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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.
Tuesday Oct 31, 2006
We Hope To Be Back Soon....
Beginning this week, INKEDblog is going on a short hiatus. It's time for us to regroup and do a bit of a rethink over the next few weeks to come up with what the next rev of the INKEDblog website should be.
We want to take this opportunity to thank all of our loyal readers who check out the site each day.
Check back soon for more info!
The Editors
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Wednesday Oct 25, 2006
EveryBODY has a Story: Rappin’ Venom
I’ve been reading comics since I was a kid, and Spiderman has always been my favorite. This tattoo is the symbol for an anti-hero, named Venom that came out in the 90’s.
Venom has always been one of my favorites. He’s not good, but he’s not totally bad either. I drew up this tattoo myself and took it in to an artist. The artist modified the legs slightly so they would not wrap all the way around my arm.
I like drawing, and me and a friend of mine drew up a comic book once, but that was a while ago. Now, rather than drawing, my main artistic outlet is music. I’m a rapper with a group called The NightWalkers. Come check us out at www.myspace.com/thenightwalkers. One of our songs is actually about Venom.
I plan on getting the actual image of Venom on my leg, and a Spiderman on my back. I still read Spiderman; it’s a really great comic.:
Thursday Oct 19, 2006
Every BODY Has a Story: Wherever Love Is, I Want To Be.
EveryBODY has a Story: Wherever Love Is, I Want To Be.
I got this tattoo almost exactly a year ago. I remember when it was because I broke up with my partner the day after I got it…
The text of this tattoo is from a book called, “The Passion” by Jeanette Winterson. She wrote several other books including “Sexing the Cherry”.
When I read this quote, I knew that I wanted it as a tattoo. I was pretty sure about the placement from the beginning, but the font wasn’t what I imagined at first.
During my first consultation with Dan, from Atlas Tattoo, I asked him to tattoo the quote in an old-fashioned handwriting typescript. He talked me out of this, saying that it would be much harder to read, and that the text would have to be a lot bigger. If it were bigger, it would change the shape of the quote on my arm.
He suggested that that I go with a standard typewriter font, Courier.
As for the relationship, I knew that things had not been going well and I suspected my partner of being attracted to someone else. We had an argument the next day, and my suspicions were justified. I initiated a breakup that day.
I don’t know if the tattoo gave me the impetus to ask my partner about our relationship or not, it’s hard to say. What I do know, is that love has always been the most important force in the world for me.
Love is something about which I have spent a long time musing and thinking. Why else would we be here, other than love? I get a lot of comments on this tattoo. The sentiment really fits me, because love is my guiding force.
Tuesday Oct 17, 2006
Every BODY Has a Story: Lil’ Joker
"This tattoo was done with the single needle style work that was perfected in San Quentin, and developed into distinct tattoo style. My dad did this tattoo for me and his name is Joker. My dad learned to tattoo while in prison, and he was in and out during most of my childhood.
I really love my dad though, and when I told him I wanted a Joker tattoo, he was real proud of me. It was kinda like he marked me as his son.
Since then, my nickname has been Little Joker. I actually got the tattoo when I was fourteen years old. I’m all grown up now, but at the time the tattoo was really intense. I asked for it for a while before he would let be get it, though.
I was on a table with my dad working on my back; it was cool until I got to this nerve in the center of my back. That hurt like hell. I just wanted to lay perfectly still until it was done.
I really love this tattoo now. My dad actually just filled in letters fairly recently, and I have a new one that I’m going to have done by another artist. I’m not a gang member or anything; this tattoo is just about my dad and me.:
INKED Tonight on A&E
Tonight at 10pm/9C - "Symbolic Ink”
"Sometimes people get inked to symbolize a moment or idea. Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony hits H&H and gets put through his paces when Jerome inks a one-of-a-kind on his back. A couple gets tattoos to promote a mystical sound that even Twig & Dizzle can't resist making and an ex-serviceman gets a cover-up of a tat that represents an experience that left his wife in shock."
... and then at 10:30/9:30: - "The Hot Seat"
"When a young athlete in a wheelchair comes into the shop for a tattoo, the artists are intrigued by the sport he plays. So, days later when the young man calls the shop to invite the artists down to the gym to play, the games really begin. But can the artists survive their turn at Murderball? Meanwhile, Carey's in his own hot seat as he agrees to a new sport, Super-Moto. It's faster and crazier than regular motocross and he has only a few weeks to get ready for his first competition."
** INKED on A&E is a sponsor of INKEDblog.com
Monday Oct 16, 2006
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
More from Mark here.
Every BODY Has a Story: Peace at the End of the Journey
EveryBODY has a Story: Peace at the End of the Journey
I got this tattoo done by Don Nolan, who is a real famous tattoo artist. He works at Acme Tattoo in St. Paul. He has a lot of work that’s been in magazines.
I got my tattoo done in 1980, when I was around thirty or thirty-one years old. I got Don Nolan to do it when he was going around to attoo conventions.
At the time, I was getting a divorce. It really broke me up. You think something is going to last forever, then it falls apart like that. It was a bad time. Everybody mellows over the course of their life, though, and I’m no exception. I was a lot rougher back then. I was a boxer for eighteen years, and pretty scrappy.
