Skin & Ink - June 2015

THE BEST INK COVERAGE FROM AROUND THE WORLD!
THE
TATTOO
MAGAZINE
LUSY LOGAN
INK
FUSION
JUNE 2015
ISSUE 157
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eDiTor s CommenT
w w w. s k i n a n d i n k . c o m
his go around, I am keeping the editors page short and sweet. Too much to do and
getting the next issue ready for your greedy little eyes is more important then you sitting here while I give some long-winded pontification on what a great issue we have
put together. So, I will turn it over to a much shorter-winded pontification. Here you go...
This issue of Skin & Ink is one our most diversified. This time around we decided to
interject a few unconventional articles. Run them up the flagpole, so to speak, and see what
you dig and what you dont. I am not even going to elaborate here on what weve slipped
in, maybe youll just be entertained and educated and assume it was just another enjoyable
Skin & Ink feature.
Hey, but dont worry. This issue is still packed with our tried-and-true (How many antiquated expressions can an editor fit on one page?) favorites. Mick takes us around the planet, Dana brings us some history, Nate shows us the way to become better artists, we spotlight some of the worlds greatest tattoo talent, visit a tattoo convention or two, check out
some cool flash, spotlight some courageous people, see the evolution of ink meeting pop
culture, marvel at the ink of the S&I Dolls and tie things up in a nice little package with Fran
De Blas giving us his opinion on Kustom Kulture. Not bad for a hard months work
Enjoy,
The Editor
Paul Gambino
PUBLISHER
Christopher Perretta
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Paul Gambino
MANAGING EDITOR
Emmanuel Urena
ART DIRECTOR
Stuart Koban
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Nate Beavers, Dana Brunson,
Jessica DeFeo, Mannie Pendexter,
Sam Paul, Dr.Messina,
Travelin Mick, John Foscante,
Mike Bednarsky, Frank DeBlase,
Michael Nguyen, Amy Sciarretto,
Bill Waytowich
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Mary DAloisio, GiGi Elmes,
Dan Howell, Richard Edson,
Travelin Mick,
Jenna Krazeck, Amber Mannon,
Steve Prue, Evil Eye
COPY EDITOR
Nancy McCaslin
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION
Evan Honig
Phone (201) 843-4004 x114
Fax (201) 843-8775
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Fulvio Brito
ADVERTISING
Marty Puntus
(201) 843-4004 ext.113
mpuntus@magnapublishing.com
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR
TonyD@procirc.com
CONTROLLER
Fred Zott
EDITORIAL OFFICES
210 Rt 4 East, Paramus, NJ 07652
(201) 843-4004
DISTRIBUTOR
Curtis Circulation Co.
Cover Model:
Lusy Logan
Photography:
Joseph OBrien
www.iamjop.com
Skin&Ink (ISSN 1071-7684) Issue #157 June 2015.

Published six times a year by Magna Publications Group, Inc., in
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Contents copyrighted 2015. All rights reserved. Contents may
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to unsolicited materials, including, but not limited to, articles, photographs, cartoons, illustrations and letters sent to Skin&Ink will
be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and as subject to Skin&Ink's right to edit and comment editorially. The amount and time of payment, if any, for such
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Printed in the Canada.
28
CONTENTS
June 2015
DEPARTMENTS
6. Letters To The Editor
92
Mail from S&I readers.
10. Ink Scene
The latest tattoo products, events

and community happenings.
52
28. Artist Spotlight
Saraloni Troupe: Natural Born

Ink Slinger.
84. Flash Contest

A win/win situation.
86. S&IDolls
Beauty in ink!
92. The Artist Gallery

Supreme ink.
COLuMNS
14. Letters From Abroad
Florence 2014: Dolce Vita in
Tuscany! Italys largest tattoo
convention
Article and Photos by
Travelin Mick
24. Tattoo Treasures

with Dana Brunson
Frank & Emma DeBurgh:
The Tattooed Couple
26. Tattooers POV with

Nate Beavers
Time Pieces and Statues.
74. International Ink
El Monga and Aloha Tattoos

Barcelona, Spain
Article by Marco Annunziata
98. Comments and Kulture

with Frank De Blase
Smokeem If You Haveem
14
86
FEATURES
36.
64
Jim Russi
Life, Lenses & Longboards

Article by Frank De Blase
Photos by Jim Russi and
Andrew Brusso
41.
Flight 914
52.
Shop Spotlight
Another Successful Take Off

Photos by Dan Howell and
Dan Brown
Jose MotaOrtega
Mota Tattoos
Article by Michael Ngyuen
64.
Nathan Galman
68.
Ink Fusion
74
36
From Tragedy to Triumph.

Article by Mike Bednarsky
Where Tattoo &

Pop Culture Collide!
Article by Marc Draven
41
CENTERFOLD
Letters
More Than
Skin Deep
Ted Meyers and Ana Stumps art
work incorporating tattoos into
larger pieces is something Ive
never seen before. Its so creative
and imaginative and is a really
interesting take on tattoo art. The
pieces were all so different. I
loved the Buddha themed art, and
a tattoo as common as a butterfly
was transformed into something
really unique. Im really interested
in seeing more of the work they
do.
Charles E.
Sioux Falls, SD
The
Work of
&
Ted Meyer p
m
tu
S
Anna
The Reluctant Poet
A Lasting Favorite
Thanks for the Leah Jung poster and
interview. She has been my favorite S&I
cover girl since her really beautiful cover
in the snow, probably a few years ago.
She is stunning, and I hope to see more of
her and hear more about her music for
some time to come.
Dan G.
Key West, FL
6 SKIN&INK
John Foscante started his article on Jim saying

that he had never written about anyone, but his
piece was a poetic tribute to a hardworking man
who loves his horses. It was
unlike any piece Ive read in
the magazine before. It was
nice to read something so
different and heartfelt.
Carol H.
Philadelphia, PA
One Of The Biggest On Earth

I remember going to the first Inked Out some years ago, thinking that
there was no way Mario Barth could pull of another giant convention so
close to the Biggest Tattoo Show on Earth, but he did. It was a great convention, and everyone has been better than the last. I couldnt make it this
year, but it looks like it was no different. Steve Prues photos are great and
its good to hear that all the familiar faces were out in full force.
Corey C.
Verona, NJ
ing
Tattotohe
in en
Gardte
Sta

The Best Is
Yet To Come
I couldnt believe it when I
read that Christos
Galiropoulous has only been
tattooing for five years. His
work is so precise, and
shows a lot of talent, skill,
and hard work. I cant wait
to see what hes doing in
another five years.
Tim S.
Sparks, NV
Neechees Niche
It was nice to see Neechee featured as an S&I doll in the last issue. She
is totally gorgeous, but definitely does not look like the typical pinup. And
shes super talented. Her hairpieces are so beautiful.
Patty B.
Brattleboro, VT
SKIN&INK 7
LETTERS
Another Stop For
Travelin Mick
I always love Travelin Micks convention coverage. It never
fails to be funny, smart, and honest. The London Convention
coverage was no different. The photos were great, and I loved
hearing about the trials and tribulations of getting a booth
there. As always, I cant wait to see where he goes next.
Pete A.
Fresno, CA
O
O
T
T
A
T
N
O
D
LON
Kickin
It Old
School
I love Danas
Column! its a perfect mix of education and entertainment. Where
would we be without our tattoo
history and each issue Dana quietly and succiently delivers the
goods. He never lets us forget where we came from. My hat goes
off to Dana. Oh, wait! Let me get that hat back on so Dana
knows who I am. Merci, Dana!
Anton P.
Paris, France

Cruelty-Free Ink
14
SKIN&INK
IIm not vegan, but I would still go get tattooed by Jorell.

His work is really nice. The watercolor stuff he does is
some of the best Ive seen of that variety of tattoo.
Sometimes, Im not so into the stuff without outlines, but he
does a really good job with it. And I really respect his commitment to his ethics in running a vegan shop.
Eric S.
St. Paul, MN
Send letters & photos to

Skin&Ink Letters
210 Route 4 East, Suite 211
Paramus, NJ 07652
Be sure digital images are at least 2 mg jpeg images (or larger, set to
maximum quality) at 300 dpi or greater or high-quality tiffs.
Images from the web will not work.
8 SKIN&INK
Photo: Harrison Funk Makeup: Ashley Gibson Background image iStockphoto.com/Marc Fischer
THE INK SCENE
PUBLICATIONS
Beverly Yuen Thompson
NYU Press, July, 2015
Tattooed women are celebrated in the pages of Skin & Ink. The pinups
who grace our pages are beautiful women adorned and made more
beautiful by the artwork on their bodies. But what does it mean to be a
tattooed woman in the world on a daily basis?
Beverly Thompson seeks to answer just that. She looks at what it
means to be a tattooed woman at home, at work, as a mother or a
daughter, and on the street. She speaks to tattooed mothers, and
lawyers, and illustrates what effects tattoos have had on their personal
and professional relationships. She investigates the particular experiences
of female tattooers and shop owners.
Covered in Ink is part autobiography, part sociology. Beverly shares
her experiences and the experiences of other women in magazines, in
shops, and at pageants. These women talk about what led them to become
tattooed, how their families reacted, and how they are treated at work, and
how they are approached by strangers on the street.
Overall, Thompson finds women who are happy with their choices to
become tattooed. They feel empowered. They feel beautiful. Her study provides deep insight into what it means be a tattooed woman. She strikes
chords that are relatable to any tattooed personmale or female, or any
person who is interested in how we judge each other.
Covered in Ink is a detailed, and at times eye-opening, portrait of
women with tattoos.
NYHC: New York Hardcore 19801990

