InkSpired Magazine Issue No. 45 by InkSpired Magazine

JUNKER DESIGNS >>>>>>>

TATTOO ARTIST: MAKSIMS “LAKY” ZOTOVS

HOLY WHITE HOUNDS

CATCHING UP WITH THE SHOWGIRL OF ROCK: KATE CATALINA

A Competition of Camaraderie

Catching Up with the Showgirl of Rock 14 Junker Designs 24 Holy White Hounds 44 Tattoo Artist: Maksims â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lakyâ&#x20AC;? Zotovs

Tragedy Metamorphosed Into Butterflies 72 Staci Deana Castle 78

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

A Competition of Camaraderie Words: Lea Luna Photos: Sean Hartgrove

Officers Leather Jacket by Junker Model: Thomas Jane Photo: Allan Amato

Red leather coat by Junker Model: Anna Biana Photo: Jon White (@glitterpimp)

Catching Up with the Showgirl of Rock Photos: Sean Hartgrove

Leather purse and shirt by Junker Model: Anna Biana Photo: Jon White (@glitterpimp)

Music: Holy White Hounds Words: Candies Deezy Liu Photos: Sean Hartgrove

Leather hooded coat by Junker T-shirt by Junker shredded by Jessica Peepshow Model: Erika Lancaster Young (@e_ young_13) Photo: Jon White (@glitterpimp)

Tattoo Artist: Maksims “Laky” Zotovs Interview: Ákos Bánfalvi

Fashion: Junker Designs Words: Simone Jane Tod Junker portrait by: Tas Limur Fashion Credits: Red jacket with headpiece Model: Shonda Mackey (@queenofblood) Photo: Jon White (@glitterpimp) Seated with studded jacket Model: Shonda Mackey (@queenofblood) Photo: Jon White (@glitterpimp) Denim trench with domes Model & makeup: Yvonne Hunt Photo: Jon White (@glitterpimp)

Coat & pants by Junker Frontman: Steven Tyler Leather hooded shrug by Junker Model: Christine Adams (@idiivil) Photo: Jon White (@glitterpimp) Upcycled leather vest and pants by Junker Drummer: Jussi 69 Eyes Photo: Ville Juurikkala

T-shirt Junker shredded by Jessica Peepshow Model: Erika Lancaster Young (@e_ young_13) Photo: Jon White (@glitterpimp)

Leather vest by Junker Actor: Danny Trejo

Foiled trench pants and glowing belt buckle by Junker Frontman: Vince Neil Photo: Scott Harrison

Chaps and top by Junker Actress: Alexa Vega

Positive Spin: Tragedy Metamorphosed Into Butterflies Words: Kate Monahan Photos: Kevin RC Wilson Staci Deana Castle Interview: Ákos Bánfalvi Who’s on the cover: Model: Sara X Mills Photo: Jon White (@glitterpimp) Wardrobe: Junker Designs

Space jacket by Junker Actress: Michelle Rodriguez

Black leather trench coat by Junker Model: Bill the pup and Anna Biana Photo: Jon White (@glitterpimp)

Advertising info: info@InkSpiredMagazine.com

InkSpiredMagazine.com

As summer of 2016 sets upon us, we transition into August with new inspiration, stories, and of course, tattoos. Sara X Mills, draped in Junker Designs—custom made threads for the likes of musicians, movie wardrobe, and more is the first model in the history of InkSpired Magazine to grace the cover twice. The L.A. based fashion house has outfitted many of your favorite rock stars, actors/actresses, and models. Surely, you have seen Junker Designs in movies such as Sin City and Machete Kills. In “A Competition of Camaraderie,” we feature a man’s Japanese traditional full body suit by tattoo artist, Aaron Coleman. Both have won numerous awards for this tremendous piece of human art, which is a living example of the beauty that comes from overcoming adversity. Success stories, especially those represented through tattoo art have always been a major source of my inspiration. Sometimes we all need a second chance at this one shot of life.

When the Holy White Hounds came to perform in Denver at the Marquis Theater, we knew we had to partake. Their live performance, captured in this month’s music section was nothing short of impressive. With a lot of talent and awesome energy, they are definitely a band to see live. As we continue on our exploration of tattoo culture and lifestyle evolving, I ask you, “what ‘InkSpires’ you?”

Signed, Candies Deezy Liu, Editor-in-Chief

In Issue No. 22, we interviewed professional entertainer, Kate Catalina. This month, we caught up with the “Showgirl of Rock,” who has evolved into a more refined, sophisticated version of her already fabulous previous self. The professional groupie has much to say, and stories to tell.

InkSpiredMagazine.com

InkSpot - What “InkSpires” You? “In a world where the significance of art is diminished by trivial preferences of passion and entertainment, my tattoos symbolize a significance that I can’t otherwise express.” - Brandon Wyatt “Being ‘InkSpired’ represents inspiration that occurs in many forms.” - Samantha Ramirez “My tattoos are important because they eternalize tradition and other things that are important to me.” - David Johnson “I think tattoo art is an evolving culture that is a good indicator of the heart, soul, and mindset of the people who wear them.” - Gary Robertson “I get tattooed so I have constant reminders of my past, present, and future. I love the empowerment and selfexpression my tattoos provide me.” - Melissa Hayes “As someone who is a people pleaser, I ended up in some less than ideal relationships and often let myself get taken advantage of. My tattoos were one of the only things I ever did for myself. I now continue to celebrate myself and share my story through my ink!” - Sonya May

InkSpiredMagazine.com

Words: Lea Luna / Photography: Sean Hartgrove It’s the middle of July in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I’ve just beared a six hour car ride from Denver in the sweltering heat to witness the Duke City Tattoo Fiesta alongside Jim Naron, national Japanese style tattoo competitor. Jim, his sister Lauren, his best friend Jayme, and I are all gunning for the stage to see Jim’s full suit impress the southwest. We’re staying the whole weekend to see Jim’s tattoo artist, Aaron Coleman to get some fresh ink for Lauren’s arm, and to pen this edition of InkSpired.

