Tattoo Highway – new reality TV show

The A&E Network is premiering a new reality TV show this May (27th May on A&E) – it features master tattoo artist Thomas Pendelton in the new “Tattoo Highway”. You may remember Thomas Pendelton from “Inked” (Inked – The Best of Season 1) the reality TV show showing an inside, up-close look at the art of tattoo and its surrounding culture–Las Vegas style.

This new show “Tattoo Highway” follows Thomas Pendelton and his business partner and wife Monica in a 1970s tour bus that has been transformed into a tattoo parlour on wheels and decked out with top-of-the-line tattooing equipment. The show will follow Pendelton around the country as he creates unique ink art for the people he meets along the way. The bus has been christened “Ministry of Ink” and will allow Pendelton to tattoo anyone, anywhere – so expect the unexpected as they travel from Las Vegas to Los Angeles to Phoenix and beyond and I would guess encounters with a host of “interesting” characters who want to get inked.

“From the creation of the art to the environment that I tattooed in, it has always been about my customers’ experience,” Pendelton said in a statement.  “In a street shop, it was easy to forget just how personal that experience should be. Rolling up and parking the shop right in the middle of someone’s life, well, there is nothing more personal than that.” Some of the interesting tattoos that Pendelton creates on “Tattoo Highway” include a memorial portrait created from the ashes of a man’s wife mixed with ink; a tattoo created with UV ink that can only be seen under a black light; a giant gorilla riding a scooter, and a pair of matching eggplants.

For those of you who do not know Thomas Pendelton, he is a 15 year tattoo veteran, and was Carey Hart’s business partner on ““Inked” about the Huntington Tattoo Company – the first tattoo parlour to open in a casino. Following the success of this show, Pendelton now has the chance to front his own reality show – but this time on the road. A&E hope the travelling element will help to differentiate this show from all the other tattoo shows currently out there.

Let’s hope that “Tattoo Highway” is as good as it sounds – there are 13 episodes – so cannot wait!

Tongue Tattoos

Tattoos are a hot commodity these days, becoming more and more popular than they have ever been in the past.  There are hundreds and thousands of different designs and styles of tattoos to choose from, giving you the chance to express yourself.  Although tattoos are very popular, the new trend that is rapidly taking effect in the world of tattoos is known as tongue tattoos.

Although many aren’t familiar with tongue tattoos yet, they are just now starting to take shape.  They resemble other designs and styles, although they cover the muscle known as the tongue.  There are tattoos that cover the entire tongue, or just a single area.  In most cases, those who already have them, chose to have their tongue tattooed a certain color.  Whether it be purple, orange, black, or blue, the tongue can be tattooed a variety of different colors.

The designs that are poplar with tongue tattoos include stars, tribal work, and other shapes and designs that cover a region of the tongue.  Stars are popular with the lower area of the tongue, near the tip.  There are also designs that can be tattooed farther back on the tongue, near the middle of it.  As tongue tattoos become more and more popular, more and more designs are implemented.

As far as the procedure goes, it’s very similar to getting a tattoo on any other part of your body.  A tattoo involved needles puncturing the skin, depositing ink into the epidermis.  The needles move extremely fast, breaking the skin and leaving the pigments of ink.  The tongue, just like the skin, will swallow the pigments once the surface has been punctured by the needle.  Once the pigments of ink are absorbed by the tongue, the color will remain there forever.

Those who have had tongue tattoos in the past say that they aren’t very painful.  Unlike tattoos on the skin, the tongue is a giant muscle.  A tattoo on the tongue is often described as a tickling sensation or the feeling of numbness in your mouth.  When the tattoo artist does the tattoo, he will normally use a tool to hold the tongue out.  If you’ve ever had a tongue piercing, you’ll know what it looks like.  Once the tongue is out, the artist will begin work.  The process normally does take very long, as long you hold still and don’t move around.

If a tongue tattoo sounds interesting to you, the first thing to do is find a tattoo artist in your area who is experienced with doing them.  Not a lot of tattoo artists are familiar with tongue tattoos, as they are just now beginning to surface.  A tongue tattoo is a bit on the creative side – something that you just don’t see in public everyday.

