Tattooed by Tony

Tony D'Annessa is an older gentleman that tattoos at PSC in Montreal. According to him, he's the oldest and longest-working tattooer in Canada (about 53 years). Back in March I was in Montreal with a friend and had the pleasure of meeting and getting tattooed by Tony. At first he was all business and rather quiet. The small hummingbird flash I'd selected to fill an awkward space on my arm only took about 30 minutes from start to finish. After the tattoo was done I asked to take a picture and then Tony really opened up; told me a lot of interesting stories and showed me a bunch of cool stuff around his office. I think I stayed for about an hour just chatting. I won't recount all of it here because it would take forever and I want to leave some mystery... but I will describe the pictures.

But before I start here are some neat links...

*  PSC (Point St. Charles) is home to several high-caliber tattooers, check out their work here:

http://psctattoo.com

* There's a bio of Tony on the PSC website (I think I know what book it's scanned from but I'm not positive so I'll save myself the potential embarrassment of giving wrong information...):

http://psctattoo.com/?page_id=142

* And I also found this nice interview from TAM:

http://www.tattooartistmagazine.com/issue7/tonydanessa.html

OK.
So here's Tony and me and my triple chins.

Just finishing up. (Good thing he worked fast because this was a really uncomfortable position to hold my arm! Ha!)

There's a lot of cool stuff around Tony's work space. 

Here's plaque commemorating over 50 years of tattooing (which he has updated with a post-it note, 53 years now!) He also loves to fish - so there's a lot of fishing stuff around.

Tony's dad worked as a commercial artist doing fancy flourishes and filigree stuff. Tony does this stuff too but I think he said his dad did this one. Beautiful!

This book was on his shelf! It's from 1958. I've tried to find this book a few times - used copies are still available - if you want to pay over $300! 

If you go to the articles I linked to you will learn the story of the flash sheets on the roller blinds (after tattooing went underground in NYC). That huge sheet on the wall behind Tony is one of those very sheets!

Tony was kind enough to show me a lot of his drawings and also some scrap books. Here he is with some newspaper clippings of himself.

The young Tony/Henry

I thought it was really cool to see the picture of his forearm tattoo in his youth and as it is now (you can click on them to see them bigger). Tony said he got tattooed when he first started working and never since then. So his tattoos are all over 50 years old now. Some of them have nearly disappeared!

Another really neat thing was seeing all the old hand-cut acetates. Here's a cool Hot Stuff Devil.

I never quite understood how these things worked so Tony was kind enough to demonstrate. I chose one of my favourite old designs - the little boxer boy.

First, put some graphite dust on the acetate...

...and some vaseline on the spot to be tattooed...

...then stick the acetate on there...

... then work from the bottom-up and be careful not to swipe the image away (which can easily happen, as shown here)!!

(Part of me really wanted him to finish the job... but... I'm not quite ready for hand tattoos yet.)

This is the flash sheet that I picked my tattoo from. I didn't go in knowing what I would get, I just knew I wanted something small to fill a weird spot. I've never been that casual about a tattoo before. 

And here's the sweet little hum-dinger I walked away with!! I'm pleased as punch with it and can't believe how perfectly it fit in there!

Thanks as always for making it to the end of another post! If you want to get tattooed by an old-timer, you know where you can do it! Be sure to check out the work of the other guys at PSC!!

The Girl with the Diving-Girl Tattoo

As a birthday gift to myself I took a short trip to Toronto to visit some dear friends and also got a tattoo I've been thinking of for a while. 

Here's the new tattoo. 

She's an early version (1920s) of the famous "Red Diving Girl" logo of the Jantzen swimwear company. They were one of the first companies to make modern, lightweight swimwear - thereby revolutionizing swimming (especially for women). I think one of their early slogans was even something along the lines of "transforming bathing into swimming"... for which we're all grateful. 

The Jantzen website used to have a really great historical timeline but it seems to have disappeared... for now, check the wiki.

I forget what I was researching but when I stumbled across her about a half a year ago but my immediate thought was, "Now there's a get-up for swimming in Canada!" So even though she's the logo of an American company and a the toque/wool sock combo is totally impractical, to me this is a "Great Lakes swimmer". 

The word "tuffi" apparently means "water diver" in Italian... but I don't speak Italian so I'm not really sure. 

