Tattoos: A Style Essential

Thanksgiving break left me little time to sit back and relax. I’m glad to say that the wedding went smoothly and was a ton of fun. Coming back to Virginia was hard to do, from leaving my lovely niece and brother, to all the fabulous Mexican food. But I’m relieved to finally have working internet, unlike in that stuffy hotel room.

One of the few times I watched TV while in San Antonio, I found myself watching Style network. The show on was titled “25 Most Stylish: Essentials.” The show ranked the top 25 fashion trends of the time with celebrity examples. Among the list were miniskirts, pearls, and tattoos. Tattoos ranked in the top 10. Several celebrity examples were given, the best being Angelina Jolie and David Beckham.

Angelina Jolie has that type of mysterious and dangerous persona. She has over a dozen tattoos. One of her most interesting is the coordinates of where she adopted her son, Maddox, “(N11° 33' 00" E104° 51' 00"), Zahara (N09° 02' 00" E038° 45' 00"), Pax (N10° 46' 00" E106° 41' 40") and where her and Brad Pitt's child Shilo was born at (S22° 40' 26" E014° 31' 40") on her left arm which cover up her ‘Billy Bob’ tattoo.”

David Beckham said in his autobiography “I’d finally realized what I wanted a tattoo to represent. Mine are all about the people in my life, my wife and sons, who I want with me always. When you see me, you see the tattoos. You see an expression of how I feel about Victoria and the boys. They're part of me."

"I like the feeling that those two boys [Brooklyn and Romeo] are with me even when I'm away from home. And not just in my heart. I had their names tattooed on my back after each one was born. There's a guardian angel there, too, looking after them both. My dad had three tattoos of his own and so the idea has been with me since I was a kid ....”

His wife, Victoria, my favorite Spice Girl growing up, said that David is leaving his left arm open for their future children. Most of David’s tattoos were done by “Louis Molloy at his Middleton Tattoo Studio one of the most highly regarded and successful Tattoo Studios in the U.K”

“The Middleton Tattoo studio was opened in August 1981 by Louis Molloy who was just 18 years old at the time. The studio has gone from strength to strength and underwent its current incarnation in 2001 making it one of the most modern studios in the UK.”

I’ve been seeing many commercials for the newest tattoo show, London Ink, TLC’s international take on tattoos. I finally looked into it and it is in fact about Louis Molloy, Beckham’s main tattoo artist. “Louis Molloy has won many awards down the years but feels the only ones truly worth mentioning are the two awards for outstanding artist of the year UK in 1986 and 1993.” The waiting list for a tattoo done at his studio can be up to 8 months long!

Something Old, Something New

This week I find myself writing from a hotel room in San Antonio. Between the stresses of last minute bridesmaid preparation for my brother’s wedding, and attempting to see old friends from when I lived here four or so years ago, I’ve been trying to figure out what to write about. I realized since the wireless connection in our hotel room isn’t working that I wasn’t going to be able to cite any online sources and my best bet would be to write about something I know well.

Sometimes it’s hard to me to see my brother as an adult, with a daughter and fiancé. We’ve always been close and I still see him as a goofy as ever. I was most anxious for our trip to see my brother, Aaron, and niece, Marley, who I haven’t seen since my graduation this summer. Last time I saw my brother he had one tattoo, now, he has two. The other night while we were visiting him and his family at their apartment, he surprised us by showing us his newest piece of body art. He got the name “Laura” tattooed on his chest. Laura, is my soon to be sister-in-law. Aaron stole this idea from my dad who has my mom’s name tattooed on his “heart.” Usually I wouldn’t advise getting a name tattoo because in today’s society it is hard to determine what will last. Personally, I don’t think we’ll have a problem with these two. My brother’s first tattoo was a firebird, which can be seen in one of my previous blogs. I was joking with my younger sister and told her she needed to get a flamingo tattoo, to keep the family tradition going.

Today, I was greeted at my brother’s apartment by not only him but a few of his friends. His friends are also like siblings to me, so it was nice to see them. One of them, Josh, was there to rehearse a Bob Dylan song he’s singing at the wedding. While he playing his guitar I noticed he has several interesting tattoos that I found worth writing about. He has a Star of David on his right arm and a “Coexist” tattoo on his left forearm. The C of the tattoo was made from a Muslim crescent, the X was made of a Star of David, and the T was a cross. He explained that it represents the three different religions that “coexist” in our world. He also shared with me another idea he has for a tattoo, a flamingo holding a rose. It sounds random but there's actually meaning to it. His last name is "Garza," which he said stands for a flamingo, at least on the mexican bingo cards. His mother's maiden name is "Flores," spanish for flower.

Lately with everything that’s been going on, I haven’t had much time to spend with my brother. My mom suggested that perhaps this weekend I could go with him to get my tattoo shaded, since he seems to know of a few places. I’m still not sure if I’m up to the idea but it’s something in the back of my mind.

