This is what I do in between tattoos here in Miami. I had to post this one, it makes me feel so happy. I will be returning from Miami very soon with lots of photos of some new tattoos, stay tuned.
I have received a lot of emails regarding the London Tattoo Convention, wether or not I will be there, am I taking appointments, etc. etc.. So I am writing this to hopefully shed light on some unanswered questions. Yes, I will be attending the London Convention (as you can see on the “upcoming events” to the right), I will be working with 4 great tattooers that I work with at Gold Rush Tattoo; Joel Bones, Colin Dowling, Lindsey Carmichael and Eric Jones. If you would like to take the opportunity to get tattooed by these great artists, check out the website to view there portfolios and set up an appointment. As far as MY appointments go, I will be tattooing but not taking appointments, I only tattoo on a ‘first come first serve’ basis. I will also only be tattooing 3-4 hour blocks on each person, that way it’s fair for the next person waiting. I am looking forward to making some new tattoos and seeing everyone there, thank you for your support.
When I discovered Natalia Fabia’s work I was infatuated with it right off the bat. Not long after that I met her through a friend at the Burgundy Room in L.A., I then began my mission of owning a Natalia Fabia original. I eventually scored one and it now hangs in my living room this very moment. Since getting to know Natalia I now have 2 originals and a print, and she has 3 tattoos from me (I think it’s 3…). Anyhow, She is having an exhibit right now and I recommend checking it out, it’s worth an afternoon to see up close and personal. I posted a gallery of some of her more recent paintings and some of my favorites.
In one week I will be stepping back in to the lions den and returning to Miami for another trip of some heavy tattooing. I’ve actually been really looking forward to seeing the fellas over at Love Hate and catching up with my Miami family. Ah Miami, what a magical unique place. It’s the only place in the world that I can surf hurricane waves in the morning (topless sunbathers present), eat an authentic Cuban lunch, tattoo non-stop all afternoon, score ANYTHING you want on the walk to the club and then steal bottle-service drinks from famous rappers. ps – that all actually happened one day. These days it’s more along the lines of me just tattooing like a mad-man and getting a fancy dinner with friends… Life is still good to me.
Today I spent a couple hours with my friend Casey gettin’ down on a forearm portrait. What a fun portrait to do, I think old school photos make such good forearm tattoos, they’re so damn classy looking (in my opinion at least). That big done-up hair, that lovely light source and the high contrast just says, “put me on a forearm!”. Enjoy
Anyone who knows me knows I just love a good hat. I have at least one for every occasion, ball caps, trucker hats, Panama hats with thick silk bands, even way overpriced italian Borsalinos that I cannot resist. What can I say, I try and enjoy the little things in life. Ever since my introduction to RVCA , made by my apprentice Rory, they have supported me more than any other clothing company that I’ve designed for. RVCA is one of the handful of creative companies that give me opportunity to express myself artistically with no boundaries, this time creativity comes in the form of a felt fedora that I was honored to design for them. I tell you what, there is nothing like getting ready to go out and grabbing your fedora that YOU created and placing it upon your own head, super bitchen. Thanks RVCA
I sure love when clients send me pics of their nicely healed tattoos, even if it is from their camera-phone. It lets me know I actually did something right, and also that I’m not getting too careless,”I still care man!…I swear it…”. I actually photoshopped the piss out of this photo just make it LOOK like it healed ok, it’s all smoke and mirrors these days *MUUUAAAAHAHAHAHA(sinister laugh)
So I have been going through all my past emails with help from the Mrs. and corresponding with tattooers that have inquired about custom machines. During the process of making these One-Offs, and also some for Deluxe Tattoo Supply in the UK, I have made a couple of shaders that are now up for grabs on my eBay store. The first is a Jonesy style and the second is a hand cut Brass Working Class, both shaders. I hope you like ‘em
http://stores.ebay.com/saltwatertattoo
I finally took a couple shots of the first machine I ever made. I had put together many machine before this, but a true hand-made, in my book, involves making all the parts, frame, binding posts, coils, a-bar, you get the idea. I made this in Dallas in 1998 when I was working in Deep Ellum for Eric Inclan. Eric had a machine shop in the back of the tattoo shop, and I would spend my spare time in between tattoos tinkering away, we would talk shit together and Eric sure has a way of showing hospitality. It is 2010 and I still have my trusty shader by my side, and since then I have worked under Dan Dringenberg learning more and more each day. Dan has taught me everything I know about tattoo machines, but he hasn’t taught me everything HE knows. I have so much to learn
