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eBook
Blood and lightning : on becoming a tattooer
Kiskaddon, Dustin
Stanford University Press
, 2024
; English
; 266 Pages
Any tattoo is the outcome of an intimate, often hidden process. The people, bodies, and money that make tattooing what it is blend together and form a heady cocktail, something described by Matt, the owner of Oakland's Premium Tattoo, as "blood and lightning." Faced with the client's anticipation of pain and excitement, the tattooer must carefully perform calm authority to obscure a world of preparation and vigilance. "Blood and lightning, my dude"—the mysterious and intoxicating effect of tattooing done right.
Dustin Kiskaddon draws on his own apprenticeship with Matt and takes us behind the scenes into the complex world of professional tattooers. We join people who must routinely manage a messy and carnal type of work. Blood and Lightning brings us through the tattoo shop, where the smell of sterilizing agents, the hum of machines, and the sound of music spill out onto the back patio. It is here that Matt, along with his comrades, reviews the day's wins, bemoans its losses, and prepares for the future.
Having tattooed more than five hundred people, Kiskaddon is able to freshly articulate the physical, mental, emotional, and moral life of tattooers. His captivating account explores the challenges they face on the job, including the crushing fear of making mistakes on someone else's body, the role of masculinity in evolving tattoo worlds, appropriate and inappropriate intimacy, and the task of navigating conversations about color and race.
Ultimately, the stories in this book teach us about the roles our bodies play in the social world. Both mediums and objects of art, our bodies are purveyors of sociocultural significance, sites of capitalist negotiation, and vivid encapsulations of the human condition. Kiskaddon guides us through a strangely familiar world, inviting each of us to become a tattooer along the way.
Kiskaddon, Dustin
Stanford University Press
, 2024
; English
; 266 Pages
Any tattoo is the outcome of an intimate, often hidden process. The people, bodies, and money that make tattooing what it is blend together and form a heady cocktail, something described by Matt, the owner of Oakland's Premium Tattoo, as "blood and lightning." Faced with the client's anticipation of pain and excitement, the tattooer must carefully perform calm authority to obscure a world of preparation and vigilance. "Blood and lightning, my dude"—the mysterious and intoxicating effect of tattooing done right.
Dustin Kiskaddon draws on his own apprenticeship with Matt and takes us behind the scenes into the complex world of professional tattooers. We join people who must routinely manage a messy and carnal type of work. Blood and Lightning brings us through the tattoo shop, where the smell of sterilizing agents, the hum of machines, and the sound of music spill out onto the back patio. It is here that Matt, along with his comrades, reviews the day's wins, bemoans its losses, and prepares for the future.
Having tattooed more than five hundred people, Kiskaddon is able to freshly articulate the physical, mental, emotional, and moral life of tattooers. His captivating account explores the challenges they face on the job, including the crushing fear of making mistakes on someone else's body, the role of masculinity in evolving tattoo worlds, appropriate and inappropriate intimacy, and the task of navigating conversations about color and race.
Ultimately, the stories in this book teach us about the roles our bodies play in the social world. Both mediums and objects of art, our bodies are purveyors of sociocultural significance, sites of capitalist negotiation, and vivid encapsulations of the human condition. Kiskaddon guides us through a strangely familiar world, inviting each of us to become a tattooer along the way.
eBook
The Henna Archive: 30 Designs and Their Stories, from Traditional to Modern
Khamissa, Azra; Moha, Cheb
Chronicle Books LLC
, 2024
; English
; 132 Pages
With detailed how-tos, evocative stories, and expert advice, this curated collection of 30 beautiful, easily reproducible designs by henna expert Azra Khamissa captures the past, present, and future of henna.
Applied intricately to hands before celebrations, spread thickly on the soles of feet to protect the skin, or drawn in loose lines and shapes as a form of creative expression: Henna is all these things and more. Using her deep love for henna and tapping into her years of hosting henna workshops, designer and chiropractor Azra Khamissa fuses her own unique designs with historical and traditional inspiration to create The Henna Archive, a guide with 30 approachable designs that you can create at home.
