InkSpired Magazine Issue No. 56: Remembering Chester Bennington

REMEMBERING CHESTER BENNINGTON 1976 - 2017

EXCLUSIVE IMAGES BY SEAN HARTGROVE

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Chester Bennington 6 The Dark Art of Adriana Michima

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Catching Up with Kaitie Amen

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The Ecdysis of Joshua Hughbanks

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Tysha Schmitz 76 Tattoo Artist: Ben Kaye 86 That Motorcyclist Isn't Really Being a Jerk

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

Remembering Chester Bennington Photos: Sean Hartgrove

Who’s on the cover: Chester Bennington Photo: Sean Hartgrove

The Dark Art of Adriana Michima Words: Simone Jane Catching Up With Kaitie Amen Interview: Candies Deezy Liu Photos: Sean Hartgrove The Ecdysis of Joshua Hughbanks Words: Simone Jane Tysha Schmitz Interview: Ákos Bánfalvi Photos: Mannon Pictures Tattoo Artist Ben Kaye Interview: Ákos Bánfalvi That Motorcyclist Isn’t Really Being A Jerk Words: Scott O’Sullivan

Advertising info: info@InkSpiredMagazine.com

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This special edition of InkSpired Magazine is dedicated in loving memory of Chester Bennington (1976-2017) with never before seen photos from the private collection of Sean Hartgrove. Chester has played a special role in each of our lives. His legacy will live on in the hearts and souls of those he has greatly impacted. Whether they personally knew him or not, each person has their own story and experience with Linkin Park’s lead vocalist. That was the influence that he had not only in the world of music, but for anyone that has experienced his passion and talent as an artist and musician.

Issue 56 August 2017 In loving memory of Chester Charles Bennington Signed, Candies Deezy Liu, Editor-in-Chief

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InkSpot - What “InkSpires” You? “Every piece tells a story. I have over 18 tattoos, and I remember when and where I got each one of them...and I love the pain.”

-Tim Walpole “‘InkSpired’ to me means that you are not afraid to tell your story on your body for the world to see. I was brave enough to leave an emotionally abusive, controlling & cheating fiance. Instead of laying down and becoming his victim forever I chose to rise above it and I’m getting mentally and physically healthy. I got inked on Friday with the words, “part of me.” The only “part of me” he did destroy was my soul. It’s a reminder that I am strong and I’m sparkling now! It is a song by Katy Perry, “Part of Me”. -Desire A Ozanne “My family for their best attributes and talents in life.” -Amanda Nicole McGuire 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 “I like to travel, and getting tattooed is a cool way for me to not only document my physical journey, but my memories as well.

I always learn a lot about the cultural significance of tattoos in different countries.” Julian Smith

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Piercing Aftercare

pac@neilmed.com • Tel: (877) 477 8633 /neilmedpiercingwoundwash • neilmedpiercingaftercare InkSpiredMagazine.com

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The first day I met Chester was the first day I worked with him for CLUB TATTOO in 2007. It was a 109 degrees in Texas and needless to say, I was a little freaked out that I was actually working for him... It was surreal. We got out of the SUV at the location. He walked up to me and gave me a hug that I wasn't expecting! I had not met him in person yet. He was such a friendly, down-to-earth guy. I was thinking back to that time, when everything was possible. 10 years later, and many shoots in between the decade, I was going to shoot Chester this coming September.

My friend, Sean Dowdell (one of Chester's business partners with Club Tattoo) introduced us. From that moment on, I have met so many different people that I have come to know and respect through Sean and Chester.

Chester had a wonderful influence on my life He opened many doors for me. He was smart, caring, funny, sharp, and above all, a truly great and dedicated artist. I am writing this in celebration. There were so many good times and stories in between the decade. The first day was very special for me and was the beginning. His lyrics and music carry so much more gravity today—gratitude and loss, celebration, and heartbreak. I’m very thankful to this great, brilliant man.

Sincerely, Sean Hartgrove

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1976 - 2017

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Amir and Ryan from Dead by Sunrise with Chester

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Chester, Amir, Thora Dowdell (Club Tattoo), Ryan & Sean Dowdell (Club Tattoo)

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DARK ART ADRIANA MICHIMA Story: Simone Jane

“THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING NICE ABOUT HAVING ARTISTIC CONTROL WHEN YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC EYE FOR SOMETHING.”