This Saturday, June 26th, I have the honor of being a part of an art show named 100 Artists See Satan, above is the piece I have donated. This exhibit is the second time they have done this, the first time there was a popular book that came after the show that did very well I’m told. After this show here will also be a book made, I’m excited to how it turns out. I won’t be able to make the opening because I will be in Palm Springs at Dan and Jaz Dringenberg’s Wedding. When I get home I’m gonna wander through the exhibit all alone with only my coffee and the acrylic fiery hell of the satan paintings to keep me warm, no elbow to elbow crowded chaos of an art opening. Enjoy
This weekend, while working the Long Beach Convention, my friend Peter came up to my booth and delivered a present that just about knocked my socks off. Our mutual friend Chente, while incarcerated, drew a portrait for me as a gift. It’s from a picture I mailed him of Freddy Corbin tattooing me in Oakland a few years back. I had to stop tattooing for a while and just stare in amazement at how awesome this pen drawing really is. All day people were coming up to the booth and asking to see the Chente drawing, word got around really quick. That night I took it home and sealed it in a temperature controlled, laser protected, fingerprint and retina encoded vault! Ok so maybe I just took it home and hung it up in my living room, but at least you have a good idea of how much this drawing means to me.
It is fair to say that the Tattoo Convention this weekend went well. Everybody had a positive vibe and was making bad ass tattoos! I saw some of the best work I’ve seen in a long time and I have to say that the bar has been raised just a smidgen higher and it is keeping me on my toes. I worked all three days and on Friday Gold Rush Tattoo had a party at the V-Room in Long Beach that was ‘off the hook’, I saw some old friends and made some new ones. Life is good, enjoy it.
This weekend I am attending the Long Beach Tattoo Show at the Queen Mary. If you’ve never been aboard this enormous ship you’ve been missing out. It was constructed in the 1930′s and not only is it bigger than the Titanic but it once carried over 10,000 soldiers overseas during WWI, a first during that time, and on a trip from Southampton carried Bob Hope and his Wife plus 1,000,000 dollars in gold bullion, awesome. Today this ship is just a tourist attraction and a hotel, it stays dry-docked in the Long Beach Harbor and holds many events. If you’re not golfing this weekend, or lying to your wife about a business trip to really go cheat, then come on down to the Queen Mary and get tattooed, listen to really good music, and maybe even see some weirdos with there clothes all cut up in specific places to better see their fucked up tattoos, AWESOME! Hell, you might even have a good time.
Also at the Queen Mary, I will be selling these tattoo machines you see before you(I have been slaving away on these all week). I will also have The Original Tattoo Pens, new T-shirts, Pin-up Books, Tattoo Needles, Chente Flash, and many other goodies. I will also be tattooing who ever walks up first, FIRST COME FIRST SERVE, let’s do it!
Since Edgar Hoill has been the Editor of Lowrider Arte this magazine has stepped it up a notch. This magazine has been, and always will be, a big part of my childhood and teen years. I wonder if my Mom has any remnants of my belongings left over from when I tattooed all the neighborhood kids in the garage, I’m sure you could find an old Lowrider Arte or two in that pile of stuff. I remember when a new issue would come out and my friends and I would sit on the porch pointing out our favorite drawings of the month, and how I would say something like, “I could tattoo that on you…”. I am very honored this month to actually be a part of something that I grew up with rolled up in my back pocket as I walked home from Mr. Bobs liquor store. To me, being in Lowrider Arte is a personal accomplishment that I was very excited to fulfill. A very special thanks to Edgar Hoill.
One of my weaknesses is when I come across vintage or historical tattoo items I jump at the chance to add them to my collection. This time I really feel I scored ‘a find’ and do not have the buyers remorse, even though my budget doesn’t allow me to buy anything nice for myself ’til 2020! I am very grateful that I was taught to appreciate memorabilia such as this (thanks Dan), Owen Jensen was a legend in this business and to find an unmolested set-up like this just sets my heart on fire. If you have the interest and 5 minutes of your time, read about Owen’s life from this link http://www.tattooarchive.com/, it’s worth your time.
Owen Jensen (1891–1976)
