Jennifer Stell

A few of Richards Bald Birdies... Animals: Eagles, Snakes, Big Cats... Most of his favorite subject matter to tattoo...

You can order thru Lucky's Supply in Tampa.... Yup it's the real deal good process, Angelo has got it down, I sold a bunch in Hollywood a few years back, and dropped it off at Spotlight for the boys... Richard is a big fan of the Red Velvet.

A few of Richards Bald Birdies... Animals: Eagles, Snakes, Big Cats... Most of his favorite subject matter to tattoo...

A few of Richards Bald Birdies... Animals: Eagles, Snakes, Big Cats... Most of his favorite subject matter to tattoo...

A few of Richards Bald Birdies... Animals: Eagles, Snakes, Big Cats... Most of his favorite subject matter to tattoo...

He's the NICEST dude, too. Made the experience, which was gutwrenchingly awful, as pleasant as he could.

Gloves? Cliff Raven didn't even wear pants.

Or you could talk Bob or Richard into doing it, it's a mix of each one of their panthers... It was funny to watch them actually, they were kinda grabbing the red sharpie from one another like siblings... But it ended up cool, I saw Richard half the two correction lines, and meet in the middle and make something a bit different so it wasn't one or the others panther...
Blackheart is prolly a better option though, both Bob and Ricardo are working on a new set of flash together with Aaron Coleman... So it's crunch time. Okay, non sequitor. I need to be packing boxes or something.

Or you could talk Bob or Richard into doing it, it's a mix of each one of their panthers... It was funny to watch them actually, they were kinda grabbing the red sharpie from one another like siblings... But it ended up cool, I saw Richard half the two correction lines, and meet in the middle and make something a bit different so it wasn't one or the others panther...
Blackheart is prolly a better option though, both Bob and Ricardo are working on a new set of flash together with Aaron Coleman... So it's crunch time. Okay, non sequitor. I need to be packing boxes or something.

those lehi pieces are crazy. derrick's eagle/skull came out rad too.
i like thomas hooper and theo mindell on this one as well. i sit and stare at this hooper peice all the time!

Tattoo flash painting isn't really painting even if you use a brush. It's "illustration colored with a brush". I mean people didn't even really consider Rockwell a painter. He was an illustrator and his paintings(illustrations) were far better than what 99.999999% of us are all putting out. Outside of flash, and flash style paintings I don't really do that stuff much anymore. I did it for years before I was a tattooer so I'm going the other way that a lot of people are going. I'm not branching into painting, I'm leaving it alone for more tattoo based illustrations.
Weird.

Richard and Clay Decker are who I have to thank for what I know so far... And Bob Roberts, "it's not painting if it's not outlined with a brush", he told Richard when he was using a marker to use for some fine outlining stuff... We no longer use sharpies for paintings... Um...and I have been using Oil Colors and doing landscape paintings since I was 8 years old... My Uncle taught me he was amazing...
I just recently started learning to use Water Color...
Transferring images some use: graphite, others colored paper, I won't say what we have found to work best b/c that's us, everyone is different: graphite is harder to erase from paper, and you only have to lightly trace over with a ball point pen, but once it's down, it's down... I like colored tranfers, easier to correct, and they don't bleed...Saral Wax Free Transfer Paper - BLICK art materials
As far as laying down outlines: some like speedballs, nibs, or quills, but we use brushes, and it's a learning process.
Paints, try EVERYTHING it's fun, and no pressure like skin... but tubes are the way to go as you aren't writing down paint recipes for drops of dr.martins, or other liquids, they may dry out but you still have that one color you need to finish an old project you left on the table 4 months ago, and can't remember what you used to mix it... I can't get the knack of liquids still... I am a "watch your dap" and make sure your brush is lubed type, so water into liquid freaks me out... (still learning).
Blick is the best for finding paper... Rolls are awesome, but we have been finding good deals on big sheets, and as far as blocks are concerned, I always keep a block around for Richard, Arches... Usually Clay has a dude that comes by the shop selling blocks at like 20.00 instead of the 60.oo they run at a chain store... So he's been stocking up and I buy em off him. We travel so much, guerilla paint sessions usually happen on a block.
The last time I painted anything seriously it was helping out Richard with the signs at Spotlight... We painted until 30 mins prior to getting in a cab and heading to LAX to catch a flight, Steve stayed all nite to lend a hand too... It's still not done but attached are pics.
Being around the Man, and Decker are really huge gifts, they have soo much talent, and know soo much, I'd be using tempera and being lame if it weren't for them.

fancy aka nerd... :)

Yup, phenomenal talent lined up and it's a charity event....
In the words of Eric Perfect, if you could only attend one convention in a lifetime this would be it.

