5th TravellInk Mag

TravellInk Mag

5th Edition 2016

6th Cagliari

Tattoo Convention

Interview

Tattoo Artists

Pedro Soos Igor Puente Tattoo Shop

Illustrator

Andrew Tarusov

State of Grace

Musician

Cindy AFN

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Table of

CONTENT

IGOR PUENTE

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TATTOO ARTIST

PEDRO SOOS TATTOO ARTIST

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CINDY AFN MUSICIAN

THIS ONE TIME IN LISBON - EDITORIAL

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STATE OF GRACE

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TATTOO SHOP

Direction Jéssica Costa Tiago Pereira

Art Direction Jéssica Costa

Revision Robert Rozendaal

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FEMKE FATALE INK THOUGHTS

Articles & Interviews Tiago Pereira Robert Rozendaal

Collaborations Femke Fatale

Cover Photo Rose Richards Models Nádia Domingos

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ANDREW TARUSOV

ILLUSTRATOR

geral@travell.ink advertising@travell.ink www.travell.ink

THIS MAGAZINE IS INTERACTIVE

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6TH CAGLIARI

TATTOO CONVENTION

Ink Thoughts Like I said, I have got it covered up by Jean Harai, my first `real’ tattoo artist and friend; he did most of my art. He made a whole lower back piece of it!

Yes....This means I had my first tattoo on my lower back....Tramp Stamp Alert hahaha. I never regretted getting it covered up, but after all those years, and it really has been many, many years, you can see the tattoo a little bit again, through the cover up! I haven’t said what it is right!!?? A little tribal _haha_! So f%*+|£|£ awesome ;)

By Femke Fatale

TravellInk Ambassadress

So one solution for those tattoos you regret and also the best solution; Lasering! I go to Dermalaser (www. dermalaser.be [9]) in Kapellen (Belgium)! You get the best service there and they have this amazing laser machine! I never have scars or whatever, after lasering the skin feels like a baby skin! Really!! I am so happy I met the big boss Frederic Faure at an event! I talked for a long time with him, as I al-

Talking about lasering tattoos... Many people have tattoos they regret, just don’t like anymore and they want to get rid of it. Some just want to keep it as a memory! I covered up my first one though! I did not feel the urge to keep it! It meant nothing to me... I just chose something I found online. I just knew I wanted to have tattoos, never thought of what I really wanted though. It was a rebel tattoo for me, as my parents never wanted me to have any or even liked body art in general!

I did and I was so excited to get the first one.

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ways wanted to laser something but never knew where to go! I wanted to get the best treatment and of course the best result! So meeting him was a blessing for me. He lasered the shading around the tattoo under my chin.

The shading was very harsh and dark and it made me look like a bearded lady! Hahaha_ no shit!! And what girl wants that?!?! It bugged me since I got it and finally I could get rid of it!!

I got the eye in Sibiu at the Transilvania Tattoo Expo and the artist, Osiris Banuelos (amazing artist from Mexico), asked if I wanted shading around the eye! I just said yes without checking it in the mirror. The eye is _amazingggg_ but I disliked how the shading looked, yeah... It looked like a beard!!!!! Another lesson learnt‌ Always check in a mirror before you get something tattooed‌ Always!!!

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Now we have lasered it 4 times if I am not mistaken and it is already almost gone!!!! So excited about this!! In June I go back to get more laser treatment!

As you know, I am almost fully tattooed, still have small spots of skin available.

So I also started laser therapy on another piece! I want to have portraits of the lions I adopted in South Africa; Brutus and Leonidas.

So my friends, if you need a laser treatment, visit www.dermalaser.be !

Definitely worth it!!!! You won’t regret it! Believe me... You get quality work, as you deserve.

Femke Fatale

Femke@femkefatale.com www.femkefatale.com

Such small spots are not enough....

Laser me baby!!!! You do not need to laser only when you regret, you can do it when you need space too, delete some less important ink for very significant tattoos! Hell yeah! All my tattoos have meanings, as my body is my journal and my tattoos my stories but I need to make space in my diary _hahaha_!

