Behind the Needle 3 – part 4 of the London Tattoo Convention series with Papercut Pictures and Zeitgeist

This is part of the exclusive Tattoo film series I filmed with Papercut Pictures for Zeitgeist magazine

“Tattooing has become a victim of its own popularity” Zele

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/35528885 w=500&h=281]

Behind the Needle 3  features three more notable tattoo artists. Ninoslav Zelenovic aka Zele from Zagreb Tattoo, Jason Donahue from Idle Hand and Alex Binnie from IntoYou London/Brighton talk about the past, present and future of the tattoo world. Has it really become a victim of its own popularity in this Facebook-obsessed world?

Zele
Zele

Zele used to be a military man, and this is reflected in his love of historical, ethnic and traditional styles of tattooing. His tattoos reflect his value system and past. In this film he also talks about the negative impact of the growing popularity of tattoos and how this affects those who have been in the business for a long time.

Jason Donahue
Jason Donahue

 

Jason Donahue has always been into art, and as soon as he got his first tattoo he realised he’d found something he really wanted to do. His influences come from the past, his strongest being American traditional and Japanese. He also talks about the explosive nature of the tattoo industry now and the fact the he is his own biggest critic, constantly seeking tattoo perfection.

 

Alex Binnie
Alex Binnie

Tattooing was a very ‘closed’ world when Alex Binnie started out, and not at all fashionable. He tells us about his varied style and how the industry has changed since he has been a part of it. He talks about tattooing as a beautiful contract between the tattooer and the person being tattooed that avoids the constraints of the gallery system.

Watch the other films in the series: the London Tattoo Convention 2011, Behind the Needle and Behind the Needle 2.

Word by Alice Th’ink as featured on Zeitgeist
Behind the Needle 3 from Papercut Pictures on Vimeo.

New York Ink Fund.

New York Ink Fund
Tattoo saving

This Terramundi money pot is one of my favourite presents this Christmas – my family know me so well. I am hoping to go to New York in 2013 to celebrate a year of special birthdays with my mama (I won’t tell you how old we both are) and the rest of my family. This money pot is going to help me save up to get tattooed while I am there. My mum managed to save £745 in 18 months using a Terramundi, so the saving starts now.

And, hopefully I will get tattooed by Cris Cleen and also the boys at Smith Street. I am hoping my mum will also be persuaded to get a little birthday tattoo with me…

 

The girl with the Drake tattoo

The story behind the Drake forehead tattoo

“You get the tattoo you deserve.” Kevin Campbell, Will Rise Tattoo

The Drake tattoo raises important questions about the rights and wrongs of tattooing, and the tattoo artist – Kevin Campbell – who created the now infamous ‘Drake tattoo’ highlights some of the key issues about consent and informed decisions.

In his interview with Vice magazine he states that people get the tattoos that they deserve. Here’s a snippet from the interview:

Wow. Do you feel sort of bad about it after the fact? My whole deal with people wanting completely outrageous and potentially life ruining tattoos is this: I’ll ask them 3 times if they really think that it’s a good idea, I tell them what the potential consequences of getting a tattoo on their face might be, and after that, the bad decision is on them. I believe that people get the tattoos that they deserve.


Visibly highVisibly high?

I am not sure I agree with Kevin, and the girl with the Drake tattoo was clearly high when she came into his studio, as Kevin states in his interview with Vice that she was visibly coming down by the end of her experience. (She had also shaved her head and eyebrows in preparation…)

Girl with the Drake tattoo
Girl with the Drake tattoo

However I do think the quote about getting the tattoo that you deserve is interesting…and I do believe in freedom of expression. I also believe that is important for a tattoo artist to have a big amount of input into the tattoos they create for their customers. At the end of the day, tattoos are art and there is a reason why not everyone can sit behind the needle. When I get tattooed I want the expert advice of an artist and I want something that is going to look as amazing as it can possibly be.

I also hope that no one would ever tattoo me if I was clearly drunk, or my judgement was in any way impaired.

What do you think? Do people really get the tattoos they deserve? And is anyone in contact with the girl with the Drake tattoo? Does she regret it or is she loving life with a forehead tattoo? And I guess we should ask how Drake feels about this, too…

During the tattoo
Beginning to come down?

Photos taken from Vice. Full interview here.

The Cosmo Blog Awards 2011

Photo booth with blogger friends
Photo booth with blogger friends

A picture of a snap taken with my new blogger buddies in the photo booth – Bethany Arched Eyebrow, Jazzy Elizabeth Hiven and Gemma Retro Chick.

Last night I attended the Cosmo Blog Awards Ceremony at 24 Kingly, it was full of Cosmo cocktails, Cosmo cupcakes, awards-fabulous outfits, goodie bags and of course, bloggers.

Cosmo cupcake
Cosmo cupcake

As a tattoo blogger I was more interested in the tattoos, than the awards-fabulous outfits…here’s a couple I spotted in the crowds.

Caroline from Sparkly Vodka
Caroline from Sparkly Vodka
Caroline's Smashing Pumpkins tattoo
Caroline's Smashing Pumpkins tattoo
Lovely lady from Nail Porn
Lovely lady from Nail Porn
Lady tattoo on arm
Lady tattoo on arm
Padlock and key tattoo
Padlock and key tattoo
Chest tattoos
Chest tattoos

Unfortunately, I didn’t win (boo hoo), but thanks so much to everyone who voted for me. I really appreciate it and feel honoured that I was nominated and shortlisted. I tried to drown my sorrows with a Cosmo or two, but the cocktails were mocktails apparently (tut, tut Cosmo).

The glam party
The glam party

And here’s a couple of papped photos I found on the Cosmo website…I feel like a Z-list celeb!



Another cocktail daaaaaarling? But, please can I have it with vodka this time