InkSpired Magazine Issue No. 46 by InkSpired Magazine

BANDIT BRAND THROUGH THE LENS OF BILLY WARD PHOTOGRAPHY >>>>>>>

TATTOO ARTIST: DARIN PRIEST

DIRT MONKEY

Interview: Tegan Shmegan 6 Fashion: Bandit Brand

Piercing: Miro Hernandez

Music: DIrt Monkey 40 Through the Lens of Billy Ward Photography 50 Club Tattoo Tempe Artist: Darin Priest

Tattoo Artist: Angelo Nicolella

Editor-in-Chief - Candies Deezy Liu Creative Director - Sean Hartgrove Art Director - David Rossa Piercing Editor - Sean Dowdell European Editor - Ákos Bánfalvi Positive Spin Editor - Kate Monahan Staff Photographers - Radek Photography & Billy Ward

Interview: Tegan Shmegan Interview: Ákos Bánfalvi Photos: Tragic Glamour Photography Fashion: Bandit Brand Words: Simone Jane Photos: Michael Schmidt Music: Dirt Monkey Words: Lea Luna Photos: Sean Hartgrove Through the Lens: Billy Ward Photography Words: Kate Monahan Club Tattoo Tempe Artist: Darin Priest Words: Simone Jane Tattoo Artist: Angelo Nicolella Interview: Ákos Bánfalvi Piercing: Miro Hernandez Interview: Sean Dowdell Who’s on the cover: Model: Lea Vendetta Photo: Billy Ward

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Fall is a season of transition as the leaves start to change color. This is a time of transformation, much like how tattoos play a significant role in our own personal metamorphosis. Issue No. 46, our September issue reminisces the pivotal changes that have greatly contributed to the heart and soul of InkSpired. Billy Ward and his photography is no stranger to InkSpired Magazine. This month, however, we shift the focus to his own story—one of triumph as he overcame addiction. In his journey of sobriety, he found his true calling in photography and filmmaking. Through the lens of Billy’s photography, we discover the depth to his talent and passion.

In fashion, we take a trip down nostalgic vintage memory lane to Bandit Town, USA, where life is beautiful and a lot simpler. It’s where rock ‘n’ roll inspires the fashion, and where Bandit Brand resides. Charming with irresistible edge, it’s fashion that makes you feel good wearing and looking at it. As we transition into the fall with a new issue full of art, inspiration, and good ol’ storytelling, I ask you, “what ‘InkSpires’ you?” Signed, Candies Deezy Liu, Editor-in-Chief

This month, DJ Lea Luna catches up with Dirt Monkey, who is springing back into action with his new album, Chroma. In an exclusive interview, he dishes about his new album and what makes the DJ tick.

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InkSpot - What “InkSpires” You? “It’s a reminder of the traditions that I hold so close to my heart.” -Jacob Valdez “Self-expression of my identity on an artistic and creative level.” -Lee Nichols “To mark significant memories and symbolism that I want to remember forever.” -Angela Dawson It’s a way for me to honor my loved ones - past and present.” Alex Evans “I think preservation of self-expression and art is extremely important. Getting tattooed is my way of showing what that importance means to me.” -Elaine Daniels “Being ‘InkSpired’ to me means you want to wear your whole life on your sleeve (or whichever part you choose). That means all the good parts as well as the bad. To keep a constant reminder of the amazing time you have spent on this planet.” -Jessica Walton-brown

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Interview: Tegan Shmegan

INTERVIEW TEGAN SHMEGAN Interview: ร kos Bรกnfalvi Photography: Tragic Glamour Photography (www.tragicglamour.com) Tegan Barrett aka Tegan Shmegan moved to California from Kansas about five years ago to follow her dreams. She got her apprenticeship for piercing shortly after she moved there and has been doing it ever since. Tegan loves piercing and the tattoo industry, it is its own world and makes perfect sense to her.

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“I LIKE TO EXPRESS MYSELF THE WAY I DO WITH THE TATTOOS AND PIERCINGS AND THE PHOTO SHOOTS, I WANT TO BE WALKING ART…” – TEGAN SHMEGAN

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Tell us about your childhood and teenage years. Did you always want to be a model? I was super awkward growing up. I never felt like an airbrushed beauty like you see in Seventeen magazine or Cosmo, I never really had much self-esteem until I saw a tattoo magazine when I was 13 years old and I immediately identified with that and was like, “I wanna be like this one day when I grow up!” I’ve been working on that ever since. (Smiles.)

