Things&Ink

September 7, 2015September 7, 2015

Fashion Pearls of Wisdom: Ink Poisoned

Our guest blogger is Natalie McCreesh aka Pearl, a fashion lecturer, freelance writer and creator of Fashion Pearls of Wisdom. This is the fourth of many posts to appear on th-ink.co.uk, in which Natalie will be telling us about her life in tattoos. Read the first, second and third in the series.

I just tapped out during a tattoo session…

It’s one of the biggest fears people have before their first long sitting but for those of us regularly taking 3-5 hours at a time we are used to the process and become a little blasé about it all. Don’t get me wrong, there’s been a few places I’ve been tattooed that have made my eyes water – I very nearly did a little cry having my ribs tattooed. Once you know what to expect however, you learn to eat something beforehand, drink some water throughout and breathe deeply to get you past the tough spots.

Tattoo by Tacho Franch

I generally enjoy getting tattooed, it’s exciting, it’s fun chatting to your artist and hanging out in the studio. I don’t even mind the Bepanthen rituals in the days that follow, the Clingfilm wrapping and the bizarre clothing choices you have to make to avoid any rubbing. The past few times however I’ve not been as enthusiastic, confessing to my boyfriend ‘I really don’t want to get tattooed today’. But when you’ve made the bookings and you really want a piece finished you just put those thoughts to one side and get on with it.

I went into the sitting without any worries, we were going to finish off the little bits of colour on my back piece and get the lines in to extend it down the back of my legs. I’ve got fairly big tattoo in that area already which wasn’t a problem so I had no feelings of apprehension.

I knew I was in trouble after the first line, I couldn’t relax into it like usual. Not a word was uttered as I hid my head under my hoodie. My amazing artist sensing the struggle just cracked on with it as fast as possible. How I even managed an hour I have no idea, by that time I was shaking all over, boiling hot and feeling sick. My body simply couldn’t take it and I tapped out. After some food and a hot drink, I calmed down and felt much better. The guys at the studio really looked after me as always and I was able to continue the rest of the session just with some little bits of colour on a different area – certainly no more lining!

After that we agreed that my body needed some TLC, I’d pushed it too far. I usually only have one sitting a month at most but I’d had four in a month, three of those in just one week. I usually heal quickly, within 6-7 days for the main stages but I still had unhealed patches from two weeks earlier. These patches struggled to heal well and ended up in deep sores, which will now have to be retouched. So my artist has put me on a tattoo ban for two months, during this time I am also going to take a much needed holiday in the sun. Falling back into unhealthy eating habits and missing out on gym time due to unhealed tattoos had taken its toll. This break will be hard for me, especially if I end up at any conventions in the meantime, but it’s been a real wakeup call that we have to love our bodies from the inside just as much as the outside.

September 6, 2015

Is there more to getting a tattoo than changing your appearance?

Here at Things&Ink we think there is so much more to getting a tattoo than merely changing your appearance. Things&Ink reader, Hannah Keningale explores how tattoos have changed her, her lifestyle and even how she approaches situations.

For some, getting a tattoo is a very simple act of wanting to change their appearance; a transaction that will make them more fashionable, or perhaps help them pay homage to something they love. But for others, there is more to getting a tattoo than discussing a design and sitting in a chair wincing for a few hours. We often read stories of people who have made connections with others through their mutual love for art and permanence. We have seen beautiful images of colourful wedding days, amazing designs covering painful scars, and difficult journeys that have been celebrated and remembered with ink.

Pug by Abbie Williams

So, how about me? What have I gained from getting tattooed? Do I have an amazing story to share? To be honest, the impact has been somewhat more subtle for me, yet in my eyes still very important. I remember the excitement of getting my first tattoo, and also the anticipation. I wasn’t too worried about the pain, but more about how to handle myself and what to except. After reading many websites, blogs, and magazine articles, I had gathered there was certain etiquette to follow. I was a little worried I might not conduct myself in the right way. Would they think my design ridiculous? Would I do something to offend the artist? Would it go wrong simply because I hadn’t made the right decisions? These are some of the thoughts of someone who suffers from anxiety. I go through this process almost every day with even the most mundane situations. I have to tell you, it’s not fun!

Tattoo by L’ain Freefall

I chose a studio called Evil from the Needle in Camden, London, and was lucky enough to get tattooed by L’ain Freefall. Everyone was so welcoming, and we talked all the way through my tattoo. No one laughed at me. No one said my design choice was stupid. The whole experience was really fun and I was actually a little sad when it was all over. From then on, tattoos have helped me build confidence. I love my body a lot more now. I felt like I had something I wanted to show the world finally, and also enjoyed the affect of putting on the simplest of clothes and still having something colourful to my appearance. The biggest thing I have gained though is a sense of belonging. When I walk into one of my favourite studios I’m greeted with smiles and hugs. I’ve been able to share excitement with artists over design choices, been given gifts, compliments, even tea!

