Skin - Ink - октябрь 2014
Skin - Ink - октябрь 2014
Skin - Ink - октябрь 2014
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w w w. s k i n a n d i n k . c o m
PUBLISHER
Christopher Perretta
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Paul Gambino
MANAGING EDITOR
Dan Tullis
ART DIRECTOR
Frank Cafiero
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Nate Beavers, Vicki Botnick, Dana Brunson,
Jessica DeFeo, Marisa Kakoulas,
Lars Krutak, Travelin Mick, David Nestler,
Joann Natalia Aquino, Sam Paul,
Amy Sciarretto, Bill Waytowich
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Bernard Clark, Mary DAloisio, Peter Domorak,
Sean Hartgrove, Dan Howell,
Travelin Mick, Ama Lea, Isaac Madera,
Miss Missy, David Nestler, Steve Prue
COPY EDITOR
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Skin&Ink (ISSN 1071-7684) Issue #153 October 2014.
Published nine times a year by Fox Run Publications, Inc., under
license from Azure Media Corp. Periodicals postage paid at
Paramus, NJ and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send
address changes to: Magazine Services, Dept. Skin & Ink, P.O. Box
9030, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33310. Subscriptions (one year) U.S.
$26.99, all others $59.99, All orders must be in U.S. funds.
Contents copyrighted 2014. All rights reserved. Contents may
not be reprinted in whole or part without prior written permission
from the Publisher. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and photographs if they are to be returned, and
no responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited material. All rights
to unsolicited materials, including, but not limited to, articles, photographs, cartoons, illustrations and letters sent to Skin&Ink will
be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and as subject to Skin&Ink's right to edit and comment editorially. The amount and time of payment, if any, for such
submissions will be at the sole discretion of the publisher. Any similarity between persons depicted in humor, fiction or satire articles
and real persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Fox Run
Publications, Inc.; does not endorse and assumes no liability for
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East, Paramus, NJ 07652 or mpuntus@enoblemedia.com.
Skin&Ink is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark office.
Printed in the Canada.
OCTOBER 2014
YEARBOOK ISSUE
OCTOBER 2013
10. Nepal by Peter Domorak
The land of ink and Buddha.
16. Tattoo Treasures with Dana Brunsona B
Fun in Philly:Part II
18. On The Road
by Mary DAloisio
DECEMBER 2013
26. The NYC Tattoo Convention
Sweet 16 in the City
Article by Benjamin Cohen
Marc Reidman
On The Knifes Edge
40. Matt Ellis
By Nick Angelo
FEBRUARY 2014
49. Artist Spotlight
Sean Herman
Ink and Anarchy
58. GOING OVER THE TOP
Article By JJ Ignotz
ANTONIO MACKO
Cholo Italiano
72. INK-N-IRON 2013
Article by Razor Leary
Photos by Steve Prue
Special Features
79
Thein
Year
Centerfolds
93
The
Yearin
Artists
APRIL 2014
116. Letter From London
Article and Photography by Travelin Mick
JUNE 2014
136. Tattooers POV with Nate Beavers
A Sharp Dressed Pooch
138. Artist Spotlight
Rember Oreliana
Fighting His Way To The Top.
146. Tattoo History
Article by Bill Waytowich
AUGUST 2014
24. Tattooers POV with Nate Beavers
Opaque Grey Vs Greywash
162. Tat Life
Photos by GiGi Elmes
Article by Richard Edson
THE YEAR
IN COVERS
October 2013
Features: Nepal by Peter Domorak,
The land of ink and Buddha.
Tattoo Nation by Joann Natalia Aquino
Spotlights: Corey Miller, Chad Chases Venom Ink
On The Road: Mystic Owl Tattoo, Marietta, Georgia
Gallery Artists: Jay Paranich Jean Acevedo,
Josh Agnew, Marco Hengst
November 2013
Pin -Up Features: Alisa Marie, Emily, Miss Missy,
Nicole Knockout, Jellyfish, Samii laMorte, Meizy,
Traci Mize, Sarah, Heather Moss, Chelsey Mac,
Taylor Bryne, Karleigh Neal, Katy Delux, Amy
Dynamite, Amanda Pocalypse, Tattooed Brookie,
Rose Conway, Nicole Brown
6 SKIN&INK
November 2013
Features: Thailand Tattoo Madness, The festival known as
Wai Kru , Marc Reidman On The Knifes Edge, The NYC Tattoo
Convention, The story of Bicknee
Spotlights: Sarah Miller, Mace and Altered Reality Tattoo
On The Road: True Til Death Tattoo, Ashtabula, OH
Gallery Artists: Julie Clarke, Sophie Boon, Joe Swider
June 2014
February 2014
Features: INK-N-IRON 2013, Going Over The Top,
INKARNATION: Tattoo & Lifestyle
Spotlights: Antonio Macko: Cholo Italiano,
Sean Herman: Ink and Anarchy
On The Road: Tim Becks:
Freedom Ink Tattoo Company
Free 2014 Celebrity Portrait Calender
Gallery Artists: Blueprint Gallery, Kali Boy, Travis
Litke, Waylon Harp
August 2014
Features: 6th Annual Moscow Tattoo Convention, Bill Loika: The
Professor
and Protge
of Tattoo
Peter, NYC
Tattoo
Convention,
John
Youngaitis: A
Dying Breed
Spotlights:
Dustin Yip,
Mark
Longenecker
On TheRoad:
Damon
Conklins
Super
Genius
Gallery
Artists:
Jonathon
Anderson,
Danny
Frost,
Ricardo
Pedro
April 2014
Features: Travelin Mick, This is the Big One, London 2013,
CHAIM MACHLEY Dots To Lines, Nascar Sprint Cup Series,
The Second Annual Pacific Ink & Art Festival
Spotlights: Cecil Porter: Great Pain. Great Art. STUDIO 13 TATTOO
On The Road: Josh Paynes: Ascend Gallery Tattoo
Gallery Artists: Dan Henk, Alan Aldred, Kurt Elkins
SKIN&INK 7
There...I
canhad
be noto
doubt about it,
concentrate
Krakow is and will
on the tattoo
remain one of the
project
soon
definite
highlights
time
ofbecause
the European
flies
in the
convention
circuitcountry
for loversof
of tattoo
art.
Buddha.
10 SKIN&INK
HARI
down commercial building. He repeatedly
waved at me, yelling something. But even the
waiter couldnt hear the words. I told the
waiter I didnt know him! I thought it was
just another local wanting to sell me something. Hawking cheap souvenirs to a tourist
is a national sport in this section of Nepal.
Then the server said to me in broken
English, Maybe you got a tattoo there? That
man is a tattoo artist. My jaw dropped. By
that time, the mysterious guy who had been
waving had gone to his office. I took a closer
look. It was indeed a tattoo studio, and he
was working on somebody.
But this wasnt first time something like this
had happened here. Its something pure in
that country; its in the air. Maybe a person is
closer to God, to Buddha, to anything you
SKIN&INK 11
GRASSHOPPER
believe in; or maybe it is because of the height of the Himalayas or being closer to the
clouds where deities dwell. But you could feel very oftenoften enough to freak you out a
bitthat here your wishes can come true.
So, I closed my notebook, looked at the words If it has anything to do with ink,
shoot it. and I went up to his studio across the roadcrossing the street after I let
the cows pass, that is.