Caring for a New Tattoo

When you finally decide to get a tattoo, the first thing you’ll need to do is find a reputable tattoo artist. Most tattoo artists have several designs that you can pick from. If you don’t find anything you like, you can always ask them to make a custom tattoo or why not create one yourself and get the tattoo artist to fine tune it for you. Remember you’ll have the tattoo for the rest of your life – so think hard about what you want. The design of course is the most important but you also need to know how to take care of it.

After your tattoo is finished, your tattoo artist will most likely cover up your tattoo – this is done for a really good reason – to keep air-born bacteria from invading your wound. A fresh tattoo is like a wound and is a breeding ground for bacteria and infection – so whatever you do leave the bandage on for a minimum couple of hours – this is important! I know you will be excited to show the world your new tatt – but please keep it covered – there is plenty of time to show off that new tatt!

Now the only time you should take off a bandage straight away is if for some reason your tattoo artist has covered it with plastic wrap or saran wrap – this is a DEFINITE NO-NO – so take it off immediately.

So you have waited a couple of hours and you have now removed your bandage – so it is time to wash and treat your new tattoo. Gently wash your tattoo with lukewarm water and a mild, antibacterial soap – don’t use anything too harsh – try Provon Medicated Lotion Soap if you can get it. If you are not sure – simply remember to ask your tattoo artist what he/she would recommend. Make sure you clean the area completely and do NOT use anything abrasive – use your hand to gently clean the area – clean as best as you can to try and prevent too much scabbing.

After cleaning your new tattoo, gently pat the area – do NOT rub – with a clean or paper towel and make sure it is completely dry. Then apply a really light application of your antibacterial ointment of choice – once again ask your tattoo artist for their recommendation.

After your initial clean and ointment application – it is now a matter of continuing to keep it clean – do NOT use any lotions or soaps with dye or fragrances in them – just keep it clean with unscented products.

There is a lot of talk about NOT showering with a new tattoo – this is NOT true – you certainly can shower – just don’t saturate your tattoo – and try hard not to get soap or shampoo on the area – if you do – clean it with fresh water straight away. Whatever you do AVOID swimming – so no pools – either freshwater or salt water pools – this should be avoided at all costs for at least a couple of weeks.

Now chances are you will experience some scabbing over the new tattoo – this is quite normal – a little scabbing is to be expected – so don’t panic! DO NOT pick and DO NOT scratch – this is very very important – this means it is healing so LEAVE IT ALONE! If you must do anything – apply warm moise compresses for a few minutes a couple of times a day to soften the scabs and eventually they will come off themselves – so once again DO NOT pick and DO NOT scratch.

So one more piece of advice is to always take care of your tattoos by using sun protection – tattoos can fade – so slap on that SPF30 sunblock and keep your tattoo fresh and colourful and whatever you do – SHOW THAT TATTOO OFF!

Tattoos as Art – Scott Campbell Exhibition

Make It Rain

April 11 – May 9, 2009
Showing at O.H.W.O.W.
3100 NW 7 Avenue / Miami / Florida / 33127

In what will be his first major solo presentation of his works, Campbell will showcase his unique aesthetic via sculptures, paintings, drawings and photography.

Scott Campbell was born and raised in a fishing camp, perched alongside a muddy bayou in rural Louisiana. With a clever knack for drawing and a fondness of stories, he began his career by doing illustration and assistant editing. Curiosity soon led him to experiment with tattooing and his immediate mastery of the art was undeniable. After a subsequent 18 month stint in Spain honing his craft, he packed up his skills and his tattoo machines and traveled for the next 5 years taking inspiration from the art and folklore of tattoo cultures all over the world.

In 2004, he opened Saved Tattoo in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Since then, it has grown to be the East Coast’s premier tattoo shop with a devout following of celebrity clientele. Campbell has the taken the blue collar grit and lore of tattoo culture and extracted a visual language and wit that are supremely refined and deliberate. He has an uncanny ability to tell a story with any medium, flesh or otherwise.

