it. [I] picked it out, customized it. He’s rad.
Inkedblog: Is that your only tat?
Stasha: No. I got one when I was fifteen. It’s so original, you’ll never be able to guess what it was. Okay…it’s a star. Well one of our friends had been experimenting with it, so I let him [tattoo me]. It looks like sh-- because I was fifteen and picked at it.
Inkedblog: Anymore tats in your future?
Stasha:Ya, I’m an artist so I can get what I want a still have a real job. I think full sleeves and some calf work is in the near future.
| Thursday Sep 29, 2005
Our Current Obsession - Finger Mustache Tattoos
A couple weeks back we featured the story behind Matthew Walton's finger mustache tattoo. What we didn't know at the time was just how prevalent finger mustache tattoos were. Yesterday, Needed.com did a terrific roundup on the diversity of mustache tattoos. Amongst our favorite photos are the tear drop finger tattoos featured this week on
moblog.bmezine
Photos from Modblog.
Thursday Sep 29, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
More from Mark here.
Thursday Sep 29, 2005
Justin Pelgano's Tattoo Stories - "The Wake"
Tattooing in the wake of tragedy; there’s more here than meets the eye. The surface explanation for getting inked after life-altering loss falls along the lines of “Lest We Forget.” But it seems to me impossible to ever lose sight of such catastrophic events, tattoo or no tattoo. Post 9/11, ink landed heavy. American flags, FDNY/NYPD insignias, bald eagles – a collective symbolism that found its way into many people’s skin. And if remembering that day isn’t really the issue (for how could we not?), I’d venture that these tattoos are much more an honoring – of the victims, the city, and even the extraordinary emotions that coursed through those who fought to regroup.
Bobby was living in Brooklyn on September 11, 2001. He watched from his roof as the towers fell. “I knew people that worked down there, sure. Everyone got out okay. But waiting to hear and not knowing what was going on, those were some of the worst hours of my life. My entire family lived in Manhattan at the time, and I remember so clearly just wanting to be with them…. I’ve read articles about people in the city who, after 9/11, got married, quit their jobs, things like that. I think people were so shocked by what happened that it became a “carpe diem” thing for them…. This is gonna sound ridiculous considering what so many people went through but – what I did after 9/11? I got a tattoo. Two weeks after [the attack] I was walking around downtown, and you could still smell a burning in the air. I was sort of in a daze. And for some reason I just kept thinking, ‘Well, you’ve always wanted one.’ When I was a kid I’d collected tattoo magazines. I just never got around to it. Or I always had reasons to put it off. But that day I finally decided to go through with it. I don’t even remember the name of the shop. I walked in, picked a tribal design and did it. [An hour later] I walked out feeling a little bit better. As better as you could then.”
As to what the tat signifies for Bobby now that it’s well-worn and settled:
“Be true to yourself everyday. Don’t put it off.” Doesn’t sound ridiculous to me at all.
Wednesday Sep 28, 2005
Every BODY Has A Story - Bisou Le
"The story behind my tattoo work goes back to when I was thirteen. I was one of those mischievous "should-have-been-riding my bike, but wasn't" kids. Instead i was busy getting a home made tattoo of my boyfriend's intials, on the top left corner of my back. A couple of years down the road when that part of my life was done with, I had the initals covered up with a star. A couple months following that I decided to introduce a new part of my life by getting my son's name tattooed across my back. That was when I first began to understand and appreciate the art of tattooing. The next tattoo that I had done was on my back of my favorite flower, the orchid. From that point,
it was about a year until I was able to get in touch with a local accomplished artist, Michael Sikes, of whose work I had been admiring for quite some time. After our first consultation and solid hours in the studio, one flower turned into four. He put togther a back piece covering up the original star, and incorporating the rest of the existing work. The flowers are a representation of the beauty of life, and the four seasons represent it's evolution. Each tattoo that I have had prior to this piece came together to represent an important change in my life that has helped me evolve into the person that I am today."
Wednesday Sep 28, 2005
Justin Pelegano's Tattoo Stories - "Ted the First"
The name game. Live in the city long enough and you’re bound to hear some winners. There are dogs with people names – I once heard a woman in Washington Square Park bellow, “HAROLD!”…to her Doberman Pincher. There are people with plant names – no joke, in college I knew a girl named Hydrangea. She was a biology major.
And then there’s a faded tattoo named Ted. Ted the Scorpion. Ted the First. Ted who was long-ago inspired by an ex-Navy man called Laddie. I kid you not.
Ted’s proud owner, Michael, doesn’t even remember where the name came from or why it stuck. But no matter to that. Because what he does recall is the good stuff – the smell, the exhilaration, and the roots of his inaugural ink.
“When I was a kid growing up in California, I didn’t really know anyone with tattoos until my Mom invited some church friends over to our house for a barbecue. Her best friend’s husband, a guy named Laddie, had been in the Navy and had either a faded eagle or anchor – or maybe a combination of both, I can’t remember – tattooed on his forearm. It gave him this air of mystery. This was in the early ‘80’s, and where I lived there weren’t a lot of tattoos to be seen. The moment I met this guy I knew a tattoo would be in my future….My first time was an intensely ritualistic and spiritual experience. A lot of that has to do with the act itself, with the needle. The sterile smell of the shop – not hospital or high school clinical, more like a clean cabin – was amazing. And having Monica (the tat artist) so focused on me for that one hour; it’s intimate in a really unique way.
So why a scorpion to start? That one’s easy. “They’ve always been one of my favorite creatures. People can read into it what they want, and they do.
A lot of people think it’s heavy metal for some reason. I just dig ‘em.
And like anything, it will age, and has, but I’m cool with how things morph and grow so I don’t think I would get Ted re-inked.” First ink is inherently an act of courage, and for Michael the decision to go forth was a particularly intrepid one. “I’m a stage actor, and it’s this bizarre industry wisdom that if you get tattoos you’ll work less because you’ll be less castable. Less flexible. But when I was studying in San Francisco I met a couple of heavily inked actors who were doing just fine and didn’t regret a single thing about their tattoos. They just said, ‘Screw it. I want it, I’m getting it.’ I took a lot from that, and then went and did likewise.”
