Tattoo inspiration in creature form…
Sam smith @scragpie 
Tracy D @tracydtattoos 
@justjentattoos 
@emilyalicejohnston 
@julianaodett 
Cosmic Cuties: Body Confident Cartoons
Sixteen-year-old Mikhaila Nokel from Brooklyn, is the creator of Cosmic Cuties, a series of cartoon style illustrations that spread self love and body confidence. Mikhaila is a body image activist who uses her drawings to help other girls who may be struggling with self esteem issues.
The Cosmic Cuties website describes the illustrated girl gang as:
Kickass space girls who fight sexism throughout the universe. They stand for feminism, body acceptance, and self love!
Follow @cosmic_cuties for more awesome babes.
16th International Tattoo Expo Roma
Our Italian Contributor Ilaria went to Rome Tattoo Convention, this is the diary of her visit, including the incredible artists she met along the way…
“The International Tattoo Expo Rome was held from 8th to 10th May 2015. I could not resist, so I went there on Sunday, the last day…
“It is one of the biggest tattoo conventions in the world, where you can meet 300 international tattoo artists, from St. Petersburg, Beijing and Austin to Las Vegas, Montreal and London. The artists are very prestigious, and the convention allows the curious to get tattooed by their idols: for example, Sarah Miller, star of the US television show Ink Master, the phenomenon of Los Angeles Matt Arriola or the artists coming from the famous Lowrider Tattoo Studios.
“During last year’s convention, actress Asia Argento had marched on stage showing off her brand new tattoo done by Marco Manzo, as a competitor in the 2014 Tattoo Contest. This year Marco Manzo is still bringing his Haute Couture tattoos to the tattoo scene – feminine black lace inked onto skin. Last February, he also presented his tattooed clients at Maxxi Museum, the National Museum of XXI Century Arts in Rome. It was a success and a great step towards the acknowledgement of tattoo as an art form.
“Next I met Miss Juliet and Fabio Gargiulo, who created two limited editions prints to help Nepal earthquake victims. The proceeds will be donated to the appeal, and they will go on selling these artworks at other tattoo conventions: Naples, Athens, Milan and Cagliari. I think this is a strong and wise action, and the tattoo community has once again demonstrated sensitivity to world emergencies.
“Walking around, I spotted so many new artists and I had the opportunity to meet some amazing people. Here are four people I was super happy to see:
David Côté. He is a young graphic designer and tattoo artist from Montreal, Canada. His psychedelic tattoos are stunning, and he is really a kind guy. Here is what he created during the convention.
Denis Elice. He is from Turin, Italy. I think you should keep an eye on him. He has clear ideas and his tattoos evidence this. Whales, sailors, roses, these are only some of his subjects. His style is black traditional, but with a very personal touch.
Chad Koeplinger. Well, he is one of the greats. Here are some of his tattoos from the convention.
Nicoz Balboa: (yep, after three men, we have a powerful woman!) She is an illustrator and her works on skin are simply beautiful, I think she has the right sense of balance between colour and subject, and she is great in freehand tattoo.
“Tattoo conventions always make me feel at home, and I think this is the best feeling ever. No judgments but only love and admiration for tattoos and art (that, to me, are just the same thing).”
Street spotting at Liverpool Tattoo Convention 2015
Style and tattoo spotting at Liverpool Tattoo Convention, 16-17 May 2015 at The Adelphi Hotel. Here are a few of our favourite people at the convention and a selection of their tattoos…
Name: Sophie Brown / Age: 21 / Job: Tattooist at Forever Ink Warrington
Tattoos: Dagger and lady on left back calf by Chris Hayes, Perfume bottle and lady on arm by Danny Edwards at Forever Ink, Lady on right calf by Chris Martini
Tattoos: Back piece by Tacho Franch, thigh by Paul Goss, Wolf by Kelly Smith
Name: Lauren Williamson / Age: 24 / Lives: Wirral / Job: works in an office
Tattoos: Skull by Rob Nolan 13 Ink, Liverpool,
Skinhead by Dan Smith, Portrait by Kyle Williams from Raw Ink in Wrexham
Charlotte Tilburys makeup collection with Norman Parkinson
The world renowned makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury is launching her first ever collaboration with Vogue fashion photographer, Norman Parkinson. “I have always been fascinated and inspired by the incredible work of Norman Parkinson. He is a legendary photographer that, in the fashion world, we turn to again and again as a reference and an inspiration – his work is on every moodboard,” Tilbury said.
The line will include a compact bronzer, a dazzling powder highlighter, two matte lipsticks, makeup bag and large washbag.
Adorning the packaging are some of the beautiful photographs that Parkinson took for Vogues front covers over the years…the most prominent being the May 1975 issue which features a very young and beautiful Jerry Hall.
Lets hope our resident makeup artist, Keely can one day create hew own makeup line using the covers of Things & Ink!
The range will be available to buy from July 2015 from the Charlotte Tilbury website and Selfridges.