Japanese Mythical Creatures from Gomineko Books
Courtesy of Gomineko Books: Our new Japanese Mythical Creatures book is finally in the works. Illustrations of Kappa, Kirin, Baku, Nue, Kitsune and Tsuchigumo from over 120 different artists world wide. Reserve your copy today through the website: www.gominekobooks.com.
Hannya Mask Project Teaser (VIDEO)
[More info on expanded page]
Click here for more details: Hannya Mask Project: A Woman Scorned
Crystal Morey: The Japanese HiHi (Horiyoshi III VIDEO)
By Crystal Morey
I want to continue blogging on some of the more obscure Japanese yokai and as chance would have it, Matty No Times from Three Kings Tattoo was just out here on tour and wanted to have Horiyoshi III tattoo something on him that is some way mirrored his visage… and I immediately thought of a HiHi. We pitched the idea to Horiyoshi III who thought it was hilarious and, sourcing Yoshitoshi, he did an amazing piece in about 45 minutes…
Horitaka: Molly Skobba Previews Bloodwork: Bodies
By Molly Skobba
I had a hard time writing this blog. It took me longer than usual, with more restarts and edits before send off. I realized that it’s because BloodWork: Bodies is such a gigantic project with so many facets and possible approaches in writing about this book. It is epic not only in content but also in physical stature with 2 volumes, 900 pages and weighing over 25-pounds filled with massive pages of outsized and extravagant photos that bond the human form and visual art seamlessly…
Horitaka: Give ‘Em A Hand Project
By Takahiro “Horitaka” Kitamura
When I think about good tattooing, I think of art executed by skilled craftsman. In an era of chain stores and mass production, it is always refreshing to see something hand-made. I met Jamie from RePop through my good friend Chris Yvon. Chris told me about Jamie and RePop, and the hand-made goods they produced. The product certainly lived up to the hype! Rings, buckles, wallets and more, all with old world craftsmanship, with some weight -no cheap materials, and a great retro feel…
Crystal Morey Talks to the Unconventional Gakkin About Japan and Tattooing
By Crystal Morey
There are a million differences between the Kanto (Tokyo) region and the Kansai (Osaka/Kyoto) region of Japan. The ramen tastes different. They use different words and expressions. They stand on the opposite sides of the escalator. There are more tacoyaki (fried octopus fritters) shops down in Kansai than convenient stores. In Kansai people just forget to sleep. They go to work, then go out, then walk outside the club or karaoke bar at 5 a.m. and say, “Oops! It’s daytime!” go home, take a shower and do it all over again. It’s insane. Kansai is also home to some off the hook tattooers and is the birthplace of Japanese new school tattooing. 21st century wabori. Strongly influenced by manga, graffiti and graphic design these pioneers have taken Japanese tattooing a whole different direction and the results are incredible. One of my favorite shops in Kansai is Harizanmai in Kyoto – home of Gotch, the owner and Gakkin. These guys have been consistently putting out unique, mind-blowing tattoos for years now and their work continues to evolve. I snagged Gakkin this weekend for an interview…
New Amsterdam Tattoo Museum to Open on Schedule
By Danny Boy (A letter to Crash)
Just wanted to let you and your readers know where we are at with the museum. We got 12 days left and going into the last round. This week should be pretty hectic, but that’s how we like it. The permanent exhibitions are just about finished as far as painters and carpenters go. Henk is working around the clock, painting away, having meetings, interviews, barking at everyone, overseeing some 50 people with the help of Annemarie Beers and Almar, still squeezing in some tattoos here and there, and still showing up in the mornings with new ideas and drawings of rooms and exhibitions he had made the night before. And all this is for you, tattoo lovers of the world…
Horitaka: Getting Tattooed by Horitomo by Molly Skobba
By Molly Skobba and Takahiro “Horitaka” Kitamura
First off, I want to express how absolutely honored I am to have been tattooed by the renowned Horitomo. Not only did he take the time out of his incredibly busy schedule, but also he tattooed a one-point tattoo on my hand -something he does not do often. It was incredibly kind and generous of him and I am so very grateful.
Crystal Morey: Kyubi no Kitsune – Nine Tailed Fox
By Crystal Morey
This was a really difficult write-up for me because there is so much information and such a wealth of folklore surrounding these creatures, it is quite overwhelming. In Japanese Kitsune means fox. Foxes play a huge role in Japanese mythology -they are both loved and feared by the Japanese people. Foxes, by their very nature, are perceived as sneaky and cunning. Though not always malicious they are generally not to be trusted, and they appear in folklore worldwide as the antagonist… (more…)
Crystal Morey Talks to Dan Sinnes About His Genital Genius
By Crystal Morey
I just got back from the Montreal Tattoo Arts Show and it was such a great event. The Tattoo Mania crew really knows how to put on a great convention and the Gomineko crew can’t wait for next year. While I was there I got a chance to hang out with one of my favorite convention buddies Dan Sinnes and pick his twisted brain a little…
Crystal Morey Talks Shop with Bunshin Horitoshi
By Crystal Morey
I dropped Bunshin Horitoshi’s shop today. I adore his work, particularly his underwater creatures and I think that, for an emerging artist, he’s done a remarkable job creating a signature style for himself, while still adhering to the strict canon of wabori (Japanese traditional tattoo motifs). His work is simple yet bold and flatters the form. There is a wonderful playfulness to his illustrations, which mirror Horitoshi’s own personality and it is this levity that make his pieces so appealing and unique.
