Tattoo and Body Piercing art designing

Girls Sleeves Tiger Full Body Tattoo Shirt

2010-12-09T06:57:00.000-08:00

The newest item from Sleeves, this full body tattoo shirt emulates traditional Japanese chest plates. Depicted amidst these Japanese images is the tiger which represents sincerity of the heart and the cherry blossom, reflecting the fleeting nature of youth and beauty. These cool t-shirts by Sleeves Clothing give the illusion of having your upper body fully tattooed. Sleeves Tattoo Clothing gives you the realistic illusion of tattoos!

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Tattoo Bible - Book 2

2010-12-09T06:39:00.000-08:00

Based on the success of Tattoo Bible - Book One, ArtKulture and Superior Tattoo bring to market Tattoo Bible - Book Two, another unique and colorful collection of flash art. Everything is here, from Skulls to Tribal, from Americana to the avant-garde. Tattoo Bible - Book Two, covers different styles and an endless supply of ideas. The images are represented in a range of physical sizes, some are printed two or four per page, the more intricate designs are reproduced one per page. The categories include Hearts, Dragons, Roses, Skulls, Butterflies, Girls, Crosses, Celestial, Tribal, Back Pieces, and Nautical.

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Based on the success of Tattoo Bible - Book One, ArtKulture and Superior Tattoo bring to market Tattoo Bible - Book Two, another unique and colorful collection of flash art. Everything is here, from Skulls to Tribal, from Americana to the avant-garde. Tattoo Bible - Book Two, covers different styles and an endless supply of ideas. The images are represented in a range of physical sizes, some are printed two or four per page, the more intricate designs are reproduced one per page. The categories include Hearts, Dragons, Roses, Skulls, Butterflies, Girls, Crosses, Celestial, Tribal, Back Pieces, and Nautical.

Celtic Irish Cross Tattoo

2010-12-09T06:31:00.000-08:00

What Do You Know About Celtic Irish Cross Tattoo

The Celtic Irish cross tattoo features a extensive historical past dating back above generations from the British Isles. The first Irish cross tattoo esigned together with two the same lengths of cross beams which represents the four principal components of our world; water, wind, fire and earth.
When this type of skin icon is observed nowadays it's decorated together with precise geometric, and also swirl models of vines, or perhaps plants, referred to as Celtic Knots. The middle circle around the cross beams in the this kind of cross skin icon can be synonymous with living revolving in a endless plane of lifestyle, between the four normal aspects.

Why Is Celtic Irish Cross Tattoo So Popular Among People?
celtic irish cross tattooModern day skin icon artisan really like the complex details of the Celtic knot styles around the Irish cross body art. Making use of their tiny styles which have been related just like stunned, the specialist provides to be able to shoe off his complex details work as a real artist. People like the Celtic Irish cross tattoo for their attractiveness and also assortment. This kind of skin icon can be one of the few complex models which could look fantastic in a tiny dimensions, or even a huge one, whilst still being be a sophisticated layout.

Different Styles Of Celtic Irish Cross Tattoo
celtic irish cross tattooTheir fascinate men and women is the selection since both equally an intimate Celtic Irish cross tattoo, and also a intricate bold tribe skin icon. Considering that the cross Irish have been around the world a long time before the Holy Cross significance, took over as standard connotations with the cross layout, its Pagan beginnings include the best historical past for some other morals and also totems. Saint Patrick delivered Christianity to Ireland, and driven the snakes out, simply by blessing a Celtic Standing Stone, which usually weary the holy symbolic representation with the Celtic cross. This became the start of the crossing in the Pagan and also Christian utilize with the this cross in Ireland.

Celtic Irish Cross Tattoo - Favorite Skin Icon
celtic irish cross tattooThe delicate Knot operate of such does not have any start no conclusion, if it is put on effectively; this also symbolizes the never-ending circle of living that is known. The Druids considered that almost all our life is attached from the four factors and so they usually put the Irish cross around the warriors and also chiefs with the clans of Ireland to shield these through struggle from enemies equally mortal and supernatural.
The present day skin icon of crosses just isn't often represented while using four the same things with the cross; the Christian effect has practically removed the essential description. The Irish Cross Tattoo stays a favorite skin icon around the world.

Tattoo Bible: Book One

2010-12-09T05:30:00.000-08:00

Whether you are preparing for your first tattoo or your twenty-seventh, you need artwork and designs that are just-right. Tattoo Bible, authored by Superior Tattoo, provides well over 500 pieces of unique flash art. Everything is here, from Hearts to Dragons, tattoo designs that range from traditional to the avant-garde. Tattoo Bible includes flash never before compiled in one single book. While most tattoo books available today concentrate on one specific genre, this book covers many different genres and the ideas are endless. This is not just a book to add to your collection - this is your collection.

