Stories we wear on our skin
If you missed me on ArtBeat on Soho Radio with Holly and Orla from Atomica Gallery, have a listen on MixCloud. We chat about ‘Miniature Ink’ (our upcoming exhibition to celebrate Things&Ink‘s two year birthday), tattoos and art, the beautiful magazines covers and tattoo artists I recommend. Plus there is a competition at the end so listen out to win an Angelique Houtkamp print and a copy of Things&Ink.
Let me know what you think. Listen here.
Issue #8 The Illustration Issue cover star revealed.
Tattoo artist Danielle Rose is the face of The Illustration Issue of Things&Ink. Danielle Rose is renowned for her dark and weeping ladies. With a colour palette of black and two accent colours, her work is instantly recognisable and highly sought after by many tattoo collectors. For The Illustration Issue cover, we’ve created something truly unique and special. We did a photo shoot with Danielle, and she illustrated over the top of the images. Then we morphed them into one, turning Danielle into an abstract work of art. The artist has become one with her work, the illustrator has become the illustrated…
Order your copy online now, from Newsstand or our website. Free p&p in the UK.
Photography & artwork
Josh Brandão
Illustrations
Danielle Rose
Hair & Makeup
Keely Reichardt
using MAC Cosmetics
Styling
Olivia Snape
Assisted by Nicola Cook
Location
BlitzWerk Studio
Recently I was alerted by my tattooist that one of my tattoos had been copied and inked onto someone else.
I know that with social media nothing is sacred. Yes, if I post pictures of all my tattoos, others will see the design and want it for themselves. But this shouldn’t stop tattooists from advertising their work and customers celebrating their new tattoo.
The copy on the left and my original on the right
It should be up to the tattooist to either out-right refuse to tattoo a direct copy or create a piece inspired by the said design. Then both people get a custom and unique tattoo. Tattooists must have some sort of responsibility to their clients and respect for other tattooists not to steal their work.
I suppose copying is the highest form of flattery and in some ways it is a compliment that someone liked the tattoo so much that they wanted it, but that doesn’t mean you should get it.
The tattoo in question is one of the few ones on my body that has a real significant meaning, it goes with one my boyfriend has to mark our five-year anniversary. I have a watermelon slice and he has a whole watermelon with a slice missing. Yes it’s silly but it means a lot to us.
This isn’t the only issue, the tattoo is badly done, and perhaps something that the wearer may come to regret.
Also what about the tattooists? Sophie who created the original has had her work stolen and the one who tattooed the copy is re-creating work that isn’t original. They aren’t creating a name or style of their own.
Nonethless I still love my tattoo just the same and I know that I have the original and the better tattoo.
I know for sure that I’m not the only one that this has happened to. Have you had a tattoo copied?
– DEFINITION OF FLASH- from Salon Serpent
“Flash is a number of designs, specifically made for tattoo purposes, placed together on a sheet of paper. Usually they are made in a set of multiple sheets. Meant to hang on the walls of tattoo shops, to be picked from by customers and tattooed. (not every painting by a tattoo-artist is flash and sometimes even unsuitable, because not specifically made to use as such) As with all (art)work, flash has copyright. Buying a set of flash gives you the right to use this flash for tattoos. It can, however, not be used for any other commercial or otherwise purposes then tattooing.”
Custom work is different, it is designed by the artist for that customer and should not be copied.
New-York based singer-songwriter Kendra Morris is set to release her new single a quirky cover of The Proclaimers ‘I’m Gonna Be’ (500 miles) out on 15th September. She has been likened to Amy Winehouse with her soulful vocals and rock ‘n’ roll style.
Kendra is a tattoo enthusiast and her right arm is inked with perfectly perched birds. Her body art relates to her strong love of taxidermy which can be found in her home.
The first bird I got was a long time ago. Birds retain their voices when they sing. They are all so individual. There’s no one bird that’s the same as another bird. It’s just been an attachment. Then I got nine birds on my chest. I have this crazy apartment that’s like an enchanted forest. I have taxidermy everywhere. – Kendra Morris in Interview Magazine
As summertime draws to a close we wanted to celebrate the glorious weather we’ve had with our pick of flower tattoos. We’d love to see yours!
