Victor Farinelli: Ink Master Review (Episode 4)
By Victor Farinelli “Tattoo Her What?!” or “I am a Tattoo Artist That Leads a Sheltered Life.”
So the big hub-bub about this episode is that a gal wanted to get a phoenix coming out of her tunnel of love. It seems that all the artists thought this was over the top. They played this little segment on every preview. Come on folks. This is old hat. Dave Lum was thinking shit up like this all day in the late 80s/early 90s – and much better ideas I might add. Steve “throw the horns” Tefft asked, “Where do they get these people?” I think that they are in every town. One just hasn’t popped in your shop yet Mr. Tefft… (more…)
Michael “Pogo” Kortez
Story and photos by Marco Annunziata
Jonathan Shaw couldn’t have use better words to introduce Pogo: “Michael was born in a circus tent on the outskirts of Guadalajara, Mexico. The bastard offspring of an itinerant Chicharon farmer and a mentally challenged Tattooed Lady, young Pogo became intrigued with the art of tattooing from an early age. After seeing two pigs copulating behind an abandoned brassiere factory, his first tattoo, inspired by that memorable event, was a surprisingly realistic rendition of a pair of naughty porkers, encircled by a banner reading, MAKIN’ BACON… (more…)
Vice Magazine: Tattoo Age Mutsuo Episode III (VIDEO)
In Part 3, Mutsuo reflects on the blurry line of legality of tattooing in Japan, along with the prejudice against tattooed individuals that still lingers within society today, where people with tattoos are not welcome in public baths, beaches, pools, etc. He muses on why tattooing makes him happy and provides personal thoughts on spirituality, while bringing us to local temples of his hometown and introducing us to his lovely family. (more…)
Victor Farinelli: Ink Master Review (Episode 3)
By Victor Farinelli
This week’s episode is titled “80-Year-Old Virgin” or “I Have No Respect for Traditional Tattoos.”
You don’t have to be part of the skinhead retirement program to have respect for traditional tattoos. The masonic temple that is Western tattooing is built on its foundation. It is our history. I was looking forward to this challenge to see if all these photo-realism/new school scamps could pull off something that a lot of middle of the road, i.e. this glum lot, take for granted. In short, do not get a traditional tattoo from any of these wenches and scalawags. It hurt my head to watch it. The only redeeming value of this episode is that Richard Stell was a guest judge, and Oliver looks like he could give two-shits-and-a-fuck about being there. Riddle me this: Why does Dave Navarro always have duckface? It is a peculiar look… (more…)
Vice Magazine: Tattoo Age Mutsuo Episode II (VIDEO)
In this episode of Tattoo Age we delve into the history of Three Tides Tattoo. We hear from Mutsuo, Chris Garver, and Masa Sakamoto, as they give us insight into how western-style tattooing gained ground in Japan after the 1999 Tokyo Convention. We also hear about all the guest artists who have contributed to making Mutsuo the artist he is today.
Victor Farinelli: Ink Master Review (Episodes 1 & 2)
By Victor Farinelli
Let the madness begin! The second season of Ink Masters is upon us. Spike TV aired two episodes this last week for our viewing pleasure.
Episode One: Tattooing the Dead
Let’s start off with the season premiere titled “Tattooing the Dead” or “How bad can I fuck up a snake and dagger tattoo.” They start off with what they call the “flash” challenge. It’s usually a non-tattoo related challenge where the winner of the contest gets an advantage in the actual tattoo challenge… (more…)
Vice Magazine: Tattoo Age Mutsuo Episode I (VIDEO)
The new Tattoo Age features Mutsuo, he has more styles than the first of day school.
This series revolves around an artist named Mutsuo who tattoos at the world-famous Three Tides Tattoo in Osaka, Japan. Mutsuo went from being one of the shop’s first customers to its first apprentice, and now he is considered its most senior tattoo artist. He learned the trade from all the American tattoo masters who visited Three Tides, and got what Chris Garver calls “a 90s-style tattoo education.” Enjoy.