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“I wish to paint in such a manner as if I were photographing dreams,” said the artist Zdzisław Beksinski, one of the major influences of Adriana Michima, a photographer and videographer based in Portland, Oregon. Her surreal photographs are parallel to the art of Beksinski, but with her own unique twists.

Adriana was always interested in art ever since she can remember, but it wasn’t until she started modeling that she found an interest in photography. “I met a lot of amazing photographers through modeling, but there was always something missing,” Adriana recalled, “I always wanted to play with the photos afterwards but I couldn’t because the images were not mine,” she acknowledged, “There is always something nice about having artistic control when you have a specific eye for something.” She feels like she should have been posed a certain way, or the lighting should have been different. It is hard to do be behind the camera and in front of it. “I do self-portraits sometimes and it is hard to see how you are posing when you do that,” Adriana observed, “It is tricky.”

When she first got involved in photography, she had a 35 mm black and white camera and worked in a darkroom. Adriana

“I ALWAYS WANTED TO PLAY WITH THE PHOTOS AFTERWARDS BUT I COULDN’T BECAUSE THE IMAGES WERE NOT MINE.”

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enjoyed watching the images appear in the film developing chemicals.

Currently, she shoots with a Canon 60 with a handful of lenses and absolutely loves it. Her creative process is inspired by visions and dreams just like her major influences.

Every artist goes through a process to get an end result and there is no straight formula in order to get through to the finished piece. Adriana is no different. She pulls ideas and inspiration from music as diverse as Marilyn Manson to Hans Zimmer, the aforementioned photographers Beksinski, and Robert Mapplethorpe.

“I like to investigate things after I have these ideas, like experimenting with textures on the skin, and setting things on fire safely,” Adriana laughed, “I do a lot of test shoots no one sees before I do the actual photo shoot, it can be a lot of work, but sometimes the test can become the final shoot because it turns out really well.” Each shoot is usually planned out one day at a time.

Adriana loves to work in the outdoors with landscape and dark portraiture and the Pacific Northwest’s lush

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“I LIKE TO INVESTIGATE THINGS AFTER I HAVE THESE IDEAS, LIKE EXPERIMENTING WITH TEXTURES ON THE SKIN, AND SETTING THINGS ON FIRE SAFELY.” InkSpiredMagazine.com

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forests lend well to her backgrounds. “The studio is easier. The lighting is much simpler. You don’t have to worry about background elements such as weather, but it is not as interesting to me as being outside,” Adriana related, “I love the forest here in Portland. It is endless. The trees are so tall. I mean it is amazing, I could get lost in them.” She dreams of building a team of people to help support her in the ideas she has. It is not a simple thing when your visions involve body paint, bandage wraps, flour, smoke, fire and any other props she may come up with. As with any creative personality, dealing with a lull in ideas can really mess with the psyche.

“THE STUDIO IS EASIER. THE LIGHTING IS MUCH SIMPLER. YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BACKGROUND ELEMENTS SUCH AS WEATHER, BUT IT IS NOT AS INTERESTING TO ME AS BEING OUTSIDE.” InkSpiredMagazine.com

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Depression can hit any of us. It can make or break your art. It is how you deal with it that can move you forward or keep you still in the water. “Sometimes I will get into this state where I will be at the point like ‘whatever’, and I will waste a lot of time not doing anything,” Adriana laments, “sometimes you just have to force yourself back into it, like collaborating with people or doing something small that you wouldn’t normally do.” As with any artist, being put in a category can be limiting.

Adriana’s art can be considered in the category of a dark theme or almost goth, which is still incredibly popular throughout the world and not necessarily a bad slot to be in but the lines can be blurred and most artists do not like to be pigeonholed.

“I don’t like categorizing myself since categories and genres tend to change over time or become biased.