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You can combine different pieces of art from within the book, or just take them as is. The images are represented in range of physical sizes, some are printed two or four per page, the more intricate designs are reproduced as full-page spreads. The categories include Hearts, Dragons, Roses, Skulls, Butterflies, Girls, Crosses, Celestial, Tribal, Back Pieces, and Nautical.Over 500 images that are both striking and very useful to both the tattoo shop, and the tattoo aficionado.

Book Description
Whether you are preparing for your first tattoo or your twenty-seventh, you need artwork and designs that are just-right. Tattoo Bible, authored by Superior Tattoo, provides well over 500 pieces of unique flash art - flash never before compiled in one single book. While most tattoo books available today concentrate on one specific genre, this book covers many different genres and the ideas are endless. This is not just a book to add to your collection - this is your collection. You can combine different pieces of art from within the book, or just take them as is. This book is for you and your imagination to do with as you wish. Over 500 images that are both striking and very useful to both the tattoo shop, and the tattoo aficionado.

Tribal Tattoo History & Symbolism

2010-12-09T05:16:00.000-08:00

A Tattoo is design in ink or some other pigment, usually decorative or symbolic, placed permanently under the skin. In technical terms, tattooing is micro-pigment implantation. Tattoos are a type of body modification.

Terminology

The origin of the word Tattoo is usually traced to the Tahitian tatu or tatau, which means to mark or strike (the latter referring to traditional methods of applying the designs).

The word "tattoo" is now the most common word to describe the art and process throughout the English-speaking world. "Tattoo" is commonly used by speakers of other languages as well, even when there are native words that mean the same thing. Sometimes different words are used for different types of art or different procedures. In Japanese, for example, the word used for traditional designs or those that are applied using traditional methods is irezumi, while "tattoo" is used for non-Japanese designs.

Most tattoo enthusiasts refer to tattoos as art and to Tattooists (less often "tattooers") as artists. This usage is rapidly gaining support, with mainstream art galleries holding exhibitions of tattoo designs and photographs of tattoos.

Generic (that is, not custom-drawn) tattoo designs that are mass produced and sold to tattoo artists and studios are called flash. "Tattoo Flash" is also the name of an American tattoo magazine.

Prevalence

It is impossible to give exact figures since there is no reporting on the number of tattoos performed, but the evidence suggests that tattooing (along with piercing and some other forms of body modification) is rapidly gaining in popularity in many parts of the world, and is gaining mainstream acceptance in many areas, particularly in the west.

Many celebrities, mostly those in the music industry, wear tattoos, but there are many others who have tattoos but generally keep them covered. In some areas, tattoos still have a largely negative image. This is particularly true in East Asian countries and regions, where tattoos are still generally associated with criminality in the public's mind; therefore those who choose to be tattooed in such countries usually keep their tattoos covered for fear of reprisal. For example, many businesses such as gyms, hot springs and recreational facilities in Japan still ban people with visible tattoos.

It has been suggested that a majority of prisoners in US prisons have at least one tattoo. It is said that most triad members in Hong Kong have a tattoo of a black dragon on the left bicep and one of a white tiger on the right; in fact, many people in Hong Kong use "left a black dragon, right a white tiger" as a euphemism for a triad member. It is widely believed that one of the initiation rites in becoming a triad member is silently withstanding the pain of receiving a tattoo the size of one's entire back in one sitting, usually performed in the traditional "hand-poked" style. Tattoos, particularly full traditional body suits, are still popularly associated with the yakuza (mafia) in Japan; in reality, however, many yakuza members are choosing not to be tattooed to avoid this very stigma.

History

Tattooing has been a practice of almost every known people. The Ainu, the indigenous people of Japan, wore unique facial tattoos. Tattooing was widespread among Polynesian peoples, and in the Philippines, Borneo, Samoa, Africa, Japan, and China.

Tattooing has been a Eurasian practice since Neolithic times. "Otzi," the "iceman" discovered frozen in the Tyrol and dated circa 3300 BC was tattooed, as was the mummified male found in the Pasaryk burial whose body was tattooed with stylized animal designs. In the Steppes, other natural mummies up to 7000 years old have been found to have tattoos.

Tattooing has also been featured prominently in one of the Four Classic Novels in Chinese literature, Water Margin, in which at least two of the 108 characters, Shi Jun and Yan Qing, were described as having tattoos covering nearly the whole of their bodies. In addition, Chinese legend has it that the mother of Yue Fei, the most famous general of the Song Dynasty, tattooed the words on his back with her sewing needle right before he left to join the army, reminding him to "repay his country with total loyalty".

Europeans rediscovered tattooing during the exploration of the South Pacific under Captain James Cook in the 1770s, and sailors were particularly identified with tattoos in European culture until after World War I.