by Tony Rettman (Author), Freddy Cricien (Foreword)
Published by Bazillion Points
Known for its glamorous 1970s punk rock scene, New York City matched the
grim urban reality of the 1980s with a rawer musical uprising: New York hardcore. As bands of misfits from across the region gravitated to the forgotten frontier of Manhattans Lower East Side, a backdrop of despair, bands like Agnostic
Front, Cro-Mags, Murphys Law, and Youth of Today confronted their reality with
relentlessly energetic gigs at CBGB, A7, and the numerous squats in the area.
Tony Rettmans ambitious oral history captures ten years of struggling, including the scenes regional rivalries with D.C. and Boston, the birth of moshing, the
clash and coming to terms of hardcore and heavy metal, the straightedge movement, and the unlikely influence of Krishna consciousness.
With a foreword by Freddy Cricien of Madball, who made his stage debut with
Agnostic Front at age seven, NYHC slams the sidewalk with savage tales of largerthan-life characters and unlikely feats of willpower. The gripping and sometimes
hilarious narrative is woven together like the fabric of New York itself with over 100
original interviews with members of Absolution, Adrenalin O.D., Agnostic Front,
Antidote, Bad Brains, Bloodclot, Bold, Born Against, Breakdown, Cause for Alarm,
Citizen Arrest, Cro-Mags, Crumbsuckers, Death Before Dishonor, Even Worse, False
Prophets, Don Fury, Gorilla Biscuits, H20, Heart Attack, Inhuman, Into Another, Irate,
Judge, Kraut, Leeway, Lifes Blood, Major Conflict, Maxs Kansas City, Murphys Law,
Nausea, Nihilistics, Nuclear Assault, Numskulls, Outburst, Pro-Pain, Quicksand, Rat
Cage Records, Raw Deal, Reagan Youth, Rorschach, S.O.D., Sacrilege, Savage Circle,
Sheer Terror, Shelter, Shok, Sick of it All, Side by Side, Skinhead Youth, Straight Ahead,
the Abused, the Cryptcrashers, the Mad, the Misfits, the Misguided, the Mob, the
Psychos, the Ritz, the Stimulators, the Undead, Token Entry, Underdog, Urban Waste,
Virus, Warzone, Youth of Today, and many, many more.
10 SKIN&INK
CONVENTIONS & EVENTS
PHOTOS BY STEVE PRUE
Inked Out NJ
September 1115, 2015
Meadowlands Expo Center
Secaucus, NJ
inkedoutnj.com
Mario Barth began throwing conventions in New Jersey
in 2001. For years, he focused on his Las Vegas show,
leaving a hole in the states convention circuit. In 2011,
the crew brought Inked Out home and it has been a
major event ever since. All of Barths events are of
unprecedented size and scope and this years Inked Out
will be a convention larger and with a more star-studded group of artists than New Jersey has ever seen.
Barth, who holds court over a tattoo empire with
his Starlight Tattoo franchise and Intenze Ink products,
knows how to throw a party. His conven
tions attract the industrys top tattooers and massive

amounts of attendees year after year.
There will be live tattooing by Horitoshi I. Boris,
Baba, Barth himself, and Bob Tyrell, the grandfather of
black and grey. They are just some of the greats you
can expect to see doing what they do best.
Were bringing all the best tattooers from around
the world to showcase their skills, says Billy Burke,
Brand Officer. Its going to be a monumental experience for New Jersey.
SKIN&INK 11
THE INK SCENE
CONVENTIONS & EVENTS
Tattoo Arts Film Festival

April 45, 2016
The Roxy Theater
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
picatic.com/tattooartsfilmfestival
The Tattoo Arts Film Festival is Canadas first tattoo-genre film festival, and the worlds first dedicated tattoo cinema platform event. The work of
award-winning directors and the words and likenesses of world-renowned tattooers will be in the spotlight.
Among the featured films will be: Tattoo Nation starring Danny Trejo, Ed Hardy and narrated by LA Inks Corey Miller; The Skin Im In, showing tattoo as a way of recovery and self-acceptance, by acclaimed film-maker and Associate Professor of Arts History & Visual Arts at LAs Occidental
College, Broderick Fox; the stunning Tatau - La Culture dun Art; and the thought-provoking Color Outside the Lines.
The Tattoo Arts Film Festival will be a major event for tattoo and film lovers alike.
ttoo
Kansas City Ta on
Arts Conventi
May 13, 2015
Crown Center
O
Kansas City, M
m
o
villainarts.c
12 SKIN&INK
Troy Timple, aka Kingpin, brings

his show to Kansas City for the
first time. As always, Timple and
his crew will bring the industrys
top tattooers and entertainers
that are always crowd favorites,
into the citys convention center.
Kingpins staple entertainment, including Enigma, the
human jig saw puzzle, and
bands such as Murphys Law,
known for their concerts that
turn into rowdy parties, will
make for a fun time in addition
to the serious tattoo competitions that will take place, and
there will be a large gallery to
showcase fine tattoo art. This
convention promises to be
something new and exciting for
Kansas City.
Tattoos by the Bay

April 35, 2015
Emerald Beach Hotel
Corpus Christi, Texas
tattoosbythebay.com
For the seventh annual Tattoos by the Bay, organizers Ron and Susie Urbanec have
put together an impressive list of top tattoo artists, including Sarah Miller of Ink
Masters fame. Contests, spectacles, and parties, all alongside the waters of Corpus
Christi Bay, will make the convention one of the most fun and interesting this
spring.
Enigma, the puzzle man, and Serana Rose, the electric girl, Americas A-list
subcultural sweethearts, will put on their wild and stunning show. Expect a jawdropping display with chainsaws, fire eating, knife throwing, and more. Tattoos by
the Bay promises to be a large-scale event with tons of entertainment for attendees, and a worthwhile experience for artists.
Australian
Tattoo Convention Melbourne
June 26, 2015
Melbourne Showgrounds
Melbourne, Australia
http://www.tattooexpo.com.au/
The Australian Tattoo and Body Art Expo is the
largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
Each year over 10,000 visitors are in attendance,
as well as an incredible range of both
international and local artists, vendors, and
exciting entertainment.
Expect a pin-up pageant, burlesque
performances, tattoo contests, car and bike
shows, and live music. Each Australian Tattoo and
Body Art expo brings together an exciting range of
creative, unique, talented artists, giving visitors the
opportunity to get tattooed by some of the best in
the business today. This year is sure to be another
big event.
Brooklyn Grooming
Oils, Pomades, and Balms
Facial hair and tattoos result in a staple look in our culture. Theres something about a guy
with a nice, voluminous beard and stache and a body full of ink that makes the ladies go
wild. If youre aiming to get this coveted look, Brooklyn Groomings got you covered with
their line of hair and beard oils and pomades, shaving products, and even tattoo balms.
Made in their studio in Brooklyn, NY, every batch of every product is dosed, measured, and prepared by hand. Their exclusive (and top secret) recipes include organic vegetable butters, beeswax, herbs, and essential oils. The products come in vintage amber
tinctures and old-fashioned pomade tins in an apothecary aesthetic that recall classic elegance. Prices vary between $18 and $29 for individual items and $35 to $75 for special sets.
To get your tatted hands on some Brooklyn Grooming merch, visit: brooklyngrooming.com.
SKIN&INK 13
Dolce
Vita!
in Tuscany
V
ery few tattoo conventions in Europe, or the world, can

offer as much as Florencea historic location in the heart
of a beautiful city full of culture, a dedicated team of organizers and a select choice of artists. Add in a truly ambitious entertainment program and a vast number of visitors who return
every year like clockwork, and what you get is the world-class
tattoo meeting that Florence has become!
Italian tattoo legend Marco Pisa with Travelin Mick
14
TEXT AND
PHOTOS BY
TRAVELIN
MICK
Back by
Vittorio
Mustacchio,
Boss Hog
Tattoo,
Eboli, IT
Master Shige working.
Tattoo by Paolo Gnocchi, Aeptic Tattoo,

Trento, IT
trip to autumnal Tuscany is always worth the journey, and

why not add a few days before or after the Florence
Tattoo Convention to discovery this fantastic city and its
remarkably talented artists?
Does a mega-sized convention of almost 400 artists and visitors numbering in the five-figures that can also boast a comfortable atmosphere, hospitable organizers and an original historic location actually exist?
Can masses of partying guests and such an excess supply of
tattooers really be combined with a personal touch, a highly
ambitious selection of artists, neat and widely spaced aisles,
affordable prices and a general mood of fun?
Tattoo by
Ricardo,
Lacrima
Nera,
Florence
16 SKIN&INK
Tattoo by Che Crook,

Lowrider Tattoo, London, UK
Sleeve by Speranza Tattoo, Vicenza, IT
Tattoo by Hayner,
Inkorporation
Tattoo, BR
Tattoo by Mauro Amaral, Most Amazing

Tattoo Club, Portimao, P
Sleeve by Speranza Tattoo, Vicenza, IT
FLORENZ
TRAVEL
GUIDE
T
uscanys capital can be reached via the nearby Peretola airport or, often
cheaper, through Pisa (about 50 miles away). Take a bus to Florences
main station as taxis in Italy are often overpriced and unreliable. Fortezza
da Basso, a 16th century fortress that serves as the location of the convention, is just a few steps from the station and the famous Duomo and an
area full of hotels and restaurants. Make sure to do your homework first
before booking somewhere as in this touristic area value-for-money isnt to
be taken for granted.
At the convention itself, food is inexpensive and certainly edible, while
in the evening we can warmly recommend Lobs, an excellent seafood
restaurant on Via Faenza.
Another piece of advice: Skip the beer and go for cheaper and better
Italian wine, instead! Salute!
Tattoo by Deborah Cherrys, Madrid, E
A dedicated group of artists and travel enthusiasts that have

been friends for years originally wanted to create a simple forum,
where creativity and tradition could meet in Florence once a year.
But slowly, year by year, this event has turned into something else,
something much bigger. It has been a project that has taken over
their lives and is now probably Italys largest tattoo convention.
Despite an annual surge in visitor numbers (who now clearly
breach the ten-thousand-mark over three days) and a remarkably
long waiting list of artists, commercialization has not taken over
the event.
Tattoo by Simone Asunis
Tattoo by
Lorenzo
Anzini,
Loreprod,
Nero di
Seppia, IT
18 SKIN&INK
Sleeve by
Speranza
Tattoo,
Vicenza, IT
Best of Show: Tattoo by Paolo Gnocchi, Trento, IT
STEFFIEFF
UTGARD TATTOO, BERLIN, GERMANY
Steffi, who had her breakthrough as the
runner-up in a tattoo talent contest two
years ago, is one of the most popular
choices for realistic tattoos in a city that
certainly does not have a dearth of great
tattoo artists. At Utgard Tattoo, in the former east part of Berlin, clients line up for
months to get an appointment with the
trained airbrush artist. Nowadays, she can
be regularly seen at conventions, often in
quite exotic locations, an experience she
wouldnt miss out on anymore.
TM: Steffi, we often meet at conventions now, sometimes in places

that are quite far from Berlin... What motivates you to travel so
much?
SE: Yes, I have traveled a lot recently, sometimes with Frank, my boss at Utgard, but
sometimes aloneMoscow, Istanbul, Rome, now Florence and recently even China!
In February we are going to New Zealand... I like to meet people, foreign cultures,
see new scenes I am not familiar with...
Tattoo
by Homz
Tattoo,
Zrich,
CH
TM: And what do you take home with you when you return to
Berlin?
SE: Plenty of impressions and the whole experience. Its so rewarding to watch all
those famous and talented artists that you have only seen in magazines or on the
net, look over their shoulders, and exchange knowledge. I learned that they are just
the same as all of us...
TM: Right. And the Florence convention? What is your impression of

it?
SE: This event is, despite its vast size, truly beautiful, well organized and nicely laidout. The atmosphere is great, like a big family; the organizers did a wonderful job!
I worked a lot, too, mostly on American customers, though. Tomorrow I still have
some time to explore the city, something I always try to do when I travel.
Strict criteria when choosing tattoo and merchandise booths are

