*NEW* Amsterdam Tattoo Museum Update
By ATM/Blue Bone crew
The situation of the museum is still very complicated. The woman who was supposed to be our financier is bankrupt and there’s a curator now in the museum and they’re still figuring out who owns what. In the meantime we still cannot enter the museum or take the collection away. Every time they postpone the date the collection is to be released because of difficulties. However, it should last no longer than one month… (more…)
Russ Abbott: Ornamental Archive Book Project
By Russ Abbott
The first time I can remember drawing an ornamental frame was for a tattoo design. It was a large, realistic rendering of a Merchant Marine ship. My client wanted the tattoo in memory of his Grandfather. We discussed the options and eventually decided on a reference image for the ship The tattoo would span the entire length of his shin and I would need to invent a way to create a border for the piece. I had recently picked up a vintage oval mirror with intricately carved ornaments on the frame and as I was trying to think of a great concept for the client, my eyes settled on the ornamental mirror and I instantly knew what to do. [Click here to see Russ' Kickstarter video.]
Since that time, I have done countless tattoos with ornamental frames and design elements. I draw ornamental frames for portraits of people, animals, and objects of all kinds. I use the ornamental designs to add flow and excitement to otherwise stiff compositions. I’ve even started doing large-scale works that are made up entirely of ornament alone! (more…)
Dawn Cooke: Jesse Stark Fundraiser
By Dawn Cooke
Let me tell you a little story about Jesse Stark. Jesse starting tattooing as a young man and like most of us had to struggle to learn the craft of tattooing. Jesse worked in Detroit for a while. When I say he worked in Detroit I mean in the city not the suburbs. He was shot at one too many times there and he left to work in the safer community of Ann Arbor… (more…)
Amsterdam Tattoo Museum Update: New Pop-Up Store Opening
Dear Amsterdam Tattoo Museum Supporters & Blue Boners,
Thanks to your support we are happy to announce the opening of a new pop-up store by the Amsterdam Tattoo Museum on the 28th of February. You’re most welcome to attend this event from 4-7 pm at the van Woustraat 78 in Amsterdam. In the shop we sell a wide range of tattoo (related) books and gifts and Henk Schiffmacher, Danny Boy, Chris Danley and Yushi Takei will be tattooing here as well. Of course we will host a bunch of great guest artists like we did in the old museum… (more…)
Paul Booth’s Last Rites Gallery Presents: Yoko d’Holbachie
Last Rites Gallery: What is your earliest memory of picking up a paintbrush? Tell us a little more about it.
Yoko d’Holbachie: I attended a painting class run by an American couple when I was 3 years old. I drew monsters, ghosts and snails with a shell full of eye balls often.
Last Rites Gallery: What does In the Dark mean and why did you choose it for your exhibition at Last Rites Gallery?
Yoko d’Holbachie: I loved the gallery’s space coronation for the dark art, when I visited the Last Rites Gallery. It inspired me for new painting idea that the beautifully glowing critters in the gloom. What I wanted to paint for this exhibition is actually the gleam in the dark, not the dark.
Last Rites Gallery: Please tell us a little bit more on why you paid tribute to contemporary and classical mythologies in some of your pieces? (Ayida Weddo, Hatmehit, Gorgon?)
Yoko d’Holbachie: My critters in my painting had been living inside of me. They have no name. I borrow the stories from various kind of mythologies, when I give a birth to my critters and the story suits to them. Those goddesses I like are not just having super power but also evil, angelic, humanistic, and a mother…
Paul Booth’s Last Rites Gallery Presents: Alexandra Manukyan (VIDEO)
Last Rites Gallery’s NEW Video Interview Series brings you into the conversation with the best artists of dark surrealism…
Melissa Fusco: Actively Sitting Takes Its Toll
By Melissa Fusco
The single best tool that artists have to work with is their own hands. Often I hear clients tell me that my hands must hurt from tattooing hours-on-end. In my experience my hands are the last to feel fatigue and if so, the first to recuperate. The hands are an amazing and complex tool that can withstand hours of repetitive work, their strength, stamina, flexibility and movement is incomparable and cannot be replicated… (more…)
Marcus Kuhn: The Gypsy Gentleman Episode VI (VIDEO)
The Gypsy Gentleman Episode 6: Paris. Marcus Kuhn presents the sixth edition of his new tattoo and travel video series. This new adventure features interviews with Laura Satana and Tin-Tin as they travel deep into the catacombs of France to dig up some skull reference… To support this project for future episodes please visit the Gypsy Gentleman website and donate: http://gypsygentleman.com/.