However, the genre of Dark Art has

“THE STUDIO IS EASIER. THE LIGHTING IS MUCH SIMPLER. YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BACKGROUND ELEMENTS SUCH AS WEATHER, BUT IT IS NOT AS INTERESTING TO ME AS BEING OUTSIDE.” 52

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really struck a chord with me and I can see my work being considered in those terms,” Adriana explained, “My themes involve our internal struggles and demons that we must face day to day and it is our flaws and scars that shape us over time and influence the people we become.” When looking at her images you can absolutely see what she is trying to convey. “I don’t pose the model. I work around their energy and we feed off of each other,” Adriana articulated. Everyone always has their own view of how a piece of art speaks to them.

“I don’t want to spoon feed their perceptions,” Adriana insisted, “let them have their own vision.” www.AdrianaMichima.com www.Facebook.com/ AdrianaMichimaArt IG: @MichimaPhotography | @Michima_Dark

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CATCHING UP WITH KAITIE AMEN Interview: Candies Deezy Liu

Photography: Sean Hartgrove

Special thanks to Black Top Choppers Denver, CO

InkSpired Magazine: What other interests do you have outside of modeling?

Kaitie Amen: I really enjoy reading, escaping out of reality for awhile, ya know.

All reading, but mainly manga, comics, that sort of thing. I also love going to conventions. Comic, anime, tech, film... Pretty much any place where I can be surrounded by people as weird as I am, ha! I do a lot of cosplay if you ever find yourself walking around a convention, keep a look out for me. I’m really into fashion as well and have a few fun projects in the works.

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"I REALLY ENJOY READING, ESCAPING OUT OF REALITY FOR AWHILE, YA KNOW. " InkSpiredMagazine.com

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InkSpired Magazine: As a creative artist, what types of art do you create?

Kaitie Amen: So, I think a lot of different things can be considered art. For example, the way a person projects themselves and their actions can be art. I believe you can embody art. I’ve been working on my clothing line, Ratchet Jar, and along with it, a set, a kind of a coffee table book if you will, of photographs that tell a story about the clothes and the people wearing them.

InkSpired Magazine: Can you tell us about your clothing line, Ratchet Jar Apparel?

Kaitie Amen: Yeah, I’m really excited about it. It’s like 80-90s grunge rocker but to the extreme. So when you picture grungy 80s punk kids leaning on the wall outside the record store blaring to music. That kind of thing. It was a statement that really said something. I’m hoping for it to drop really soon so you guys can all rock out in it!

InkSpired Magazine: Describe a typical day in your life.

Kaitie Amen: Oh man... The thing with my life is, there is no typical day, haha! I’m always going somewhere new, doing something different. Gathering all those amazing life

"OH MAN... THE THING WITH MY LIFE IS, THERE IS NO TYPICAL DAY, HAHA!"

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experiences that are waiting.

But when I’m not on the go, I’m home on a farm. I just got around 5 acres out east in Colorado. So my days are a bit different than life in the city. And it’s summer now so the days are awesome!

I usually get up early and go outside to stretch, meditate, breathe in the super fresh morning energy. And then I go for a run up the county road and check out all fields and count rows and such. Right now a lot of my days are full of building up my farm. I’m building a house right now, so that’s a lot.

InkSpired Magazine: Tell us about the 5 acres of land you just bought!

Kaitie Amen: It’s so peaceful out here, there are no big cities, no developments, and almost no neighbors. I’m working on a self-sustaining farm with greenhouses and solar panels.

And then eventually I’d like to expand the farm into a little eco-friendly village and open a farmer’s market. It’ll be a place for the black sheep that don’t belong. Hey! We can call it Black Sheep Acres! Haha.

"IT’LL BE A PLACE FOR THE BLACK SHEEP THAT DON’T BELONG. HEY! WE CAN CALL IT BLACK SHEEP ACRES! HAHA."

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InkSpired Magazine: As a multifaceted personality, what other things are you passionate about?

Kaitie Amen: We were just talking about my farm, so you could gather that I’m passionate about that. And we talked about my art and my clothing line. But I’m also very passionate about facilitating people’s growth and their art. I absolutely love watching any creative process. I love watching painters paint. And I love seeing musicians write. The moment that they finally play that song that they’ve been hearing in their mind, and it’s so beautiful and you just feel it. I love that. So I try and do as much as I can for the art programs and music programs for the schools. And that’s my dream for my little village one day, I want it to be a place where you’re helping on the farm, and you’re making art. That’s it, that’s all you have to do. And you have a place to stay and live and grow. That’s what I’m passionate about.