During the time of the divorce, I needed something to clear my head, something that would bring me some peace. I spent a lot of time reading the bible. In the book of Revelations, there is a story where God tells a woman angel to bring the seed of Jesus to Mary. The serpent devil will try to swallow you up and destroy the seed, God said, but if you succeed, I will give you the wings of eagles. You will live out the rest of your life in peace.
I found this story comforting. The face of the woman is so peaceful; it made me feel peaceful. I spent seventeen years single, but I am now remarried, and have a family. I haven’t read this passage in a while, but I still remember the way it makes me feel at ease. Wings of eagles…"
Friday Oct 13, 2006
EveryBODY has a story: Circle of Love
I am a ordained minister and last year in San Francisco had the honor of performing the commitment ceremony for my heart sister and her partner.
The three of us got matching tattoos to commemorate the occasion.
The circular coil symbolizes the infinite nature of love, but you'll notice that the circles are not perfectly round. That's because love is never perfect. Even the best relationship has its its rough spots. These "imperfections" don't make love--or the relationship-- any less special or any less precious. We wanted the tattoo to symbolize that.
My heart sister and her partner got their tattoos underneath their wrists, while I got mine on the top of my wrist, to symbolize that while there are differences in our relationships from one another, we are all family."
EveryBODY has a Story: Band of Life
"This band was a birthday present to myself on my thirtieth birthday. I had just graduated from medical school. I had been submerged in medical school life for four years, and after I finished I wanted to be as far from that world as possible. At that point, I guess I started doing everything you weren’t supposed to do after medical school. I started working in a bar, dropped all my medical connections, and generally stayed as far as I could from all things doctor.
Right at the same time, I had just met my future husband, but we were just dating. I didn’t even tell him about my tattoo appointment because I wanted it to be entirely my decision.
The tattoo took three hours. It was actually a really fun experience. The artist was really nice, and we chatted the whole time. I took ibuprofen before I went in, and the pain was in no way overwhelming.
This tattoo represents the circle of life. When I requested the drawing, I asked for a band made of entwining vines. I wanted a representation of instinct, trust, faith and nature over an achievement-based, sterile, science universe.
When I came to get the tattoo, the artist had included these jewels into the drawing. They were not part of what I had originally asked for, but I liked them a lot. There are five of them, which is also a strange number. I try to imagine what they mean. Did they predict my children? My dreams? My marriage? My feelings of success outside the medical world? I’m still not sure, but I am certainly happy with the choices I’ve made."
Tuesday Oct 10, 2006
Every BODY Has a Story: Mom and Dad
"When I got this tattoo, I was actually working in a tattoo studio as a receptionist. I had only one other tattoo at the time, and whenever the artists in the shop were bored, they would say “Come on, let me give you a tattoo!” But no. Not just for nothing. I didn’t want a tattoo without any meaning, so I took my time.
My first tattoo was based on my own aesthetics but the Mom and Dad tattoos are traditional American-style tattoos. During the time I worked at the shop, I really gained an appreciation for that style and I decided to get a tattoo that reflected that.
I decided to base my tattoo on classic flash, but modify it to make it my own. I’m now a graphic artist for a company called Spartacus Leathers http://spartacusleathers.com/ and I’ve always had an art background. It happened to be close to Father’s Day, and I decided to make the tattoo say ‘Dad’, like the classic ‘Mom’ tattoo. I chose this placement both because it’s striking, and because I wanted to cover up a small scar on my wrist.
When I came home to show my father, he was really surprised. He thought it must be a fake tattoo, he couldn’t believe I really did it!
I called my mom later to tell her, and let her know I’d get one for her, too. The mom tattoo came soon after. I think they both ended up really liking them."
Every BODY Has a Story: Belly Out
"When I was twenty-five, I had a lot of trouble controlling my inward looking nature. It was uncomfortable to not be able to leave my own thoughts, and the competitive education and jobs I had only served to make this phenomena worse.
I decided that I needed a physical sign on my body to force me to remember to look out- to put energy into the world instead of keeping it inside. I wanted to send goodness to others, not stay in my own head.
I have always felt my belly is the core of my body, and this seemed like a natural place to tattoo this message.
I chose a compass and sun shaped symbol because the sun shines out, and the compass helps to direct.
After I got the drawing, the artist asked me where I wanted the design. When I told him I wanted it on my belly, he asked if I was planning to have children. At the time, I wasn’t… But now, two children later, I can’t think of a tattoo I would want to wear on my pregnant belly more.
The image was very hard to place evenly because of the shape of the body, and the artist had to try three times. It was worth it. Though I may not have accomplished all my goals, I always have a beautiful reminder."
Tonight On A&E, A Two Hour "Dizzle Marathon"
Tonight at 10pm/9C - "Crossing the Line ”
Dizzle is the "Old Faithful" of H&H--always there, always apprenticing, and always likely to erupt in a fit of push-ups at Twig's command at any moment. But when he pushes his mentor a little too far, Dizzle gets more than he bargained for.