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Vitor Cordeiro

CHASING TATTOO Flash News About New Products, Books, Exhibition, Events and more

New Products

3 Section Folded Table This basic massage table is ideal for a travelling tattoo artist to take to conventions etc. Its only a basic massage table, however so long as you treat it well it should last you for many sessions.

Comes complete with deluxe multi adjustable headrest, front armrest sling with strap, 2 side arm supports, 1 face hole plug, 1 free bed cover and carrying bag.

Extended table size: 186cm (L) x 62cm (W) x 58cm-85cm (H) (excludes head and arm rests).

Killer Ink Anti-Bacterial Killer Ink Anti-Bacterial Foaming Cleanse can be used throughout the tattooing process to wipe away excess ink. However it is primarily used at the end of the tattoo to clean it up before applying your aftercare and wrapping it up. The Anti-Bacterial Foaming Cleanse is gentle to skin and will foam up on application. It calms and moisturizes the skin and reduces redness.

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Books

Asia Sketches & Lines

by Lars Art of Paint Oranienburg by Lars Wilczinski. Lars is one top young artist who dedicates his work to the traditional and cultural art of tattooing. 70 Pages show an unbelievable level of depth and inspiration in Asian Style to proof his reputation of being an exceptional artist. This is as inspirational as it gets, folks.

Tradicional III If you like traditional tattoos, you’re in for a treat! Arte Tattoo & Piercing have published three volumes with drawings, sketches and tattoo flash in the traditional style. Tradicional Volume III contains work by 45 well-known tattoo artists, including: Adri Oest, Alex Jazz, Angel Quiles, Brice Gomes, Caio Garcia, Debora Necci, Federica di Domenico, Felipe Indini, Joe Tartarotti, Jaclyn Rehe, Joel Janiszyn, Josh Sutterby, Karl Wiman, Karlos Aguilar, Kowhey, LC2 Luis cobra, Marcelo d alosio, Mikael Harrstedt, Myke Chambers, Paul Antonhy Dobleman, Quyen Dinh, Rana Almiron, Rodrigo Salomao, Samuele Briganti, Tofino, William Xcionkax and Xandi.

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@ericjasondsouza

@dice_tattoos

@maciektattooz

@jack_galan_art

Tag your photos with #travellink or #travellinktattoo

Instagram

@thesailormarc

@travellinktattoo

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Events

Hell Xis Agency HELL XIS was created in 2007, where they have been organizing several concerts over the years with names recognized at world level as Agnostic Front, DRI, Exploited, Adicts, Carcass, Obituary, Madball, Ignite, Anti-Nowhere League, The Meteors, Cro Mags among many other bands.

Hell Xis Agency Presents info@hellxis.com www.hellxis.com

July

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Mata Ratos @ Pé De Ladrão

Fest - Caldas Da Rainha

August

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Angel Crew + Terror + Cornered @ Poppodium Metropool Hengelo - Holland

26 Backfilp @ Rock In Rua - Arco De Baúlhe

September

03 Hills Have Eyes

Fest 2016

@ Casainhos

04 Gorilla Biscuits + Grankapo

+ Clean Break + Challenge @ Rca Club - Lisboa

Skin Care

Sun Protection with Balm Tattoo Have you ever heard about Balm tattoo?

If you did already it is because you have been taking good care of your tattoos, but if you do not know what it is let us make you a brief presentation. Balm Tatto focuses on the preservation of your tattoos and your skin.

fade and, worse yet, the colors can be a hindrance to screening for cancer.

Over time tattoos fade in part because the pigment is broken up into smaller pieces and the immune system takes these pigments away through the lymph nodes. With lotions, potions, soaps, cleansers, sprays, scrubs, UV [rays], shampoo and your body’s natural ability to flush anything foreign out, [the tattoo] is going to fade. But if the tattoo is done with professional inks at pro tattoo studio and if you take the proper care it won’t fade so much.

