Inked Talk

This website is really great. It is a project by Nathan Black. People send in their knuckle tattoo pictures and stories behind them then the images and stories are posted to this website. The FAQ answers a lot of questions about knuckle tattoos (having them, wanting them, asking about them etc.)

The art section is great with different knuckle tat images involving interesting sources.

So check the site out and bug Nathan to update. I just might bug him…

I received a reply from yellowman.com about my post. You can read the post and my comment here. There is actually some good information in that post. It talks about the quality of the product, the durability and the its diverseness. Which is wonderful for the people that can afford it.

If I could afford one, I would definitely purchase a shirt from the POTC collection. I really love the movies (as does most of the population). These shirts really capture the essence of the orient, sailors, pirates and of course, the tattoos. The colors are beautiful and they are neatly done by the respective artists as they would have done any tattoo. 9 of the top artists in the world are responsible for these wearable works of art. Check them out (the shirts and the artists) here.

Anyway I really do love these shirts and If I ever have the money (hopefully in the near future) to spend on a fine shirt (I still have a tattoo i’m working on) I am going to yellowman.

Not only is she THEE most beautiful woman in Hollywood, she also has tattoos. Angelina Jolie Has 12 tattoos according to Wikipedia.

Her tattoos that I find most interesting are those that are on her left shoulder. They are the coordinates of her first 3 children’s birthplaces. Also pictured is a Thai tattoo Angelina got a year after she adopted Maddox. The tattoo is of KHMER script.

She has also got various ones removed. The most notably was the one on her left arm, the infamous “Billy Bob” tattoo. I hear she also had a tattoo of a window on her lower back that was removed and one below her navel.

Angelina Jolie’s tattoos are evident of a life’s journey. She has marked her body relevant to the stages in her life, and has made a true journal of her body.

Sources:
[Wikipedia- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelina_Jolie#Tattoos]
[images: http://www.ajolie.org]

I myself love color tattoos. My finacee, on the other hand, has mostly black and grey work. I think the color of your work depends on what your styles you prefer like. Different styles offer different shading. Chinese, Japanese, traditional and neo-traditional offer more colors. Styles of tattoos that offer black and grey shading are portraits, tribal, and prison/gangster art.

The type of shading you chose depends on your tastes, tattoo styles ,and in some cases, affiliations and plain circumstance. For example prison inmates only have access to black ink.

In the long run it really is up to you whether or not you get colored or black and grey shading.

With the lack of state regulations regarding tattooing you should watch out for dirty shops. Good artists follow a protocol. A good artists workspace Is usually like a doctors office, only with cooler art. They take care of their equipment and insure there is no cross contamination.

This doesn’t seem like its a big deal. And if you are getting a tattoo its probably the last thing on your mind. You probably have your local shop or shops in mind and take this subject for granted. Well don’t. Who wants to contract HIV or Hepatitis when getting a tattoo? Not I.

Check out your artist and his/her reputation, Ask about their sanitation policy, and possibly drop in a couple times before your appointment. Yes, a tattoo is forever, but a disease will kill you.

Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund

April 16, 2007, will be remembered as one of the darkest days in the history of the Virginia Tech community and the world beyond.

To remember and honor the victims of those tragic events, the university has established the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund to aid in the healing process and generate financial support.

The fund will be used to cover expenses including but not limited to:

• Grief counseling
• Memorials
• Communication expenses
• Comfort expenses
• Incidental needs

If you plan to give, please click the link below:

So I got this comment about this website. I had to talk about it because I really think it is a great concept. The web site is www.yellowman.com. The founder, Peter Mui, believes that skin color shouldn’t get in the way of social status. He is an Oklahoma native with Chinese blood. The web site name plays on the a derogatory term used towards people of Asian decent.

So what is the web site all about? Peter Mui has created wearable tattoo art. The vibrant shirts depict different styles of tattoos by different artists. From the greatest tattoo artist to artists from the most remote parts of the world (Peter has gotten some work from a Buddhist monk in Thailand). The styles and artists vary of course. They even have a special edition line of Pirates of the Caribbean 3 Dead Man’s Chest shirts.

Peter Mui has great vision. The only problem is that these shirts are pretty pricey. I mean what do you expect with the caliber of artist he works with. But for the demographic he is targeting, most of us would spend $218 on a tattoo, not a shirt.

All prices aside, these are beautiful shirts. Or beautiful works of art is more like it.