Wednesday Sep 28, 2005
INKED Tonight on A&E
If you haven't yet checked out INKED on A&E, here's a preview of tonight's episodes:
At 9:00PM/8:00C - "Old School vs. New School"
It's a clash of tattoo styles when old school artist Clark butts heads with the new guy, Twig.
and then...
At 9:30 PM/8:30 C - and encore presentation of "The Big E-vent"
"H & H tattoo artist, Big E - a former gang member (now a loving dad) and current Mixed Martial Art Champion - wants to get back in the cage. He's training hard for the moment of truth. Will he defend his title or will his dreams be left a bloody mess in the cage?
** INKED on A&E is a sponsor of INKEDblog.com
Tuesday Sep 27, 2005
Every BODY Has A Story - Alice
INKEDblog: What's your favorite tattoo?
Alice: My right arm piece. It has a lot of elements that I really like – skeletons, graves, bats, lightening bolts.
INKEDblog: What was your first tattoo?
Alice: A butterfly on my right leg. I liked it at the time (I was 16)
INKEDblog: How many tatt's do you have?
Alice: Um, I’m not sure. Like 15?
INKEDblog: What's the worst tattoo you've ever seen?
Alice: Any to do with the Tazmanian Devil or sports teams. We get a lot of that out here in Vegas.
INKEDblog: What do your tats signify to you?
Alice: Beautiful artwork
INKEDblog: In 30 years when you look at all your ink, how do you think you'll feel?
Alice: They have become a part of my body and a lot times I don't even notice them. I got them for me and don't expect anyone to notice them, and I don’t really care if they do.
INKEDblog: What do you plan on getting next?
Alice: Um... finishing my right sleeve hopefully.
Tuesday Sep 27, 2005
Justing Pelegano's Tattoo Stories - "Voucher"
There’s no way I’ll sit here and write condoning the tattooing of minors.
There are obvious health issues to consider, since underage ink likely means hunting down a non-legit slinger who is unlicensed and unfamiliar with the ways of the autoclave. We can thank Mayor Rudolph Giuliani here in NYC for legalizing tattooing and allowing shops and artists to get strict with their regulations and health standards. And I’ve been in the chair on more than one occasion since, eavesdropping as steely-spined receptionists firmly turn away the too young. And cheers to that.
That said, Celeste sat for her first tat at age seventeen. With her Mom. Who vouched for her as an eighteen-year-old. My mom would have laughed in my face, but that’s something else. And as first tattoos many times are, Celeste’s was symbolic of accomplishment and a marker for her life to come:
“I was graduating [high school] a year earlier than the other people in my age group. I had skipped second grade…so it was this big step in my life. I was about to move out, move on. So my Mom and I thought it would be cool to commemorate it.”
And lo and behold, Celeste wasn’t the only one jonesing for some ink.
“It turns out Mom always wanted [a tattoo] but never had a reason to get one, so we went for it. I got a ladybug on my stomach, and she got an angel on her shoulder. I remember having to hold her hand and convince her that her ear was an accupressure point. We were rubbing the inside of her ear and telling her it would calm her down. I don’t know if it worked, but she didn’t freak out.”
Six years later, Celeste doesn’t really notice her ladybug tat all that much anymore, but she does remember the day it hit her skin. She remembers her Mom (her own personal voucher) and the story behind it all. Even after she did move out, even after she and her Mom went through a subsequent rough patch in their relationship (“We didn’t talk or have any kind of contact for more than a year.”)…well, after it all, there’s this story. And so while it sounds grandiose, maybe it’s actually fair to say that some tattoos lend perspective. All it takes is one good glance at that ink. Just one. Maybe one in a million. And maybe that can be enough.
“[My Mom and I] have since made up… She respects my decisions now, and I’ve very happy about that. We’re both better for it.”
More good news: Celeste is gearing up for some new, big time, ink. “I want half-sleeves and a yoke across my back linking the two. I’ve been designing them for years.”
Do it to it. And this time, no voucher needed. Be healthy.
Tuesday Sep 27, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
More from Mark here.
Monday Sep 26, 2005
Justin Pelegano's Tattoo Stories - "Under Cover"
"Good luck finding Liberation’s first tattoo. It’s forever buried under a impressive cover-up. And from the sounds of it, for good reason.
“I had gotten my first tattoo at fifteen, and the ‘artist’ butchered my arm….I don’t think he could spell ‘sterilization’, never mind practice it.”
Cover-up tattooing calls for a certain practicality on the part of the artist and a willingness to “go bigger” on the part of the client. And because hiding old ink is never an easy task it often means a hefty time commitment in the chair, sometimes spread over several sessions. A good cover-up artist is a patient visionary. Lucky for Liberation he found one in Mulysa Mayhem.
“I lived in Massachusetts at the time so it was hard for me to seek out a great artist because tattooing was illegal there. Everything was underground and you had to meet people by word of mouth. I found this artist named Mulysa Mayhem through a friend of mine... She saw the horrible tattoo on my arm and felt a great deal of sympathy for me [so] she offered to give me an excellent price on a cover-up. We needed something large so she showed me some books of artists she liked, and H.R. Geiger was one of them. The second I saw the book I knew I had to have his artwork on my body. I had never seen anything like it. It was so dark and sexual. I decided on a piece called ‘Guillotine’. I loved the dichotomy of the image which to me glorified both life and death, and it had this supernatural feel to it.”
After some twenty-four hours of work (spanning multiple sittings), all signs of the original butchery were gone. And Liberation was hooked. He revisited Mulysa for another Geiger tat – this one a Debby Harry portrait – and has since inked his body with homage to other favorite artists such as Frida Kahlo and David Wojmarowicz. “The reason I choose to get the tattoos over buying [their prints] is simple. These are mine. Nobody else can have them, not the way I do. And nobody can take them away from me. All of my tattoos are by artists I have felt a connection with in one way or another and…I can’t think of a better way to honor them than to have their work on my body. I wouldn’t trade [my tattoos] for anything. They are a road map of my life to this point. When I look at them I can tell you which friends I was hanging out with, what was going on in my life, and what music I was listening to.”
Eager to give credit where credit’s due, Liberation traces his map, and his passion for striking body art, right back to Massachusetts and that fateful cover-up. “Mulysa is one of the most talented and sincere artists I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I honestly can’t say enough great things about her.”
Check her out here.
Monday Sep 26, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
More from Mark here.
