TattooNOW: Bob! How goes it?
Bob Tyrrell: Going good man!, enjoying a killer Detroit summer.
TN: Education and tattooing make for a controversial mix, why did you decide to put out a DVD and webinar?
Bob: Well, because you approached me with the idea, ha-ha! But seriously, I’ve been giving seminars at tattoo conventions for many years now. I thought the webinars you did with Guy Aitchison and Russ Abbott were a great idea. I remember Paul Booth had this idea years ago but never did it. It’s a great way for tattooers anywhere in the world to do a seminar without having to travel to a convention. It’s a convenient way to be able to take a seminar. As far as the DVD, people have been asking me for years when I’m going to put one out. So now seems like a good time. I have Nikko’s and Andy Engel’s DVD’s, and they’re awesome. Really helpful for anyone wanting to progress in those styles, and learn from those masters. I held off on the DVD idea for a long time, some tattooers feel we shouldn’t give people access to this kind of info so freely. “Giving away our secrets”. I kind of used to feel that way. But times have changed. With the internet and everything, tattooers have all kinds of access to tattoo techniques. The secrets are already out there, so fuck it, why not? If I can help someone become a better tattooer, maybe they’ll end up teaching me something someday.
Courtesy of Sullen TV: Sullen TV was in Detroit, MI for the Motor City Tattoo Expo with the amazingly talented tattooer and artist, Bob Tyrrell. Bob Tyrrell (@bobtyrell) tattooed the winner of the Sullen Art Collective Facebook Tattoo Giveaway, Billy Jack Buzzard from West Virginia. Check out the tour so far and stay tuned for more from Detroit Rock City!
By Dan Henk
People love clichés. They love to pick apart their coworkers and neighbors. One of the many, many little schools of dissension in tattooing tends to be the “tattoo artist” versus the “tattooer” label.
Some circles, especially those who focus on old-school, have decided that “tattoo artist” is a pejorative. There is a whole list of complaints I’ve heard regarding anything that doesn’t look like a traditional tattoo. Everything from ”that won’t hold up over time,” to “that doesn’t look like a tattoo” to “anyone who wants to be called a tattoo artist is a pretentious hipster, this is a noble working class profession like pipe fitting or blacksmithing…” (more…)
By Sean Herman
This past Hell City I was fortunate to tattoo three different collectors. Collectors are a whole different breed of client getting tattooed. They are passionately pursuing specific tattooers, and getting pieces to signify the work from that tattooer, no matter what the subject matter of the piece is. That always makes it an honor to tattoo a collector. During the weekend I had some people who were close to me tell me, “Hey, you keep going on about how awesome it is that they love tattooing, how about you write a blog about the collectors, like the one’s you write about tattooers.” She was right, why didn’t I think of that. Genius. After Hell City, I decided to get a few of them together to tell us their stories, I hope you enjoy… [Part I] (more…)
Get ready, the Paradise Tattoo Gathering is this week!
Tattooers, apprentices, collectors and the curious have been registering for the Paradise Tattoo Gathering which is coming up September 13-16 in Keystone Colorado. Hotel rooms and Condos are being booked, and seminar registrations are coming in every day. Jeff Gogue’s seminar only has 15 spaces left out of 100, so don’t snooze on registering!
This years lineup is truly amazing: Tattooing, workshops, seminars and live painting are being led by the likes of Bob Tyrrell, Adrian Lee, Tommy Lee, Nick Baxter, Jeff Gogue, Tom Strom, Chet Zar, Damon Conklin, Nikko Hurtado, Alex De Pase, Big Gus, Shawn Barber, Jo Harrison, BJ Betts, Megan Hoogland, Cory Ferguson, Seth Ciferri, James Kern, Jason Kundell and many, many more. We hope to see you there! (more…)
By Dan Henk
When I first started tattooing, the industry seemed to be breaking new ground. People like Guy Aitchison, Tom Renshaw and Aaron Caine were redefining what could be done with the form. It was an exciting time. I had been to art school, was doing album covers for bands, illustrations for a few clubs and magazines, and I finally saw that tattooing could be as detailed and complex as any other medium. I had interviewed with DC Comics, and Penguin books and both were very restrictive… (more…)
Some may recall my enthusiastic blog report last fall on the Paradise Tattoo Gathering… Well, I’m gonna do it again! The World Wide Tattoo Conference, brainchild of Italian tattoo artist Alex De Pase and co-hosted by Gabe Ripley and TattooNOW.com, is a new first in the tattoo world; a two-day seminar event for professional tattooers, boasting lectures from six highly respected and influential global artists. More than 200 tattoo artists from around the globe travelled to St. Charles, Illinois to attend this specialized tattoo conference… (more…)
By Dan Henk
Horror has been around a long, long time. The early fairy tales were much darker than their current Disney-fied versions. The primal gods of ancient civilizations endured lives filled with maniacal beasts, surreal landscapes and an ever-changing world of magic and dark sorcery. The oral traditions of early man’s forefathers always had an element of horror… (more…)
By Gabe Ripley
Guy Aitchison Seminar: “The Extra Mile Is Never Crowded- A Few Extra Things You Can Do To Make Your Work Stand Out” Included as part of the Worldwide Tattoo Conference educational program, $800 for 6 2-hour classes (see event description for more information). Free ticket giveaway: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dENTeUV2QTJfdE1VMXBOMWo0S1JOclE6MQ (more…)
By Gabe Ripley
To have a chance to win a free ticket to the World Wide Tattoo Conference, please click the link below and fill out form. Winners will be chosen at the start of next week: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dENTeUV2QTJfdE1VMXBOMWo0S1JOclE6MQ
Six of the world’s most famous tattoo artists will gather together in the Chicago area to share their expertise and experiences. Two days of full immersion into the secrets that made Guy Aitchison, Jeff Gogue, Nick Baxter, Boris, Bob Tyrrell and Alex De Pase very popular and successful. The program includes a series of highly integrated core seminars and lectures that provide attendees with a great opportunity to learn more about the technical skills, tips and tricks and suggestions that can make you a better tattooist. Every artist will explain his unique artistic approach to body art and show his own peculiar vision on the tattoo world. (more…)
By Jesse Dolphin
Hello once again, I was at the Calgary Alberta Bound Tattoo Convention a little over a week ago… Steve Peace owner of Immaculate Concepts in Calgary has for years been bringing in some of the best artists known worldwide. The show where I bought my first TAM mag. Wow, has it grown… (more…)
Alright, this year’s trip to Paradise Tattoo Gathering was super cool, and I also had a chance to go to Off The Map Tattoo and guest-spot the week of the show.
Let’s just say that the name Off The Map is fitting! It’s in small town USA where nobody locks their doors or cars, which seemed weird to me because back home in L.A. we lock up everything, including the dogs…
Don’t miss out on these events at the Paradise Tattoo Gathering: http://www.tattoogathering.com/events.html. Registration for seminars is still available.
Guest speakers include, Chet Zaz, Shawn Barber, Chris Dingwell, Workhorse Irons, Jeff Gogue, Nick Baxter, Teresa Sharpe, Joe Capobianco, Larry Brogan, Robert Ryan, Tommy Lee, Kim Ripley, Velvet Panther Insurance, Alex DePase, Rob the tattoo shop accountant, Craola, Mario rosenau, BJ Betts, Bez, Liorcifer, Hunter Spanks, Gunnar, Bob Tyrrell, Big Gus, Nick Baxter, Tom Strom and Jeff Gogue.
For more info please go to the Paradise tattoo Gathering site: http://www.tattoogathering.com/