Jennifer Stell

So.... We're putting on a show.... April 24-26, 2015 in Downtown Tulsa, OK.... We are still working on the site, and getting artwork done, but.... oklahomatattooshow We're trying really hard to get a well-rounded line-up together, and put on a nice event for not only the artists and vendors, but more importantly to showcase some amazing tattooing to our new home state.... Feel free to message me or shoot an email directly to the show if you or anyone you know is interested in participating, or just attending the event... Thanks, Jen

Well..... Richard's contract had the same clause in it..... No use of illegal substances, or having them.... Lesson: Either share with everyone, so they all go down too. Or don't get caught.

what's up Dean? Good to have you on LST.

Go see Tim Martin at Brainstorm Tattoo in Fayetteville, Arkansas.... super nice shop, he worked for Jack Rudy at GTC in Orange County before he worked for Richard for 6 years in Dallas prior to moving back to his home state to set up shop, he's had that place for over a decade and continues to make good tattoos by or appt or walk in, and has a couple world class tattooers tucked in his place, Jennifer Billings is there, and it's a good place to start...

There is most definitely a "vibe" or "resonance" with anything Higg-ish... If the tattooer doesn't know the art off the top of their head or the shop doesn't have the actual real flash, I would say, "bad vibe"... Higgs is a language, you wouldn't wan't someone that can't understand or speak the language to go interpreting something completely foreign on your skin for you, especially, if YOU know what you want.

One other thing, Richard read you entry... He said FUCK EM. He has an amazing portrait tattoo of his son on his leg, the tattoo is 20 years old, looks amazing, and done by an ELITE European tattooer, and even though it still looks great. He really doesn't like the tattoo, due to the experience... Just his two cents.

A little humility goes a long way. . . Sounds like a rough experience. The "vibe" an artist has essentially ends up in you, from just sitting and getting tattooed, the "experience" is important, it should be a comfortable, and pleasant one, "a good time", cause shit hurts... There are plenty of tattooers out there, it's hard finding good ones, just go with what your gut says, because it would suck to hate yourself, if the artwork is just as unpleasant as the artist.

Just a quickie note. . . We'll be attending Oliver Pecks Convention in Deep Ellum, (Dallas, TX) September 13-15... and We are confirmed for the Bay Area Convention of the Tattoo Arts in San Fran. this October... So far time is completely open, so get at me if you want to get tattooed by Richard...

I haven't written or been actively posting up anything lately... And there's good reason for it. I have a lot going on, we all do. Life here on the recent has been a testament to the true meaning of love. The overwhelming outpour of support from FAMILY: YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, has been humbling, and heartwarming, and a big eye opener to just how much impact one person (Richard) can have on a relatively large circle of likeminded individuals whom happen to share the same passion for their profession; or the great clients we get to call friends... We have no choice but to overcome, we always do, we are obligated to YOU. For you have given his heart a second chance, and for that I am truly grateful. There have been more tears cried these last several weeks, then I think both of us combined in a lifetime, and, I'm a big crybaby. Thank You, It should go without saying, because we didn't ask for anyone to help you just did. And that in itself was truly magnificent, unexpected, and at times still breath taking. Thank You... Seriously, and Sincerely, Jennifer Stell PS: If you have a print on order, or are waiting on something, I haven't forgotten about any of it, I am just up to my ears in trying to get the shop legal, take care of my legal issues, take care of my husband, and keep my head on straight.... Bare with me and do not hesitate to drop me an email. Jen

I don't know where exactly I should post up.... But, the party is next weekend, I am keeping my word to my old man... I'm on a flight to JAX, FL... to get the artwork, and taxidermy, and neon, and home furnishings with two fellow Texans in tow.... This last week has been a true testament to the saying Mi Vida Loca.... The only thing I am thankful for is the tattoo family that has created a protective circle of love and support around Richard. It's opened his eyes as well as mine to how precious life really is, and how we are blessed. Crazy. Mad. Love. Love. Loyalty. Respect. Take care of tattooing, and it takes care of you. It's TRUE. Making this last run is about all the energy I have left, then I want to party.

She's one I SERIOUSLY look up to... not because she's leggy, but because she's the definition of perseverance.

Totally... It's already sneaking up on the calendar... Today so far I am going thru Richards site... Doing a few updates, and adding some images of new prints available thru the site Prints for sale...

In general, I love tattooing, but recently hate the politics and judgmental attitudes coming from within the community, I too have been guilty of this.... A recent death in this big family, "the Body Art FAMILY", has hit me hard. And I have kept this: Shannon Larratt is Zentastic › I can scarcely move or draw my breath // Let me, let me freeze again to death up for days, reading it over and over and I cry, and sometimes I laugh but more often I just get sad... I tear up right now thinking about it. Shannon Larratt was the THE person to lay the first cornerstone for all body art websites, and forums... And he has passed. I knew him on a personal level when he was with Rachel his ex-wife, but maintained a relationship online up until his passing and always kept my eye on his work, as he was a groundbreaker, and one of the few forward thinkers this whole profession, or community had... And on that blog, if you read it... You will see some abundance of undeniable truths... He points out a few about his own site community, (some of these truths also apply to this site), and I would like to share that with you all... We need to be thankful for everyday we have, especially if you have children. We need to be nicer to one another, and we need a sincere movement toward being a unified presence instead of a bunch of cool guy tattoo/piercing cliques, picking each other apart. Once upon a time we were all in it together, even though we were very much alone. I miss that. Hence another reason why we have been building our shop by ourselves and I havn't been posting much work online,also we have had little to no help from anyone, no partners, no loans... Our tattoos, paintings, and prints have funded our buildout. And our hands, backs, and egos have gotten back into check more now then ever. Blood, sweat and tears... But not in vain. Our tattoo shop is built upon tattoos, and the artwork that provoked them.