His name was Hari. He is the one master in Pokhara. And Hari thought that I had
been one of his clients the night beforea young white boy, with long hair like mine,
wearing glasses. In NYC just another face, here in Nepal, one-in-a-million. The introduction was quick. I explained my diary notes quickly and, after everybody in the room
agreed on being shot, the next thing that had to happen was to take the lens cap off. Hari
12 SKIN&INK
was working on Ozzy from Australia. The tattoo was the four elements, written in Nepali. As I sat in the studio drinking more tea a steady stream of Haris
customers wandered in and out. A young man named James came in and
explained his passion and interest in religions. Hari came up with an amazing
piece that included symbols from all religions, some old and some unheard
of, that were interwoven into the graphics.
Everyone was more than happy to have their portraits shot and I had my
SKIN&INK 13
MOHAN
14 SKIN&INK
mohan:
http://www.mohanstattooinn.com
jads:
http://jadstattoos.com
grasshopper: http://grasshopperstudio.blogspot.com
hari:
https://www.facebook.com/H.Mandala
SKIN&INK 15
...and you
have four
members
who own
the
coveted
Edison
Electric
Pen.
16 SKIN&INK
www.danatattoo.com
danatattoo@fuse.net
By M
ar y
MYSTIC OWL
18 SKIN&INK
DA
lois
io
TATTOO
Marietta, Georgia
Mike Bugenhagen
SKIN&INK 19
On The Road
Vince Villavazo
Mystic Owl
Ryan Willingham
On The Road
Jace Masula
22 SKIN&INK
Mystic Owl
Taylor Anne
Whether we are tattooing, drawing, or cleaning up around the studio, there is a great
sense of teamwork; we
truly have a family.
Keep up to date on the
all-star work going on in
Marietta or visit them
online at
mysticowltattoo.com.
SKIN&INK 23
presents
CELEBRITY
ARTISTS!
Each Ink Or Swim Guest will receive:
Access to the Ink Or Swim Tattoo Alley and booking time with the
artists $100 towards booking tattoo time Opening night cocktail party and meet-n-greet with the artists Dance Party with
celebrity tattoo artists Private margarita party at Cozumel
Mexico Tattoo and Bikini contests Burlesque and Sideshow
entertainers Professional photo portrait Gift Bag of tattoo and
cruise related goodies Exclusive Ink Or Swim t-shirt
he sign on the Roseland Ballroom marquee reading NYC Tattoo Convention is like the Bat-signal in the night sky
of Gotham City. The marquee beckons tattoo fanatics from around the globe to drop anchor in the City that Never
Sleeps for three days each May to stand side-by-side with the worlds top ink-slinging masters, the most serious collectors, and the living legends of the tattoo industry.
For the tattoo community, this show is a must-see event, and the expo billed as the Original New York City Tattoo
Convention held its 16th annual gathering May 1618, 2013, on what was a typical hot and humid Northeast spring weekend. However, what went on under the Roseland roof that weekend was anything but typical.
All the proof you need that this is a highly regarded convention the world over could be found by strolling the aisles to see
artists from the earths four corners working ink into the skin of happy attendees. South Koreas tattooer extraordinaire Kahn,
who shared a working area with S&I Artist Spotlight alum, June Jung, had a crowd of onlookers and waiting clients surrounding his booth the entire weekend. The Horitoshi Family occupied its usual upstairs section of the venue. Seeing the
work that emerges from this camp each year is a show onto itself, and this years inked creations at the hands of Japans
first family of tattooing were some of the best weve seen yet. Boris of Hungary always turns out something spectacular at
the New York show, and this year was no exception. We also found time to catch up with Australias Sean Vasquez, as he
made his yearly pilgrimage to the Big Apple.
Other countries represented at this years NYC Convention included Italy, Spain, Brazil, Taiwan, Germany, and France.
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Dorothy and
Dana
Brunson.
Paul Booth
SKIN&INK 27
28 SKIN&INK
June Jung
Other contests at the NYC show were all of the tattoo variety, and, as could
be expected, the competition was fierce and wide open. Tattoo of the Day honors went to the following artists: FridayGreg Lee, SaturdayMark Thiemig,
and SundayJeremy Miller. The Best Overall awards went to these tattooers:
First PlaceAsakusa, Second PlaceDavid Prieto, and Third PlaceJesus
Ayala.
SKIN&INK 31
The
Thomas
Edison
electric
pen is
coveted by
tattooists
and Edison
collectors
as well.
www.danatattoo.com
danatattoo@fuse.net
3
1
0
2
R
E
B
DECEM
!
R
E
N
N
I
W
1st Place:
2nd place:
Kaloian Smokov, Smokov Tattoo Studio,
Sofia, Bulgaria
S&I: Youve said that your earliest experiences with body modifications was scratching ornamental designs into your skin with
a Swiss army knife. Looking back, do you believe that was an
act of rebellion or just another form of artistic expression?
MR: I think kind of both. And for me it was also about the modification experience itself.
S&I: The first ink work you ever applied to your body was done
as a teenager with hand-poked needles and machines made
from clippers and LEGO blocks. Couldnt you have just snuck
out of the house and gotten a professional tattoo? Why were you
so hell-bent on the diy method?
MR: I was a f-ing child, and there was no way to go to a professional studio and get tattooed. The only way was to make it myself.
MARC RIEDMANN
On The Knifes Edge
Article by Razor Leary
But I made most things in my life myself; I love the experience of trying to do stuff on my own.
S&I: When you finally made a commitment to embarking on a career as a tattoo artist, you continued on the
self-taught route. Were you unable to get formal training, or did you prefer not to seek training from more
experienced artists?
MR: I never planned a career as a tattoo artist. I just started
tattooing myself to get more ink. Then I tattooed friends, and
it started to get out of control. I was working a few days a
week in studios and saw that I wasnt learning much that I
hadnt already figured out myself. And the way to learn stuff
yourself is to keep working and growing as an artist. Find the
best techniques that work for what you want do.
S&I: You have a very distinct style because you work very
different themes into the same piece. Do you do this to call
attention to how different styles work together? Or, is it
done to illustrate the stark difference in the styles?
MR: I like contrast; I like to play with super sketchy shit.
34 SKIN&INK
Marc Riedmann
Maybe start with images that may look like some child has painted it on
someone, and then I like to go into that same piece and add another
level or layer that is a geometric pattern. A pattern that may be the
exact oppositeor even complimentary. I like to get themes from my
customers that may run away from my typical stuff. I love to create
something out of that, but in my own way.
S&I: Your multi-person backpieces are amazing. What are the
major challenges in both designing and inking these creations?
MR: When I first started making backpieces I was amazed by how
much skin I have to work withI mean, plain skin in one piece without much deformationand I loved it. So a backpiece was always
my favorite piece to do, and after some years I decided to just do
backpieces. Sure, for the people I have done backpieces for, I will
always continue working on other parts. But, for new clients, a backpiece is the only way to start with me. I have no idea how many backpieces I have done or worked on, but after a time I got this idea of
going bigger. So, I included the arms, and out of this I was thinking
how crazy it would be to put two people together and make a backpiece over them. I had this idea, I think over three years ago, and I
waited a while to find someone to do it on. I finished my first double
in the beginning of 2012 and started six more double pieces that year
after I published pictures from the first one. Soon after I made a
threesome, and now I have just completed one tattoo that spans four
people. It just pushes tattooing to another level for me, going that big
and that radical. I dont know where the borders are for whats possible. A few years ago I was dreaming about doing a double backpiece.