Tairrie B. a.k.a. Miss B. is the lead singer for her band My Ruin. Tairrie started out as rapper signed under Eric Wright, better known as Easy-E. When Tairrie realized her rap career wasn’t going anywhere (I mean how does a white girl survive in rap), she traded in the gold ropes for black hair and tattoos. In my opinion a vary smart career move. Before My Ruin, Tairrie has fronted another band by the name of Manhole. They actually had to change their name due to another band possessing the same name. They changed their band to Tura Satna.

On her right arm, Tairrie has a traditional style girl, crucified on the cross with a banner that reads “Nothing is Sacred” wrapped around the girls body, with stars and fire with the caption “Mi Ruina” (pictured above). On her left arm Tairrie sports a traditional style Mother Mary with a banner that reads “Truth” across a banner and “Omnia Vinat Amor” above the image, translating to “Love Conquers All”.

Tairrie also has an image of praying hands on her back with with the inscription “Prayer Under Pressure of Violent Anguish”. Below her neck says “Baby Doll” and “Love” and “Hate” accompanied by flames adorn her wrists. Tairrie is also a lover of horror movies. She has a piece on her leg dedicated to the “Omen” and the “Exorcist”.

You can read more about Tairrie B. @ MyRuin.com

[image sources: MyRuin.com, Tattoo Magazine, and eddog.com]

UV tattoos have been all the rage with ravers in recent years. They glowing works of art are popular among people that want to be more discreet about their tattoos. UV ink is used to spruce up an old tattoo with some black light glowing accents. Although UV tattoos look cool there is mounting concern they might not be too good for you health.

The chemical makeup of the different UV ink has some worried. UV tattoos have been responsible for skin rashes, infections and some doctors fear it is a carcinogenic. Some artist won’t work with the ink and others have no problem using it. With no ink regulations artists can use what they deem safe and make their own ink. Phosphorus has been taken out of UV inks due to the body rejecting the ink.

Regardless of what is being eliminated from UV ink, there is no telling what is safe to use until the Federal government steps in to regulate tattoos. Some tattoo shops advertise that their UV ink is approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) It is approved as a tracking liquid that is injected in to fish, not for human body art.

I think that more studies should be done and that inks should be regulated by the Federal government. Artists might know what they are dealing with, but there are also some that don’t want to mess with it. Regardless of the lack of regulations, or cancer warnings, there are some that still want a UV tattoo.

Oh yes… The Tramp stamp. This is the nickname/derogatory/offensive name for the tattoo women get on their lower back. Whether they peak out from under low rise jeans or a baby tee, the tramp stamp has become popular among women.

The lower back tattoo gained popularity among women in the late 1990’s. The lower back tattoo has been a symbol of empowerment for women and enables them to assert their sexuality. In some circles the lower back tattoo suggests promiscuity. This area of the back is ideal for oblong or “V” shaped designs. Tribal tattoos are popular on the region of the female body as well as vining flowers.

The lower back tattoo accentuates a womans lower back and can be hidden easily under business attire. Women usually wear low rise jeans, a baby tee or a mid-drift showing shirt to show off their lower back tattoo. Although lower back tattoos are more common now, they are associated with the Raunch Culture, or women exploiting themselves.

Celebrities with tramp stamps Include Angelina Jolie, Nicky Hilton, Julia Roberts, Britney Spears, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Janet Jackson.

Sources: http://ezinearticles.com/?Lower-Back-Tattoo-Designs&id=476468
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_back_tattoo

Caring for your tattoo is as important as finding the right tattoo. Your new tattoo is considered an open wound and is susceptible to bacteria and infection. Listen to your tat artist. DON’T think you know whats best for the tattoo. Unless you have had work done already, you should listen to you artist.

After the artist is done they clean the newly finished tattoo up. Some artists apply a bandage some use plastic wrap. The plastic wrap is used so a person could still show their tattoo without taking the protective covering from it. Whatever the case you are usually advised to leave the bandage or plastic on for at least a minimum of 3 to 4 hours afterward.

To clean your tattoo use an anti-bacterial soap and lukewarm water. Don’t use a wash cloth. This could irritate the skin and besides, it hurts. To Dry, pat lightly with a towel or a paper towel. The use of ointment differs with artists. The top three are Bacitracin, A&D ointment or perfume free lotion Such as Curel. DO NOT use Neosporin. After about three days continue to keep it clean and keep using a lotion to keep the skin soft.

Scabbing isn’t something that is supposed to occur after a tattoo. Scabbing indicates a bad tattoo. If a little scabbing occurs, don’t trip, a little is common. It is a healing wound so your tattoo will start to itch. Don’t scratch! Scratching or picking could ruin your tattoo. If it is dry or itchy put lotion on it. If it scabs, don’t mess with it.

