Prolific tattooists Ben Corday and Sailor Jerry have continued to inspire new generations—think: sailing ships, pin-up girls, skulls and hearts—all of those symbols defined the “American Old-School Tattoos.” The same icons that US-native Brian Kelly has revived on skins and in tattoo flash. “Sometimes I use liquid acrylic for the white parts of the paintings. […]
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A Collection of Prize-Winning Projects from the A’ Design Awards
The A’ Design Awards is a long-standing annual competition that highlights the very best in 100 creative fields such as art, tattoo, animation, fashion, product design, architecture, communication design, and more. Shown above is Marianela Salinas Jaimes’ award-winning plates—fun and stylish dishware to use for a dinner party. Another acclaimed work is Kazuaki Kawahara’s piano-like […]
Pizza Pirate’s Classic Cartoons with Modern Sensibilities
Nelson Calderara better known Pizza Pirate is inspired by Western cartoons of the 1930s—his artwork feels like a direct descendant of that of animators like Walt Disney and Max Fleischer, from the trademark white gloves, to the use of skulls and skeletons, to the almost punk rock style of transgression. That transgression typically manifests in […]
The Illustrative Blackwork of Bruno Santos
Brazilian tattoo artist Bruno Santos is not your regular late bloomer. He was already signed as a professional football player in Brazil when he surrendered to the call of tattooing. Not many people can put teenage football star and kickass tattoo artist in the same resumé. As impressive as that sounds, it wasn’t as easy […]
The Epic 2018 London Tattoo Convention
Tattoo artists wait years for an exclusive invite from The London Tattoo Convention—a great honor to be included in the annual event organized by Miki Vialetto and the Tattoo Life magazine team. It is considered one of best conventions in the world and tattooists like Carlos Torres have stated it is “the Super Bowl,” Benjamin […]
Brushstrokes and Splatters: Natalie Nox’s Tattoos
Currently traveling the world to tattoo conventions, such as the upcoming London one, Greek artist Natalie Nox is making a name for herself with her grim abstract blackwork that is characterized by mimicking painting brushstrokes and splatters. Her compositions vary from soft to hardcore fill, from a simple zen circle to darker skulls and roses. […]
Inside the 2nd Annual Van Isle Tattoo Expo
It’s only been a year since the first annual Van Isle Tattoo Expo, but it feels like a lot has changed behind the scenes. The haphazard intimacy that marked the inaugural convention in downtown Victoria has been refined. From the room layout to the volunteers to the way artists from different places interacted with each […]
Megan Massacre Interview: On the Changing Tattoo Scene and Being a Cool Granny
There are very few tattoo artists working today more recognizable than Megan Woznicki. Though most know her better by professional name: Megan Massacre. It’s a marvel to see her at work, giving depth and texture to tattoos that blend different styles into one that is unmistakably hers. She’s just as quick with a kind smile […]
A Stranger in Town: Dark, Symbolic Compositions by Shane Pierce
Shane Pierce is an artist from Missouri (currently based in North Carolina) who describes his life and art as “nomadic”—travelling, working in different creative fields, and populating his oil paintings with skull-faced suitcase-toting wanderers ( “‘a stranger comes to town’ type of theme,” as he describes it in a fascinating interview with Beautiful Bizarre). With […]
Spectral Beasts in the Shadowy Fantasy Realms of Jade Mere
Jade Mere is a writer and illustrator with a passion for fantasy, science fiction, and the paranormal. Humans and animals are her favorite subjects, and this post features a selection of the latter. Just like the moonlit waters of Mere’s Pacific-Northwest home, the animals are filled with phosphorescence, light leaking from their eyes, mouths, and […]