Needles and Sins Tattoo Blog

Sullen Contest Winner

2012-02-03T18:04:47Z

Last week, we posted another Sullen contest to win a special edition tee designed by Boog for the Sullen Art Collective's upcoming Spring 2012 line. All y'all needed to do was either Tweet at us or post in our Needles & Sins Syndicate Group on Facebook with your shirt size. Really, these contests are getting too easy.

I put all the names into Randomized.com & the internet gods picked ... Joey Romano. Congrats, Joey! Sullen will be sending your shirt once it drops.

But we still have a special deal for all of you. You'll get a discount on any Sullen purchase by putting in this code at checkout: NEEDLESANDSINS. The promotion runs until Feb. 29th

Tons more contests to come!

"Behind the Needle" with Alex Binnie, Zele, & Jason Donahue

2012-02-02T21:15:41Z

Behind the Needle 3 from Papercut Pictures on Vimeo.

Filmed at the London Tattoo Convention this past year, Zeitgeist Magazine's "Behind the Needle" series, produced by Alice Snape, features noted artists talking about their art and inspiration, and musing on the state of tattooing, often while tattooing clients at the show.

In this fourth installment, Alice & Papercut Pictures interviewed Zele of Zagreb Tattoo, Jason Donahue of Idle Hand, and Alex Binnie of IntoYou. These artists, from very different backgrounds, discuss their individual tattoo styles and also address the good and bad of the "tattoo fad." [Zele remarks, "Tattooing has become a victim of its own popularity."]

In all of the interviews, the passion for the craft is most evident. I particularly enjoyed hearing Alex Binnie's thoughts on tattooing being a beautiful private contract between the client and tattooist -- an art that is outside the exploitative nature of the gallery fine art system. No fad can say that.

Watch the full video above or catch it on Zeitgeist. Also check the previous episodes:

Behind The Needle 1 with Chad Koeplinger, Michelle Myles, Uncle Allan and Claudia De Sabe.
Behind The Needle 2 with Ryan Mason, Jo Harrison, Steve Vinall and Brian Thomas Wilson.
The first video gives an overview of London Tattoo Convention.

Tattoo Zen with Jason Lambert

2012-01-31T23:54:10Z

There are many wonderful blogs written by tattooists that not only exhibit the latest works but share their thoughts on the works and the industry in general. Some even offer their own philosophies, offering a glimpse into the artists' personalities. One blog that has the complete package is Tattoo Zen by Jason Lambert of Black Cat Tattoos in Pittsburgh, PA.

Jason's latest post, "10 bits of advice for beginning tattooers," is particularly a great read and one that can be enjoyed by those who are not learning to tattoo as many of the lessons can be applied beyond the industry -- and are even applicable to our personal lives.

I also dig reading Jason's online portfolio to get the stories behind some of the tattoos, like the Momataro Japanese folk tale shown below.

Beyond the stories, Jason's portfolio is interesting (especially the before and after shots), strong and diverse. Check it.

"Give Em A Hand" Anatomical Art by Tattooists

2012-01-27T17:20:39Z

The label "anatomical art" is often assumed to be tattoo art on skin, but in a fun twist, Repop Mfg and thirteen renowned tattoo artists are changing the meaning by creating collectible art pieces, which can be purchased as easily as a US Senator.

These beautiful limited edition "hands" are real leather printed and sewn by hand in the US; then stuffed and mounted on a wood base and numbered. Curated by Takahiro Horitaka Kitamura, each piece in the collection embodies the signature style of the artists chosen for the project. In addition to Horitaka, the artists include Steve Byrne, Colin Baker, Thomas Hooper, Chris Trevino, Chris Brand, Tim Hendricks, Horiken, Dan Wysuph, Chuey Quintanar, Chad Koeplinger, Chris Yvon, and Scott Sylvia.

On February 1st, the hands will be made available for purchase by Repop Mfg. but be quick to click "checkout" as it's a limited run of 100/100.

Sullen Contest: Win a Boog Designed Tee

2012-01-26T22:33:18Z

We have a another freebie for ya, courtesy of Sullen Clothing: a special edition tee from the Sullen Art Collective designed by legendary lettering and black & grey guru Boog. The shirt, which is part of their upcoming Spring 2012 line, hasn't dropped yet but the winner of the contest will be one of the first to sport Boog's signature artistic style.