... and then at 10:30/9:30: - "Go West, Young Diz"
"Tattoo artist Clark thinks Dizzle, H&H's struggling apprentice, needs to get scared straight if he's ever going to become a tattoo artist. No more fooling around, no more games and definitely no more dresses. So Clark takes Dizzle to LA for a firsthand lesson in the old school ways of tattooing. But can Dizzle cut it working with the same hardcore artists that taught Clark? Meanwhile, back in Vegas Jerome gets the opportunity to make an even more permanent inscription than a tattoo when a regular client asks him to engrave a memorial tattoo on his mother's gravestone."
... and the at 11:00pm - "Dizzle Out to Pastor ”
"Down on his luck with the ladies, Dizzle is stuck without the prospect of a date for a big H&H company party. Just when it looks like all hope is lost, Lily the receptionist comes to his rescue with a secret strategy. But there's a hitch and Dizzle and ends up having a religious experience that he never expected. Meanwhile, homesick Joey Hamilton gets a visit from his son."
and finally at 11:30pm/10:30C - "Pull It Together, Dizzle"
"Dizzle, the shop helper and resident goofball, has made the decision to become a tattoo artist and the first step on that path is getting an apprenticeship. But apprenticing under Thomas and Clark won't be easy. These guys earned their ink the hard way and they're not about to just hand Dizzle the needle."
** INKED on A&E is a sponsor of INKEDblog.com
Friday Oct 06, 2006
Every BODY Has a Story: The Tiger
"I started this tattoo last Tuesday. It’s going to be a full sleeve when it’s finished, and I’m sticking to a Japanese theme throughout the piece.
My boyfriend, Gene Hannan @ www.happygoluckyart.com has been a tattoo artist for ten years. This is the first tattoo he has ever done for me. Next week is our year anniversary, and the tattoo is celebrating that.
I really like tigers a lot, but I have let him design the tattoo. Tigers represent strength in Japanese culture. This one is unusual in that it has a third eye. My friends say that the tiger reminds them of me when I’m angry …
In tradition Japanese tattoo art, the images are generally more cartoonish. I wanted this one to be a little more realistic than that.
We are going to add wind bars as well (the black and gray swirls and filler in Japanese tattooing). Also, he is going to do a lot more flowers. I said to him “Baby! Give me flowers!”
These are flowers that will last forever. Who else can give you that??"
Every BODY Has a Story: Subgenius has a Deadeye
This tattoo was the second tattoo that I got. My first was a small tribal sun god I got in Flagstaff while I was working at the Grand Canyon. This tattoo, though, was inked at one of the oldest tattoo shops in San Francisco.
This tattoo is a three-legged gargoyle in the shape of a seven-inch spindle insert. The kind of spindle needed when the hole of a music record is too big to put on the deck shaft.
This tattoo represents my loyalty to Subgenius (see subgenius.com) or “Bob” and is the church of Slack. The central belief of thee church is the pursuit of Slack, which generally stands for the sense of freedom, independence, and original thinking that comes when you achieve your personal goals.
Subgenius is an organization for “mutants, blasphemers, disbelievers, rebels, outcasts, hackers, freethinkers” and generally people who consider themselves out of the mainstream of society.
For me, original thinking in making music is the highlight of what this tattoo means to me. Also the relation that music equals freedom, and my personal goal and central passion is to create good music. My current project is Deadeye. Check it out @ myspace.com/deadeye.
Thursday Oct 05, 2006
Every BODY Has a Story: Prophetic Crows
"People seem to have very hot or cool reactions to this tattoo. Either they say “why do you have a tattoo of something that eats dead animals on your arm,” or they say, “Cool, I love crows”.
At first, I got seven crows on my upper shoulder. The number seven wasn’t significant to me other than the aesthetic value. The image is actually from a postcard I had from middle school that I loved. It was a whole murder of crows, shot from underneath as they were taking off. There is actually one pigeon in the picture too. Which is pretty funny. The tattoo artist told me there was a different kind of bird, but I didn’t find out until later it was a pigeon…
The banner is lyrics from an Iron and Wine song. Iron and Wine is by neo-folk singer, Sam Beam. The songs are powerful, and though melancholy, the lyrics are amazing. This particular song reminds me of a friend of mine from high school. The work was done by Adam at Painless Tattoo.
I was a couple years older than my friend and I used to drive him home from school in the afternoons. He was a real quiet guy, but when we were in the car, he talked and talked. When I went to college, he was still in high school. He used to walk home because he didn’t like his mom picking him up. The way home was over two sets of train tracks. They were commuter trains.
One evening I was working on a theatre production, and they had just sent me out to usher people. There wasn’t really anyone to usher, so I was kind of standing around playing with this lighter I have. It always works, and I keep it full of fluid.
I kept checking my watch to see what time the performance was going to start. It was at 7:15 that my lighter stopped working. At 7:30, I looked outside and a huge group of crows all took off at the same time.
He was struck by a commuter train on the second set of tracks at 7:30 that night. He didn’t see it coming. He died instantly. My parents were informed right away, and I found out he died right at the time when the crows all flew away. The Iron and Wine song reminds me of all the things he didn’t get to do."
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