InkSpired Magazine: What is your favorite part of what you do?

Kaitie Amen: I love the experiences that I get. The interactions that take place between myself and all the individuals I get to meet. All the places that my life takes me.

"I’M ALSO VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT FACILITATING PEOPLE’S GROWTH AND THEIR ART. "

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InkSpired Magazine: What future projects are you looking forward to?

Kaitie Amen: Some really rad collabs are in the works for this year. And I have a lot of great things happening that I’m working really hard on for you guys and I’m looking forward to all of them. www.Facebook.com/KaitieAmen IG: @kaitieamenwashere

THE INTERACTIONS THAT TAKE PLACE BETWEEN MYSELF AND ALL THE INDIVIDUALS I GET TO MEET.

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THE ECDYSIS OF JOSHUA HUGHBANKS Words: Simone Jane

Have you ever heard of the term ecdysis? It is a term scientists use for the process of snakes shedding their skin. This is parallel to what Joshua Hughbanks, an artist in San Francisco’s Bulldog Tattoo Shop felt he needed to do with his hair just a few weeks ago. He wanted to chop off seven years of growth to begin anew.

This story began in 2014 when Joshua made the abrupt decision to sell all of his equipment at his shop in Denver, Guilt by Association, his possessions, and his car. He purchased an RV so he could avoid paying rent and survived by making house calls to tattoo. “I was in too deep with my girlfriend at the time when I found out she was a junkie,” Joshua recalls, “I ended up going down a

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“I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS THAT FALL ASLEEP WHEN I TATTOO THEM, AND WHEN THEY AWAKE IT IS LIKE A RECHARGE,”

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dark path for the next couple of years.”

Joshua and his girlfriend moved to San Fran and the relationship quickly soured.

“I was working, but still getting high and all she was doing was getting high,” Joshua explained, “I had to quit heroin cold turkey. I will never go down that road again. I ended up giving her the RV just so we could part ways.” Getting a job there was not as easy as Joshua thought.

When Joshua landed in San Francisco, he had a lot against him. No one knew him, and all he had for social media was Facebook. “I went to about 50 different tattoo shops and dropped off my portfolio and not one bite,” Joshua acknowledged, “it was difficult to digest because I was well known in Denver.” Finally, he got a break. Bulldog Tattoo emailed him and said they liked his stuff. “I was really worried I wouldn’t fit in,” Joshua laughed, “but I walked in and I felt immediately like I was at home. I am a round peg in this shop. San Fran has changed me quite a bit.” Joshua continued, “when I moved here people thought I was kind of aggro. I was in a bad place though. I want to give back as much as this city has given me.

I am happier than I have been in a long time; that is the truth.” Joshua has turned a new leaf in a different city and reflecting on his past life, it shows.

Guilt by Association, Joshua’s old tattoo shop, was a big responsibility. “I don’t miss my own shop,” Joshua says, “I mean, I miss making 100% but I don’t miss paying the bills and the adult babysitting. I really didn’t like having to shop for all the supplies, it was just too much. I’d rather just come in, do my work and walk out.” He didn’t like having to be the person in charge all the time. Even when going out, Joshua would ask his friends not to call him the boss. “No one likes the boss,” Joshua sighed, “other than the fact that I had to pick up the pieces when everything fell apart.” Now Joshua focuses on the healing aspect of tattooing rather than the business part and it feels amazing.

Tattoos have a healing power on people.

A lot of people can find it to be a form of therapy. “I have a lot of friends that fall asleep when I tattoo them, and when they awake it is like a recharge,” Joshua explains, “the gratifying thing is that they put their trust and their body into my hands. It’s an extremely vulnerable place for people. If I am feeling bad, it is therapeutic for me.” Memorial tattoos are a very emotional thing between a client 66

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and an artist. “If I do a memorial tattoo on someone, I can shed a good tear with them.” He admitted, “it helps me with my pain and it helps them with theirs.”