Battle of The Sexes: Part 2

LA Ink is based on the tattoo artist Kat Von D. She was on Miami Ink for two seasons but she returned home to LA and bought her own shop, High Voltage Tattoo. Kat is a talented artist and specializes in portraits but she clashed with Ami James and never felt at home in Miami. Kat is only 25 and has already made a name for herself in the industry. “My parents are from Argentina. They were both missionaries for the church, bringing them to Monterey, Mexico, where I was born," said Kat, "My sister and brother were born there too. In 1986, when I was four, we moved to Southern California where I was raised. I consider LA my home.”

The story of how she got into tattoos is as interesting as she is. “Once I was 12, I started hanging with the "wrong" crowd. Many of these punk rock kids had tattoos and that always interested me. I did my first tattoo at the age of 14 and once I turned 16, got hired at a professional tattoo shop. There I had to unlearn a lot of things I would have known had I had a traditional apprenticeship.”

I envy her and how great she makes all her tattoos look, I don’t know a woman that can have all those tattoos and still look great. When she’s 60, it’s going to be different though. She has said “My fave tattoo that I have are the stars on my left temple (that includes the stars on my left eye lid). “ The stars represent the Motley Crue song “Starry Eyes.”

The show made its premiere this year but has already tattooed a large list of celebrities including Steve-O from Jackass, Sebastian Bach, Eve, Jenna Jameson, and one of my favorite actors, Jesse Metcalfe, from John Tucker Must Die, and the famous gardener from Desperate Housewives.

"Playing by her own rules, Kat lives a fast-paced, rebel lifestyle. Hers is a life of freedom: she sets her own schedule, picks her clients, sleeps late,and parties all night," says TLC.

"Believe the hype- What you see is who she is- Kat Von D is a true one of a kind, bad to the bone, sexy tattooed bombshell- with a captivating personality and an 'I don't give a fuck' attitude. I wish more people in this world embraced who they really are and cared enough about sincerity and integrity like Kat does... It also doesn't hurt that she can draw better than most, is interested in progressing as an artist and is actually trying to show the world that tattooing IS an art form. Her art has a timeless quality to it, with a strong sense of contrast, detail and precision- Kat's own personal aesthetic walks among the few that are fortunately adorned by her touch. Generosity abound, Kat is simply, a great person," Steven Barber said of Kat.

Kat seems like a fun person and she really knows who she is, a great accomplishment for someone of her age. She has her own show and a job that she loves. “My biggest inspiration comes from love. It's the biggest inspiration on the planet for me. It's my higher power. Other places I get inspiration are my family, my heritage, my music, and everything else including my city (Los Angeles). These are my biggest influences in all aspects of life including the way I dress, paint, draw, tattoo, talk, style my cars and the music I listen to.”

The studio's other employees are artists Corey Miller, Hannah Aitchison, Kim Saigh and the shop manager, Amber "Pixie" Acia, Kat's best friend.

I don't like this show nearly as much as Miami Ink. To me the artist aren't nearly as talented or interesting, with the exception of Kat and the clients stories don't seem nearly as touching.

Battle of The Sexes: Part 1

Miami Ink is TLC’s inside look into the world of tattooing. It follows the lives of five tattoo artists, owner Ami James, Chris Nunez, Chris Garver, Darren Bass and their apprentice, Yojiro Harada. “Miami Ink is a rare show that challenges cultural stereotypes of tattoos and shows how talented the tattoo artists really are. Shot in a documentary/'reality' fashion with shop owner Ami James' narration, the show follows both patrons (who explain the deeper meaning behind their requested tattoo)and the artists who apply their exceptional talent on the skin of their clients.” (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472014/ )

History
James, Garver, Nunez and Bass “studied in Miami under the world famous tattoo artist, the late Lou Sciberras. During their apprenticeship they all lived and worked together becoming the best of friends. Eventually they went their separate ways and opened up their own tattoo parlors in Los Angeles, New York, Connecticut, and South Beach. Their dream was to one day reunite and open their own tattoo parlor together as partners,” explained Tv.com. The show premiered in 2005, and takes place at their tattoo shop, 305 Ink (Miami Ink), on Miami Beach.

The Artists
When watching the show it’s hard to not pick a favorite artist or not be touched by some of the stories that are on there. My favorite artist is Chris Garver, while Ami James and Chris Nunez take the gold eye candy wise. The artists “all with world-class talent and dynamic personalities - live and work together to promote the art of tattoo while running a new business. Miami Ink shows them in and out of their workspace from noon 'til night - and follows their late-night shenanigans, brotherly hazing and camaraderie,” says TattooFinder.

Ami James is the co-owner of the shop and the main focus. He narrates throughout the episodes and is seen as the “tough guy” of the group. His passion for tattooing is apparent while you watch. He was born in Israel and is Jewish. His first tattoo was that of a dragon when he was only 15. He started tattooing when he was 20. He has a hot temper and isn’t shy to let people know he’s in charge.

Chris Garver is the oldest of the five. He seems to be the most laid back of them all. He grew up in Pittsburgh and received his first tattoo at age 15. He sold his bass guitar when he was 17, so he could buy his own tattooing equipment. His favorite tattoo was “from a monk when he was in Thailand - a Buddhist passage that can only be read by monks. Its meaning is "to protect."