The "modern" electric tattoo machine is fundamentally the same machine invented by Samuel O'Reilly in 1891, which was based on an electric engraving pen invented by Thomas Edison.

Tattoos are more popular now than at any time in recorded history. Current estimates have one in seven or over 39 million people in North America who have at least one tattoo.

It is arguably claimed that tattooing has existed since around 12,000 BC. The purpose of tattooing has varied from culture to culture and its place on the time line. But there are commonalties that prevail form the earliest known tattoos to those being done on college students on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley.

Skin&Ink Tattoo magazine article about Captain Bret's Celtic Tattoos

Tattoos have always had an important role in ritual and tradition. In Borneo, women tattooed symbols on their forearm indicating their particular skill. If a woman wore a symbol indicating she was a skilled weaver, her status as prime marriageable material was increased. Tattoos around the wrist and fingers were believed to ward away illness. Throughout history tattoos have signified membership in a clan or society. Even today groups like the Hells Angels tattoo their particular group symbol. TV and movies have used the idea of a tattoo indication membership in a secret society numerous times. It has been believed that the wearer of an image calls the spirit of that image. The ferocity of a tiger would belong to the tattooed person. That tradition holds true today shown by the proliferation of images of tigers, snakes, and bird of prey.

In recorded history, the earliest tattoos can be found in Egypt during the time of the construction of the great pyramids (It undoubtedly started much earlier). When the Egyptians expanded their empire, the art of tattooing spread as well. The civilizations of Crete, Greece, Persia, and Arabia picked up and expanded the art form. Around 2000 BC tattooing spread to China.

The Greeks used tattooing for communication among spies. Markings identified the spies and showed their rank. Romans marked criminals and slaves. This practice is still carried on today. The Ainu people of western Asia used tattooing to show social status. Girls coming of age were marked to announce their place in society, as were the married women. The Ainu are noted for introducing tattoos to Japan where it developed into a religious and ceremonial rite. In Borneo, women were the Tattooists. It was a cultural tradition. They produced designs indicating the owner’s station in life and the tribe he belonged to. Kayan women had delicate arm tattoos which looked like lacy gloves. Dayak warriors who had "taken a head" had tattoos on their hands. The tattoos garnered respect and assured the owners status for life. Polynesians developed tattoos to mark tribal communities, families, and rank. They brought their art to New Zealand and developed a facial style of tattooing called Moko which is still being used today. There is evidence that the Mayan, Incas, and Aztecs used tattooing in the rituals. Even the isolated tribes in Alaska practiced tattooing, their style indicating it was learned from the Ainu.

In the west, early Britons used tattoos in ceremonies. The Danes, Norse, and Saxons tattooed family crests (a tradition still practiced today). In 787 AD, Pope Hadrian banned tattooing. It still thrived in Britain until the Norman Invasion of 1066. The Normans disdained tattooing. It disappeared from Western culture from the 12th to the 16th centuries.

While tattooing diminished in the west, it thrived in Japan. At first, tattoos were used to mark criminals. First offenses were marked with a line across the forehead. A second crime was marked by adding an arch. A third offense was marked by another line. Together these marks formed the Japanese character for "dog". It appears this was the original "Three strikes, you're out" law. In time, the Japanese escalated the tattoo to an aesthetic art form. The Japanese body suit originated around 1700 as a reaction to strict laws concerning conspicuous consumption. Only royalty were allowed to wear ornate clothing. As a result of this, the middle class adorned themselves with elaborate full body tattoos. A highly tattooed person wearing only a loin cloth was considered well dressed, but only in the privacy of their own home.

William Dampier is responsible for re-introducing tattooing to the west. He was a sailor and explorer who traveled the South Seas. In 1691 he brought to London a heavily tattooed Polynesian named Prince Giolo, Known as the Painted Prince. He was put on exhibition, a money making attraction, and became the rage of London. It had been 600 years since tattoos had been seen in Europe and it would be another 100 years before tattooing would make it mark in the West.

In the late 1700s, Captain Cook made several trips to the South Pacific. The people of London welcomed his stories and were anxious to see the art and artifacts he brought back. Returning form one of this trips, he brought a heavily tattooed Polynesian named Omai. He was a sensation in London. Soon, the upper class were getting small tattoos in discreet places. For a short time tattooing became a fad.

What kept tattooing from becoming more widespread was its slow and painstaking procedure. Each puncture of the skin was done by hand the ink was applied. In 1891, Samuel O'Reilly patented the first electric tattooing machine. It was based on Edison's electric pen which punctured paper with a needle point. The basic design with moving coils, a tube and a needle bar, are the components of today's tattoo gun. The electric tattoo machine allowed anyone to obtain a reasonably priced and readily available tattoo. As the average person could easily get a tattoo, the upper classes turned away from it.

