Model: unknown
Photographer: unknown
Gents and Ladies:
It's Hump Day.
Enjoy
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Motivation Monday: Inked Pose of the Day
This nouveau traditionalism style has sprung open the gates and unleashed its overwhelmingly simple yet timeless imagery on the masses. Take note of simple contrasting colors. Traditional tattoos are very clean and are tattooed using only primary colors and black. Nouveau Traditional tattoos use various contrasting colors (secondary and tertiary) besides the primaries. This is a major difference between the two. Take your pick. One style started the American industry, the other is reviving it. Both are equally appreciated and timeless.
Artist: Unknown
Model: Unknown
Photographer: Unknown
Symbol of the Week: "Satanic" Cross
The Satanic Cross:
Image B
As well many of us westerners know, the cross is a sacred symbol among Christians and inherent to young individuals trying to find a tattoo design with meaning. A cross tends to be the default for many individuals just starting their collections, however there has been a gap in communication to the mass populous on religious tattoos.
The upside down Latin cross: (see image A)
Image A
This cross has been taken by pop culture (and the masses) as the satanic cross for simple reasons. People have commonly thought that since this cross is inverted, it represents the inversion or opposite of Christ. That is however not the case. Though reasonable as this thought may be it is incorrect and actually quite the contrary. The inverted cross is still and actually a popular Christian symbol as it represents the death of St. Peter. St. Peter also known as Simon Peter was the first "pope" of the Catholic Church. St Peter was martyred in 65-66 AD. When he was crucified, he pleaded that he be crucified upside down as he did believe himself worthy to be killed like that of Jesus, his Lord. (See image B). There are many speculations as to how he had finished dying as suffocation for crucifixion was typically the fatal consequence however as St. Peter was inverted, suffocation took longer. Some speculate that he was burned on the second day but did not die and then finally beheaded on his cross on the third day.
Even so, the inverted cross represents a dark martyrdom but is not related to the true satanic symbol. The real satanic cross is represented below: (see image C)
The Satanic Cross is a variationof the alchemical symbol for sulfur that represents fire and brimstone. The sulfur symbol was placed above the Nine Satanic Statements in the Satanic Bible in LaVeyan Satanism, and is commonly used in rituals performed by Theistic Satanists. It can also be interpreted as a combination of the Lorraine cross and the mathematical symbol for infinity, or a phallic re-imagining of the cross, with the infinity symbol representing a scrotum. It is often interpreted as a symbol of Satanism, because LaVey adopted it from the Cross o Lorraine or even the Patriarchal cross, which is also a symbol of Christianity and Hermeticism. Hermetic alchemists of the Renaissance used the emblem as a symbol of earth and spirit by combining the square earth cross with the cross of Christ. When drawn symmetrically, it symbolized the hermetic maxim, "As above, so below".
Ergo a simple inverted cross has no significance as a satanic symbol and in fact is used by the papacy as a symbol for the Pope, referencing St. Peter.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
Aftercare Solutions: Baker's Health Up and Coming
As Tattoo Artists and Collectors alike, we all continue to find a better solution for aftercare that can speed up the healing time and make it easier to heal.
Many ointments and aftercare balms have made leaps and bounds in the industry. H2Ocean, Tattoo Goo, ect. have paved the way for aftercare. Basing their solutions with a water based formula; this allows the tattoo to breathe more easily and heal more readily. This is a great solution especially with individuals with sensitive skin. Solutions like these have allowed us to take better care of our tattoos and allow them to heal with a more vibrant look, keep clean, and heal better than just using an over the counter, non-scented, petroleum free, water based lotion. The only problem that arises with ointments is keeping your tattoo clean and free of contaminates. This is not a fault of the collector but a necessary measure that has to be taken to ensure healthy recovery. It is unfortunate that aftercare kits still require you to go through an intensive cleaning your tattoo at least twice a day with antibacterial soap. And further still, there are no solutions that are all-in-one tattoo recovery solutions however there is a new up and coming product that has shown to make healing a little less intense.
Baker's Health is a mobile company based out of Colorado and Florida. Headed by Carol and Rob Baker, a mom and son organization, have created a formula and product comprised of only natural ingredients that allow the health conscious and industry savvy to salivate. Their product is labeled a "Tattoo Salve" which is different then a balm or lotion. A salve, you mix it as you apply which activates and changes the chemical composition as you apply it to your tattoo. This product was originally intended as a wound salve and after success with healing and cleanliness of the wound, Carol and Rob were able to modify their formula to fit a tattoo sensibility. This salves helps alleviate the painful edge and swolleness a tattoo has after being done; while coating the tattoo, it helps draw more blood and thus more cells to the dermis increasing efficiency in healing time. The main ingredient in this is the vitamin E that helps heal the skin more readily. All of their ingredients (all natural) are all listed on their label, the only thing they don't tell you is the composition. The ingredients are: Infused Comfrey Oil, Cocoa & Shea Butter, Beeswax, Propolis, Vitamin E Oil, Tea Tree and Lavender.
Though there are discrepancies between professionals about what products and ingredients heal better, this is a product not to go with out trying. The feel and effects of this product happen to be quite nice.