It’s well know that most of the people love sunbathing. Some people can even sleep on the beach during the day. In the summer, people with tattoos need extra protection from UV rays so their skin doesn’t burn or camouflage skin Indoor tanners are just as damaging cancer. The sun can cause tattoos to as the sun, if not more so. The ultra-

Skin Care sight. Never put sunblock on a new tattoo. Instead, follow the artist’s aftercare instructions, and then it’s best to keep it covered with clothing or by standing in the shade. Once it’s completely healed, meaning it has gone through the entire scabbing/flaking process, apply sunscreen religiousThe more you tan, the more your tat- ly for the rest of your life. Simply stay too fade. Although protecting the skin out of the sun as much as possible, if for health reasons is most important, not completely. the fact that tattoos aren’t cheap is a reason to cover up, too. After all, it’s You might not be able to stay out of the sun altogether, but spend as little protection of a lifelong investment. time as possible in it. Staying out of Keep in mind that sun exposure the sun completely is the best thing doesn’t just happen at the beach you can do for your tattoos. An ointor summer festival. A lot of people ment indicated to care and protect accidentally overexpose their skin, the skin after tattooing. It helps in the and their tattoos, on their left arm or regeneration of the skin, moisturizes shoulder while driving. Keeping a bot- and helps maintain colors more vivid tle of sunscreen in the car is a good preventing discoloration and protectidea to avoid this sun-related over- ing them from harmful sun rays. violet rays are much more concentrated and people tend to over-expose themselves in tanning beds, not realizing their own limits. Burning the skin damages a tattoo even more than slowly tanning. Again, if you must do it, protect your ink!

Powered by Balm Tattoo VideoTravellInk

By MasterPiece Tattoos Mag | 5th Edition

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IGOR PUENTE TRAVELLINK TATTOO ARTIST 18

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How did you discover tattoo and what made you want to be a tattoo artist?

creating their unique art, which was the exact same way I felt about tattooers.

I have always enjoyed drawing, but I would opt for becoming a veterinarian until I was almost 18. There was a moment when I realized that a come creative job would make me happier.

I always like to draw and I used to want to be a veterinarian . But in one moment i was nearly 18 years old I decided that i want a creative work.

That was the first change, then i start thinking about the greatest masters of art and how the people want his paintings and sculptures . That let me to getting in touch with the world of art and I got inspired by the greatest masters and how popular their painting and sculptures were. They were able to support themselves by

Tell us how was your journey as an apprentice.

I never followed the path as any apprentice in an studio like others tattooers. I tried to collaborate with some studios in Madrid but nobody was looking for an apprentice. I started to study art to have a solid base for tattoo and I took some seminars by some good tattooers .So one day in my life at that time would be something like “wake up. go to art school. go back home. tattoo some friends. dinner -of course-. and then I had time to keep up with school and with my scheduled designs for future tattoos�.

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Who are your biggest influences?

tle about the concept of your work.

I admire and love the classic artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci or Miguel Angel. Apart from them, another artists that really influenced me were some of my teachers like Dani Pascual or Amaya Gurpide. And in the actual tattoo industry, their work or perspective on other artists from which I could name after Eckel , Antony Flemming , Mimi , Rodrigo Kalaka , Tony Donaire , Kat Wilson or Lonner.

I would just name after an uncountable number of names, so for this interview, I am going to shut it down now before I begin to bore you, but I must recall that they have all definitely interfered with my style.

I really love animals. As i have said before, my dream was to become a veterinarian. Then I come to realize that they are my muses. I really enjoy messing with contrast and playing between the hues of the colors. If you look close, everything can swap in your face depending on which tones are close to others. I work trying to make a story with the composition, I try to explain it behind with same symbology or things that really take place in wild life

We can see a lot of colour on your works giving life to several characters and a rather notorious relationship with the animal world complemented by different symbologies. Tell us a lit-

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.

What are your musical influences and tastes? Is it an important element in your creation process?

Nirvana is my favorite band but right now I´m listening more into metalcore, hardcore and post hardcore bands. I would draw with surrounding TravellInk Mag | 5th Edition

tv shows or fils. I am a real freak about tv shows, but I’d rather turn on the volume and listen to some music while I tattoo.

Do you remember any situation that has marked you as an artist that you wanna share?