InkSpiredMagazine.com

Aaron has been tattooing for 22 years, and resides in Mesa, Arizona, creating awardwinning, life-changing art out of a shop called Immaculate Tattoo. For almost four of those years, Jim was an immaculate regular, transforming himself through Aaron’s diligent and beautiful Horimono application of ink from neck to ankle. “The tattoo represents many powerful things in eastern culture. For me, it’s a representation of who I have become and the victory over a life I’ve left in the past. I went through a spiritual and physical transformation during the process, and there were many painful realities I had to face. Aaron helped me through a healing process. He was so humble about his magnificent creations the entire time,” recalls Jim.

InkSpiredMagazine.com

The first competition Jim entered at the fiesta was “Best Japanese.” While the basic population would have gawked over the simple fact that he was the only contestant to strip down to a fundoshi, the judges and tattoo enthusiasts that convened saw a man fully dressed in the most intricate finery a person could have. With bold and colorful grace, Jim left the stage with a first place award. The next day, as Aaron put in the final four hours of work on Lauren’s arm piece, I sat with my voice recorder on in the convention-like party full of dozens of zapping machines, yapping tattoo culturalists, and a few bumping boomboxes. Aaron turned the volume down on what sounded like Public Enemy and lent an ear for my questions on Jim’s piece. “You get to know a person pretty well when you see them every two weeks for four years,” he said. I began to congratulate him for Jim’s recent win, thinking we’d reach the point of mentioning that he had eight 1st place wins to date, as well as two 2nd place wins and a “Best of Show” on Jim’s piece alone. Aaron casually remarked, “I don’t like contests. I never keep my trophies. I always tell the people who win them to keep them. I think that art is completely subjective… What one person thinks is the greatest thing in the world, somebody else might think is an ugly piece of shit. I don’t think you can judge the amount of work and pain that someone goes through and say that their shit is better than somebody else’s.”

InkSpiredMagazine.com

Truly, when he said this, the entire room felt different. Here we have this renowned artist with enough works and accolades to fill an encyclopedia, and his humble respect for the culture itself becomes the focal point of conversation, no matter how much I tried to get him to talk about himself. “We all like it when we win, and it’s cool, but I think the most important things is if you realize that when you’re rooting for the people around you to do well, everyone does well in this business… And you’re surrounded by good people,” he continues. It’s true. He spoke highly of the people around him all day. He mentioned his tattoo buddies, Jason Kralovetz and Jay Cavna. He told me about the impact that one of the local Albuquerque inspirations, Sloane had made on so many artists over his lifetime. He introduced me to his buddies, Tim and Jesus. “Put a picture of that tattoo Went did in, [InkSpired] that thing was really nice” he told me, drawing attention to the winner of the 2nd place trophy for “Best Japanese.” Mr. Went, resident tattoo artist at Por Vida tattoo in Albuquerque was one of the hosts of the Duke City Tattoo Fiesta. Lauren sat tough in the chair the whole time, occasionally asking me for a piece of candy and acknowledging Aaron when he complimented other tattoos. I left them to continue their work. Later, she sauntered up to me, arm wrapped in saran wrap, worn out and elated at the same time. “I’m finished!” she said, her eyes begging for a place to lay down and her smile ready to pop champagne.

InkSpiredMagazine.com

The last day of the fiesta, Jim was up for “Best Overall Male.” Jim and the other contestants from all categories were checking out each other’s work and giving each other props while Aztec and Flamenco dancers, a hip hop band, and a few other acts warmed up the stage. There weren’t as many competitors as the other categories this time. Jim was hoping he’d have more people to join him on stage. He was given quite an introduction this time around. He took the stage with pride as he donned the bare and vulnerable pictures of his life story for the crowd. The crowd (which had doubled in size at this point), the competitors, judges and artists gathered and cheered, whistled and high-fived, and took photos and live videos as he stood statuesque in his underwear, holding another 1st place trophy. He lives the story of the Phoenix risen. Where hundreds of inked-out expressionists travel to cross each other’s paths, we find resonance through aesthetic, and kinship through hardship. Whether the meaning of a tattoo comes from the depths of spiritual refinement or whether, as Aaron says, “some people just say ‘fuck it, put a monkey on me,’” one thing is for certain about this place. Here, competition is for camaraderie, and respect is the new rivalry.

InkSpiredMagazine.com

KATE CATALINA Photography: Sean Hartgrove

We chatted with professional entertainer, Kate Catalina in Denver in the fall of 2014, several months after the release of her debut EP Boneyard Gypsy and close to a sensational moment of change when the petite blonde packed up her livelihood as a headlining showgirl to nestle her simplistic side among the cozy, greener outskirts of suburban Chicago.

