A tattoo is a form of body modification where a design is made by inserting ink, dyes and pigments, either indelible or temporary, into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment.
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Aussi appelé chloasma ou mélasma, le masque de grossesse se traduit par des taches brunes sur le visage de femmes enceintes. Il concerne de nombreuses femmes enceintes et survient en cours de grossesse. Ces taches ou plaques peuvent être brunes ou grisâtres et apparaissent suite à une exposition au soleil, et ce, peu importe la […]
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A few months ago I started a large new tattoo. To my utter delight, Jeff Gogue had agreed to tattoo me back in 2018 and over the course of almost two years, I repeatedly had to postpone my trip until it seemed like it would never happen. COVID made another cancellation seem like a sure thing until at the last moment Oregon lifted restrictions enough to allow many businesses – including tattoo shops – to reopen safely. Artists got back to work and I packed my car and hit the road.
Deciding to get tattooed in the middle of a pandemic required some mental gymnastics on my part. First was wanting to follow through on something I had agreed to do, next was needing a carefully managed break from my tiny bubble of home/kids/grocery store, and finally, it was my deep desire to get tattooed by Jeff. If I’m honest it was the third one that tipped it – I really wanted this tattoo and the experiences that go along with it.
I felt a little abashed about getting my tattoo under such dire circumstances and took all safety measures seriously. By the time I was done, I had seen fewer people than I would have at the supermarket and my hands stung from all the sanitizer. It felt surreal to travel and that in it itself was strange. Before lockdown, I was clocking over 1500 miles a week commuting relentlessly to San Francisco and I really felt like I lived in my car. Now a pleasant afternoon’s drive left me starry-eyed and exhausted from all the stimulation and I hadn’t even made it to the shop yet.
Jeff Gogue is an artist worth traveling for. I would have happily hopped on a plane to work with him but lucked out that his shop, 26 Swords is only a scenic days drive from where I live in Northern California. Jeff has been tattooing for over twenty years and has owned his shop for 15. He is wildly talented, dignified, and friendly. He is world-renowned for his painterly, baroque compositions that lay on clients’ skin like a gorgeous tapestry. His impressive work ethic has meant 7 plus hours of straight tattooing with barely a couple of water breaks and the long afternoons have flown by with amiable conversation ranging over many topics. Our pleasant chats have been interspersed with me suffering quietly while Jeff hums along to good tunes and muses over how many layers of color he wants to pack into my tired, trembling flesh.
My view from the table. 1000 paper cranes in a jar, a wall of Jeff’s old tattoo machines.
Turning over control of your skin to an artist you trust and admire to get tattooed on such a large scale is a unique kind of recreation. If people ask me why I don’t really have a good answer other than it is a pleasure reserved for those who find pleasure in it. Getting tattooed by Jeff has been an honor and a welcome break from the grind of making my life small and contained for safety while trying to maintain my sanity. It is no minor thing to break out of your bubble right now but for me, it feels right.
In progress – art is blooming all over me.
Jeff and I have a bit more to go on my tattoo. Well, Jeff, really. My participation just involves me laying there and taking it so I can’t take any credit. But I am extremely pleased with the results so far. It is always such a thrill to look forward to something and then have it not only meet your expectations but exceed them. These tattoo trips have become my only travel and socializing outside of my tight little circle and I find my desire for more “away time” intersecting with my appetite for ink leading me to ask Jeff to “go a little bigger.”
Every corner of 26 Swords is a feast for the eyes.
I don’t know when I will fly again, sit in a crowded restaurant or a darkened movie theater. Like so many of us, I am focused on doing my best and supporting my loved ones. Not making anything worse. The future seems so surreal and hard to peg – is this what you thought this year would be like?