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How long have you been a body piercer? Did you have a formal apprenticeship? August 8th will be 4 years I have been piercing full time! My apprenticeship was pretty formal, I was never ever allowed to work on walk-in customers. I had to bring in a lot of my friends to pierce them and be approved by my boss and mentor and otherco-workers. That process took about 8 months. What is it like being a female body piercer in a primarily male workplace? Being a female piercer is awesome! I talk shit to the dudes all day long, most of the artists I work with are always chill and super funny. It’s not always easy, but it takes a certain person to be able to make it, male or female. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. Though the dynamics are constantly changing, there are obviously many fewer women body piercers in the industry than men. Has being a female ever presented challenges to you along the way? Do you feel you have had to work even harder to achieve the success you have than might have been necessary for a man? Very opposite. Being a female piercer is a blessing. The majority of people who get pierced are about 70% female and females trust females a bit more than men so for me it’s a blessing. I know quite a few female piercers! And plenty of great male piercers too. It’s more than putting a hole in someone. It’s the whole package that keeps them coming back. Earning trust is the most important.

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Can you tell us more about the shop you work at, what it’s like working there, and what a typical day is like there? I am the lead piercer at both of our locations at Emerald Tattoo and Piercing in Lodi and Modesto and we are a few weeks away from opening our third location in Elk Grove! We will be Elk Grove’s very first tattoo shop and I will be their first professional body piercer! That is where I will be full time since it is significantly closer to where I live. I am also going to school to get SCPC certified for permanent cosmetics as well! I will soon have a dual career; I am so stoked! Our shops work at such a high volume, it’s a lot to keep up with but I love the fact that I can make a good living doing what I love to do! Last Saturday and Sunday, I did 50 piercings in Modesto for no reason. Just because that’s what a looks like at our shops. I couldn’t be happier! InkSpiredbusy Magazineweekend .com

And what do you think influences your style? Is it music, film or simply just everyday life? I think my style is inspired by mostly music and the horror culture and just wearing whatever tickles my fancy. This generation is the future and I’m inspired by tons of different things. (Smiles.) It’s like every day when I wake up, I get to play dress up. It’s hard to explain, I’ve never dressed or looked like everyone else, it’s not like I try to just be different than everyone else, I just don’t feel myself dressing normal. I like to express myself the way I do with the tattoos and piercings and the photo shoots, I want to be walking art. I want my whole life to be art.

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Are there any female models that inspire you? There are tons of female models who inspire me! Holly Doll has always been a babe and she’s as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. Emily Dearheart has been slaying the last few years, it’s been awesome to watch her grow as well. I got the privilege to meet Miss Mary Leigh and Makani Terror at Musink in L.A. early this year and they were both really sweet and total babes! It’s super nice and humbling to meet hot babes that you look up to who are actually pretty on the inside. (Laughs.) How long have you had tattoos and how many do you have? I’ve been getting tattooed since I was 17. I already knew from the age of 13 I would be covered one day. I couldn’t tell you exactly how many I have or how many hours I got, I just know I’m like 45% covered and have sooooo much more left to dooooooo. (Laughs.) I love tattoos but I hate getting them. What inspires the tattoos you choose to get? I enjoy other people’s art. The older I get, the more I just want to get other artists’ art. I mean I definitely have pieces that stand for something and mean a lot to me but I love being covered in art that I’m stuck with for the rest of my life. Can you give us a rundown of your excellent tattoo collection? My tattoo collection is pretty all over the place. (Laughs.) I have some traditional then I have some funny ones like my Johnny Bravo piece behind my ear or my animal tattoo on my leg. I am dyinggggggg for my traditional Beetlejuice sleeve, that is why my whole right arm is bare. It’s driving me nuts. I’ve almost sleeved out my whole right leg in the time I’ve waited to get my sleeve, just waiting for the right person to do it! It’s worth the wait! It’s my whole arm. Do you think tattoos will continue to get more fashionable over the next few years? I can see more or less that tattoos will be more popular for the fact that more people are feeling better about self-expression and tons of discrimination laws are being lifted against hiring tattooed people. Just because we chose to express ourselves through our art says nothing about how hard we can work. That’s always been my argument. It shouldn’t separate us any more. We are all people. Tattooed or not, we should just stop concerning ourselves with what everyone else is doing and just focus on ourselves.

