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…)
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January 21, 2013 | Categories: art, entertainment, photos, pictures, tats, tattoo, tattoo artist magazine, tattooing, tattoos | Tags: art, blog, bloggers, blogs, dawn cooke, depot town tattoo, difference between, frank carter, Heather Bailey, Jackie Dunn-Smith, Jeff zuck, josh stephens, julio avila, justin shaw, krooked ken, mark cross, michigan, miss arianna, painting, paintings, photos, pics, pictures, professor falcon, Ron Wells, rose hardy, stefan johnsson, symbolism, TAM, TAM BLOG, TAMBLOG, tats, tattoo, tattoo art, tattoo artist magazine, tattoo artist magazine blog, tattoo culture, tattooer, tattooing, tattoos, tim beck, Xam, ypsilanti | 1 Comment »
By Dawn Cooke
I have been thinking lately about how important it is to support the culture and community of tattooing. It seems like a no-brainer, but I noticed that it doesn’t seem like people have any real criteria for the support they do give. It’s almost like people have an odd biased that is based on a “what can I get out of this” attitude. This makes sense since we have such a capitalist environment at play… (more…)
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November 1, 2012 | Categories: art, entertainment, photos, pictures, tats, tattoo, tattoo artist magazine, tattooing, tattoos | Tags: art, blog, bloggers, blogs, dawn cooke, depot town tattoo, difference between, Jeff zuck, michigan, painting, paintings, photos, pics, pictures, symbolism, TAM, TAM BLOG, TAMBLOG, tats, tattoo, tattoo art, tattoo artist magazine, tattoo artist magazine blog, tattoo culture, tattooer, tattooing, tattoos, ypsilanti | 6 Comments »
By Dawn Cooke
I hear talk about freedom all of the time. As an artist, my first amendment right is pretty important. The fact that we can share our thoughts freely is something we often take for granted. It’s easy to do because we are taught to believe that we are entitled to be free and we can do or say anything we want in this country. The truth is, that’s not entirely the case. You have to go along with society’s laws and norms for the most part because if you can’t find a productive place in society for whatever reason, society will find a place for you and it might not be a place you would like to go… (more…)
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September 18, 2012 | Categories: art, entertainment, photos, pictures, tats, tattoo, tattoo artist magazine, tattooing, tattoos | Tags: art, blog, bloggers, blogs, dawn cooke, depot town tattoo, difference between, Jeff zuck, michigan, painting, paintings, photos, pics, pictures, symbolism, TAM, TAM BLOG, TAMBLOG, tats, tattoo, tattoo art, tattoo artist magazine, tattoo artist magazine blog, tattooer, tattooing, tattoos, ypsilanti | 3 Comments »
By Dawn Cooke
In this fast paced, competitive world, how does a parent balance a career with the many other obligations of family and life? It’s not easy! It definitely requires planning and some sacrifice. There are so many things going on around any given person at any given time today in our world. It can be easy to become bombarded by media such as news, Internet and television. It can feel like the world is flying past you in fast forward while you are struggling to check things off of your list. Meanwhile your list of things to do grows and grows… But I found a few things that really help me manage all the tasks I have as mother, shop owner, artist, tattooist and wife… (more…)
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August 22, 2012 | Categories: art, entertainment, how to, photos, pictures, tats, tattoo, tattoo artist magazine, tattooing, tattoos | Tags: art, blog, bloggers, blogs, dawn cooke, depot town tattoo, difference between, how to, Jeff zuck, michigan, painting, paintings, photos, pics, pictures, symbolism, TAM, TAM BLOG, TAMBLOG, tats, tattoo, tattoo art, tattoo artist magazine, tattoo artist magazine blog, tattooer, tattooing, tattoos, ypsilanti | 1 Comment »
By Dawn Cooke
Leave it to me to write about the less exciting things about tattooing. This might just be one of the more important subjects I could have the honor of making you think about. With more popularity for tattooing comes more attention from the government. This means laws and money. I can talk about Michigan specifically and explain to you all what’s happening here… (more…)
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July 20, 2012 | Categories: art, entertainment, photos, pictures, tats, tattoo, tattoo artist magazine, tattooing, tattoos | Tags: art, blog, bloggers, blogs, dawn cooke, depot town tattoo, difference between, Jeff zuck, michigan, painting, paintings, photos, pics, pictures, symbolism, TAM, TAM BLOG, TAMBLOG, tats, tattoo, tattoo art, tattoo artist magazine, tattoo artist magazine blog, tattooer, tattooing, tattoos, ypsilanti | 2 Comments »
