Anyone who’s interested about how professional tattooers feel about scratchers should check out Lucky’s tattoo supply’s website.  Click on supply store, then click on ‘starter kits’, where it says ‘click here‘ click there.  I’m not sure when they put this up but it’s amazing, I love those guys.

A few weeks back, I went to go see a couple of bands at a local club.  As I was handing over my ticket to the bouncer at the door, I noticed that his knuckles were tattooed with some sort of strange script.  When I asked him what his knuckles said, he actually got really sheepish and folded his fingers out of sight.  He gave an embarrassed laugh and said, “Aw, it’s just stupid.”  Realizing that he didn’t want to tell me about it, I dropped the subject and went and got a beer.

 I thought about it quite a bit that night.  Was the guy embarrassed of what his tattoo said, or was it the fact that it was a knuckle tattoo that he wished he’d never had done?  I was generally interested in what he was sporting on those knucks of his.  This in turn got me thinking about knuckle tattoos, how in a way they’re sort of the dark horses of the tattoo world.  I see all kinds of tattoos on a daily basis, but very rarely do I see tattooed knuckles.  Why is that?  Is it because they’re always going to be on display for everyone to see and it makes employment difficult?  Is it because people associate them with gangs?  Or is it because people’s knuckles are often too hairy? 

Whatever the reason, this week I’m hyping knuckle tattoos, not only because I think they’re rad, but also because picking eight letters that sum up your personality or something important to you is a real challenge.  If you can pull it off, then my hat goes off to you.  Besides, there’s just something classic about them, like albums on vinyl and movies shot on film.

With that being said, I’m going to go ahead and recommend checking out Knuckle Tattoos.com  This is a great site that encourages knuckle-tattooed folks to send in a photo of their knuckles and explain what they mean and why they got them in the first place.  Even if you don’t like the artwork or the idea of tattooed knuckles, the stories behind these tattoos are usually pretty interesting and help shed light on the numerous reasons why people get the tattoos that they get.

So for any of you out there like Mr Bouncer at the club, don’t be shy with your knuckles.  Get ‘em out there and be proud to sport eight original pieces of body art.

When my wife and I were preparing for our wedding a couple of years back, one of the things that we needed to do was pick out our rings.  As it stood, we didn’t have a ton of money to put into wedding bands and I personally had an aversion to rings.  It wasn’t the idea of wearing a wedding band that put me off; I’m just not the kind of guy who wears rings.  Time went by and our wedding day drew nearer.  This was beginning to get serious. What the hell were we going to do? 

After giving it some thought, I remembered a co-worker of mine who had gotten a tattoo on her ring finger in lieu of a wedding band.  This seemed like a decent idea to me.  I looked into it, talked to a few tattoo artist friends and began to seriously consider it.  After all, there’s no threat of losing a tattoo down the drain or getting a tattoo hooked on a piece of machinery while you work (the latter wasn’t a risk for me anyway, as the closest in my life I’ve come to working with machinery is an electric can opener.)  Nonetheless, it just made good sense to me.

In the end however, my wife and I gave the tattooed ring finger a pass.  I got used to wearing a wedding band and as much sense as the idea of a tattooed ring finger made, we just opted for the traditional route of rings.

To be honest, I’m quite glad that we did.  Not that I have anything against people who do have their ring fingers tattooed as a symbol of their unification with another person.  No way.  More power to you if that’s your thing.  I’ve just been looking around online, doing google searches and what not and it seems that wedding band tattoos have become “trendy”.  See for me, the word trendy doesn’t belong anywhere near the concept of tattoos and getting tattoos done.  Knowing that I’m the only one who has something particular inked into my skin because it means something exclusively to me has always held a great appeal.  Trendy, by definition is based in fashion and style.  Fashion and style, as we all know, can change on a whim and is highly fickle.  Tattoos are permanent and a certain degree of respect should be maintained for this concept.

In this New York Times article on tattoo wedding bands, Donald G McNeil delves into the trend and begins to feel a little uncomfortable over the fact that his idea of a different sort of wedding band is shared by everyone from Pamela Anderson to Bristol Palin’s main squeeze, Levi Johnson.  Who else has one?  Well, there’s actress Tea Leoni and actor David Duchovny, Kathy Griffin, Ashlee Simpson, Jenna Jameson and  Howard Stern, to name a few.  It does seem that a vicious trend has begun. 

Maybe though, just maybe I’m being a little cynical. Pro basketballer Tony Parker has his and wife Eva Longoria’s wedding date tattooed on his ring finger in Roman numerals.  Parker also wears a wedding band, but since he can’t keep his wedding band on while he plays basketball, having the tattoo there is a way for him to maintain that connection with his wife.  Not to get too sappy on everyone, but that’s something more personal than any desire to follow a tattoo trend.