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Do you think people treat you differently for being heavily tattooed? I didn’t really know exactly how much I would alienate myself from normal society with being so tattooed. Once I got my throat and head tattooed, I noticed a total difference. But I like to be a good example of what a tattooed person is like these days, so no matter where I go, I am full of manners and self-respect. I am really polite and it throws people off all the time. People look dumbfounded and it’s like, come on people, this is the future. Not everyone with tattoos is a gang banger or hooker, we are so not in the olden days anymore. I wish people would stop being so surprised by how other chose to modify themselves. It’s all selfexpression and I support people doing what truly makes them happy, instead of living in fear they can’t get jobs or this or that. Five things you can’t live without? 1. Music 2. My pitbull, Diesel Dog (that’s my little homie) 3. Coffee 4. My eyebrows on 5. My friends and fam bam. What are some of your other loves and hobbies? I love making shit! Curtains, pillows, outfits, purses, candles, anything and everything! I also love booney cruisin’ and going on random ghost hunting adventures! I am a hopeless romantic but stay single most of the time. Married to the game, you could say. I am addicted to working hard to get somewhere and to make my mama proud. www.Facebook.com/TeganShmegannn www.Facebook.com/TEgan.SHmegan Instagram & Twitter: @Tegan_Shmegan www.modelmayhem.com/1769834

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Fashion: Bandit Brand

F A S H I O N

BANDIT BRAND Words: Simone Jane Photography: Michael Schmidt

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Bandit Brand has the nostalgic feel of 1970s America, reflections that capture and communicate the crude beauty and simplicity of life. A place where people took pride in their advertising, where signs and logos were hand made, and driving through the woods on the weekends on top of your roadster with no destination in mind was a road trippin’ dream. Jennifer Mcmillan is the woman behind Bandit Brand. Her route into fashion design is a somewhat familiar story. Jen owned a boutique 15 years ago that specialized in new and vintage clothing. “I was having trouble finding t-shirts I liked,” she explained, “so I started creating my own designs.” Jen confessed, “I personally can’t draw very well, and I am super picky, so it took a very long time to find the right artist(s) to take what was in my head, translate my crappy sketches, and turn it into the t-shirt art it is today.”

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She began to create a brand out of those drawings. “I wanted them to look and feel vintage and to actually someday become actual vintage,” Jen said. “Something well-made that looks better with age that generations to come can continue to wear,” she added. The results are vintage inspired classic rock tees designed with classic rock Americana in mind. Inspiration behind the designs of Bandit Brand is “mostly America and music,” Jen observes, “road tripping, you see a lot of cool old spots with great signs and listen to a lot of music. There is so much inspiration just everywhere when you’re in that state of mind.” She always took notice of the quality of signs growing up. “People used to take so much pride in their logos and advertising for hotels, bars, restaurants and liquor stores.” Jen explains, “before computers when everything was done by hand. I hate fonts!” she exclaims. “I try not to use them, even if it looks like a font. Virtually all of our lettering is hand drawn.”

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All of Bandit Brand is manufactured in the USA and given the intensive pressure from cheaper goods flooding in from the market overseas, that is impressive, especially when the profit margin can be so appealing. This would go against everything Bandit Brand stands for as a company. As Jen put it, “I wouldn’t do it any other way.” She states, “It’s funny because I could make a fortune off of my Urban Outfitters orders, et cetera, but I barely make anything because my t-shirts are so expensive to make but money isn’t worth it to me to exploit human beings in shitty working conditions.” She feels a duty to subscribe to the whole local economy. She continues, “I even try to eat local foods. It was never an option in my mind.” It certainly results in the quality of the tee that will last into vintage status.

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Does it take a village to make a t-shirt? Well, for Jen, it took buying an entire town. Bandit Town USA cements Bandit Brand’s true roots of “The west, country, and rock and roll,” as Jen describes it. It is an old Western town Jen found for sale two and a half years ago. “We named it Bandit Town when I bought it because it encompassed everything Bandit Brand was already about.” Jen explains. “It was perfect for our photo shoots, and we have a saloon and barn that we invite bands to play in and have small intimate rock and country “festivals.” We’re currently remodeling a bunch of the buildings there to be guest rooms so that people can come and experience life in Bandit Town. We have horses, and lots of other animals, and it’s just a really awesome place to hang out.” Jen says. www.BanditBrand.com www.BanditTownUSA.com www.Facebook.com/BanditBrand Instagram: @Bandit_Brand

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Piercing: Miro Hernandez

PIERCING MIRO HERNANDEZ Interview: Sean Dowdell Sean Dowdell: What piercers do you look up to and why? Miro Hernandez: Luis Garcia because of how technique driven he is, Noah Babcock for pushing boundaries, Jim Ward and Fakir for historical sense, and David Vidra. Sean Dowdell: Have you ever apprenticed anyone? Miro Hernandez: Yes, but it never worked out. I couldn’t seem to find anyone who shared my passion for what I do. Sean Dowdell: What would you say that you are most known for within the industry? Miro Hernandez: I think I am known for the love of gold, and for the amount of detail I place into the things that I do.