Inside you'll find historical designs from Libya, Algeria, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and more, as well as designs of Khamissa's own creation: leopard prints, crescent moons, Japanese knots, and flowers. Touching stories from people around the world sharing their personal connections to henna pair with the designs and illuminate the intimate nature of this ancient body art. Included are detailed how-tos to take your henna practice to the next level and tips, like how to get the perfect stain, what to look for when shopping for the best quality henna products, and how to host your own henna party.
UNIQUE DESIGNS: Included among the historical designs are 20 of Azra's own creation, designs that her many followers and fans have loved re-creating on their own and that will inspire you to explore henna for yourself.
A CELEBRATION OF HENNA: No other book has explored the stories and people behind the art form of henna in such a beautiful way. The designs inside uniquely capture the diverse applications, places, and people who love henna.
BEAUTIFUL GIFT: Filled with striking photography and detailed instructions, this book is the perfect gift for both beginners and henna experts alike or anyone looking to explore this art form.
Perfect for:
• Engagement party, bridal shower, wedding, or Eid al-Fitr gift
• Fans of henna, mendhi, or temporary tattooing looking for DIY design ideas
• Great art activity for a girls' night, bachelorette party, slumber parties, and more
• Those who enjoy calligraphy, hand lettering, drawing, or anyone looking for a new art practice
Khamissa, Azra; Moha, Cheb
Chronicle Books LLC
, 2024
; English
; 132 Pages
With detailed how-tos, evocative stories, and expert advice, this curated collection of 30 beautiful, easily reproducible designs by henna expert Azra Khamissa captures the past, present, and future of henna.
Applied intricately to hands before celebrations, spread thickly on the soles of feet to protect the skin, or drawn in loose lines and shapes as a form of creative expression: Henna is all these things and more. Using her deep love for henna and tapping into her years of hosting henna workshops, designer and chiropractor Azra Khamissa fuses her own unique designs with historical and traditional inspiration to create The Henna Archive, a guide with 30 approachable designs that you can create at home.
Inside you'll find historical designs from Libya, Algeria, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and more, as well as designs of Khamissa's own creation: leopard prints, crescent moons, Japanese knots, and flowers. Touching stories from people around the world sharing their personal connections to henna pair with the designs and illuminate the intimate nature of this ancient body art. Included are detailed how-tos to take your henna practice to the next level and tips, like how to get the perfect stain, what to look for when shopping for the best quality henna products, and how to host your own henna party.
UNIQUE DESIGNS: Included among the historical designs are 20 of Azra's own creation, designs that her many followers and fans have loved re-creating on their own and that will inspire you to explore henna for yourself.
A CELEBRATION OF HENNA: No other book has explored the stories and people behind the art form of henna in such a beautiful way. The designs inside uniquely capture the diverse applications, places, and people who love henna.
BEAUTIFUL GIFT: Filled with striking photography and detailed instructions, this book is the perfect gift for both beginners and henna experts alike or anyone looking to explore this art form.
Perfect for:
• Engagement party, bridal shower, wedding, or Eid al-Fitr gift
• Fans of henna, mendhi, or temporary tattooing looking for DIY design ideas
• Great art activity for a girls' night, bachelorette party, slumber parties, and more
• Those who enjoy calligraphy, hand lettering, drawing, or anyone looking for a new art practice
eBook
Kanji box : Japanese character collection
Oketani, Shogo; Lowitz, Leza
Stone Bridge Press
, 2023
; English
; 150 Pages
Bold, visual, profound, symbolic: Japanese kanji characters communicate powerful graphic messages that look great on skin, walls, stationery, T-shirts, and more. Here are dozens of edgy, targeted characters hand-picked to help you find the inner you and express yourself in a distinctive stylish way. With cultural clues, readings, font varieties, and ideas for proper use. Don't embarrass yourself with bad ink!