InkSpiredMagazine.com

Though a high school dropout, the 29-year-old musician, author, and former dancer known as “Showgirl of Rock” boasts a degree in Creative Writing from Oxford University, and now plays with the literary “big boys” as featured rock columnist for an online music publication, Rock My World. Along with her whimsical career comes a restless lifestyle of touring, celebrity parties, backstage champagne, and meeting her deadlines; but Catalina hasn’t let the rock and roll grind get in the way of her musical spirit, or even love! Having recently been married to radio personality and rocker, Chip Z’Nuff (bassist and frontman of 80s glam rock sensation Enuff Z’Nuff), Kate caught us up on her steadfast existence in the glittering fast lane of married life, constant creativity, and rock and roll. What took you to Chicago, and how are you enjoying it? I landed a gig as a spokesmodel on the Monsters of Rock Cruise in 2014 and there met my husband, Chip. It was my birthday, and I was actually coming down with a kidney infection! I just remember stepping off the elevator on my way to the stage with Eddie Trunk, not at all feeling well, and running into this tall, lanky weirdo with big sunglasses on. He bent down to shake my hand and wish me a happy birthday. “Come to Chicago anytime,” he said. It was an honest friendship at first, and when I did end up visiting, I made an appearance on The MANCOW Show to talk about my life as a showgirl in Vegas and ending up on tour with Marilyn Manson. I made so many friends in that city so quickly and just remember thinking that it was time to leave Denver behind. Chicago seemed like the right place to start working on my journalistic career. Have a fresh start. My friendship with Chip unexpectedly blossomed. He went to bed one night and said the same prayers I said when I was a kid, and I had always said I wanted to marry a man who could say those same prayers with me at night. Inside, I was like, this is the one! You said you moved to Chicago to focus on your journalistic career, so what made you leave performing as a showgirl behind? Oh, goodness. Well, aside from suffering from tendonitis from all the ballet classes? Y’know, most people really don’t seem to know what a showgirl actually is. A showgirl has a professional dance background, a theatrical background. We want to entertain an audience, to captivate the senses with movement and costume. It’s dance, it’s theater, not a lowlife game we play for dollar bills or drugs, and we can find work anywhere in the world of show business. I just happened to find it on stage with a lot of rock bands, which is essentially how I ended up with the title, “Showgirl of Rock.” At the end of the day, I just didn’t want to make dancing be my main focus anymore. I’m a musician! I’m a writer! There are so many other things I have been doing all of those years as a showgirl that went unrecognized. Playing the role of a sex symbol overshadows everything.

InkSpiredMagazine.com

I know you released your EP Boneyard Gypsy in 2013, but what are you doing in the studio now? What are your other projects? I am so busy! I’ve been in the studio working with a number of artists. Most recently, I played keys on an upcoming record featuring members of Kik Tracee, Fear Factory, and Bang Tango, to name a few! Currently working on my next record too! And aside from music, I’ve got my gig at Rock My World, which I love endlessly! I get to travel, go to rock shows, hang with my friends and family, write about an industry I’ve so joyously sold my soul to. I’m also working on my second book, which is a rock and roll tell-all of my life as a showgirl. But I promise you it won’t be your typical female rock story! In modern day, many women in rock have seriously exploited people by exposing the worst in others to bring out the best in themselves. Fame-riders! Who cares, you slept with so-andso. Hello! That will get you to burn a bridge or two. You’ll be blacklisted from every guest list everywhere! 18

InkSpiredMagazine.com

I’ve recently made friends with Pamela Des Barres, author of ‘I’m With The Band.’ Miss Pamela is the original groupie, if you will, and has written a number of books based on her experiences being a part of what rock and roll was from the beginning. She had told me once that she has been out on a mission to redefine the term groupie. Well, I know I can help her do that. Groupies aren’t scandalous, brainless women looking for fame or a good lay. A true groupie understands the value of inner peace, inner beauty, self-expression, strong friendships, but above all, art. Trust me! I can’t wait to tell you my story! I’m hoping to pave a new way for other women in rock.

InkSpiredMagazine.com

Words: Simone Jane Picture Ridley Scott’s 1979 Alien sci-fi film set—dark, ominous, and much like the Bolaji Badejo character, add the soundtrack of The Ramones or D.O.A., throw some paint, leather, denim, and other raw materials, and you might envision what Tod Waters’ Junker Designs clothes represents. If that description is not giving you a detailed image in your head, look no further than Motley Crue’s farewell tour, both Nikki Sixx and Vince Neil were outfitted by Tod, and damn, if that’s not the epitome of Tod’s work. He has designed and dressed some of the best of rock royalty—Alice Cooper, Steven Tyler, Marilyn Manson and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, to only name a few. Junkers Designs is where these creations originate, all from Tod’s “grubby little paws.”