Friday Sep 23, 2005
LANE TUROWSKI - International Man of Ink
From the land of cheese and light beer hails a very special artist — one who can’t leave his zip code without being chased down by friends and fans begging him to do some work. Lane Turowski may be based in Wisconsin right now, but when I met up with him during his short stay in Williamsburg here in New York, he may as well have been a resident because kids "in the know" were ringing his phone off the hook trying to catch him before he headed back to the Midwest.
Turowski is well-known for his use of thick lines, and he prefers to do large pieces like the neck to mid-calf Asian inspired back piece he was working on before he left town. However, the day that I met him he was doing a smaller tattoo – a pair of scissors on a forearm as a favor for one of his friends.
“I try extremely hard not to do pieces I don’t feel good about, and I will totally just put someone off if the design doesn’t feel good. I never want to do anything half assed.”
At 17, Lane got his first tattoo and tried to get an apprenticeship but kept hitting dead ends when the guy who was going to start teaching him moved to Philly. He went to art school after that, and started teaching himself. Turowski has gotten very skilled at doing portraits; I saw for myself by just flipping through his book the insanely accurate and realistic replications of everyone from Janis Joplin to family members to fairies that he’s done.
“I don’t really have a favorite style, I like to keep it all mixed up. Lately I’ve been into Asian style tattoos but that’s just now. I don’t ever want to get bored with what I’m doing.”
Turowski will be crossing the Atlantic Ocean to move to the UK this winter, and he’ll be bringing his impressive artistry with him. Catch him there if you can. You can track him down in Milwaukee , or somewhere in between before then.
LANE TUROWSKI @ THE ADAMBOMB GALLERY
2028 N. Martin Luther King Dr
Milwaukee, WI
414.276.2662
Friday Sep 23, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
More from Mark here.
Friday Sep 23, 2005
Breaking News
According to ABC News, Superior Court Judge Irving Feffer ordered two manufacturers of ink used for tattoos to place labels on their bottles warning consumers of potential health risks. These labels will read “inks contain many heavy metals, including lead, arsenic and others" and warn that the ingredients have been linked to cancer and birth reproductive defects.
Instigated by The American Environmental Safety Institute in August 2004, the non-profit group sued several tattoo ink companies stating that tattoo inks expose people to potentially dangerous levels of lead among other toxins.
We at INKEDblog, cautiously applaud this action. It is absolutely possible to make non-toxic tattoo ink (see archived articles on tattoo ink for details). If tattoo ink is regulated, tattooing will be safer for everyone.
With this in mind however, if a court action takes the overly litigatious route, and attempts to put well meaning tattoo and ink companies out of business, the case is in vain, and a waste of money and resources best put to better use.
Thursday Sep 22, 2005
"Tattoos" Makes Lycos 50 Top Ten
Just how popular are tattoos on the internet? Well, te Lycos 50 just released the top 10 search terms for the past ten years, from Sept. 1995 through Sept. 2005. "Tattoos" comes in at #6, just ahead of "Las Vegas"
1. Pamela Anderson
2. Dragonball
3. Pokemon
4. Britney Spears
5. WWE
6. Tattoos
7. Las Vegas
8. NFL
9. Sept. 11 Attacks
10. Christmas
Thursday Sep 22, 2005
Invisible NYC - An Interview with The Dennings
A renowned tattoo artist with over fifteen years of experience. A contemporary art curator who has worked in some of the city’s most prestigious galleries. Get them under one roof and you have a partnership to reckon with. Oh, and they’re married too. Troy and Jesse Lee Denning are the husband and wife team behind one of New York City’s most dynamic and unique art spaces, Invisible NYC. Founded by the couple in Spring 2005, Invisible is part tattoo studio, part art gallery, and the combination is nothing short of thrilling. Located on Orchard Street in the East Village, Invisible is home to cutting-edge tattoos and an ever-evolving exhibition of some of the hippest art around. I was fortunate enough to get the chance to talk with Troy and Jesse, via e-mail, about walking away from what’s safe and blazing your own trail.
... Justin Pelegano
INKEDblog: Troy, right before you came to NYC you were tattooing in San Francisco. Any major differences between the two cities in terms of tattoo culture? What made you decide to make the switch?
Troy: I wanted to put myself to the test, as far as sacrificing a lot of the creature comforts and luxuries I took for granted in California. To start from scratch and develop something stronger than before, as well as exposing myself to a new environment to draw inspiration from; I truly believe that all roads lead to New York.
INKEDblog: Before you and Jesse founded Invisible NYC, you were working at New York Adorned. Including yourself, some big name tattoo artists have passed through those doors – i.e. Kaz, Chris O’Donnell, Mike Rubendall. Sounds like a one-stop shop if you want exposure to some of the best ink slingers around. Was it hard to leave?
Troy: It’s actually a lot more exciting on paper to see all the big names lined up next to each other than to actually work together. Not that I didn't appreciate the time I spent there, and I'm certainly glad that I got to work with them. I love those guys, and their work is some of the best, but the whole time I was there I was pretty frustrated by a lot of things that I would have been doing differently if I'd had more of a say in how things were run. And looking back I probably made a few people pretty miserable along the way. It was my time to go. To be honest, at Invisible I was a bit nervous that I might slack off since my work was not under the same scrutiny as before. But now I realize that it’s just the opposite, and the shop’s reputation as well as my position as a mentor and leader of my crew is riding on me putting everything I have into each piece, and I absolutely cannot fail.
INKEDblog: Can you walk me through the evolution of Invisible NYC. It’s a great space and an awesome concept.
Jesse: I think both of us had been working really hard for other people, and we finally wanted to work (even harder) for something that was uniquely our own. We were disillusioned with many aspects of our particular professions and wanted to take what we loved about our work and leave behind what we hated. It was an idea we had tossed around and reinvented many times. We never had a definite time line for when we would do it, we just knew it would eventually happen when the time was right. Then this great space on Orchard St. literally fell unexpectedly in our laps and we jumped on it, gave our notice to our respective jobs, and jumped in feet first. The rest is now history.
INKEDblog: How tough is it to get a new tattoo studio off the ground (especially here in New York)?
Troy: Let’s just say I'm glad it’s over. I did everything legit from the start as opposed to opening up and handling problems once they arise. I would call some pretty well known friends of mine for advice and they would be like, "What's an s-corp?" [or] “You’re getting insurance?" That kind of stuff. As far as being a launch pad for the Invisible empire, I think it will definitely be much easier next time. I know what to expect.