Richard was looking at this and he said he "didn't do that backpiece, great tattoo, the right person should get credit for that"...

i was 15 one of my buddies was going to get tattooed by dragon mike in houston texas and my other friend was getting tattooed by richard stell at scorpion studios which was across the street at the time around '91/'92 and i tagged along all i really remember is how terrified i was of richard after he tossed me out for drawing in the shop and mimicking the designs on the wall. i was 15 and didnt realize what a faux pah that was. also richard was a much bigger and orney looking dude then than now if you can imagine.i still came back and hung out almost daily with my buddies but i hung in the back scared of richard. that impression stuck with me so even as a grown man in my 30's id see richard at conventions and was afraid to approach him til the san jose convention 3 years ago where i walked up and introduced my self and he remebered i believe because the first thing he said after i told him my name and that used to hang out in his shop was "oh yeah, didnt i throw you the F%@$ out?" then i got tattooed by him and he was the nicest guy and very quick witted so then i felt pretty silly for being afraid of him for all those years. ha

i met my girlfriend/future wife in brooklyn 2007. i was doing a guest spot at saved tattoo, she was my final appointment on my last day there...we immediately knew we'd be together. after visiting her every month for 9 months, she moved here form new jersey in 2008. i owe EVERYTHING in my life to tattooing.

same here. met stewart 6/7 yrs ago when i got tattooed by him, we finally got together 4 years ago and i'll happily spend the rest of my days with him. he's pretty awesome and we work together so well. i havent, up to this point, met many couple tattooers who work in the same shop and usually when i explain our situation people raise an eyebrow. i love the way its worked out and i thank my lucky stars every day. tattooing is so awesome.

Yup, yup.... "Never seen so many rats looking to jump on a sinking ship", Richard has always said...
In 35 years of Tattooing Richard only had 2 apprentices, population control is out of hand, and I wish that babies weren't still making babies, but there is an upside.
You guys will get to do lots of sweet cover ups...(if they suck) ...probably... cause oh so many people do nowadays.
More people will be inclined to price shop, so that'll get a foot or two in the door. (hopefully new faces)
And you will have a new outlet for aggression: You get to fuck with the new guys down the street...
Prank Calls, Faux Pizza Delivery, Stink Bombs, and then don't forget to call the HELLTH department, or whatnot, cause those guys rock...

I was 15 or 14 when I walked into a shop... Deep Ellum, it was a Sunday afternoon, my folks were always super curious types... They had me and my little sister with them after like a big weekend, Texas vs OU, or Fair Days, or Art Fest....
We tried to walk into Pair O' Dice, my mom and sis wanted a piercing from Skin and Bones... Stace wasn't at the counter, but I can remeber Richard Stell, standing up with Deb on his left, and him ye.ling to get those fucking kids out of the shop.... Hahaha, my Dad being taller then Richard popped off something back, and we were out of there....
Years, YEARS later, I had been coming in watching Richard tattoo, and he finally was like, I like you, you should buy the piercing shop and be my new partner.... After all was said and done, lease signed... I asked, "That's always been your station right?"
His reply, Yup...
I said, well.... funny how life works out, you kicked me out when I was like 15... I come back and bought half the place....fucking small world. It was a Sunday when you kicked me out, you're usually off... So it was either a shitty day, or something was wrong, either way it didn't keep me away...

My parents lied about my age to the tattooist in order to get me my first tattoo.
It was a present for graduating early and the artist (biker shop, yeeehaw) wouldn't tattoo anyone under 16. I had just turned 15 and my Mom, a feisty Southern Baptist, did NOT like being told no. She she lied and said I was 16 but without a driver's license.
They were very supportive, my folks. Instead of family trips, they'd send my brother and I to tattoo conventions. We even managed to get my Dad to get a little tiny tattoo with us years back.
When I first started moving past the safety zones- onto the hands, throat... my Mom asked me if I "knew what I was doing". I said yes (I was working at a Fortune 100 at the time) and she never questioned it again.