To get a behind the scenes look at Boog works his lettering, check the video below where he, Big Sleeps and Ryan Smith have a drawing session at Sullen headquarters.

As usual, here's how we're gonna play this: one winner will be selected randomly from those who comment -- with their t-shirt size -- on this post in our Needles & Sins Syndicate Group on Facebook or hitting up @NeedlesandSins on Twitter. In one week, on Feb. 2nd, we'll put all the names of the commenters into Randomized.com and the internet gods will offer up the chosen one. When the shirt is ready to launch, Sullen will mail your prize. Easy breezy.

If you want to grab some other Sullen goodness, you'll get a discount off of any purchase by putting in this code at checkout: NEEDLESANDSINS. The promotion runs until Feb. 29th

Moving Sale! Reduced Prices on My Monster Books

2012-01-25T15:55:20Z

In one week, my worldly possessions will be transplanted into a new home. Granted, that new home is only five blocks away from the one I'm typing in now but that doesn't make these boxes any lighter. For many, the heavy lifting is furniture or Bigfoot Garden Yetis. But for me, it's my big-ass books. Please don't make me carry them all.

As an incentive, from today until February 1st, I'm reducing the price of my author copies to reduce any potential back problems. Here's the offer:

* Black & Grey Tattoo 3 Volume Box Set: All 3 books in sleeve and carrying case are now $320 including shipping in the US (a great deal as shipping this 20lb box is pretty pricey).

* Black & Grey Tattoo individual volumes: Each book -- Traditional Black & Grey, Dark/Horror, & Portraits -- is now $120 each including shipping in the US.

* Color Tattoo Art: Cartoon. Comics. Pin-Up. Manga. New School: Now available for $130 including shipping in the US (retails for $199).

For US orders, you can hit up our Needles & Sins Bookstore, or contact me at marisa at needlesandsins.com. For orders outside the US, email me for shipping info. Again, this offer ends February 1st and as supplies last.

I'll even write a love note in the books if ya want. Because I do love you. xo

Bad Tattoo = Deal Breaker?

2012-01-24T17:17:34Z

The fabulous Hope Blog posted this clip from Portlandia, which begs the all important question: Is a bad tattoo on someone you like a relationship "deal breaker"?

In the case of an Eddie-Vedder-playing-tambourines tattoo ... yes, it is.

Artist Spotlight: True Love Tattoo, Madrid

2012-01-23T17:46:39Z

Tattoo by El Bara

A surge of independent videos featuring tattooists around the world have made their way across social media, and really, I think it's a good thing. The films offer a close-up look at the process of creation in addition to animated portfolios of the finished tattoos, and often we get a sense of the studio vibe as well.

All this goodness can be found in Ronink Films' video on True Love Tattoo in Madrid, Spain. The 8-minute production may be long for some looking for quick sketch-to-ink action, but I enjoyed sitting back with my coffee and watching all the details that go into putting on a solid tattoo. The artists at True Love -- El Bara, Know & xGastx -- are particularly regarded for their traditional & neo-traditional work, and in the video, you can see them employing time-old tattoo tenets with skill. My favorite clips are of the neck tattoo, which you can see being worked midway in the film. And stay till the end for a fun way of rolling credits.

See more of their work on Facebook.
Tattoo by xgastx
Tattoo by Know

Shamanic Skin. A Photographic Exhibition by Lars Krutak

2012-01-19T19:15:30Z

As a follow up to our mention of tattoo anthropologist Dr. Lars Krutak in the earlier post, I wanted to let you know that Sacred Gallery in NYC is hosting the photographic exhibit Shamanic Skin: The Art of Magical Tattooing, which features thirty selected works from Lars' portfolio. The opening is Saturday, February 4th from 7 to 10PM and runs until February 29th.Here's more:

In 1777, the word 'tattoo' was defined as 'an indelible mark or figure fixed upon the body by insertion of pigment under the skin or by the production of scars.' For thousands of years before that date, however, indigenous peoples practiced various forms of tattooing and scarification not only to beautify themselves or mark significant life achievements, but also to please or seek protection from particular spirits which inhabited their world.