Tattoo by Lorenzo Anzini,
upheld by the organizers
a lotITof energy thinking about
Loreprod,who
Nerospend
di Seppia,
how to promote creativity in the tattoo scene. For example, a lot of precious floor space is given to traditional hand tattooists, and honoring
older veterans of the Italian tattoo scene is a recurring theme here, too.
Gallery spaces divide up the huge hall and provide distraction and food
for thought. Additionally, lectures and seminars about a variety of topics are provided free of charge, offering edutainment for all tastes.
Also, the stage does not see the umpteenth reincarnation of some
burlesque boredom, and no bloody freak show is out to shock unsuspecting first-time visitors. Instead, some performances far off the mainstream take turns with the odd popular DJ and rock band that take over
the stage later in the evening. Variety is the main theme here, too!
20 SKIN&INK
Tattoo by Yomico Moreno, VEN
Tattoo by Enrico, Spunk Tattoo, Civitanova, IT
Sleeve by
Michele
Agostini,
Tribal
Tattoo,
Rome, IT
Tattoo by Roberto,
Pleasure of Pain, Ostia, IT
Even the loudest shows on the stage do not bother the artists, since
the entertainment area is far enough removed from the tattooing
booths, in the same huge room, but still partitioned off by a gallery
and several bars providing the necessary fuel for a late-night party.
Especially on Saturday and Sunday, those aisles between the stands
that looked absurdly wide and empty before, suddenly fill up with
happy and beautiful people, and this mood of excitement and novelty is preserved until late each night.
Superstars like Shige from Yellow Blaze in Japan and Alex de Pase
from Italy enjoy the same privileges as all other artists, toothose of
a guest, being treated with courtesy, attention to detail, friendliness
and efficiency, qualities that nowadays cant be taken for granted at
tattoo conventions anymore.
Italian dolce vita, often used as an excuse for sloppiness or indifference, is brought back here to its original meaningthe fun of longing for the good life in our colorful world!
Sleeve by
Andrea Lanzi,
Antikorpo,
Orzinuovi, IT
Tattoos by
Homz Tattoo,
Zrich, CH
Tattoo by
Michele Agostini,
Tribal Tattoo,
Rome, IT
M
MIROSLAVTOMAS
Tattoo by
Dr. Pepper,
GR
Miroslav being interviewd by Mekani Terror.
TOMAS TATTOO, ERLANGEN , GERMANY
Miroslav, who runs Tomas Tattoo near Nuremberg, has

by now become one of the most respected figures in the
German tattoo scene. The Bosnian-born artist has pioneered black-and-grey tattooing and is held in high
esteem by colleagues, not only for his skills but also for
his good nature and endless patience in bringing the
German tattoo scene together. Miroslav attended
Florence for the first time and obviously enjoyed his stay
in the Tuscan art capital.
TM: Miro, you took part in a sketch contest

where ten competitors had to finish a sketch
within 25 minutes. This time you didnt win,
but the result was impressive, nonetheless.
Why are you interested in such a contest?
MT: I like to draw fast. Speed lets you discover your own deficiencies. If you take your time sketching something, routine takes over
and the result is boring, predictable. Originally, I thought we would be each given a theme, but it turned out everybody could do
whatever they wanted. Unfortunately, this resulted in some of the competitors just doing a drawing they had practiced before.
Hopefully, this will be adjusted if they do the contest again.
TM: It would be more fair, certainly. But it was fun, and the winner, Mojo from Italy, did a lovely drawing, anyway. How did you like the Florence convention altogether?
MT: Look, do you know this feeling on a convention Sunday, when you cant wait for it to be finished, so you can go home? This
is the first time for me ever that I wouldnt mind coming back here every day, just to keep on going with the convention, and the
fun never ends!
TATTOO TREASURES with DANA BRUNSON
Frank & Emma DeBurgh

The Tattooed Couple
The day arrived and after many inquiries to the auction
house, I was assured I would be contacted by phone. The
phone rang and I patiently waited for the beginning of the tattoo lots to be sold.
The first lot was a Percy Waters tattooed lady poster that
instantly soared to a price twice as high as I had expected.
Next, luck was on my side as I scored some rare 1920s flash.
Now it was time for the final lot, a rare turn-of-the-century tattoo litho. Fortunately, luck was again on my side with the litho
selling much lower than I expected. Lower than expected is
always a great feeling! Score, one of the earliest pieces Id
seen was now added to my collection.
The lithograph is a late 1800s poster advertising the tattooed couple, Frank and Emma DeBurgh. The DeBurghs were
tattooed by Samuel OReilly in New York City during the last
ollectors alway follows a strange path in their pursuit of rare items. Research and correspondence are
important, but most of all, just plain luck seems to
be the key factor in most acquisitions to a collection.
Recently, while researching a Coleman statue that had
sold at auction, I accidentally came across an auction site
that featured rare tattoo items soon to be auctioned off. I
contacted the auction house, applied and qualified to bid.
Then I waited patiently for the date of the auction to arrive.
Now, as excited as I was, I was also sure that many
other of my fellow tattoo collectors out there were aware of
my secret. I was indeed waiting and preparing for a bidding battle.
part of the 1800s.

OReilly patented the first electric tattoo machine in
1891, so I assume a lot of the DeBurghs tattoos were done
by hand. Both husband and wife were covered in religious
motifs. Emmas back depicted the Last Supper, while Franks
back was a rendition of the crucifixion. They both also had
the others name and the sentiments proclaiming their love
tattooed on their torsos.
They were first exhibited in Berlin, Germany, in 1891,
and they toured throughout Europe, amazing crowds. This
litho was advertising an appearance of the DeBurghs at the
Alcazar DEte in Paris, a concert hall that was opened in
1860 on the famous Champs Elysees and closed in 1914.
I love history. It is hard to believe that a lithograph
depicting a couple tattooed by Samuel OReilly has survived
all these years and is now in my collection. Yeah.LUCK!
See ya in the funny papers. And remember to keep your
hat on so Ill know ya.
Dana
www.danatattoo.com danatattoo@fuse.net
24 SKIN&INK
TATTOOERS POV with NATE BEAVERS
ime pieces and statues. These

subjects have become very
prevalent in the tattoo world
as of late. Sculpted figures work very
well using tattooing as the medium
and it is fairly easy to get some really
nice contrast. I love to use a combination of gray wash and opaque gray
when doing a sculptural tattoo. The
added white in the opaque gray seems
to catch the tonal quality of marble and
porcelain presented in the
original image. These methods
can always be expanded upon
by adding color variations to
the gray mix. I like to use a
light purple or blue to mix with
the black and then some white
in the ink cap. It also can be
helpful if adding a straight
color background behind it.
If using a contrasting color
behind, the colored gray tone
will start to pop off the skin. I
always start by making a stencil that has all of the solid black
areas mapped out first. I usually just mark those areas with a
fill of closely spaced lines. That
makes it easier to read and
more like a gradient map of
gradual tones. I do the same
when making stencils for
pocket watches, as well. I find
the light source and use solid
black on the undershadow
side. The black should be
drawn out a little more than
what is viewed in the reference
image so there is space to
blend midtones into it.
I will then flip to do the
lightest gray shade areas next.
I make sure the gray is light,
but not too light. You need the
extra space between where
the light gray stops and the lit
edge is located. I then fill in the
midtones. It becomes very
26 SKIN&INK
easy because it is literally the middle left

throughout the tattoo. The tattoo seems to
become complete after this step. All that is
left at that stage is just to put in the solid
white highlights.
When working on clocks, watches, and
pocket watches, never make the numerals or the hands solid black. Those items
are usually being viewed through glass
and the glass knocks the darkness down a
notch or two. I also try to do a layer of even
lighter grays over the top of the
entire clock face itself. This really
helps to add to the effect of it being
transparent and made out of glass.
Leave some blank areas for some
solid white ink to make the shiny
highlights pop. This will help make
it look more realistic and give
things great depth and dimension.
My set-up for this type of tattooing
is a rounded 15 magnum shader
needle, a 9 round shader needle,
a tight 9 round liner and a
tight 5 liner. I almost
always start by filling
in the dark areas
first with the 15
magnum. A 15 mag
shader can knock
out huge chunks of
solid fill as well as
blended fades. I
always use a circular
motion with my hand in
combination with a scrubbing motion. I gradually
layer each tone, picking up next-tothe-last edge as I go. Sometimes I
will end the circular motion with a
wip shade to leave it very loose.
It allows for you not to overwork the
skin when going back into
the areas already tattooed.
I am careful not to wipe off the
stencil. Stencil Stuff and Dettol
have become my mainstays for
keeping the transfer on longer. As
long as you dont use too much
Photo Mary DAloisio
TIME PIECES & STATUES
soap in you spray bottle, it wont wipe the

stencil off too quickly. I
always recommend
using just plain distilled water for cleaning during a tattoo.
Actually, spray bottles
are not good to use
directly on skin while
tattooing. You should
spray or soak a paper
towel first and then
clean the skin. This helps to prevent cross contamination. In this
day and age that is a very important factor to think about during
the tattooing process.
The next stage is dropping in the lightest grays with the 9
round shader. Then I decide if there needs to be any bold outlines
anywhere and get that done with the tight 9 round liner. The 9
round can get in to tighter spots that are hard to get into with the
magnum. It is good for cleaning up all the edges that are not
solid. I go back to the 15 magnum for the midtones. Finally, I use
the tight 5 round liner for tightening detailed areas. I will do the
whites first, and then the darks. That way, the whites are brighter
because the tube and needle have been untouched until this
point. The gray wash I use only for background shading. I create
a smooth fade from dark to light in key points of the tattoo. I also
use it on any images placed behind the focal image. It adds a
nice contrast between the grays.
It takes some time using the combination and creating awesome replicas of famous sculptures and antique time pieces.
Have fun working with these similar, yet different, shades of gray.
Contact Nate at tatpov@skinink.com