INKEDblog: Jesse, what factors lead into your decision to show a particular artist in the gallery space? Does the exhibit have to be tattoo related?
Jesse: I have been working with artists for a long time, many are friends. Thus, I have constantly been scouting young, unrepresented artists whose work I like, as I knew that this was a venture Troy and I were eventually going to pursue. So when we finally decided to go ahead and open the studio I started to contact artists whose work I thought would fit in with the young, urban vibe of Invisible. I choose art that I like. I'm not trying to cater to a specific buyer or trend of the moment in the art world. It is important for me to also choose work that is accessible and intriguing to all and not just the art elite.
Most of the artists have a "street" or urban and somewhat spiritual sensibility which complements the tattoo side of the studio. However, the art is never directly tattoo related, i.e. we don't have exhibits of "flash" or stereotypical tattoo motifs. That's just not my aesthetic or goal. We wanted to truly be an art gallery AND a tattoo studio, not a tattoo studio with a little gallery in the front or a gallery with a tattoo studio tucked away in the back. We take both sides very seriously. My exhibitions are all laboriously installed and conceived. I don't have any staff so it's up to me with the help of the artist to do the mailings, the press releases, the installations, etc - and the artists are all incredibly dedicated to their work. They are amazing.
I never specifically thought about what art would go well with the tattoo side of Invisible, but it seemed to work out that they have thus far gone together really nicely, and I think will continue to do so. Yes, there are some tattoo artists who will be exhibiting in the gallery, but it's the art that they create that drew me to them not the fact that they are tattooers. The imagery in some of the tattooers’ art may reference tattoo themes but the works stand on their own.
I actually prefer for the gallery space to be a separate realm. It’s cool to watch people come in who don't know it's a tattoo studio and [they] begin to look at the art and then suddenly hear the buzzing from the tattoo area, go peek around the divider and see a large, shirtless man getting a snake tattooed on his back. It's definitely interesting and at times comical. Actually having the two parts together has brought customers that were there getting tattoos to the gallery and [they] have ended up purchasing quite a bit of art - and vice versa! It's such a great space, there is nothing else like it, and I'm really proud of it! Off topic I think we are also a lot more approachable and welcoming than most galleries and tattoo studios one visits - that was something that always really bothered me about both types of spaces.
INKEDblog: You guys obviously dig working together, right?
Jesse: It can be tough. We can both be stubborn and opinionated and it's hard not to take things personally when it's your mate as opposed to a co-worker critiquing something you did. But our aesthetic, humor, and work ethic are very similar, and our goal is the success of Invisible. So it works. It's also nice going home together after a long and fulfilling day and talking about what went right and what we need to work on. We understand what the other is talking about since we are directly involved.
Overall it's been a really positive experience working together. I think we've actually gotten to know each other even better. Our work world during the day is also very separate from each other so it's not like we are on top of each other all day - we get our space to do our own thing.
INKEDblog: Invisible NYC opened its doors in Spring 2005. Looking down the line, what are your hopes for the space and the business?
The Dennings: More business and press for sure. The buzz is starting but we really want to be an established "go-to" destination for great art and amazing tattoos - as well as a fantastic overall experience when visiting the space. And we are hoping to eventually expand.
Visit the Invisible NYC site at www.troydenningtattoo.com
Wednesday Sep 21, 2005
Every BODY Has A Story - Tina Farrar
"I'm 25 and have loved Whoopi Goldberg since I was 14. There has been times when I've been seriously depressed and Whoopi would pull me right out of it and get the thoughts out of my head that could have later resulted in suicide. So I feel Whoopi in many ways has saved my life just by making me laugh and smile. The picture on the tattoo is the image she used for her Broadway show that she did in the 80's called "Fontaine, Why am I straight?" The autograph is done in purple for her movie the Color Purple. I hope to someday meet her and let her see my devotion to her. Whoopi Goldberg will always be my true Goddess. :)"
Wednesday Sep 21, 2005
Justin Pelegano's Tattoo Stories - "Um…ouch"
Um…ouch
Ah yes, the tattoo wing man. Or, of course, wing woman. The friend we drag along to the studio to keep us company, share our pain, and keep us in the chair while we ink. They’re an invaluable resource, and here’s to ‘em. But going it solo brings its own perks. It’s empowering and intimate. And on those bigger pieces, during those longer sessions, sitting alone for a tattoo artist inevitably leads to a slew of fascinating stories and conversations. Unless, that is, you’re content sitting in silence like a cloistered monk. I never am.
Hour two into a go-it-solo three-hour session at Scared Tattoo down on Canal Street. And the tat artist MB is putting the finishing touches on my back piece. Over the whirl of the machine I’m learning the dangers – and I mean dangers capital D – of self-tattooing. MB got his start in the rough house parlors in Philly where back in the day the shops were run by bikers. Cue surly tat-itude. Turf wars were the norm, and it wasn’t uncommon for the new studio on the block to get a welcoming brick through its window. Competition and all.
“I was working in a mean little place that sold ink and other less legal substances. And there were bikers everywhere. I was the runt of the litter, but I got along okay. And there was this dude who just constantly hung out at the shop, and he was always high. And he was always nagging at the artists to teach him how to tattoo. So one day, totally fed up, one of the artists hands him a self-starter kit and tells him to go into the bathroom, pick a part of his body and tattoo himself, and maybe they’ll give him a job. They were messing with the guy. They knew he was whacked out on something and that tattooing yourself isn’t even a smart move sober. Your own adrenaline makes it nearly impossible to keep the needle steady. Like an hour later, the guy comes out of the can with his pants down, and everyone in the place busts out laughing. The moron had tattooed a shark – or what was supposed to be a shark – ‘down there.’ It was all bloody and the tat looked foul. A giant blue blob. They never saw him again.”
Enough said.
Sacred Tattoo is in Chinatown, NYC.
Wednesday Sep 21, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
More from Mark here.
Wednesday Sep 21, 2005
Rockabilly Tattoos
Today, writer Jessica Lund takes a look at the connections between tattoos and Rockabilly
Pin up girls… Gorgeous Cars… Cherries… Hearts…Rockabilly.