Oketani, Shogo; Lowitz, Leza
Stone Bridge Press
, 2023
; English
; 150 Pages
Bold, visual, profound, symbolic: Japanese kanji characters communicate powerful graphic messages that look great on skin, walls, stationery, T-shirts, and more. Here are dozens of edgy, targeted characters hand-picked to help you find the inner you and express yourself in a distinctive stylish way. With cultural clues, readings, font varieties, and ideas for proper use. Don't embarrass yourself with bad ink!
eBook
Tattoos in crime and detective narratives : marking and re-marking
Watson, Kate; Cox, Katharine
Manchester University Press
, 2019
; English
; 302 Pages
Tattoos in crime and detective narratives examines representations of the tattoo and tattooing in literature, television and film, from two periods of tattoo renaissance (1851-1914, and c1955 to present). It makes an original contribution to understandings of crime and detective genre and the ways in which tattoos act as a mimetic device that marks and remarks these narratives in complex ways. With a focus on tattooing as a bodily narrative, the book incorporates the critical perspectives of posthumanism, spatiality, postcolonialism, embodiment and gender studies. The grouped essays examine the first tattoo renaissance, the rebirth of the tattoo in contemporary culture through literature, children's literature, film and television. The collection has a broad appeal, and will be of interest to all literature and media scholars, but in particular those with an interest in crime and detective narratives and skin studies.
Watson, Kate; Cox, Katharine
Manchester University Press
, 2019
; English
; 302 Pages
Tattoos in crime and detective narratives examines representations of the tattoo and tattooing in literature, television and film, from two periods of tattoo renaissance (1851-1914, and c1955 to present). It makes an original contribution to understandings of crime and detective genre and the ways in which tattoos act as a mimetic device that marks and remarks these narratives in complex ways. With a focus on tattooing as a bodily narrative, the book incorporates the critical perspectives of posthumanism, spatiality, postcolonialism, embodiment and gender studies. The grouped essays examine the first tattoo renaissance, the rebirth of the tattoo in contemporary culture through literature, children's literature, film and television. The collection has a broad appeal, and will be of interest to all literature and media scholars, but in particular those with an interest in crime and detective narratives and skin studies.
eBook
The social semiotics of tattoos : skin and self
Martin, Chris William
Bloomsbury Academic
, 2019
; English
; 220 Pages
Why do people put indelible marks on their bodies in an era characterized by constant cultural change? How do tattoos as semiotic resources convey meaning? What goes on behind the scenes in a tattoo studio? How do people negotiate the informal career of tattoo artist? The Social Semiotics of Tattoos is a study of tattoos and tattooing at a time when the practice is more artistic, culturally relevant, and common than ever before.
By discussing shifts within the practices of tattooing over the past several decades, Martin chronicles the cultural turn in which tattooists have become known as tattoo artists, the tattoo gun turns into the tattoo machine, and standardized tattoo designs are replaced by highly expressive and unique forms of communication with a language of its own. Revealing the full range of meaning-making involved in the visual, written and spoken elements of the act, this volume frames tattoos and tattooing as powerful cultural expressions, symbols, and indexes and by doing so sheds the last hints of tattooing as a deviant practice.
Based on a year of full-time ethnographic study of a tattoo studio/art gallery as well as in-depth interviews with tattoo artists and enthusiasts, The Social Semiotics of Tattoos will be of interest to academic researchers of semiotics as well as tattoo industry professional and artists.
Martin, Chris William
Bloomsbury Academic
, 2019
; English
; 220 Pages
Why do people put indelible marks on their bodies in an era characterized by constant cultural change? How do tattoos as semiotic resources convey meaning? What goes on behind the scenes in a tattoo studio? How do people negotiate the informal career of tattoo artist? The Social Semiotics of Tattoos is a study of tattoos and tattooing at a time when the practice is more artistic, culturally relevant, and common than ever before.