By the turn of the century, tattooing had lost a great deal of credibility. Tattooists worked the sleazier sections of town. Heavily tattooed people traveled with circuses and "freak Shows". Betty Brodbent traveled with Ringling Brothers Circus in the 1930s and was a star attraction for years.

The cultural view of tattooing was so poor for most of the century that tattooing went underground. Few were accepted into the secret society of artists and there were no schools to study the craft. There were no magazines or associations. Tattoo suppliers rarely advertised their products. One had to learn through the scuttlebutt where to go and who to see for quality tattoos.

The birthplace of the American style tattoo was Chatham Square in New York City. At the turn of the century it was a seaport and entertainment center attracting working-class people with money. Samuel O'Reilly came from Boston and set up shop there. He took on an apprentice named Charlie Wagner. After O'Reilly's death in 1908, Wagner opened a supply business with Lew Alberts. Alberts had trained as a wallpaper designer and he transferred those skills to the design of tattoos. He is noted for redesigning a large portion of early tattoo flash art.

While tattooing was declining in popularity across the country, in Chatham Square in flourished. Husbands tattooed their wives with examples of their best work. They played the role of walking advertisements for their husbands' work. At this time, cosmetic tattooing became popular, blush for cheeks, colored lips, and eyeliner. With World War I, the flash art images changed to those of bravery and wartime icons.

In the 1920s, with prohibition and then the depression, Chatham Square lost its appeal. The center for tattoo art moved to Coney Island. Across the country, Tattooists opened shops in areas that would support them, namely cities with military bases close by, particularly naval bases. Tattoos were known as travel markers. You could tell where a person had been by their tattoos.

After World War II, tattoos became further denigrated by their associations with Marlon Brando type bikers and Juvenile delinquents. Tattooing had little respect in American culture. Then, in 1961 there was an outbreak of hepatitis and tattooing was sent reeling on its heels.

Though most tattoo shops had sterilization machines, few used them. Newspapers reported stories of blood poisoning, hepatitis, and other diseases. The general population held tattoo parlors in disrepute. At first, the New York City government gave the tattoos an opportunity to form an association and self-regulate, but Tattooists are independent and they were not able to organize themselves. A health code violation went into effect and the tattoo shops at Times Square and Coney Island were shut down. For a time, it was difficult to get a tattoo in New York. It was illegal and tattoos had a terrible reputation. Few people wanted a tattoo. The better shops moved to Philadelphia and New Jersey where it was still legal.

In the late 1960s, the attitude towards tattooing changed. Much credit can be given to Lyle Tuttle. He is a handsome, charming, interesting and knows how to use the media. He tattooed celebrities, particularly women. Magazines and television went to Lyle to get information about this ancient art form.

Today, tattooing is making a strong comeback. It is more popular and accepted than it has ever been. All classes of people seek the best tattoo artists. This rise in popularity has placed Tattooists in the category of "fine artist". The Tattooist has garnered a respect not seen for over 100 years. Current artists combine the tradition of tattooing with their personal style creating unique and phenomenal body art. With the addition of new inks, tattooing has certainly reached a new plateau.

We know that almost all cultures throughout history have subscribed to some form of body art or body manipulation, and for many, this included tattoos.

Over the last 150 years, archaeologists have unearthed several mummified remains marked with tattoos:

In 1991, the frozen, well-preserved body of a Siberian "Iceman" was discovered in the Alps. More than 5,000 years old, the body had 57 tattoos.

In 1948, a Russian archaeologist who was excavating a group of tombs found the mummy of a Scythian Chieftain. On the mummy's right arm, there were tattoos of a donkey, a mountain ram, and two deer. As well, there were tattoos of four running rams that encircled his shin.

In 1891, archaeologists discovered the mummified remains of an Egyptian priestess named Amunet, who likely lived some time between 2160 BC and 1994 BC. Her body had tattoos on its arms, legs, and below the belly button.

In Japan, scientists have discovered clay figurines more than 3,000 years old painted with markings that resemble tattoos.

Biblical

During the time of the Old Testament, much of the pagan world was practicing the art of tattooing as a means of deity worship. This, of course, necessitated a negative response from Israel, which attempted to separate itself from the adoration of false gods:

"You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh on account of the dead or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the LORD." - Leviticus 19:28

Biblical scholar M.W. Thomson suggests, however, that Moses favored tattoos. Thomson speculates that Moses introduced tattoos as a way to commemorate the deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. In his 1859 study, Thomson suggests that Moses believed the prohibition above applied only to heathen, pagan images.

Just before the birth of Christ, Roman writers such as Virgil, Seneca, and Galenus reported that many slaves and criminals were tattooed.
Post Biblical

Early in the fourth century, when Constantine became Roman Emperor and rescinded the prohibition on Christianity, he also banned tattooing on face, which was common for convicts, soldiers, and gladiators. Constantine believed that the human face was a representation of the image of God and should not be disfigured or defiled.