For the past fifteen years, Dr. Lars Krutak has traveled the globe to document the religious beliefs behind permanent forms of tribal body modification. His photographic exhibition focuses upon the deeply spiritual realm of tattoo through an examination of these fascinating rituals.

For a copy of the show catalog, email Kevin@SacredGalleryNYC.com. Lars' books "The Tattooing Arts of Tribal Women" (2007) and "Kalinga Tattoo: Ancient and Modern Expressions of the Tribal" (2010) will be available for signing at the opening as well.

Sacred Gallery is located at 424 Broadway 2nd Fl (between Canal and Howard) in NYC.

Tattoo Traditions of India's Gond & Kolam Women

2012-01-19T18:29:09Z

There's an interesting article in The Hindu called "Tweaking Traditions," which looks at how the ancient tribal art of tattooing among the women of the Gond and Kolam tribes is fading as the younger generations "adopt modernity" and follow clothing fashions rather than decorate themselves permanently.

Reporter and photographer S. Harpal Singh says, "Traditionally, Gond and Kolam women wore meagre clothes which left a good part of their body exposed to sun. Much of bare skin used to be covered with tattoos, or 'kohkana' in Gondi, which gave the individual a decent look." Singh then quotes expert Guruji Ravinder Sharma: "Tattooing on the back, waist, arms and face was done during infancy of the girl child. The practice continues to this day but the size of the tattoo is much smaller."

Tattooing was also practiced for curing illness according to the article; for example, severe headaches were treated with tattoos on the temples and forehead.

While the article is a quick and easy read, it inspired me to look into India's tattooing traditions, and naturally, I came upon a more in-depth discussion by our favorite tattoo anthropologist Lar Krutak on The Vanishing Tattoo.

Read Lars' "India: Land of Eternal Ink" for a history lesson along with images of some beautiful tribal art.

The Gypsy Gentleman Episode 2

2012-01-17T16:26:59Z

The Gypsy Gentleman - Episode 02: Austin, Texas from Marcus Kuhn on Vimeo.

Taking us on a tattoo tour through different cities and experiencing them through renowned tattooists, The Gypsy Gentleman video magazine by Marcus Kuhn has just released its second episode. In this 30 minute production, Marcus hits Austin, Texas to explore the "birth of tattooing in America in the mid-twentieth century" along with Steve Byrne and Tony Hundahl of Rock of Ages Tattoo.

The three artists visit The National Museum of the Pacific War, filled with WW II memorabilia and imagery that largely inform traditional Americana tattooing. They then each create tattoos based upon what inspired them in the museum. Really interesting work. There's also discussion on the essence of what traditional tattooing is, beyond subject matter.

Also throughout the video, you'll hear Marcus offer some fun facts on Austin and visit other sites like the Cathedral of Junk and the studio of master sign painter Gary Martin.

A fun trip the whole ride through.

Check our first post on The Gypsy Gentleman here.

Martin Luther King Jr. Tattoos

2012-01-16T18:00:20Z

Portrait by Remis Tattoo

On this day celebrating Martin Luther King Jr., I will try to refrain from my usual groaning over the search to find tattoos honoring the civil rights leader and coming up with more odes to rapper Old Dirty Bastard. [Do a Google image search on each to see what I mean.]

Then I think of Dr. King's "I Have A Dream Speech" and I'm reminded to judge people by the "content of their character," not color of their skin -- whatever colors and characters people chose to mark their bodies with.

One of the greatest things about tattoos is that they inspire communication. People are naturally curious over what others painstakingly and permanently put in their own skins. We hunger for a good story ... and many of us hunger to tell one. A mother may want you to know that the name above her heart is her beloved daughter. The veteran with the memorial tattoo on his arm lets you know about the courage of his lost friend. My own tattoos are largely decorative but the patterns come from my Greek ancestry and places I've traveled. Buy me a drink and I have tons to talk about. This communicative value also allows for teaching moments. A Dr. King tribute speaks not only about the how the activist inspired the tattoo collector but may also educate another who does not know of King's life and legacy.

It's powerful, what tattoos can do. And it's why I appreciate it when I do find tributes to inspiring figures, as they can be daily reminders to be better to each other and ourselves.

Tattoos (above left to right) by Joshua Carlton, Mike DeMasi, and Logan Aguilar.