By discussing shifts within the practices of tattooing over the past several decades, Martin chronicles the cultural turn in which tattooists have become known as tattoo artists, the tattoo gun turns into the tattoo machine, and standardized tattoo designs are replaced by highly expressive and unique forms of communication with a language of its own. Revealing the full range of meaning-making involved in the visual, written and spoken elements of the act, this volume frames tattoos and tattooing as powerful cultural expressions, symbols, and indexes and by doing so sheds the last hints of tattooing as a deviant practice.
Based on a year of full-time ethnographic study of a tattoo studio/art gallery as well as in-depth interviews with tattoo artists and enthusiasts, The Social Semiotics of Tattoos will be of interest to academic researchers of semiotics as well as tattoo industry professional and artists.
eBook
Geek ink : the world's smartest tattoos for rebels, nerds, scientists, and intellectuals
Race Point Publishing
, 2018
; English
; 227 Pages
Calling all ink addicts! If you want to celebrate your passion for something in the form of a tattoo—or are just fascinated by them—Geek Ink will have you covered, literally and figuratively. This tattoo inspiration sourcebook and ultimate coffee table book presents mind-blowing tattoos on themes from science fiction and fantasy, as well as a wide range of topics across science, mathematics, literature, fine art, cult cinema, and philosophy. The cutting-edge designs from the most sought-after and acclaimed contemporary tattoo artists from around the world cover all types of fandom. Among the topics: Fine art: Gustav Klimt, Michelangelo, Dali, and Van Gogh Films: Star Wars, Batman, Back to the Future, Metropolis, The Wizard of Oz, The Gremlins, My Neigbor Totoro, Pulp Fiction Literature: Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, The Little Prince, Life of Pi Television: Twin Peaks, Game of Thrones, The Simpsons, Family Guy, X-Files Mathematics and geometry, including a Fibonacci vortex and intricate mandalas Animals, both realistic and abstract You will also find hyper-realistic floral designs, intricately detailed botanicals, and whimsical and puzzling works of surrealism. The tattoo styles range from sublimely simple line drawings to masterpieces that would have you spending days on end in the chair. The artwork is organized into two sections: the first, by artist, with an introduction to 25 of the world’s greatest tattoo artists, and the second, by theme. Geek Ink incorporates commentary from creators of the Inkstinct project—which connects people with the finest tattoo art from 380,000 studios worldwide and has an Instagram fan base of more than 1 million—as well as interviews with world-renowned masters like Balazs Bercsenyi, David Cote, and Thomas Eckeard. Embrace your weird with this definitive source for tattoo inspiration and appreciation.
Race Point Publishing
, 2018
; English
; 227 Pages
Calling all ink addicts! If you want to celebrate your passion for something in the form of a tattoo—or are just fascinated by them—Geek Ink will have you covered, literally and figuratively. This tattoo inspiration sourcebook and ultimate coffee table book presents mind-blowing tattoos on themes from science fiction and fantasy, as well as a wide range of topics across science, mathematics, literature, fine art, cult cinema, and philosophy. The cutting-edge designs from the most sought-after and acclaimed contemporary tattoo artists from around the world cover all types of fandom. Among the topics: Fine art: Gustav Klimt, Michelangelo, Dali, and Van Gogh Films: Star Wars, Batman, Back to the Future, Metropolis, The Wizard of Oz, The Gremlins, My Neigbor Totoro, Pulp Fiction Literature: Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, The Little Prince, Life of Pi Television: Twin Peaks, Game of Thrones, The Simpsons, Family Guy, X-Files Mathematics and geometry, including a Fibonacci vortex and intricate mandalas Animals, both realistic and abstract You will also find hyper-realistic floral designs, intricately detailed botanicals, and whimsical and puzzling works of surrealism. The tattoo styles range from sublimely simple line drawings to masterpieces that would have you spending days on end in the chair. The artwork is organized into two sections: the first, by artist, with an introduction to 25 of the world’s greatest tattoo artists, and the second, by theme. Geek Ink incorporates commentary from creators of the Inkstinct project—which connects people with the finest tattoo art from 380,000 studios worldwide and has an Instagram fan base of more than 1 million—as well as interviews with world-renowned masters like Balazs Bercsenyi, David Cote, and Thomas Eckeard. Embrace your weird with this definitive source for tattoo inspiration and appreciation.
