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05/13/2008
The Smell of Tattoo

While the Don Ed Hardy clothing and accessory line has gotten mixed reviews from the seriously tattooed, I've defended the Hardy brand because if someone is gonna make a buck off of traditional Americana and Japanese tattoo motifs, it should be the man who was among those who raised the craft to a fine art and shared techniques and ideas with the world.

That said, I ain't buying any perfume with associated with a tattoo artist. Having married one, I can say that the eau de tatouage has top notes of blood and sweat with a whiff of tears coupled with that flirty fragrance of antiseptic. And that's just the tip of the smells that come with tattooists...and it ain't all roses.

The National Post wasn't diggin the tattoo scent thing either. It gave the Ed Hardy Women fragrance one nose out of four, and that's only because they liked the packaging. They described the fragrance itself as sticking your nose into a bowl of syrupy canned peaches.

The Ed Hardy line is actually a good lesson for artists who are approached to design for a commercial brand: when you license your designs to ...

Phil Holt is the tattoo artist's tattooist. Tattooing for over 12 years professionally and in a variety of styles, he can take a Tonya-Harding-dressed-as-the-devil half sleeve and make it into a beautiful biomechanical work of art.

Recently, Phil put up a number of his fine art for sale online -- magical works, from his limited edition giclee dragon and monster prints to his breathtaking Original Sin original watercolor to my most favorite, the last of his enamel on steel angels. All can be purchased through his site except the watercolor, which is available through Canvas Los Angeles.

As Phil wrote on his blog in March, he and his family have had to move back to Tampa, Florida -- away from Skull & Sword in San Fran -- until he can sell his home (which he says is short of full scale foreclosure). Thus, by purchasing these stellar works of art, you'll also be supporting a member of the tattoo community caught in the midst of this housing crisis.

Grime is still keeping Phil's position at Skull & Sword open, while he currently works at his former ...

The latest issue of Inked Magazine, the tattooed GQ, which is rockin since Pinchazo Publishing took over, just dropped its music issue featuring This Moment's Maria Brink, R&B singer Tweet, and my absolute fave part of the issue: a feature on the legends of NY hardcore including Agnostic Front, Sick of it All, Cro-Mags, Murphy's Law, and Gorilla Biscuits.

For their Inked Spots pages, they went to Hawaii to pick the best studios in the state including the legendary Keone Nunes and Mike Ledger, among other greats.

You'll also find my profile on the fabulous Dr.Dave, who is looking mighty badass in his MD-MC jacket, and other Inked People profiles including Daredevil's Seth Wood.

You can read Inked online for free or pick it up at any local book seller and press shop.

Update: Check out the Needled video on Keone here.

One of the most frequent questions to Needled -- aside from asking why *I* would tattoo poor little piggies -- is what I recommend for tattoo aftercare. Now, there are a lot of products on the market, some good, some bad, and I always worry about personal allergic reactions people may have to certain ingredients. However, in my personal experience and that of a number of Calypso Tattoo clients, our artwork investment has been safely guarded by the Hemp Company's Tattoo Aftercare.

I actually found Tattoo Aftercare through a tattoo client, an owner of a tattoo studio herself, who swore by the balm. So I contacted Jim & Shirley Jaffrey, the family behind the Chester, UK company, for samples. They immediately sent me a bunch of jars, and in turn, they hooked a customer.

Here's why I like Tattoo Aftercare:

-- It's completely made of all natural ingredients (tea tree oil, calendula, lavender, Vitamin E, Niaouli, sunflower oil, extra-virgin olive oil, and beeswax) with no parabens.

-- They do not test on animals

-- They're a tattooed family-owned business (working with their daughters Zara and Emma), and Shirley has received numerous accolades ...

Last week, I talked tattoo illustrations where more characters in drawings, paintings and comics are sporting beautiful tattoos. Further to that post, behold the super sultry tattooed pin-ups of Tyson McAdoo.

My buddy Miguel says that he sees MySpace folks using Tyson's artwork as their avatars but not giving him proper cred, not even a quick link. For upstanding Needled readers who want to show some love for the artist, check out his store where you can purchase tees, stickers, prints and his book, The Death of Me, an art compilation of his modified manas.

So what's behind Tyson's obsession with tattooed women? Read his bio. It has something to do with an "Empress of Ink" and chipmunk feet.

For heavy metal accessorizing, Spragworks Custom Jewelry is the go-to source for rock gods and those of who play them on weekends. I first found Spragworks' Rich Sandomeno at the NYC Tattoo Convention a few years back and I've been going to him since for his works in sterling silver, steel, brass and other metallic goodness.

The corset ring is one of my faves, while Dan digs the Sacred Heart and Wells Fargo belt buckles among many others. For my wine expert best friend (a woman who has everything), I'm thinking the artful steel corkscrew and bottle stopper would be perfect for her recent engagement.

You can find Spragworks in various locations, including tattoo studios, across America and at select tattoo conventions. For online orders, use PayPal.

Last week, Stuffwhitepeoplelike.com declared the t-shirt "an essential tool in determining the social rank, desirability, and value of a white person...one of the most complex and expressive items in their entire wardrobe."

With this in mind, I suggest you head over to the Canvas Los Angeles' 50% off sale where tees designed by some of the most sought-after tattooists like the Art Work Rebels and To Die For crews will raise your status in the hipster caste system. And make you hotter.

Feeling in need of personal hotness, I just purchased this Albrigo gold tiger tee and Black Market Art sweats for the gym, but they could clearly be worn while hitting, say, Brooklyn's McCarren Park in a calculated display of fashion nonchalance.

The cool kids behind Canvas Los Angeles are Todd Burnes and Olivia Miner, profiled in the latest issue of Inked Magazine. [Olivia is a walking work of art as evidenced by Craig Burton's photos of her at the Milan show.]

While I get no kickbacks, I do like to support tattoo insiders, so check out their online store or head to their gallery/boutique in person.