Send PayPal Donations by cut-and-pasting this link and then clicking the “donate” icon above: justgoodtattoos@yahoo.com
[More information on expanded page]
Dave Waugh: Holy Diver… Or How To Fuck Up A Painting And Attempt To Fix It
By Dave Waugh
So I received a lot of positive feedback on my recent Dio flash sheet, so I was inspired to do another Dio-esque piece, and this time it was for a trade…
Paul Dobleman: Psychedelic Stories Contest 2013
By Paul Dobleman:
So I’ve been tattooing assholes for the last year, I’m over it and moving on. As much as I’d like to blog about my opinions I think that’s all fucking bullshit and no one cares. I’m all about having a good time and this is more my speed. As tattooers a lot of us have been through some weird stuff, drugs especially… (more…)
Photos of 19th-Century Tattooed Japanese Mail Runners
By Alison Nastasi (Article originally appears at Flavorwire.com)
Who runs around wearing a loincloth, covered in tattoos, and delivers mail on a stick while managing not to look like an absolute fool? Japanese mail runners during the 19th century, that’s who — and they put modern bike messengers to shame. During the Edo period, tattoos became a popular form of art, and these guys are sporting some fantastic ink… (more…)
Adam Lauricella: Thom deVita Pop-Up Gallery Review
By Adam Lauricella
The “pop-up gallery” is a phenomenon that is refreshing yet pragmatic. It’s something doable for artists who may not have the resources to establish a long-standing art gallery yet, still show their work or the work of others. Often times these galleries take shape in empty spaces or open in unsuspecting locations that aren’t in use. The term pop-up gallery is loosely used to describe the event that went down the weekend of January 11-13, 2012 at Kings Avenue Tattoo… (more…)
Dawn Cooke: 15 Great Artists’ Pictures From Instagram
By Dawn Cooke
So I screen-shotted some of my favorite pictures from Intagram to share. My intention is to share some great work and give the artists every bit of the credit! I’m doing it to showcase what I consider to be some really great work. I hope you will all agree. One thing I want to make clear is that I am not trying to promote the idea of “stealing.” All artists are inspired by other artists. There’s a difference between being inspired and flat-out stealing. I think it’s important to know the difference. Most images in tattooing have been taken from other sources. It’s always good to know the source if you can, and try to be inspired by art outside of tattooing… and also by life and nature… (more…)
Melissa Fusco: A Common Bond
By Melissa Fusco
Welcome artists, collectors and spectators! I would like to first say ‘thank you’ to Tattoo Artist Magazine for inviting me to do a monthly contribution to their new TAM Blog. I am honored to be apart of this project and hope to help shed some new light on this dynamic industry from my perspective. I am writing to you in-flight from Denver, Colorado where I was visiting one of my resident studios, Godspeed Ink Tattoo located in Breckenridge, Colorado… (more…)
Paul Dobleman: December’s Asshole of the Month WINNER!
By Paul Dobleman:
I’d like to thank everyone who participated and sent in an asshole story, it’s been a fun year tattooing you assholes. Cheers to everyone who reads these, hope you like next year’s project… Psychedelic Stories!