But I know when I’ll be back in the bright, airy spaces of 26 Swords with art and color lining the walls. I know when I’ll be stretched out under Jeff’s watchful eye having my skin embellished while I chatter away and sometimes close my eyes against the sting. I’ll take pleasure from the simple act of going for a long drive in my car, visiting a different town (albeit safely), and supporting a terrific artist. I know I am lucky to have this opportunity and the resources and headspace to pursue it. It is a pleasure reserved for me and those like me. For now, this is enough – more than enough really.
Si vous avez envie de vous lancer dans la confection d’un gommage du visage en mode DIY, alors découvrez le top 3 des soins spécialement pensés pour tous les types de peau ! 1 – Un exfoliant idéal pour les impuretés Si vous avez tendance à avoir une peau à boutons, alors vous aurez tout […]
I hope you are well and your family is well. I hope you have enough food and essentials stocked up and are able to weather this storm. We are in unchartered waters and I feel a bit rudderless as I try to get a handle on my schedule, my kids schedules, and the math needed to determine how much toilet paper I really need. Also how much money. I think I’m coming up short in both respects but I feel lucky that overall I have what I need and I am home with the people I need to be with. I hope the same for you and yours.
Blogging at a time like this seems pretty vacuous BUT I did have an idea – a concept I wanted to share. Remember letters? Handwritten correspondence? Pen pals? Over the course of history – archived letters, notes, and missives have added a tremendous amount of knowledge and insight into how we lived our lives at various points in time. Famous letters get a lot of love, of course, but letters from soldiers to family members, letters between lovers or best friends, break up letters, important news letters, here is what I did on this average day letters – they all matter and they all leave a record that can be saved, treasured, and even archived for future generations.
We are all living in a singular moment in history right now. You will remember these weeks and maybe months for the rest of your lives. Maybe future generations will ask you about this strange season of uneasiness and uncertainty. What will you remember? How will you remember? Letters.
Now don’t get me wrong – I have been on a steady diet of memes for days. I am in awe of the wit and insight of the people who are generating these critical laughs for us all right now. But even though digital archiving is a thing most of our online communications will be digital ephemera that becomes lost or loses its relevance over time. But a letter to your Grandparents won’t.
There are so many older people holed up and afraid right now. The news is scary, maybe memes aren’t their thing, and they (most likely) don’t use apps like Snapchat or tik tok or whatever else to connect. But they remember letters. So I’m asking you to sit down and write a letter to someone today – especially someone older. You don’t have to say anything earth-shattering. You don’t have to use perfect grammar or punctuation or even cursive. It doesn’t have to be a long letter. But I can guarantee you when they get their mail and see your handwriting they will smile. When they sit down to read your thoughts they will feel connected. Getting a letter in the mail is a simple pleasure but it is a genuine one.
I used to have pen pals. I had artist friends whose letters were covered with doodles. I had an overseas lover (who you can read about here) who sent me airmail envelopes that made my heart pound when I would see them perched in my PO box. I would walk home with the letter clutched in my hand like a promise, making sure I was in my favorite spot in my window before I let myself open the letter and see what a man across the ocean was thinking about me. I have funny postcards from my sister who died more than a decade ago. Those postcards are gold to me now.
There are so many inspiring acts of kindness and levity happening all around us right now. Write it down. Remember it. Share it with a loved one – especially someone older or a person who lives alone. Make a record of your life. Make a record of this moment. Be a Pen Pal.
Final Thoughts
If you are worried about spreading germs by mailing a letter to someone do these two things:
Wash your hands BEFORE you grab your paper and pen to write.
Seal the envelope and affix the stamp using a damp sponge – not your tongue
AND if you would like a handwritten letter I will send you one. I promise. It may be a bit nonsensical or even silly. It may or may not contain random information, meanderings, or musings but it will be for you and you alone. Send me your mailing address to thetattootourist@gmail.com and then keep an eye on your mailbox – because a snapshot of history, a moment in a life, a spark of human connection is coming your way soon.
Stay safe out there. Stay kind. Stay gold, Pony Boy.
