Too Hot For Facebook

California girl Stacey Watson loves her ironic new freedom.We had a big week in the #tattoo #women #breasts world. No sooner was hep cat Vinnie Myers featured on CNN performing dimensional nipple tattooing for the masses when suddenly WHAM! Facebook censors a photo of a young woman who had both breasts COMPLETELY removed and then brilliantly tattooed. Custom Tattoo Design had posted the pic and then re-posted it denying charges of nudity-- then subsequently started a successful Facebook riot. You go, Ontario. These gals deserve to show off and we deserve to enjoy them enjoying their beautiful bodies again. Everybody hooray!

By the way, you can click here to see what's going on with nipple reconstruction these days...yes.

Blood At The Barrymore

Whew, 2013 has been a nonstop gallop of awesome! In the first week of the year I had two rock stars, two broadway productions and Preservation Hall Jazz under my belt. Then I got the flu. Frankly, I was grateful for the excuse to remain horizontal in front of Law & Order for a week but that's boring on a blog. What's exciting is this pic of performer Rob McClure's wrist on the eve of his final stunning night as Charlie Chaplin in the broadway musical "Chaplin!" Just look at the faces of that cast! Especially the brunette in the center there. Hilarious! 

These crazy kids invited me to the Barrymore Theater to commemorate their special bond in a wee, tiny tattoo version of the iconic Chaplin logo. It was my privilege to accept. Rob kindly offered up his dressing room to perform the deed and I have another story to impress my dear grandmother, who is mostly unimpressed with tattoos in general. But she makes an exception for Broadway. I think this one might even top the adorable flock of Rockettes from last summer! She's a tough one to please but really, I think tattooing at The Barrymore is a first. That's gotta count for something, even with grandma.

Better Living Through Manwoman

I couldn't let this year slip by without posting about the passing of Canadian fine artist Manwoman, who had such a profound influence on my aesthetic as a young radical in the early nineties. When I came across Manwoman in a copy of Modern Primitives, I was thrilled by the extremes to which this artist would demonstrate his philosophy. Which involves, in part, restablishing the swastika as a sacred symbol.

I was a Holocaust scholar at the time as well as brain-deep in the vast system of symbols that tattooing requires. Manwoman managed to impress upon me through his presence and work the three truths that have triangled my life ever since: be brave, have fun, love God. 

When Clayton Patterson told me he had passed I surprised myself with my depth of regret. I realized I had always thought I would get to meet him and I was perhaps too cavalier in my day-to-day nowadays.  That the influences of my past were beginning to depart into history. Also to remind me of the call to be brave, have fun, love God for the next generation...and beyond...

Catch ya later, Manwoman. 

A Gift For The Freaky Badass In your Life

Ladies and gentlemen, Flaco Productions present the FIRST EDITION of The Tarot of The Tattoo Age, a collection of over 77 gritty and gratifying images from world-renowned tattooers.  It is a beautiful deck with explanations for each card and the artist who crafted it, so you can wow friends and family with your surreal revelations pretty much immediately.  Pick up the deck here at The Tarot of the Tattoo Age Website and look for the Justice card, she'll put things right for ya.

You Talkin' to Meme?

Grand Master Lyle Tuttle appropriately appropriated to answer the call of snark.

I think many of us in the tattoo industry were gratified to see this meme featuring living-legend Lyle Tuttle circulated lately.  A few uncredited images of fierce old guys had been cropping up virally, retribution to the endless naysayers dolorously warning the tattooed of the consequence of age.

Here Lyle demonstrates the alternative to age spots and varicose veins, completete with the sort of attitude the heavily tattooed (of any age) are known.

I let Lyle know his image has once again gone global (Lyle is the only tattooer to have ever made the cover of Rolling Stone) and he expressed typical gritty satisfaction.  However, he had one caveat.

[sic] "In my day it was special to have a tattoo, and only a certain segment of society had tattoos.  Mostly sailors and whores... you know, good people.  Now what do we got?  Coke sackers."