Studio Name: Dandyland City/State: San Antonio, TX Number of Years Piercing: 20 Sean Dowdell: Why did you want to learn to do body piercing? Miro Hernandez: I was always intrigued by the cultural aspects of it and the history. Loved learning the ritual aspects as well. Sean Dowdell: When did you start body piercing, who taught you, and where? Miro Hernandez: 2002, mostly self-taught. Got some help from Margaret at MINX, James Green, Bear, and Scott Barrs. They were all very helpful to me in the beginning.

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Sean Dowdell: What do you think are (if any) problems within the piercing industry? Miro Hernandez: It’s growing too fast and production can’t meet up with demand at the moment. Also, there aren’t enough “qualified” piercers in our industry. Sean Dowdell: Where would you like to be in 5 years (pertaining to life and business)? Miro Hernandez: Continue on the path that I am on and to keep growing. Always making sure that there is continual progress. Sean Dowdell: What is your favorite piercing to perform and why? Miro Hernandez: Without any hesitation, Daith, there is something about the technical application to the piercer performing it and the simplicity of the wearer that I love.

Photo: APP / Kerry Tasker

"NEVER BE AFRAID TO ADMIT YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE WRONG AND LEARN FROM IT!" - MIRO HERNANDEZ InkSpiredMagazine.com

Sean Dowdell: Do any piercings still make you nervous? Miro Hernandez: Septumsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;unforeseen deviation that is out of my control makes me nervous. Sean Dowdell: Being a veteran piercer, what advice do you think other novice piercers should hear? Miro Hernandez: Never be afraid to admit youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re wrong and learn from it! Sean Dowdell: What would you like to learn or do better? Miro Hernandez: I would love to get better at running my studio more efficiently! Sean Dowdell: What is your favorite thing about your career? Miro Hernandez: Working with people that are in a very raw moment and finding themselves through a moment. That moment when they are being honest with themselves is a moment I love to be a part of.

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Music: DIrt Monkey

MUSIC DIRT MONKEY

Words: Lea Luna Photography: Sean Hartgrove Dirt Monkey is about to spring back out of his cage. A pioneer of musical style, he branches out into new territory with his forthcoming album, Chroma which is just as filthy and bass-laden as his previous works with a few fresh and original ideas blended in. This full-length, genredefying album is slated to break out to the public August 30th, on his very own record label, Kairos Audio which has just been born. After chasing the monkey down (they say a big part of this album was written on a train), InkSpired Magazine finds him in his home state of Colorado, about to slay the decks at his resident habitat, Beta Nightclub. Inked up with birds of prey and confident about his new movement in music, he gives us a few words about how he lives the dream, cliffhangs, and takes on new territory with confidence, precision, and grace.