One of the experiences that marked me more of my career was my first guest spot at Hello Sailor ( Blackpool). I never had the privilege of working abroad (Spain), and Kat Wilson, a really good tattooer and artist , trusted in me just because she liked my work and thought that I have potencial. This last thing made such a difference for me, gave me confidence and she showed that from the very first day working with her in the studio, she had always been very supportive, from day one.. Some of the tattooers enjoyed my work and wanted some of my tattoos and that was amazing too... again, it was one of the first TravellInk Mag | 5th Edition

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times I had ever tattooed any other tattooers without been my friends (yet) .That was a really good experience and the one that made me start traveling so often to as many guest spots as I currently visit.

What do you think of the tattoo world today? The “industry�, new artists, new brands ...

I whould like to share two views about the industry and I think right now there are so many good things and bad things in the industry. There are some new brands done by artists for artists that really want to smooth your work and improve it, unfortunately, on the other hand, some others seem to be blinded by an itching palm and they forget about the quality, which should

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Would you like to leave some last personal note for those who are now discovering the world of tattoo?

be the key point of all this trade. . Quite the same with the tattooers, there are so many that really love their work and the presevere to develope a special style but every day there are more that only seek the money and the fame, conforming themselves as a copy. I also believe that respect for this world is being decreased as a consequence of the economical interest.

It is not only “buy a machine and earn money�, is much more .If you want to come into this amazing world the first thing that you need is the respect that this world deserve. Tattoo world its really cool but you have to respect it. Tattoo its just about meet people , post convention parties , having tattoos and having fun. Behing all those things there are nights drawing until 4 o clock, and I am talking of an habit. Really, is about never cease to work and realizing your responsibilities concerning about health of the custormers who trust in your hands.

Be responsable, because you have the health of your customers in your hands.

PEDRO SOOS

TATTOO ARTIST 24

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When and how did you discover your passion for drawing and tattooing?

Hard to pinpoint. Drawing was always there. Ever since i can remember. First trying to copy all the comic books and illustrations i could find and then skateboard, rock and metal graphics became my main interest.

Around that time tattoos caught my eye as well. All the bands and skaters on magazines had some and they looked cool, of course i wanted some as well. Guess i was 12 or so? Was a long long wait until i turned 18 and could get one, i can tell you that.

Tells us how was your journey to become a professional tattoo artist and how was your learning process.

I started tattooing in 2003. Was a very different tattoo scene before then and i was lucky or unlucky enough to get in right at the changing point. Was a closed off esoteric industry, very protective of its secrets and initiations. I have mixed feelings about it now and TravellInk Mag | 5th Edition

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can’t really say if that was good or bad.

Getting into it was quite hard and unfair at times. I wasn’t too eager though.

Never really thought about it much. I was drawing a lot and getting tattooed as much as i could afford but that still didn’t make me think of trying to do tattoos. A friend put the idea in my head later and i asked Francisco at Atomic Tattoo in Lisbon (where i usually got tattooed back then) for an apprenticeship.

He politely told me to fuck off so i did.

My friend didn’t quit though and was hellbent on getting me into it. Guess she wanted some free tattoos. Eventually she found out about a convention in algarve, which was very unexpected back then, and dragged me down there to meet some people from

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madrid she emailed and contacted before. I ended up learning my basics from them. Mostly from this guy Lucy (short for Lucifer). A few trips to Madrid later and i started tattooing some friends at my house in late 2003.

Was just a quick initiation so i have to say that the real learning started after a few months of tattooing friends when i got offered a job by Americo Silva (now owner of Queen of Hearts).

Nothing like tattooing drunk bikers in festivals and the back room of biker bars with strippers changing clothes while you work. The old school of life.

I met some of the hardest working tattooers, with the most solid work ethics ever back then. I mostly thank AmerTravellInk Mag | 5th Edition

ico (Queen of Hearts) and Mitzu (former founder of the Heart of Buddha in Lisbon and presently owner of Helsink in Finland) for two life long friendships, the opportunities presented me and showing and teaching me so much.

and Dane Mancini on the SOoS (Secret Order of Saturn) - a tattoo collective co-founded in 2006 by myself and Geoff Horn from Hole in the Sky in New Jersey where i did my first guest spot.

Who were the artists who most inspired you in your career?

Do you feel that the world of tattoo changed much over the years? What are the biggest differences for you?