Rockabilly is a music style that started in the fifties as a conglomerate of bluegrass, blues, boogie woogie, and country music. Born out of the fertile rebel bosom of the American South, Rockabilly became not only a style of music, but also a distinct genre, an anti-culture that existed to be the antithesis of the hyper-rigid fifties.
Rockabilly as a fashion style has been around ever since, but like most fashions, it’s had up and down swings. Currently pretty damn hip, it’s not hard to find tough looking guys with greased back hair, and woman decked out in sexy vintage wear.
Movies like Grease and Cry Baby have kept the workin’ man Rockabilly image and its bad boy spirit alive, along with a generous helping of contemporary authentic Rockabilly bands.
Personally, my favorite Rockabilly band in Portland, OR is The Flapjacks. All these guys look like they walked out of prison an hour or so before the gig, but the music is tight, the upright bass excellent and the crowd, undeniably enthusiastic.
Vintage in style, Rockabilly tattoos are a combination of sailor tattoos and key elements of fifties fashion. From the sailor’s anchors, sparrows and pin-up girls, to the 1950’s iconic gorgeous cars and ironic red hearts, Rockabilly tattoos are what most people think of when asked to imagine a classic American tattoo. Nearly sixty years later, Rockabilly tattoos remain fresher than ever.
Wednesday Sep 21, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
More from Mark here.
Wednesday Sep 21, 2005
INKED Tonight on A&E
If you haven't yet checked out INKED on A&E, here's a preview of tonight's episodes:
At 9:00PM/8:00C - "The Trouble with Nina"
"Nina, the new receptionist at H & H, is driving everyone crazy at the shop. And, like so many H & H receptionists before her, she's skating on thin ice."
and then...
At 9:30 PM/8:30 C - and encore presentation of "Busting Out"
"Vegas begins proving to be too small a town for both Thomas and Carey who can't wait to head to Florida to scout out the location for the new shop. Back at the H&H, Quinn makes a trip to the plastic surgeon."
** INKED on A&E is a sponsor of INKEDblog.com
Tuesday Sep 20, 2005
Every BODY Has A Story - "The Stare"
Over the next few weeks, INKEDblog will be running a collection of tattoo stories collected by the New York based playwright, Justin Pelegano.
Proudly nostalgic. Monday-morning mundane. Gut-wrenchingly personal. Tattoo stories run the gamut. Sometimes ink’s about the art; Sometimes loss; at times celebration, beauty, rock, rebellion, drunken-party-hard, image, culture, community, and yep…sometimes it’s just about the feeling of a needle speeding through your body. Pick one. Because any way you look to it, tattoos can’t help but chart a personal history – on whatever level.
What follows are stories I’ve collected over the years from the inked and the artists alike. Interviews were conducted both in person and via e-mail, and many of these tales come directly from the artists’ mouths, culled while I’ve been sitting getting inked myself.
Truthfully, I’ve been at times touched, surprised, and brought to fits of laughter by these stories. All of which leaves no doubt in my mind that the tattoo culture is a fascinating one. Where possible I’ve included a photo of the tat in question. Enjoy.
... Justin
Stare Down
“Yeah this is Troy.”
“Troy man, my arm looks like a bloated ham!”
“Who is this?”
“Like a Vienna sausage!”
“Justin?”
“I can’t even get my fingers around my wrist!”
“Is she oozing?”
“Who?”
“The lady.”
“No, no…just…bloated ham, man!”
Not to sound hippie-dippy, but when it comes to tattoos I tend to let my body be my guide. Back’s calling out for ink? Best go big. Nerve-heavy underside of the wrist needs the needle? Best find an image to match. Seems ass-backwards, and maybe it is. I can live with that. For what it’s worth, I try hard not to rush the process. My success rate varies. Once I know where I want a tat it sometimes takes me months to find art I feel equally stoked on. This time ‘round it was the inside of my right forearm, and I’d happened across an amazing painting by the digital artist called Anjin. A perfect match. And I was going to lose my arm.
Yeah I’d corresponded with Anjin, and yes he was thrilled about the tat, and yeah Troy pulled it off cuz he’s skilled like that, and yeah, yeah, blah, blah, blah. “I’ll never be able to clap again.” One day after our four-hour session (plus one much needed lunch break) my entire right forearm, and a few of my fingers, had swollen to three times normal size. “I’ll forever be known as Lefty.” The skin around the tattoo – a multi-colored female rendering originally titled “The Stare” – was so taut you could bounce a coin off it and get plenty of rebound. And the bruising was fierce. “Bitch!” I kept yelling at the ink. “Amputate my right arm, and no more push-ups for me.” Well, maybe that one’s a plus. Okay, yes, I was freaking. But I’d never swelled like that before. I was going to lose my arm.
“Relax. You’re not gonna lose your arm. It’s just the lymph. It will go down in a coupla’ days.”
“You’re sure?”
“You tattoo someone’s elbow, and that sh-- swells like a goiter. It’s lymph. Call me though if you’re still freakin, I’ll take a look at it.”
The inked among us love our tattoo war stories. We tell them with a proud nostalgia. Too bad this one feels like an embarrassing battle against an imaginary army; like the way I think of Civil War reenactments as a hobby you should keep to yourself. But share and share alike. The tat looks amazing.
Troy is Troy Denning, co-owner with his wife Jesse of Invisible NYC.
Anjin is an Illinois-based digital artist.
Tuesday Sep 20, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
You can see more of Mark's photography here.
Monday Sep 19, 2005
Every BODY Has A Story - Gibby
INKEDblog: Gibby, you have a lot of tattoos on your body. What would you say your favorite is?
Gibby: My latest one is always my favorite. So right now, it would have to be this hand sketch of this old guy with an albatross hanging around his neck. I got it because I love the poem An Albatross, but the sketch itself was from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, a 1940’s film with Nigel Bruce and Basil Rathbone. I love Sherlock Holmes.
INKEDblog: What was your first tattoo?
Gibby: A pair of boots on my arm when I was 16. I was a boot boy!
INKEDblog: How many tat's do you have?
Gibby: Legs, chest, stomach, throat, hands, full sleeves... My back is bare, and I’m planning on getting a big one there I just can’t decide on the art.
INKEDblog: What's the worst tattoo you've ever seen?