It may sound silly to some, but I feel truly at home when I’m sat in a tattoo studio, and I’m always planning my next visit. Tattoos have become part of my lifestyle now. I have prints adorning my walls, I can’t tear myself away from Instagram, blog pages, and tattoo magazines, and I even buy different clothes now that my body has changed. I think for many of us, there is more to getting tattooed than simply following fashion. While a lot of people still reject the idea of being tattooed as “acceptable” or “normal”, I actually feel more accepted and happy now than ever before.

Ice Cream by Paula Castle

So is there more to getting a tattoo than simply changing your skin? Well for me I’ve also gained new friendships, made new journeys, gotten over some of my anxiety, shared stories, shared laughs, and had a lot of fun. The experience changes you as much as the ink.

September 5, 2015September 5, 2015

Top Five Wes Craven Films

Our guest blogger is hobbyist film and TV series reviewer and writer Harry Casey-Woodward

Last week saw the passing of one of the coolest directors in cinematic horror, Wes Craven… He deserves to be called king of the slashers, for he kick-started two classic franchises of the genre (A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream). However as crude as the slashers were, Craven’s films were always smart, imaginative and underpinned with great plot and occasional literary references. They were also quite scary. I admit I haven’t seen every Wes Craven film (including Last House on the Left, which I’m still kicking myself for) but I have arranged the handful I have seen in order of the best, according to my opinion of course. All aboard the Wes Craven ghost train…

5. Scream (1996)

It’s a shame that this was the film that inspired the Scary Movie franchise and the legions of unfunny film spoofs that followed. The original Scream movie was better, in that it worked the same way that its signature ghoulish killer did (you know, the one who dressed like he was trick or treating). Both were tongue in cheek and poked fun at the horror genre, yet still managed to efficiently scare and slaughter the other characters, no better than in the darkly funny but terrifying opening scene starring Drew Barrymore. In other words, Craven succeeded in paying tribute to classic slashers while being slyly aware of their clichés. At the same time he delivered an intense, gruesome chiller that was also funny and entertaining, thus creating a perfect recipe for a horror hit. The sequel Scream 2 , also by Craven, was just as good as the first film in exploring the public’s obsession with horror films. The follow-ups got a bit silly.

4. Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)

Craven did another twist on the genre in the final addition of his other popular series (unless you count the heathen 2010 remake ). Despite his iconic creation Freddy Kruger getting ‘killed’ in the sixth Nightmare on Elm Street film , Wes couldn’t resist directing a follow-up, the only Nightmare sequel he directed. While Freddy may have died on film, he returns with a vengeance to the real world; a world so real that actress Heather Langenkamp (aka Nancy from the first film) plays herself, as does Wes and Robert Englund (who plays himself and Freddy if you can get your head around that). Then try and get your head around the fact that this is a Nightmare on Elm Street movie about a new Nightmare on Elm Street movie being made, and Langenkamp realising that the character of Freddy is creeping into her reality and threatening her life, sanity and family. The best thing about this movie is that it’s possibly the scariest Nightmare, since Wes stripped Freddy of the wisecracks and clownishness popularised in the previous sequels and left him as he is: a psychotic kidnapper. This movie not only stepped the game up from the previous sequels, but was a comment on audience’s obsession with Wes’ films and his nightmarish figure of Freddy.

3. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

You can’t beat the original. One of those great cinematic success stories where a film starts with a budget of just over a million dollars (small in the eighties) and becomes an unstoppable franchise, cementing itself in the horror hall of fame. Starting off with a great premise (a killer returned from the dead to slaughter teenagers in their dreams), this classic is also great for its weirdness and imagination. Take the iconic villain Freddy Kruger for instance: a Dennis-the-Menace sweater, a trilby, a mutilated face and a glove with knives for fingers. You can’t even imagine how they put all that together, yet lucky they did for Freddy’s image proved very marketable in toy shops.

The other great thing, regarding the low budget, is the variety of stunts and special effects created for when the characters enter Freddy’s dream world: stairs become quicksand; phones lick you and beds vomit blood. I guess what makes this a horror classic is its blend of crassness (the bloody massacre of sex-addicted teenagers) and sophistication (dreams, a Gothic trickster and Shakespearean references). And while the soundtrack is heavy with synth and the hairstyles are big, this still remains a thrilling, gruesome and effective horror. By the end you’re no longer sure of the difference between dream and reality. Watch out for a baby-faced Johnny Depp too.

2. The Hill Have Eyes (1977)

Craven’s second feature after his controversy-baiting debut Last House on the Left and released the year punk broke, The Hills Have Eyes deserves its place as a horror classic for its sheer brutality. It’s a nasty, gritty piece of work in the same manner of Texas Chainsaw Massacre and fits right in with the decency-assaulting home-invasion shockers of the 70s (see Straw Dogs and I Spit on your Grave). Once again Craven blends sophistication with exploitation.

