 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!  |
Tattoo TAGS: Boog Contest Sullen Clothing |
  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. 
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 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 |
Tattoo TAGS: Boog Contest Sullen Clothing |
  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  |
Tattoo TAGS: Black & Grey Tattoo Art Buy My Books Color Tattoo Art Sale |
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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. |
Tattoo TAGS: Jonas Sherman Joshua Frankel Ka-Bar Knife review Tattoo video |
 Over at Complex Mag, Nick Schonberger offers this fabulous find: a crayon tattoo machine made from western cedar. Woodworker Michael Riley of Arkansas created these toys, which measure 6 inches long by 3 inches wide, to hold most types of crayons. He also does custom orders should you, say, opt for a rotary than coil machine. The handmade awesomeness is only $20 plus shipping. I plan on buying a bunch for my friends' little girls to replace their Princess Barbies and get them started on their art careers early. |
Tattoo TAGS: Complex Mag Michael Riley tattoo machine tattoo toys |
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Collaborative Tattooing: Sessions 2-8 from Taylor Toole on Vimeo. Brooklyn's own Saved Tattoo is a powerhouse of talent with collectors traveling the world to get work that spans all genres. What's particularly exciting is when tattooists collaborate on a piece, melding their own unique artistry into one cohesive work on a very lucky client. This is brilliantly illustrated in Taylor Toole's video of Chris O'Donnell and Thomas Hooper working together on a backpiece for Ryan Begley (founder of Shirts & Destroy). The film pulls together footage from sessions 2 through 8, and it's a great peak into the process, especially for such a large tattoo. Outside of tattooing, Chris, Thomas and Ryan are collaborating on a publishing venture specializing in hand crafted books and art editions: Artifact Publishing recently released Winter Solstice: Black Mandalas, Series One, which is a set of 28 prints each measuring 5.5" x 5.5". Each collection of prints is enclosed in a hand-stained wooden box and is a limited edition of 100. Details here. Chris and Thomas have also designed for Shirts & Destroy collections. Looking forward to seeing more from them on skin, canvas, print and apparel. |
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 Along the lines of stellar art books by stellar tattoo artists in our gift guide today, I present "18 Angles of the Human Skull" by Kore Flatmo in Cincinnati, Ohio. This second edition -- now in easy to carry book form -- takes the original content of the popular first version and adds even more value, including five pages of new drawings, sixteen paintings and a tattoo section. The book is not only a collection of exciting art but also is an excellent reference for those seeking to refine their memento mori tributes in their own work. If you're looking for a great way to tip your artists this holiday, "18 Angles of the Human Skull" will do the trick. You can purchase it for $100 on the Plurabella online store. While you're there shopping, also check his fine art prints and apparel. Prints by Brenda Flatmo -- like this Nick Cave portrait -- are also available.   |
Tattoo TAGS: 18 Angles of the Human Skull book Holiday Gift Guide Kore Flatmo skulls |
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I wanted Chris Dingwell to do a book. Every time I see one of his works or live painting projects, I know I need to see it again. And I'm happy to say that I now can with his wonderful 150-page collection, "Inside Out," which can be purchased at TattooEducation.com. "InsideOut" looks at Chris's body of work over the past eight years, featuring full views of the paintings as well as close-ups where you can see the movement of the brush strokes. A fantastic foreword by Johnny Thief opens up the book, giving the reader a better sense of just who Chris Dingwell is beyond his acrylics. Johnny also talks about Chris's tattoo work, which -- like his fine art -- defies categorization. An easy catch-all would be "painterly," but it is so much more than that. Johnny says, "If I had to try and label it, I would call it 'Kineticism'." [He wants 20% every time that term is used.] For more on Chris, check our artist profile on him from last year, and this article from last month in The Portland Daily Sun. 
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Tattoo TAGS: art book Chris Dingwell Holiday Gift Guide Inside Out Johnny Thief tattoo artist |
I've told many artists "Do a book." It's a rather selfish suggestion/command as I love turning pages filled with stimulating imagery, firing my neurons up and kicking my ass to create more. And practically, it's a way to view art that won't fit in my tiny Brooklyn apartment.
 Seems like the tattoo art books listed in our Holiday Gift Guide are a hit, so we have another great pick: "Life Under My Skin -- 40 portraits de tatoues" by Paris-based journalist Anna Mazas. This 168-page paperback features beautiful portrait photography of 40 tattooed people from around the world as well as interviews with these collectors about their work. The text is in English and French -- a great way to brush up or pick up some language skills. Akin to the "London Tattoos" book, what is particularly excellent about "Life Under My Skin" is -- not only the full credit given to some stellar tattooists whose work is featured -- but also the discussion of the relationship between these artists and clients. Anna's text reveals more than just choice of artists and art work, but also something intimate about the wearers. The portraits are engaging, with 10 photographers bringing their own different perspectives to capturing tattoo culture. These photographers include: Chris Coppola, Julien Lachaussee, Thibault de Saint Chamas, Nicolas Menu, Christophe Klain, Brice Beillant, Aline Dery, Aude Grandveau, Rosario Sanz, and Aurelie Verdie. You can purchase "Life Under My Skin" for 24.90 Euros here. For more images and info, also check the book's Facebook page.    |
Tattoo TAGS: Anna Mazas book English French Holiday Gift Guide Life Under My Skin tattoo |