Tattooing has been great to Joshua but he felt that he needed to make a change in his life, something drastic.

Joshua found himself encountering a week-long depression. “I had an existential crisis that really knocked me out. I tried to walk it off and get my shit together but I felt I needed to do something,” he explained. Joshua had been growing his hair for seven or eight years. He knew his niece had donated her hair to a charity and that had given him some inspiration. When Joshua posted on social media that he was thinking about donating his hair, one of his friends warned him against donating to Locks of Love. “I did some research,” Joshua explained, “I found out that Locks of Love charged their patients $2,000 for a wig, it’s kind of a scam. There are other certain ones that were picky about it and it had to be trimmed a particular way. That is when I found Wigs for Kids. They were so easy about it.” Joshua continued, “of course, it couldn’t be dyed or processed but they didn’t care if it was in a ponytail or if it was in a braid or whatever. It had to be at least 10 or 12 inches long but I had 22 inches of hair. I felt like it was the right thing to do.” This was the shedding of skin, the ecdysis, if you will of the new beginning for Joshua. “It made me feel good not only in the physical sense of getting rid of it but in the emotional sense, it changed something,” Joshua explains, “I felt different.” Once he found out Wigs for Kids was a total non-profit, there was no looking back. Joshua can show off his head tattoos now. He has a hummingbird on his left side by L’bert as a memorial for his son, Zeilig Edwin, and the lettering Golden by Crizzo on the right. Both artists are from the tattoo shop A Toda Madre Tattoo in Reno, Nevada. “It is the state of me; everything is golden, just trying to stay positive,” Joshua says laughing, “I wanted to look gangster but still positive in an optimistic light.”

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TYSHA SCHMITZ Interview: ร kos Bรกnfalvi Photography: Mannon Pictures (www.Facebook.com/mannon.pictures.5)

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“THE BEST PART ABOUT MODELING IS MEETING ALL THESE WONDERFUL NEW PEOPLE, PEOPLE THAT I HAVE FOLLOWED FOR YEARS. TO FINALLY MEET THEM AND BE FRIENDS WITH THEM IS TRULY AMAZING.”

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"I AM INSPIRED BY ALL THE BEAUTY THAT SURROUNDS ME, ALL THE SUPPORT I HAVE IN MY FAMILY, AND MY FRIENDS." 78

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Model Tysha Schmitz from Mesa, Arizona had her first experiences as a model when she did a couple of shoots in 2014, but it was in August of 2016 when she felt like her modeling career really started. It began when she participated in a mini workshop with Rob Cano and Art Cantu. She credits the two photographers for helping her break out of her shell. Amber Mannon of Mannon Pictures also has been Tysha’s mentor, her go to in any situation. Tysha can always count on Amber to boost her up and help her get to the next step.

Was modeling something you aspired to be growing up or was it something that just “happened”?

I believe it just happened. I always admired models. Never did I think I would be one.

How would you describe your personal style? Where do you pull your inspiration from?

I am inspired by all the beauty that surrounds me, all the support I have in my family, and my friends. They inspire me to never give up and to shine.

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What’s the best and worst thing about being a model?

I would say the best part about modeling is meeting all these wonderful new people, people that I have followed for years. To finally meet them and be friends with them is truly amazing.

Talk us through how you go about choosing your tattoos. What messages do they have, if any?

All of my tattoos have meaning, most of them are all about my family, my husband, my children, and the passing of my father.

I do not regret any of the ones I have received.

Is there anywhere on your body you wouldn’t get tattooed?

No. How do you stay in shape?

I work out 5 days a week, I also do meal plans for my husband and I.

I WOULD SAY THE BEST PART ABOUT MODELING IS MEETING ALL THESE WONDERFUL NEW PEOPLE, PEOPLE THAT I HAVE FOLLOWED FOR YEARS. InkSpiredMagazine.com

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I WOULD SAY, STAY HUMBLE. STAY TRUE TO WHO YOU ARE. DO NOT LET THIS INDUSTRY GET TO YOUR HEAD.

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Some key staples pieces a woman should own in her wardrobe?

Comfy clothes, something to throw over the outfit you are shooting in.