Chris Nunez is of French and Cuban decent and was raised in Miami. He travels a lot and spends most of his time partying. His first tattoos were of his parents names when he was 16.

Darren Bass isn’t featured as much as the others but is still quite talented. He is the quietest and nicest of them all. He’s often joked on because he’s so mellow and because he’s only 5’4. Last season he went through a touch divorce and find comfort from the guys at the shop. He is half Polish and Irish and got his first tattoo on his 18th birthday.

Last, but certainly not least is Yoji, the trusted apprentice. He gets the most crap from the guys because of his low rank. He is from Tokyo and a lead singer of a punk rock band. He gave himself his first tattoo.

“Each episode features a number of customers along with their back stories and motivations for choosing their tattoos. There is also some focus on the personal lives of the artists.”

I love this show, especially with the narration the artists give. This season the guys are continuing their search for another artist while dealing with drama and clients. “Bottom line, even if you don't have tattoos, you'll enjoy the show because of the clients' thoughtful stories and the interesting dynamic of the four artists and their apprentice”

Head of the Rest

I came across a great blog when researching other bloggers on tattooing. Tattoo Blog reminded me a lot of my own blog. It discusses recent trends and information about tattoos. It's a little plain which was different from the other tattoo blogs I came across, that mainly contain too many pictures and no information. This site contains great information and many on topics I think I might cover in the future. Numerous resources are listed and the margin is full of other sites relating to our topic that may end up being helpful.


One of my favorite blogs written was titled "Pros and Cons of Tattoos." The author described my feelings in their words. "Tattoos are great for show, although the design itself should hold some meaning." Many of the information on the site verifies my research and my personal feelings on the art.

Ink- the new black?

The art of tattooing is a growing trend for all ages and people these days. Tattoos are no longer just for the rock stars or bikers, they have become mainstream and you might be surprised by some of the people getting them. "20-million Americans have tattoos and the popularity just keeps growing," that's sixteen percent of America! "Thirty-six percent of those ages 18 to 25, and 40 percent of those ages 26 to 40, have at least one tattoo, according to a fall 2006 survey" conducted by the Pew Research Center. People have began to see their bodies as canvas'. From celebrities to housewives, tattoos really are the new black.

With this new popularity comes new breakthroughs in body art. Tracy Staedter of Discovery News writes, "Tattoos are painful to receive and remove and, barring the later, last a lifetime. But a new technique makes skin art durable and easily removable. "

No Regrets
This new technique is called Freedom-2 Tattoos. The inventors of Freedom-2 ink wanted to combined "high quality art and effective, less painful, lower cost removability." At Freedom-2 they claim to "recognize that life circumstances change and your desire for new body art may cause you to want to remove all or a part of an existing tattoo. Freedom-2 inks are engineered, independent of color, for efficient and effective laser therapy removal leaving your skin clear and ready for new body." Their motto is "Freedom-2 inks will provide you with 100% freedom and zero regret."

Many people who get tattoos find themselves later in life regretting their decision and so seek getting them removed. There are several options of tattoo removal including dermabrasion, surgical exrision, and laser. The removal of a tattoo by laser is the most used. It is painful and expensive. To remove a tattoo it takes several sessions, some taking up to 20 and can cost anywhere between $200-500 per session.

Part of the appeal of tattoos is the fact that they are so risky and they are permanent. Although I think the concept of Freedom-2 ink is great, it somewhat makes the process of getting a tattoo less "hardcore," no longer a decision of a lifetime. It can almost be compared to wearing a piece of jewelry; being able to take it on and off depending on your outfit of the day, except it's changing your body art according to the stage of your life you are in. This can also be a positive aspect. People no longer will have to pay hundreds for tattoo removal, making it more available for all people.

Cross your Heart, Hope to Die, Stick a Needle in your Eye
Literally. I'm still trying to understand this one, but yes, eyeball tattooing. "People really are getting their peepers tattooed in more or less the same way that you would get any other part of your body inked," explains James Doorne. The pigment used is the same kind used for any other tattoo and is injected using a syringe under the top layer of the eye.

Shannon Larratt was one of the first to have this procedure done. He is co-founder and owner of body-modification website Bmezine.com. "The eye is very resilient; you can put almost anything in it. Your eye actually is designed to be able to handle contaminants being there,” he said. “It’s one of the oldest forms of tattooing,” says Shannon. “They basically say it’s safer than regular tattooing. That’s one reason we felt fairly secure moving forward with this – we felt that if they could do it in 1900 and not have any problems then we should be able to do it now.” On their website Shannon wrote in his blog, "The procedures themselves were effectively painless because there aren’t nerve endings in the surface of the eye, and we did additional control with lidocaine drops which numbed the lids. After pain is fairly minor, although we all have bruising and some discomfort."


I have trouble keeping my eyes open when a little water enters or an eyelash, forget a needle.

Are You Afraid of the Dark?
With these new tattoos you don't need to be. This new technique uses blacklight reactive ink. The ink was FDA approved and only visible under a blacklight. This is a great way to get the tattoo you've always wanted without it being visible 24/7. They are mostly invisible in normal light unless a little scarring from the process remains. The UV ink is also available in several colors but those are more visible in light.