It is documented that a monk who lived in the late fifth century had a tattoo on his thigh that read: "Manim, the disciple of Jesus Christ."

Procopius of Caesarea, who lived during the first half of the sixth century and wrote number of official histories, once reported that many Christians were tattooed, on their arms, with a cross or the name of Christ.

Charles MacQuarrie, in his work, "Insular Celtic Tattooing: History, Myth, and Metaphor", details how "marks" that are mentioned in the Life of Saint Brigit may have been tattoos. He also suggests that Celtic Christians approved of some, but not all, tattoos.

At the council of Calcuth in Northumberland, the 786 Report of the Papal Legates mentioned two types of tattooing: one of pagan superstition, which doesn't aid any Christian, and another for the sake of God, which provides certain (unnamed) rewards.

Crusaders, arriving in the Holy Land, often tattooed a small cross on their hands or arms as a sign that they desired a Christian burial.
Purpose

Today, people commonly choose to be tattooed for cosmetic, religious and magical reasons, as well as as a symbol of belonging to or identification with particular groups. Some Maori males still choose to wear intricate moko on their faces. Throughout history people have also been forcibly tattooed for a variety of reasons. The best known is the ka-tzetnik identification system for Jews in concentration camps during the Holocaust.

European sailors were known to tattoo the crucifixion on their backs to prevent flogging as a punishment.

Tattoos are also placed on animals, though very rarely for decorative reasons. Pets, show animals, thoroughbred horses and livestock are sometimes tattooed with identification marks, and certain of their body parts (for example, noses) have also been tattooed to prevent sunburn. Such tattoos are performed by veterinarians and the animals are anaesthetized to prevent the sensation of pain and ensure their safety.
Procedure

Some tribal cultures still create tattoos by cutting designs into the skin and rubbing the resulting wound with ink, ashes or other agents. This may be an adjunct to scarification. Some cultures create tattooed marks by "tapping" the ink into the skin using sharpened sticks or animal bones. Traditional Japanese tattoos (irezumi) are still "hand-poked," that is, the ink is inserted beneath the skin using non-electrical, hand-made and hand held tools with needles of sharpened bamboo or steel.

The most common method of tattooing in modern times is with an electric tattoo machine. In this procedure, ink is inserted into the skin via a group needles that are soldered onto a bar, which is attached to an oscillating unit. The unit rapidly and repeatedly drives the needles in and out of the skin, usually 50 to 3,000 times a minute.

Tattoo machines operate on an electromagnetic principle (much like an old-fashioned door bell) and are manufactured by many small to mid-sized companies throughout the world.

In prisons, tattoo machines are not available, so machines are cobbled together. Tattoos created under such conditions are frequently painful, and the resulting designs are coarser. There is also significant risk of illness, including such blood-borne diseases as HIV and hepatitis. Prisoners often dismiss these risks in a show of toughness.
Permanent Cosmetics

Permanent cosmetics are tattoos that enhance eyebrows, lips (liner or lipstick), eyes (shadow, mascara), and even moles, usually with natural colours as the designs are intended to resemble makeup. The prices of cosmetic procedures are higher than design tattoos because most states require permanent makeup artists to be licensed aestheticians.
"Natural" tattoos

Workers in coal mines would wind up with characteristic tattoos owing to coal dust getting into wounds.
Temporary tattoos and Mehndi

Temporary tattoos are a type of body sticker. They are sold individually or in packages, and are generally applied to the skin using water to transfer a design on to the surface of the skin. Temporary tattoos safe for people of all ages, are easily removed with soap and water or oil-based creams, and are intended to last from one to several days. Temporary tattoo designs often resemble real tattoo flash, but they are also used for advertising.

The art known as Mehndi, common in Middle Eastern, North African and Asian countries (but particularly associated with India), is the application of intricate patterns and designs on the hands and feet. The designs are usually hand drawn with henna: powdered henna is mixed with coffee or tea, lemon juice (to release the dye) and sugar (for consistency) into a paste which is then applied. The length of time the design will last depends on how long the paste is left on the skin. Most designs last up to two weeks, fading from a dark brown to a light orange before disappearing. So-called 'black henna', which is made by adding PPD (p-Phenylenediamine) to natural henna, in order to achieve a black color, may cause allergic reactions. PPD is very unhealthy and has been known to cause burns.

