News Archives - Page 36 of 43

July 14, 2012July 14, 2012

Friday 13th tattoos – did you get yours?

Are you superstitious?

So tattoo shops have a tradition of celebrating Friday 13th by offering lucky (or maybe unlucky) tattoos from a sheet of flash for £13 – you can also give an optional £7 tip if you like. (I think some shops might charge £30 now – times are tough!)

Unfortunately, I am on holiday with some family friends, so didn’t manage to get myself a Friday 13th tattoo, but here is a selection of yours…

My Twitter friend, Daniel Vane aka Grandmaster Tash, was a little greedy and got himself the dagger (by Julia) and the candle (by Naresh) from Flamin’ Eight, in Kentish Town, London.

I love this little dagger – it’s on Bethany, who runs one of my favourite blogs ever, Arched Eyebrow. She got it done at The Circle, London. And picked from the sheet of flash below by El Bernardes…

Lucky rabbit foot, by William Corvidae Sparling, who works at Exile Tattoo, Benfleet.

This little cat is on Lou LaLa, she got it done at This Old Skin, Wymondham, Norfolk.

Noose by Scott Move, Haunted Tattoo, London.

These cherries are on the lovely ReeRee Rockette, who runs Rockalily Cuts. Tattoo by Stewart O’Callaghan, tattoo apprentice at Prick Tattoo, London.

July 7, 2012May 5, 2013

Love at first sight – Cris Cleen

I fell in love with Cris Cleen’s work the moment I first saw it.

His work encompasses everything I love in art and tattoos, he has a very traditional and antique style that also has a softness and femininity about it. He has created a world of ladies, flowers and butterflies that instantly drew me in when I saw his documentary short on Vimeo last year.

In this documentary, Cleen talks about the history of tattooing and how the old guys impact the way he looks and what he surrounds himself with. For Cleen, tattooing is about the whole experience, the way you look and act make a big difference and he is dedicated to giving people unique tattoos. His work and his style are almost of another era, but at the same time they are timeless and romantic, even erotic.

I have recently emailed Cris Cleen about booking an appointment with him when I go to New York next year. And luckily for me, he said he would happily tattoo me. Now all I have to do is save my pennies… (luckily I have this – New York ink fund).

Cris Cleen works at Saved Tattoo in Brooklyn.

Photos: criscleen.com and Saved Tattoo

July 3, 2012July 3, 2012

Tattoos: tasteful or trashy?

So who’s seen it? You know, Jodie Marsh and psychotherapist Marisa Peer debating tattoos on ITV’s This Morning?

psychotherapist Marisa Peer — Marisa Peer

(You can watch the full clip here)

There’s a few things I would have liked to have said to Marisa, if I had been on the for side and sitting in Jodie’s chair…

Marisa says that people with a sleeve of tattoos look impulsive, and while there’s nothing wrong with being impulsive, I think a person with a sleeve actually looks quite the opposite. They look like they have committed themself to getting a large piece of art on their skin. A sleeve is a significant undertaking and cannot just be decided on spur of the moment. And just because most of the people Marisa knows regret their body art, that does not mean that everyone will.

Also, Jodie talks at length about her tattoos having meaning, mine don’t all have meaning yet I do not regret them. Some I just like because of how they look and because I wanted to collect a piece of art from the tattoo artist who created it.

Another important point that doesn’t often get mentioned, everyone always talks about the permanency of tattoos, yet our bodies are not permanent. We are transient beings who won’t live forever and I think I would regret not getting tattooed more than I would collecting art on my skin while I am alive.

There’s lots more I could say about tattoos and the ridiculous amount of press they are receiving at minute – but I think Dr Matt Lodder (tattooed art historian) summmed up this particular ITV tacky/tasteful debate quite nicely in a tweet earlier today: “Are tattoos tasteful or trashy?”, @itvthismorning asked. Neither. Both. Tattooing is a medium, not a message.

I would be interested to see what Doctor Lodder would have to say, had he been on the This Morning sofa instead of Jodie Marsh….

And I want to know, what do you think about tattoos in the press at the moment? And do you think it’s right that it seems to be women more than men in the spotlight? Are tattoos tacky or tasteful? Tweet me @MoreWhiteQueen or comment on this post. Look forward to hearing your thoughts…

June 28, 2012June 28, 2012

Tattoos, Diet Coke and Jean Paul Gaultier

An ode to tattoos on a Diet Coke bottle inspired by Jean Paul Gaultier’s love of body art. I have to admit I am a little bit in love with this.

Please can someone let me know when and where I can get my hands on one?

But, are those tattoos real or fake? And does it matter if they’re not real? What do you think?

June 22, 2012July 1, 2012

Supporting Sarcoma Awareness Week #SarcomaAW

James's rose tattoo — This rose tattoo is one of the many photos that makes up a photo montage called ‘The Many Faces of Sarcoma’ a campaign to raise awareness about a rare form of cancer

The Many Faces of Sarcoma – 18-24 June 2012, Sarcoma Awareness Week.

This rose tattoo belongs to James from Papercut Pictures, not only have I worked with James on the London Tattoo Convention series, but he is also my boyfriend, so this is a difficult and emotional post to write.

James’s sister Katherine died from the rare form of cancer sarcoma just over a year ago. James wanted to get a tattoo in memory of his sister and Katherine had a rose tattoo down her side. It sits on his chest so she is always close to his heart.

Tattoos can mean so many different things and capture very different emotions. Katherine got her rose tattoo before she died, so she could live life to the full and experience as many things as possible. James got his rose tattoo, so that he always carries with him a memory of his sister.

Katherine’s rose tattoo was done by Snappy Gomez at King’s Cross Tattoo Parlour.
James’s rose tattoo was done by Steve Vinall at The Family Business.

Sarcoma UK is the main charity in the UK dealing with all types of sarcoma. Sarcomas are rare cancers that develop in the supporting or connective tissues of the body such as muscle, bone, nerves, cartilage, blood vessels and fat.

Sarcoma does not discriminate – there are around 3,200 new cases each year in the UK.

You can support Sarcoma UK’s campaign by uploading your own picture to The Many Faces of Sarcoma. You can also watch Papercut Pictures’ film All in it together – living with Sarcoma, Katherine features in the film, unfortunately she died two weeks before the film was launched.

All In It Together – Living With Sarcoma from Papercut Pictures on Vimeo.