Now, to cross new borders means there is new space in my mind for
new dreams.
S&I: Its obvious that the art you create on skin is not only amazing
in its own right but is a brand and style of tattooing that is all your
own. How important is it for you to go places with your tattooing that
no one has gone before?
MR: Its not about what is important, it just runs. Many years ago I
started tattooing radically over nipples and navels as if they were not
there. Working the design against something, I see a nipple as a nail in
a wall. You would also not change your picture or put a hole inside it
36 SKIN&INK
because its a nail, and you wouldnt draw lines to separate body
parts. I never was influenced too much by the outside tattoo world. I
just try out whatever comes to me. The more freedom my customers
gave me, the more I came around to what I make these days. And
the more I was making what I had in my mind, the more people
became interested.
S&I: Some of your tattoo work
looks like painting, some looks
like ink drawing, some looks
like water colors, and some
looks like charcoal sketching.
How in the world are you able
to create all of these effects
with tattoo machines?
MR: Most of the effects I use
are effects I can only make with
a machine. I dont try to imitate
this or that. The shading I use is
kind of a super rough, rip shading. Everything comes and goes
with what your tools are. Its the
same as with painting. I love it
when my tattoos dont look like
tattoos anymore and people are
asked if its actually painted on.
S&I: When you sit down to
design one of your large
pieces, how much time and
preparation would you say
goes into creating the final
images and designs that will
go onto skin?
MR: No time. I plan nothing.
People come to me and know
thats how I work. I sit together
with them, speak a bit, and figure out what they like and dont
like. Out of that, I start freehand
painting on their body, so I can
work with the anatomy and the
shape of the body and know in
what kind of direction Ill go.
SKIN&INK 37
Marc Riedmann
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SKIN&INK 39
Matt Ellis
less Ink
Home
ew York tattooist Matt Ellis isnt afraid to color outside the lines and push the limits of the skin art medium. Ellis has been tattooing for 12 years, and currently splits his time between Lark Tattoo in Westbury, NY, and
Triple Diamond Tattoo in the Park Slope area of Brooklyn.
A graduate of New Yorks famous Fashion Institute of
Technology, Ellis is also an accomplished painter and photographer. At the present, the artist is working on a very unique
tattooing project that is redefining beauty, and is shining a
spotlight on one of our societys most overlooked problems.
Its called the Homeless Project, Ellis explains, and its a
project that I have been working on over the past three years.
The Homeless Project was born when Ellis was living and
tattooing in Florida.
40 SKIN&INK
By Nick Angelo
SKIN&INK 41
first one I did was on a friend who knows me well and would
let me tattoo anything I wanted on him. I told him about the
project and he was stoked. I posted that piece online, and
then I heard from someone else that wanted to hear about
the project. They found the idea interesting and they were
intrigued. I didnt have to sell them on the idea. And it has
just grown and other people started approaching me. They
understand the idea and my passion for it, and they see it as
something positive.
To those of you who think the idea of an ink collector welcoming a portrait of someone they never met before onto
their skin is strange, Ellis challenges you to reconsider.
In our tattoo society were tattooing portraits of famous
people, actors, and characters from horror movies on a regular basis. These are people the collectors have never met, but
find them beautiful and they put them on their body.
42 SKIN&INK
SKIN&INK 43
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4/14
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Sean
eH rman
Article
by Miles
Anderson
y
h
c
r
a
n
A
Ink &
T
48 SKIN&INK
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
opportunity to delve into that
part of Sean Hermans life
pass. Fortunately, the artist
was open to sharing his feeling
on the subject.
Anarchism is something I
identify with strongly, Herman
confirmed. For me, its taking
what Hib Chickena said in Off
the Map, and applying it to
every aspect of life. It was said,
This is what it means to be an
adventurer in our day: to give
up creature comforts of the
mind, to realize the possibilities
of imagination. Because everything around us says no you
cannot do this, you cannot live
without that, nothing is useful
unless its in service to money,
to gain, to stability. The adventurer gives in to tides of chaos,
trusts the world to support her
and in doing so turns her back
on the fear and obedience she
has been taught. She rejects the
indoctrination of impossibility.
Taking all the passion we
have, and applying it to every
aspect of our lives, enjoying
every bit of the ride we can. I
strive for my passion to be living in general.
Turning back to ink, I pushed
Herman to spill his guts about
the inks and equipment he uses
to turn out the spectacular work
he creates.
I use rotary machines
because of my hands and arms
having pain issues from years
of not taking care of them. I
think coil machines are beautiful
and amazing, but they are just
too heavy for me now, so going
with rotary has really helped me
out. I am always trying new
machines and new ink. I really
like the idea of machines and
ink made by tattooers. I like to
be holding a machine and know
that I can trace back who made
it, and the little things that they
did that make it unique to that
specific machine. We are very
50 SKIN&INK
SKIN&INK 51
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
52 SKIN&INK
SKIN&INK 53
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
54 SKIN&INK
fortunate to be in a
trade that developed
from people making
what they neededand
are still making what
they need. So, I like to
support that DIY attitude. From power supplies to clip cords, foot
switches, machines, and
ink, I like to have something that someone personally made and that
you can trace it back to
and tell them thank you,
personally.
With such an identifiable style, a potential
client would certainly
have a good idea about
what their piece is going
to look like before the
needle ever sets down
on skin. Yet, recognizing
SKIN&INK 55
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
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7/14
58 SKIN&INK
GOING
OVER THE
TOP
THE QUEST FOR
BROOKLYNS
STRONGEST
ARM!
Article and Photos by JJ Ignotz
beautiful summer day? Not much! And on this particular day I found myself at
the 30th Annual Brooklyn Arm Wrestling Competition, a New York Golden Arm
Series championship which was held at the 36th Annual Brighton Jubilee Festival in Brighton
Beach, New York and sponsored by the New York City Arm Wrestling Association.
SKIN&INK 59
Author and
spur-of-themoment
contestant
JJ Ignotz.
And, of course, I couldnt resist just being a spectatorI got myself on stage and got my butt
whooped by a real pro! Im not kidding when I say
these competitors mean business, and they rocked
some serious ink. Like Nicole Scauris full sleeve
butterfly piece. Dont let the bright feminine colors
fool you. She is one tough cross-fitting and armwrestling champion who took first place in the
womens right-light weight class division. I also got
pointers from the first place pro right-handed super
weight champion, the nearly seven foot tall, Mike
Ayello, who donned an epic right-armed tribal
sleeve. Apparently it is all in the wrist and obtaining
all the leverage you can with your body. Its a quick
match, but having a game plan on hand is important,
not to mention protecting that wrist because from
what I was told, breaks are common!
The day was full of action, ink, and interesting
peoplewhich reminds me of Cory Bresnan, the
third-place winner of the pro-left super weight division, and his father, who are active competitors in
the arm wrestling circuit and have matching forearm
tattoos. It was an overall exciting day even though I
didnt bring home any wins. But, I learned a lot
about the technique and culture behind the exciting
world of arm wrestling. I encourage everyone to
take interest in the scene and visit NYCArms.com for
more information regarding current, local, national,
and international competitions.