Gibby: Hah! Wow. I saw a really cute girl that had that kid from The Simpsons that always says stupid shit like, ‘My cat’s breath smells like cat food.’ You know that kid? Well, she had that kid in the middle of her back with a dialogue bubble coming out with words in it, and it took up like half of her back. I was confused.
INKEDblog: What do your tattoos signify to you (especially since you have so many...)?
Gibby: Oh, everything. I started young so half of them are funny and nostalgic to me. Now they represent just a moment in time. My arms are all jigsawed out, a tattoo there, and a tattoo here. Each one relatively small and capturing that moment in
time, all patched together to sleeve it out-- that's just me. I mean I see guys with two sleeves done by the same artist within a short period of time and that freaks me out. Yeah, they may look cool or whatever but what does that say about your life? Each one I have reminds me of something.
INKEDblog: In 30 years when you look at all your ink, how do you think you'll feel?
Gibby: I don't know. I’ve accepted that I’m a heavily tattooed person... at this point it's just there. I mean, I don't have any regrets, it hasn't stopped me from doing anything. I'll probably think that I had a really fun life.
Monday Sep 19, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
More from Mark here.
Monday Sep 19, 2005
Every BODY Has A Story - "Smoke Out"
Script tattoos shout it out and shout it out loud: Read Me! And yet they can count themselves as some of the most personal ink out there. The initials of a lost loved one. The dates of a life lived. The late Blind Melon front man Shannon Hoon famously inked one of his grandmother’s poems to his inside forearm. The mystery to this particular brand of tattoo lies all in the lettering. Who is that name? What does that say? The words mean what now? And so with these choices the skin serves not so much as a canvas as it does a diary of sorts. Or in Daniel’s case, a reminder to kick the crap out of his nagging habit.
“Fuck Cigarettes” – As a smoker myself I could swing back and forth on that one ad nauseum. And for Daniel – who at age twenty-six has been quitting for years with respectable but limited success – having those two words tattooed around his arm serves as a year-round resolution. “My Mom smoked through her pregnancy. And my parents bought me a carton-a-week in high school. I was the person who swore he’d never get a tattoo. [But I figured] there aren’t enough cool anti-drug ads going around.” Agreed. Those anti-smoking TV spots make me want to smack someone. So there’s that, and then there’s this: he digs having the word “fuck” inked on his body in elegant cursive. Rock on. Mission #1: Quit puffing. Mission #2: March right into Phillip Morris corporate headquarters, roll up your sleeve, and shout it out loud, man."
Friday Sep 16, 2005
Break the Tattoo Code - Sailor’s Tattoo Codes
Today Jessica Lund continues her look into the underground codes behind some of the world's most iconographic tattoos. Today's subject: Sailor’s Tattoo Codes
Because historically, sailors were the majority of people in North America with tattoos, sailor tattoos are an important part of our cultural tattoo history.
Sailors have a variety of coded tattoos. Generally, these tattoos show where the sailor has been, or how long the seaman has been traveling. Withstanding hash conditions, many of these tattoos are a testament of a dedication to the life at sea.
Sailors were unable to carry very much with them. In most cases, a small box had to suffice for all necessary personal items. For this reason, it was often impossible to bring souvenirs from foreign travels back home. Thus, sailors found a way to bring tokens from their voyages back on their own skin.
Some images purely reflected the places visited. For example, a dragon was the symbol for having visited China. Often however, some of the coded tattoos referred to the length of time a sailor had been to sea.
The sparrow is an old coded tattoo that is typically seen on the shoulder. A sailor would receive his first sparrow after he sailed five thousand miles. The second sparrow was received for the next five thousand miles.
A sailor who had crossed the Equator would get a sailboat tattoo, often elaborate. These tattoos are most often seen on the chest or arms.
According to the Amsterdam Historical Museum, tattoos were also used as identification after a sailor’s death. Though the symbols were similar, tattoo artists in different countries often had different styles.
Friday Sep 16, 2005
Hebrew Tattoos
When soccer star David Beckham had a quotation from the Hebrew Bible tattooed on his arm, Hebrew tattoos suddenly became the hot new trend. One website to jump onto the bandwagon is HebrewTattoos.net, where for a $9.00 fee the site will send you the correct Hebrew translation for the quote of your choice. The translation comes in the form of a jpeg picture which can be printed out and brought to the tattoo shop.
If you're interested in Hebrew tattoos, check out this article from the Jerusalem Post.
Thursday Sep 15, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
More from Mark here.
Thursday Sep 15, 2005
A Trip to Invisible NYC
Cat Hartwell sent us this report on Invisible NYC in the Lower East Side of New York:
Walking down Orchard Street I recently stumbled upon a little gem. Is it a gallery? Is it a tattoo shop? It’s both. Invisible NYC offers a minimalist art space that provides local artists a place to hang their work, but nestled away in the back of the gallery hide a couple of tattoo stations. After all, tats and art go together like cheese and crackers.
On September 8, Justine Reyes launched her show My Uncle Vinny which will be up until October 8th. Reyes has been following her family around with a camera for the last two years recording them with their personal belongings. Reyes has showed her other work at the 5th Annual Barcelona Festival of Contemporary Art, the Proyecto Circle at the 8th Havana Biennale in Cuba, and the exhibition Fragments of Contemporary Urban Experience which traveled from San Francisco City Hall to the Michaelis Gallery in South Africa. Her latest work, Mask Series, will be featured in the January edition of Le Book.
My Uncle Vinny focuses on the obvious, her uncle Vinny who looks like most of the guys you see lounging on the streets of Nolita sipping on lemonade and playing poker in the summertime. The series pairs large portraits of her uncle with smaller photographs of his collection of trinkets and toys.
My personal favorite item was the wooden sparrow tipped to lay on its side, but hey – this comes from a girl with two birds tattooed on her forearm. If you get a chance to stop by, it’s worth a look… and you may even find a new place to get your ink.
Justine Reyes
My Uncle Vinny
Sept 8 – Oct 8
Invisible NYC
148 Orchard Street
NYC
Thursday Sep 15, 2005
Red Robin Settles Tattoo Discrimination Lawsuit
Today's Rocky Mountain News reports that the Red Robin restaurant chain had settled a high profile religious discrimination lawsuit in which a former employee, Edward Rangel Jr, was fired for having religious tattoos on his wrists.