And since you read to the end here are penguins at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago going on a tour of the empty Aquarium.
Même si plusieurs personnes préfèrent désormais les contenus en streaming au téléchargement, les sites de torrents occupent toujours une place importante sur le marché. De tels sites sont notamment appréciés car ils disposent d’un catalogue volumineux de documentaires, musiques, jeux vidéo, séries et films. L’un desdits sites a su se démarquer des autres : The […]
Même si les soldes viennent de se terminer, ce n’est pas une raison pour ne plus vous faire plaisir… surtout, à mini prix ! Alors, pour ce faire, rendez vous sur une boutique en ligne où vous aurez tout le loisir de trouver du parfum, des soins et du maquillage de grandes marques, sans vous […]
I have a confession to make. Gonna let that sink in for a minute…
Nope. Too soon. So instead I’ll confess that I have great readers who help me out by frequently provider even greater (settle down word police – I know) content that I am happy to share. Dan over at Authority Tattoo wins the “most patient content provider of the year award” (a crowded field I assure you) and graciously shared some interesting facts about tattoos you may not know. What I know is that if you have healing and aftercare questions – and you know you do – after you check out my semi-literate offerings here and here head over to Authority Tattoo for some crystal clear and accurate advice.
tattoo by Jeff Gogue at 26 Swords
You love tattoos, but how much do you really know about them?
Unless you’re a genuine aficionado, there are probably quite a few facts about tattoos that will be able to surprise you.
I’ve compiled a few of them here. They range from stats to history to basic facts about tattoo materials and processes.
15 Tattoo Facts You Probably Weren’t Aware Of
Tattoo machines seem like a fairly recent invention, but the first one was actually patented all the way back in 1876. The inventor was a tattoo artist named Samuel O’Reilly based in New York. O’Reilly realized that, with a few modifications, Thomas Edison’s electric pen could be turned into a tattooing device that would make his work a whole lot easier.
Before tattoo machines, tattooing was a laborious, time-consuming, and frankly painful-sounding process involving chisels or picks.
Tattoos recently underwent a gender switch. Ink used to be a mostly male pursuit, but a 2012 survey of Americans found that 59% of people with tattoos were women.
Your black ink might be the darkest, but that doesn’t mean it’s the hardest to remove. In fact, since they absorb light more easily, darker colored ink breaks apart more quickly under the laser than lighter colors. Light tends to bounce off green and yellow pigments, which makes those some of the hardest colors to laser off.
Many people consider tattoos therapeutic. People get tattooed to cope with depression, overcome trauma, or simply feel more empowered and confident in themselves. Therapeutic tattooing at least partly explains why women with tattoos reported both higher rates of depression and higher rates of self-esteem.
Your body is constantly trying to get rid of your tattoo. Your white blood cells consider the ink particles that are injected in your skin to be a foreign body that needs to be cleared out. Those ink particles are just too big for the white blood cells to break down. That’s why laser removal works – by breaking down the large particles so they can be flushed out by the white blood cells. It’s also why your tattoo fades over time because those white blood cells gradually erode the ink particles.
You can get blacklight tattoos created using UV ink. The ink will barely be visible under normal lighting conditions (and might become entirely invisible after gently fading for a year or two), but will show and glow under a blacklight. Be careful though – UV tattoos aren’t as safe as conventional ones.
There’s a reason tattoos hurt: a tattoo gun pierces your skin between 50 to 3,000 times a minute while you’re getting inked.
Tattooing was illegal in New York for over 30 years, and this was surprisingly recent. From 1961 to 1997, a tattoo ban was in effect in an effort to contain hepatitis B. (And there’s little reason for that fear these days – licensed tattoo artists know how to prevent contamination and the spread of bloodborne diseases like hepatitis B.)
Tattoo artists won’t just tattoo anything you ask them to. Most tattoo artists have some types of designs they refuse to ink on their clients, whether for ideological or practical reasons. Many will refuse to tattoo white supremacist symbols, for instance. Others will refuse to tattoo a lover or spouse’s name because these are the tattoos people regret the most.
