Features Archives - Page 44 of 152

July 16, 2018August 3, 2018

Rafa Alvarez Illustrations

We love this illustration created by Rafa Alvarez called The Paradox created for Opticks Magazine…

Personal piece used as cover for art magazine “Opticks”.
I wanted to make an apparently normal image but full of visual contradictions. I used a beautiful stock photography by Tim Platt as reference for the initial pose of the couple, then drew tattoos intertwining with the arms and bodies making the hug impossible. The predominant “never together” tattoo could only be read when the couple is actually close to each other, becoming another paradox. Many of the details like the Moebius strip refer to classic impossible geometry (M.C.Escher) and I also couldn´t help to throw in Schrodinger´s favourite pet. Definitely a lot of fun to draw.

July 10, 2018

Interview with Tattoo Artist Ruby Quilter

26-year-old Ruby Quilter, is a tattoo artist at Sang Bleu Tattoo in London. We chatted to Ruby about being a female tattooer, and her fine line style…

How long have you been tattooing? I’ve been tattooing for about five years now, I began my apprenticeship at 21.

How did you get into the industry and what inspired you to do so? I started getting tattooed quite young, and from then it sparked something in me to learn more about different tattooers and tattooing history. I actually hadn’t considered tattooing as a job, even at that time, being a female tattooer had some social connotations. I felt like it was quite a huge step away from the path I was on. I decided to look for an apprenticeship and a really amazing shop near where I’m from called Scarlet Rose took me on.

What did you do before? I didn’t have too much time after leaving school to get into a career, I’d had a few different jobs, mostly retail work, and was studying fashion and originally wanted to do something along the lines of visual creative direction. I feel incredibly luckily I found tattooing.

How would you describe your style of tattooing? Fine line black and grey.

What inspires your designs? Loads of different things; I reference a lot of old flash and I look at a lot of religious imagery. I also love looking at old fantasy art. I collect a lot of older comics which have some incredible ideas that can transition into tattoos.

Are there any artists that influence you? Definitely; Jack Rudy, Kari Barba, Juan Puente, Freddy Corbin among so many others. I love the work of Nathan Kostechko, Juan Teyer, Ben Grillo, Zac Scheinbaum. I could keep going!

What would you love to tattoo? I would love to get more into fantasy, I have some incredible customers who are really open with what they get, and give me the opportunity to try something new. I’d also love to take on larger projects, I would love to do some back pieces!

Do you have any guest spots or conventions planned? I definitely have more plans to travel, my best friend Jack and I plan to make a trip to Barcelona soon, and make the most of travelling within Europe. Last year I worked the London Tattoo Convention, which was a huge opportunity for me and I would love to do that incredible convention again.

June 24, 2018

Tattoos & Yoga: Emma Vasquez

24-year-old Emma Vasquez , is a yoga teacher from Carlisle. We chatted to Emma to find out more about her daily practice, her tattoos and living a vegan lifestyle…

How old were you when you got your first tattoo and what was it? I was 18, it’s an owl on my thigh it’s about A4 size.

What drew you to the world of tattoos? Full bodysuits of tattoos. I just loved seeing so many tattoos together on one person, the colours and work just blew me away. I remember seeing a bodysuit on a lady in the swimming pools when I was about 10 or 11 and I was in awe of how awesome she looked.

What influenced your decision to get tattooed? I just liked how it looked, getting tattooed didn’t feel like a huge deal for me really, I don’t really have any that are meaningful or tell a story. It was more just get a tattoo done and that’s it. Go to a good tattooist and just enjoy the whole experience.

Can you tell us a little about your tattoos? I have both arms done, traditional and lots of colours and flowers. A nautical style piece on my back, an om on my chest, Ganesha on my stomach. I have both thighs tattooed, back of thighs, knees, shins, calves. All ten toes, insides of my feet and tops of my feet. They’re all traditional and I’ve been tattooed by many great tattooists, most were done by Megan Fell and her dad Colin Fell. Both solid tattooers.

How did your yoga journey begin? About five years, I had started meditating and wanted to see if yoga would complement that. I took my first class at the same studio I now work for, I totally fell in love with yoga from the start.

Have you been treated differently as a heavily tattooed woman in the yoga industry? I have had students tell me they were worried about coming to my classes because my tattoos make me look scary or “hard” even though I always have a huge smile on my face! People have outright told me they think my tattoos look awful and they don’t like them. But that’s their opinion and that’s fine. Sometimes I’ve had students giggle or point at my tattoos to their friends but never at the yoga studio in Carlisle where I work now, this was from other places I taught yoga. So I suppose people have said things or giggled and pointed at me to their friends because of my tattoos. I just let it be, I think the more tattoos you get the more you just don’t care about what anyone else thinks. I like them that’s all that matters.

Has your lifestyle changed since you started teaching? Not really, when I started yoga that’s when my lifestyle changed. I became vegan and made a lot of different life choices but since I started teaching it’s all just been so natural and fluid. No forcing anything, everything just flows really. It’s a great way to live, very relaxed.