The last asshole… December’s asshole of the month is Stuart… (more…)
Tattoo Culture Magazine: Launch Party Time
By Nicki Kasper
Oh what a night… The TCM launch party was more than any of us could have asked for. We wanted to celebrate all the work and effort we’ve put into this project and really blow it up for the people who showed up to support us. I think it’s safe to say that no one left disappointed… (more…)
Paul Booth’s Last Rites Gallery Presents: Chris Haas (VIDEO)
Last Rites Gallery’s NEW Video Interview Series brings you into the conversation with the best artists of dark surrealism…
Myke Chambers: Westward Expansion
By Myke Chambers
If you’re familiar with 19th century American history then you should know a little about the westward expansion of the Euro-American and the ensuing American Indian wars leading to the near extinction of all Native American culture.
Now I’m not going to go into all the horrific atrocities committed by the Euro-American against the American Indians, all the countless promises broken and massacres of women and children. Please understand I’m in no way saying the mass genocide and all the horrors done to the Native American in the past and in the present in any way compares. That wasn’t the purpose of this at all. I myself am part Cherokee. What is happening with tattooing is obviously nowhere near as horrific as what happened to the native tribes. No, I have another purpose for bringing this bit of history up. You may be asking yourself where the hell is he going with this and what the hell does American history have to do with tattooing… Bear with me, and while you do look for history repeating itself… though not on such a horrific scale… (more…)
Dave Waugh: It Ain’t Rocket Science
By Dave Waugh
Here is a commission piece I did for fellow tattooer named Chris Smith. He was interested in purchasing a piece of artwork from me that had a similar format and he let me pick the subject matter… (more…)
Paul Booth’s Last Rites Gallery Presents: Sarah Joncas (VIDEO)
Last Rites Gallery’s NEW Video Interview Series brings you into the conversation with the best artists of dark surrealism…
Amsterdam Tattoo Museum Update: New Pop-Up Gallery Location
Statement from Henk Schiffmacher:
Patience my friends, patience…
“Patience? If I wanted any patience I would have become a fucking doctor” my old friend, Vancouver’s most notorious tattoo friend, used to say.
But nevertheless, hang in there: we are on our way. We negotiate, send letters, get mails, threats, fooled and cheated and the only reason why we keep going is to see what the heck is next. First of all, the fight is not over. The divorce, in fact… (more…)
Larry Brogan: Building a Solid Portfolio
By Larry Brogan
Courtesy of Tattoo Road Trip: Your portfolio is your most important tool. Why? Because it gets you the JOB. Your portfolio is what sells your skills… (more…)
Victor Farinelli: Ink Master Review (Finale)
By Victor Farinelli Well, the end is finally here. In the two-episode finale of this season of Ink Master, I have been left wondering the meaning of life. Well no, not really, but it has a good ring to it. Our contestants are finally whittled down to the last four. In the first of the two episodes, the contestants did not have to do a flash challenge. It was straight to the elimination challenge. They had to demonstrate all the different aspects of tattooing to see who gets to go to the live finale… (more…)
Jay Brown: Coeur d’Alene’s Blue Rose Tattoo – An Interview with Robert McNeill (Part III)
By Jay Brown In Northern Idaho there is the lake town of Coeur d’Alene, actually more of a city than a town. In the sea of tattooing these days, some of the old timers really shine through as great tattooers as well as incredible artists, one of those is Robert McNeill. I recently got a chance to stop in to see him at his studio on 4th Street right in the heart of downtown Coeur d’Alene. Blue Rose Tattoo is a clean, comfortable shop, with lots of incredible artwork adorning the walls, all of which is either Japanese or American Traditional tattoo designs, all painted by Robert. And speaking of painting, Robert is incredible at that, pin-ups I think being one of his strong points, but he can do anything, all in all Robert is one of those artists that can create on skin as well as he can on paper or canvas. So after we were done with the hellos and the pleasantries, we got down to the interview, which wound up being 43 minutes long, so I am gonna edit things, cause I don’t have enough pictures to go with that many pages, and that’s a lot of pages so we’re gonna trim it down a bit, although it was a great interview all the way through, but we’re not writing a book, but I digress… Yes, so the interview. I hope you enjoy… [Editor's Note: Jay's interview, due to its length, will be broken into three weekly installments, this is Part III of III.]
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