All photos by Norman Lendzion

Check out Scott’s own site here.

Johnny Depp’s literary inspired tattoo

Johnny Depp has a great relatively new tattoo “Silence Exile Cunning” which is a quote from the book “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” by James Joyce. The tattoo comes from a quote near the end of the book by the main character Stephen: “I will tell you what I will do and what I will not do. I will not serve that in which I no longer believe, whether it call itself my home, my fatherland, or my church: and I will try to express myself in some mode of life or art as freely as I can and as wholly as I can, using for my defence the only arms I allow myself to use – silence, exile, and cunning.”

It is on the inside of his left arm and is a great quote and an awesome tattoo. If you want to see a picture of it – just google it – it is everywhere – no need for me to recycle the same old photos!

We also know that Johnny Depp has a multitude of other tattoos – around 14 known tattoos, including:

• American Cherokee Head- reflecting his great-great-grandmother’s cherokee heritage
• Brave Symbol – on his inside right arm from his movie The Brave
• Lily-Rose -  the name of his first-born child is tattoed near his heart
• Heart with Betty Sue – on his left upper arm is his mother’s name
• Inverted Triangle – is above the Betty Sue tattoo and is often used as an expression of romantic love
• Jack – his son’s name
• Wino Forever – on his right bicep is his notorious Winona Forever tattoo which he had changed after his breakup with Winona Ryder
• Three small rectangles on his right index finger – he has described these as a “permanent phone doodle”
• the number 3 – on his left hand between his thumb and index finger is said to be a mystical, magical number
• Flying Bird – on his right forearm and is from the Pirates of the Caribbean movie – but he turned the tattoo around so that it flies towards him – his son Jack’s name is tattoed below
• Skull and Crossbones – on his outside lower right leg with the phrase “Death is Certain” below it
• Question mark ? – on his right inside leg over his ankle

Most of Johnny’s tattoos have been done by New York tattooist Jonathan Shaw.

He is a true tattoo aficianado and every tattoo means something to him and marks a specific time in his life. I have several tattoos myself and each one means something special to me – I think this is one of the best ways to approach getting a tattoo – linking your tattoo to something that means something special to you.

As Johnny Depp says tattoos are milestones to remember life’s journey by.

How to Find a Good Tattoo Artist

Okay – you have considered all the effects of having a tattoo and know that it will be a lifelong commitment. You also know what type of design you want and exactly where on your body you want it imprinted. Now, the hard part – you need to find a good place to get your tattoo done.

The first thing to do is some research.  Ask friends and family members who currently have tattoos where they got theirs done.  Find out what their experiences were like.  Ask if it was a clean environment, if it was comfortable and if the designs turned out to their satisfaction.  Many times, tattoo parlors will be able to refer names of customers who can recommend their services.

While word of mouth is typically the best advertisement, you can also simply try opening the phone book.  Locate local tattoo parlors and give them a call.  They should be more than willing to answer any questions you might have.  At best they should allow you to come and visit the facility to become comfortable with the surroundings prior to committing to becoming tattooed.

During a tattoo parlor visit, first determine the cleanliness of the facility.  Make sure tools are sterilized between each customer and disposable and single use needles are indeed disposed of after each use.  General cleanliness is just as important; if care isn’t taken with building upkeep, then it can be believed that care won’t be taken elsewhere in the business.

Chat with the tattoo artists and the staff members.  If you don’t feel comfortable asking any questions or expressing concerns with them, chances are you won’t feel comfortable having them put a permanent mark on your body.  You should feel completely at ease as it’s possible that a large amount of time may be spent with them.

Check the designs of particular tattoo parlors.  One very helpful tip is to compare art with an actual tattoo to compare how closely the tattoo resembles the tattoo itself.  It’s wise to inspect what kind of design range the tattoo artist is capable of.  One might have a hundred different photos of skulls and crosses but it can be very different than having a butterfly, rose or a name tattooed on.  Be sure the artist is very flexible.

