Guerillaneedles

On Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at 6:07 PM, a_beukeveld said:

I picked up the two books recommended, the Kojiki and Japanese Mythology. 

The Kojiki is some heavy reading for sure, like most ancient texts. Got a few pages in before putting it down. The Japanese Mythology book on the other hand is fantastic. Its a glossary of a bunch of Japanese characters and myths, and has a introductory section about 100 pages long explaining the context of Japanese culture, history and religion. It outlines the Kojiki and the other "official" ancient myth books. Great buy.

I should pick up the Kojiki again some time soon.

 

I'll have to check out the Japanese mythology one. The Kojiki is on my bedside table, I can make it through a few pages at a time! Haha 

His stuff is awesome. You'll get a great tattoo no doubt

Thought I'd wade in and post a few hand tattoos I've done. Top two are fresh, bottom is healed.  I LOVE tattooing hands! Which is really ironic because I used to hate drawing them. I used to want to be a fashion designer but I'd draw all the models with their hands behind their backs just to avoid it! 

I love Guen Douglas's, Xam and Ebony Mellowship 's tattooed hands. 

2 hours ago, rufio said:

dang thats mice. Makes me want to get a cat tattoo aswell 

Please tell me that 'mice' is a deliberate play on words ?

I have to say outer forearm. However I didn't find the achilles or ankle bad at all (in fact, in some places I couldn't feel it at all!) 

Most recent acquisition. From @helfire in Newquay, Cornwall. Little birthday treat for myself. Next to the first tattoo I ever did! 

Been chatting to a colleague who's a big fan of Japanese. He suggested looking at esoteric Buddhism for some more recognisable deities (personally I'm enjoying reading about a deity whose private parts set on fire because she gave birth to so many islands/other deities). He also suggested looking at Chinese Buddhism as I believe there's a lot of crossover /pollination between the two cultures. 

I started the Kojiki - wow! I'm a bit sad I can't  read Japanese because I definitely feel that the names of the deities (of which there are many) lose something in translation. Plus the book I have has about an inch of actual translation of the text then the rest of the page is footnotes on phonetics and translation. Very dense reading but I'm going to stick with it. 

Personally I think it depends on so many factors : the artist, the position of the tattoo, your state of health at the time of healing. I've had all sorts of heals from perfect minimum peel, healed in 3 days to next level cm thick scabs. I usually wet heal and have used dermalise (and other similar products). For example I've had bullet proof heals using those products but I've scabbed at least a little everytime. Most recently I'm healing a small one on inner thigh, have used dermalise for a week, removed and now have some pretty big /deep scabs. But I've been very ill so I'm sure this has delayed the heal. I'm just leaving it alone now. I'm sure it will come good. You've just got to bear with - I just think what will be will be! 

I've been busy recently! First up I got this really cute cat and umbrella from Wendy Pham at Brighton Tattoo convention. I've been after this piece of flash for years so happy he's now mine! 

Next up (and also at Brighton), I got the side of my knee done by  Jody Dawber. This was the most painful tattoo I have ever got. I was whimpering like a baby (and I usually never make a fuss). I had to dig deep to get through it! Thank god she's fast.  

And last but not least, my latest addition (again on the side of the knee) from my super talented co-worker Lucy O Connell. Had my eye on this babe for well over a year, so happy to finally give her a home. 

6 hours ago, Lance said:

 

 

Retailer wise, Gomineko is a book seller that focusses on tattoo references. She's an excellent resource for purchasing books but depending on where you are at, it can take several months for books to arrive and there are no notifications of shipping/tracking. Also she is more expensive than other resources. Some people love her due to her inventory, while others not so much due to the price, lag or non-delivery. 

 

If you are fortunate enough live near a Kinokuniya book store, their books in their tattoo/woodblock section can range from decent to pretty good. They're a Japanese book retailer and have a few shops across the US. They sell the same books as Gomineko but are cheaper. They can also order books for you if you know exactly what you are looking for.

 

That said, actual material wise, for general symbolism,"Bushido" and "Tattoos of the Floating World" by Takahiro Kitamura are excellent resources. I don't know the name of it but it looks like Horibenny just came out with a new book that at glance appears to be decent for introductory info on motifs too. Check out Amazon for all.

 

For myths, study the source material. Read books on Japanese mythology and books on Woodblock print artists. There will often be descriptions about the scenes in woodblock prints. That can often give you enough information to research further about a subject on your own. 

 

Regarding mythology, read the "Kojiki" and the "Taiheiki". Both are translated in english and chronicle stories of the origin of/early Japan and medieval Japan. Another book I've found is called "Japanese Mythology" by Michael Ashkenazi. These books tell stories about deities and ancient heroes that are often subjects in Japanese motifs. I wish I had read the "Kojiki" sooner. Not regretting what I have but I feel I may have chosen different subjects if I had. Things I had written off earlier, I gained new appreciation for after reading more about them.

 

There are tons of information out there. I feel it's much easier to learn about now, than it was even a few years ago. Hope this helps. 

This is a great start thanks. I've ordered from crystal before and I'm trying to avoid it now as it's always such a pain! My last order was over 6 months to get to me. I'll go and try and find those other books now. I'm in the UK so fingers crossed. 

Hi, I'm absolutely desperate to learn more about the stories and reference behind Japanese tattooing. I'm obviously interested in picture books, but more than that I'd like to learn the tales so I can better understand the imagery. If anyone has any recommendations (books or websites) if be grateful. I've tried searching with no luck. Thanks in advance. 