Do your tattoos coincide with your yoga practice? I think as I am a strict ashtanga practitioner they do, ashtanga is a very yang style of yoga and if I go to other studios to do an ashtanga class I guarantee a few ashtangis will have tattoos! I suppose I also feel covered up with my tattoos when I practice, I feel hidden and in my own little world. I do get a lot of compliments about them though, in the studio and even people stopping me in the street.

Have they helped you to connect to yourself or the world in a different way? Actually getting tattooed made me realise we can step away from emotions and feelings, we don’t have to hold on to them or identify with them. If you’re in pain getting tattooed just accept it as your present moment experience and know that it’ll pass.

Have yoga and tattoos helped you to view your body differently, has yoga? Definitely, yoga made me completely fall in love with my body, to heal and nurture it and to be proud of it. And getting tattooed has also made me feel much more confident in my own skin.

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Where do you teach and how can people get involved?
I teach at the Yoga Studio Carlisle in Cumbria, it’s the most beautiful tranquil space. You get involved by coming along to classes! I run the ashtanga yoga programme here as well and that’s a real rarity for Cumbria! It’s fantastic to be teaching at the same studio I started my yoga journey in.

June 19, 2018

Tattoo Artist: Sasha Foteev

27-year-old Sasha Foteev works out of a private studio in Moscow, Russia. Sasha also belongs to the professional team of Ego machines with which he works with the studio Bugpin.

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I have been involved in the tattoo scene for six years, and I got into this profession quite spontaneously. I am constantly trying new kinds of art, and besides tattoos I’m fond of graffiti. I make canvases with acrylic paint and posters with markers.

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I can describe my style as a mixture of several styles (graphics, ornament and realism). As an artist I represent creativity and activity, as a tattoo artist my first step is to search for my own style. This usually happens by testing a large number of different directions. And many of tattoo artists can’t decide what exactly they like: is it Japanese, Tradition or Watercolor with realism? Likewise it was very difficult for me so I chose a combination of several styles. I like the contrast between styles, shadows, blending and hard-edge painting.

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I’m inspired by a combination of styles and techniques, I like the visual combination of lines and smooth shadows.My favourite artists are Aivazovsky and Vrubel for their diligence and memorable style. And there are many modern ones, but it’s there are too many to list. In the tattoo world, I like it when people come to me for my style and “my hands”. I love it when they trust me and they’re ready to listen and hear my advice, especially if we have similar looks and tastes.

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I really want to work in England soon, especially at the Triplesix studio with Bez the owner of Ego machines, as well as work in other studios in Europe. I have already worked as a guest tattoo artist in Paris at Chez Meme, in Prague at One Love tattoo and in Hamburg at Vaders Dye. In the near future I plan to participate in the Moscow tattoo convention.

June 17, 2018

Rogues & Sacred Idols

We chat to Fudge, co-founder of Rogues and Sacred Idols, a brand that champions female artists about how the company started, what inspires their designs and who they work with…

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Co-founder Fudge in LA

How was the brand/company set up? How long ago? Rogues and Sacred Idols is the sister brand of RSI Apparel (which Rob set up 5/6 years ago). A lot of girls were asking about a women’s line from his brand, and after chats over the last couple of years about all the cool stuff we could do we decided to make it happen last year!

What inspired you to create a brand designed by women for women? Can you tell us about the brand’s ethos? We’re keeping the same idea as Rob’s brand, featuring our favourite super talented artists and supporting their work, but keeping it female specific which is something we hadn’t really seen done. There’s so many amazing female tattooists and illustrators we want to work with and shout about!

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How do you choose which artists to collaborate with? Do you only feature tattoo artists? We launched with a good pal of mine, Barbie Longfox, who’s designs have had an amazing response! We have also worked with an illustrator called Laura Schneider. We’re not exclusively featuring tattoo artists, but it’s been a good starting point for us and ties in nicely with the tattoo conventions we trade at throughout the year.

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Can you tell us about the design process? What influences and inspires the products? Our first collection with Barbie had a 70s Cali vibe and I’m currently revisiting an old ska phase, so who knows what the next few collections might bring! Our artists design us a flash style sheet or couple of smaller pieces as well as a bigger design from a starting point or idea I’ll give them. I’m keen to use our artist’s work in new ways other than just a chest print on a tee so the smaller designs make their way onto elbow patches, make up bags and pins. We have so many exciting ideas down for future collections so definitely give us a follow to see all the new product we’ll be bringing out!

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Are there any new and exclusive things in the pipeline? Currently putting the finishing touches to an exciting collaboration with Toni Moore for all you mammas (both human and dog/cat). We’re mega excited about this one, as well as some new pieces by Rizza Boo. Towards the end of the year we hope to be bringing cut and sew styles, to really expand the range beyond tees, sweats and accessories!

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Where can readers get their hands on your apparel? We’re at a few tattoo conventions later on in the year. Come and say hi if you see us! You can also buy online at www.roguesandsacredidols.com (we hand wrap all orders in the best polka dot paper if that tempts you!)