Not all tattoo ink is vegan-friendly. One thing to watch out for is bone char, which is added to black inks to give them a deeper pigmentation. Other tattooing equipment might also contain animal-derived ingredients, even the tracing paper. Thankfully, most tattoo artists can accommodate vegans looking for ink (and many of them are vegans themselves).
The oldest known tattoo was discovered on the skin of a mummy that dates back to sometime between 3370 and 3100 BCE. His tattoos are simple dot and line designs.
Some people use tattoos to get permanent cosmetics. The designs are meant to mimic their make-up so they can make the look permanent and save time on their daily routine. Tammy Faye Baker’s famously eccentric makeup, for instance, was at least partly permanently inked.
Most tattoo ink uses pigments derived from metals, such as chromium, iron oxides, and nickel. The rest of the ink is made of a carrier that can be made of glycerin, denatured alcohol, or some other similar substance.
Getting a tattoo is hard on your skin, but it’s nothing compared to what tattooing does to your body. Because of all the precise, intricate handwork, along with all the hunching and awkward contortions involved in tattooing different parts of the body, many tattoo artists have to end their careers because of various ergonomic conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and lower back problems. Artists who want to make a long-term living in the industry usually have to own and manage a studio instead of tattooing all day or earn enough to work part-time.
Thanks again Dan for this fun and informative article. And in case you are wondering – this is not a paid promotion. I am always happy to post well-written tattoo related content as long as you are cool with me taking forever to post stuff – like Dan
Iconic Tattoo Shop, “Good Time Charlie’s End of the Trail” Comes to a Close in 2020
A Retrospective of Good Time Charlie’s
Charlie Cartwright – The Original Good Time Charlie
The world-renowned, iconic tattoo shop “Good Time Charlie’s End of the Trail” will soon be closing it’s doors, after a run of 32 years in Modesto, CA. If you include the beginning of the Good Time Charlie’s namesake shops, it’s a tattoo flagship that’s been sailing for 45 years.
Quite a bit has changed since Charlie started honing his craft. Equipment was harder to find, in many states, tattooing was illegal. The competition was less and defiance of the tattoo artist ethics code could easily mean your new tattoo shop would go up in flames if deemed too close to an already established one.
Being tattooed was a sacred commitment, understood by only a few, usually by those who American society found incomprehensible. But those who sought tattoos out were ones who were deeply committed to their life message and values, which is interesting when you think about it. A tattoo holds a moment of a person’s own complete acknowledgment in all honesty. The outcasts were the first to make these statements. There was a discernment when it came to picking an artist, reputations hailed, and the relationship of understanding and knowing their clients deeply was everything. Once there was a time when people put tattoos on discreet parts of the body, so no one would know.
Stay Gold Charlie
Charlie, now 79 and his wife of 58 years, Olivia, have been enjoying road trips around the country on the tattoo convention circuit, to support his book “Tattoo Man.”
Gorgeous Collectible Book – Tattoo Man by Charlie Cartwright
Changes in personal direction and egged on by an industry’s metamorphosis, have helped Good Time Charlie in the making of this decision. But a career that has spanned over 64 years owns a legacy onto its own, a story that will not cease to be told despite the shop’s departure.
An auction of shop’s items, including original artwork with creations dating to 1972, is scheduled to begin early Jan 2020. Items are not limited to original and reproduced flash artwork (although there is an abundance of it), but will also include original shop signs, art, and reference books, and shop decorative items. The coveted refrigerator is up for grabs, as well as wall panels that contain artwork from visiting tattoo artists.
The Black Wall, which is a collection of reproduced flash designs, hand-picked, hand-assembled in the ’80s (in Wichita), colorized flash sheets, by Charlie and his son Nick, will be available for a flat price, per panel via www.goodtimecharlie.net website. Every panel from the wall is blessed with an original signed GTC logo. Charlie’s original drawings from the Black Wall will also be available on the website.