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Lea Luna: Hey, Dirt Monkey! How’s life out in Colorado? Excited for your set at Beta this weekend? Dirt Monkey: Life is great! Very excited for this weekend at Beta, sounds like all the homies are gonna show up so the crowd will be ideal. I’ve never put an album out on my own, so this is a big deal for me to have the release party at such an awesome place with all my friends. Lea Luna: Your new album Chroma is dope! How long have you been working on it? Dirt Monkey: Why, thank you. I’ve been working on it off and on for the last year and a half. It wasn’t until the end of last year that I actually decided to put all these songs together as an album. It’s been countless hours of work though, so it feels good to be wrapping it up finally and releasing it to the public. It’s kinda nice getting to the point of no return where you can’t make any more tweaks on your art, ya know? Lea Luna: There are all kinds of sounds and tempos on this album. Would all these songs fit into your typical DJ set? What would you self-proclaim is your style or genre? Dirt Monkey: Yeah, this album is quite eclectic. For me, putting this out is more of a statement to the EDM world that it’s ok to make different styles of music, and an artist shouldn’t just have to release banger after banger to win the hearts of their fans. With that being said, I’m doing this with the hope of redefining what my brand is all about, both with the music and the artwork attached to it. So some of this stuff wouldn’t fit into my sets currently, but I will slowly be changing my sets to accommodate the more trippy and chill stuff. Lea Luna: Tell us about your new label, Kairos Audio and how that’s going with Jantsen. Dirt Monkey: We started Kairos Audio a few years ago, and it feels good to be on our own program and get to release whatever we want, whenever we want. Between Jan and I, the quality control is pretty high, so it’s been cool to see our catalog take shape. At this point, we are not really seeking new artists out, mainly just releasing our stuff, but in the next year it will begin to take a bit of a new direction. I won’t divulge too much info here, but we are starting a new music project together as a new name and brand, so Kairos Audio will be heading in that direction as well. Lea Luna: What do you do when you’re not on the music grind? Any hobbies? Guilty pleasures? Dirt Monkey: Well, lately I’ve been 100% on the grind, but I also work part time as a route setter at a rock climbing gym in Boulder, and climb in my spare time. I’m also recently married to the woman of my dreams, so I spend all my free time doing awesome and ridiculous things with her. Lea Luna: Give us some names and details about the other collaborators on Chroma. Where’d you find them? Dirt Monkey: The Wolfe, my collab buddy on “Combination Style” is my good friend, Connor who used to go by Filthy Disco. He’s starting this new alias up making really dope night bass kinda stuff. Brian aka Seraiah kindly hit me up and sent me some clips of him messing around with some scratch records, which I then chopped up and used with “Battlestar Dirtlactica.” Clinton Sly is on “Work It” and we have worked together on numerous records. I one hundred percent had to have him on the album in some way, and he absolutely crushed it on that song. Harvey J, who is the rapper on “Super Saiyan” is also the Facebook/internet sensation

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Chef Henny, who is the dude that cooks stuff with Hennessy. He is currently in a beef with DJ Khaled which is kinda crazy and hilarious. And last but not least, DMVU is my friend who I collaborated with on “Cosmic Rose.” I saw a thing he posted on Soundcloud one night where he was drunk and recorded himself playing a Rhodes piano, downloaded that, chopped it up, made a beat for it, and voila! Lea Luna: Tell us about your ink and what it means to you. Dirt Monkey: For a long time, I’ve had a big fascination with birds of prey. In December of last year, I was having a rough time and driving to the airport to play some shows out of town when a huge bald eagle flew about 20 feet above my car when no one else was around. Time stood still. It hit me pretty hard and stuck with me. This bird on my arm is actually a creation of my friend and tattoo artist, Jules. He created it as a combo between a hawk and an eagle, with the colors of a peregrine falcon. This bird is like my little buddy who reminds me to be confident, precise, and graceful through life. Lea Luna: What are your favorite pieces of hardware, software, plugins, instruments, etc.? Dirt Monkey: In the last year, I’ve discovered Universal Audio and it’s changed the game for me. I use an Apollo Twin Duo interface with a bunch of UAD plugins now, and they are the closest I’ve heard to analog gear out of any plugins. Their SSL G Bus compressor is amazing and gets used all the time, as well as the Precision Multiband and Precision Maximizer. As for software instruments, I still use Massive a lot, and have gotten really into Serum for doing crazy sound design. Lea Luna: Anything coming up you’re excited about following this release? Dirt Monkey: This new project I’m starting with Jantsen is super exciting for me. The stuff we’ve made for it and the graphic artist we are working with has me feeling very inspired and confident that it will take over on a big scale. Also, I’ve got a handful of remixes for some of the songs on Chroma that are really sick that will be dropping after the album.. Lea Luna: Give us one word of advice. What’s your motto? Dirt Monkey: Excuse the bluntness of this, but I would have to say, “don’t be a dick.” Stay up-to-date with Dirt Monkey at: www.KairosAudio.com www.Facebook.com/DirtMonkeyMusic Instagram: @DirtMonkeyMusic

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Through the Lens of Billy Ward Photography

THROUGH THE LENS OF BILLY WARD PHOTOGRAPHY Words: Kate Monahan

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Model: Tiana Bailey

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Billy Wardâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a man of many talentsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; classically trained chef, photographer, filmmaker, and humanitarian. In this lifetime, Billy has thrived, lived life to the fullest, and has no plans on stopping. His story is a triumphant one. Overcoming alcohol and drug addiction, to later win an Emmy for his documentary, Lea Vendetta. After three rehabs, eight or so detoxes, two ambulances and emergency rooms, he decided that he had enough, and if he wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t going to die, he might as well live. When he made that decision, he had cooking. Six years ago, he sobered up so he could survive and in this transition, he picked up a camera. He went back to school for photography while working odd jobs to get himself through school and living in a rented room, he pushed himself to go for it.