INTERNATIONAL INK
ANTONIO MACKO
64 SKIN&INK
CHOLO ITALIANO
AT: Ive been looking at the Los Angeles underground art since 1994 when I was
young. During my first trip to California I started to focus my attention on that
kind of style, and I became interested in the Chicano because I think it is the
most important culture over there. Then, when I started tattooing as a black and
grey artist, I thought that the Chicano style could give me the opportunity to
express my art and my ideas in the best way. And, when I met my mentor Jose
Lopez for the first time, the Chicano style came back once again. So I understood that was my vocation.
SKIN&INK 65
INTERNATIONAL INK
INTERNATIONAL INK
S&I: Moving onto one of the pieces that I think is
a stand-out in your portfolio is the clown chick.
Youve done so many of them and what impresses
me is your originality with each one. How are you
able to maximize your creativity on each piece
when there are times where youre faced with tattooing the same concept for clients?
AT: Figures, faces, and portraits were my favorite
subjects for painting and drawings even when I
was in school. So I used this experience and all
the teaching for my tattoos, and the people started
loving it and asking for it. So, it became my most
wanted subject and the people started to trust me
to work in the way I liked. Now I feel free to
choose everything like size, reference, and style.
People just say I want a payasa, thats it ! and
Im doing the rest. Usually, I like to use some
model references, putting my personal touch on it
every time. I really like the meaning behind that
kind of subject but I think that lots of people dont
know this because they are just looking for a
beautiful chica.
S&I: Clients and tattoo artists both have a different eye for art. A tattoo artists eye is naturally more observant and technical whereas the
clients tend to look at the finished piece as a
whole and arent as trained in the finer details.
As an artist looking at a tattoo, what are some
things you tend to look at or observe differently
than a non-artist? For example, texture and how
well it flows with the body, and composition.
AT: After technique and the subject of a tattoo,
Im looking at how the piece wears on the body. I
68 SKIN&INK
SKIN&INK 69
INTERNATIONAL INK
mean the composition, the
size, and how an artist
buildslike a tailor master
on the clients skin. And, of
course, Im looking for the
originality they use every time.
This combination is what creates a really good tattoo.
S&I: Youre mainly a black
and grey artist, but youve
also done some color pieces
here and there. What are
some ways for an artist to look
at a specific design and differentiate what would work well
in black and grey and what
works well as a color piece?
AT: Yeah, man, sometimes I
like to use colors, but just
because I need to do something
different, find myself again ,
unlearn everything I have
learned and recondition not just
what you think about, but the
way you think . This is what
gives me the results of improvement, inspiration, and growth.
S&I: And very few artists get
the opportunity to travel and
tattoo in different parts of the
world. For guys who havent
70 SKIN&INK
Corey Miller
72
SKIN&INK
ast June, thousands of tattooed folks,hot rodders, and those who know a good time when they
see one, headed out to Long Beach, CA for the annual salute to all that is cool aboard the historic Queen Mary. The Ink-N-Iron Kustom Culture Festival, labeled by the promoters as the
Granddaddy of Em All, offered a complete ink lovers experience with more extras, entertainment
and all-out madness than youd encounter at almost any other tat show on earth.
Trace Edwards, Riun Van Driessche, and their Keen Entertainment crew never ceased to amaze and
they took their game to new levels when it came to delivering a wild ride for artists, vendors, and
attendees alike. You could lose yourself in the ink experience, alone, and still walk away from the
weekend feeling as if you got way more than your
Article by
Miles Anderson
Photography by
Steve Prue
INK
20N13
IRON
John Mesa
INK
20N13
IRON
Malice
was among the more interesting entertainment attractions for those of us in the S&I camp, as was
the cabaret show at the Pleasure Portal. The closest thing to a seminar we checked out was the leftof-center Dr. Sketchys Anti-Art School class.
Those looking for big time entertainment were in for some serious satisfaction as the live music
bill for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were easily the hottest of any ink expo wed ever covered.
Among the headlines were no lesser names than Iggy Pop and the Stooges, Dead Kennedys, The
Fleshtones, The Offspring, and The Stranglers.
Each day, as it is written in tattoo convention law, had an itinerary of tattoo contests. Along with
Best of the Day, Friday had traditional, tribal, and Japanese tattoo work contests. Saturday has
BOD as well as Black & Grey, large and small, arm and leg sleeve, and portrait categories. Sunday
brought with it awards in best all around categories as well as Best of the Day and Best of Show
honors.
Even if you are the kind of person who
prefers the smaller, more intimate conventions, it would be
worth your while to check out
Ink-N-Iron at least once. It has
the feel of a very serious tattoo
convention, yet it offers so
much more. The people are
very cool and laid back, and
youll find yourself in the company of some of the best artists
the world has to offer.
For information on Ink-N-Iron
2014, visit http://ink-niron.com.
START
SHOPPING
NOW!
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ksh
rebelin Photographed by Michelle Katiussa
THE
YEAR IN
CENTERFOLDS
The only thing
better than a
tattoo, is a tattoo
on a pretty girl.
Turn the page and
enjoy the year in
centerfolds.
SKIN&INK 79
OCTOBER 2013
a
n
i
r
B
December 2013
e
n
n
a
e
L
FEBRUARY 2014
Teya
Salat
AUGUST 2014
e
a
i
R
Model: Riae
Photograper: Skyzzo
Make Up and Styling: Riae
Photo Retouching: Peter Domorak
APRIL 2014
a
h
g
i
e
L
n
a
g
a
H
JUNE 2014
SKIN&INK
i
i
m
Sa
Photo by Rob Brettschneider
October 2014
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THE
YEAR IN
ARTISTS
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Tattoo by Sidelinger
Tattoo by Eric Marcinizyn
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100 SKIN&INK
Tattoo by Albert
Tattoo by Slim
Tattoo by Shige
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102 SKIN&INK
Tattoo by Julian
104 SKIN&INK
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Tattoo by Lou
Tattoo by Lou
108 SKIN&INK
Tattoo by Tofi
SKIN&INK 109
Tattoo by Heald
SKIN&INK 111
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BEWARE OF IMITATIONS!
The worlds best known hand crafted tattoo machines.
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TRAVELIN MICK
Article and
Photography
by Travelin Mick
LETTERS
FROM
LONDON
Tattoos by
Domantas
Parvainis,
Totemas
Tattoo,
Siauliai,
LIT
116 SKIN&INK
Tin-Tin and
Jack Rudy
TRAVELIN MICK
Tattoo by Sylvio de
Freitas, Brazilian
Crew, London, UK
Those crucial questions and topics keep the eager pilgrims to the
East End of London busy into the
wee hours, for four long days,
from Thursday Vespers through
Sunday mass, and all seems
peaceful and good. Only on
Monday, the fifth day, on the way
to the airport or train station, will
dreariness hold them in its grasp,
an empty feeling, not just in their
souls, but their wallets too...
Without London, a tattooed life is
like a meaningless and dry desert,
without shape and goals to strive
for, at least until the coming year.
When the year is 2014, and the
stars will sparkle over the Tobacco
Docks for the tenth time, the people will gather there, and the
angels will cry outLONDON IS
CALLING!
London
Convention
Advice:
Find out the date. Apply for vacation time, and book your flights
and hotel rooms. As early as possible. It will never get cheaper, only
(much) more expensive. And, the
London convention does not exactly come as a surprise, right?