I was 15 or 14 when I walked into a shop... Deep Ellum, it was a Sunday afternoon, my folks were always super curious types... They had me and my little sister with them after like a big weekend, Texas vs OU, or Fair Days, or Art Fest....
We tried to walk into Pair O' Dice, my mom and sis wanted a piercing from Skin and Bones... Stace wasn't at the counter, but I can remeber Richard Stell, standing up with Deb on his left, and him ye.ling to get those fucking kids out of the shop.... Hahaha, my Dad being taller then Richard popped off something back, and we were out of there....
Years, YEARS later, I had been coming in watching Richard tattoo, and he finally was like, I like you, you should buy the piercing shop and be my new partner.... After all was said and done, lease signed... I asked, "That's always been your station right?"
His reply, Yup...
I said, well.... funny how life works out, you kicked me out when I was like 15... I come back and bought half the place....fucking small world. It was a Sunday when you kicked me out, you're usually off... So it was either a shitty day, or something was wrong, either way it didn't keep me away...

I was 15 or 14 when I walked into a shop... Deep Ellum, it was a Sunday afternoon, my folks were always super curious types... They had me and my little sister with them after like a big weekend, Texas vs OU, or Fair Days, or Art Fest....
We tried to walk into Pair O' Dice, my mom and sis wanted a piercing from Skin and Bones... Stace wasn't at the counter, but I can remeber Richard Stell, standing up with Deb on his left, and him ye.ling to get those fucking kids out of the shop.... Hahaha, my Dad being taller then Richard popped off something back, and we were out of there....
Years, YEARS later, I had been coming in watching Richard tattoo, and he finally was like, I like you, you should buy the piercing shop and be my new partner.... After all was said and done, lease signed... I asked, "That's always been your station right?"
His reply, Yup...
I said, well.... funny how life works out, you kicked me out when I was like 15... I come back and bought half the place....fucking small world. It was a Sunday when you kicked me out, you're usually off... So it was either a shitty day, or something was wrong, either way it didn't keep me away...

I was 15 or 14 when I walked into a shop... Deep Ellum, it was a Sunday afternoon, my folks were always super curious types... They had me and my little sister with them after like a big weekend, Texas vs OU, or Fair Days, or Art Fest....
We tried to walk into Pair O' Dice, my mom and sis wanted a piercing from Skin and Bones... Stace wasn't at the counter, but I can remeber Richard Stell, standing up with Deb on his left, and him ye.ling to get those fucking kids out of the shop.... Hahaha, my Dad being taller then Richard popped off something back, and we were out of there....
Years, YEARS later, I had been coming in watching Richard tattoo, and he finally was like, I like you, you should buy the piercing shop and be my new partner.... After all was said and done, lease signed... I asked, "That's always been your station right?"
His reply, Yup...
I said, well.... funny how life works out, you kicked me out when I was like 15... I come back and bought half the place....fucking small world. It was a Sunday when you kicked me out, you're usually off... So it was either a shitty day, or something was wrong, either way it didn't keep me away...

I was 15 or 14 when I walked into a shop... Deep Ellum, it was a Sunday afternoon, my folks were always super curious types... They had me and my little sister with them after like a big weekend, Texas vs OU, or Fair Days, or Art Fest....
We tried to walk into Pair O' Dice, my mom and sis wanted a piercing from Skin and Bones... Stace wasn't at the counter, but I can remeber Richard Stell, standing up with Deb on his left, and him ye.ling to get those fucking kids out of the shop.... Hahaha, my Dad being taller then Richard popped off something back, and we were out of there....
Years, YEARS later, I had been coming in watching Richard tattoo, and he finally was like, I like you, you should buy the piercing shop and be my new partner.... After all was said and done, lease signed... I asked, "That's always been your station right?"
His reply, Yup...
I said, well.... funny how life works out, you kicked me out when I was like 15... I come back and bought half the place....fucking small world. It was a Sunday when you kicked me out, you're usually off... So it was either a shitty day, or something was wrong, either way it didn't keep me away...