Ooooh great thread. I've just uploaded loads to the gallery but I won't post all at once. Here are some hands I've painted :

I'm always up for trades btw. 

Washing your tattoo in the shower is fine. What you don't want to do is let it hit the tattoo for ages and ages once your scab forms, as you don't want to soak it off (same reason you wouldn't sit in the bath). But his advice is sound! 

On Thursday, April 23, 2015 at 7:22 PM, LizBee said:

Is there a tattoo trend now that will be the equivalent of the tribals of the 90s? Is it possible to predict?

Animals dressed as gentlemen.  Dotwork is obviously very popular but don't see it going the way of tribal. I think that (and mandalas) will stick around. 

My thigh pieces (more side of thigh for them both). first one by Sam Smith when she was visiting the UK. I think about 5.5hrs one hit. Healed perfectly in 3 days despite being in a car crash where I rolled my car 3x and wrote it off on my way home from the shop. 

Second one, my beautiful big red kitty from Stu Pagdin. One hit - 6hrs. I took the train. This one was more of a tricky heal, got some lovely scabs but I think he's got a heavier hand. I love to collect but I'd be covered in Stu's work if he lived in the UK. I just love it! 

I've recently come across a great new publication called 'Best Intentions'. It's a zine I suppose but definitely more like a teeny tiny quality magazine. Think it's a quarterly publication - there's two available so far. I have them both and they're awesome. I think they're and £10 each, about A 6 in size but thick and packed with quality stuff. Great interviews (off the top of my head : Claudia de Sabe, Chad Koeplinger - is that how you spell it?) personally I love it because it had really high print quality and several of the pages are of paintings, flash etc that I can use for inspiration. Plus it's the perfect size for my handbag! Haha. 

You can pick it up from bestintentionsmagazine.Big cartel.Com/ the publishers have also done a book of Japanese reference which I've also just published. I'll post about it when it arrives. 

I posted these in the new tattoos thread but here are my hands by Guen Douglas. They hurt like a bitch and I had a shitty heal (they need a few touch ups but neither of us are in a hurry!)  really happy I have them done. I've got full coverage on arms and most of legs but not torso - partly because this is where I want my biggest pieces - but to get my hands done was very symbolic of committing myself to tattooing. No going back to teaching for me! Plus I just feel more 'me'. Hard to explain but I reckon someone gets it. 

It's scar tissue, but honestly I really had to look to see it and even then it's quite hard to spot. I wouldn't bother getting it touched up, especially since its been a while - the new ink will look more noticeable. 

On Friday, May 24, 2013 at 2:28 PM, BrianH said:

@else I agree, sometimes it feels like a dirty word. I think it was used negatively in one or two of the last sparrow interviews and I would like to hear an artist's perspective on clients who travel to collect from a variety of artists. Are we a pain in the ass?

No, you're not. I would never judge someone who collects tattoos because I do it myself. Some people go to the same artist for life. That's cool (and we love you guys because you're our regulars), but it's no more valid than someone who enjoys collecting from a variety of artists. Personally I love collecting the stories that go along with the traveling, meeting new rad people etc as well as the sweet new tattoo. I also find it flattering if people travel to 'collect'  a piece from me. 

Got to be the inside of my leg /side of my knee /just above knee joint. I never usually make a fuss at all but I was whimpering, begging for bactine and I think I left a face mark in my artist 's coat (that I was using a a pillow)! I definitely dribbled a bit. Absolutely rank. Worse than my hands and feet. Though I think everything just hurts now! 

Hello and welcome. Your idea sounds cool, but as an artist myself, I can guarantee your going to piss off a lot of those artists you mention by asking them to draw you an idea that got might not even get tattooed. My advice is to do your research extensively, talk to the artists - you might find some are more keen on your idea. I don't do realism but I've seen the stencils and they're sometimes incomprehensible to anyone but the artist whose using them! I guess what I'm getting at is that if you do your research you'll find someone you trust absolutely to do the job - and you won't need to waste the time of other artists whilst your at it. 

I've been busy recently! First up I got this really cute cat and umbrella from Wendy Pham at Brighton Tattoo convention. I've been after this piece of flash for years so happy he's now mine! 

Next up (and also at Brighton), I got the side of my knee done by  Jody Dawber. This was the most painful tattoo I have ever got. I was whimpering like a baby (and I usually never make a fuss). I had to dig deep to get through it! Thank god she's fast.  

And last but not least, my latest addition (again on the side of the knee) from my super talented co-worker Lucy O Connell. Had my eye on this babe for well over a year, so happy to finally give her a home. 

Currently healing the inside of my leg on the knee bend (barely 3 weeks after doing the other side, which btw still has really tough dry skin on the fold of my knee). It's so nasty. Everything is healing really well but the crook of the knee, because it keeps bending is developing another thick horrible scab. Boo! 

I got these two recently as gap fillers. Both pretty spur of the moment. Paul was guesting with us, I really wanted to be tattooed because I liked his work and I buzzed off him as a person, but didn't want to be tattooed just for the sake of it. Was flirting with loads of designs but then I saw the design (dagger and rose) and thought it fitted perfectly in an awkward spot on my leg. Fits like a glove, I was buzzing so hard off getting this one done, I was on a high all night!

The kittycus is just a cute idea I came up with after seeing similar things and I knew Sam would nail it. The pic is fresh but I can assure you it looks exactly the same healed. Solid. This is by far and away the cutest tattoo I have. It makes me smile everytime I see it!