SKIN&INK 27
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Saraloni
Troupe
Natural
Born
Ink
Slinger
Interview by Emanuel Urena
araloni Troupe will tell you right out that she cant quite
remember when ink caught her attention. However, growing up with an artist as her mom and a dad who made
motorcycle seats and had tattooed biker clients constantly around,
you can guess it was only a matter of time before Saraloniwho
today says that she was born to tattoowould mesh her surroundings together to create an amalgam of artwork.
Cutting her teeth at shops around her way in Arizona, she
finally ended up as part of the crew for powerhouse tattoo franchise, Club Tattoo. Since then, she has amassed an impressive portfolio displaying her skills in a variety of different tattoo styles. Skin
& Ink caught up with the versatile ink slinger to chop it up about
her start in tattooing back in 2009, her traditional art background
and the changesboth good and badthat shes seen transpire in
tattooing throughout the years; and she even offered up some
words of wisdom to up-and-coming tattooers out there.
SKIN & INK: Talk to us a bit about when you first ventured into tattooing. Did you go through a formal
apprenticeship or are you self-taught?
Saraloni Troupe: As much as I wanted to do a formal apprenticeship, I didnt have that luxury. I ended up being mostly self-taught.
I had to learn a lot along the way and, thankfully, I learned and
grew quite fast. It wasnt very hard for me to transfer from drawing on paper to drawing on skin.
28 SKIN&INK
SKIN&INK 29
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Did you take any art courses growing up?
My mom was a big influence on my art when I was growing up. But, I never had to
take any art classes out of my high school due to the fact I would have two-three art
classes a day just because I loved it so much. I would definitely love to take some oil
classes sometime. I have a love-hate relationship with oil paints, and I certainly want to
learn more.
What was the transition like when you went from creating art on canvas
to tattooing on live skin?
The hardest part was that people moveand paper doesnt. You never know when
your client is going to twitch or jerk around. Sometimes they can warn you, but when
you have a client that involuntarily twitches, you better hope to God you pull your
needle off the skin at the perfect time.
Do you often use things that you know from painting and/or drawing
and apply them to tattooing and vice versa?
Oh, most definitely! Ive actually noticed that I use more of my tattooing and stencilmaking skills towards my paintings and charcoal drawings. And, I want to do more oil
painting because I know Ill be able to use those skills and apply them to tattooing.
Club Tattoo boasts a roster of talented artists.
Today, female tattoo artists are more common, but that may not have
been the case back when you entered the field. Did the fact that you
were a female artist ever hinder your progress?
30 SKIN&INK
SKIN&INK 31
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Thankfully, it didnt! The first and second shop I
worked in were all-female shops. So, from the getgo I was in a female positive environment. And
once I moved on and came to Club Tattoo, I still
never faced any issues with being a woman.
A large number of artists tend to choose a
style of tattooing to master and stick with
it. Your portfolio, however, displays an
array of styles. Was this a conscious decision on your part?
My portfolio displays an array of styles because I
have such a wide variety of clients. I do what my
clients want. Just because my clients and I have different tastes doesnt mean I shouldnt be able to
give them what they want. Whether my client
wants a bright and colorful floral sleeve or a black
and grey demonic rib piece, Im going to do it and
enjoy it because I love tattooing.
If you had to choose a style, which would
you like to focus on the most?
I absolutely love doing color portraitsespecially
well-known movie characters. I also love doing
fancy filigree, dragons, realistic flowers, and video
game tattoos. I love doing anything nerdy [laughs].
Bring all your Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings
tattoos to me, please [laughs].
What is it like working for Club
Tattoo?
I really like it here at Club Tattoo. The front desk
girls that we have make my day so much less stressful, and the artists that I work alongside are like
my second family. I mean, I see them more than
my own family! I feel like Club Tattoo has
done a lot for me and helped me grow a lot
since Ive been with them.
Have you had the opportunity to
work at any other Club Tattoo
location?
Yes! I actually started out at the
Glendale [AZ] location, then moved
over to the Tempe [AZ] location. I
helped out at the older Scottsdale
[AZ] location for a few days at one
point, and Ive found my home at the
Mesa [AZ] shop. Hopefully, Ill be
guest-spotting at the new Las Vegas
[NV] location over the summer.
Do you work the convention
circuit?
Ive actually never worked a convention before. I hear its a really fun
experienceI really should get in on
that.
Tattooing since 2009, Im sure
youve seen a lot of things transpire in the industry over the
years. What are some good things
youve seen happen in tattooing
since you started, and what are
some bad things youve witnessed?
Since Ive been in the industry I feel like Ive
32 SKIN&INK
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
34 SKIN&INK
noticed a lot more artists using rotary machines, which I think is the way to go. Something
that can be both good and bad I think is Pinterest. Yeah, you can find ideas off of Pinterest,
but so does everybody else. So many of the popular tattoos are being cycled through there,
and everyone wants them. I feel like tattoos should be unique. Granted there are so many tattoos nowadays that someone out there is bound to have the same piece that you have, if not
close to it. Ive noticed that more and more people just want to get tattooed to have a lot of
tattoos. They dont even care what they getthey just want to be cool and get inked up.
What are the good, bad and ugly aspects of the tattooing industry?
There are ups and downs to every industry, but Id have to say that there is definitely an overflow of shops in AZ. And, there are no health codes! So, anyone with a tattoo machine can
just start tattooing people out of their garage, or open up a shop and try to look professional
but are in actuality filthy and inexperienced. But, on the good side, Ive run into a lot of experienced and amazing artists who are willing to swap ideas and techniques, and just be all
around nice people.
What are some dos and donts that up-and-coming artists should keep in mind
when navigating through the industry?
Be nice! Dont be a cocky know-it-all just because youve done a few good pieces. Constantly
work on making yourself better. You can always learn more. Be humble and gracious, and
youll do just fine.
Club Tattoo
1423 South Country Club, Mesa, AZ 85210
480-464-2582
mesa@clubtattoo.com
clubtattoo.com
instagram.com/saralonitattoo
SKIN&INK 35
JIM RUSSI
Article by Frank De Blase
egendary surf photographer Jim Russi

breathes life into an art
he says is dying. But after
soaking up the tactile beauty
in the mans work, this is
rather hard to believe. A
surfer at heart, Russi is captivated by what he captures.
His photography has graced
the pages of every major
surf magazine on the stands.
He has spent the last 30
years or so circling the
globe, chasing the perfect
wave and those that chase
it, as well. The dizzying danger, the speed, the vertigo,
and the salty allure of the
quintessential, illusive ride
are caught by his keen eye
as well as his own artistic
view on life and those who
live the lifestyle. And, you
could say he does it all with
his faith on his tattooed
sleeve. Hed like to accumulate more ink if he could just
stay out of the water long
enough. The surfing, the
photography, the need for
speedit all started with a
vacation to Hawaii and he
never came back.
S&I: Your website portfo36 SKIN&INK
Life,
lenses &
longboards
Portraits by Andrew Brusso
Surf Photography
by Jim Russi
lio is divided between the titles Surf, Art, and Life. For you, whats the difference between the three? Whats the same?
J.R.: Great question They are all three ingredients that make up who I am.
I started surfing at age 6, and although I have many other interests in my life such as
racing Motocross, chopper MC life, skateboarding, and anything with speed as a factor, surfing has been at my core for more than 50 years. Surfing is not just a sport. It is
in every way a lifestyle and a culture of its own. I have always surfed, had beach girlfriends, driven surf-type cars, vans, and pick-ups. Ive traveled the planet in search of
un-ridden waves and even married my two passions, surfing and photography. To make a
living, I worked 30+ years for the surf magazines and surf-wear companies so I could continue my quest un-interrupted and get paid for it. To break it down images-wise, Surf is my
hard-core surf action imagery. Art is my more experimental look at the worldlots of water,
motion and feminine form. Life is capturing the lifestyle