That’s what it all boils down to in the end, I guess: everyone has their own reasons for getting a tattoo.  Whether it’s to keep up with a trend or a heartfelt expression of sincerity, people make their choices and stick to them.  It wasn’t the right choice for my wife or myself, but apparently it is for a lot of other people out there. 

Whatever works, I guess.

In the last two weeks I’ve talked to three different men who were seeking apprenticeships, only problem is they were also scratchers.  The short definition of ‘scratcher’ is an unlicensed, untrained layman performing an amatuer tattoo on people out of their home, a hotel room, or at parties.  The other short definition of scratcher is fuckin’ idiot.

An analogy for those of you considering taking part in this fiasco:  Getting tattooed by someone who’s seen every episode of Miami Ink and purchased a ‘professional’ tattoo machine off of Ebay is like getting an abortion from a dude that loves E.R. and bought some surgical instruments off of the same.  Hell, the guy maybe even read a book or two about the subject!

One of the guys is the brother of a client of mine who started ‘tattooing’ in prison and was recently released.  He had his sister call me to ask what kind of ‘ink’ I use. *ahem* I informed her that even if I told him what I used there would be no legitimate way he could get his hands on the stuff because the supply companies I order from require you to show proof of not only a tattoo artist’s license, but a business license as well.  I make it a point to support companies that enforce this precaution and I avoid those who don’t.  If you think you’re getting a good deal because you got your shit out of the back of some tattoo magazine, you’re wrong.

Dipshit #2, after informing him of the danger he was putting people in and the fact that all the practice in the world won’t make you a good artist without informed criticism, promptly informed ME that he was going to ‘learn how to do this whether anyone helped him or not’.  Did I mention this guy was a dipshit?  I wished him good luck and told him that not only would he never get a decent apprenticeship by running around showing off his scratcher portfolio, but that anyone who would apprentice him was probably going to take his money, humiliate him, and leave his head so full of shit that he’d never be able to do an even mediocre tattoo.  Once again, good luck buddy.

Dill hole #3:  This guy comes in with about 50 self-rendered tattoos on his hands and arms, I cringe at first sight of him and ask ‘how may I help you’ while trying to swallow that little bit of vomit that just crawled up my gullet.  He whips out his photo album and announces his intention to get an apprenticeship.  I look at his ‘work’, swallow hard again, and tell him that if he wanted an apprenticeship the first thing he would have to do is never show his work to anyone, ever.  But this guy actually seems to be paying attention and I understand what it’s like to want something so bad but not know how to get it, so I have a little pity on the guy and come up with a reasonable scenario that could work for everyone.  ‘Before even being considered to become an apprentice you have to give up scratching, and all of your gear.’  I tell him, and for the first time in a long time I think someone actually listened to me.  I’ll keep you posted to see if Dillhole keeps his word and coughs up the goods but I doubt it.

Scratching is a slap in the face of any tattooer that has busted ass to get where they are.  Scratchers and their by-products are one of the main causes of tattoo misinformation and they are the single largest cause of people who are afraid to get tattooed because they don’t want their tattoo to ‘look like that’.  If you go to a scratcher to get a tattoo you will get what you deserve, a shit tattoo, and maybe a little more that you don’t deserve, a little helping of death.  Tattoos are permanent and so is Hepatitis C and AIDS, so good luck rolling the dice with you’re health, stupid.  Scratchers don’t give a fuck about tattoo and they don’t give a fuck about you either, matter of fact, they only appear to care about themselves, but not enough to take better care of themselves considering the high prevalence of drug abuse in relation to the scratcher demographic.

Anyone who really wants an apprenticeship should avoid any connection with scratching, either getting one or doing one.  Then pick up a sketch pad and start drawing, alot, right now.  Find the best tattoo shop in town (do the research, it’s worth it) and get some tattoos, hang out, get to know the people working there and maybe a little about how this business works.  Attend some conventions, check out the magazines and maybe learn some about the history of this unique art form.  In short, if you want an apprenticeship, be ready to work for it.  I hope this finds you all in good health.

Wildo.

Over the course of time tattooing has worn many hats, so to speak. As near as anyone can guess from prehistoric times it seems to have been mainly used as a form of magic and healing. Considering that the Iceman’s tattoos, while obscure, were all placed on areas of the body where he had an ailment of some sort; magic and healing is not such a stretch of the imagination.