What tips would you advise girls wanting to come into modeling at your level? What struggles have you encountered in modeling, and how have you handled them?

I would say, stay humble. Stay true to who you are. Do not let this industry get to your head. Always respect other woman for what they do, no matter what. Don’t look at it as a competition to be better than someone other than yourself. I have only been modeling for less than a year.

I would say my struggles would be managing work and being a mommy, and a public figure altogether. I was accepted into the community fairly easily, without any judgment. I am very blessed to have connected with the people I have in this short time. www.Facebook.com/Tysha.Schmitz1 Instagram: @mamma_ty

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BEN KAYE Interview: Ákos Bánfalvi Realistic tattoo master Ben Kaye was born in Manchester, England. Before tattooing, he was a baker which was great as he loved the early mornings. In his spare time, Ben used to draw a lot to fill his creative need. His journey really started when Ben left England 9 years ago. He moved to Japan which is a beautiful country and really sparked his wanderlust.

His next move was to Malaysia, where Ben started his tattoo career. After a few months here and there in Europe, he found his feet in New Zealand.

“THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME WITH ANY DESIGN IS TO PROPERLY REPRESENT WHAT THE CLIENT WANTS…”

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"AS A CHILD, I REALLY WANTED TO BE AN ARCHAEOLOGIST OR THE WORLD’S GREATEST DETECTIVE."

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When you were a little boy, did you think you would grow up to become an artist or work in the artistic field? Do you remember drawing and creating a lot as a child?

As a child, I really wanted to be an archaeologist or the world’s greatest detective. So no, I never thought I’d grow up to be an artist. I drew as a child but no more than any other. I really found my passion for art in my late teens.

What was your initial exposure to the tattoo world and when did you first add your own piece of ink to your skin?

Was that a transformative time in your life?

My exposure to the tattoo world was my first tattoo, which I got from a guy called Steve in a sleepy rural northern English town. I remember he was closed most of the time and you had to ring and leave a message to make an appointment.

He didn’t talk much, but he was fucking cool. This was when I first found tattooing and it wasn’t long after that that I started tattooing my own legs on a bean bag in my attic with an eBay kit (not a good idea). It was at this point that I realized art could be a career.

Where did you learn to tattoo? Did you have a formal apprenticeship? If so, can you tell us about this time in your life and how it prepared you for all that you do now?

I didn’t have a formal apprenticeship, it was more a learn while you tattoo style and was thrown a machine after a few months. My apprenticeship then continued in Germany where I discovered the foundations of the style I do today.

The early part of my career was hard, and really instilled in me a strong work ethic and a need and drive to be better and get better with every piece I do.

What did your family and friends think about you getting into the business?

They hated it. I remember ringing my dad and him telling me it wasn’t a real career, feasible, or a good idea. My mum was slightly more supportive but didn’t like me tattooing my own legs. As you can imagine, over time, they became a lot more accepting and are now fully supportive. Now even my dad is asking me for a tattoo. Shame for him, it’s a long waiting list.

Can you tell us more about the shop you work at and what it’s like working there?

I work at Matt Jordan’s Ship Shape 88

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Tattoo Studio. Working with great artists is inspiring and having them to bounce ideas off and solve problems with has definitely allowed me to develop as an artist.

Describe how you go about creating a tattoo from concept to finished design. And also describe how you try to put your own unique touch on your tattoos?

The most important thing for me with any design is to properly represent what the client wants. There is always a lot of back and forth with the client about exactly what they want the tattoo to signify. After which I normally have a very set design in mind of what we are going to do. Once the idea is set, the rest comes fairly easily.

I try more and more to take my own reference images, this allows a lot of artistic license and makes it possible to do more interesting layout and design as I’m not constricted to internet image searches. A great example of this is the shattered glass sleeve I did last year. It is great to have that freedom.

What was the first tattoo you ever did?

Can you tell us about it?

My first professional tattoo was a pretty big tribal sea horse. I was so nervous I remember dripping sweat. Turned out alright, but took a long time.

What is your favorite style of work to tattoo? What would your dream piece be to work on?

Colour realism would have to be my favorite style. I find realism has no limits as to where it can go. A simple idea can be taken in so many directions, so as a style, it really gets the imagination going.

