Good Times in Calgary, eh?

Charlie and Austin Spencer attended the Alberta Bound Tattoo & Arts Festival in Calgary October 19-21. Turned out the event was extremely busy, not enough time to tattoo everyone on the agenda, they kept busy until their eyes crossed and backs gave out. Studio 21 Tattoo loves our Canadian clientele, some of the friendliest folks on earth! Our good friend Collin Schultz, helped run the booth, and rounded up all the equipment we forgot to bring, along with Deano Robinson (Deadly Tattoo in Calgary) who was kind enough to loan us a massage table among other items. Thanks for coming to the rescue! Collin introduced the guys to a number of locals up there that they had not met before and was an excellent tour guide after hours. So much good food and good times. Collin’s wife Betsy, provided the entertainment on Saturday night with some great stories that can’t be told! Once the convention was over, Austin and Charlie rented a car, heading to the Rockies to visit some friends in Jasper, Alberta. Great little town in a national park. Our friend Ray Bartley has a tattoo shop/piercing shop in Jasper called Black Diamond Tattoo. Charlie tattooed Ray’s wife, Jill before heading out on a hike to a spot called “edge of the world” which overlooks the town from a much higher elevation. There are many photo opportunities in the Canadian Rockies. the scenery never ends!

Masters of Tattooing Unite

Where: The Masters of Tattoo Invitational, Hollywood Park,California

Group Photo Lineup: (Hanky Panky, Dana Brunson, Greg James, Mike Skyver, Philadelphia Eddie, Rick Walters, Robert Benedetti, Tennessee Dave James, Eric InkSmith) Bottom : Kandi Everett)

The setting was perfect once inside the convention room, outside was a great view of the horse track. Even though the attendance was really low, the convention was amazing. A convention for artists to unite and share some good times. Phil Luck and Charlie Spencer from Studio 21 Tattoo attended the convention in Hollywood Park, CA, sharing a booth with Philadelphia Eddie and Timmy Tatts, two of the most interesting  east coast tattooers around. Philadelphia Eddie was doing a book signing, selling the first three volumes of his life story. A must read for anyone in the tattoo industry! Eddie has plans to write three more volumes which are currently in the works with the help of his ghost writer, Eric Foemmel. Phil and Charlie had a great time swapping stories with Eddie & Eric. Charlie had the opportunity to add to his personal tattoo collection. Staying true to his Texas roots, he had Oliver “Ducky” Peck place a nice traditional cow girl the top left shoulder. Outside the convention, Phil and Charlie got a chance to run down to Long Beach to visit the oldest tattoo shop in the USA, formerly Bert Grimm’s shop, now called Outer Limits Tattoo. The floor guy Jeremy gave them the cook’s tour with all the vintage details. The shop is a museum of tattoo history as well as a functional tattoo/piercing facility. They also had the opportunity to sign the wall as do many tattoo artists that visit this historical place. A weekend to remember, great conversations with some of the best tattooers worldwide.

Studio 21 Tattoo Alberta Bound

Charlie and Austin Spencer will be working at the Alberta Bound Tattoo Convention October 13th-15th. If any of you will be in the area and want to get tattooed by either artists, call the shop or email Courtney or Sable ( courtney.studio21tattoo@earthlink.net ) to make arrangements, time slots are filling up fast, so don’t delay! See you there.

http://hstrial-immaculateconcep.homestead.com/Artists.html

Tattoo Masters Unite

Charlie Spencer and Phil Luck from Studio 21 Tattoo Gallery in Las Vegas have hit the road to attend the Tattoo Masters Invitational @ Hollywood Park in Los Angeles, CA. The convention will showcase 58+ tattoo artists from all around to unite and feature seminars from artists and historians. Rumor has it Charlie and Phil will be sharing a booth with Philadelphia Eddie, however that could change at anytime. We will keep you posted on this event, I am sure they will return with some stories of their own regarding all the seasoned tattooists, what an interesting weekend it will be. This convention is a charity event for A.skate Foundation which allows children with autism to be a part of the social world through skateboarding, providing clinics, grants and promote awareness and education. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYd7BCTdd4Y

Culturally Insensitive…You be the judge.

Recent news out of Thailand wanting to restrict tourist from getting buddhist images tattooed. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43249699/ns/travel-news/t/thailand-seeks-ban-tourists-buddha-tattoos/. Whether this issue is a question of being sacrilegious or an issue of human rights, tattoo artist speak out n regards to their government dictating which images are allowed in an official manual. Many cultures struggle with the line of separation between religion and business/government issues. Niphit identified six types of Buddhism-related images that must be banned as tattoos. 1) images of the Buddha 2) Buddhist prayer scripts 3) images of Buddhist monks & images of items used by monks: robes, alms bowls 4) Buddhist monk characters from films 5) Buddhist related buildings 6) The Wheel of Dhamma & the Buddhist flag. Other items also discussed were the ban of Buddhism-related items for commercial purposes, such as breweries, bars, restaurants, movie theaters, entertainment venues, gambling places, slaughterhouses and restrooms. Any merchandise should refrain from portraying the same religious imagery on alcohol, weapons, apparel, toilet supply, chairs and beds. Wow! Sounds like the Cultural Ministry has their hands full sorting through all their wish list of regulations. Hopefully the tattoo artists of Thailand can reach a compromise with their government on these controversial issues.   www.phuketmagazine.com/tattoo-artists-seek-compromise-in-religious-tattoo-issue/

(Tattoo partial image: Tattoos by Swarm @ Studio 21 Tattoo Gallery in Las Vegas, NV.