Later as the art became more common it was used to identify members of the group, or tribe, and as a rite of passage. Something that when you consider the gang tattoos of modern society it is still used for today. From Samoan tribes to ancient mariners the major role of tattoo on life’s stage has been inextricably linked with these three modus operandi. Magic, Rite of Passage, and Tribal Identification.

Later, in the late 1800’s and on until the advent of television, it became a way for some to make a living as an object of entertainment. I am referring, of course, to the heavily tattooed individuals who became such fixtures on the Sideshow circuit of the traveling carnivals, and stationary exhibits, such as P. T. Barnum’s museum. Heavy tattooing at that time was a novelty usually reserved to sailors yet even these bastions of the art did not go as far as some of the Sideshow exhibits.

The most popular of these being the tattooed ladies. Not only because to show the extent of her tattooing she had to be dressed, or undressed in this case, as skimpily as the fading Victorian morals of the times would allow. But because there was also offered to the men leaving the tent a chance to see some of the more intimate tattoos in a closed show for a higher rate. The jury is still out on whether the “private” shows were such a success because of the erotic placement of the tattoos, or just the eroticism. My guess would be a bit of both.

Still, and all, during these bye gone times of tattooing, with the exception of certain “primitive” tribes and Japanese Yakuza, the state of tattooing was little more than graffiti art. A mish mash of so many different unrelated themes that the body looked slightly better than a New York subway wall. The idea of a specific related theme for turning the body into a living coherent piece of art was almost unknown. Heart and roses here, panther there, maybe a dragon, or a skull, perhaps a hula dancer on the forearm so you could make her wiggle.

Very little of it matched, or even held a vague resemblance to any thing else put on over the course of a few years. Of course we didn’t have the choices then that we do now either. Custom work was virtually unknown. If the artist didn’t have the flash for hat you wanted, tough shit. You either got what was on the wall, or found one of the very few artists who would do something you brought in. There weren’t a lot of those around at the time.
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Not long ago I wrote a post on conservative religions’ changing views towards tattooing. I did a fair bit of reading on the subject and found myself on various sites and forums – mostly Jewish and Christian – where folks used religion as a basis of prejudice, quoting good ol’ Leviticus 19:28: “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the Lord” in their condemnation of people like you and me.

I’m not religious and no amount of biblical quoting will ever have me believe that I’m a heathen that will be told to piss off at the gates of heaven thanks to my tattoos. But religious rule does shape the attitudes and opinions of believers and affects general societal understanding, open-mindedness and tolerance, which in turn affects me so it made me feel more smiley than queasy when I read this article in the Columbia Missourian (I know, how do I find these things, right?), which touches on the rise of Christian tattoo shops across the U.S. such as Vivid Ink Custom Art & Tattoo in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Piqued, I did some more online snooping and discovered this lengthy, interesting article on the very same subject as well as something referred to as the “alternative Christian movement,” which involves Christian youth expressing their devout faith through tattoo art and whatnot. “…kids are so full on faith on the inside they just want to find somewhere to place it,” Jayme Whitaker, president of the Christian Tattoo Association, said. “Almost like a declaration of their independence in Christ.”

“It’s like an outward symbol of an inward truth,” Santa Cruz youth pastor Chuckk Gerwig was quoted as saying.

Apparently Cornerstone Music Festival – the hardcore Christian youth equivalent to Woodstock – is chock full of faithful youth covered neck to toe in Jesus ink, having been given the thumbs up by their progressive pastors/fathers/ministers/whatevers.

“It’s normative now. It’s culturally acceptable,” Pastor Greg Fadness of Twin Fall’s Lighthouse Christian Fellowship said in a sermon (his two daughters both have tattoos). “In those [grey] areas, we have to figure out: Is it OK for me to do or not?” It seems that the answer is a resounding YES.

AMEN to that.

Contraband Candy’s Video of the 4th annual London Convention at the Tobacco Dock in Wapping, East London

We all know the story, the Native Americans shared their food with the starving pilgrims and all was well, thus creating the first Thanksgiving. That is the story at least. Native Americans influenced a lot of things the early settlers did, even the art of tattoos. Native Americans have a rich history with tattoos, and are at least partially responsible for the rise of tattooing in the American culture as a whole.

Native Americans were getting tattooed long before the sailors landed on their shores. Their tattoos held great symbolism for them and their tribes. Warriors would get a time stamping style tattoo to show their victories. Several tribesmen (and tribeswomen) got tattoos representing animals, nature, even gods to show their appreciation. Tribes used the tattoos to show which tribe they belonged to. Some tribes even required tattoos be on their bodies before they could make it through the doors of the afterlife.