Model: Heather Moss

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Model: Lorraine Tully

Model: Darla Roseberry & Lexi Bonkers 54

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Model: Ella Audra

While he was going to school for photography, Billy was shooting fashion videos during his photoshoots. He picked up classes for editing film to help him work on the videos he had shot. It was in editing that he developed a love for film. He was urged to switch into film. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d mastered the still picture, and now he wanted to dive into the moving. He loved the storytelling and life that film could capture. Billy changed his major to video and film and in making short films, found himself nominated for Best Director for the documentary he shot.

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Model: Jennifer Lynn 56

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Model: Shelly d'Inferno

His documentary, Lea Vendetta was derived from his sessions with the tattoo artist as she was working on his neck piece. Starting in August, 2015 and wrapping up in December of the same year, Billy put his all into the documentary. Upon its finishing, Billy submitted the documentary to The Academy of TV, which would later win him an Emmy.

Model: Lea Vendetta

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Model: Ashley Dez

Model: Christie Jay Billy happened to be filming the awards. He was told that since he was nominated, he could wear a suit but he said that he’d just bring a jacket. When it was announced that he had won, Billy threw on his jacket and left his camera post to accept his award. As one could imagine, a very dream-like experience, and a great one at that. His hard work, love for the arts, and determination paid off. A great accomplishment—one that brought him recognition—the blossoming of a new filmmaker. His film brought tattooing into the public eye. It was a great triumph for Billy in many ways.

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Model: Heather Moss

Model: Heather Moss 60

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Billy’s accomplishments in life had nothing to do with luck, but hard work and a daring personality. His ongoing journey proves that no dream or idea is too big; you just have to go for it. Kick fear or doubt to the side and take the plunge. He is an inspiration for all of us, proof that life can be amazing. “You just have to participate in your own life,” he says. A powerful statement he has proved to work. “I don’t know what will happen in life, but I might as well give it a shot. Living in the here and now is extremely important,” Billy continues. The artistic world is an unconventional one with no guarantees. It’s a lot of risk taking, but it landed Billy an Emmy as a filmmaker as well as a successful career as a photographer. From looking death in the face to living his life to the fullest, Billy is a radiant example that with some work and determination, anything is possible.

Model: Ashley Dez

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Model: Bad Bunny Las Vegas

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Model: Katerina Ivana

While Billy is successful, he hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let it get to his head. Humble, kind, and a killer sense of humor, he lets his talent and passion do the talking. What he does like to talk about, however, is his love for philanthropy. He sits on the board of directors for The Home Deployment Project as the director of photography and media for the 501(c) public charity dedicated to ending homelessness in Nevada, where he resides. While Billy escaped poverty by the skin of his teeth when he was down and out and trying to restart his life, he now helps those in need to get their restart through his film and photography talents. To check out the organization, visit to www.TheHDP.org. Billyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s videos and documentaries can be viewed at: www.Vimeo.com/BillyWardPhotography. Stay up-to-date with Billy Ward at: www.BillyWardPhotography.com www.Facebook.com/BillyWardPhotography www.Facebook.com/RockinFotoChef Instagram: @Sir_BillyWard

Model: Jennifer Lynn

Model: Sarah Jensen

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Club Tattoo Tempe Artist: Darin Priest

CLUB TATTOO TEMPE ARTIST DARIN PRIEST Words: Simone Jane Darin Priest is relatively new to the tattoo world, having just emerged in 2011. Darin, a native of Arizona currently works out of Club Tattoo in Tempe. He has studied fine art since childhood and this is illustrated in his work. When studying fine art, Darin developed techniques to bring metaphor and meaning into his work. Surrealist art is symbolic and often open to interpretation. His tattoos often depict images of surrealistic 3D clocks, skulls, and faces so realistic you feel you can reach out and touch them.

