During the Republican National Convention that Bristol Palin’s intended, Levi Johnston, had “Bristol” tattooed on his ring finger. [via]

Posting Commercials on Youtube apparently is a good way to get press out about your conventions… list of artists appearing at the philly convention follows the youtubevertisement.

Artists Appearing at the Philly Tattoo Convention:
Trvaeling Artists: Horitoshi, Horiryu, Nene, Janell Cuba
Philadelphia Eddie’s Tattoo
Charles Freeland of Baltimore Street Tattoo Hanover, PA
Kristel Oreto, Aaron Is of Crimson Anchor Newport Richey, FL
Paul Acker, Pastor, Tim Victim of Deep Six Laboratory Philadelphia, PA
John Shainline of Eternity Tattoos Spring City, PA
Juan Gonzalez of Exclusive Ink Salinas Ca
Jason Ackerman, Greg ” G~fresh” french of Freshtattoos / Lucky 7 tattoo W.P.D. FL
Lil Chris of Inphamus Tattoos
Philly John, Roddie Cooper of Imperial Dragon Tattoo Media, PA
Sean P. McCarthy of Jester’s Court Tattoos Pittsburgh, PA
Kike Castillo of Lone Wolf Tattoo Bellmore, NY
Josh Anderson, Scumbag of Marc’s Tattooing Dickson City, PA
Tom Hazelton, Dan Trinkley of Mental Mayhem Tattoos Scranton, PA
Bill McKay, Sean Cummings, Keith Marcell of Northern Lights Tattoo Wilmington, DE
Bruce Morgan, Kris Roberts of Shipwreck Tattoo Corpus Christi, TX
Gifford Kasen, Jason DeMarchi of Starship Tattoo Milwaukee, WI
Cool Aid, Zakk Ross, Nick Malasto, Leif McHatton, Chipp of Studio 13 (XIII) Cocca Beach, FL
Shane Carson of Tattoos by Carson Costa Mesa, CA
Buffalo Bill Tarr, Levi Tarr of Totem Tattoo Shamokin Dam, PA
Thomas Meroullo, Tony Rodriguez, Jason Wymbs of Under My Skin Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Carl Hesse of World Famous Route 6 Tattoo Blossburg, PA
Mike Connors, Kevin Berupe of Art for Life Brattleboro, VT
Pee Wee, Jon Jon of Cutting Edge Body Arts New York, NY
Marshal Bennet of Eternal Tattoos East Point, MI
Buz Hasson of Explosive Tattoo New Castle, DE
Greg D, Lou Morgue, Andea hornton of Forever Fate Tattooing Hopatcong, NJ
Shlak of Hold Fast Tattoo Pomona, NJ
Phillip Spearman of Ink Works Artesia, CA
Kenneth “Tat” Bryan, Michelle Schmidt of Intimate Body Art Studios Glenside, PA
Shannon Brown, Mike Brown of Local Color Tattoos West Chester, PA
T.J. McInnis, Jae Audette of McInnis Tattoo Co Providence, RI
Rob, Drew of Mystic Realm Studios Georgetown, DE
Gunnar of No Happy Endings Columbus, Ohio
Joshua Bowers, Adam Clark of Sacred Skin Des Moines, IA
Christian Masot, Nick Males of Silk City Tattoo Hawthorne, NJ 07506
Johnny Love of Tattooed Heart Studios Glen Burnie, MD
Gil “The Drill” Tiammarrie, Texas! Matt of TNS Skateboards / Master Tattoo San Diego, CA
Mickey Ratt, Evan Lovett Twisted Vision Clementon, NJ
Joe Johns of Wizards World of Tattoos Inc Birdsboro, PA

Another Convention (besides the Boston)that was held this past weekend was the 2nd Annual KC Real Deal Tattoo Convention. Pitch.com sent Blogger Matt Spencer to cover the show and his post was literally the only information I could find about the convention (the official convention website/myspace site had no information.)