The tribes had their own tattoo artists. Specific people in the group that were trained in the art of applying permanent ink to skin. They used crude instruments like rocks and fish bones to apply the artwork, which I can only imagine was painful, but the receiver got large amounts of respect among his fellow tribesmen by demonstrating he could handle the pain.

When the European sailors first came in contact with the Native Americans, they became obsessed with the idea of tattoos. They begin to get their own, in styles that reflected their lifestyle such as anchors and nautical symbols. People even started setting up shops along the docks. Tattooing became common place among sailors and soon among soldiers and settlers as well.

Since then the popularity of tattoo art is found in every American culture, and it’s still going strong with Native Americans. Their has been a resurgence in Native American style tattoos the past few years, with people wanting to get tattoos showing their tribal heritage, or more universal symbols like feathers, animals, or tribal art.

So remember when you are sitting down to your turkey this year, you not only have Native Americans to thank for all that maze the first year, (and all the land) but also tattoos.

Read more at: The History of Native American Tattoos.

If you live in the Ohio area you might want to check out the Inspired by Ink shop in Columbus. Inspired by Ink is the home of Ryan Adams, the tattoo artists we talked about in the previous post, Help Design A Tattoo Coloring Book For Needy Kids. Ryan was gracious enough to give us an interview, and let us in on a great discount his shop is running in the very near future.

Inspired by Ink was opened eight years ago by Michelle, a retired body piercer. Since then the shop has grown to include Ryan, his apprentice Ben, and the resident body piercer, Cory. (They are looking to expand, so if you think you know of an artist in the area who might be a good fit let us know, and we’ll get the information over to them.)

Ryan, who is mostly known around here for his extensive charity work, has been an artist for seven years. He got his start in pottery, but found a passion for drawing after getting his first tattoo. Inspired by his new ink he began drawing, and shortly after that he started work in Indiana as a tattoo artist before moving to Ohio and joining up with Inspired by Ink.

According to Ryan, the best part about his job is his clients.

“It’s amazing, you always have new ideas that people are coming to you with, and it keeps things interesting. I can say I never get bored tattooing. It doesn’t matter if it’s tribal, or full out color bomb. I love it all.”

The only downside to his job is the amount of time it keeps him away from his wife and daughter, but other then that he has no complaints.

Ryan has had a lot of tattoo work done himself. Some of his pieces include; a neck piece of a skull puking blood, a hand grenade and bloody teeth inscribed with K.O. on his knuckles, and a portrait of his grandmother.

When asked if Ryan had any advice for the ink fans out there, he had this to say;

“Make sure that the artist you are going to is a good one, and do not price shop. It’s going to be on you for life, and no price is worth a bad tattoo. So look for an artist you like. Make sure you get along with them, and you feel comfortable.”

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A few days ago I was hanging out with a few tattoo fans who noticed my own ink and rather liked my choices. Naturally we got to showing off our artwork, something that many men my age might be a little self conscious about, but I’ve kept in fairly good shape and haven’t had any work done on my ass, so I wasn’t that worried about the youngsters seeing some of my body art.

While talking about tattooing a subject came up that I had heard of before, but didn’t think much about way back in the late 80’s early 90’s. Glow in the dark tattoos. I dismissed it then because I knew only a fool would put luminescent material into their skin, and only a scratcher would be dumb enough to do such a thing. Neither of my friends thought it was such a hot idea themselves, but mentioned an acquaintance of theirs who was thinking of having one done. I immediately decided to research something that I thought would die out with the first case of skin cancer it would undoubtedly cause.

What I found was a company that markets a brand of tattoo ink called Chameleon Blacklight Tattoo Ink. While it does not actually glow in the dark, it does react to UV, or blacklight, much like the old blacklight posters I was so fond of back in the 70’s. Still I was more than a bit apprehensive. Just how safe could this shit be?

Turns out it is extremely safe. This ink received USFDA approval in 1995 for use in animals, plants and fish for the purpose of tracking migration, growth patterns; breeding habits etc. While the FDA does not extend this approval to human beings, it should be noted that the FDA does not, (as far as I know), approve any tattoo inks for human consumption, and this ink is the only one to receive FDA approval in this way. They keep a letter to their manufacturer on file dated April 3, 1995 from the Division of Programs and Enforcement Policy, USFDA that proves this approval. The manufacturer is also in the process of seeking FDA approval for their inks use in human tattooing.

Add to this that the ink has been tested for over 11 years in human beings with no adverse effects, I checked this claim out first and found nada about adverse reactions, and you have possibly one of the safest tattoo inks since Sailor Jerry’s purple, which was nothing more than kid’s water color ground to powder and mixed. They even list all ingredients and provide a MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) sheet. I was suitably impressed.
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