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I HAD A VERY LOOSE AND INFORMAL APPRENTICESHIP AT A STREET SHOP THATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NO LONGER OPEN, BUT CONSIDER MYSELF MOSTLY SELF-TAUGHT. - DARIN PRIEST InkSpiredMagazine.com

When did you know you wanted to be a tattoo artist? I didn’t know I wanted to become a tattoo artist until I came across Paul Booth’s work and discovered fine art tattoos. As a painter I was never exposed to any facet of the tattoo industry that appealed to me before that and assumed it was mostly filled with styles I had no interest in. Are you completely self-taught or did you ever apprentice? I had a very loose and informal apprenticeship at a street shop that’s no longer open, but consider myself mostly self-taught. Have you ever tattooed yourself? Of course! I sacrificed large portions of my thighs to learn some fundamentals so other people didn’t have to walk around with my mistakes forever! What was the first tattoo you ever did? The first tattoo I ever did was the logo for the band Whitechapel on my leg. It’s a typical scratchy and barely legible death metal logo, so I thought I’d go for something a little more forgiving with lots of room for error!

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Can you describe your creative process from the drawing board to end result, from a client’s imagination, with your own unique perception? I try to take the foundational meaning the client is trying to convey or represent, and guide them into a composition that will compliment their ideas and also make a great tattoo. Aesthetics is the number one priority for me in the tattoo process because with all meaning aside, it’s a visual accessory and they need to look good and compliment the area of the body they are being placed on. I personally love it when clients just give me a general idea or a subject and let me take it from there. Trust is crucial to my creative process. Do you ever find yourself in a creative block and if so how do you break through it? Yes! All of the time. Personally, I’ve found that exploring other pursuits altogether help me the most with breaking a block. I like to study things not related to art at all. It almost acts as a breath of fresh mind-air and when I spend some time not completely engulfed in progressing at art. It’s always valuable to learn new things and it gives you time to develop new ideas and have a renewed excitement for the craft in general.

Being so heavily saturated mentally with the same goal can make the creative process monotonous for me. How did you hook up with Club Tattoo? Xavier Price at the Tempe location has been a good friend of mine for the past couple of years. When I heard there was an opening at the shop he worked at I thought it would be a fun opportunity! You favor black and grey, as well as realism and surrealism art. Who are your favorite artists that inspire you? There are a lot of really talented artists that I look up to! But some that have impacted my career the most are Carlos Torres, Josh Duffy, Jason Butcher, Victor Portugal, and Bob Tyrell. www.DarinPriest.com www.ClubTattoo.com Instagram: @DarinPriest @ClubTattooTempe

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Tattoo Artist: Angelo Nicolella

“TATTOOING IS A PASSION FOR ME. I WAKE UP WITH A SMILE AND LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THE MACHINE ALREADY IN HAND…” - ANGELO NICOLELLA 78

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ANGELO NICOLELLA Interview: Ă kos BĂĄnfalvi Before starting a career as a realistic tattoo artist, Angelo Nicolella from Milano, Italy worked various jobs, always in contact with the public. He really likes being in contact with many people and making new friends, working as a bartender in the evenings and as a bodyguard during the days. After, he worked as a salesman at a popular clothing store before getting his start as a tattoo artist. I have several hobbies. I love playing guitar and listening to good music. I follow sports like basketball; I played for many years as well. I love cinema and watching action and horror movies. I deeply love Frank Sinatra and classical music orchestra types such as Hans Zimmer and Ennio Morricone. InkSpiredMagazine.com

What made you want to become a tattoo artist and how long have you been tattooing? In November 2011, effective five years I started tattooing. The way I came into this world is very funny—a night at a friend’s house of mine. He had a basic tattoo kit. I was the unique tattooed guy and knowing that I really liked tattoos, he asked me to tattoo something on him. I replied with a smile, “are you crazy?” (Laughs.) And he said, “but you can try it, you’re good at drawing Angelo.” And this is how my story started. What did your family and friends think about you getting into the business? My family is very proud of me… My only disappointment is not really being able to see my mother where I am currently. She would be happy. I have few true friends but they are really proud of me as well. I’m happy and that they support me every day. And of course, my girl is my number one fan! Tell us about your shop, please! I only had one shop, but I closed it because I decided to travel around the world as a tattoo artist, exposing myself to other artists and their talent. I will open a new studio in September in a new location with three other

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tattoo artists with different styles. Describe how you go about creating a tattoo from concept to finished design, as well as how you try to put your own unique touch on your tattoos The development process of a tattoo design is very advanced compared to the past. I use Photoshop to create my projects so that the customer can see the finished project on the skin through the photos. The impression I want to give my tattoos is completeness of detail. I like to see the reaction of the customer when they see the finished tattoo for the first time. How would you describe your style? Which tattoo style do you like best? My style is purely realistic and it is obviously the style that I prefer. I love to play with the picture and make it as real as possible, creating a subject and making it almost live on the skin. Do you see tattooing as a job or a way to express your creative side? Tattooing is a passion for me. I wake up with a smile and look forward to having the machine already in hand. I can say that I love my job!