No KO’s with Deryk Engelland at Studio 21

Phil Luck battles Deryk Engelland in the studio for his new tattoo. Luckily every thing went smooth and Deryk was pretty tame compared to the rink. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfrkcuV5a8k For those who aren’t familiar, he plays with Pittsburg Penguins currently and evidently gets the job done. Great having you in the shop Deryk and Go Penguins! Check the stats at http://penguins.nhl.com/club/player.htm?id=8468674

Javier Torres Takes A Seat in the Chair

Common interest of the MMA and UFC united Jason and Javier. The results of this reunion was a custom tattoo project reflecting Javier’s heritage, a well executed Mayan warrior on his arm in black and grey style. Javier “Chunty Boy” Torres is a future UFC hopeful in Season 13 “Ultimate Fighter” which started on March 30th, 2011. The two finalists will fight at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. We wish Javier the best of luck! http:www.elchuntyboy.com

Escape to Alcatraz

Some of the crew made the long haul from Las Vegas to San Francisco for the Body Art Tattoo Convention at the Cow Palace. This was our first time for our studio to participate in this convention and some of the guys managed to tattoo a little, get tattooed, sell a little merchandise and take in a few sites. Always nice to hit the road every now and then, represent the studio and meet some new fellow tattooists. Although tiresome, they all seemed to enjoy all the good food San Francisco has to offer as well as unique shopping opportunities.

Battle Royale…A Win Win.

Studio 21 Tattoo Gallery held the “Battle Royale w/Cheese” event March 6th, 2011. The weather was perfect and everyone turned out, what a good time!!! Early afternoon the three food trucks rolled in and set up quickly along with the crew from Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum. Once the bar opened, things begin to happen real quickly. Our locals were ready to rock…good food, good vibe, good music and killer tasty drinks. The crowds grew quickly and anywhere from 600 -800 passed through in a four hour window, awesome. Everyone came hungry and ready to grub. The judging began and the winners were: SlidinThru-Best Curb Appeal, Fuku Burger-Best Crowd Hype, LBS Patty Wagon-Best Burger. Our resident, apprentice, Josh made the steel trophies for the event, really creative. Every truck placed in a category, which was great for them. Fat Daddy’s Ice Cream truck was also on site with delicious treats for the little ones and those adults who wanted to top off the burgers with a little sweetness. The Sailor Jerry Rum concoctions were keeping a long steady line at the bar. Many local artists, as well as our tattoo artists at Studio 21 showed up with really nice pieces for the art show that accompanied the event, all food themed. This event was a big success and we thank everyone involved who made it happen. A special thanks to Austin Spencer, owner of Studio 21, for all his hard work coordinating with all the vendors and getting the word out to all the social media outlets, etc. Thank you to Brock with VegasFoodRestaurant.com for all your input, great working with you. We love our clients and all extended families who always come out to spread the love, see you at the next one! Join our FB Fan Club to keep up with the latest.

Flash or Custom Tattoo?

In order to answer that it would depend on personal preference and taste. “Flash” often has a negative connotation in our industry, which is unfair.
To clarify, many accomplished tattoo artists produce their own flash sheets that they sell at conventions and online resources to customers as well as other tattoo artists. Tattoo artists often collect other tattoo artists flash sheets just as they would any other type of art.  Many tattoo artists were painters, illustrators, etc. before they were trained tattoo artists. This background and experience of painting and design usually work to their advantage when designing a custom tattoo piece for someone. Therefore flash sets designed by tattoo artists are generally the best choice over some internet sites whose designs are mass produced and whose designs are not “tattoo-able”. Many tattoo shops cover their walls with a wide variety of flash art. This usually is considered a “flash shop” or street shop” where the artist do not create custom work and tattoo the exact design you choose . A custom shop will work with the client and their ideas to create an original piece of art. Our shop caters to both types of clients. We have a small amount of flash that clients use for reference if they walk in and have no idea for their tattoo, but the majority of our clients want our artists to create an original piece so it is unique, regardless of size.  It is an artistic challenge and very rewarding when ideas come to fruition in a cohesive design for clients.