The plot has something for psychologists, sociologists and violence addicts alike. It’s essentially a merciless battle between two families. On one side you have a typical decent white American family. On the other, a clan of cannibalistic savages who live out in a patch of American desert previously used for testing nuclear weapons; which the other family happen to be driving through. The movie succeeds in building up suspense in the first half, with lots of howling wind and spooky desert shots, and once the violence starts it never lets up. The audience is assaulted with constant noisy savagery as the civilised family find themselves in a bestial fight for their lives. The 2006 remake offered the same with some pointless back story. Watch the original for a ferocious vision of the American dream.

1. The People Under the Stairs (1991)

Possibly Craven’s most underrated masterpiece and one of the most underrated of all horrors. I consider this his best work, for he concentrates most on the story and characters over the violence, which pays off. I cared more about the heroes in this film than any of Craven’s others, mainly because they were kids and they weren’t stereotypes of teens or nuclear family members, and the villains are truly detestable. This film could almost be a family adventure if it weren’t for the disturbing content. What makes it genius is its blend of classic and contemporary storylines. It’s almost like a traditional fairy tale: children are lost in a big scary house, outwitting the ogre and witch-like adults. The modern aspect of the story comes from its depiction of the social and economic divide between races in America.

Our hero is a young black kid named Fool (Brandom Adams) who lives in a deprived neighbourhood and agrees to help rob his landlord’s house in the rich white neighbourhood. Unfortunately the landlord and his wife turn out to be a pair of racist, incestuous, cannibalistic fiends, who like to feed undesirables to their clan of deformed, animalistic offspring locked in the basement. When Fool finds himself trapped in this fortified, booby-trapped house from hell, he relies on his wits and the help of some allies among the children (including the brutalised daughter Alice played by A. J. Langer) to escape and get justice. This most original and imaginative of Craven’s efforts (which says a lot) wins for having such a classic enjoyable plot: plucky underdog heroes in a battle of wits against some truly nightmarish villains. Like all of Craven’s films, there’s a lot going on under the horror and it’s still quite frightening. A real exhibit of the talents of a great director.

Images from IMDB

September 4, 2015

Music Review: Atreyu

Our guest music writer Robert Moody continuously trawls the country for live music. In this post he reviews Atreyu and Shvpes who played a sold out Rescue Rooms in Nottingham last week.

The ‘Sold Out’ signs were on display at The Rescue Rooms on Friday night, as Metalcore pioneers Atreyu descended on the venue as part of their first full UK tour in nearly 5 years. Following a lengthy hiatus, the band had torn apart The Underworld in Camden back in April of this year, and were now playing the similarly sized Rescue Rooms as a warm up show for their appearances at the weekend’s Reading & Leeds festivals.

The sole support for the evening came from Birmingham quintet Shvpes, who wasted no time launching into an energetic set to get the crowd warmed up. Shvpes are an interesting band to critique – having previously been known as Cytota, they have been touring for several years now and feel like a familiar name. Yet the band are still very young as they played their first shows when most of the band members were under 18. Because of this where many bands have had time to hone their craft in the confines of smaller venues, this band have done so in the limelight, often supporting much larger bands. Since bringing in new vocalist Griffin Dickinson just under a year ago, the band have really begun to gain momentum, and watching them tonight it is clear to see why. Griffin commands a great stage presence and has a powerful voice to complement it, notably on latest single ‘State of Mine’. By the end of the set the pits were breaking out and the band left the stage to a warm reception.

But there was no doubt which band had sold the tickets for this show. Atreyu walked onstage to a thunderous applause, and launched into ‘Becoming The Bull’, which like every song in their set was well received. However, it was fair to say that throughout the set, the deeper Atreyu went into their back catalogue the more raucous the crowd became. Such that the intro riff to ‘Right Side of the Bed’ was enough to open up a large space in the packed room. Moments later bodies were flying across the room and as they moved straight into ‘The Crimson’ the room erupted.

As the band revealed to us in an interview before the show, they are not planning on playing live shows as frequently as they did prior to their hiatus, and instead want to focus on giving their absolute all to every show they play. This is firmly evidident throughout the show with drummer Brandon Saller still managing to deliver a great vocal performance during the most complex drum beats. Whilst bassist Porter McKnight even found himself out amongst the crowd towards the end of the set, with them promptly organising a circle pit around him. Lead vocalist Alex Varkatzas seemed slightly more muted on stage, but later revealed that his initial jump into the crowd 2 songs in had not gone so well, so on this particular occasion he was understandably forgiven!