By Dawn Cooke
Lately, I have had some cynical views toward the state of tattoo culture and pop culture in general and I have had to apologize for affecting sensitivities. So I have been researching, writing and thinking about why I feel this way. The phenomenon of counter-culture becoming popular culture has been written about quite a lot. If you are interested in this topic the book, Nation of Rebels is a good one. What I see, is that we have an overly competitive narcissistic consumer culture that has really negative effects on individuals and on society as a whole. A person can get swept away by the tide if they aren’t careful. I have come dangerously close too many times personally… (more…)
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June 25, 2012 | Categories: art, entertainment, photos, pictures, tats, tattoo, tattoo artist magazine, tattooing, tattoos | Tags: art, blog, bloggers, blogs, dawn cooke, depot town tattoo, difference between, Jeff zuck, michigan, painting, paintings, photos, pics, pictures, symbolism, TAM, TAM BLOG, TAMBLOG, tats, tattoo, tattoo art, tattoo artist magazine, tattoo artist magazine blog, tattooer, tattooing, tattoos, ypsilanti | 6 Comments »
By Dawn Cooke
I just wanted to tell everyone about a really cool art show you should check out if you are in NY or if you’re going out to the Convention. This should be really fun for both guys and gals to attend…
(more…)
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April 30, 2012 | Categories: art, entertainment, photos, pictures, tats, tattoo, tattoo artist magazine, tattooing, tattoos | Tags: Alix Ge Ellie, Amanda Wachob, Angela de Rosette, Angela Smisek, Angelique Houtkamp, Anna Melo, Annie Lloyd, Aoki, Arianna Settembrino, art, Ashley Love, Becca Genne-Bacon, Betty Rose, blog, bloggers, blogs, Brooklyn, Bryn Perrott, Carolina Angel, Cecilia Granata, Cezilia Hjelt, Claire Vuillemot, Claudia De Sabe, Cora Raveyn, Cyn Rudzis, dawn cooke, debra yarian, depot town tattoo, difference between, Elisa Carisi, Emma Griffiths, Esther de Miguel, Federica Di Domenico, Geyer Gillian-Goldstein, guen douglas, Heather Bailey, Hillary Fischer-White, Itoyo Kinoshita, Jackie Dunn-Smith, Jaclyn Rehe, Jamie Ruth, Jamy Carlton, Jeff zuck, Jelena Nikolic, Jemma Jones Karolink, Jen Lohrey Carmean Madame Chan, Jennifer Moffatt, Jenny Lee, Jessica Mascitti, Julie Becker, Karin Schwaiger, Karina Figueroa, Kate Hellenbrandt, katie davis, Katie Gray, Kim Ann Nguyen, Kim Graziano, Kim Marks, Kimberly Reed, Lara Scotton, Leanka Platt, Lina Stigsson, Liser Burlton, Liz Gruesome, Magie Serpica, Malia Sioux, Marina Inoue, Mary Joy Scott-Darlymple, Maya Ventura-Medina, Megan Kargher, Megan Wilson, Mia Graffam, Michele Myles, Michelle Tarantelli-Tron, michigan, Minka Sicklinger, Miss Elvia, Naomi Smith, new york, new york tattoo convention, Nicoz Balboa, nyc tat con, Olivia Zephyr-Sanders, painting, paintings, Paola Robiolio Bose, Pat Sinatra, photos, pics, pictures, Rachel Ann Mina, Rachel Schilling, Sara Purr, Sarah Burden, Scarlet Sinclair, Sofia Estrella Olivieri, Sofia Mesisca, Stacey Martin, Stephanie Tamez, Sunny Buick, symbolism, TAM, TAM BLOG, Tamara Santibanez, TAMBLOG, tats, tattoo, tattoo art, tattoo artist magazine, tattoo artist magazine blog, tattooer, tattooing, tattoos, Thea Duskin, Tracy Demetriou, Tracy Nicole, Tricia Allen, Vale Lovette, virginia elwood, Wendi Ramirez, Wendy Koontz, ypsilanti, Zoe Bean | 1 Comment »
By Dawn Cooke
My tolerance for suffering and a small amount of self-loathing has always made me able to stand sometimes-intolerable environments. Also a drive and fight against resistance has always been fueled by passion to do my work. To everyday people some of the happenings and things said in the tattoo shop are not PC to say the least, in fact some people might be down right disgusted and offended at most of the things that are said and topics discussed within the shop atmosphere… (more…)
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March 22, 2012 | Categories: art, entertainment, photos, pictures, tats, tattoo, tattoo artist magazine, tattooing, tattoos | Tags: art, blog, bloggers, blogs, dawn cooke, depot town tattoo, difference between, Jeff zuck, michigan, painting, paintings, photos, pics, pictures, symbolism, TAM, TAM BLOG, TAMBLOG, tats, tattoo, tattoo art, tattoo artist magazine, tattoo artist magazine blog, tattooer, tattooing, tattoos, ypsilanti | 3 Comments »
By Dawn Cooke
This is actually a simple concept really, it’s because they are completely different mediums, if you even consider tattooing an artistic medium. The same way a sculpture isn’t a painting, a drawing isn’t a sculpture, needlepoint isn’t furniture making, a tattoo is not a painting and a painting is not a tattoo.