InkSpiredMagazine.com

Punk rock, science fiction movies, and dark art are all part of Tod’s ethos and inspire his illustrations which eventually transform into a custom piece of clothing for a client. As the frontman for his own punk rock band, Houston based DieFast, Tod’s creative outlets do not stop there; he also paints and sculpts in both his L.A. and Houston clothing design studios commuting between the two cities, Houston, where he owns a home, where his band is based, and where he anticipates opening a store in the near future, and L.A., where Junker Designs business is primarily run. Junker Designs has been in business since 2001, and Tod has been mutating, ravaging, deconstructing, and custom making clothes for musicians for over 15 years, and when asked about inspiration and overcoming “creative block,” Tod acknowledged his own: I have had a block for six months to a year, so I have been drawing and working on scripts in the meantime, and trying to get back to the other place which is sci-fi. Mostly, I do rock bands and when you rock and roll it out for however many years it starts to feel the same. I guess when you are talking about inspiration, I heard someone else describe it—I am like a vampire. I would rather work in a creative type community like when you work on a movie that really gets the ideas going, your idea or someone else’s, and something gets added to it, and that gets slipped around and then it gets kicked down the field really fast, and you know about the turnaround time so you have to come up with the concept, and finalize the concept with a bunch of input pretty quickly, and then do something about it, and then produce something. I feel like a vampire and I also feel like I am kind of cheating because luckily, other people have seeds of an idea and tell me to do my thing to it. I definitely get inspired by being around other people. It’s an illusion that artists work by themselves. You can’t ever really work like that. If your art is sustaining you it is only because other people sustain you. Tod’s creative process is a pretty simple one; he likes to listen to music when he is working. He most definitely does not like to listen to punk rock because as he puts it, “Why would I want to hear it?” he asks. Because that’s what I play!” There are times when Tod does like to work in silence but those times are rare. “I seem to be the most creative if I play the same CD for 8 hours straight,” he confesses. Tod still listens to a lot of KISS and Rush, and a moody band similar in his words to Bauhaus called White Lies. He often searches YouTube for white noise with different variations running as long as 10 hours at a time. It helps him focus on his inventiveness, vision, and imagination, allowing him to design such amazing pieces you see on the likes of Dave Navarro, Johnny Depp and longtime friend, Alice Cooper’s bass player and frontman of his own band, “Beasto Blanco” Chuck Garric. Venturing outside of his comfort zone is something that Tod is used to, not only with his designs, but taking

InkSpiredMagazine.com

on the relatively new world of film though he has been working in it for about three years now. Tod has a quote posted on the wall of his office by Alan Moore, the writer best known for his graphic novels including V for Vendetta, and The Watchman, “If you are doing something that you are entirely comfortable with, that is probably because you have done it before, or somebody else has done it before. So there is little point in actually doing it again. Always take on incredibly difficult and hard projects that will probably be the ruin of you.” He often takes a look at it when a little fear creeps in. Although being the “head honcho,” as Tod describes himself at Junker Designs, when working on a film set, he is much lower in the hierarchy, he can be the “shop rat,” which Tod claims he rather enjoys. It gives him the chance to be given a list of things to do, simply be a seamstress, and collaborate with the rest of the team. Leather jackets, pants, vest, t-shirts, why not a high quality limited edition shoe? Tod has expanded his vision to include a handmade sneaker, limited to 100 pairs per order. They are handmade in Indonesia, specifically because it is a fair trade product. The sneaker itself is faded black canvas, has the Junker Hellstar logo on the outside, and a zipper on the inside. Junker Designs has plans to come out with different versions of the sneaker later in the season. For the next 24 weeks, Tod will be working in Austin on an upcoming Robert Rodriguez project under the title of Costume Designer. It gives him the chance to showcase the talents that have made him the rockstar of designers amongst rockstars but it also gives him the freedom to not have to be a one man show. This is also the platform Tod wants to continue to create in, film and movies, to take a step back from the cloak of rock designer, though it defined him and served him well, he is ready to throw the hood back and take on the new persona of whatever title may be given to him in a film. Tod fronts the punk rock band Houston’s own DieFast, comprised all of local musicians. Chris LaForge on Guitar, bassist Rudy Olivarez and Chris Moye on Drums. Tod’s vocals on their most recent song, “Nothing’s Wrong” ranges from aggressive growls, screams, and snarls that showcase his influences, D.O.A., The Dead Boys, D.R.I. and obscure Austin, Texas noise band, Scratch Acid. He describes the band’s sound as “Mötorhead meets The Stooges,” with an eyes and ears toward a big rock sound but with more brutal punk arrangements.

InkSpiredMagazine.com

One of Tod’s favorite artists is Zdzislaw Beksiński, widely known for his vast, compulsively detailed paintings of bizarre humanoid characters amongst backgrounds of various states of decay. If you look throughout Beksiński’s body of work, you can see glimpses of the influences the artist has had on Tod’s designs. Other contemporary artists that Tod admires are Chet Zar, notable for his gloomy apocalyptic industrial surroundings swarming with monstrosities, and sculptor Jessie Fohrman. Tod got his first tattoo when he was 17, a simple skull and crossbones with a single needle. It has since been covered over three times. He currently works with Christina Hock at Dolorosa Tattoo Company. His favorite piece when asked, “I am really into multi-eyed stuff,” he confesses. I have done a bunch of drawings and sculptures of multi-eyed creatures. So when I saw Christina’s jade multi-eyed reapers, I thought that it was perfect. The eyes represent people’s motives and personalities. So you can play switch-a-roo on people. This is not a positive thing. So there are also the mental motivations. The eyes swirling around the head. And what you actually say, those are the eyes in the mouth. Separate creatures altogether. His tattoo is beautiful, dark royal purple, with a main skull but so many eyes, and grey, turquoise, plus those teeth. It’s quite menacing. You can get confused at which eyes are really looking at you. The trifecta of a brilliant tattoo, is a great cover up, important message or meaning, and gorgeous to behold. Which kind of describes the entire surreal beautiful world of Tod Waters & Junker Designs. www.JunkerDesigns.BigCartel.com www.Facebook.com/JunkerDesigns Instagram: @TodJunker Twitter: @JunkerDesigns