Well, first off i would say Jim Phillips for his work with santa cruz skateboards in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Then within tattooing, Bara from True Love Tattoo in Madrid, who is still the best tattooer in the world, as far as i am concerned.

And of course Dan Higgs, the man, the myth, the legend. Other than that my biggest influences are still my best friends Jelle Nelemans, Joel Madberg

Night and Day. Tattooing became a completely different animal since myspace and miami ink. Still not sure what’s good or bad about it. There is a lot about tattooing that got better and a lot that got worst. Would need to write a whole separate book about this, i guess. It’s a very complicated question if you have on foot in the old days and one foot in the new days like myself.

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Tell us a little about your work, what inspires you and the concept behind your tattoos.

I do a very specific twist with american traditional formal aspects but a bit more modern approach to subjects and ideas. Honestly not that different from hundreds amazing new tattooers now. When i started not that many people were interested in traditional and fewer people still were willing to take it and have it turned upside down. Was a great and exciting time to be involved in tattooing and it changed completely how we approach traditional imagery and what we can do with tattoos.

The source would probably be the early work of Dan Higgs and it spread from there. There was no information available or social networks and so we were just experimenting and fail-

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ing a lot while coming up with new ways to do this stuff. Was no big ideals or intentions behind it, just a few hard working guys, a wish to learn and do good tattoos while trying to balance tradition and modern influences. Funny how so many younger tattooers now still mention the names of these guys i worked with or myself as an influence when we were all so clueless and naive about it all. We basically get messages from amazing new artists that make flawless tattoos better than we could dream of at that time still looking to our old work for refference. Its almost ironic.

I also started doing a lot of japanese inspired tattoos a bit later. But that is a whole different process and i am really happy just to try and respect the tradition and culture behind it. So study, study, study.

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Music is a strong source of inspiration, what are your personal tastes and what could we find in your playlist during your creation process?

My playlists have a bit of too many things in there. Let’s just say rock and metal made me like tattoos and will always be the basis for my music appreciation. Other than that i love most types of music and listen to as much of it as i can everyday.

Why “Gone Fishing Tattoo”?

Gone Fishing is a move down to Algarve and the simpler quiet life. The last few years before the shop, I worked without a residency. Just doing regular guest work in a few different shops all over Europe and the New York area. An amazing opportunity to learn from amazing artists and to focus on a very specific style. But TravellInk Mag | 5th Edition

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too much travelling takes its toll and after 10 years tattooing, I felt was time to find a place and get my own shop at last. My options were London or Stockholm initially, but then a lot of personal changes made me rethink everything and realise i wanted to move the opposite way. Instead of a busy competitive environment, striving for being the best you can be, I chose surfing, family and to slowly look for the simplest possible way to live. And that’s why we decided to

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move to PortimĂŁo in the end and that is why we Gone Fishing.

What is your greatest ambition for your future as an artist?

To be happy with the work i do and balance out my professional and private life wisely.

Any personal note you wanna leave?

We are all in this together. Play nice..

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ANDREW TARUSOV

ILLUSTRATOR 32

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When did you felt the need to express yourself through drawing?

This need was always, seence I remember myself. I just drew all the time. And people always were surprised, how I did it.

How was your journey to become an artist?

First of all, I went to the fine arts school in my native city. Than, I realised that I have to go to the fine arts college, studied oil painting for 4 years and then I entered University in Moscow, c.g. and Animation because I always loved cartoons

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Your work is inspired by many films that are somehow distorted, manipulated and sometimes mixed creating a bridge between reality and fantasy. Tell us a little of the concept of your work.

I like to mix different styles and genres. For example: I mixed Soviet Propoganda Posters style with American 1950s Pin-Up, or Disney Characters and Tim Burton’s Gothic style. That is my best known examples. I think, people like to see something new in their newsfeed and that’s why I got a lot of shares and reposts :)

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What is your greatest source of inspiration in your creation process?

Well, I love to watch old movies and to look at a lot of vintage pictures in internet. I would say, the inspiration could be everywhere.

You just have to know how to see it!

If you could choose two artists that have inspired you who would they be and why?