Many tattoo artists have attempted to combine or blur the lines between the two forms of expression. While these attempts are very impressive to people who know little or care nothing about the tradition and history of tattooing, they can sometimes go against the spirit of the trade or craft of tattooing… (more…)
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February 9, 2012 | Categories: art, entertainment, photos, pictures, tats, tattoo, tattoo artist magazine, tattooing, tattoos | Tags: art, blog, bloggers, blogs, dawn cooke, depot town tattoo, difference between, Jeff zuck, michigan, painting, paintings, photos, pics, pictures, symbolism, TAM, TAM BLOG, TAMBLOG, tats, tattoo, tattoo art, tattoo artist magazine, tattoo artist magazine blog, tattooer, tattooing, tattoos, ypsilanti | 16 Comments »
By Dawn Cooke
Every day I ask myself this question. And if you think I always have the correct answer, I do not. Every tattoo that I do gets me closer to figuring out exactly what a tattoo is. Some of the first thoughts I have when I meet a client lead me to my conclusions about that particular piece. Each piece is different and every piece is a different answer to the question…
(more…)
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November 22, 2011 | Categories: art, entertainment, photos, pictures, tats, tattoo, tattoo artist magazine, tattooing, tattoos | Tags: Andrew Stickler, art, blog, bloggers, blogs, dawn cooke, depot town tattoo, Fred Pinckard, Heather Bailey, Henry Rodriguez, Lola Garcia, michigan, paintings, photos, pics, pictures, symbolism, TAM, TAM BLOG, TAMBLOG, tats, tattoo, tattoo artist magazine, tattoo artist magazine blog, tattooer, tattooing, tattoos, Tim Pausinger, ypsilanti | 9 Comments »
By Dawn Cooke
This is for the guys…
So I featured ladies-only last time and I didn’t want the guys to feel left out. So I sent messages to all the guys who I admire for their contribution to the tattoo community. Some of these fellows I know personally and some of them I do not but for some reason their work, ethics or both caught my eye… (more…)
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October 14, 2011 | Categories: art, entertainment, photos, pictures, tats, tattoo, tattoo artist magazine, tattooing, tattoos | Tags: Aaron Hodges, Adam Forman, art, Bill Falsetta, blog, bloggers, blogs, Chad Chesko, Chad Soner, chriss dettmer, Clifton Carter, Cris Cleen, Dana Helmuth, danny reed, David Flores, dawn cooke, depot town tattoo, Don Yarian, El Bara, El Carlo, El Monga, Frank William, jason brooks, jason tyler grace, Javier Rodriquez, Jeff zuck, Jon Larson, Joseph DiProjetto jet, Josh Mason, justin shaw, krooked ken, Lupo HoriOkami, Marc Warnick, Matt Arriola, matt shamah, michigan, Mike Emmett, Murray Sell, Nick Colella, Nick Fabini, paintings, photos, pics, pictures, Regino Gonzales, Steve Turner, symbolism, TAM, TAM BLOG, TAMBLOG, tats, tattoo, tattoo artist magazine, tattoo artist magazine blog, tattooer, tattooing, tattoos, Tomas Garcia, Tomek Szumiec, tony derigo, tony hundahl, Xam, ypsilanti | 17 Comments »
Robert Ryan: So what are some things that could distract a tattooer in the application of a tattoo? And drain power from the image?
Adam Shrewsbury: Again, there are several different things. It could be the environment being real hectic, or the music could be really terrible, or maybe the customer has come with a friend who is putting off terrible vibes, or maybe the customers themselves are putting you off… I guess, probably, the biggest thing for me is when the customers themselves don’t trust you. You know? And they question every action, and every time you’re about to put red in, they’re like, “Uhhhhhh, let’s stop. Let’s not do that.” And they question you with every step. So really, I guess I feel that if a tattoo doesn’t show its strengths, it’s because the relationship between the tattooer and the customer has sort of floundered a bit…
(more…)
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September 16, 2011 | Categories: entertainment, photos, pictures, tattoo, tattoo artist magazine, tattooing, tattoos | Tags: adam shrewsbury, ann arbor, art, interview, Jeff zuck, michigan, name brand tattoo, paintings, photos, pics, pictures, robert ryan, symbolism, TAM, TAM #27, TAM BLOG, TAMBLOG, tattoo, tattoo artist magazine, tattoo artist magazine blog, tattooer, tattooing, tattoos | Leave A Comment »
Everything we see has a significant meaning and stands as a symbol when used in any context regarding sculpture, image and even written language. If objects are used in any art context they become symbols just the same as images used in an illustration. This is the reason I believe we are seeing so much usage of symbols with object imagery in tattooing… (more…)
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July 6, 2011 | Categories: art, entertainment, photos, pictures, tats, tattoo, tattoo artist magazine, tattooing, tattoos | Tags: art, blog, bloggers, blogs, dawn cooke, depot town tattoo, Jeff zuck, michigan, paintings, photos, pics, pictures, symbolism, TAM, TAM BLOG, TAMBLOG, tats, tattoo, tattoo artist magazine, tattoo artist magazine blog, tattooer, tattooing, tattoos, ypsilanti | 2 Comments »
By Dawn Cooke
Thanks for your support!