Mehndi is traditionally applied onto the hands and feet of brides, but there exist traditions in Bangladesh, Kashmir and Sudan where bridegrooms also have Mehndi applied before wedding ceremonies. Mehndi has also become popular, particularly in the West, as a form of temporary body decoration with no symbolic meaning.
Allergic reactions

Allergic reactions to tattoo pigments are rare but not unheard of. People who are sensitive or allergic to certain metals may react to pigments in the skin, causing damage to the epidermis.
People with allergies should consider carefully getting a tattoo because of the risk of anaphylaxis (hypersensitive reaction) and the shock that might occur, which can be life threatening. Some tattoo artists give small tests, by marking a small amount of ink behind the ear to determine if that person has an allergic reaction.

Infection from tattooing in clean and modern tattoo studios is RARE.

Potential infections include everything from surface infections of the skin to staph infections that can cause cardiological damage. People who are susceptible to infection should know the dangers of the abasing of the skin can have and should consult a physician before getting a tattoo.

Following universal precautions also reduces the risk of infection. Shops should appear clean; sinks with hot water and soap should be available in the bathroom as well as in the studio; Tattooers should wash their hands regularly and wear latex gloves; surfaces should be cleaned with disinfectant and floors should appear clean; proper procedures for sterilizing equipment should also be followed strictly.

Credit for this article source: http://tribal-celtic-tattoo.com

Tribal tatoo story

2010-12-09T05:04:00.000-08:00

The tribal style originates from the old tribes like the Celtic, the Maori tribes, the Haida tribes, the inhabitants of the Marquesan and the tribes of Borneo. What a lot of people now recognize as Tribal is in fact a new style: New Tribalism are the remains of the old Tribal style. Particularly the Borneo style shows a lot of resemblance with New Tribalism.

Concerning all Tribal styles the division in black and white is important. Not only of what has been tattood must have a good shape but also the parts that have been left blanc must also be well shaped. Besides it is more beautiful that the shapes follow your body contours. The balance with Tribals and Ornamentals are very important. That is the reason why it is so important to have a tattoo done by someone who understands the different styles.

In recent years Tribal Tattoos have enjoyed a revival.We specialize in Historical and modern Tribal Tattoos of all styles.

Since the dawn of humanity , Tattoos have been made onto both sexes to decorate, enhance, and modify the skin we inherit at birth. Some Tattoos are self-motivated expressions of personal freedom and uniqueness. Most, however, have to do with traditions that mark a person as a member or nonmember of the local group, or express religious, magical, or spiritual beliefs and personal convictions. We all have a undeniable need to belong, this is the most basic Tribal need, and the reason for the Tribal Tattoos renewed power. Tribal Tattoos have a simple appeal : we like the way they look on us, It reinforces a positive feeling about ourselves and connects us some how to an element of mystery and ancient activity.

The practice of skin ornamentation is certainly as widespread and as ancient as Man himself. It may well have been one of his first conscious acts involving tools which separated him from the rest of the animal kingdom. It is thought by some that ancient mans first primordial feeling when he found himself without great amounts of body hair was to take a blackened sharp stick from the fire and decorate ( Tattoo ) his body, in this way he became camouflaged or protected as the animals were.

As the origins of art are rooted in early cave paintings, so positive proof of Tattooing is obtained from recent discoveries of ancient frozen mummified remains of early man that are covered in Tattoos. Oldest Tattooed body known to date is that of a Bronze Age man who died over 5000 years ago. He was found frozen intact in an Italian glazier. Researchers where startled at close examination he was found to have both arms, legs and torso covered with elaborate Tattoos representing mythical creatures. 15000 BC ice age rock carvings show Tattooed figures, 4200 BC Egyptian mummies wear Tattoos. Archeologically validated works of art showing Tattoos started to appear about 30000 years ago. One must not forget that, with the exemption of mummies, all art on the Human body disappears into the fire or ashes along with its bearer.

Western culture now has a widespread resurgence and acceptance of the Tribal practice of Tattooing. More and more research on Tribal people, their arts, Tattoos, and lifestyles, and more and more available images of Tattooed people have led to western peoples interest in Tribal Tattoos. Pretechnological designs (i.e.,Black Tribal) give the wearer a link to the origins of all present human society, a past Tribal culture wherein the Tattoo had an inner meaning to the wearer , not just a modern symbol of our present culture such as a Mickey Mouse Tattoo.

The emergence and / or renaissance of the ancient Tribal Art of Tattooing is by no means restricted to the present generation of young men and women in western countries. After having been outlawed and suppressed for a century or two , these ancient and traditional arts are also being revived by young native peoples of all tribes.

Tattooing is a widely practiced method of body decoration in which markings such as signs , symbols , and letters are applied to the body by puncturing the skin’s outer layer and inserting color into it. Whether ancient or modern techniques are used, the skin is punctured with a sharp instrument, now usually an electric moved needle. In earlier times and other cultures , Tattooing required one or more needles fixed to a stick and driven into the skin by slight tapping, the very process that has led to the term Tattoo via the early Polynesian sound -equivalent of the tapping action: Tau Tau.