Another great aspect of realism is the challenge of capturing depth on a 3D body part instead of a flat surface.

Right now I’m wanting to play around with color. Doing a design that has neon aspects would be a dream at the moment.

My dream color portrait would be the predator which I came close to doing twice, but it just never works out.

Describe how your role models and any other sources of inspiration have affected your tattoo style.

I have too many role models to name.

Every one of them has affected my work in different ways, some from one piece and others from a whole portfolio of work.

What’s one of your favorite pieces that 90

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you’ve tattooed on someone else?

Years and years ago, I tattooed a monkey wearing a tom bola and smoking, it was the first piece I got a genuine compliment for. It was from my old boss who was old school as shit and rarely gave compliments. It was a proud moment which makes it a favorite.

What is one of your favorite pieces on your own body, and who did it?

It’s hard to pick. It’s a draw between my palm tattoo of a globe which has stayed in perfectly and is the most detailed palm tattoo I’ve ever seen (@ aimeeheartsdiamonds) and my neck which is a rad snake crushing a rat (@ blackmagicjake).

What is your favorite thing about being a tattoo artist?

Boring answer. Tattooing is my favorite part. Design work, the scene, and the people are fun but actually sitting down and tattooing is what gets me going.

Do you have a funny tattoo story?

I once tattoo some wings on a girl’s forearm. Long story short, the shape in between the wings was a perfect penis complete with balls. No one in the studio or her noticed until she uploaded it to Facebook and it went viral. I did fix it the next day and I even got her phone number but I’ve ended up on a few tattoo fail websites.

You have built up such a loyal clientele. What is your waiting list like right now and what is the best way for a collector to make an appointment with you?

I only book out 3 months in advance and I’m pretty strict as it gets quite chaotic.

I do all my booking over email and I’m always happy to talk tattoos, so flick me a message.

How would you describe the current status of tattoos by the general public in New Zealand?

New Zealand has a strong cultural history of tattooing so I think it is more accepted.

New Zealand has recently had its first naval officer with a full face ta moko. We also have Australasia’s largest tattoo festival. The positive attitude towards tattoos is strong and I think will only continue to grow.

TV shows, the internet, and especially social networks like Facebook and Twitter have become an extremely widespread phenomenon in recent 92

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years. What positive and negative impacts do you think it has for the future development of the tattoo industry?

I think social media is a double-edged sword. It’s a good chance for people to see your work but also makes it easier for people to copy it. As a whole, anything that gets good tattooing to the general public and shows it more as art than something done in a back alley is positive. www.dbkaye.com www.facebook.com/tattoosbydbkaye Instagram: @dbkaye

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THAT MOTORCYCLIST ISN’T REALLY BEING A JERK

By Scott O’Sullivan, The O’Sullivan Law Firm So, you’re driving along a city street and there’s a motorcycle behind you. If you’re like me, you become hyper-aware of that motorcyclist, knowing that you need to be as predictable as possible, keep him in your rearview mirrors, and look twice every time you make a move.

But then you come to a stop and that guy pulls up on the right, almost next to your back, right tire, and you’re thinking, “What is he doing?!” He may even be in your blind spot. Why didn’t he stop squarely behind you so that you can see him?

I’m sure that it can seem like he’s just messing around, playing loose with road laws, and generally being difficult.

But what if he’s being safe?

Before you read anymore, you need to watch this terrifying video: goo.gl/Xt9DA3 The action unfolds like this and is captured on the rider’s helmet cam: • The motorcyclist is trailing a car at a very safe distance.

• When the car slows, the motorcyclist slows down.

• Then there is a slowing of traffic for a reason we can’t entirely see and the oncoming traffic to the left is at a stop.

(Did you notice the truck in the opposite lane veering across the yellow lines to attempt to pass the car in front of him?

He nearly hits our biker.)

• Suddenly, the car in front slows to a stop and the motorcyclist pulls to the right, probably in the car’s blind spot.

• Up ahead you can see two more bikers pulled to the right.

• What happens next is so sudden and shocking that you’ll probably have to watch it a couple of times like I did.