images of the nomadic surf people as we circumnavigate
the globe.
You moved to Hawaii for what was supposed to be a
short trip. Could you briefly tell that story?
Ah, yeah. That was the late 70s and I had just graduated
from Brooks Institute of Photography with a BA in Fashion
and Advertising. I took a week to go to Hawaii for surf and
to celebrate before moving to LA or NY to work as a fashion
photographer Well, that became a very long week. Im
still here.
Talk about surf photography when you first started
out; the techniques and the technology.
Surf photography was still very specialized and was really
still in the pioneering stages in the 70s. We, of course, shot
slide film that was very slow and had to be exposed perfectly to be able to be published in the magazines. We had
to manually focus our big heavy camera/ lens combination
before the auto focus came around in 1990. We loaded all
this into leaky old water housings we made in the garage
out of fiberglass and Plexiglass and swam out into giant
Pipeline waves to get the shot, looking through the lens to
frame, focus and expose the shot properly with only 36
shots on a roll of film to get it right. Pre-1990 was tough
and only a handful of us had what it took and the magazines were kind to us, as long as we were producing the
goods.
Surf-guitar legend Dick Dale claims his thundering,
reverb-drenched sound came from the ocean. How
has surf photography influenced your work when not
shooting at the beach or in the water?
Even when Im shooting fashion and imagery unrelated to
the ocean, I still like to incorporate motion and flow in my
images, whatever the subject. Motion in a still image that
the viewer can feel is my passion.
What elements have to be present in order for a picture to be ideal?
Outside of motion, absolutely the most important element is
lightdirection of light, warmth of light, reflection of light.
Then the subject matter or content of the image has to be
interesting to the viewer. It has to evoke an emotion. Thats
art vs. the recording of an event.
Was there a defining moment that sealed your fate as
a surf photographer?
I think the first time I walked into Sunset Beach Surf Shop
and saw my image of Mark Richards at Uluwatu in Bali on
the front cover of Surfer Magazine. Seeing that up on the
news rack in 1980 was probably the nail in the coffin.
Whats your proudest achievement?
Delivering my son. Outside of that, I guess being blessed to
make a great living doing exactly what I have wanted to do.
Thirty-plus years for the surf mags and 15 years as the
principal photographer on Quiksilvers Roxy (womens
swim) ad campaign, creating images that changed the way
people look at surf and fashion.
Tell us about your tattoos. Who did them? When did
you have them done? What are they of? What is their
significance?
NYC Tattoo artist Mike Ledger did my ink. I met him here in
Hawaii where he lived for several years after Coney Island. I
met him on a portrait assignment for a tattoo mag in,
maybe, 2004? We hit it off and he asked me why a biker
like me had no tats. I told him that as a surfer and a water
photog, I had never been able to be out of the water for the
two week post-tat period. Mike could not handle seeing all
that bare canvas going to waste, so he talked me into the
SKIN&INK 39
full sleeve I always wanted. I took a

summer off of water work and five
sessions later I had the Gospel of Christ
on my arm with inspiration from 16thcentury Biblical-artist pen and ink
drawings. Not only does it signify my
faith in a God that would forgive even a
guy like me, but when people ask me
about my tat I can give the good news
of Jesus in sixty seconds or less. Hey,
they asked
Are you planning on getting more
tattoos?
I would love to if I could ever top what I
got and if I could take the time out of
the water. But I should because my wife
has got a lot more ink than me. She
met Mike while I was getting mine and
asked him to cover up her old tramp
stamp and ended up with a full back
piece and a full sleeve!
What is a perfect day for Jim Russi?
Taking my boys Kaden (8) and Kona Boy
(7) to the skate park or surfing after
church on a Sunday.
Whats the best wave youve ever
caught? Biggest?
Best wave: Lances Left in the
Mentawise Islands, Indonesia. Double
over head glassy barrel on a 70 JC.
Hawaii at sunrise, first guy off the boat
by myself before an epic day of shooting, August 1998.
Biggest wave: paddle in wave, Waimea
Bay, Oahu. Thirty-five foot wind-blown
face 1980 on the Red Dick Brewer 96
gun that hangs on the wall in my living
room today. Biggest (Jet Ski assisted)
tow-in wave was on a 66 Gerry Lopez
strapped tow board at an outer-reef
here on the Northshore of Oahu called
Revelations. Left hand monster barrel
with about a 40 ft. face and about as
fast as my Jesse James Hardtail pinned
on the H1 Freeway, Winter 2013.
Favorite place to shoot?
Still Pipeline, just down the beach a
quarter mile from my house.
I have been shooting it from the land,
water and air for over 30 years, and I
am still in awe of its power and beauty.
Do you have any advice for up and
coming surf photographers?
Go to school and get a real job to support your hobby. With the invention of
the Gopro Camera and all editorial and
advertising going for free on Instagram, I
hate to say it, but surf photography as a
profession is dead.
Any other pastimes besides riding
motorcycles?
I still like to surf, mostly with my kids,
but I still get a couple days here and
there thats way too big for them.
What will they say about Jim Russi
100 years from now?
Who?n
40
SKIN&INK
United Ink
A N O T H E R
S U C C E S S F U L
T A K E O F F
e hit a lot of conventions throughout the year and each one has its pros and cons and each venue
brings its own flavor. Sometimes the flavor is downright sour, but definitely not in the case of
United Ink Flight 914. This is truly one convention that has it all. Top notch artists, tons of entertainmentwhich is just outside the venue, so if you dont dig whats going down on stage you have your
choice to stay inside and continue to hang with the artistfree parking, great and affordable (as con-
Laura Lynn with the

winner of the Ms. Vixen
Pin-Up Contest, Nicole,
and the rest of the lovely
contestants.
ARTICLE BY SID CROFT PHOTOS BY STEVE PRU
SKIN&INK 41
Vinny
Trinchillo
Mel, Jenny Sunshine, and Jesus
ventions go) food and it is all situated in the Cradle of Aviation

Museum,an air and space museum thats worth the convention
admission price on its own. And
dig this, the museum staff are
there while the convention is going
on. So if you (or if you come with
the kids) want to take a tour of
this fabulous museum, the guides
are way more than happy to
explain about and elaborate on the
fascinating details of the exhibits
while you relax to the hypnotic
buzz of tattoo machines humming
around you. Get an education and
some great ink at the same time.
Where else can you get tattooed by Zhang Po while looking
over the Sea of Tranquility (the
landing spot of Apollo 11 located
on the Tranquillitatis Basin of the
moon)? Or have Mike Chambers
lay a classic old style piece on your
chest while situated beneath the
nose of a WWII fighter plane? I
cant think of many other than
United Ink Flight 914 on Long
Island, New York.
Every year in early Fall, Tattoo
42 SKIN&INK
B-love and
Discipline
Jackie Rubino and

The United Ink
Angels
Myke
Chambers
tattooing
client.
Capo, Dominic,
Joey and
Bella
Pamir
Sener
SKIN&INK 43
Joann, Gigi and Joseph Glynn
Lou and his lovely wife Jackie

manage to coordinate the logistics of setting up one of the premiere NYC tattoo conventions,
and for three straight years it
has gotten better and better.
Sure, there were a few kinks in
its inaugural year with figuring
out where the artists were in the
labyrinth of the museum. But I
was not one of the complainers. I
certainly didnt mind getting
lost among the great exhibitions, but granted, I was not getting work done and I wasnt one
of the artists who did not like
Jenny Sunshine, Keri, Amber and Ashle Danger
44 SKIN&INK
Audrey Rose and Brix Nobody

Heather Moss, Shanee,
Kay Reynolds
Shawn OHare
and KeighlaNight
Dr. Mardie
and daughter
SKIN&INK 45
Oleg
Shepelenko
Jezebel
Ruckus
Sal Zambuto
and friend
46 SKIN&INK
Kay Reynolds
Anna Colorado
Brix Nobody, Johnny Nobody and Jsin
Heather &
Bobby Moss
and friends
Lou Rubino with Zhang Po

Danny Vincent
Oleg Shepelenko & Constantine Golouko
Andrew,
Devi &
son
Artist spray paints portrait on convention floor.

United Ink Angels
Audrey Rose, Brix, and Leila
being out of the main celebrity row.

However, things were quickly
sorted out and the artists who like to
work in a more sedate environment
now find themselves nestled among
calming deep space exhibits, while
other artists who love the electricity of a bustling convention atmosphere find themselves right out there
in the forefront. Its a win-win for
everyone. Artists, convention goers,
the media, anyone who comes
through that door is sure to rank this
convention up there with any other
in the country!
Visit newyorktattooshow.com for
more info on United Flight 915 and
other Tattoo Lou
conventions.
Jsin, Leah Jung & Saylor
Artist spray paints design

SKIN&INK 49
PHOTOGRAPHER: JOSEPH OBRIEN / www.iamjop.com
HAIR & MAKEUP: LUSY LOGAN
LINGERIE: VON FOLLIES BY DITA VON TEESE
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Aritcle by Michael Nguyen
ose A. Ortega has come a long way from his Walkman motor, spoon,
pen and guitar-strings-made tattoo machine. The Puerto Rican
nativemore commonly known by his artist name, Motawas born
in a small town called Barranquitas and is old school in the sense that he
knows the ways around how to create a machine, or which supplies bring out
the best in his artwork. At the same time, hes known for both his photorealistic tattoos along with his freehand-only, New School style of work.
Mota, who began tattooing at the young age of 16, took interest in all
forms of art, such as photography and airbrushing, but decided those were
hobbies that didnt spark enough interest. It was the tattoo machine that he
made from those old guitar strings that took over his life. Soon after he
picked up a machine, he was in it for the long run, tattooing his high school
buddies and slowly picking up knowledge along the way.
After years of patience and bouncing between shops, he is now both an
accomplished artist and businessman, opening up his own studio called
Motas Tattoo Shop, located in San Antonio, Texas. You can catch him at work
using some of the best ink and after-care products, taken care of by his sponsors. I guess you could say thats quite a journey from those homemade
machine days.
52 SKIN&INK
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
SKIN & INK : Tell us a bit about yourself;
what made you get into tattooing?
Jose A. Ortega: I was born and raised in
Puerto Rico. Im a proud dad and husband. I
have a huge passion for any type and form of
art and learning. I dont imagine myself doing
anything other than art. To share feelings and
thoughts through art is the most amazing
experience and sensation. On what got me
into tattooing, I must say the adrenaline and
the challenge. A canvas such as paper or a
wall is something you can paint over whereas with a tattoo, you cant make a mistake.
You started tattooing quite early at the
age of 16. And before that, you were
involved in photography, airbrushing and
sign painting. How did that transition
into you wanting to make tattooing your
career?
The challenge. Not looking down at other

