Tattoo Hunter – Lars Krutak

I just found out about this awesome show called Tattoo Hunter from the Discovery Channel. This reality TV show follows Tattoo Anthropologist (that’s not a term you hear every day!) Lars Krutak as he investigates ancient body modification rituals from around the globe – including Brazil, Ethiopa, northeast India and Papua New Guinea. Krutak is an American anthropologist whose specialty is traditional tattooing and permanent body art.

This series follows Krutak as he immerses himself in the daily life of warriors, cannibals and headhunters and seeks to understand their ancient traditions of tattooing and scarification. On his trip to Papua New Guinea, Krutak actually undergoes the process of receiving painful “crocodile cuts” to his upper body in the traditional Sepik initiation ritual, whilst at the Kaningara village on the Blackwater river.

So keep your eyes and ears out for this show on the Discovery Channel – it is well worth it!

If you are interested in traditional tattooing then you might like to check out Lars’ book The Tattooing Arts of Tribal Women – which is totally awesome and has some of the most amazing photographs of ancient tribal tattoos on women!

Geoff Ostling – Tattooed Man to donate skin to National Gallery

Mr Ostling’s skin was the subject of a three-part documentary series called Anatomy, which premiered at the Sydney Film Festival last year and was shown at the Tribeca film festival in New York earlier this year. Mr Ostling is featured in the first film in the series entitled “Skin” and is directed by Rhys Graham and examines the 25 year collaboration between tattooist/artist eX de Medici and himself and their negotiations in bequeathing his tattooed skin as artwork to the National Gallery after his death.

Ostling, in an interview with the Sydney Daily Telegraph, said:

“I wanted something unique, so I thought about a garden of plants, of natives and imported flowers, what you would find in a Sydney garden with a distant view of the city from Heartbreak Hill.”

On the subject of donating his skin to the National Gallery, Ostling has said:

“To donate skin is not the most amazing thing in the world but the tattoos are revolutionary. It has never been done as a whole body before and not in a gallery. People can be squeamish about it. Portraits painted on human skin hang in galleries around the world. They don’t tell you that, of course, and valuable books were also covered in human skin.”

As the National Gallery already contains some of eX de Medici’s canvases – they hope to display Mr Ostling’s skin as part of this collection after his death.

It remains to be seen whether this will ever happen.

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.

Celebrities and Their Tattoos

When deciding on whether or not to get a tattoo, the first thing to think about is how the tattoo will be a permanent mark on the body.  The next thing to consider is what the preferred style might be.  Most tattoo parlors have samples of previous designs that can be altered to suit the customer.  But what many people enjoy is sampling and mimicking what many of those whom we idolize might have already had created.

Today, celebrities influence much of what is done in society.  Clothing styles, hair dos, things to eat, places to hang out and, yes, even tattoos are often influenced by many celebrities.  There are more famous people that have tattoos than what has been originally thought.  Some may be quite surprising.

As many people know, Angelina Jolie is one of the most popular tattooed actresses today.  She flaunts over a dozen tattoos, each with their own meaning. Angelina Jolie is such a fan of tattoos that there are always plans for more in the future.  In fact, she’s made the tribal dragon tattoo the most popular among women.

When it comes to tattoos and famous actresses, it’s certain that Pamela Anderson’s name will be brought up.  The arm band was made popular almost entirely due to Pamela Anderson.  She also put an emphasis on the barbed wire tattoo as it’s one of her most well known marks.

Mike Tyson sports a facial tattoo that is of Maori influence.  While the tattoo didn’t exactly cause a boom in applied facial tattoos, it does prove interesting among tattoo enthusiasts.

Johnny Depp is one highly acknowledge actor for having tattoos.  He’s decorated with over twelve known tattoos all with stories behind them.  Depp’s tattoo on his right bicep is the most well known.  When Johnny Depp and Wynona Ryder were together, he had “Wynona Forever” tattooed on his arm.  When the relationship ended, it was modified to say “Wino Forever.”  A good example of why tattoos should be thought through before taking the leap.

A group tattoo was made for those actors in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  Each actor received a tattoo of the word “nine” written in Elvish script.  Tattooed on different areas of the body, and a first tattoo for some, each member now has a permanent mark commemorating the making of the movies.

Other movie celebrities where we will find many tattoos to admire or copy include Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts, Gillian Anderson, Alyssa Milano, and Christina Ricci.  We can also find tattoos in music artists such as Billy Idol, Eminem, Henry Rollins and Brittany Spears.  Kobe Bryant, Dennis Rodman, Anna Kournikova, and Stone Cold Steve Austin make up just a few of the sports models that flaunt their own ink.

This is just a sampling of a few of the tattoos that are likely to be found among celebrities.  These people are acknowledged and admired for their style and personalities.  Many of them have caused booms in the tattoo trends throughout the years with special emphasis on designs that closely resemble their own.  It’s not unusual or unheard of by tattoo artists to receive requests for a tattoo that looks just like one sported by the hip celebrity of the times.

Celebrities Love Tattoos

It is not really surprising to learn that many celebrities love tattoos, nor is it surprising that those who are in the public eye and in the media have quite a significant influence on the American population’s fascination with tattoos.  The stars have tattoos, so all of their fans want tattoos also.  For celebrities, age is not a factor;  older stars as well as the younger ones have them.  We know all of these people–  but how much do we know about what unique styles of artwork they have?

One of America’s most longtime popular movie stars, Robert DeNiro, has appeared in movies sporting numerous tattoos.  Whether or not his fans realize that they are only accessories for his films, the fact is in real life Robert DeNiro has only one tattoo, that of a black panther.  Another actor who shows off many tattoos in his movies is Johnny Depp;  all of his, however, are real.  Bruce Willis also has a few tattoos;  most notably the symbol of his movie “Die Hard.”

Tattoos have long been in style with musicians.  Former teen idol Justin Timberlake has a guardian angel, amongst others.  Rapper Eminem has more tattoos than can be counted, including his daughter’s name and his own.  The wording on Keith Urban’s wrist, “Omni Vincit Amor” is Latin for ‘Love Conquers All;’  he also has an eagle on one arm.

Some sports celebrities also go for tattoos.  Michael Jordan has his fraternity symbol tattooed above his heart, while Dennis Rodman is a virtual canvas of artwork.

Not to be outdone, many female stars also show various degrees of artwork.  Young actress Drew Barrymore is essentially a canvas full of tattoos;  it is said that she created most of the designs herself.  Reese Witherspoon is more subtle, wearing only one small star tattoo which is rarely visible.  Pamela Anderson has a variety of tattoos also, the most notable being the word ‘Mommy’ on one finger, which reportedly used to read ‘Tommy.’  Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has five stars to represent each member of her family, her husband’s initials, and the traditional Jewish phrase ‘I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.’

Some of today’s supermodels also sport tattoos.  Kate Moss, Christy Turlington, and Stephanie Seymour all have these permanent forms of fashion accessories.  Most supermodels who opt for tattoos show fewer and smaller designs than celebrities in other fields.

While many celebrities have had tattoos for a very long time, the popularity of tattoos amongst stars has been increasing, both in the number of celebrities who have them and the number of tattoos that they have.  A very few have only one tattoo;  more and more are taking on a large number of tattoos as well as more and more visible tattoos, using skin as a canvas for nearly unlimited varieties of permanent artwork.

As celebrities show off their tattoos, and this is picked up by the media, it presents an ever-increasing influence for their fans, especially amongst the younger generation, to want to do likewise.  As with anything else that stars do in the public eye, their influence with tattoos helps this form of artwork become more widespread, more popular, and more acceptable to most of the American population in general.

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.

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