[More info on expanded page]
Sean Herman: Tattoo Collectors (Part III)
By Sean Herman
This past Hell City I was fortunate to tattoo three different collectors. Collectors are a whole different breed of client getting tattooed. They are passionately pursuing specific tattooers, and getting pieces to signify the work from that tattooer, no matter what the subject matter of the piece is. That always makes it an honor to tattoo a collector. During the weekend I had some people who were close to me tell me, “Hey, you keep going on about how awesome it is that they love tattooing, how about you write a blog about the collectors, like the one’s you write about tattooers.” She was right, why didn’t I think of that. Genius. After Hell City, I decided to get a few of them together to tell us their stories, I hope you enjoy… [Part I] [PartII]
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Vice Magazine: Tattoo Age Valerie Vargas Episode III (VIDEO)
In the last part of our Valerie Vargas episode, we take a closer look at the tattoo power couple that is Stewart Robson and Valerie Vargas. When we began shooting this piece, we didn’t know how close these wonderfully talented artists were and found ourselves pleasantly surprised by their shared pleasure in tattooing. P.S. Be on the look out for a little Valerie Vargas bonus part coming out later this season. Enjoy.
[More info on expanded page]
Sean Herman: Tattoo Collectors (Part II)
By Sean Herman
This past Hell City I was fortunate to tattoo three different collectors. Collectors are a whole different breed of client getting tattooed. They are passionately pursuing specific tattooers, and getting pieces to signify the work from that tattooer, no matter what the subject matter of the piece is. That always makes it an honor to tattoo a collector. During the weekend I had some people who were close to me tell me, “Hey, you keep going on about how awesome it is that they love tattooing, how about you write a blog about the collectors, like the one’s you write about tattooers.” She was right, why didn’t I think of that. Genius. After Hell City, I decided to get a few of them together to tell us their stories, I hope you enjoy… [Part I] (more…)
Vice Magazine: Tattoo Age Valerie Vargas Episode II (VIDEO)
Second installment of Tattoo Age’s Valerie Vargas piece is now live! We take a closer look at Frith Street, the tattoo parlor where she works, and its owner, Dante DiMassa. Valerie also gives us insight into her development as a tattooer and why London will be her home base for the foreseeable future
[More info on expanded page]
Sean Herman: Tattoo Collectors (Part I)
By Sean Herman
This past Hell City I was fortunate to tattoo three different collectors. Collectors are a whole different breed of client getting tattooed. They are passionately pursuing specific tattooers, and getting pieces to signify the work from that tattooer, no matter what the subject matter of the piece is. That always makes it an honor to tattoo a collector. During the weekend I had some people who were close to me tell me, “Hey, you keep going on about how awesome it is that they love tattooing, how about you write a blog about the collectors, like the one’s you write about tattooers.” She was right, why didn’t I think of that. Genius. After Hell City, I decided to get a few of them together to tell us their stories, I hope you enjoy… (more…)
Vice Magazine: Tattoo Age Valerie Vargas Episode I (VIDEO)
Valerie Vargas grew up in Scotland, but has lived and worked in London for the last five years. You can find her at Frith Street Tattoo in SoHo, where she’s known for doing the prettiest “lady heads” in the world. Valerie has only been seriously tattooing since 2007, so she’s proof that talent and hard work will never fail you.
[More info on expanded page]
Vice Magazine: Tattoo Age Season 2 Trailer (VIDEO)
Courtesy of VICE.com: In this season of VICE’s acclaimed show, we travel the world to feature different artists from all ends of the tattoo spectrum, including Valerie Vargas of the UK, Mutsuo of Japan, and Thom deVita of New York City. Each artists’ episodes will include three installments, airing every Wednesday on VICE.COM. First up – Valerie Vargas, whose first installment will air next Wednesday, September 12th.