types of art, but for me, airbrush and sign
painting was just a job, a responsibility that
after a while, got boring. Tattooing was fun
and a new challenge every day. It was not
monotonous. I still do photography, mostly
with my family for fun.
At first, you did some tattoos using a
homemade machine, made with a
Walkman motor, a spoon, a pen and guitar strings. Looking back, did that experience on how to create something from
54 SKIN&INK
SKIN&INK 55
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
scratch help you understand the basic
starting points of doing tattoos?
Definitively, you always have to start with the
basics. It takes patience, creativity, and
knowledge of the importance and function of
every gadget or tool. Its not impossible but
improbable to start with a portrait or a complicated piece without knowing your basics,
such as lines, shadows, illuminations, etc.
Creating from scratch is an amazing feeling
but most amazing is when you see the finished piece.
Seeing that youre sponsored by certain
companies (Radiant Colors and Hustle
Butter), can you tell us a bit about the
significance of using the proper types of
ink and after-care products, and how that
affects the outcome of your tattoos? It
makes a huge difference. The talent is important, as the tools are in order to achieve a better result. Artists take their time researching
for the best in order to deliver an excellent
tattoo and tattoo experience. When you go to
the emergency room, or a dentist, or have
surgery, for example, you expect them to have
the best state-of-the-art equipment to provide the best result ever, right? The talent
counts but so does the equipment. It doesnt
matter how good you are if the tools are not
the proper or best ones because the result
most definitively wont be the greatest.
Whats one fundamental skill you believe
all aspiring tattoo artists should learn?
I would say patience. Everything will come in
time and with practice.
Ive looked through your work and
noticed a lot of realism style tattoos, but
theres also a good mix of New School
SKIN&INK 57
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
style color pieces. Was that a philosphy
you focused on when you began your
career or was it something you picked up
along the way in order to be more versatile as an artist?
At the beginning I was more focused in New
School. Because in Puerto Rico it wasnt a
popular style, I had to adapt to what the public demanded, and in this case, realism. Along
the way, I developed the love and passion for
realism because of the challenge. I respect
the hard work and dedication each styles
demands from an artist. At this point of my life
and career, I love to work all of them because
I dont want to be in a comfort zone.
Many artists specialize in one style, i.e.
color realism, Japanese, blackwork,
etc., but you have the ability to expand
your range further than many other
artists. How do you feel about versatility
in the tattoo industry currently?
Thank you. Its my belief that we always have
to push ourselves not only to be better on
what we do and like, but also to expand our
boundaries. Its not even about the money. Its
about the knowledge and the analysis when
making your composition in order to be truly
versatile.
As artists, we must learn the rules that
apply to each style to have it done the correct
way, and how far we can go when breaking
them. However, I respect whoever has a specialty or a preferred style because thanks to
them, we are encouraged to learn and take it
to the next level.
You seem comfortable freehanding on
certain pieces. Before each tattoo,
whats your thought process on deciding
on whether to freehand or stencil?
I love freehanding. It depends where the customer wants the piece, due to distortion created by the muscle or area, and on how complex the piece is. I use stencils for portraits
because it gives me the exact reference I
need in order to have the piece done correctly. When playing with New School, freehanding is the way to go.
How do you work with your clients in the
creative process? Are you usually given
full freedom, or is it more of a collaborative process?
Collaborative process all along the way,
unless they give me a free pass card. I have
two types of clients: the ones who tell me that
I can do whatever I want and the ones whohave a symbolic tattoo. With those, I listen
to what they want, work with their ideas and
translate it to the sketch. Oh, and last but not
least, the family type. They are the ones I
experiment on. [Laughs.]
58 SKIN&INK
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
How has being the owner of your own
studio changed your outlook on the
industry, from both an artistic standpoint
(such as judging talent, for the ones who
want to work for you) and from a business standpoint of trying to sell your
product to the masses?
Its hard because you want to offer art, unique
pieces and not commercialized tattoos and
most of the time the public wants what is in
at that moment.
For the artists that work with me, I encourage them to bring their signature to their tattoos, educate the client about different things
they can have done and customize what they
want. I also teach these artists that when they
do any tattoo, have it done as if they are doing
it to themselves. motastattoo.com
Motas Tattoo Shop

San Antonio, Texas
www.motastattoo.com
60 SKIN&INK
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N
A
M
L
A
G
N
A
H
T
NA
INK STRONG
FROM TRAGEDY
TO TRIUMPH
How this tattoo

artist fought a war
against his body
and won.
I
magine being in a vehicular accident of some

kind and being told you have a 1% chance of
ever using your arms normally again. Then imagine
beating that statistic.
Nathan Galman had the wherewithal to fight
past his doctors diagnosis, partly in thanks to his
raw passion for tattooing.
Galman, who hails from Chicago, carved out
his ink-slinging base in San Diego before enduring
a motorcycle accident last summer. The accident
was so severe that two major surgeries were
needgallmaned to reconstruct Nathans spine.
The injuries from the accident included a
crushed vertebrae, a partially-torn spinal cord, a
broken pelvis, a spiral fractured leg bone, losing the
ability to speak, losing sight in one eye and paralysis from the neck down.
Nathan Galman first expressed an interest for
art in the form of graffiti, and while he was intrigued
by tattoos he didnt think his drawing ability would
cut it at the pro level. He wanted to be in the body
modification industry somehow, so he pursued body
piercing. Six years of professional body piercing
Article by Mike Bednarsky

64 SKIN&INK
SKIN&INK 65
INK STRONG
alongside top notch artists in shops offering both services and he was ready to
give tattooing a shot.
Galman was still in the Midwest when he starting chipping away at inking.
He was navigating through a true-to-form Windy City winter and trying to earn
his stripes in his new profession when he found an ad looking for a tattoo artist
in San Diego. Nathan, with nothing to lose, sent out his application. I was on a
plane the next week, he stated. This was not unusual for Nathan, for the
longest time, he wasnt one to look back.
Officially on the grind in a new habitat, Nathan started to recognize his
strengths as an artist and develop those skills further. He prefers to design
abstract tattoos that are visually appealing. The colors of his pieces tend to
dance around the borders of the design at hand, testing the importance of lines
and borders. For example, he nurtured a dream catcher tattoo by spreading out
bold, mystic purples and reds around and inside the dream catcher itself.
Abstract tattoos can be enhanced when the artist flirts with other styles.
Everything from watercolor to Cubism can assist in the creation of an adequate
abstract design, Nathan says.
Galman was in California for over three years when he was in the motorcycle accident that almost ended his life. The occurrence stemmed from his being
tired after a long day at the studio. When all was said and done he was transferred to Sharp Memorial Hospital to receive therapy by way of an intensive
inpatient care program. In the program were three rigorous regimens: physical
therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. The processes were carried
out in daily sessions to consistently nurse a healing process.
Speech therapy was so I might learn how to swallow and be able to eat
foods without having a tube through my nose, he said. Occupational therapy
was so I might be able to use my hands for everything from brushing my teeth
66 SKIN&INK
to being able to hold utensils to feed myself with. And physical therapy was trying to get me in and out of bed without having to
use three people to lift me with the electric crane. This went on for about forty-five days of unrelenting horror with pain and constant supervision.
After finishing the inpatient program he flew to Hawaii to move in with his dad. Although in understandable disarray, Nathan
didnt waste time trying to recollect how he got confined to a hospital bed. His emotional bouts were as a result of his having to
relearn how to live a normal life.
I got into a very dark depression for a couple of days, he said. After lashing out at my father and the people helping me, I
decided to try a moment of meditation. At the end of a small session of meditation I had what I can only consider an epiphany. I
realized that everything that I needed to be able to get over my depression and help myself succeed was inside of me. Without
any doubts of not being able to get back what I had, there wasnt anything that could stop me.
And with that determination Nathan graduated to getting out of bed by himself with a sliding wooden board so he could transfer his body into an electric wheelchair. His new outlook carried over into his work. He started drawing simple designs akin to the
creations he made in his graffiti days. To tattoo, he uses a rotary machine, cartridge needles and Formula 51 ink. Shameless
plug! he laughs when mentioning the last one. But with his physical therapy schedule, as well as the graphic design classes
Galman is taking online, tattooing is not a priority at the moment. He is, however, accepting minimal appointments at Voodoo
Tattoo in Kailua-Kona, HI.
The very premise of supporting oneself on the means of passion alone is something a lot of people never achieve. The idea of
reaching that plateau, only to have it crumble, is incomprehensible. But Nathan Galman followed his dream, fought to keep it, and
did just that.
For any handicapped readers or aspiring tattoo artists its the same message, he adds. Realize that you have everything
you need inside of yourself to accomplish your goals and never give yourself any reason to believe otherwise.
p
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68 SKIN&INK
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70 SKIN&INK
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INTERNATIONAL INK
INTERVIEW BY MARCO ANNUNZIATA
EL
MONGA
AND
ALOHA
TATTOOS
BARCELONA,SPAIN
74 SKIN&INK
Skin & Ink: Whats your name? How old are you? Where are
you from? What are your roots?
P.S.: My name is Pablo Sasturain but most people known me as El
Monga Sasturain. I am almost 40 years old, was born in Buenos
Aires, Argentina, and have been living in Barcelona, Spain, since
1999. My father is a writer and publisher of books and comics, so
Ive been around drawings and illustrations since I was a kid.
What are your first memories about tattoos?
Besides a bunch of jail tattoos, the first real memories are related to
some members of my favorite metal bands back when I was a kid.
I remember seeing them in music magazines and just wanted to be
covered in tattoos like them. I was eight at the time.
Do you remember who did your first tattoo? What did you get?
In 1990, I was 15 years old and many of my friends were skinheads,
boys a bit older than me who already starting to get tattoos. I wanted to get tattoos, as well, but I was too young and didnt have
enough money.
Back then, the wife of my father had to travel to London, and I asked
her to bring anything that she could find related to tattoos. She got back
with this Ed Hardy book that was Volume Five of the Tattootime series.
In that one book there were featured tattoos and articles on Bert
Grimm, Ed Hardy, Mike Malone, Dan Higgs, Eddy Deutsche, Dave Lum,
and a heap more that continue being the base of my style. For months
I devoted myself to copying all the drawings and photos of the tattoos
SKIN&INK 75
INTERNATIONAL INK
from the book! When I decided to get my first tattoo, I went with a few friends
to see Judass, a skinhead. At the time he was the best tattooers in Buenos
Aires, and traded him the book for a tattooa naked woman coming out of
the fire! I suppose that one was the dream of any 15-year-old boy!
More than 20 years later, when I was guest at Tattoo City for the first
time, I found a copy of the book in mint condition in a bookshop in San
Francisco. I knew Ed and on the following day I told him the story and he
signed the book, wrote some encouraging words and added a pretty cool
sketch on the first page. Cool, huh?
How did you start tattooing? What was your first machine? Did you
have a proper apprenticeship?
I started tattooing in 1992, using a machine that I built myself with the help
of my great friend Ariel. It was put together using parts of a Walkman and
a mechanical pencil. I never had a formal apprenticeship and I was totally self-taught. Back then it was almost impossible to enter this world. The
little information that was circulating was kept secret. I used to tattoo with
sewing needles, single for lining and three for shading, no color. I used to
76 SKIN&INK
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INTERNATIONAL INK
work in my house and almost all my clients were my friends, punk rockers, hardcore kids and skinheads.
How important are drawings skills for a tattooer?
I think that to have common sense is even more important than to have high drawing skills. Many of the most influential tattooers in history were not the best illustrators, but they had a special gift to be able to work the different icons to tell a story
in a simple way across a strong and powerful image.
I think the same happens with music. It is not always that a great musician can
write a remarkable song. Some guitar players can be pretty boring, playing endless
solos and ruin a good song.
What about painting? Do you paint every day? Who are your favorite painters?
I love to paint, but I do not paint as much I would like since tattooing, traveling, Aloha
Tattoos and La Cobra Negra occupy a lot of my time right now. In addition to my family, certainly. I believe that painting is fundamental to develop new ideas that then
concern the tattoo in a positive way. When I go through a stage in which I paint more
often, it is when I give another step to the tattoo, also.
Sincerely, I do not have a base of classic painting though I enjoy art in general.
I enjoy the value of a Hieronymus Bosch painting as much as I enjoy a poster of
cinema created by some unknown artist from India or Ghana.
Are there any differences between the Barcelona tattoo scene and the tattoo scene in the other parts of Spain?
I dont know. I think that tattooing has been globalized dramatically lately. In 20
years we have gone beyond word-of-mouth to receive the last innovations and the
portfolios of all the tattooers directly on our mobile telephone, and it is very difficult
for the public to find their way between styles and scenes. In Spain, there has been
a massive exodus of tattooers nowadays. They all dispersed all over the world, so it
is very difficult to speak about scenes today.
What do you like most about living in Spain? Where would you go if you
had to leave your country for good?
Spain is a very comfortable country to live in, and Barcelona is a fantastic city. It
takes half an hour to the get to the wild mountains or to go to a fantastic beach if I
go in the opposite direction! Also, Barcelona is a city that has become very cosmopolitan during the last years. There is always something interesting to do if you visit
Barcelona!
If I had to leave Barcelona, I suppose that if is for work reasons I would move
to the USANew York or San Francisco. And if Im looking for a more relaxed life, I
would buy a house near the sea or the mountains in Argentina.
Do you travel? Do you go to conventions?
I travel enough, but I used to travel a lot more in the past. During the latter years, I
was travelling to the USA to work at Tattoo City, Smith Street, Spider Murphys,
Spotlight, Tattoo Paradise and others. I feel blessed by the fact of being able to
work next to monsters such as Ed, Bob Roberts, Theo Mindell or the boys of Smith
Street. Also, I have travelled around for Europe and have been guesting a lot in
Finland, Sweden, the UK, Italy and other countries. I have also had the chance to
make good friends and know great tattooers like Jarno Kantanen, Diego Brandi,
Rudy Fritsch, Jonas Uggli, Theo Jak and a lot more.
How did your love for bats start? What is the weirdest bat you tattooed?
Everything began one day when I was guesting at Gotheborg Classic, the shop of
my friend Henrik. My appointment had failed to show and I drew three bats based
on old engravings for Henrik, Cezilia and Jonas. Just nib and Indian ink. From there
I started to tattoo them often enough. Today my bats are all over the place! Tattoos,
books, t-shirts, stickers and art prints.
The craziest bat head I did was on the throat of a boy named Bruno from
Croatia. The man with the longest neck in the universe! Certainly his bat has the
biggest ears that you could imagine!
Do you describe yourself as an artist or an artisan?
I am a tattooer, and I suppose that makes me a craftsman. When I paint or play guitar and also do the tattooing thing, I suppose that I turn into an artistat least for a
while, but when I tattoo only, I believe that I am just a craftsman.
What do you think about all these tattooers on TV?
This is a delicate topic. I do not like TV shows about tattooing. I believe that they
deform the reality and change the perception that the great public has about our
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INTERNATIONAL INK
craft. I believe that these tattooers form a part of an industry to