eBook
Ancient ink : the archaeology of tattooing
Krutak, Lars; Deter-Wolf, Aaron
University of Washington Press
, 2017
; English
; 367 Pages
The desire to alter and adorn the human body is universal. While specific forms of body decoration, and the underlying motivations, vary according to region, culture, and era, all human societies have engaged in practices designed to augment and enhance their natural appearance. Tattooing, the process of inserting pigment into the skin to create permanent designs and patterns, appears on human mummies by 3200 BCE and was practiced by ancient cultures throughout the world.
Ancient Ink, the first book dedicated to the archaeological study of tattooing, presents new research from across the globe examining tattooed human remains, tattoo tools, and ancient art. It contributes to our understanding of the antiquity, durability, and significance of tattooing and human body decoration and illuminates how different societies have used their skin to construct their identities. Ancient Ink connects ancient body art traditions to modern culture through Indigenous communities and the work of contemporary tattoo artists.
Krutak, Lars; Deter-Wolf, Aaron
University of Washington Press
, 2017
; English
; 367 Pages
The desire to alter and adorn the human body is universal. While specific forms of body decoration, and the underlying motivations, vary according to region, culture, and era, all human societies have engaged in practices designed to augment and enhance their natural appearance. Tattooing, the process of inserting pigment into the skin to create permanent designs and patterns, appears on human mummies by 3200 BCE and was practiced by ancient cultures throughout the world.
Ancient Ink, the first book dedicated to the archaeological study of tattooing, presents new research from across the globe examining tattooed human remains, tattoo tools, and ancient art. It contributes to our understanding of the antiquity, durability, and significance of tattooing and human body decoration and illuminates how different societies have used their skin to construct their identities. Ancient Ink connects ancient body art traditions to modern culture through Indigenous communities and the work of contemporary tattoo artists.
eBook
Liberte, Sara
Motorbooks
, 2013
; English
; 322 Pages
Anyone who rides a motorcycle lives, to some degree, in the margins of society. Where members of the herd drive Toyota Camrys and hipster hatchbacks, bikers opt for Harley-Davidsons, Triumphs, and Ducatis, putting themselves out there like raised middle fingers thrust at the ordinary citizens of the world. And just as a motorcyclist’s ride is an affront to the sensibilities of the meek and the conventional, so too is the ink on his or her skin. Tattoos have long been an integral part of this culture, the result of the overwhelming number of ex-military men who formed the nucleus of the postwar outlaw motorcycle club scene. These soldiers, sailors, and marines returned from war with statements etched in ink upon their bodies, and they continued that tradition when they formed the clubs that came to define motorcycle culture. In 1000 Biker Tattoos, motorcycle photographer Sara Liberte celebrates this most personal of art forms by capturing the wild abandon of the motorcycle lifestyle as expressed through tattoo work. Featuring 1,000 photos of tattoos and the artwork used to create them, along with profiles of the most renowned tattoo artists in the biker community, this book provides an unprecedented window into the most intimate aspect of motorcycle culture.
eBook
Liberte, Sara
Motorbooks
, 2013
; English
; 322 Pages
Anyone who rides a motorcycle lives, to some degree, in the margins of society. Where members of the herd drive Toyota Camrys and hipster hatchbacks, bikers opt for Harley-Davidsons, Triumphs, and Ducatis, putting themselves out there like raised middle fingers thrust at the ordinary citizens of the world. And just as a motorcyclist’s ride is an affront to the sensibilities of the meek and the conventional, so too is the ink on his or her skin. Tattoos have long been an integral part of this culture, the result of the overwhelming number of ex-military men who formed the nucleus of the postwar outlaw motorcycle club scene. These soldiers, sailors, and marines returned from war with statements etched in ink upon their bodies, and they continued that tradition when they formed the clubs that came to define motorcycle culture. In 1000 Biker Tattoos, motorcycle photographer Sara Liberte celebrates this most personal of art forms by capturing the wild abandon of the motorcycle lifestyle as expressed through tattoo work. Featuring 1,000 photos of tattoos and the artwork used to create them, along with profiles of the most renowned tattoo artists in the biker community, this book provides an unprecedented window into the most intimate aspect of motorcycle culture.
eBook
Anand, Mulk Raj; Hutheesing, Krishna Nehru
Tuttle Publishing
, 2013
; English
; 131 Pages
Learn the sensual secretes of Eastern beauty practices with this informative and readable guide.