London City is the best airport in
London, just 20 minutes to the
convention by cab. But, you pay
dearly to fly there. Flying out from
Stansted requires you to leave your
hotel four hours before the flight.
At least. Make it five to be sure,
more if there are leaves on the
track. Gatwick is not even near
Tattoos by
Domantas
Parvainis,
Totemas
Tattoo,
Siauliai,
LIT
Tattoo by
Matteo
Pasqualin,
Porto Viro, IT
Back by
Ael Lim,
Singapur
Front by
Ivano
Natale,
Goodfellas
Tattoo,
Orange
County,
USA
Tattoos by Jammes,
Woodys Tattoo, High
Wycombe, UK
TRAVELIN MICK
London 2013 Mini Interview:
Jack Rudy
Is he the inventor of true realism in modern tattooing? Maybe.
Without a doubt, though, the Californian, who grew up in a Chicano
family, is one of the most influential individuals in American tattoo
history. With his fine line masterpieces, tattooed in intricate perfection with unbeaten character by using single needle techniques, he
lifted tattooing into a new dimension in the 1980s and 90s. Even
now that we reached the 2010s, the sometimes a bit grumpy-looking giant commands immense respect in the urban culture crowd
and among his peers.
He only rarely visits Europe, even though he certainly has re-kindled his interest in the Old World.
TM: Jack, you dont often come to Europe, and I only started seeing
you coming over two years ago in Milan. Now its your second time
in London. What motivates you to choose this event in particular?
JR: Yes, it was thirteen years that I didnt come. But last year,
London was a great experience because I saw many of my friends
in the business again after such a long time.
TM: Is that what makes it a great show for you?
JR: Its a big part of it. If I dont know anyone, which does happen
nowadays, its not much fun, right?
Tattoos by
Remigijus
Cizauskas,
Remis
Tattoo,
Dublin,
IRE
Tattoos
by Tang
Ping,
Zi You
Tattoo,
Beijing,
China
Tattoos
by Petra,
Bobek
Tattoo, CZ
TM: Do you actually have the feeling sometimes that some of the younger
guys have no idea who you are, even if they are doing work in a style you
basically invented?
JR: Oh, yes. In fact, I do have that feeling sometimes. Well, maybe they
dont know me, or they dont want to talk to me, because they are
afraid of me. Ha-ha. They think I am a grouchy old fuck.
TM: Thats because they dont really know you. But I am afraid that
is the reputation you got among some...
JR: Ha-ha. Its half true. (JRs wife: Smaller half!). Not necessarily,
depends how much sleep I got and how stupid people act...
(The rest of the conversation drowns in laughter.)
Gao Bin, Lion King
Back by Jess
Yen, My Tattoo,
Alhambra, USA
Tattoos
by Tang
Ping, Zi
You
Tattoo,
Beijing,
China
Tattoo by
Alex, Sacred
Tattoo, UK
Sleeve by Matt
Jordan, Shi
Shape Tattoo,
Auckland, NZ
SKIN&INK 19
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Cecil
Porter
Article
by Jill
Bergforth
.
n
i
a
P
t
Grea
.
t
r
A
t
a
e
Gr
A
merican artist Cecil Porters father died when Cecil was twelve years old.
Cecils only escape after his fathers passing was super heroes and the
fantasy story lines of comics. Cecils mother decided to move the family
to her hometown on an impulse and Cecil had a difficult time making new friends.
His cousin was absolutely fanatical about comics and so, too, became Cecil. Reading
stories about super heroes saving the world and drawing were his only escapes from
the real world. In fact, Cecil became instantly hooked and wanted to make a career
out of creating art for comic books.
After he graduated from high school at the age of sixteen, he was determined to
make a living from drawing comics. He got a part time job at an independent comic
book company in Cincinnati. Even though Cecil was struggling to pay his bills, it was
because of this very job that he bumped into the tattoo industry. A fellow co-worker
at the comic book company recognized Cecils drawing talent and encouraged him to
pursue a career in tattooing.
I was eighteen when I attempted to get into tattoos. I got some equipment and did
a bunch of terrible tattoosand I mean terrible! I screwed up my girlfriends and
even her dads tattoo really badly. I was doing it all wrong, and once the fun of look
at me Im tattooing wore off, I realized that what I was doing wasnt just terrible look-
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
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there. I love the scenery, and its great fat guy weather.
It kind of reminds me of home, so I feel more comfortable. So, we are moving if all goes well and I will be
open and working in January. So, with the studio I hope
that every customer that comes in sees that creating art
on the skin, on a computer, or on canvas is still art. We
ne of the greatest additions to the American convention schedule in 2012 was the launch of
Hawaiis first-ever tattoo expo. The talk of the
convention circuit was talk of major tattoo work in the
long-standing Hawaiian tradition, the many other disciplines being inked all day, and folks heading to the outdoors to sip drinks and dip their toes in the Pacific Ocean
each evening. So, when the second annual PI & AF was set
to go down at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall last August, ink
fanatics were tripping over one another to book flights to
our 50th state.
Act Two met and exceeded all expectationsfrom both
returning attendees and those who were making their first
128 SKIN&INK
SKIN&INK 129
bikes and boards worked magic on the ramp throughout the convention and
added a modern-day atmosphere to a very traditional event. Also, in this vein
was a pretty awesome custom-car exhibition that rivaled those bigger-named
car shows on the mainland.
Calendar girls, scantily clad in bikinis, also raised the heat level of the show
way above the boiling point and added to the something for everyone aim of
the promoters. Just as an aside, the 2014 Calendar featuring these beautiful
ladies is now available for purchase from the convention website. Proceeds
from the calendar sales have been earmarked for a very worthy cause.
For a second year we enjoyed dropping anchor in Hawaii and hanging with
new faces as well as the usual groups we see at the major North American
conventions. Shot for shot, the Pacific Ink & Art Festival boasts more full back
132 SKIN&INK
pieces and body suits than we find at most other shows, and our
photographers had a field day capturing all of this amazing work for
our convention coverage.
Breathtaking tattoo work, cool people, a great atmosphere,
and a backdrop that is nothing short of heaven-on-earth make
this a convention that all serious ink enthusiasts must experience for themselves.
If you have plans for attending the 2014 show, tickets are already
on sale. Booth space for the event is also available (as of the time
of this writing). All the available information about the Third Annual
Pacific Ink & Art Festival can be found at
pacificinkandartexpo.com. You can also keep up with the convention news on the conventions Facebook page
facebook.com/HawaiiTattooExpo.
SKIN&INK 133
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1st Place:
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
eR mber
rO eliana
Article by
Michael Nguyen
s
i
H
g
n
i
t
h
g
Fi
p
o
T
e
h
T
o
Way T
M
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
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after
I
had
only
been
SKIN&INK 141
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
you if you know how to tune it properly.
Being that you had no formal apprenticeship, how were you
able to take it upon yourself to develop into a great tattoo
artist? What were some of the things you did to improve your
craft during that time when you first picked up a machine?
Ive always looked for ways to be surrounded by great artists
so that I could learn by watching and talking with them. I have
always made an effort to work at shops where they put the
client first, are not just about making money, but are creating
work that people can be proud of. The passion that I have for
art and tattooing drives me to always improve.
You do quite a bit of travelling, so how different is the
experience for you when youre on the road in front of packed
conventions as opposed to tattooing from your own personal
studio space? Is the experience any more difficult for you
when youre on the road?