“KC’s local talent filled most of the main hall. The Mercy Seat, A-1, Freaks on Broadway, Timeless Tattoo, Irezumi, Illustrated Man, Rose Tattoo, Wes Grimm and American Traditional were all represented. Visiting guests included Scott Bakoss of Philadelphia, Josh Crowell of Hawaii, Supercharged tattoos of Salina, Kansas, New York Hardcore Tattooing, From the Grave Tattooing and Darren Brass of Miami Ink. Brass set up next to the Mercy Seat booth, accompanied by his partner Talea Brass and their 8-month-old son Cassius.”

Line up now because Living Canvas Tattoos in Tempe, Arizona is over 30 minute tattoos for $15 donation to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. It’s part of their 15 year anniversary with $15 tattoos for 15 hours.

The new modifications affect recruiters and overseas embassy security

“Per Marine Administrative Message 494/08, signed Sept. 4, Marines with tattoo sleeves are no longer authorized to serve as a recruiter or Marine Security Guard. This applies to those Marines who had their sleeves grandfathered prior to the July 1, 2007 deadline, stated in the March 2007 MarAdmin, which prohibits getting sleeve tattoos.

It defined sleeve tattoos as a large tattoo or collection of smaller tattoos that covers or almost covers a person’s arm or leg. This also includes half and quarter sleeves if they are visible in green-on-green, physical training gear.”

The Images were released from the marines website on 7/15/2008

Details:Over 60 tattoo artists,a Boston Baby Dolls performance, Lizardman “freak show”, tattoo contests. The Bostonist had some great coverage leading up to the convention from local artists working the convention.

Interview #1: Elize Casarjian of The Painted Bird Tattoo in Somerville
Notes: Elize apprenticed for Jason Zube, enjoys traditional american style tattooing, will do Conehead tattoos for FREE

Interview #2: Joe Boo of Lightwave Tattoo in Saugus, Massachusetts
Notes: Apprenticed for Bald Bill Henshaw at Yankee Tattoo in Burlington Vermont, enjoys doing big pieces, personal tattoo by Shahn Anderson from Electric Dragonland in Minnesota of a Japanese style giant Blue Whale

Interview #3: Jason Maybruck of Darkwave Tattoos in Roxbury
Notes: Mentor Joel Mejias, favorite tattoo done “giant broccoli”

Interview #4: Dan Henk
Notes: Enjoys realistic tattoos, Inspired by Guy Aitchison, Aaron Cain, Tom Renshaw, and Robert Hernandez

Off the skin and onto the walls, subversive Galerie d’art Laroche holds high court for group exhibition in collaboration with TattooMania/Prosproduction.

Ink has an undeniable permanence: it is a marking which states declaration of the imagination…whether painted on canvas or penetrated into skin. As an affirmation of identity, an indication of memory or even a definition of personal style, the tattoo and its subculture has never been more prominent. Simultaneously iconoclastic and yet faithful to tradition, its presence as a time-honored art form is thriving. Featuring multi disciplinary works by over thirty notable international tattoo artists, Blood Royale is a dedication to those featured in this exhibition.

Just in time for the annual Montreal Tattoo Convention, original paintings and drawings by both participating and non-participating artists in the convention will be hung in this invitational exhibit. As the third year in collaboration between Galerie d’art Yves Laroche and Tattoomania/Prosproduction, 2008 brings their accord to a new level with Blood Royale. “We like working with the tattoo convention because while working in different areas, we are still linked by being in business run by creative, innovative and professional people, ” says gallery owner Yves Laroche.

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Nightclub chain Oceana in Cardiff and Swansee has introduced a ban which will keep out people with unsightly tattoos, with people with tattoo sleeves being banned most readily. A quote from the general manager of the club, “There is nothing wrong with having a fashionable or discreet visible tattoo, however, those covered in unsightly tattoos should save time and not bother joining the queue.”

There is even a facebook group with over 300 members bitching about the rule.

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Charlie Unitas
Excalibur Tattoo Studio & Graphic Design
Shelton, Connecticut

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University of Missouri psychiatry Professor Armando Favazza has studied the phenomenon of body modification – culturally accepted changes to body tissue such as piercings or tattoos, he said – as well as people who engage in body modification as a deviant behavior. The professor appeared on a tattoo tv show on MSNBC called, “Hooked: Tattoos Head to Toe” which was shown on August 3…. Bruce Campbell is a 61 year old retired teacher who is completely tattooed and you can see a clip of him from the show on MSNBC’s website

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