He sits there, still, his face lined with age and ink. Arcing from the bridge of his nose to the hairline all around his forehead, like sunbeams, are the faded marks of “ta moko”. This ancient form of tattooing fascinates all who come into contact with it, from the very first European explorers to modern-day…
Here in the West, it’s implied that tattoos are meant to be seen – and most are. They’re images, works of art, by their very nature visual. We photograph them, share them on social media, and scroll through galleries of flash/hundreds of pics, but what about the unseen? Those ones that are hidden away at…
There’s something about a tattoo with meaning: the metaphorical compass that reminds you to follow your own path or the anchor representing your desire to be steady on your course, despite the waves. Criminal offenders in Russian prisons have meanings to their tattoos, too, but they’re far less inspirational. And they’re earned. There are rules…
You’ve done a ton of research, looked at portfolio after portfolio, and have finally found the perfect tattoo artist for your body art. And as your consult approaches, you’re wondering what to expect – and what’s expected of you. After all, it would be a shame to accidentally offend and irritate your artist by disregarding…
Even before Samuel O’Reilly, a New York-based tattoo artist, discovered Thomas Edison’s failed electric pen in 1891 and used its design to create and patent the first known tattoo gun, Americans have had a love affair with body art. But what began as a social taboo has evolved into a number of artistic styles, inspired…
You have an idea for your new tattoo – spent countless hours on the internet looking for inspiration and components you’d like to pull together. What you’re looking for is a custom piece, but how does that process work? How does your idea transform from a description into an amazing piece of skin art? While…
Tattooing has been around for thousands of years. Throughout its existence particular canons emerged that are still equally important and applicable till this day. While new styles had developed and the process of tattooing had been elevated to the level of art form, the same basic canons and rules should not be ignored in favor…
You’ve decided to get your first tattoo, or maybe you’ve relocated and are looking for an artist near your new home, or you are looking for a new tattooist in your hometown, it doesn’t matter. The steps to choosing the perfect artist for your new piece are the same. Of course you could just drop…
When considering a new tattoo, the one thing you should never compromise on is your health. While surely remembering to discuss the design and the price, many tend to forget to inquire about the measures taken by the shop to ensure the absolute safety of the tattooing procedure you are about to experience. Don’t be…