which I do not belong and I am not interested in being part of.
Until a few years ago, when a person wanted to get his first tattoo, he would come to the shop to be informed and the tattooer
would take charge, guiding the client. Nowadays, people come with
a pre-established idea learned from what they saw on the TV and it
is very negative, since we all know that the world of the TV is pure
illusion and falsehood.
Have you seen any other changes in the tattoo industry that
concern you?
Well, since the explosion of tattooing on the social networks, everything changed to a frantic pace. This is pretty similar to what is happening with all those TV shows. We are dealing with a generation of
clients and young tattooers that all they know about tattooing is
what they see on the Web. There is a saturation of information that
makes tattooing something immediate and ephemeral. This crazy
amount of information, ironically, leads to misinformation, we live in
a time where everybody is getting tattooed but nobody knows very
much about the matter. Back in the day, if you wanted to see photos
of tattoos you had to buy magazines or books, where the photos
were accompanied with interviews and articles. Nowadays, the peo-
ple know the tattooers because of Instagram, where the images are
in the millions and the information related to these images is void.
Who are the tattoo artists you would like to host at Aloha
Tattoos even for one day?
All the tattooers that have influenced me and many others that are
big friends! The list is long and many of them already have been
worked at Aloha in the pastpeople like Jonas Uggli, Bert Krak, Eli
Quinters, Rudy Fritsch, Chad Koeplinger, Steve Boltz and Diego
Brandi. If I had to choose one for only one day, I believe that I
would have to do a raffle between Ed Hardy, Bob Roberts, Horiyoshi
3, Filip Leu and Dan Higgs! Eheheh!
Do you consider anyone your mentor in the tattoo world?
No, since I have never had a guide and I had to learn everything by
myself. My friend Keko has helped me a lot during the hard times
and has always been a great source of inspiration.
Aloha Tattoos,
Barcelona, Spain
https://alohatattoosbarcelona.wordpress.com
/category/el-monga-sasturain/
SKIN&INK 81
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T
S
E
T
N
O
C
H
S
TATTOO FLA
end your
best tattoo
flash to
Skin&Ink and be a
part of our Tattoo
Flash Contest. A
winner will be
selected in each
issue and he/she
will be awarded a
one-year subscription to our
magazine.
At the end of the
year, all the winning art will be
showcased and an
overall winner will
be selected. The
winning artist will
receive an Artist
Spotlight feature
in Skin&Ink.
THIS
S
E
U
S
S
I
!
R
E
WINN
1st Place:
ETTORE BECHIS SALVATION TATTOO LOUNGE

1612 Washington Avenue Miami Beach, Florida 33139
305-318-4711
2nd Place:
ART BY JAIMIE FILER

Nightshade Ink
Covington, Kentucky
To
Enter:
Flash sheets must
be in standard,
tattoo shop format.
Submit hi-rez jpegs
or tiffs on a CD.
No originals,
please.
Include your
name, your shop
name, city, state
and phone
number.
Please send to:
3rd
Place:
CHUCK WYNN
253 Main Street
Ridgway, PA 15853
chuckwynnjr
@gmail.com
SKIN&INK Flash
Contest
210 RT 4 East,
Suite 211
Paramus, New
Jersey
07652
Questions:
E-mail Paul at
editor
@enoblemedia.com
Sorry,
submissions
cannot be
returned.
S&I Dolls
LEEZA
LEE
Name: Lisa Zalic
Model Name: Lisa Zee
Hometown/Current Location:
Cleveland, OH
Career/Occupation:
Freelance Model
Web/Fansite: lisaZee.com
Instagram: @LisaxZEE
Twitter: @LiisaZEE
Facebook: Facebook.com/xlisazee
E-Store: Store.LisaZEE.com
Skin & Ink: What motivated you to get your first tattoo?
Lisa Zee: My first tattoo was a quote from a powerful poem that
holds a lot of meaning to me. Its a bit of a reminder that Im in control of my own life and to take responsibility for my actions.
Who are your current tattoo artists? And why did you choose
them as your artists?
James McKenna, Andy Blair, Dave Tevenal and Joshua Wilson have
done the majority of my work. I choose my artists based on their
unique, distinct styles. I like that no two artists work looks the same.
What story does your ink tell about you?
Most of my tattoos represent things I am passionate about: animals,
family and lifestyle.
Which of all your pieces would you say is most meaningful?
I would choose my squid sidepiece as the most meaningful, which
has meaning for my dad and grandma, my ethnicity. And it reminds
me of their strength and journey to America. It reminds me of where I
came from, and I think its important not to take those things for
granted, and keep yourself grounded and appreciative for
everything that comes your way.
SKIN&INK 87
LEEZA LEE
What projects do you have

coming up that our readers
should look out for?
I have quite a few mainstream
publications (TBA), an exclusive workshop in Jamaica I
am attending, and import
shows across the country. I
am helping launch new clothing lines, and I am organizing
a charity project for bully
breed dogs. Im expanding my
online store with new products and already shooting my
2016 calendar due to my
great fans requests, and am
beginning to plan for my
members site. I also am
accepting one more company
sponsorship as a spokesmodel
and for endorsements before
spring. The year 2015 is coming together fast, and Im
very excited about the
rest of this year!
S&I Dolls
MANDA
MAE
Name:
Manda Mae
Hometown:
Wasaga Beach, ON
Current Location:
Oshawa, ON
Career/Occupation:
Club Promoter
Web/Fansite: facebook.com/
mandamaemodeling
Instagram:
@mandamaek
Twitter:
@mandamaek
Facebook:
Manda Mae
Skin & Ink: What

