Embracing female tattoo culture
object within similar object
The Russian doll principle mirrors layering aspects of design…
…the design of each doll is elaborately intricate and beautiful.
This is probably why the iconic image has become so popular on skin…
Here is a selection of my favourite Russian doll tattoos.
Ok so I want them all. Maybe I’ll get a whole family of them…my very own inked Russian doll gang.
Photos: fuckyeahtattoos, princessinferno, stylesightings
Catch the nightmares, stop the scares.
Make my dreams more lovely than life.
Photos: source unknown.
My beautiful blog and my dearest readers.
This is an apology, you have been neglected and for this I am truly sorry. I promise to make it up to you with an abundance of beautiful pictures and blog posts. Please let me know how I can make it up to you? (I will do *almost* anything).
Much inked love
Alice Th’ink
xxx
PS. This collection of love imagery is a representation of the love I have for you – obviously not just because they are pretty and I want the tattoos. Enjoy.
Photos: source unknown
Feature girl: Eve (@evebeebee)
8:30-5, Monday to Friday she is an Accountant, the rest of the time she is a tattooed vintage pirate barbie doll, now she is my latest tattoo crush.
“I got my first tattoo when I was 22. Maybe a little late to start but I’ve seen so many awful tattoos; ill thought out and a 16-year-old’s fad, done in a dodgy parlour. I wanted to be sure what I was getting and where I was going…I’ve always tried to be a little ‘different’, be it with clothes or hair (it has been known to be bright pink). Tattoos were a natural progression for expressing myself and my individuality…As an accountant I would hate to live up to the ‘boring’ stereotype, but I think I manage to remove myself somewhere far from it…”
Join me on her tattoo countdown…
Number 1 – “the line of music on my foot. It’s actually a line from the Rolling Stones song Ruby Tuesday. I drew it out myself from the actual sheet music, you could use my foot as a score if I put it on a music stand! The notes as apposed to the lyrics add my own individual flair.
Tattoo by Rich at Underground Tattoo, in Walsall.”
Number two – “the pin up girl on my ribs by Mark at Midlands Tattoo Centre, in Cannock. By this point tattoos are becoming a slight addiction. I love the old style pin-up girl artists such as Gil Elvgren and Alberto Vargas. This was completely inspired by Vargas’ calendar pin-up drawing, December girl from 1944.”
Three and four – “my wrists. This was more for ironic amusement than anything. I always find it funny when you tell people you have tattoos, reactions tend to be ‘at least you don’t have love and hate across your knuckles!’ My response now is ‘Well no…but I do have it on my wrists!’ It’s in script so not ‘obvious’ unless you look properly.”
Number five – “I originally wanted a peacock, but I couldn’t find a picture I liked. I wanted its tail swooping around my back. My tattooist Mark found a picture of a phoenix and I loved it, so it evolved from there. It is about 95% complete, with just a little bit more work on the tail needed.”
Number six – “(My final for now at least), the rose on the back of my neck, this hurt a lot! My boyfriend will be getting the same tattoo but in blue. We’ll have a matching set!”
Eve. You’re my inspiration, I am totally tattoo crushing on you.
A contemporary exhibition celebrating the realisation of tattoo art, culture, and lifestyle.
Forget everything you think you know about tattoo art. For the first UK art exhibition of its kind, London Miles invites a selection of the world’s top tattoo folk to finally liberate tattoo enthusiasts and artists from ingrained prejudice…their manifesto No more ‘I LOVE MUM’. It is time to redefine the stereotype.
As attitudes evolve, tattoo technique follows. Much of today’s fine art isn’t too disparate from that which tattoo artists create on bodies. The most accomplished and skilled of tattoo artists assign exacting precision to composition, tone, perspective, and conceptual design when producing their inimitable works of art.
London Miles is to take an in-depth look at all forms of tattoo art, lifestyle, and culture. Featuring original artwork, tattoo stencils and photographs, Pens and Needles brings together artists from across the tattoo and contemporary art sectors to shed light on the entire domain of tattoo art. It will document, discuss and celebrate one of contemporary art’s most burgeoning yet contentious art forms.
The opening night of Pens and Needles will be a fiesta of tattoo art with live music performances and live tattooing taking place in London Miles’s very own pop-up tattoo parlour on Friday, February 25th 2011, 7pm to 11pm.
As I can’t make the opening night Olivia and Keely (Th’ink feature girls) will be attending for me. My first contributing bloggers, I cannot wait for their feature post on this original exhibition.
London Miles address:
Westbourne Studios
242 Acklam Road, Studio 303
W10 5 JJ
London, UK