InkSpiredMagazine.com

Words: Candies Deezy Liu Photography: Sean Hartgrove The Des Moines, Iowa bred Holy White Hounds have hailed from humble beginnings as “small town underdogs” and ascended to national recognition. Their music is charmingly unique, yet a nostalgic flair accompanies their sound. It’s a dichotomy that makes their tunes irresistible, and their stage presence is all the more entertaining with an undeniable chemistry that sets them apart. Each band member is a stellar musician and mastermind of their respective instruments, making love to their machines as they belt out tunes in perfect harmony to each song. Well rehearsed, these guys take their music seriously with an effortless swagger that makes them incredibly fun to listen to. As group that really lets each member’s personality and musical gifts shine through, it’s apparent that their chemistry is a carefully constructed formula that is well planned and definitely well-balanced. The Holy White Hounds was started by vocals and guitar, Brenton Dean and bassist, Ambrose Lupercal in 2013. Guitarist, James Manson and Seth Luloff complete the Holy White Hounds equation. Brenton describes themselves as, “dirty, but we’re not unclean. We’re mangy, but you’d still let us sleep in your bed.” The Holy White Hounds give rock ‘n’ roll a pretty new facelift with their debut album, “Sparkle Sparkle” (produced by Brandon Darner), a multidimensional kaleidoscope of melodies and rhythms that add real depth to their music. Layers of grunge and funk accompany their solid pop collided rock ‘n’ roll base, with infusions of indie, punk, and alternative rock. Thought-provoking, heartfelt lyrics seamlessly complete each track. As they continue to tour all over the U.S., these road dogs, fueled with talent, energy, and passion are spreading their music like wildfire. The Holy White Hounds are unquestionably a band to experience live. Their charm as musicians and people are amplified on stage. This quartet is reinventing the indie music wheel, and they are stopping nowhere fast. www.HolyWhiteHounds.com www.Facebook.com/HolyWhiteHounds Twitter & Instagram: @HolyWhiteHounds

InkSpiredMagazine.com

MAKSIMS “LAKY” ZOTOVS Interview: Ákos Bánfalvi Maksims Zotovs aka Laky is from Riga, Latvia. He enjoys spending time with his family, and extreme sports like skateboarding, snowboarding, and mountain biking. Before Laky started tattooing, he worked in the UK in a warehouse as a picker and packer.

“MY STYLE OF TATTOOING IS SPONTANEOUS, I NEVER MAKE ANY TATTOO DESIGNS BEFORE A SESSION…” - LAKY

InkSpiredMagazine.com

Photo: Atle Sveen

InkSpiredMagazine.com

What made you want to become a tattoo artist and how long have you been tattooing? I never thought of becoming a tattoo artist. I wanted to be an architect. Always wanted to have a tattoo done by Florian Karg, but unfortunately, I didn’t have enough money to make an appointment. I started to take more interest in tattoos. I watched many “how to” videos and finally bought my first tattoo kit on eBay. Oh man, I still remember how excited I was. (Laughs.) Professionally, I have been tattooing since 2013. What did your family and friends think about you getting into the business? My family thought I was just wasting my time. They told me, “stop fooling around and go get yourself a proper job.” My wife (girlfriend at that time) only encouraged and supported me to become an artist. Tell us about your shop. My shop is almost in the centre of Riga. It has massive windows. The shelves are full of animal skulls and books about art. On the walls, I have paintings from my tattoo artist friends, deer horns, and graffiti that I made myself. Describe how you go about creating a tattoo from concept to finished design, and how you try to put your own unique touch on your tattoos. First of all, I need to meet the person who I’m going to be working with. I need to see this person’s character and only then can I make a unique design. How I try to put my own unique touch into each tattoo I will keep to myself. That is top secret. (Smiles.) What was the first tattoo you ever did? Can you tell us about it? The first tattoo I made was an acorn. My friend who I used to work

InkSpiredMagazine.com

with in the same warehouse wanted a tattoo. He didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what to have and I suggested an acorn on the lower part of his leg. Why? Because his nickname was and still is a Acorn. (Laughs.) How would you describe your style? Which tattoo style do you like best? My style of tattooing is spontaneous, I never make any tattoo designs before a session. I need to meet the person who wants to have a tattoo done by me and then I can make a unique design which perfectly describes this personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character. I like to experiment with different styles, but horror tattoos are my cup of tea. Do you see tattooing as a job or a way to express your creative side? In my opinion, being a tattoo artist is not a job! For me, to be a tattoo artist is to have my own personality. I do tattoos because it is my passion and I can be creative as much as I can. Describe how your role models and any other sources of inspiration have affected your tattoo style. My role model is Florian Karg. I like his style of tattoos. I find his work full of inspiration. Other sources are my friends from different countries who are tattoo artists as well. We share tricks and tips with each other about tattooing. Do you have a funny tattoo story? There is one story I will never forget. I lied to one girl who was a friend of my friend that I was a professional tattoo artist (I was just

InkSpiredMagazine.com

a beginner who made only two tattoos at that point). She came to me, got tattooed, which was actually pretty good, and left. After the session, I called her and asked if she wanted to meet to show me how her tattoo was feeling. When we met the next day, I asked her if she wanted to go on a date. Now she is my wife. (Laughs.) What is the most interesting tattoo you have been asked to do? Every tattoo I do is very interesting and special to me. I put a lot of effort into each tattoo I do. 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? From me, a client should expect professionalism and amiability. From the client, I expect reliability, amiability, and most of all, I expect good aftercare of their tattoo (fresh and healed). Are there any positive sides of being an artist? Yes, there are. I meet a lot of new people including tattoo artists. I like to go to different tattoo studios for guest spots. Can I ask if there are any negative parts of your job? Oh yeah! Since I started to work longer hours, my back started to hurt a lot. After a long day of tattooing, my eyes hurt. 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 which meet these criteria really well?