The Internet can be a very useful too when it comes to business searching.  Simply type in “tattoos” and the name of your geographical location into any search engine and you should be given a list of choices for places to check out.  The Internet can also prove helpful to get opinions on certain tattoo parlors through blogs, forums and chat rooms.  Information obtained from the Internet should always be double checked and checked again for confirmation as opinions will widely vary.

When finding a tattoo artist in your area, it’s important to always be comfortable with your decision.  While it is understood that the tattoo will be a permanent mark on the body and great thought should be put into the design and the location on the body in which it will be placed, it is also imperative to be sure you are completely comfortable with the tattoo artist.  After all, you’ll want to be positive that this lifelong design will be done accurately and correctly.

Why Do People Get Tattoos?

There are nearly as many reasons for getting a tattoo as there are people who have them.  Each person has his or her own particular reason;  it may be a common reason or it may be unique, but it is nonetheless individual.

People who get a tattoo on impulse or a dare, while intoxicated, or to please someone else, are the ones who are usually less satisfied with the results.  Even while holding it out as a spur-of-the-moment mistake, a person who acquires a tattoo under these circumstances are rarely happy with having it on a longterm basis.  Unfortunately, these types of situations do comprise a fair percentage of the number of people who get tattoos–  and later regret it.  Most people who get tattoos primarily  as a means of rebellion are also dissatisfied in the long-run;  as they grow out of feeling the need to rebel, they grow out of enjoying the symbols of it.

For those who make an informed decision about getting a tattoo, whether they acknowledge it or not they are usually in either of two categories:  those who are identifying with a group, or those who are identifying themselves as individuals.  Both are using tattoos as a means of self-expression.  On the extreme end of the spectrum are inmates who belong to such groups as “the Aryan Brotherhood.”  A tattoo shows both members and non-members alike what group the inmate belongs to.  These tattoo designs are of various codes and other oddities which they assume people who are not likewise affiliated will not understand.  Most inner-city gangs also have coded tattoo designs for the same reason.  In these types of instances, tattoos serve a dual-purpose:  they are a means of bonding a person to a particular group, and they are a means of separating oneself from those who are outside of that group.

Some people get a tattoo simply because they want to have one.  Other than not putting much careful thought into its longterm implications, nor being very selective about what particular design they want, this is not necessarily negative.  For many, simply liking artwork on one’s skin is reason enough to visit a local tattoo studio, hand over a relatively-large sum of money, and have something etched into one’s skin that is intended to remain there for the rest of one’s life.  The most intricate design or the most plain one can be a matter of speaking to the entire world, or something which one chooses to keep solely to oneself.

Others use this form of self-expression in a manner similar to what generations past used to do with t-shirts:  to show the world what they wish to say.  They choose wording, or designs which symbolize something that is meaningful to them.  You can see everything from American flags and crosses to the names of who they love, and, occasionally, wording which pushes the limits of the First Amendment.  In the past, people wore what they believed, stood for, and cared about on their shirts;  these days tattoos often serve the same purpose.

Many people use tattoos as memorials.  Tattoos can be designed for remembrance of a deceased loved one, of course, but they can also be designed for the purpose of keeping in mind other places or situations which a person does not wish to forget.  When there is someone or something that you wish to hold close to your heart, a tattoo can be a beautiful way of doing it. Photographs and other souvenirs are not permanent–  tattoos are.

Why do people get tattoos?  The reasons are as varied as there are individuals.  Whether you yourself have a tattoo or not, if you know someone who does, it is important to realize that you do not know what that person’s reasons are, unless he or she decides to tell you.

Sanskrit Tattoos

If you devour everything newsworthy about tattoos then you would know that the singer Rihanna has a misspelled Sanskrit tattoo!

For those of you who don’t know what Sanskrit tattoos are – they are tattoos written in Devanagari for the ancient language Sanskrit – which is an historical Indo-Aryan language. It is a dead language, which means it is no longer learned as a native language – and as such it does not change over time – which means the meaning of the words do NOT change – so you can be certain that there is only one meaning for your Sanskrit tattoo and it will never change its meaning like so many modern words.