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers will pay Rangel $150,000 to settle the case. Rangel's tattoos, which covered his wrists, spells out the name of God in a text that corresponds wiht Rangel's ancient Egyptian faith called Kemet.
Rangel, who was asked by Red Robin to cover up the tattoos, is quoted in the papar as saying - "You can't cover it up - it's like killing the name of God"
You can read the article here.
Thursday Sep 15, 2005
Break the Tattoo Code - Spider Web Tattoos
Jessica Lund continues her look into the coded meanings behind some of the most iconographic tattoo symbols. Today's subject - The Spider Web tattoo
The spider web is a very common coded tattoo, whose meaning is wildly varying. In North America, this tattoo is commonly found on the elbow, but sometimes on the face.
Most commonly, the spider web means prison time or murder, but its variations are somewhat more complex.
The older meaning of the spider web tattoo is that a person has murdered another in prison. This ends up being a self-protective tattoo, warning others to stay away.
This tat can also mean that the wearer has killed an enemy, which would also be a warning to potential future enemies. Some people indicant that the number of rings represents the number of people killed.
Some also report that a spider web on the left elbow means the wearer is packin’ heat, (or got a gun, and not afraid to use it).
On the white-power side, a spider web commonly means that the perpetrator has killed an African-American man. There have been several documented cases of prosecutions based on white-power aficionados attempting to ‘earn’ their spider web.
For most people, the spider web represents prison time in general. The number of concentric circles corresponds to the number of years spent in jail. Alternately, the spider web can mean three to five years in jail and color in the tattoo means a longer prison term.
In Russia, the spider web is worn on the hand between the thumb and index finger. A spider web with a spider in the web means that the wearer is a drug addict, a spider web with no spider means that the wearer is a thief.
If a person has a spider web on their neck in Russia, it means they have been repeated confined and punished in lock-up or punishment cells for disobeying prison rules and policy.
Thursday Sep 15, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
You can see more of Mark's work here.
Wednesday Sep 14, 2005
Break the Tattoo Code - The Tear drop Tattoo
Tattooing has served many functions during its mottled history, from social status in Japan, to identification in Nazi Germany, from body art in Tahiti to underground code in the underworld around the globe.
The tradition of coded tattoos is still prevalent, though the meaning of the various tattoos changes with the passage of time and region. Generally, coded tattoos are associated with prison and gangs. Let’s explore the meaning of some of these coded symbols.
Tear drop tattoos
The teardrop tattoo is typically a prison tattoo. Traditionally placed next to the eye, either left or right, this striking mark makes its wearer appear to be permanently crying.
While many prison tattoos are ethnicity specific, the teardrop is seen equally across the board.
Originally, in North America, the teardrop meant that the wearer had committed at least one murder. In some places, it meant that the wearer had committed a murder in jail. This tattoo then had the power to warn away other convicts, and establish an image for the wearer, of self-defense that is imperative in the prison system.
This symbol has evolved to represent family or friends of the prisoner who have died while the wearer is incarcerated. This is a very different implication, as it represents true grief, rather than an morbidly ironic gesture. When the tear drop represents the death of a loved one, the tattoo implies that the wearer is unable to cry real tears while in the prison system, and must use ink, instead.
Sometimes described as meaning ‘a mother’s son is gone’, the teardrop represents death in both North American examples.
In Australia, the teardrop has an entirely different meaning. It is forcibly marked on convicts who are accused child molesters. This mark is then used as a justification for the beatings and abuse of the wearer. The teardrop in this case, represents the tears that the convict will cry, eternally.
Wednesday Sep 14, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
You can see more of Mark's photos here.
Wednesday Sep 14, 2005
Inked Tonight On A&E
If you haven't yet checked out INKED on A&E, here's a preview of tonight's episodes:
At 9:00PM/8:00C - "Get a Leg Up, Thomas"
Thomas is commissioned to "tattoo" a model's prosthetic leg, but every time he goes to put brush to limb, something comes up and the leg is put on the shelf. Over time that proves to be a bit of a problem, because the woman needs it back. But just when Thomas is finally about to get down to business, an unexpected event throws him for a loop and the fate of the leg is put into question.
and then...
At 9:30 PM/8:30 C - "Florida Dreamin"
While Carey's on the road strange things are afoot at the Hart and Huntington tattoo shop. There are suddenly plenty of new faces, an artist breaks her leg and Brian can't wait to get out.
Tuesday Sep 13, 2005
Miss Van's Tattooed Girls
We've been fans of the Barcelona based artist, Miss Van, for quite some time. If you are as well, you may have noticed that she's recently been adding tattoos to the girls in her work. If you're in New York, you can check out new work at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery:
Miss Van: Don't Be Shy
September 10 thru October 8
Jonathan LeVine Gallery
529 West 20th Street, 9E New York, NY 10011 ph:212-243-3822
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am to 6pm
Tuesday Sep 13, 2005
Tattoos and Bacne
Dear Inked,
I have a question that I thought maybe you guys could help me with. I’ve been riding my bike a lot this summer and thus sweating a ton. I have a back piece and I’ve gotten a few pimples on it. Is it ok to use skin care products with salicylic acid or other products that leave the skin intensely dry? Thanks a ton.
- A Reader
Dear Reader,
There is not a lot of clinical information regarding the effects of topical ointments on tattoos. That said, this is a great question and information about both acne and salicylic acid, abound.
How old is your tattoo? If this is a newer piece, 4 months or younger, it is still in the healing process and the ink is not at its deepest level. I would not use drying products at this time because it might cause your tattoo to scab.
Before using salicylic acid, I would recommend trying some alternate strategies for your acne. Breakouts on your back are most often caused by tight clothing, which traps sweat against your skin.
Try wearing a looser shirt while biking, then showering as soon as possible after you’re done. When you shower, use a loofa to exfoliate your back. If you have the time and/or money, get a back ‘facial’. Many spas provide this service, and will clean your pores more completely than you can at home. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water.
If you are still bothered by acne, salicylic acid has been shown to be excellent for preventing the buildup of bacteria in pores, without triggering breakouts. A blend of the acid is much less irritating to the skin then a straight application.
If your tattoo is completely healed, it shouldn’t be possible for the actual ink to be affected by salicylic acid although some people report that tattooed areas of skin are generally more sensitive.
If you use salicylic acid, use it in a low concentration, and discontinue use if your skin seems irritated.