Can you imagine if that biker was right in line with the car in front of him? He’d be dead.

And his buddies up ahead would be severely injured.

Now, for those who aren’t regular bikers, you might think, “Yeah, but that’s a freak accident.

There’s no need for bikers to always pull to the right because that kind of accident is so rare.”

It’s not rare. In fact, it’s becoming more common in Denver as our streets become more congested and drivers become angrier.

However, the most common motorcycleversus-car accident is when drivers make a left-hand turn across oncoming traffic and plow right into a biker who has no time to react.

In the first five months of 2017, my friends at BikerDown.org received 42 calls for assistance from motorcyclists who were hit by drivers. An alarming number of those bikers were hit by cars making left-hand turns right into them and several of those bikers lost their legs.

Laurie Easton-Montoya, founder of BikerDown, told me, “If a biker is riding legally and calmly down a road and a car makes a left-hand turn right into him, what options does he have? Or if he’s sitting at a stop light and a car runs right into the back of him, what are his options? None. Even at 15 miles per hour, the biker will sustain significant damage to his bike and body.”

Drivers Need to Look Twice for Motorcyclists Sometimes it can seem like motorcyclists “aren’t behaving.” And because we’ve all seen a motorcyclist pull stunt moves in crazy traffic, we tend to assume that any behavior that seems different is more of the same:

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unsafe road jockeys trying to play around with their bikes. (For the record: you also see a TON of bad auto driving behaviors and you don’t assume that all car drivers are road jockeys, right? Let’s stop stereotyping motorcyclists.)

Here’s another example of motorcyclist behavior that can seem unsafe: when a motorcyclist seems to be swerving left and right within their lane. I know it can seem like he’s horsing around but he may simply be trying to assure that the car ahead notices him.

I’m convinced that 99% of car drivers out there aren’t “hunting” for motorcyclists to mow down. But to motorcyclists, it can often feel that way. Talk to any motorcycle rider and he or she can tell you horror stories about near-misses, horrible accidents, and buddies who lost their lives in motorcycle-versus-auto accidents.

As auto drivers, we have a responsibility to stay alert when motorcyclists are around us. Here are a few more examples of ways that you can honor motorcyclists on the road and keep them safe: • When you see a single headlight or two headlights close together: Slow down and take your time to fully judge their distance.

• Give the motorcycle in front of you plenty of room. The lighter bike can stop much faster than a car or truck and leaving room gives you time if they need to stop suddenly.

• Don’t panic when they swerve within their lane. If a motorcyclist moves close to the center line, it could be because he or she is making sure they can be seen by the driver in front of them. They’re avoiding a blind spot. They might also be avoiding slick oil buildup that can occur in the center of a lane or even

dodging small road debris that doesn’t affect a 4-wheeled vehicle.

• Change lanes cautiously: Make absolutely certain there’s no one in your blind spot.

• Left-hand turns can be killers! If you’re turning left in across oncoming traffic, visually give yourself lots of room between oncoming traffic before turning. The smaller motorcyclist is easy to miss if you only glance quickly (which is most people’s habit).

Also, at a glance, the smaller vehicle can look further away than he really is so be extra cautious making left turns.

• Use your turn signals: You should always communicate your plans to other drivers, but this is particularly important around motorcyclists. Signal to indicate your turns and drive predictably.

The Department of Transportation estimates that motorcycle crashes make up 15 percent of traffic fatalities even though motorcycles only make up three percent of the total vehicles on the road. Roughly half of those crashes involve collisions with another vehicle. In my experience as a motorcycle attorney, most motorcyclists out there are trying to ride safely but they are very vulnerable on those bikes. Literally, every month, I meet a motorcyclist who was injured by an auto driver who says, “I didn’t see him!” But that isn’t the motorcyclist’s fault; it’s the driver’s.

If you’re confused by a motorcyclist’s behavior, do your best to remain predictable. Always signal your intentions, stay within the speed limit, don’t slam on your brakes, don’t tailgate, and always, always look twice before turning.

If you have any questions about this article, don’t hesitate to contact The O’Sullivan Law Firm. www.OSullivan-Law-Firm.com www.Facebook.com/OSullivanLawFirm

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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.

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