InkSpiredMagazine.com

First of all, zero corruption! Professionalism and people who are organizing tattoo conventions need to think about entertainment for visitors, so they don’t leave as soon as they have seen every booth with a tattoo artist in it. In my opinion, the best conventions which meet these criteria are the London Tattoo Convention, Amsterdam Tattoo Convention, and Milano Tattoo Convention. How would you describe the current status of tattoo by the general public in your country? In Latvia, there are different opinions about tattoos. Some people like them, some people don’t. Personally, I don’t listen to those who are saying mean things towards me. They don’t deserve my attention. Have you noticed any changes in the tattooing industry since you started? In the tattoo industry, everything changes very quickly. In my opinion, that is a very good thing because at the end of the day, tattoo artists can choose the most appropriate equipment for them. I am really happy that I can use tattoo cartridges instead of needles. Is there anything else you wish to say? I want to say thank you to all my friends, family members, my sponsors: Turanium Tattoo Machines and Radiant Colors USA. Special thanks to my wife who took a big part of who I am now. www.Facebook.com/TattoosbyMaksimsZotovs www.Facebook.com/TattoosLaky Instagram: @Laky_Tattoo

InkSpiredMagazine.com

Words: Kate Monahan Photography: Kevin RC Wilson

Lin Randolf is a business owner, former teacher, philanthropist, and a survivor. The first thing you’ll notice when spending time with Lin is her great smile and laugh that can’t help but put you in a good mood. But life hasn’t always been all laughs for Lin.

InkSpiredMagazine.com

On August 10th, 2015, Lin’s mother, Rita Langworthy was gunned down while watching eight unrelated children. A lone gunman approached the home and opened fire. It was a senseless crime and the community lost one of its most loved educators. Rita was a retired principal in Flint, Michigan. In her retirement, she still made it her mission to tutor and help underprivileged kids, believing every child deserves a chance, even paying out of her own pocket to put those she could into private school. The loss of her mother was a huge blow to Lin. She was not a stranger to loss or hard times, but this was a true test of her will. The thought that her mother was gone was unimaginable, the crime unsolved, senseless, and brutal was tormenting, but being her mother’s daughter, Lin did not succumb to letting tragedy take her down. Instead, she poured herself into bringing her mother’s dream alive. A matter of weeks after her death, Lin created The Rita Langworthy Foundation (RLF), a nonprofit in memory of her mother that provided funds for educators and underprivileged children. Lin shared her mother’s passion for the underdog, being a former educator herself, working as a teacher in an alternative high school in Flint. She was going to take her mother’s dream and make it real. And she did. Rita Langworthy had faith and her daughter, Hope. Not being one to indulge in feeling helpless, having her hands tied and wallowing in it, Lin got to work. Putting the foundation together, materializing her mother’s dream became a 24/7 priority. She spent days and nights filling out paperwork, submitting documents, assembling a board, and writing. Everything fell into place. There wasn’t a struggle, and while it can take years to get a nonprofit made legitimate and have the IRS sign off, it was done within a month. Lin, used to bumps in the road working with nonprofits before, couldn’t believe it. It was meant to be. When asked how she did it, how she maintained composure, and didn’t fall into the depths of depression, she told said it wasn’t easy. There were definitely bad days, horrible days. Days that she stayed in, cancelled seeing friends, and just sat with her feelings. She dealt with it, which Lin claims is the key to getting one’s self through something completely horrible. “You have to let yourself feel,” Lin said. She

explained that too many times, people feel like they have to put on the fake smile, say they’re fine, and push away feeling awful. “Doing that only prolongs the grief,” she explained. The best advice she got was from a friend who told her that she could deal with it now or deal with it later, and dealing with it later would only make it worse. So Lin confronted it, letting herself go through the process. Her advice on getting through tragedy? Learn how to feel, let yourself feel, be honest with yourself that it sucks, and even though life sucks at that time, be able to find happiness. She mentioned that doing the fake, “I’m okay” only made it worse and when people asked her about it, she would be honest. She’d tell them she felt like shit, that the situation sucked, and she was getting through it. She found the empty, “I’m sorry”

to be worse than no response and just kept a distance from the pity party. Lin found when people were straight with her on the severity of the situation, it made it easier to deal. Between facing the situation head on, letting herself feel the emotions, and putting her all into the creation of the foundation, Lin pulled through. She explained that she could move forward and live or stay stuck and let her soul and spirit die. She chose to move forward, not letting herself get bogged down by guilt that she was doing so. “Something that many of us do is feeling like we are doing the deceased a disservice by moving on, like we’ve forgotten them, but really it’s anything but. Those we’ve lost would want us to move forward,” she explains. Lin said this was especially true with her mother. “My mother