The band’s hour long set covered everything fans expected and had come to see, right down to their cover of Bon Jovi’s ‘You Give Love a Bad Name’. Yet it was pleasantly surprising to see the first of the band’s new songs ‘So Others May Live’ generating a huge reaction from the crowd. By the time the band closed out with the classic ‘Ex’s and Oh’s’ the capacity crowd were in little doubt that Atreyu are not just back, but they are back at their best. Fans of the band can only hope that the decision to the title their upcoming album ‘Long Live’ is as much a reference to the band’s future as it is to their past.

September 4, 2015September 4, 2015

House of Butterflies

Justin Taylor and Charlie Lane are the creators of House of Butterflies, a small online business that sells framed butterflies, moth and beetles. The couple set all of the specimens themselves from their home in Maidstone, Kent. We chatted to Justin and Charlie to find out more about their arty adventures…

How did you start House of Butterflies? What do you create? The House Of Butterflies started from an idea we had at a craft fair, where Charlie was selling prints and original artwork. We thought it would be fun to do something together, we both share a common interest in taxidermy and art so thought why not combine the two. The framed butterflies idea came from Justin’s grandparents house as they have a small collection of framed butterflies hanging in their hall way. We both thought how great they look and wondered if we could make something along the same lines. We sat and researched the idea for a month or so before finally taking the plunge and having a go.

What inspires you? The inspiration for our boxes comes from the idea of preserving something beautiful. They are inspired a lot by the seasons, nature and by things we really like. We find when we sit and talk about ideas we tend to inspire each other. We try to choose the butterflies or moths first and then try to match the background to them rather than the other way around. The art in general is inspired by the outdoors; gardens, plants and animals.

Do you have a background in art?
Charlie: Yes, I studied at Maidstone UCA and have a degree in print making. I learnt a lot about etching and I helped with adult courses in a print making studio. I have done a lot of commission work for small businesses, band logos and for special occasions. I spent a couple of years in the tattoo industry working in a couple of small studios.

Where do you source your items from? We source all of our specimens from a entomologist based in the UK. He sources all of his specimens from butterfly farms abroad, people hear “butterfly farm” and usually think how terrible. When actually they are the most ethical way to source specimens, they bring employment to poor areas and stop the practice of wild collecting which has had a devastating affect on some species. Finding an ethical source and supplier was a big thing for us, a lot of time and effort went in to finding the right supplier with the legitimate source.

How do you create them? What is the process? The process is a fairly long one and takes time and patience, we had a few disasters at the beginning. We are completely self taught when it comes to the setting of the butterflies and it was a total case of trial and error. Internet videos make it look easier than it actually is.

The process starts by having to relax the butterfly, moth or beetle as they arrived to us in a dry/closed state. The specimens go into a relaxing tub which has a mild chemical solution in it. The chemical solution breaks down the enzymes in the specimens body making it pliable again. The specimens stay in the relaxing box until the reach this state, once there you can remove them and start the setting process. Opening the specimens is always the most fun part as you get see the true glory of what your setting. We pin the specimen to a setting board, which is a board with a small channel down the centre to hold the specimens body in place when you spread the wings. Then we very carefully pull the wings into the position we want using tweezers and then with strips of wax paper pin the wings so they are secure. We then leave them to dry out again for a number of days, depending on size. Then we unpin the specimen and then you have a set specimen, which is always very rewarding.

The vintage frames we stain ourselves to give them that old look, then we add the vintage artwork and add specimens we think work well with the artwork.

Where can people buy pieces? Do you do commissions? We have a small Etsy shop where people can buy from us, we update regularly with new items as we like to keep a good variety of pieces on there. We can be found on Instagramwhere with have a direct link to our store.

We take on commission work and our always up for a challenge, whether it be artwork or a specific butterfly or a combination of the two, we will always try our best to accommodate.

What are your plans for the future? We are hoping to keep going and maybe expand more, we do a lot of craft stalls, especially in the winter months leading up to Christmas. The big plan is to have a small high street shop where people can come in and browse.

How did you meet? How long have you been together? We met through a mutual friend who Charlie was tattooing, she thought we would get on well, turns out she was right. We had a few dates, realised we shared a lot of common interests and thats about it, and people say romance is dead! We have been together now for two years.

Can you tell us about your tattoos?
Charlie: My tattoos are a mix of things that remind me of all the places I have lived across the world as a kid, and pattern work that I’m really into. I like the geometric and dot work tattoo styles as it is how I myself draw. I like the work of Vana Chanelle, who has tattooed me a few times, along with Dan Frye who done a stunning traditional style Indian bride on my arm. I have tattooed myself a lot.

Justin: I’m a big fan of traditional style tattoos and love fat lined pieces. I have a lot of skateboard related tattoos as it used to be my favourite past time. I have a bit of a mix of black and grey, traditional colour and pattern work. I have my good friend Ben Griffiths to thank for a lot of my work, also Dan Frye and his partner EJ Miles.