The beauty rituals of the East have long been legendary--the use of oils and unguents, lotions of rose leaves and vinegar, the juice of ripe strawberries and plums, milk baths, honey, and myrrh. The very names evoke an aura of romance, a world where woman pamper and prepare their bodies.
Such is the world of Indian beauty as introduced in this exquisite volume of beauty recipes handed down verbally through the ages.
Anand, Mulk Raj; Hutheesing, Krishna Nehru
Tuttle Publishing
, 2013
; English
; 131 Pages
Learn the sensual secretes of Eastern beauty practices with this informative and readable guide.
The beauty rituals of the East have long been legendary--the use of oils and unguents, lotions of rose leaves and vinegar, the juice of ripe strawberries and plums, milk baths, honey, and myrrh. The very names evoke an aura of romance, a world where woman pamper and prepare their bodies.
Such is the world of Indian beauty as introduced in this exquisite volume of beauty recipes handed down verbally through the ages.
eBook
Tattoo: bodies, art and exchange in the Pacific and Europe
Cole, Anna; Douglas, Bronwen; Thomas, Nicholas
Reaktion Books
, 2012
; English
; 254 Pages
The popularity of tattoos today is a revival of a practice begun in the late eighteenth century, when Westerners first made contact with the native peoples of the Pacific. The term ‘tattoo' entered Europe with the publication of Captain Cook's voyages in the 1770s, and Pacific tattoos became fashionable in the West as sailors, whalers and explorers brought home tattoos from Tahiti, the Marquesas, New Zealand and Polynesia. In recent years these early contacts have been revived, as native tattooists from Oceania have begun tattooing non-Polynesians in Europe, the USA and elsewhere.
Tattoo is both a fascinating book about these early Oceanic–European exchanges, that also documents developments up to the present day, and the first to look at the history of tattooing in Oceania itself. Documenting these complex cultural interactions in the first part of the book, the authors move from issues of encounter, representation and exchange to the interventions of missionaries and the colonial state in local tattoo practices. Highly illustrated with many previously unseen images, for example the original voyage sketches of the first Russian circumnavigation of 1803–6, this is a fascinating account of early tattooing and cultural exchange in Oceania, and will appeal to the wide audience interested in the history of tattooing.
Cole, Anna; Douglas, Bronwen; Thomas, Nicholas
Reaktion Books
, 2012
; English
; 254 Pages
The popularity of tattoos today is a revival of a practice begun in the late eighteenth century, when Westerners first made contact with the native peoples of the Pacific. The term ‘tattoo' entered Europe with the publication of Captain Cook's voyages in the 1770s, and Pacific tattoos became fashionable in the West as sailors, whalers and explorers brought home tattoos from Tahiti, the Marquesas, New Zealand and Polynesia. In recent years these early contacts have been revived, as native tattooists from Oceania have begun tattooing non-Polynesians in Europe, the USA and elsewhere.
Tattoo is both a fascinating book about these early Oceanic–European exchanges, that also documents developments up to the present day, and the first to look at the history of tattooing in Oceania itself. Documenting these complex cultural interactions in the first part of the book, the authors move from issues of encounter, representation and exchange to the interventions of missionaries and the colonial state in local tattoo practices. Highly illustrated with many previously unseen images, for example the original voyage sketches of the first Russian circumnavigation of 1803–6, this is a fascinating account of early tattooing and cultural exchange in Oceania, and will appeal to the wide audience interested in the history of tattooing.