Tattoo above by Jason Grace.

MLK-inspired "Colorblind" tattoo above by Watson Atkinson on musician Killick Hinds. For the great story behind that tattoo, see our 2010 MLK post. [Photo by Louis Cahill.]

Studio Spotlight: Rising Dragon Tattoo, NYC

2012-01-14T00:53:47Z

I love New York but sometimes I feel New York doesn't love me back. The rents continue to soar, with a middle finger up at the recession. What were once my favorite dive bars now have velvet ropes and lists to get in. Our rock & roll institutions are vanishing: CBGB's is a high-end boutique, punk mecca Coney Island High on St. Marks now is a noodle joint, and then there's the heartbreak of the Chelsea Hotel.

The landmark hotel was once home to musicians, artists, writers, and all forms of beautiful freaks like Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, Charles Bukowski, Sid & Nancy ... and it was the home of Darren Rosa's Rising Dragon Chelsea Tattoo Company. That is, until this past Halloween when the tattoo studio had to move because the new management decided it didn't fit the "lifestyle" they wanted the property to embody. [The NY Times did a great story on how the developers squeezed Darren out and also some residents.]

Darren operated the shop at the Chelsea since 1997, when tattooing became legal in NYC. In 2007, when his lease was not fully renewed (only month to month), he had the foresight to open a second Rising Dragon, which is located at West 14th, just off of Sixth Avenue -- a busy Manhattan location. To house all of his artists, from the original shop to the new, Darren then negotiated a space at the top floor of the West 14th building. And now the studio expansion is ready to get blood and green soap all over it.

Naturally, this is cause for a party! This Sunday, January 15th, Rising Dragon will be celebrating with live music and drinks in its new warm and cozy studio, from 6:30PM to midnight. See photos of the new space here. More info on their Facebook page.

When the music is over and the bottles are empty, the Rising Dragon artists will be back at work hustling -- including those coming over from the old Chelsea shop like Carlos Gonzales as well as Horisei of Yokohama, who is a regular guest artist doing machine tattooing and traditional tebori.

And so Rising Dragon Tattoo continues to grow, ascending beyond adversity. It's a New York story and a reason to keep my love affair with the city.

Ka-Bar Knives, Tattoo Marketing

2012-01-12T22:16:35Z

KA-BAR "Blizzard" from Joshua Frankel on Vimeo.

The slogan for knife makers Ka-Bar is "Hardcore Lives. Hardcore Knives." It makes sense as a large part of their brand are blades that can slice through a boar, or boarish person. Understanding that every tattooed person is of course "hardcore" (except when I'm dancing to Beyonce), Ka-Bar hired Joshua Frankel to create video shorts illustrating real stories of badasses using the knives via animated tattoos. He explains: "Hunting knives and tattoos share an inherent primal nature, and tattoo art is an aesthetic that the customer base connects with. It's a strong connection between concept and product." Damara Kaminecki, Johnnie Kravetz, Brett Zarro created the tattoo art that comes to life under Joshua's direction. See more videos on the Ka-Bar homepage.

Considering these are the first commercials ever for the 100-year-old brand, according to Joshua, they did some big promotions and even sent me a hunting knife as a sample for review. While many New Yorkers fantasize about stabbing people who block the subway doors or use monster golf umbrellas on crowded sidewalks, I really didn't have a way to properly (and legally) test it for y'all, so I gave it to my friend Jonas Sherman, a martial arts combatives teacher and tactical shooting instructor who knows a thing or two about guns, knives, and the impending zombie apocalypse.

Jonas put the Becker companion knife through a series of tests and found that the only way he could destroy it was with heavy artillery. See what went down below:

Note to self: Do Not anger Jonas.

Overall, a positive review for Ka-Bar regardless of the tattoo angle.

Kristen Bell's Body of Lies Video

2012-01-12T21:02:09Z

Kristen Bell's Body of Lies from Kristen Bell

Miami tattooist Dave Sedano graciously shared this Funny or Die video on the Needles & Sins group wall, but I had to repost in case you missed it.

Whoever wrote this script has to be tattooed because it is so spot on in its ridiculous, from mocking the "deep meaning" stories behind the art to the hyper-hipster ironic tattoo. Gotta see it.