Protection from the sun is important in preventing colors from fading. Use a minimum SPF 30 before you spend anytime in the sun. The harmful UV rays will fade your colors not to mention damage your skin. Protecting it will keep your tattoo looking vibrant for years to come.

Using your artists instructions and some common sense will heal your tattoo correctly and keep it looking great.

In the middle of the Pacific Ocean a style of tattooing graced the bodies of roving sailors. This style of tattooing, most commonly called “traditional”, was the craft of Sailor Jerry. Traditional tattooing is still popular today (almost all my work is traditional) and so is Sailor Jerry.

Sailor Jerry was born Norman Collins in 1911. A the age of 19 he became a sailor and traveled the world. In his travels he got his first tattoos and was turned on to the art and imagery of Southeast Asia. This would have a major influence on him when he opened his own shop in Honolulu’s Chinatown.

Back then Chinatown was the only place you could get a tattoo on the island. Chinatown was a playground for men who wanted to get drunk, pay for women and get tattoos. His customers were primarily sailors and soldiers and he catered to them with bold images of what appealed to them. These images included ships, women, big cats and a variety of other themes. In an effort to single himself out, mostly because his work was so widely copied, hes started printing “The Original Sailor Jerry” on his business cards.

He not only made contributions to the art, but to the technical side as well. He was one of the first to use single use needles and hospital quality sterilization. He also expanded color choices by making his own safe pigments. He was also vocal against sub-par artists calling then “scab artists”.

Sailor Jerry died in 1973 leaving his flash and likeness to be managed by proteges and friends, Ed Hardy and Mike Malone. Sailor Jerry is one of a kind, a master at his tattoo style, what has come to be known as “Old School” tattooing.

For more info on Sailor Jerry visit sailorjerry.com.

Johnny Depp is the epitome of cool. His tattoos only add to his persona. He started getting tattooed at the age of 17 and has gotten tattooed at significant points in his life. He has also been quoted as saying his body is like a journal.

He tattooed “Winona Forever” on his right arm and when Winona Ryder called off their engagment in 1993 he had the tattoo changed to read “Wino Forever”. Also on his right arm is an image of a Cherokee Indian chief symbolic of Johnny’s Cherokee heritage. His tattoos were covered by costumes or strategically smudged dirt in “Pirates of the Caribbean”. The sparrow on his arm in “Pirates Of the Caribbean Curse of the Black Pearl” was fake and it was positioned flying away from him. After the movie he got a real one tattooed this one flying towards him and the name Jack dedicated to his son.

The artist credited with half of johnny’s work is Jonathan Shaw out of New York (funcitytattoo.com). Read more about Johnny Depp’s tattoos at johnnydepp-zone.com/bodyart.

Different artists charge different prices. Some things to consider are:

• Quality
• Tattoo placement
• Size of tattoo
• Tattoo detail

Quality of the artists work has a big impact on the price of the tattoo. A tattooist reputation is something to consider when getting tattooed. Look through their portfolios (they usually have something available in the shop tot look at) and decide if you like their work.

Tattoo placement seems like something irrelevant to pricing, but some places on the body are harder to tat or more sensitive. Ask if they charge more for placement or if that is included already in the price.

The size of the tattoo is obviously something to consider when you are putting money out for a tattoo. The bigger the tattoo the more you pay. There is also more detail involved in bigger pieces.

The amount of detail in a tattoo is something to consider. As I said before bigger pieces usually have more detail. Small pieces usually have less.

You want to get the best tattoo for your money. You might even end up spending more than you want. Remember, you will have it forever.

Getting a tattoo is more than just keeping with the latest fad. Tattoo’s are long time commitments. Choosing a tattoo that is right for you is essential in getting a tattoo. Maybe something you get when you are younger won’t appeal to you anymore when you are older. To find tattoo ideas look online. inkednation.com is a great community site where you can talk to artists, other tattoo enthuseists and look at tattoo flash art.

Placment of the tattoo on the body is important also. Do you want it to show? What is the tattoo policy at your place of employment? There is a growing number of employers that allow tattoos to be shown in offices. I used to work in an office and nobody had a roblems with me showing my tattoos. Getting a tattoo really involves taking your lifestyle into consideration.

Choosing a tattoo shop is just as important as choosing your tattoo. You probably want to start with one that has a good reputation for work as well as sanitation. Talk to the artist and check out the shop. Each state has its own set of tattoo regulations. Click here to see a list of regulations by state invloving minors and medical matters. If you aren’t comfortable with the shop or artist find another shop until you are comfortable with your choice.

In the end you need to be happy with your tattoo. Your tattoo will be with you for a long time.