motivated you to get
your first tattoo?
Manda Mae: The person
that motivated me to get
my first tattoo was one of
my current tattoo artists,
Joseph Bradford (instagram.com/inkbyjbradford),
who I used to babysit for
while he tattooed out of
his house. After seeing all
the wicked pieces he was
banging out, there was no
doubt that I wanted my
own piece. One day when I
was about 15 years old, I
got a little tattoo on my
shoulder blade that says
Mom with a butterfly
just so my mom would
take it a little bit better
[laughs]. Ever since that
little tattoo, I have been
absolutely hooked.
MANDA MAE PHOTOS BY NIKI STAD, TATTOOS BY JOSEPH BRADFORD
SKIN&INK 89
MANDA MAE
Who are your current tattoo artists? And why did you
choose them as your artists?
In the past, I have had several different artists do work on
me. Joseph is my main artist as of right now. He has done almost
my whole right arm, my hand, and a few other early pieces. As I
mentioned above, Joseph was the person who got me really hard
into body modifications, so theres no doubt I would choose him
to be one of my favorite artists to sit with, given his awesome line
and color work, and our history together. My other favorite artist
to work with right now is Malcolm Lewis (instagram.com/lewiscustomtattoos) who has been doing an unreal job on my big thigh
piece of The Hare from Alice in Wonderland. I picked Malcolm
to be one of my new favorite artists because of the insanely fine
detail you can find in his work, and also because he reminded me
of some really reputable artists I had already been following.
What story does your ink tell about you?
I have many different pieces that mean very personal things to
me but can also apply to many other people, as they dont
scream out the actual true meaning behind the tattoo. I believe
tattoos are a way of showing emotions, whether they are good or
bad emotions, because every emotion I feel is a form of art that
I enjoy expressing on my body. So as for the story my ink tells
about me, its more of a timeline of events, and a chance for people to take their own perspective on the art on my body.
Which of your pieces is most meaningful?
I would say my most meaningful piece is on my right forearm:
this piece is three butterflies and a couple of flowers. I think this
is my most meaningful piece because it represents the butterfly
90 SKIN&INK
effect, which is an awareness campaign

for self-harm and mental depression. I got
this piece when I was young because someone very close to me with depression had
previously tried to take their own life. I think
the best thing we can do for those people is
spread awareness and lend a hand.
What projects do you have coming up
that our readers should look out for?
I am doing promotion for the Northern Ink
Xposure Tattoo Convention in Toronto this
June, and also will be competing in the
Rockstar Miss Inked Up 2015 Tour on the
same weekend, which Im super-stoked for!
I encourage readers to buy a weekend pass
and come see all of the super-talented
artists, models and designers that will be
there. As well, Im always doing product
shots and other work for my awesome
sponsors: WolfnCrane, Iron Fist, Novel
Thread Co., Nozo, H2Ocean, and hopefully a
few other new ones this year. All of my shots
can be found on Instagram, Facebook, or
any of my sponsoring companies websites.
SKIN&INK 91
THE ArTisTs ALLErY

Want to have your skin art creations published in Skin&Ink? Send your high resolution digital images to
Skin&Ink, 210 Route 4 East, Suite 211 Paramus, NJ 07652. Cant find your photo in our Artists Gallery?
Check out our website, www.skinandink.com where you will find lots more submitted photos.
Tony Sklepic
Website:
www.sanitariumstudios.com
Email: t_sklepictattoo@yahoo.ca
or ksundquistattoo@gmail.com
92 SKIN&INK
SKIN&INK 93
THE ArTisTs ALLErY
94 SKIN&INK
Tony Sklepic
THE ArTisTs ALLErY
June Jung
Website: tatooojune.com
Email: junejung99@gmail. com
Facebook: /junetattoo
Instagram: @tattoojune
SKIN&INK 95
THE ArTisTs ALLErY
96 SKIN&INK
June Jung
SKIN&INK 97
SMOKE
EM
IF
YOU
GOT
EM
COMMENTS AND KULTURE WITH FRANK DE BLASE
98 SKIN&INK
PORTRAIT BY KURT BOWNELL
buddy and I were in line at a bodega the other day, scoring some snacks, when the transaction in front of us caught our attention. The guy couldnt make up his mind. He scratched his
chin. The clerk was pitching the choices.
Chocolate? No. Blueberry? Nah. Howsabout cherry vanilla?
This went on for several more minutes. I rolled my eyes; my burrito was getting cold. Now this guy
wasnt ordering a smoothie or a topping for his waffles. These were some of the flavor choices for Ecigarettesa smoke-free substitute for the real thing thats catching on big time.
You see, I dont smoke, never have, never will. But I have always admired smoking as a social
adverb, a cinematic sensation, a punctuation to punch up the parlance, a defiant stance, and as a key
component to ones nonchalance and cool. Smoking has always said something about the smoker as
an individual, a loner, a rebel. However these e-cigarettes with all their confection make it so folks that
buy them like the guy in front of me in line, no longer equate cool. They equate corporate lackey.
Seriously.
Can you picture Humphrey Bogart delivering some smooth Sam Spade justice to a crook before
taking a drag off something that looks like a ball point pen? What about Clint Eastwood in The Good,
the Bad, and the Ugly exhaling a lungful of fruit punch-flavored steam? And Im willing to bet if you
offered one of these toys to Keith Richards, hed kick you in the nuts.
Smoking in movies is sexy. The mere act of smoking together, bumming
smokes, getting a light, lighting one off the other, is frequently a none-toosubtle kind of foreplay. Just dig the scene in Jim Jarmuschs Mystery Train
where the young Japanese girl lights her boyfriends cigarette with her
bare feet. The scene ends and you need a cigarette.
These fake cigarettes are supposedly designed as a cigarette
substitute to help you quit smoking or to be less socially invasive to
the non-smoker, but the fact remainshey, they still deliver nicotine to the idiot with their lips wrapped around the end.
In the golden age of the cigarette, smoking was so cool on
the silver screen that, in fact, it remained that way in the face of
tobacco companies bullshit. The cigarette was a necessary
accessory, a veritable co-star. The fact that it irritated the
throat and was at least suspected to cause cancer didnt
slow down Rita Hayworth, in Gilda, as she added extra
fatale wrapped in smoke.
Back in smokings golden days, the ads said it all. In
print, Kirk Douglas insisted that Chesterfield cigarettes
leave a clean, fresh taste in your mouth. Phillip Morris
bragged More vintage tobacco makes Phillip Morris naturally gentle and mild and is scientifically proven to be
less irritating to the nose and throat. However, Camels
spokesmana doctor in a lab coat holding a pack of
smokesin magazine print ads urged smokers to Give
your throat a vacation, smoke a fresh cigarette. (pictured with a doctor holding a pack of camels.
Today weve got warnings from the Surgeon
General and aggressive campaigns to illustrate the
dangers of smoking and to curb the influx of new
smokers. And if tobacco is too harsh for you, there are
today in excess of 450 different brands of e-cigarettes
boasting upward of 8,000 distinct flavors. Whatever happened to tobacco flavor? Whatever happened to staring
cancer of the mouth and saying You dont scare me?
The cigarette for all its risks is the quintessential badge of
rebellious swagger like an extra middle finger. E-cigarettes
are none of these things and serve as another form of pedaled addiction that hasnt the soul or the guts of the real
thing.
But I look at it this way: If you find tobacco too harsh and
need mint bubblegum flavor to choke it down so as to fit in
with the in-crowd, perhaps smoking isnt for you, Sally.
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THE BEST INK COVERAGE FROM AROUND THE WORLD!

Skin&Ink (ISSN 1071-7684) Issue #157 June 2015.

6. Letters To The Editor

Mail from S&I readers.

10. Ink Scene

The latest tattoo products, events

28. Artist Spotlight

Saraloni Troupe: Natural Born

84. Flash Contest

92. The Artist Gallery

24. Tattoo Treasures

26. Tattooers POV with

Time Pieces and Statues.

74. International Ink

El Monga and Aloha Tattoos

98. Comments and Kulture

Life, Lenses & Longboards

Another Successful Take Off

From Tragedy to Triumph.

Where Tattoo &

The Reluctant Poet

John Foscante started his article on Jim saying

One Of The Biggest On Earth

IIm not vegan, but I would still go get tattooed by Jorell.

Send letters & photos to

THE INK SCENE

NYHC: New York Hardcore 19801990

CONVENTIONS & EVENTS

PHOTOS BY STEVE PRUE

tions attract the industrys top tattooers and massive

THE INK SCENE

CONVENTIONS & EVENTS

Tattoo Arts Film Festival

Troy Timple, aka Kingpin, brings

Tattoos by the Bay

ery few tattoo conventions in Europe, or the world, can

Italian tattoo legend Marco Pisa with Travelin Mick

Master Shige working.

Tattoo by Paolo Gnocchi, Aeptic Tattoo,

trip to autumnal Tuscany is always worth the journey, and

Tattoo by Che Crook,

Sleeve by Speranza Tattoo, Vicenza, IT

Tattoo by Mauro Amaral, Most Amazing

Sleeve by Speranza Tattoo, Vicenza, IT

Tattoo by Deborah Cherrys, Madrid, E

A dedicated group of artists and travel enthusiasts that have

Best of Show: Tattoo by Paolo Gnocchi, Trento, IT

TM: Steffi, we often meet at conventions now, sometimes in places

TM: Right. And the Florence convention? What is your impression of

Strict criteria when choosing tattoo and merchandise booths are

Tattoo by Yomico Moreno, VEN

Tattoo by Enrico, Spunk Tattoo, Civitanova, IT

Miroslav being interviewd by Mekani Terror.

TOMAS TATTOO, ERLANGEN , GERMANY

Miroslav, who runs Tomas Tattoo near Nuremberg, has

TM: Miro, you took part in a sketch contest

TATTOO TREASURES with DANA BRUNSON

Frank & Emma DeBurgh

part of the 1800s.

TATTOOERS POV with NATE BEAVERS

ime pieces and statues. These

easy because it is literally the middle left

Photo Mary DAloisio

TIME PIECES & STATUES

Skin & Ink - June 2015

Skin & Ink - June 2015