First one is gonna be Otto Schmidt - great russian artist that works on DC Comics and the other one is Mike Mignola - the creator of the Hellboy comic series

Have you ever seen any of your works tattooed on someone?

Yes, I have a bunch of examples on my instagram. I have all my most popelar picture series on someone)) But my favorite is Bambi in Tim Burton’s style made by famous Los Angeles tattoo artist. Now, I even started to create a tattoo sketches for people, that love my art Would you like to leave some personal note?

Maybe it is not very professional, but anyway.. I’m creating art for my followers and I just want to make them smile, this is the best reaction for me as an artist. Hope, you’ll like my art.

Thank you

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TravellInk Users Tattoo Artists

Frank Lanatra Daan Van Dobbelsteen Dan Arietti

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STATE OF GRACE TATTOO SHOP 40

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Photos by John Agcaoili

Travellink had the pleasure of speaking with Takahiro “Ryudaibori” Kitamura of State Of Grace Tattoo, inspiration, culture and good taste, it was something like this: “I founded State of Grace in 2002, for the first six years we were next to my friend’s Harley shop, 45s Forever.

My tattoo brother, Chad Koeplinger even flew out to help build the shop!

In 2008, we moved to a 3000 square foot space in the heart of San Jose’s Japantown. This historic neighborhood is one of only three remaining Japantowns in the United States.

We have always been a tattoo stu-

dio first- we have never had piercers or anything like that, we are focused only on tattooing. We have a very diverse crew and really enjoy working together. Our resident tattoo master is Horitomo, who immigrated from Japan a decade ago. Aside from his sublime Japanese tattooing, both by machine and hand, Horitomo is also known for his books Immovable and Monmon Cats. Monmon Cats is an original concept and creation of Horitomo’s and he has since expanded to a full merchandise line along with his art and tattoos. We are proud to have apprenticed our young star, Colin Baker. He has been with us for over a

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decade as well, first as my client and then as my apprentice- but it’s safe to say he’s a full fledged expert tattooer and continues to improve daily!!

Drew Flores, also known as “Doryu”, is a powerhouse of black and grey and is equally at home with Chicano and Japanese styles- and also with fusions of both! Blake Brand is one of the most versatile tattooers ever- he can do anything well! I would say his forte is strong color work but he really has a graceful style that applies to everything. Dan Wysuph has been with us one day a week since he began tattooing. His full time shift is at the famed O’Reilly’s Tattoo Parlour over the hill in Santa Cruz. Dan has his own vibrant brand of American traditional and is an accomplished painter as well. Recently we have been lucky to add Horifuji and Mike Suarez to the crew. Horifuji immigrated from Tokyo, Japan and is doing traditional Japanese work with us full time!

Mike Suarez recently moved from SoCal where he worked at the legendary Tattooland in Anaheim. Mike is a seasoned tattoo veteran and though

Ryudaibori Photo byGuru JohnMarques Agcaoili

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Ryudaibori Photo byGuru JohnMarques Agcaoili

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Mike Suarez

Ryudaibori Photo by John Agcaoili

he excels at black and grey work and Japanese style, he can tattoo anything! I am very happy to work with these people, we all push each other to be better artists and have fun at the same time!�

How did you guys meet and how did you decide to open a studio?

Horitomo and I have worked together the longest. We were part of the same tattoo family in Japan so when he decided to move to the United States, it was natural for him to come to State of Grace. The rest of us met as tattooers meet, through friends and a shared love of tattooing.

State of Grace is a studio that features a wide range of tattoo styles and different artists to perform them, however, the oriental style is predominant TravellInk Mag | 5th Edition

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Mike Suarez

telling a little about your origins. Tell us a bit about this concept.

I would definitely say that State of Grace, while welcoming all types of tattooing, does have a focus on traditional Japanese tattooing. I don’t like the word oriental as that is not accurate- we do JAPANESE style work. We are not focused on other parts of Asia or other styles that may be included in the mislabel of Oriental. Both Horitomo, Horifuji, and myself have studied in Japan and have devoted ourselves to this style of work. Everyone else at the studio also works hard to learn Japanese tattooing. To us, Japanese tattooing is not just about the pictures and images, but requires a more thorough understanding of Japanese culture. Our goal at State of Grace is to do proper Japanese tattooing that is visually striking and culturally accurate.