Tattoo Art for Japan
By Diamond Jim
What has happened and is still happening in Japan is for us an unthinkable nightmare. Sadly it is not a dream anyone can awake from. Most of us go through life half asleep, concerned with vacation time and whether or not we can afford the newest and best of things. Imagine these things being swept away from you and not knowing if your family members are alive. To survive a natural disaster is a horrifying experience. After you have survived you try to pick up the pieces and with the help of others you start anew. Our brothers and sisters in Japan are not able to do this because for them the disaster is not over; it seems only to be getting worse…
New York Tattoo Artists Publish Flash Book to Benefit Japanese Disaster Victims
Courtesy of Shirts and Destroy: On the six-month anniversary of the devastating tsunami that swept over northern Japan, New York City’s most renowned tattoo artists have come together to create a completely unique, limited edition spiral bound collection of tattoo flash sheets, entitled Flash For Japan to benefit victims of the tsunami…
Crystal Morey: The Japanese Kappas
By Crystal Morey
Kappas are definitely one of the oddest indigenous Japanese creatures. They are depicted simultaneously as both sinister and unerringly cute. They are typically the size of a large child and appear to be a cross between a chimpanzee and a turtle. Their bodies usually resemble a monkey or upright frog with a turtle like head (often with a beak). (more…)
Horiken Tattoo Artist Magazine Article Preview for Issue #27
Interview by Nicki Kasper
Nicki Kasper: Do you explore other mediums, like paint? If so, how do you approach that? Do you market and sell them?
Horiken: Yes, I like to paint very much. I usually paint with acrylics on paper. I like wooden panels as well. I do try to do different things from my tattooing, I may use the same motifs, but I lay paintings out differently. And, I guess I use different shading and coloring techniques; some that may not work in a tattoo. And… yeah, I do sell paintings, I don’t really make a huge effort to sell them, but if someone wants one, I do sell them. When I was in art school, I studied art history. I am trying to study this more and I have the thought that maybe I can paint and draw, a bit separate from tattooing and make something new…
Hannya Mask Project: A Woman Scorned
Courtesy of Anthony Iannucci: The Hannya mask is one of the most highly recognizable images of the 14th century Japanese Noh Theater. The masks are used to convey the identity and mood of the nearly eighty characters in the different tales of the play. The hannya mask is specifically used to represent a vengeful and jealous woman. “a woman scorned.” Her anger and envy have so consumed her that she has turned into a demon, but with some traces of her humanity left. The pointed horns, gleaming eyes, fang-like teeth, combined with a look of pure resentment and hate are tempered by the expression of suffering around the eyes and the artfully disarrayed strands of hair, which indicate passionate emotion thrown into disorder…
Tattoo Artist Magazine Volume I Book Will Be Arriving Next Week!
We are excited to announce that Tattoo Artist Magazine Vol. I will be arriving next week from our printer! We will begin shipping all pre-orders at the end of next week. We apologize for the extended delay and would like to thank everyone for their patience regarding this matter.
If you would like to order the book please visit our TAM Pro Store here: http://tattooartistmagazine.myshopify.com/password.
TAM Vol I. is for professional tattoo artists only.
Foil stamped cover art by Hunter Spanks.
Cheers- TEAM TAM
Crystal Morey Chats with Japanese Tattoo Master Horiren (VIDEO)
By Crystal Morey
Additional Photos By Hiro Hata
I recently had the opportunity to go out to Horiren’s studio in Saitama. Self-taught tebori (hand-poke) artist and student of legendary Ozuma Kaname. Horiren discusses the disappearing art of Shamisen Bori.
I love going out to Horiren’s, her studio is standard for a traditional Japanese tebori artist, a secluded house with no street signs, traditional tatami mats and a low kotatsu table. Her client today was an older gentleman with an amazing black and grey koi backpiece, laid out on the mats in fundoshi, the diaper-like attire seen in photos… (more…)
Horitaka: Molly Skobba Previews Horitomo’s New Book Immovable
As many people in the tattoo world are aware, Horitomo has been busy working on his first book and seminar. I was just telling my girlfriend Molly that I was going to blog about this and she beat me to the punch. She even snapped some photos at Horitomo’s house when he was showing us his drawings. Here is a sneak-peak at what I think will be one of the most important books in tattooing. Introducing guest blogger Molly Skobba… Enjoy!
-Horitaka
Dave Allen: How to Save the World and Gain Karmic Bliss While Tattooing (VIDEO)
By Dave Allen
Photos by Jayme Ford
I never thought that I could make much difference in the world, let alone inspire others to follow my lead. I’m just a hard-working tattoo artist that no one’s heard of. And to tell you the truth, I don’t mind slaving away in anonymity. But I guess when certain circumstances move you to act there’s no telling what might happen…
Crystal Morey: The Japanese Kirin
By Crystal Morey
The Japanese Kirin traces its origins to Chinese mythology, but they have diverged quite a bit since then, both in physical appearance and attributes. In Japan, Kirin are believed to be more powerful than the dragon or phoenix, but are much less aggressive…
Crystal Morey Talks to Japanese Artists About Their Country’s Recent Disasters (VIDEO)
By Crystal Morey
When asked to do some interviews over here in Japan for the TAM Blog I immediately thought of profiling Kishi San from 56 Tattoo in Shibuya, Tokyo. In the tragic aftermath of the quake in Japan’s Tohoku prefecture, Kishi-San immediately went into action contacting his immense web of tattooers and organizing his motorcycle club, the 56 Syndicate, to assist in the still ongoing struggle. I sat down with him and Ako (owner of Ghetto Culture and brother to everyone in the Tokyo underground scene) for a coffee…
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Chris Crooks: Fukurokuju Taming the Baku, Part I (VIDEO)
By Chris Crooks
First off, I would like to say how much of an honor and pleasure it is to contribute to such an important blog, in the company of some of the best tattooists in the world, and it is also exciting to track one of my backpieces from start to finish as even I forget how much work goes into the planning and preparation…
Thanks for your support!