The uniqueness of this salve is its lasting effects after use. It helps keep color resilient and vibrant while helping reduce scars (for those tattoos done by a not so experienced artist) It not only works as a tattoo healing ointment but also a safe, general healing ointment for everyday cuts, scaring, and wounds. It compares to the healing potency of H2Ocean and Tattoo Goo. But adds a little something extra. Carol an Rob themselves are the most down to Earth owners and hard workers you can meet. They label each of their products "Please Enjoy & Use by:" the expiration date. You an find their products online at www.bakershealth.com or at Woven Inks: The Traveling Gent In Denver. Feel free to call Rob Baker with any questions as he will be more than happy to discuss any questions and fill your orders as needed.
www.bakershealth.com
Rob Baker
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Hump Day Tattoo
Model: Unknown
Hump Day:
Fucking hell... The weekend cannot come fast enough for most of us. Whether your busy at your 9-5 or just cruising through the week getting to tattoo/ be tattooed like most of us; there's nothing better than Happy hour and a little "hump" on our Wednesdays to keep us going for a couple more days.
Redundant.
End note: I hope you all get to have a drink and fuck tonight. Thank you for reading.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Tattoo of the Day
Tattoo artist: Michael E. Bennett
Studio: 2Spirit Tattoo, San Francisco, CA
Client: unknown
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Hands of the Day
Tattooey: Susan
Tattooist: Guy Le Tatooer
Studio: Papanatos Tattoos, Den Haag, Netherlands
Friday, August 9, 2013
American Freedom: Oh pretty young one.
Naïveté. Thomas Jefferson once had ideals of absolution for what was America and every man would create freedom by having no hierarchy of any sort and maintain order and civility by the strength of ones self and the idea of "common good." This would entail no police; we would be our own police and a tried individual would be brought before a jury of "ones peers." That would be us all coming together of our own will to keep the virtue of our freedom a community accomplishment.
Modern America would never and never did go for this ideal because as we all even still hope; we strive for an idealistic freedom that never existed. Only in concept. "America is a business." We turn towards our economy and our jobs to create "a living" for ourselves. We have no independence as we as people cannot be independent from eachother. We all need someone to buy our products/services to be able to buy groceries at our supermarket. We all need work to pay for our rent/mortgages. We as individuals do not and are not capable of living, farming, or creating our lives from the raw land and living solely off of our harvests.
The naïveté in our young generations has allowed for constant disconnect with our land and further immersed ourselves in consumerism. Fuck, we've made "Freedom" into a fucking brand. And the people who we sell these ideals to are everyone coming in from other countries. We are a nation of selfish capitalists that will sucker punch the international dreamers, hoping for a glimpse of the freedom they all hear about. And it starts with us and our next generations. Our parents and grandparents have gone as far as their ambition goes.
Our emoed, punkified, young trust-fund kids have been lucky enough to rely on their money from their grandparents' hard work. Now they see the fruits of their labor and see no reason for aspiration or point to life other than to fuck and get fucked up because they are bored. Ambition will have no drive if there is no purpose. And unfortunately our education growing up in America is branded as well. I remember that we celebrated Columbus Day as Christopher Columbus was the first to discover America. He landed in the Philippines and he was not the first fucking one to discover this land! Turns out there were (and struggling, still are) Natives. And these are referring to Native Americans. (Not native as in "dude, I was born here.) True natives to this land. Our history we learn as youth is wrong and we have given ourselves permission to accept that we were the "good ones" bringing civilization to an "unforeboding and wild land."
Our civilization has lost our attachment and need for this land. The only thing we cultivate like its our blood spilling, is our oil. Even that we only drill sparingly. (Our government officials know as this world runs out of fossil fuels, our dependence will remain the same, especially if the Oil Companies maintain our dependence by buying out any technology presenting alternative opportunities.) nothing drives prices up like creating scarcity. (Drilling overseas and wars over oil.) Next is the "World Oil Reserve" and then world unity. But it will be a further blinded unity. Contemporary America is the practice game. But at this point it is all just a waiting game. We are all too selfish, too irresponsible, too fat, and too many to be able to make a decision about the good of our country let alone our planet. And the education of our emo teens reflects the pettiness of our efforts to reform our ways. "Recycling" doesn't help. No one uses 100% recycled materials. It's old shit, mixed in with the new manufactured shit. You can polish a turd. Fact is you can sell them too.
Our youth have no connection to land because they do not appreciate history, where they came from, how they got here, and who worked, fought and died so they could cut their thighs with a shallow razor while they get fucked from behind. We all need to step up and relearn our connection to the land.
Start with next time you go "camping." Build a shelter, find food, water and make fire without creating a dramatic impact on your surroundings. Find sustenance from your surroundings. You'll catch a glimpse of independence and true freedom.
Camus relates how "going against the grain" is mere weakness contrasted to just the basic idea of true freedom. To be truly free, everyone else will fear you and the being/life you have begun. But for us all to one day enjoy a wholistic freedom; we have to all be 100% free of servitude, government, policing, conspiracy, hatred, envy and consumerism. We all can stand on our own feet and find a way to accomplish our own freedom.
Only in a free world.
Gent Girl of the Day
Cigarette girls were made famous by the famed Playboy Club. The bunny costume was a derivative of those jobs and the business to entice their clients more. Unfortunately, smoking has now become less of a social expectancy and more of a tyranny against humanity and life; our need to "chill the fuck out" has been replaced with veggie, uptight, frigid virgins' opinions whom feel singing old Presbyterian hymnals satisfy their soul better than a good fuck and a cigarette. Well, God damn cancer and God damn those frigid, virgin assholes who will never experience any joy in their miserable servitude except when they finally decide to leave their closeted spouses and become the leather bound subs they've always wanted to be. Fuck... I'll have a smoke when I can. I'll enjoy my brakes when I must and thank goodness for others willing to show us the sultry side of our fantasies to give our minds a rest. Fantastic.
-The Gent
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