It is important to note that State of Grace Tattoo and its crew are a reference to many artists and tattoo enthusiasts worldwide, either by its work or by its coherence and professionalism. What is your opinion about this?

We have always tried to take an educational stance by publishing books, curating museum exhibitions, lecturing and hosting seminars. We do this to share a love for this culture and hope to spread some of the knowledge we have gained. I would like to stress though that we are also students and are trying to learn as well.

If people find value or inspiration in what we do, that makes us very happy.

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Horitomo

Photo by John Agcaoili

Horitomo

What is your opinion about the tattoo “industry” these days?

I don’t have an opinion on the “industry”- it’s like anything in life, you don’t own it, it’s not yours….you are just a part of it. Sure, things have changed very quickly- some for good and some for bad, but we just keep doing what we set out to do: make tattoos that make our clients happy!

Any plans for the future of the studio?

Same answer here! We just plan on becoming better tattooers and have fun along the way!! We do have exciting things happening with the Monmon Cats brand as well as the Bay Area Tattoo Convention which we cohost!.

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Horitomo

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Photos by Christoph Thomas

CINDY AFN MUSICIAN

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Hello Cindy! How are you doing?

Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hey! I’m Cindy, 30 years old, living in Holland, working as a social worker and I sing in the hardcoreband All For Nothing.

How old were you when you got your first tattoo, and why did you pick that specific design?

I was just 18 years old. My parents always said to me I could only get a tattoo when I would leave home to live on my own. Ofcouse I couldn’t wait and I secretly got two nautical stars tattooed on my chest. This was done during my parents holiday, what a coincidence. Texted my boyfriend (ernst afn) can i live with you when

my parents find out? Haha! My father didn’t talk to me for two weeks, after that it was kinda okay for them.

I was 19 years old when i left home and continued tattooing. For me the stars stood for something positive, a mark of a chapter I closed with positive and negative stuff.

What is your favorite style of tattoo?

I love the mixture between oldschool and more newschool orientated. Neo traditional is great to in my opinion.

Have you ever felt any kind of discrimination for having tattoos?

There have been times where people have certain prejudices towards tattooed people, but when they get to know you those thoughts disappear.

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Photos by Tjeerd Derkink

Do you feel any connection between the world of tattooing and the musical style that you’re involved in?

Sure, tattoos are everywhere in our scene. Lots of band tattoos as well.

Please tell us a little bit about where your band All For Nothing is today, and how you came to be in the band?

Currently we are writing new songs.

We are planning to release a full lenght in the beginnen of 2017. I’am very excited about this whole proces.

The whole afn adventure for me began when i started dating ernst. I came to their first few shows, when ernst did vocals as well as guitar. They always wanted a bandmember just for vocals. After trying out some guys on vocals our former bassist joked that

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i could maybe do vox? That’s how the whole thing started, and here we are ten+ years later. Over the years, we’ve seen more girls stepping up to the plate and getting into music and tattooing. Do you feel like there is still a lot of discrimination towards women? Not really, more and more girls stand their ground and it is getting more accepted these days.

Please tell us about people that inspire you?

Wow! there are so many people that inspire me. I could name you a list of famous people but mostly I’m inspired by people in general who are able to follow their dreams no matter how many times they fall, get laughed at, or other ways put down. People who show that true “fight for it like your life depends on it” attitude!

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Photos by Tjeerd Derkink

What was the best experience you had in your musical career so far?

Getting to play shows with people who I admire as musiscians and humans. For example Sick of it All, walls of jericho.

And of course the amazing friends we made because of this scene.

What was the craziest experience you’ve ever had in your life on the road?

We once slept in a hotel which turned out to be a hotel with lots of ladies “recieving” men. We came in late and found to older women fighting with eachoter; tearing out each others hair and they covered in each others blood.

We went to sleep. The next morning a wanted to step out of the door I opend it. there stood the German version of tom Jones in white underwear, In de dooropening, with an akward “sexy” pose. ‘Hi’ is what he said. He scared

the hell out of me and in a instant i slammed te door. Then i started laughing uncontrolably.