[More info on expanded page]
Victor Farinelli: ‘Ink Master’ Prologue
By Victor Farinelli On Tuesday October 9th, Ink Masters Season 2 begins. I am not here to say anything pro or con about this show or shows about tattooing in general. I am just a sucker for “reality” TV. I used to watch wrestling when I was a kid. That’s real, right? With that being said, I am here to give you the play-by-play as the color commentator on this season of Days of Our Lives: Tattoo Addition. A regular old “Mean” Gene Okerlund, if you will. Each week I am going to give a recap of each episode. From the funny, to the absurd, to Mr. Peck’s line-of-the-episode. It should be interesting to say the least. So before the show begins, let’s look at the players… (more…)
Valerie Vargas Article Preview for Tattoo Artist Magazine Issue #31
Interview By Chad Koeplinger
Chad Koeplinger: Who are some of the tattoo artists that you were interested in at that point? What were you looking at tattoo-wise? What was blowing your mind?
Valerie Vargas: At that point I don’t think I became fully aware of people that I like now until I already started my apprenticeship, because that’s when I was allowed to have a look through the books that for me at the time were way too expensive -I couldn’t afford them. And my boss had all of the Tattootimes. He never looked at them anymore but they were up on the shelf and any time it was quiet I’d have a look. I became more aware of Ed Hardy and more of the West Coast kind of guys. But even then I was still struggling to remember names, I just knew the work. I remember some backpieces that are still pretty awesome. And it was also through my friendship with Stewart in the beginning that he was really on it. He knew who everybody was, what they were doing, and he was totally stoked about everything, and he taught me a fair bit about it… (more…)
Nick Rodin Video Preview for Tattoo Artist Magazine Issue #31 (VIDEO)
Interview By Freddy Corbin (more…)
Sean Herman: Jeff Ensminger Interview (Part II)
By Sean Herman [Editor's Note: To read Part I of this interview please click this link.]
One of my favorite [stories] from him was the story about him “tattooing” himself. It’s pretty amazing. I think Jeff is one of those great examples of someone who loves tattooing so much, they will do anything to be involved in tattooing… (more…)
Nick Rodin Article Preview for Tattoo Artist Magazine Issue #31
Interview By Freddy Corbin
Freddy Corbin: When it comes to customers, what is it that a customer might do that bugs you the most? What things drive you the most crazy?
Nick Rodin: A customer that you know doesn’t trust you I think is the worst customer.
Good answer.
Like if they’re just second-guessing everything you do. Because then you start second-guessing yourself, and then you start making mistakes. So uncomfortable… (more…)
Sean Herman: Jeff Ensminger Interview (Part I)
By Sean Herman
So what did I do that night? I get home, I got the needle, the india ink, the thread, and here I am trying to poke a cross into my hand. I am like a weenie little kid, and I don’t want to poke myself with needles, so I’m trying to do it, but it just didn’t seem to want to go in. So what made the most sense to me was, ‘How do you INJECT the ink into the skin?’ I couldn’t figure that out. I was like, ‘How’s a needle going to INJECT the ink?’ So the only thing that made sense to me was to get a syringe… –Jeff Ensminger… (more…)
Freddy Negrete Video Preview for Tattoo Artist Magazine Issue #31
Interview By Shane Enholm… (more…)
Freddy Negrete Article Preview for Tattoo Artist Magazine Issue #31
Interview By Shane Enholm
Shane Enholm: When is the first time you saw a tattoo?
Freddy Negrete: The first time I was really struck with the whole tattoo thing I was 12 years old. I was raised in a foster home because my parents went to prison. So I was in a foster home and it was a white foster home. I grew up in a white area of San Gabriel but I knew the Mexican community from school. I was a troublemaker white kid so they liked me… (more…)
Sean Herman: Jason Reeder Interview
By Sean Herman
So I wanted to do something different with this TAM Blog. The past three tattooers I have featured on here had been tattooing for over 10 years. I think at that point, you are starting to hit your stride a bit. I wanted to feature a different tattooist, one who hadn’t been tattooing for a long time, to get a different perspective on why he was tattooing. With tattooing becoming so everyday, being saturated on television, in magazines, it’s created a different time in tattooing, and I wanted to see if people got into tattooing for different reasons now, as opposed to 10, even 20 years ago. (more…)
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