Things&Ink

December 14, 2013

Issue 5 – the celebration issue – what’s inside?

Issue 5 – the celebration issue – what’s inside?

Sneaky peek inside the contents page of the latest issue

4. Art for things&Ink – Artwork by Mister Paterson

5. We love ink – Tattoos as a celebration

6. street spotter – London Tattoo Convention special

9. Wonderful Christmas time – Samantha’s festive sleeve

10. the virgin columnist – Our columnist Jenny visits her first ever tattoo convention

11. Reader ink – Your celebratory tattoos

12. My first time – Sarah shares her first tattoo experience

13. The opinions of ReeRee – This issue, ReeRee talks about her tattoos with meaning

14. Dear blue... Into You’s shop mother answers your problems

FASHION & BEAUTY

16. Saturnalia – Celebrating beauty with colour

20. East Meets West – Things&Ink/Gypsy East collaboration

Misconceptions

28. PIT TIPS – Sarah’s armpit epiphany

30. Interview with Sam Smith – Sarah meets tattooist Sam in Canada

32. We All Have Scars – Writer Kelli broaches the sensitive issue of tattooing over scars

35. Don’t Fuck With Librarians – Things&Ink talk to some kick-ass info-pros about misconceptions and tattoos

41. A celebration of my absurd life Writer Kimberly celebrates her birthday with a tattoo

42. Pop culture Cult tattoos featuring Breaking Bad’s Jesse and Larry David

44. Maid of Dishonour Best friends get tattooed for the big day, plus a chance to win photography for your wedding day

Things

48. Object on a desk – Tattoo artist Mister Paterson gives us a glimpse into his work space

51. The tattooed book Cara reviews Original Skin and The Tattooed Girl

52. Phantasy homes How to make your house beautiful with tattoo-inspired kit

54. Th:Ink Music Reader tattoos, girl bands, Drew Linden’s playlist and an interview with Johnny Cupcakes’ Kellen Ellis

58. The beautiful world of Flora Amalie – Interview with Conspiracy Inc.’s co-owner and shop manager

History & Culture

62. Latin tattoos Purveyors of dead expressions

66. The changing shapes of beauty Amelia Klem-Osterud explores the tattooed female body

69. Last writes Tattooed mortician, Carla Valentine, explores the death and tattoos

Behind the needle

74. Diary of a tattoo apprentice Before reading this, Google ‘Hannah Mosley repulsive’. At your own risk

76. Let’s celebrate A party with our cover stars, Tiny Miss Becca and Amy Savage

84. Black Tattoo Art Review of Marisa Kakoulas’ latest book

85. This is a job, but it’s not ordinary Interview and photo shoot with tattoo artist Joao Bosco

90. PMA Writer Fareed stumbles across a secret in Portugal

The directory Tattoo shops personally recommended by the Things&Ink team

94. Meet Vicky Morgan A glimpse into her tattoo world

December 13, 2013

EXCLUSIVE Christmas competition to win beautiful pendant and limited-edition prints

It’s Christmas, so it’s competition time! And we only do the best giveaways, of course!

Tattoo artist Dominique Holmes and Fiona from Black Pearl Boutique have made a truly special, one-off pendant especially for Thing&Ink readers. A stunning gypsy pendant with a beautiful tiny ruby – worth £100 – and it is hand engraved, too. PLUS TWO gorgeous prints by Dominique – signed and numbered from a run of only 50.

To enter you simply have to share one of the pics below on Instagram and hashtag it #Christmaspendant – and tag us in it too @thingsandink, @domholmestattoo and @blackpearlboutique.

Competition closes on New Year’s Eve, and a winner will be announced on 1 January.

This is just to say thanks for being the most awesome readers EVER! Haaappppyyy Christmas one and all.

December 12, 2013

Alice’s Pig first ever pop-up shop for Christmas

POP IN WHEN THEY POP UP!

You’re invited to Alice’s Pig first ever Pop-up Shop! Perfect for Christmas pressie buying…

On until Sunday 15 December at the Old Truman Brewery, off Brick Lane, (every day 11am-7pm), Loading Bay Area, Dray Walk, Unit 4-5, London, E1 6QR

There will be four other exciting new fashion labels, sample, Christmas sales and much more.

About Alice’s Pig: Alice’s Pig is a new fashion brand from Brixton in South London, inspired by vintage style and Alice in Wonderland. Founded in May 2013 by sibling duo Amanda and Nicolai, Alice’s Pig designs all its collections in London and has an additional office in Shanghai. The brand image comes from their love for Alice in Wonderland, where crazy is normal. The name is a reminder that colliding styles and cultures can produce something interesting and that there can be beauty and surprise in anything; even in a pig.

alice pig lifts — Need a dress for your festive do?