The Celtic tribes
The old Celts lived mainly in England and Ireland (before also in France). Round the year 1000 the Celtic civilization gradually disappeared. Typical of this style is interlace, spirals, dogs, birds and humans

The Maori tribes
The Maori originate from New Zealand and have traditional facial tattoos (moko) and special leg tattoos. This tattoo style, that shows a lot of resemblance with the wood carving of the Maoris, is typical for its spirals. Under influence of the missionaries the traditional Maori tattoos disappeared round 1900. In those days the Maori were hunted for their (tattooed) head as a trophy.

The facial tattoos of the Maori were individually designed and there for never copied from each other. According to the legend the facial tattoos were made to be recognized by friends and family once deceased. According to the story the light goes right through you when you are dead, but your tattoos show who you are. Since 1980-1990 there is an uprising of the tattoo phenomenon under the Maori in New Zealand. For the Maori a tattoo means inner strength and mastering this inner strength.

The Haida tribes
The Haida (Indian tribes) lived on the Northwest coast of America. This style of tattoos, which shows a lot of resemblance with the woodcarving of the Haida, thunderbirds, beavers, bears, fish and woodcarving are very common. The pictures are mainly about the Indian astrology. The Indians believed that you partly take over the strength of the animal when having such a tattoo. The Haida style is a forceful, masculine style.

The Marquesan tribes
The Marquesan style originates from the inhabitants of the Marquesan Islands in Polynesia. These islanders used to be completely covered with tattoos. Their bodies showed picture stories, for other tribes to recognize who you were, where you were from and what you did. In the entire Polynesian area the tattoo culture always has been present, everyone was tattood. The word tattoo is derived from the word 'tatau' that comes from this area. The Marquesan style is mainly based on the divinity Tiki, who is always portrayed with his eyes closed because he smells danger before he sees it. Images that are used a lot in this style are: shells (wealth), shark teeth (protection) lizards, whales, turtles, fish hooks, and so on. The Marquesan style is a form of language in symbols.

Borneo
Borneo is situated above Indonesia. In former times the headhunters (from the Iban- and Dayak tribes) had tattoos for protection and as proof of their achievement. That is how one obtained a spiral in the form of a flower on the front of the shoulders when making a long trip, but also for cutting someone's head there was a particular symbol. The headhunters protected the rest of the tribe that lived in trees. They themselves lived on the ground and by the looks of their tattoos you could see what they did and what they have been through. Typical for this style are images of scorpions, flowers, dogs, dragons and spirals.

Tattoo Johnny: 3,000 Tattoo Designs

2010-12-09T04:48:00.000-08:00

These days, it seems like everybody—male, female, young, and old—wants a tattoo. But choosing the right design isn’t always easy. Tattoo Johnny to the rescue! Culled from the world’s leading tattoo Web site, this in-depth resource offers more than 1,000 designs in a wide range of styles, all by renowned artists: angels, devils, flowers, pirates, pin-ups, religious images, stars, zodiac signs, and more. Whether readers are getting their first tattoo, or a second, third, or tenth, this is the ideal place to find the perfect pattern.

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About the Author
Tattoo Johnny is the largest supplier of designs to professional tattoo studios around the world.

A story told in tattoos

2010-12-09T04:38:00.000-08:00

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Rob Poulos is a walking fragment of literature. Tattooed on his left wrist is a single word, lowercase, followed by a comma and quotation marks — back," — as if it was lifted from the end of a line of dialogue.

Jackson wrote a 2,095-word short story and has recruited people around the United States to have a word from the story tattooed on their body.
By Frank Franklin II, AP

Likely it was. Poulos, himself a student of creative writing, joined a worldwide effort to help author Shelley Jackson publish a short story solely on human hide.

Appropriately titled Skin, the 2,095-word piece of fiction is the foundation for a project that's as exclusive as it is obscure. Each person bears one word only, and Jackson insists that the full text will be distributed only to participants.

"I can't write a normal book. I'm not interested in that," Jackson said in a telephone interview while roller-skating through New York City's borough of Brooklyn.

None of her books have been mainstream. Her 1995 Patchwork Girl was written in computer hypertext, full of endless mouse clickable links.

"It's not that everything I do has to be tricked out with gimmicks and games," she said. "I'm just interested in exploring the range of what a text can do."

Jackson, 40, launched the project she calls a "mortal work of art" in August.

Poulos, 22, heard about it in his literature class at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. His professor was given: "pen?"

"I thought it was an interesting mix of genres and I liked the permanence of the whole thing," Poulos said. "I always told myself if I get a tattoo, it better be something of importance."

Jackson said participants want to be connected to 2,094 other people and often don't care about the story's subject. Some have never read her earlier work.

Poulos did know of Jackson. After seeing the rules for the project, he e-mailed her.