InkSpiredMagazine.com

would have told me to get over it and stop crying,” she laughs. So while the bad days still happen, Lin did as her mother would have wanted. The Rita Langworthy Foundation, now coming up on close to a year old, is going strong. The foundation grants funds to not only underprivileged kids in terms of educational grants, but also to educators for books and supplies. The foundation also aids in supporting other direct service nonprofits that aid these children by means of clothing, food, education, shelter, and medical help. The foundation recently awarded six children with a one year scholarship to attend private school. The RLF will have its first large scale fundraiser, Butterflies & Blues in New York City on October 17th, at BB Kings. This inaugural debut will be an annual celebration. In the one year anniversary of her mother’s death, Lin still is coping with the loss of her mother and the fact that she won’t be celebrating her 71st birthday with her, or seeing the Rockettes at Christmas like her mother wanted, or be able to take her on the Alaskan cruise she always dreamed of. Lin explains that her mother wasn’t a materialistic person at all. There were only a few things she talked about for her retirement. One was the cruise and another, which still gets a chuckle out of Lin, was a purple Jaguar. One of the regrets Lin still holds onto is not taking her mother on an Alaskan cruise. Not letting the negative consume her, Lin did something else. The logo and color theme for the foundation is purple, which is symbolic of the Jaguar her mother always talked about. The butterflies on the logo are symbolic as well. The metamorphosis of her mother and her life’s work. Lin also found comfort in getting tattooed. More specifically, a purple butterfly close to her shoulder that directly represents her mother. The piece incorporates butterflies and orchids dancing, which represents the two of them. She is working on another memorial piece she’ll be beginning soon at Sacred Tattoo in NYC. Lin sees her ink as part of her and her life story, a powerful statement filled with love. Lin’s advice for readers when it comes to dealing with the curveballs life throws and starting over? “Fail gloriously.” “Every day you wake up, you get a second chance,” she continues. Lin’s loss of her mother was something she harnessed to create something beautiful out of tragedy. To learn more or donate to the Rita Langworthy Foundation, visit them at: www.RitaLangworthyFoundation.org And follow them on social media at: www.Facebook.com/RitaLangworthyFoundation Twitter: @RitaLFoundation Instagram: @RitaLangworthyFoundation

InkSpiredMagazine.com

Interview: Ă kos BĂĄnfalvi Photography: Tragic Glamour Photography (www.tragicglamour.com) Staci Deana, aka Staci Castle was born and raised in Vallejo, California. She moved to Midtown Sacramento in 2008, and later moved to the little wine town of Lodi, California. Staci married a supportive and loving man on July 13th, 2013, and they have two adorable furbabies. The three of them mean the world to her.

InkSpiredMagazine.com

“I’M JUST A GIRL WHO HAS A PASSION FOR AMAZING ARTWORK, THAT LOVES MAKING MAGIC HAPPEN WITH CRAZY TALENTED PHOTOGRAPHERS FOR OTHERS TO SEE…” - STACI DEANA CASTLE

InkSpiredMagazine.com

I’m a huge animal lover. I think I almost love dogs more than I love people, and mine are particularly awesome. I have a pitbull named Harley, and a toothless Chiweenie named Booger. I’ve had a job since I was 14. I’ve been a lifeguard, a barista, a Starbucks manager, a banker, and now I’m a clerk/secretary/full-time babysitter to a bunch of hardworking welders. My job is awesome, I have never loved getting up and going to work each day as much as I do in this position, working with the people I work with. Where did you grow up, and how was it growing up there? Would you say that it influenced you? Growing up in Vallejo definitely played a big part in making me the person I am today. Vallejo is an incredibly diverse city. There are people there from all walks of life—every different size, shape, and color. The town itself has beauty, history, and culture, along with some questionable, ghetto parts that definitely teach you how to watch your back and always be on your toes. Living in a small town now helps me realize how awesome it was to grow up around and learn about so many different cultures and backgrounds. While Vallejo isn’t the most amazing city in the world, for sure, I’m very thankful for having grown up in a place that taught me diversity, acceptance, patience, and to respect everyone despite any differences that may be between you. If everyone looked and acted the same, the world would be ridiculously boring, and no one wants that. Have you always wanted to model? What made you say yes? I was a pretty shy kid. I’m not sure I ever really had the guts to answer the, “what do you want to be when you grow up” question honestly, but the answer was 95% of the time an actress. Kind of strange for a shy person to want to be famous, but I’m kind of a strange cookie, and I’m okay with that. I used to put on “shows” for my parents. I was such a ham. I would raid my closet for things to dress up in, run out in the living room, and start acting like an idiot for their entertainment. I’ve taken a couple acting classes and loved them, but I moved out on my own when I was pretty young and had a lovely little thing called bills. The need to pay those got in the way, and an acting career, unfortunately, doesn’t usually happen overnight. Needless to say, it never happened. Did you start modeling part-time? How was your first shoot? Were you nervous? I started getting into modeling and tattoos when I was about 16 and came across the MySpace page for Suicide Girls. I’ve always loved tattoos, and thought the people that got them were brave, but once I saw these girls covered in amazing artwork, looking so confident and beautiful… I started to think, “Hey. That’s pretty awesome!” This sparked my tattooed model obsession. I was too young at the time for any tattoos, and I quickly decided I wasn’t brave enough to do the full nude pictures that Suicide Girls required. As I got older, I still remained pretty shy. I had a bunch of friends, however, that were in bands, and they were always looking for someone to take pictures during their live shows. After taking a Photoshop class my senior year of high school, I decided to give photography a try. This was one of the best things I’ve ever decided to do. I met so many amazingly talented photographers, and got a ton of great opportunities, including photographing shows for bands like Fall Out Boy, Paramore, DevilDriver, and my favorite, Rob Zombie! I became pretty good friends with a few of the photographers I looked up to in the Sacramento scene. One of which was Shannon Edgar of White Window Photography. She’s the wonderful lady who did my very first shoot. It was just her and I in her old studio in Roseville, but man, I was nervous! I had