What is the plan for the future of All For Nothing?

Write an new album and play as many cool shows as possible.

Any personal note?

To everyone reading this feeling down or depressed about something! I believe in you, you do have the strenght and abilities to change your life for the better. You can do this! Today is a new day for a new beginning.

Describe your philosophy on life in 3 words please!

Positive mental attitude !

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CAGLIARI

TATTOO CONVENTION 50

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The last weekend of August, long-awaited by all tattoo lovers, will please us with the sardinian event entirely based on body art and tattoos.

We are talking about Cagliari Tattoo Convention, of course; the first event in the heavenly island primarily regarding the art of tattoos. It is its sixth edition this year, and it is scheduled for August 23rd, 24th, 25th. The selfsame event took place for the first time back in 2008, and it has grown continuously ever since; eleven thousand visitors showed up for its 2012 edition, not to mention the great attention it has also attracted both in the media and in the internet world. Just like every other year, the booths set up inside the Setar Hotel in Quartu will be more than one hundred fifty (150), and what you

are going to find in each of them is tattoo artists, piercers, sellers, music and clothing brands, producers and last but not least designers. This sardinian Convention is clearly becoming more and more important and of international acclaim, offering a 360-degrees overview of the tattoo art in all of its forms, for example from japanese tattoo designs to tribals, from the realistic style through traditional and figurative tattoos and finally to the contemporary and experimental tattoo styles, namely ‘’avantgarde’’ and ‘’graphic’’. There are many new names among the tattoo artists this year, but just as many are surely not unheard of, for they have participated in the previous editions and sometimes won the best tattoo contests.

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Also on the agenda, a seminary to examine in depth the techniques of realistic black and white tattoos, supervised by Matteo Pasqualin, a man considered among the best B&W tattoo artists on an international level; there will be a theory lesson with a following demonstration, to which both the artists participating in the Cagliari Convention but also the ones who will not, can nevertheless attend after booking.

His year for the first time,there will be a space dedicated to photography: in the meeting room there will be a chance to portrait both the public and the artists with the photographer Stefano Obino. The images will appear in the official picture gallery of the Cagliari tattoo convention page. Just like the the previous years’ editions, the best tattoo con-

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test will definitely be held during the final evening; thus, before the eyes of a selected jury, tattoos made in and out of convention will be showed and carefully analyzed. Categories are: tribal, japan, figurative, realistic and traditional; to follow, the final prizegiving.

Other than tattoos non-stop, there will also be several other kinds of entertainment. The events’ programme has recently been shown to the public and made official, and it includes live concerts, dj sets, theatre performances, dancing and stunts. Tormento’s show, along with the one of the artist Primo from the Cor Veleno, is actually long-awaited; he is a Calabrian rapper and producer, on the scene since the mid-nineties. Now let’s clear some space for the rock music; this year we will get to see sardinian band The Hearth And The Void, a neofolk solo project created by Enrico Spanu from Cagliari. Moreover, the rock band The Erotik Monkey will be on stage during the first day of the convention, Friday August the 23rd. A not-to-miss appointment with the hip-hop culture, scheduled for the second evening, will

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see Donnie and The Blatha Fam Crew, from Cagliari, opening for the great and unmissable show of Tormento and Primo. Along with this massive live show, there will be a breakdance performance put up by the DevastaKings. Outside of the Setar, in the open air, the artist Darbo will be there the first evening with his striking show of burning juggling ‘’Gocce di Fuoco’’, whilst during the last day a quite grotesque performance called ‘’A tua Insaputa’’ of the company Ditta Vigliacci will take place. As for the exhibition itinerary, the Tattoo Convention will also host ‘’Ulcere nere: interpretazioni di realtà distorte’’ by Andrea Pes; we will be introduced to a series of noir illustrations in computer graphics. Furthermore, motorcycles and vintage cars will also be a part of the exhibit, thanks to BobberCycles’ mechanics’s workshop, which you can find in Sestu (CA).

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This one time

in Lisbon

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Photos: Rose Richards Model: Nadia Domingos

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