Tuesday Sep 13, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
You can see more of Mark's photos here.
Monday Sep 12, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
You can see more of Mark's photos here.
Monday Sep 12, 2005
Father Jailed in China for Tattooing Son's Back
From Tian comes the following story:
A father who tattooed the Chinese characters Hen Xin Niang, or "cruel mother", on his son's back after the woman ran away from the abusive man was sentenced to two years in jail, reports Liaoshen Evening News.
Bi Jun of Donggang City often beat his wife when he was drunk or unhappy after they married in 1993.
His wife left him early last year.
In February 2002, Bi tattooed the characters on his son's back in a fit of anger, saying it would remind the boy that his mother did not care for him.
(From China Daily)
Monday Sep 12, 2005
Every BODY Has A Story - Matthew Walton
Why MUSTACHE?
“It was my first tattoo. I wrote it on my finger with a ball point pen the night before on my birthday, so I could hold it up under my nose and it would say ‘mustache’. I was drunk, maybe you had to have been there. I just happened to be dating a tattoo artist, and she made me promise to get it tattooed on there. A promise is a promise. It actually fell out a little in the ‘U’, and now looks more like ‘mistake.’”
What’s the worst tattoo you’ve ever seen?
“Can I nominate Cameron Springer for the worst tattoos? The Virgin Mary on his arm, and the Misfits skull with 20 eyes around it. That dumb pinup where the lines don’t even meet. Sheesh, pay for a tattoo every once in a while, buddy.”
How do you think you'll feel in 30 years, when you wake up and see your tattoo in the morning?
“I have been through every emotion there is that you can relate to a tattoo. I’ve loved it, hated it, and everything else in between, and now, its just there. I’m sure my grandkids will remind me that its there when I do the "mustache" for their friends.”
Monday Sep 12, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
You can see more of Mark's photos here.
Friday Sep 09, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
You can see more of Mark's photos here.
Friday Sep 09, 2005
Every BODY Has A Story - Ian Bradley
Ian had been talking about getting branded with a Chanel tattoo (his first and only), and after months he finally held true to his word. Here's his story:
"I saw a girl back in March with a Chanel tattoo, and I thought it was the stupidest thing I had ever seen. I became obsessed with it, and decided that I wanted it too. lame, huh? I don’t see anything wrong with a little biting of style."
So we asked him - What's the worst tattoo you've ever seen?
"Butterflies at the lower back always pisses me off, but you know I may just get one of those too."
How do you think you'll feel in 30 years, when you wake up and see your tattoo in the morning?
"I think I will laugh and think it's okay, because it will go with my outfit; because in 30 years I will be a lady that lunches in Chanel only. Ha."
Thursday Sep 08, 2005
Every BODY Has A Story - Rich Cloutier
"The reason I chose to get the crocs is because my artist Tim Reid is very good at tattooing wildlife. I have seen some other work of his.. full back pieces of Gorillas, tigers and lions so that really inspired me to get one of my own. I chose the crocs because i thought it was pretty original and I think they are cool animals.
If you want to check this link out I have a good story to go with it. I went to the Pearl Jam concert in Indiana, it was an outdoor concert and I had my shirt off the whole day. I guess Eddie Vedder saw my tattoo and this is what he said on stage while he was performing. This was a great moment!"
Thursday Sep 08, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
You can see more of Mark's photos here.
Tuesday Sep 06, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos By Mark The Cobrasnake
You can see more of Mark's photos here.
Tuesday Sep 06, 2005
Allergic Reactions And Tattoo Ink
Dear INKEDblog,I'm ready to get the tattoo I've wanted to get for ages… the only thing holding me back right now is my allergies. I have a severe allergy to shellfish, and have been told to avoid most medical dyes. Apparently, they contain an iodine compound, which triggers the allergic response. Is there anything like that in tattoo dyes which could trigger my "shellfish" allergy?
- A Reader
Dear Reader,
Allergic reactions to tattoo ink are fairly uncommon. Each various ink color contains different ingredients. For example, the black color comes from carbon, the blue from copper, the yellow from cadmium, etc. Allergic reactions to red dyes greatly outweigh allergic reactions to other colors, and black tends to be the most neutral.
The question you need to ask is if there is iodine present in the tattooist’s ink. Tattoo artists will either buy pre-prepared ink, or make their own ink out of the pigment and thinning ingredients (called the carrier) that give ink the proper consistency. Artists thin ink in a variety of ways, generally with ethyl alcohol, purified water, witch hazel, Listerine, propylene glycol, or glycerin. Ask your artist for a complete list of ink ingredients, and then ask your doctor if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
After you give the list to your doctor and s/he approves it, you might try a pinprick of the color of ink you want in a discrete area and wait a few days. Sometimes ink allergies come on rather slowly. This might make a reaction, if it happened, less severe.
A warning note: do not use a temporary henna tattoo as a substitute. Henna is far more likely to give you an allergic reaction.
Tuesday Sep 06, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos By Mark The Cobrasnake
Thursday Sep 01, 2005
Jessica Lund on Hippies, Tats and Your Parents
Have you ever seen those pics of your parents, circa 1975, sporting bell bottoms, big beards, long hair (that would be dad); mini-dresses covered with little mirrors and barefoot (that would be mom)?
In a sick sort of way, I like to compare these pics to the ones circa 1985 where they’re wearing hideous sports jackets with leather patches on the elbows and large tortoise shell glasses; pants sets, sucky pho-glam hair styles with head bands and there’s lil’ me right in the middle there, dressed in some sort of retarded sailor suit or something…
What the hell happened?
I wonder if the reason tats became so popular during my generation is partly due to the blow of our parents’ particular brand of culture shock. That is, we are shocked by our parents’ ability to change cultures literally at the drop of a hat…
It occurred to me that no matter how rebellious it was to have long hair back in 1968, it took about seven minutes to turn back into the geek you were before once the decade changed. And we get lectured on authenticity?
It seems to me that tat culture is a sort of response to this chameleon-like shifting with which we have grown up. Rebellion is nothing if it doesn’t last forever. The only physical rebellion that we allow ourselves will be unchangeable, stuck in the moment when we made our decision to make a mark.
There’s not a sailor suit in the world that’ll cover it up.
Thursday Sep 01, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos By Mark The Cobrasnake
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