Celebrities love these Sanskrit tattoos, and some of the celebrities who have Sanskrit tattoos are:

• Jessica Alba from Sin City – has “lotus flower” in Sanskrit on her right inner wrist
• Gillian Anderson from X-Files – has “every day” in Sanskrit on her right wrist
• David Beckham – has the misspelled “Vihctoria” tattooed on his left forearm
• Rihanna – has a sanskrit prayer reading “forgiveness, honesty, suppression and control” on her right hip which is supposedly misspelt

Sanskrit is incredibly beautiful to look at but if you are looking at getting a tattoo in this language be sure to get more than one translation done – just to be sure you are getting the meaning you want to. We have all heard the stories of someone getting a tattoo in another language thinking it means one thing and finding out it means something totally different – like the guy in America who thought his Chinese character tattoo meant “Love honor and obey” only to find out it meant “This boy is ugly”.

Because of the popularity of Sanskrit tattoos Hindus are now urging all tattoo artists to undertake basic training in the ancient Sanskrit language so there are no more embarassing misspelled tattoos – especially on celebrities!

Ink History

The word “tattoo” is derived from the Polynesian word “tatao” which means “to tap”, in reference to traditional methods of inserting ink manually using traditional tools to tap the ink into the skin.

Tattoos have a rich history of tradition, dating back thousands and thousands of years. Throughout the course of time, there has always been an important role of tradition and ritual behind tattoos. In the past, women in Borneo used tattoos as a way to mark their skills. Tattoos were also used in the past as a way to ward away illnesses and disease by placing the tattoo around the fingers and on the wrist. Throughout history, tattoos have also been used to symbolize a clan or society as well.

The purpose of tattoos has differed from culture to culture throughout the course of time. Research has shown that the earliest tattoos come from Egypt during the time of the pyramids, although most believe they started much earlier. Egyptians at this time were believed to use tattoos as a way to mark the slaves and the peasants. Around 2,000 BC, tattoos spread to China and then on to Greece, where the Greeks used tattoos as a way to communicate among spies.

Along the way, Japan also incorporated the use of tattoos as well. The Japanese people used tattoos for religious and ceremonial rites. During this era, Borneo women were the artists. They produced the designs that indicated the individuals point in life and the tribe that he was affiliated with. Tattoos were very popular during these days, although infections were quite common. Tattoos were a long way from being perfected – which showed in the way they were done.

Tattoos were shown in the western regions as well, although they weren’t well accepted at first. William Dampher, who was once an explorer, was the man who re-introduced tattoos to the western areas. During the year 1961, he brought a heavily tattooed Prince to the area, showing off his tattoos with exhibitions. He made quite a bit of money with these attractions, which in turn made tattoos very popular and well desired throughout London and surrounding areas. Before then, it was nearly 600 years since tattoos had been witnessed in the area.

Chatham Square, which is located in New York City, was the first place to feature American styled tattoos. During the turn of the century, Chatham Square attracted people from all over the United States, especially those with money. A man by the name of Samuel O-Reily set up shop in Chatham Square, becoming the first man to use an electric tattoo gun. In the beginning, the now popular tattoo gun was based on Thomas Edison’s electric pin that used a needle point to puncture paper.

The electric tattoo gun features moving coils, a needle bar and tube, which are common components of today’s guns. The electric gun was very popular, allowing those who wanted a tattoo to get one at a great price. These guns helped to revolutionize tattoos and allowed the tattoo artists to give tattoos fairly fast as well. People took to this new technology in flocks, making it by far the best and most efficient ways to get tattoos.

During the late 1960s, tattoos really began to take off. They were featured in magazines, television, and talked about everywhere. These days, tattoos are very common, with nearly ½ of the population in the United States having at least one tattoo. They are still common with bikers and clans, symbolizing that one is a member. There are millions of designs out there for tattoos – including different color combinations that have helped to make tattoos the phenomenon they are today.