"I told myself if I get a word I don't like, I'm not going to do it," Poulos said.

A letter came in the mail with Poulos' word — back," — a few months ago. Possibly a character's dialogue from the story, he thought.

Within days, Poulos got his first tattoo for $60 at Skin Illustrations, a parlor near his home in Overland Park, Kan.

Drawn in a black textbook font, back," is small enough that it could be concealed under a watch strap.

Jackson was the first to ink the story's title to the underside of her wrist. Its uncommon spot complements her wild hair, nose and lip piercings and the "&" tattooed to her bicep.

Initially, Jackson asked friends to become the story's opening lines. But when BBC and others reported on her project, e-mails and letters poured in from across the United States and dozens of countries, from Jordan to Japan.

She has more than enough volunteers and could have finished the project months ago if not for an arm injury, she said. All the words — about 400 remain — will be assigned after she finishes teaching creative writing at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn this summer.

The story has no obscene words, but some can be taken more than one way. One woman, for example, refused to tattoo "use" to her curvy body.

Jackson's "words" have replied with proof of their tattoos. A man in his 50s from Hawaii sent a photo in which he proudly flexes his first tattoo. Mother-daughter duos have consecutive words in Skin tattooed on their bodies. So do couples.

"I was always fascinated by the idea of alternative publications and not many authors have ever attempted alternative ways of publishing," Jackson said. "Publishers are not interested in conceptual art."

Author Neal Pollack has also mastered publicity stunts with his literature.

"One doesn't do something like Shelley did to get noticed," said Pollack, whose first book tour mocked literary conventions with readings at train stations and baseball stadiums. On his last tour, Pollack peddled his work through live punk rock shows.

He acknowledged that "Skin" could easily be seen as "pretentious."

"But anything that even moderately shakes literature out of its doldrums is great," Pollack said.

William Gibson was a pioneer in elevating the craft through artful self-expression with his Agrippa (A Book of The Dead).

In 1992, the author, famed for Johnny Mnemonic," sold $2,000 copies of a "read-only-once" poem. Published on a computer disk and bound by art that vanished when exposed to light, a program would scroll the six-verse poem across the screen one time, then self-destruct (the idea was spoiled when someone passed the poem over the Internet).

Jackson is debating how to present her story to her "words," but she's optimistic that Skin, in it's published entirety, will remain a secret among her loyal subjects. She gives no clues about the story's topic, only that it's in the "surreal tradition of literary fantasists."

Poulos promises he won't share the story when he gets his hands on it. He hopes to meet Jackson someday, and there's talk of an online discussion board for the new community.
from: USA Today

The Mammoth Book of Tattoos

2010-12-09T04:36:00.001-08:00

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500 Tattoo Designs

2010-12-09T04:16:00.000-08:00

Tattoos are no longer unusual or uncommon; they are now an undeniable element of mainstream style and fashion. But tattoos are expensive and, more importantly, permanent; so choosing an image is a very big decision. Here to help is 500 Tattoo Designs, a vast reference library of popular tattoos. Neatly organized by theme, the clearly executed line drawings cover every conceivable subject area - historical and traditional to modern, from tribal imagery of native American Indians, Japanese and Chinese characters, arcane hieroglyphics to gothic skulls, Celtic amulets, and more. The book also features body positioning hints for specific designs, a discussion of color dynamics, and notes on health and safety. Whether you want to show off your design or conceal it, this book is packed with hundreds of possibilities.

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About the Author
Henry Ferguson is one of the UK's leading authorities on tattoo and body art. As well as being the publisher of Body Art magazine, one of the foremost journals on body art, he co-authored (with Lyn Proctor), 'The Art of Tattoo', published by Chrysalis Books. He lives in Norfolk. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Brand New 2010 Model 2 Guns Super Tattoo Ink Kit Complete

2010-12-09T04:09:00.001-08:00

PRODUCT FEATURES 1 Top quality deluxe carrying case 2 Professional tattoo machines for liner & shader 2 stainless steel tubes 2 chromatic alloy tubes 7 different size stainless steel tips 1 great quality power supply.(110/240V) 1 Foot switch 1 power cord 50 pre made sterile tattoo needles 1 ink holder 100 ink cup 50 rubber bands 50 rubber rings 50 grommets 7 Bottles ink (Angel White, Devil Black, Navy Blue, Lightning Yellow, Blood Red, Peacock Green, Aubergine) Set of adjust tools and other attachments 1 Free Demo instruction VCD English version for windows media player 10 sheets practice paper great to practice on instead of yourself.this is how to learn to do high quality tattoo work.

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Set of adjust tools and other attachments 1 Free Demo instruction VCD English version for windows media player 10 sheets practice paper great to practice on instead of yourself.this is how to learn to do high quality tattoo work.