It can be a little distracting sometimes. It does take me a little
bit longer to get in my zone, but all in all, its worth it to get to
hang out with the other artists, make new connections, and get
the exposure.
What is the tattoo scene like back home in Guatemala? And
how does it stack up against the tattoo-crazy culture thats
populated America?
I left Guatemala when I was four years old, but I can only
imagine that it wouldnt be easy. Here in the United States, I
think we sometimes take for granted how simple it is for us to
have access to all the supplies and up-to-date technology that
142 SKIN&INK
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
they dont have there. In Guatemala, they are very close-minded to the tattoo
industry. Having a tattoo in Guatemala usually means that you are in a gang, so
you are easily looked down upon or assumed to be a criminal.
What types of artistic activities did you do back when you were a kid?
All that I knew as a kid was stencil drawing. I always did drawings in class and
would draw pictures for the girls. I didnt know anything about color then. I
learned everything about color from tattooing. I really like stencil drawing
because you can do it anywhere with just a pencil and paper and you can
incorporate a lot of detail into it.
Do you believe tattooing become more natural to you because you already
laid down that strong art background?
I dont think that I had a really strong artistic foundation before I started
tattooing, but I have always tried to be a perfectionist when it comes to drawing
or painting. After I got into the tattooing industry, I took some pastel and oil
painting classes to help me understand more about art, and later I introduced
this into my tattooing.
What are some types of things youd like to accomplish this year? Any styles
youre interested in trying out? Pieces youd like to tattoo? Business-related
or shop goals?
My main goal for 2014 is to open my own shop in the Dallas area. I am
currently in the process of doing that now. I would like to be more productive as
a painter and be able to produce more art work this year. I would really like to
work on more large scale tattoo pieces and keep developing my style.
Article by
Bill Waytowich
apanese tattoos date back earlier than 3000 B.C., and evidence of tattoo design has been found in many ancient clay
figures. When Japanese tattooing first began, there was not a
concept of just a single tattoo. The style in those days was to have a tattooed
body suittattoos that covered all regions of the body. The Japanese term used to
describe this style of tattoo is Irezumi. Irezumi means the insertion of ink under the
skin to leave a permanent, decorative mark, or tattoo.
Here is an abbreviated 12,000 year journey through the fascinating, but tumultuous,
history of Japanese tattooing.
146 SKIN&INK
10,0003,000 B.C.
Although only clay statues found in Japan remain
to depict these tattoos, the
history of the Japanese
tattoo dates back as far
as 10,000 B.C. This time
period was known as the
Joman or Paleolithic Era.
Representations of tattoos at this time were for
both spiritual and decorative purposes. Later,
these markings would be
more of a demarcation of
social status or religious
influence.
Some scholars have
suggested that the distinctive cord-marked patterns
observed on the faces and
bodies of the early clay figures represented tattoos
but some archaeologists
believe the marks were
meant to be decorative
designs rather than tattoos. The method used to
achieve a cord-marked pattern onto clay was to wrap
a thin rope or cord around
a small flat bone or wood
paddle, which was pressed
into the soft clay to
achieve a design. There are
many similarities in other
300 A.D.
The first actual written
record of a Japanese tattoo is found in the History
of Chinese Dynasties.
According to this text,
Japanese men would tattoo their faces and decorate their bodies with
designs which eventually became a normal
practice in their society. Japanese tattooing is also mentioned
in other Chinese texts but
usually in a negative way.
The Chinese thought of
tattooing as a sign of outcasts and barbarism and
only used it for purposes
of punishment.
A shift began to occur
in the Kofun period of
Japanese history. Between
300 and 600 A.D., tattoos
took on a more negative
connotation. The word
kofun is Japanese for
the type of burial mounds
dating from this era.
During this time period,
Japanese tattoos were
placed on criminals as
punishment, just as the
Chinese did but in a man-
600 A.D.
By the early seventh century, Japanese rulers
had adopted much of the Chinese culture and attitudes of the Chinese, and as a result, decorative
SKIN&INK 147
720 A.D.
The first record of Japanese tattooing as a punishment
was mentioned in a history text where the emperor made
the decision to sentence an accused anarchist, who had
plotted to overthrow the state, to be tattooed rather than
sentenced to death. According to the text, the emperor
refused to sentence the criminal to the death penalty as a
measure of leniency.
Edo Period
Between 1600 and 1868 A.D., the role of tattoos in
Japanese society began to change. Tattooed marks were
still used as punishment, but minor fads for decorative tattoos began to appear, paving the way for the decorative
Japanese tattoo which, in time, developed into the
advanced art form that is known today.
By the seventeenth century there was a more advanced
and generally accepted codification of tattoo marks used to
148 SKIN&INK
Nineteenth Century
Unfortunately for those who were tattooed, whether
criminals or regular folk, tattoos were outlawed in 1868
during the Meiji period. Japan was attempting to
Westernize, and the government, led by Emperor Meiji
Tenno, felt that tattoos were barbaric and distasteful.
People with tattoos became ostracized, regardless of
whether they were tattooed for illegal activity or as a
personal choice. Ironically, under the new laws,
Japanese tattoo artists were allowed to tattoo foreigners but not Japanese people.
The best tattoo masters established studios in
Yokohama and did a lot of business tattooing foreign
sailors. Their skills were so great that they attracted a
number of very distinguished clients, including many
European dignitaries. Another set of laws that helped to
influence Japanese tattoo art involved the prohibition of
the lower classes from wearing the ornate kimonos that
were worn by the elite and ruling classes. So, the lower
classes began to wear ornate body suits, or full body
150 SKIN&INK
tattoos, instead. These body suits generally covered the body from the neck down to the elbows
and just above the knee. This way, the commoners could wear ornate designs for themselves
and hide them under their plain clothing.
Twentieth Century
In 1936, fighting broke out between China and
Japan and almost all Japanese men were drafted into the army. People with tattoos were
thought to be discipline problems, so they
werent drafted, and the government passed a
law against tattooing. After that, the tattooists
had to work in secretagain. In 1946, after
WWII, General MacArthur liberalized the
Japanese laws due to the popularity of tattooing
among foreign servicemen. As a result, tattooing became legal again. But the tattoo artists
continued to work privately in the shadows, by
appointment. Japanese tattoo masters were
called Horis and they were considered the
best in the world at the time with their elaborate
and intricate tattoo designs.
Today
In the past decade, many younger generations
of Japanese have started getting tattoos. Many
of them are not going with the traditional
Japanese themes or designs. Nor are the using
the traditional way of getting tattoos done. Instead, they are getting
more Western styles such as tribal tattoos. They also tend to favor
Westernized tattooingdone with a tattoo machine and inks.
The old-fashioned way of getting a tattoo done via tapping is very
time consuming and costly (also very painful). A typical full-body suit
tattoo can take up to five years to complete and can cost upwards of $
30,000 USD. Despite the cost and the pain, these forms of traditional
tattooing still exist in Japan today, via exceptional artists like Hori-Hiro.
Although tattoos have gained in popularity among the youth of Japan,
there is still a general stigma against tattoos. Unlike the United States,
even finding a tattoo shop in Japan may prove difficult. In Japan, tattoo
shops are primarily placed in areas that are very touristy or that are U.S.military friendly. In general, tattoos are frowned upon, and many traditional Japanese establishments ban people with tattoos or refuse to
serve those who have tattoos. Japanese public baths and hot springs
usually have signs that state people with tattoos may not enter or warn
people that their tattoos need to be covered to enter the premises.