The direction you choose on your tattoo is all personal taste. Some customers love the novelty and fun of random “spur-of-the-moment” tattoos. We have had clients blindfolded until their surprise tattoo (picked by a friend or spouse) is revealed, leading to some pretty funny moments. On the flip side of the issue, many bring in folders full of reference and have dreamed of their tattoo for years. Whatever the method of thought on your tattoo, remember a few things. Even though the internet is full of tattoo designs, not all can be tattooed without alterations to make it a design that can be tattooed and will hold up with time. Many designs are too detailed and cannot be tattooed “as is” at a reasonable size. Some images are better left as artwork and not tattooed. If you bring in your own drawing, whether drawn by you or a friend, the same scenario applies. More than likely your artist will have to refine the drawing or re-work it to make a nice tattoo. Whatever the situation, be open to the advice and recommendations of your tattoo artists, it is their profession by trade. Choose an artists that fits your taste, vision and style of tattooing you prefer. You and your artists should come to an understanding  and be able to help you achieve the tattoo you desire together. Ultimately, it is your tattoo, but your artist is there to guide you.
Be open minded, creative and have fun. In our business weird, wacky and creative are the norm. We hope you enjoy your tattoo for years to come and that your experience in our studio brings many smiles.

The flash photos shown are by some of our artists in the studio. Phil Luck’s collection of flash is available on his website http://www.luckycharmtattoo.com/ for purchase. Mike Biggs artwork is available at the following website http://causticimagery.com/

Facial Modifications

A local industry friend steps up his facial expressions, and who better to do it, Austin.

Rat Rod Gets A Facelift

Charlie took the Model A in for a front end alignment. Next thing you know, Ian, at Paid 2 Play Creations added a few things.
– new shocks and king pins added to the front end for stability
– new coil overs in the rear
– new vinyl top
– complete new black and tan interior
– our studio twenty-one’s on the doors
Now it’s this baby is ready to roll! Watch for this one on the streets of Las Vegas, if Charlie remembers to put gas in it!

Phil Luck Tattoo Trivia – Part 1 Answers

Just in case some of you actually tried to answer the trivia questions from our previous post, let’s see how accurate your answers are.

1) Who invented the first modern electric (twin coil) tattoo machine?

Professor  Charles Wagner.

2) What legendary tattooists played himself on a 1992 episode of “Roseanne”?

Gil “The Drill” Montie.

3) What year was the first american tattoo parlor opened, and where?

Martin Hildebrandt opened “ Tattoo Atelier ” in 1846 on Oak Street in New York City.

Now you are one step closer to knowing tidbits about tattoo history.

Phil Luck Trivial Ink – Part 1

 

In the event you were wondering…Phil is a wealth of tattoo information. He is your “Go To” guy for everything tattoo related regarding history, especially. Once you get him started he is pumped on sharing. This is the true deal, not mumbo jumbo spewing from the mouths of wanna-bes. I asked Phil for a couple of tidbits I thought our clients and customers might find interesting. Test your skills on the following questions, I will post the answers Monday, Jan.10,2011. Do you win anything?…no, but you would greatly impress Mr. Phil if you did know all the right answers and maybe next time you come in the shop to get tatttooed you could try and stump him with a question. Game On!

1) Who invented the first modern electric (twin coil) tattoo machine?

2) What legendary tattooists played himself on a 1992 episode of “Roseanne”?

3) What year was the first american tattoo parlor opened, and where?

Cultural Dynamic of Tattooing…New York City Roots

Phil Luck (Studio 21 Tattoo Gallery artist) has a bit of tattoo history under his belt. If  you were to take a smoke break with Phil, he could bend your ear about what it was like in New York City being a part of history, experiencing the explosion of tattooing and it’s changing art form. The book “Tattooing New York City” by Michael McCabe has recently been put back into circulation and it is worth reading about the exciting times of the counter culture going back to the 1930’s. Phil was one of three artists who tattooed in all five boroughs in New York City, needless to say he has a few tales of his own. Phil’s style goes back to basics, traditional themes that span the time frame from the original electric version of the tattoo machine creating a foundation of “Old School” influences that have held true, not necessarily subscribing to the new liberal values. Many New York tattooers haven’t strayed far from the original design themes, bold images, rich black shading and primary colors. The book includes many page spreads showing Phil’s original flash art, his personal philosophies on style, and how the raw characters he worked with helped shape the cities’ history. Tattooing transcended the landscape of diverse ethnic groups and cultural differences to unite those with the urge to get tattooed in a city where tattooing was banned for 30 years. In July 1997 tattooing was legalized causing the once underground tattooers to work with officials to set public safety health guidelines…and the explosion began, shops materializing overnight. This paragraph reflects how tattooing has changed through time in New York City as well as the mainstream awareness.

“Today in the city, without a tattoo you are outside the loop. A backlash of sorts exists, where people resist the impulse but basically it has reached the point where most young people feel comfortable exploring some part of their personality with a tattooed image. This process of discovery and acceptance has been gradual, picking up speed within very recent time. People no longer get tattooed to declare themselves as outsiders, wearing a tattoo today underscores people as consummate insiders who are in touch with the bearings of their time. This shift in attitude reflects the cultural dynamic of mainstreaming and is the by-product of a powerful leveling process that has radically changed things for both artists and customers–some would say for the better, others for the worse. Change is fluid, unpredictable and difficult. It leaves some sensibilities in the dust and encourages others to expand.”  ~ Michael McCabe