Are there any positive sides of being an artist? Visibility is completely different from a normal life; I never thought I would reach these results in such a short time, with my work admired worldwide. All this is of course also thanks to social networks as they contribute to a lot of exposure and interaction with other artists daily. Describe how your role models and any other sources of inspiration have affected your tattoo style. I have many artists that inspire me, especially for realism. I really like the solidity of Nikko Hurtado, the thoroughness of Dmitry Samohin, the backgrounds of Den Yakovlev, while in black and grey styles, my heroes are Andy Engel and Carlos Torres. What is the most interesting tattoo you have been asked to do? I love all the tattoos I do, but if I had to choose between them, the ones that have inspired me more were the baby Masai, Mike Tyson, and Brad Pitt. But I always love new subjects because I’m always trying to learn something new.

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What is the most shocking tattoo you have done? The most shocking tattoo for me is the Baby Masai done at a tattoo convention in Messe, Germany. What do you think a client should expect from you as a tattoo artist and what do you on the other hand expect from a client to make a successful tattoo and a good collaboration? Customers expect professionalism and sanitation, that is very important in our job. I expect the customer to have respect for my work, ideally a good synergy between us, and follow my suggestions for optimal healing of the tattoo and proper aftercare. What criteria do you think that a tattoo convention shall have to be really successful, both for you as a tattoo artist, but also for the visitors? Can you give some examples of conventions that meet these criteria really well? From the point of view of the visitor, of course the quality of the artists. As for tattoo artists, logistics such as spaces, large sizes, cleaning, and easily accessible and above all in strategic locations, The London convention, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the most beautiful in

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the world. How would you describe the current status of tattoo by the general public in Italy? In Italy, tattoos are very popular, the average level of the artists is quite low, although fortunately, people are starting to understand how to evaluate a great tattoo. How has the tattooing industry changed in your opinion since shows like LA, NY, Miami and London Ink have been broadcasted to the nation? The tattoo industry has certainly benefited from these programs shown on TV around the world, and the tattoos themselves have become even more popular. Have you noticed any changes in the tattooing industry since you started? The tattoo industry is constantly evolving, especially in regards to the materials. They are very attentive in the choice of equipment to use, that definitely can affect the final result of the tattoo,I am sponsored by: Radiant Colors, Sorry Mom, and MagiRotary Bishop from Franco Vescovi.

www.AngeloNicolella.it Instagram: @Angelo_Nicolella www.Facebook.com/Angelo-Nicolella-TattooArtist-510297319051521

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Are you InkSpired? Submit your tattoos and stories to: Submissions@ InkSpiredMagazine.com. Want to be InkSpired? All Submissions must be e-mailed to submissions@ InkSpiredMagazine.com. If your file size is too large to e-mail, please send us a message stating as such and we will provide you with an alternative solution. Please, DO NOT send us links to online storage or websites to view your files. Also, any photos posted in our various social media sites, while appreciated and possibly shared by us on those sites, will NOT enter you into consideration for publication. Minimum of three (3) HIRESOLUTION images need to be submitted. Low-res images will automatically be discounted from consideration. Photo credit, including Photographer, Model, Hair Stylist, and Makeup Artist, needs to be included with EACH IMAGE. You also need

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to state which of these YOU are, so we can provide you with the correct release form for publication. Before publication, we must receive a release form, signed and dated by yourself and ANY PERSON WHO RETAINS OWNERSHIP of the image. We provide the release forms to you once you have been accepted for publication, but it is your responsibility to return it in a timely fashion. Personal Tattoo Submissions: If you are not a model or photographer or another professional in these fields, but you still have an amazing tattoo or two that you would like to submit for our new "Reader's Ink" section, we will be accepting lesserquality images such as those taken from a cellular phone or personal camera (not professionally taken). The remaining guidelines apply, as well as a notation providing us with the name and location of your tattoo artist. Tattoo Artists: If you are an artist who would like to submit your portfolio or

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