Vintage tattoo t-shirts, misc artwork, neon signs, etc., will also be available for sale at the shop or online.
Final bids on auction items will be tallied end of Feb, to coincide with the shop’s closure. Bidders from all over the world are expected to participate online and the demand for owning a piece of tattoo history will be a high priority for today’s most dedicated tattoo artist.
This article was provided by Kimiko Tokita – if you would like more information contact him at: (805) 217-0556 or kimiko@whitecrowe.net
I hate to say it, but it’s still winter and apparently that is going to continue to be a “thing” for a while. The holidays are a memory, Spring is but a promise, and the days are short and dark, what to do? Well if I had my way I’d be off on vacation to somewhere sunny. A bit of lounging, a little sightseeing, and hopefully a new tattoo to cap it off.
If you need me I’ll be here…
I am a big fan of the tattoo vacation. I have personally traveled quite a bit to collect tattoos and it is a unique and fun way to check out a place. Sure there is pain and blood but there is also nudity and making new friends – what’s not to love? But if you are going to travel for a tattoo or plan on getting a tattoo while on vacation there are a few important things to keep in mind for a successful trip and tattoo. The folks at Black Amethyst Tattoo Gallery in Florida know a thing or two about a tattoo vacation and they have supplied this handy article giving you the top 4 tips to get inked on the go successfully.
Tattoo by J. Michael Taylor
4 Tips for Getting a Tattoo on Vacation
For many people, tattoos represent powerful memories. The reasons that we get them are important and the places that we get them in often become important as well. For many people with tattoos and wanderlust, the idea of getting some new ink while on vacation is the best souvenir that money can buy. If you’re on vacation and you decide to get a tattoo, here are four tips you can follow to make sure that you can make sure it heals well and looks great well after you are home.
Think of what you can do in one session:
When you’re traveling and you decide to get a tattoo, it’s likely that you may have to choose a simple design or stick with the outline to start. Getting a tattoo artist to finish off your tattoo or colorize your tattoo when you get home can be a way to save some time. Plan a visit to a tattoo parlor and consider a simple design while you are on vacation. Save your elaborate designs and additions to these tattoos for when you get home.
Protect yourself from the sun:
If you are getting a tattoo on vacation you need to make sure that you can protect your skin. A tattoo parlor may not let you in for a session if you have sores, severe sunburn or damage to your skin because it’s difficult to see the dyes and it will be much more painful for you. Protecting your skin if you’re planning on getting tattooed on vacation is paramount.
Plan for tattooing at the end of your vacation:
Having a tattoo at the beginning of your holiday can restrict you from fun activities like sunbathing, swimming and more because it often requires covering and some regular attention to make sure that they can heal correctly. Getting a tattoo before you head to the airport is a great way to make sure you can have unrestricted fun on your vacation.
Vet the shop as much as possible:
It’s much easier to find out more about shops in your local area before you get a tattoo. Complete your due diligence and research regarding any type of tattoo you receive on vacation. Errors can be fixed but taking a few hours to read up on tattoo parlors around you can prevent the chance that you will be stuck with a tattoo you might regret.
Black Amethyst Tattoo Gallery, St Petersburg Florida
Follow these tips and pack your bags. You’ll have a great trip and a new tattoo to help you remember it by – what could be better?
Hmmm – now that I think of it Florida is sunny…and warm…and I have a new shop I can check out while I’m there… where did I put my suitcase?
This post was written by J Michael Taylor. J Michael Taylor is an artist and owner of Black Amethyst Tattoo Gallery. Black Amethyst is the best amongst tattoo shops in Clearwater FL. They provide an art-first approach to custom tattooing in a gallery setting.