December 9, 2013December 9, 2013

Girly, pink and colourful – Keely Rutherford

Things&Ink chatted to Keely Rutherford, 29, of East Side Tattoo in london, about her tattoo world…

Interview by Kelli Savill

How long ago did you start tattooing, and why? I started my apprenticeship in Essex in early 2010. I was lucky enough to be taken on in a studio where I met a lovely hunk of man who taught me all he knew – Jethro Wood (love of my life). He let me do a couple of wobbly tattoos on him, and his lovely punk friends didn’t mind a shaky line or two either! I moved studios in early 2011 to work with Giselle Stock who gave me my wings. Drawing has always been a passion from an early age. My Dad and I used to sit and draw together, he is an amazing artist and inspiration. Dad and Mum always tried to encourage me to do something with Art. But after Art College, I had a party girl inside me begging to get out. It wasn’t until I started to waitress, that I had more time to draw and spend my tips on hair dye and tattoos. It was then that I built up a portfolio and was given the opportunity to learn this amazing trade.

What influenced this career-turn? Starting to get tattooed and hanging around studios like a green-eyed monster, wishing I could be in such an awesome creative environment, with such talented people. I was 26 when I started my apprenticeship, so I really wanted to make something of myself, as I had pretty much hated all the other jobs I had done. I knew when I was given that golden ticket that I had to grab it with both hands and work my bloody arse off.

How would you describe your style? I hate this question, I get asked it quite a lot and I have no idea what to answer. Its either girly/pink/colourful or if it’s on a boy I get the black out. I’ve yet to discover a hashtag on Instagram that defines it. So until then, who knows!

What kind of customers do you attract? Mainly girls between 18 and 30ish, but saying that people from all ages and genders. I do tend to tattoo more women than men, I think because I find working in a feminine style a lot more natural.

What is your favourite part of the body to tattoo, and why? Legs, legs, legs! This skin is generally tight and I do a lot of symmetrical tattoos, so the placement normally works well.

Have you created a favourite tattoo? What is it? In every tattoo I complete, I can pick faults – we are all only as good as our last tattoo. I think it is important to criticise my work, as I would never want to become complacent. I am so lucky to be in a place in my career where I can create and push the boundaries in my own style. I’m very grateful everyday that people like my work and want to wear in on their skin.

If you could tattoo anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Brian Cox. I find him fascinating and he could definitely teach me loads about our universe. I think a nice cosmic kitty would suit him.

If you weren’t a tattoo artist what would you be? Well. There used to be a programme called McCallum with John Hannah as a Forensic Pathologist back in the late 90s. At the time I thought, “Yeh I’d be up for doing a bit of that”. But at the end of school, when the results were given out and I got a double E in Science, all my dreams where shattered.

Do the tattoos on your body take on any kind of theme? My tattoos tell my story, they start a bit shit and get better as the time has gone on…

What do you look for in a tattoo artist for your personal collection? People who inspire me. I choose an artist who I like and give them a vague idea of what I’m after, the space I have and let them have full artistic licence on the design. To me, that is my favourite part of tattooing. It’s their work I am choosing for many different reasons, so I put my trust in what they will create for me. I recently got tattooed by the amazingly talented Davee Blows, I told him I like cats and fruit. I ended up with a Saber-tooth tiger and a pineapple. I love it.

Do you have a favourite tattoo on your body? Going to sound a bit soppy, but my knuckles say Amor Loco – Crazy Love in Spanish. It sums up my relationship with Jethro, he’s a bit special.

December 7, 2013

MR X DOCUMENTARY SHORT

This week I was lucky enough to attend the first screening of Duncan X documentary short at Into You, London. Duncan X is an iconic figure in the tattoo world, and his strong black tattoos – both on his body and in his portfolio – are unique and synonymous with him.

The film is beautifully made by director (and customer of Duncan’s) Alex Nicholson. Duncan speaks openly and honestly about his past, drug taking, tattoos and his son – by the end of the film, I was so moved I had tears streaming down my face. Duncan’s words would be moving if it was just him talking, but the film is made more powerful by Nicholson’s collaboration with MPC’s Motion Design Studio, and Duncan’s own tattoos come to life on his body as he tells his stories.

After the seven-minute film was over, I approached Duncan to congratulate him, and got to have a wonderful half an hour chat with him. I have always seen Duncan as a private man within a public sphere, and he agreed that was the case liking to keep away from social media – he doesn’t want customers to see a constant stream of his work. He doesn’t like to follow “tattoo trends”, either, or read tattoo magazines, as there is too much temptation to copy and imitate, and he never wants to do that.

Duncan also told me that when he first started getting tattooed, he did it to scare and repel people, however he is glad that his tattoos don’t really have that effect nowadays. He also said that he has become “cool”, but it wasn’t his intention. Duncan has a very powerful style of tattooing, so I asked him how he liked to work with his customers and create pieces for them. He said that he often sits down with his sketch book, to get a a feel for the drawings that people are drawn to – and equally what they do not like. I also asked Duncan about his son, who he talks about in the film. Duncan would like to be the first person to tattoo him, however as he wants a Japanese sleeve, he may not be the best person for the job.

Duncan chatted to me in a very open and honest way, and that also very much comes across in the film, which you can watch here.

MR X by Alex Nicholson from Sang Bleu on Vimeo.