Eye Of The Tiger: Ian W

Many of you already know I was in absentia from the NY studio these last two months, but our clients were well-wrangled with Ian W in residence at Tattoo Couture. Ian is your straight-talkin, steady-shootin' blue collar-stylin' guy from Buffalo and he's here in NYC to stay. Our clients love his bold, traditional style and no-nonsense approach to his craft. However, he's also flexible, creative and friendly-- he'll treat your small lettering job or sexy white tattoo with the same diligence he gives to Sailor Jerry flash. Call him up for Thursdays and get your own piece of our truly modern Renaissance guy: 212 242 7979

"Like" is the New Luv

So hey hey! Got a nifty way to get around the ol' 5000 fb friend rule. Check it out!

Post by Friday Jones.

Tattooed Sun of a Gun

With these final hot blasts of summer scorching our sexy skin for a few more weeks, I've decided a post about tats and tanning is in order. As you may or may not know, I began my career in sub-tropical Florida where weathered skin was de riguer. As an apprentice, we were encouraged to tattoo for the long-term, discarding embellishments and details that would blur mightily over time or fade completely away altogether. The peccadilloes of color pigment over durable black ink were discussed at length, with the many years-old and leathered tattoos that returned through the shop cited as examples.

That said, there's no reason why your high-exposure lifestyle would keep you from collecting beautiful and provocative tattoo work. Be sure to choose clean, highly contrasted images-- black and strong, dense grays are often the most durable. If you do opt for color, strong, flat planes of color age best. Oranges and browns tend to fade most quickly, but daily applications of an spf 80+ will do wonders in protecting your exposed tattoos. Be sure to select an artist who is friendly to your lifestyle, and they will be able to guide you in choices that will let your wear your wild tattooed heart on your easy ridin' sleeve for all the good years to come.

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.