En cette année 2020, nombreuses sont les femmes qui souhaitent adopter une nouvelle coiffure. Mais entre les nattes, les chignons, les colorations, … il n’est pas toujours facile de savoir où donner de la tête. Grâce aux nouvelles tendances de coiffure de cette année, il est certain que vous vous ferez plaisir, et ce que […]
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Hello 2020. No promises this year and no regrets either. Just a clear (mostly) straight path towards opportunity and adventure. So let’s kick this year off right by shining a light on a guy with tattoos and style.
Philip Scheinfeld is considered one of the best real estate brokers in NYC, selling over 70M in real estate in the past year. And he’s barely 30. And he can wear the hell out of a suit. But don’t hate – he’s a down to earth kind of guy who is humble about his past and fired up about his future – that’s why I was happy to chat with Philip about how he got into real estate, tattoos, and what he loves about New York.
What made you decide on a career in real estate?
A friend of mine was on a reality tv real estate show and when I watched it I began to have an interest in real estate. Many friends and family convinced me that I would be great at doing real estate so one day I decided to get my license and I never looked back. Nearly 6 years later and I’ve finally found my calling. I run a top team at Compass representing some of the best properties in NYC and love each and every day. Did you already have tattoos when you started out or did that come later?
When I first started in real estate I only had a few tattoos and none of them visible while wearing a t-shirt. As time went on I realIzed that while there are surely people who will judge you because you have tattoos what they all will judge you on is your knowledge you possess and what you can offer them. People want a broker who they feel has their best interests and can get the job done not what they have tattooed on them. Are clients surprised that you are heavily tattooed? Do you think it is an asset?
Most clients are surprised that I have tattoos. I’m a Jew from the Upper East Side so there aren’t many people like me with my upbringing that have tattoos. I actually like that the best because being just like everyone else was never something I felt that I was. I think having tattoos is definitely an asset because it distinguishes me from everyone. It shows my creative side and I think it shows my level of commitment. I have been sober for 9 years and have tattoos on me for life. I am dedicated and willing to do whatever needs to be done to get the deal done. I also do what I say I’m going to do and never deviate from that plan.
What was the first and last tattoo you got?
The first tattoo I got was before I got sober in 2010. It reads “The Wild One”. I was 20 years old and wanted to be wild and have fun with my life. Once I got sober I immediately had a realization that being wild is not good and rather I want to be as serious as possible. Don’t get me wrong I still love to have fun and know how to have fun but I am no longer out of control. The last tattoo I got which is almost done is an armored man riding a horse into battle. There’s not a huge amount of significance to it rather a symbol that I am a fighter through everything I have been through and I will never give up. Any tattoo regrets?
None What is your next tattoo project? Any dream artists or shops you want to work with?
I am finishing up a tattoo on my leg of the armored guy with Wicky Nicky from West 4th Tattoo. He’s done a few on me and I love his work. The fine lines are some of the most detailed tattoos I have and he is a perfectionist with what he does. I have gotten several tattoos with Turan at Bang Bang Tattoo and I would love to get tattooed by Bang himself. I am a huge fan of his work and would love to find the time to get something done with him. What he has done in the tattoo industry is quite special and I respect him a lot. One day I will get something done by him. How about dream real estate? The big one that got away or a building that you would love to represent?
I’ve certainly pitched many projects that I haven’t won but everything happens for a reason. The biggest thing in my life is having zero regrets. I don’t regret anything about my past and look forward to what the future brings.
What is your favorite thing about NYC? My favorite thing about NYC is the culture and that everyone is different. Everyone has a different story and every day I’m here I learn something new.
Thanks, Philip for sharing your story. If you want to check out his tattoos and all the fancy pads he represents check out his Instagram If you want to get serious check out his company (Easy now…for business.) If you wish this story was about you send me an email as I’m always interested in covering cool shops, artists and collectors – that’s how Philip found me and he was too interesting to pass up and a great way to kick off the new year. And Philip, my friend, let’s go on a tattoo shop crawl through NYC, ok?
