Embracing female tattoo culture
I have blogged about Cassandra Frances before and Th’ink feature girl, Megan, has been tattooed by her.
Tomorrow my sister and I are going to Leeds to get tattooed by her at End Times – very excited. I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to spend Valentine’s day.
Here’s some of her drawings and rough work
And here’s some of her beautiful tattoos
Photos: facebook
“Tattoos are personal in meaning, but still provide pleasure for others”
Name: Megan Smith,
Age: 23
Location: Sheffield
Occupation: Social Worker
What got you into tattoos and what was your first tattoo? I think through college I thought a lot about my first tattoo, I was going to gigs and seeing people with sleeves and thought they looked amazing. When I moved to Sheffield, almost all of my friends had tattoos and it made me even more eager. My first tattoo was a horse shoe on my foot, it swelled up like a balloon and I couldn’t fit shoes on for days, but it was worth it.
Where did you get your tattoos done? Steve Byrne designed and tattooed my foot and my back when he was based in Leeds. Cassandra Frances (Cfb Tattooist), End Times Tattoo Studio in Leeds designed and tattooed my arm.
Are you planning any more tattoos? Not at the moment, I’m still too obsessed with my Russian doll, but I would love to have a tattoo of a women with amazing hair next… will leave it a year or two to figure out just what I want though.
Where did your inspiration come from? Well for my back, it was from looking at tattoos Steve had already done and picking out aspects that I liked, for example, he had done the falling heart-shaped petals on my friend. For my others it was something significant to me that I wanted, I looked through the tattooists’ work to find parts I wanted to incorporate into the designs.
How would you describe your style? Traditional western style.
Is there anyone you would like to get tattooed by? I would like to go back to Cassie for another one.
Do you have a favourite tattoo? Definitely my arm, but I think thats just because it’s new.
Do your tattoos have meanings? Yeah definitely. For me it’s my life story and even something generic like flowers on my back is significant, as I can remember what was going on for me at the time I had it done. I like that the meaning is personal to me and nobody else has to understand what that is to enjoy them.
I fell in the love with the work of Claudia De Sabe at my first tattoo convention in Brighton. I have wanted to get tattooed by her ever since. I managed to get on her waiting list at the Jolie Rouge, London, last year and I had a consultation with her at the end of last year. My one inspiration: a lamp.
This is all I told her at my consultation and, of course, where I would like it positioned –the inner top of my left arm.
After my consultation, an appointment was booked for 10 January 2012. And I didn’t see the beautiful drawing until then – the grand unveiling of my beautiful vintage-inspired lamp.
The amazing thing about this design is it captures both of Claudia’s styles in one tattoo. The beautifully intricate and vintage nature of the shade, then the Japanese-inspired base. It’s just perfect and I loved the stencil instantly.
Claudia was also so lovely when she was tattooing me, so friendly and concerned about how comfortable I was. It was actually a really lovely experience.
I decided to let Claudia pick the colours, too. I hadn’t quite decided. And I am so glad I left it to her because I couldn’t be happier with the finished tattoo…
I love you Claudia!
Alice Th’ink
xxxx
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 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 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.
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.
Convention Special – I spotted these beautiful tattoos yesterday at the Brighton Tattoo Convention.
This lovely lady was at the Forever True Tattoo stand.
I saw this girl and her intricate and delicate tattoo a couple of times in the crowds at the convention. I finally tracked her down at the Tattoo Workshop stand and managed to get this gorgeous picture. The tattoo is by Saira Hunjan.
Photos: Papercut Pictures