That is such an amazing back piece.... the grey were like graphite powder blushed onto him... and the Black was so saturated and dark... AMAZING.

Thanks and I will... I mentioned the opening party right?

I'm an apprentice... I started to learn from Richard in 2002, then we all got a long so much I bought his partner Stace out of his partnership, which was Skin & Bones, a completely different business in the same building... As a business minded person I had to set down the apprenticeship, and focus on the piercing business, but knew I would get to be around and maybe get to have time enough to pick up a few things... It never happened, we maintained a partner relationship from then on... In 2009, we were reunited somewhat... after about 6 months, I was his apprentice again, and still am... What I have gathered from my 13 plus years in the body art profession is this, Tattooers or some of them, are a lot like teenage couples that don't think about the big picture, they get all hot and heavy and forget to take that pill or wear a condom, and oops a baby is born, and they themselves are still children... Babies having Babies is not an ideal situation in population or profession control.... Especially if you care about people and people getting good work. And Richard has always ALWAYS said... Taking an apprentice is like getting married and someone taking your last name as theirs.... And there is no divorce, that's forever. Hence even too risky for him to teach or just trust even a friend to tattoo... They are bound to you for the rest of their career, and you want to teach good tattooing, and it's hard to teach something that we should constantly be learning about... especially if you love it.

Are you talking about Scott Harrison? Or is this another one I have yet to hear?

Go see Chris Lain at Pinnacle Tattoo in Corpus.... GOOD Japanese Tattoos, and in general good all around artist, person, and family man. He's tattooed me before and I don't have more then 5 artists on my who has tattooed you list... wait 6.... BUt yea, if you go and check the shop out feel free to drop my name. It'll at least get a smile out of him hopefully.

Politics of the Piercing Profession, I try to be nice... You would have seen me a lot more, but... I am less drama lately... funny how busting your ass takes the fun out of being an ass...

I fixed the links below, I guess embedding insta pics won't work, or maybe I'm just not savy.... so I changed to links. It's a mutual back having. You know this.

We are back from our latest road trip... San Angelo- West Texas Tat Con, and then instead of a long ass 9 hour drive we diverted to Dallas, and worked at Elm Street Tattoo, and then a day at SnS in Oak Cliff at Nick Ley's Shop, (little community), Bishop Arts District of Dallas... San Angelo was good. Such an awesome line-up in the middle of no where Texas... Dallas was refreshing for a change, normally it's kinda been a let down, like same shit different day let down.... But worked with Oliver and caught up on the latest news, etc... Then Stace, Richard's old business partner who owned the Piercing Business in the Old Pair O Dice in Dallas called Skin & Bones Body Piercing, (who I bought out, and into the shop) happened to fly into DFW from the east coast, where he now works at a little school called Yale... Yeah NBD, just Yale. And it was a pretty big weekend of Reunions... Photo by stelltattooart • Instagram Photo by stelltattooart • Instagram Good Tattooing was had, Richard did a Ganesha piece on an inner arm, chick sat like a champ., got the outline, and shading done, but didn't finish, it was super involved... She's going to try to get up here when we open to finish it up... Photo by stelltattooart • Instagram Worked on some of Richard's old family friends, which was also really cool to meet this family, and Cameron Richard's son also managed to get out to the shop and hang out... Catch up, etc... Photo by stelltattooart • Instagram It was almost hard to leave, I say almost, cause we are getting used to "Tulsa Time", and our little place here in midtown. Which after being on the road 9 Months straight, after a year in and out of Jax, FL doing the road thing, we are so happy to have a place to call home, and our little Chinga Bean is too, as soon as I pulled up to the shop, he was like, YES, we do have a home, and knew exactly where we were all over again. Richard and I smiled. Yes, we're finally getting there. And @ShawnPorter, swoon, if only you knew... But I guess you do... Thanks for being good to me after all this time. I guess weirdos always stick together. And I mean that in a loving way.

Richard has time open for the upcoming West Texas Show in San Angelo, TX this month... And SLC's big shindig this March.... Holler at me for an appt, etc. . .

Kari Barba is not only an amazing tattooer, Richard's always, ALWAYS (old party days in NOLA during conventions) spoken highly of her, and I have been to the old Pike Shop before the place was reopened... It's inspiring to see such drive to do good, not only tattoos, but the preservation of history as well...

A couple of my favorites: Jacci Gresham Watch: Tattoo Legend Jacci Gresham Talks About Getting Her Start | Complex Vyvyn Vyvyn Lazonga Jami Eason.... Annette LaRue.... Deb Yarian... I'm talking Tattooers that were doing it before most us were alive.... Please Add...

Oh Shit, yes, Vyvyn, Jamie Eason, and I'm forgetting someone else.... These chicks were forces to be reckoned with, still are... And the thing I respect the most about all of them, was that they were not ones to ever complain about being female, they are good being who they are in a mans field, and giving people a run for their money.... The Three Above in my earlier post, I have actually met... this should be a forum thread.