InkSpiredMagazine.com

no clue what I was doing, but I knew I wanted to try. She had to tell me where to put my hands, and how to stand, but the pictures ended up being beautiful. It was a great beginning experience. I’ve shot with Shannon a few times after that, including her shooting my wedding. Besides the few sets with Shannon, I hadn’t really done much in the way of modeling until the beginning of 2014. I don’t know if it was because I didn’t have the guts, didn’t have the time, or a mixture of both, but I’m incredibly glad that I’ve gotten back into it. I’ve gotten a ton of tattoos added to my collection since my first shoot, and I love to show them off. It takes so much patience, time, and pain to get all that work done, why wouldn’t you want to show it off, right? What advice would you give new models about how to prepare? Starting out in this whole business is totally intimidating. There are so many beautiful tattooed women out there and it gets hard to imagine that you can stand among them. I’m lucky enough to have met a few amazing people in the tattoo and tattoo modeling industry who have given me artwork to be proud of, and advice to learn from, to make me feel more confident in my modeling. I’m very thankful for that. My advice to someone starting out is that you must believe in yourself. No matter what. There were definitely people telling me I wouldn’t be able to do it when I first started out, but you have to stay positive and do what you want. I don’t know if I’ll ever really be comfortable calling myself a “model” because I’m just me—a girl who has a passion for (and happens to be pretty covered in) amazing artwork, that loves making magic happen with crazy talented photographers for others to see. If you want to call me a model, then you can also call me incredibly flattered. When did your interest in tattoos begin? And how long was it from then until you got your first one? My very first tattoo was a rose and a butterfly on my ankle, just like the one my mom has on her back. I got it pretty close to the day I turned 18 by an old friend that worked at a shop in Vallejo. I knew I wanted to get a few tattoos, and I had some ideas of the things that meant a lot to me that I wanted to get, but tattoos are like potato chips for me, once you start, you can’t stop! I was totally hooked after that first one. For years, I had to keep it pretty conservative with the locations of my tattoos. Things I could cover because I hadn’t locked down a career yet and didn’t know if where I ended up would allow visible tattoos. I bravely started half sleeves while working as a banker, knowing I had to wear suit jackets to work everyday. They just kind of grew from there. Thankfully, my job now is one I’m going to stick with and it’s completely tattoo friendly. I’ve only worked with a handful of artists, and I’ve known most of them and their skill level pretty well. If you’re going to trust someone to put something on you that will last forever, you should probably FULLY trust them. So when I go to get tattooed, I generally just give the artist an idea of what I want and let them use their creativity to make it amazing. Let’s face it, they know WAY BETTER than I do when it comes

InkSpiredMagazine.com

to art. I can hardly draw a stick figure. Doing it this way has allowed for me to have beautiful, creative, original pieces that all have something incorporated into them that means a lot to me, and are artistically pleasing at the same time. I’m proud to say that I have yet to get a tattoo I dislike or regret. I love them all pretty equally. It’s a difficult question, but do you have a favorite tattoo artist? I could NEVER pick a favorite artist. Whether it be tattoos, photography, painting, music, dance, or anything else artistic, it’s impossible to pick a favorite. Everyone is so different, everyone has their own style and way of doing things to express their creativity, how could you say one’s better than the other? I can give you a few examples of tattoo artists I think are amazing, however. Nikko Hurtado is incredibly talented and I don’t think there’s anyone in the industry who could deny that. I’ve recently stumbled across the Instagram for Andres Acosta, and his work drew me in immediately. His rose mixture creations are ridiculous, they’re so good! A little closer to home is Nick Chaboya out of San Francisco. I’ve followed his work for years, he’s great at all different types of tattooing. Last, but far from least, is my current tattoo artist: Tanner Richardson. He owns Elliptic Ink in Grass Valley, California, and he is one of the most talented artists I’ve ever met, along with just being an awesome friend. I’ll be sticking with him until I don’t have any more skin to fill up, but you know how I feel about talking about that time, so let’s just say forever. Do you have any funny or weird stories about a tattoo experience? When I was about 20, I went to LA with an old friend of mine. Kat Von D had just started getting crazy popular and was in the process of opening High Voltage. She was working out of a smaller shop at the time and my friend and I thought it would be awesome to get tattoos from her. We went to the shop she was supposed to be working for, but she, of course, wasn’t there. We decided to get the tattoos anyways because they were going to be epic. We wanted something to bring us together, a type of friendship tattoo, that would still be their own separate tattoos. We decided to get Mooninites from the TV show, Aqua Teen Hunger Force that we used to love watching. I got Er, she got Ignignokt. We walked in, told the artist what we wanted, he looked at us like we were crazy (he had NO idea what a Mooninite was), Googled it, put it on us, tattooed it, and we were out the door in a half an hour. It was crazy and made for a good “what the heck IS that?!” tattoo, which is pretty funny. www.StaciCastle.com www.Facebook.com/StaciCastle3 www.Facebook.com/StaciDeana Instagram: @StaciDeana www.ModelMayhem.com/StaciDeana

InkSpiredMagazine.com

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

InkSpiredMagazine.com

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

flash material for publication, please send us a message and a sample of your work, and we will get in touch with you about how to move forward as this is treated more as an advertisement than a submission. Social Media www.Facebook.com/ InkSpiredMagazine www.Instagram.com/ InkSpiredMagazine www.YouTube.com/ InkSpiredMagazine www.Pinterest.com/ InkSpiredMag www.Twitter.com/ InkSpiredMag InkSpired Online Store www.InkSpiredMagazine.com/ products with the freshest gear and art from InkSpired Magazine, InkAddict, Black Market Art Company, Lowbrow Art Company and more!

InkSpiredMagazine.com