Conclusion
Throughout Japans roller-coaster history of tattoos, todays popularity of tattoos may appear to be just a current trend. However, history has shown that this unique art form dates back many thousands
of years. It has been outlawed and tampered with by various leaders.
What began as a brand to mark criminals, outcasts, and degenerates
has slowly but surely roller-coastered back and forth wildly throughout Japanese history.
Tattoos have been transformed into a legitimate and recognized art
form in todays Japan and in the eyes of many have earned the right
to exist.
SKIN&INK 151
INTERNATIONAL INK
152 SKIN&INK
S H I G E
INTERNATIONAL INK
A few words to
everybody who
wants to get
tattooed by
Shige
He is, as you can
imagine, booked
out for a long
time, and he is
quite particular
about assignments he takes
on. He usually
prefers to work
on large projects,
sometimes on
foreigners, if
they are able to
come to Japan
repeatedly, speak
Japanese, or can
bring a reliable
translator. Shige
occasionally visits international
conventions,
such as London,
the Bay Area
convention, and
other international shows which
can be found on
his website.
Also, Shiges
apprentice Tomo,
who is actually
an incredible
artist in his own
right, is doing
beautiful work
too
Travelin Mick managed, with the invaluable help of his translator Sana, to win over the quiet-but-friendly artist for an interview in his beautiful shop in Yokohama. After countless visits
to Japan over several years, this article has finally taken shape.
So, now, exclusively for Skin&Ink Magazine, here is the interview with Shigenori Iwasaki, also known as Shige.
Shige-San, how did you become familiar with the topic of tattooing as art? Was there any influence from your family about
being an artist?
My mother, who painted aquarels herself, wanted to encour154 SKIN&INK
INTERNATIONAL INK
To some Westerners, details such
as weapons or ornaments seem to
matter more. It reminds me of
someone buying a car and picking
some extras from a list of options.
This often doesnt work, as I want
to leave the spirit and tradition of
Japanese tattoo untouched.
So, what is the correct way to
choose a Japanese tattoo design?
How do you proceed if a client
comes to you and wants to get tattooed?
For the planning of a tattoo, I
have a long consultation with the
client firstoften an entire day. We
go deeply into private matters. We
explore the innermost of the client
and talk about philosophical things,
for example. Then we decide the rough topic, whether it will be
a Buddha, a warrior scene, etc. For this, we need to talk about
what the client wants to expresshis own character, the history of his life, or his wishes? I try to find out about his motivation for the tattoo, such as his family relations. Pre-existing tattoos have to be balanced, as well. Then we go into details
which aspect of a certain warrior should be emphasized; the
braveness and cruelty or moral and emotional confusion, perhaps? Even in the same type of image, the tattoo can take a
totally different meaning and character, and it can be interpreted
in different ways on individual wearers. In the end, the clients
usually leave the details to me and I make an actual-size drawing of the tattoo. Most smaller details I fill in later during the
156 SKIN&INK
Did you ever think about going beyond Japanese art and
trying different genres altogether?
Japanese art gives me so much inspiration, it seems
almost endless. I would rather not look somewhere else,
but want to try to focus my own views on Japanese art to
find new fields and angles for tattooing. I want to develop
my art rather than change it.
You recently started teaching seminars. What is it that
Shige has to say that other artists might want to hear?
I am asking myself this same question! Ha-ha! However,
I feel honored that others want to learn from me as I was
never formally trained myself! I am considering advice
from my friend Jeff Gogu, who is more experienced in
this. But we are different characters, of course. Jeff is Jeff.
Shige is Shige. So, our seminars will be different again. But
teaching drawing techniques and equipment, like ink and
needles, seems too shallow, and the basic meanings of
Japanese designs can be found in books already. I would
Contact:
Shige
Yellow Blaze
Shigenori Iwasaki
1-15-6 SAZA BLD. #6
Ishikawa-cho Naka-ku
Yokohama City, Kanagawa 231-0868
Japan
Tel.: +81-(0)45-662-7807
Fax: +81-(0)45-662-7844
Email: shige@yellowblaze.net
URL: http://www.yellowblaze.net
Instagram: @shige_yellowblaze
SKIN&INK 157
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department today!
Marty Puntus
201-843-4004 x113
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TEE-SHIRTSJEWELRYDRESSES
HATSHOODIESART and MORE!
Mpuntus@enoblemedia.com
oday I will
be discussing
opaque grey inks.
There is much
debate over
whether or not the
opaque grey is a
legit form of black
and grey tattooing.
I have used several
of the pre-mixed
greywash sets out
there, but the
opaque grey has a
completely different
feel to it.
Sometimes it is
hard to tell how
light the wash will
become after healing in the skin. I
have applied the greywash the same
way every time and there are always
differences in the darkness because
of healing variables.
I think by using the opaque grey, a
lot of the guessing is eliminated. If
you saturate the tattoo, it will look
pretty much the same after healing
out. I am sponsored by Fusion Ink,
so I am using their set of opaque
grey. I have had no problem making
the tattoos solideven the lighter
shades. It goes in easily. I have used
some lighter grey tones from other
companies and they just dont
appear to be as solid. It seems as if
they become a bloody mess and
hard to differentiate between the
lights and darks.
It is good to use straight water in
your spray bottle for cleaning skin.
The water doesnt make the skin as
irritated and definitely cuts back on
the redness. (This is a good practice,
too, if you are interested in getting a
decent photo of the fresh piece.)
I think it is easier to use than wash
because the lightest washes always
just look like blood until healed. The
160 SKIN&INK
lightest opaque
greys are solid
without the blood
being a big factor.
Whenever greywash tattoos are
fresh, the blood
always hides
some imperfections and makes
the darker tones
appear to be even
darker. The healed
version doesnt
always end up
healing exactly
as predicted.
TATTOO LIFE
JOHN YOUNGAITIS
A DYING BREED
162 SKIN&INK
tion. You kill it, you eat it, you mount it. People
have lost touch with the process of where their
meat comes from. You buy a piece of meat in
the supermarket and you dont even know
where it came from.
Up until the 1970s, most of the work for
Cypress Hill came from hunters.
There used to be a lot more hunters, John
says. Not so much anymore. Back then there
were five or six taxidermy shops in Brooklyn
alone. Now Im the only one left in the entire
city. I get restoration work. Some hunters. And
people who want their pets mountedcats,
dogs, rabbits. They love them and want to keep
them around. Im a little bit of a grief counselor.
Its a delicate conversation. Hunters are different. They understand the process. With pet
owners, its a memory. With hunters, its a story
about the hunt. Usually, its a big kill. They want
it around for bragging rights. You know, a
macho thing.
The tattoos on Johns chest, arms, and back
are a testament to his love of animals and to
the art of taxidermy. They are also a reminder
of, and remainder from, his days as a motorcycle badass.
Tattoos are cool, and thats why I have them.
It used to be just the bad guys, John says,
chuckling. Tattoos were part of the biker life
style. It was what separated us from the normal
citizens. We were the only ones. And the military. People who had ink had a darker edge. We
felt like we were on the fringe of society. He
laughs. Maybe thats because we were. He
pauses. At twenty you want to be a bad ass,
but now tattoos have become so normal its lost
its mystique.
John has a 10,000-year-old cave painting
tattooed on his back. He found the photograph of it in the National Geographic. Two
cavemen hunt large deer-like animals with
bows and arrows.
It appealed to me because I prefer bow to a
gun. I like to hunt. Why not? I like the fresh air.
I like being in the woods. I like the challenge.
Its man against nature. And the cave painting
looked so cool. The scroll-type work in front is
something I designed because its tribal, but a
little different. The wolf and eagle on my chest
are symbols of strength and power. The
snake? I dont know. I just like snakes. And the
paw in the middle of my chest is for three of
my dogs. W is for Wolf, B for Brutus, and R for
Rookie. Each one was special and meant a lot
to me. The deer skull? Thats taxidermy.
A five-and-a-half-foot brown bear stands in
the showroom part of Johns shop. He and his
dad built it about ten years ago.
My dad taught me everything I know, John
says. He worked right up to the end. Wed
SKIN&INK 163
TATTOO LIFE
argue like any father and son, but it was always about the work. We
were friends. I miss him all the time.
John is that rare commoditya man who clearly loves his work.
A full deer or bear takes about six months, he says. A bird or
fish maybe a month. With either you have to butcher it, skin it, take
measurements, salt the skin, tan it, order body forms, and then
finally assemble the animal. Taking an animal apart is mechanical.
Putting it back together is an art. What can I say? Its a living. I like
doing it. Its my domain. Its where I feel most comfortable. Nobody
bothers me. I do taxidermy and Im in my own world.
164 SKIN&INK
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UNITED AND STRONG...
and LOOKING
DAMN GOOD DOING IT!
Photo: Harrison Funk Makeup: Ashley Gibson Background image iStockphoto.com/Marc Fischer
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Tattoo Peter
166 SKIN&INK
ts been almost forty years since The Professor Bill Loika began his career as a tattoo artist as Tattoo
Peters protg. Back in the day, the tattoo world was still an underground movement run by sailors and
scoundrels, equal parts tough and romantic. Bill has lived through tattooings transformation, and
although hes not too happy with the way things are going now, he still kicks ass by working ten hours a day,
five days per week. I met him at the Tattoo Peter shop in Amsterdam, one of the oldest tattoo shops in Europe
and the site of his beginnings into tattooing.
life here, and I work at one of the oldest tattoo shops in the world.
Its in the Red Light District right near the water and sea port. You
can see sailing ships if you walk up the street. Honestly, is there a
better location for a tattoo shop?
Is there anything that you miss about living in the United
States?
I definitely miss hanging out with my daughter. Also theres a
bunch of stupid things like some food that I cant find here, and
driving around in big cars.
What are your first memories about tattoos?
One of my earliest memories involves our next door neighbor,
Tattoo Charlie. This old Scottish seaman, all sleeved up, used to
walk around in his wife-beater all the time. I was eight or nine
years old and I was just fascinated by his look. I used to stare at
his tattoos and try to figure out what they were. I also saw a lot of
sailors growing up. Where I lived, a navy base and tattoo shops
were nearby. All these sailors would have fresh tattoos. And I
remember going to the park with my dad and there was this sailor
with a fresh tattoo. He had just gotten it done that day. The sailor
let me touch it and look at it. It was incredibly bright, and I was so
amazed by it. Those are some of my earliest memories of tattoos.
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Have you seen any changes in the tattoo industry that concern you?
Probably just the fact that tattoos are becoming extremely
mainstream! I dont like to be nostalgic but I really miss the
old days when tattooers and people with tattoos used to be
at the fringes of society. There are thousands of young kids
today out there who think they are masters after they got a
tattoo machine at a convention or on the Internet. Just in
Amsterdam there are over seventy tattoo shops. When I
started tattooing in 1975, there were probably twenty tattoo
shops total throughout Europe! One good thing is that even
if there will always be people who ask for their girlfriends
initials, or stars, or tribal tattoos, I would say that in general
peoples tastes are getting better. Traditional style is getting
quite popular lately, and this makes me very happy.
What about all these tattooers on TV?
I dont like tattooers who take themselves
too seriously and act like divas on TV. I
dont take myself real serious even now
that Im getting old!
Do you consider anyone your mentor in
the tattoo world?
There are a lot of people who helped me
and gave me inspiration during the years.
If I had to make a list, it would be too
long! Tattoo Peter obviously helped me a
lot in the beginning, then Paul Rogers,
and of course Jack Armstrong, who gave
me my first job. As for influences, I
always looked through the sketchbooks of
Dave Gibson, Mike Malone, and Bob
Roberts.
SKIN&INK 169
Damon Conklins
Super Genius Tattoo
On Seattles Capitol Hill
Article and Photos By Mary dAloisio
his month Skin & Ink traveled to the Left Coast to take
Damon Conklin up on his
invite for a good time at Super
Genius Tattoo in the Capitol Hill
neighborhood of Seattle. I flew into
Sea-Tac, leaving behind 10-degree
spring weather of the Midwest and
8-foot snow piles for the milder climate of the Pacific Northwest and
friendly people. I packed light, with
every intention of trying to keep up
with Damon and his die-hard work
and party ethic and seeing/experiencing everything we could in the
two-day visit.
The promise of the temperate
Damon Conklin
I was ushered in by apprentice, and
seemingly manager of the universe,
Nicki Rudnicki who took my bags and
introduced me around. Noting an
absence of the huge Afro and resonating
voice, Nicki assured me Damon would be
there shortly. See there on the couch?
(pointing to a pretty girl in a long skirt).
That is his client for today. Hes bound to
be around soon.
I immediately felt at home in the openconcept studio. Its set back off the street a
bit, and the storefront is actually inset
inside the building that houses it but the
guts of the shop have the raging heart of a
lion. The eye takes in the super high ceilings and the spacious layout before lighting
on the 5-foot tall oil paintings, crushed vel-
Ashley
Wollaston
Mike Gordillo
vet and carved wood kings throne,
walls lined with rich wooden bookshelves packed to the gills with tattoo art books, bibles, and the
like. The leather couches seemed full
of people waiting to get to the full
tattoo chairs and tables. Eclectic
sculpture accented the nooks and
crannies everywhere. I looked up and
found their paint studio. The place
was packed with canvas after canvas, religious imagery, and old and
fresh palettes.
Just when I thought I could spend
172 SKIN&INK
Super Genius
Axi Goregots
Ive learned a ton from Damon already. I
really like this place, and the artists here support each other and push each other every day.
I can see a lot of growth in my own art already,
said Wooten.
Working with Damon is a constant source of
SKIN&INK 173
Peter Falcone
inspiration. Hes the most laid back and chill
boss Ive ever had.
Brads booth neighbor and buddy Blake
BTK Kennedy was working on a realistic portrait of King Diamond as Ashley Wollaston was
demonstrating to tattoo novice Collin Bryant
how to pre-blend and make a color
reference. Kyler Martz walked by to playfully
tease us and grab a drink, and I followed him
back to his area only to see a traditional butt-
Kyler Martz
174 SKIN&INK
BTK
Brad Wooten
4
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1st Place:
RYAN SHERWOOD, Shocker Tattoo Company
302 Lark Street Albany, NY 12210, 518.426.TATS (8287)
shockertattoo@gmail.com
2nd place:
Michael Brito, Phase II Tattoo, 371 Henderson
Hwy, Winnipeg, MB R2K 2H2, Canada