I'm not too worried if the translation is wrong, I just like the look of the word. I guess it's sort of become the diving girl's name/label, in my mind. You have to be tough after all, to swim in cold waters. And, metaphorically, you have to be tough/brave to dive into any unknown venture... or even to dive into life itself...

So I guess, as with many of my tattoos, this is sort of a "note-to-self". In this case, to be brave and dive in. And to toughen up a bit. But tough with a cute spelling... so "be tough" in sort of a gentle, light-hearted way. 

Where did I come across the idea for "Tuffi"? From the story of a circus elephant that got spooked on a suspended tram in Germany and jumped out a window. Luckily, he landed in water and escaped unharmed, living another 40 years under the moniker, "Tuffi"

In size and look, this tattoo balances nicely against the boxing girl on my other arm. As a piece of historical advertising, she balances out the Starr Skates (first hockey skates) logo on my other arm. 

She was done by Mike Bialek at New Tribe in Toronto. He's a swell guy who likes to tattoo classic, traditional flash. If that's what you're into, I fully recommend a visit.

drawing my own - plus some hockey talk

While I waited to hear about an illustration yesterday I started another painting of my own tattoos.

Here's the progress so far.

This figure-8 knot was done about a year and a half ago by Steve Baker in Guelph, ON. I think he did a really nice, clean job on it.

Not much to say about it: I like the look of knots (I used to be into tying fancy, decorative knots), I like the number 8, my sister-in-law was about to get married so I had the phrase "tying the knot" (and eternity) on my mind.

This one was done several years ago by Lydia Stalingrad in Halifax, NS. At the time I think she was a bit nervous about the smallish lettering but she did a great job - true to the feel of the old advert it came from.

This was sort of a memento of living in Halifax, to my love for hockey/hockey-history/Canadiana, and to my love for old advertising all wrapped up in one.

I don't play hockey... I did play soccer for a bit... but I've never been able to "get into" soccer (despite reading The Ball Is Round - which was a good read). The game is just too long and boring for me. There, I said it.

Hockey captures my attention on many levels. I'll happily admit that it's partly due to living in the province of its origin for 5 years and running into Sidney Crosby a few times. (I watched the Pens win the cup in Sid's boyhood arena - it was hilarious and cool.)

Anyway, I get attached to places via the history of those places and Halifax's and hockey's histories happen to be intertwined.

This little book made a good argument about Halifax-Dartmouth being the place where hockey really began. Also, it's a quick and informative read about hockey's interesting history. I recommend it.

I might get the little striped guy tattooed someday... maybe when the Pens win the cup again.

I thought this tidbit (or should I say "timbit"?) about the acrobatic influence of the goalies from the "coloured leagues" on the NHL was really interesting.

a friend, a tattoo, a painting

The other day I was surprised to find a comment on my FB wall from my friend Chris Hold (of Sacred Heart Tattoo in Vancouver) that said, "Your arm is famous."

It turns out Sacred Heart had been featured in Inked Magazine and a tattoo that Chris did on my arm during my recent trip to Vancouver was one of the pictures included in the feature.

Needless to say, I was chuffed - for Chris and for me. It was such a fun tattoo experience and I think he did a great job on it - I'm glad it's been commemorated in this strange way. It's good to see a friend doing well at what he loves. And this weird thing of having my disembodied arm in a glossy American magazine feels somehow like it connects me and Chris across the great divide of this huge country in a "what-are-the-odds?" kind of way...

I digress...

* So here is a picture of my (healed) arm beside a picture of my arm in a magazine. Meta-arm? Meta-magazine? It's meta-something I'm sure!

(I'll talk about the other tattoo another day because it is also a fun story.)

* My arm, with the tattoo Chris did, pointing at a picture of Chris. Gosh, this is getting complicated.

So, I have no "grand meaning" for this tattoo, but there are several layers to why I love it.

I basically just picked it out of a book called "Vintage Tattoos" because I knew I was going to Vancouver and I wanted to get tattooed by my old friend and I knew he liked doing old stuff.

It is from a poster by Joe & Mabel Darpel. I read their story and liked that they were a husband/wive tattooing team. Mabel (the name of our first cat coincidentally) had also been a knife-thrower which I thought was pretty bad-ass. They lived in Waco, Texas - where my husband has family. What I'm trying to say is, there were tonnes of small details that made them resonate with me.

The Darpels (I'm just guessing here) probably got the imagery from the "Mercury Dimes" that were around from 1916-1945. Contrary to the name, these dimes did NOT depict Mercury. They depicted the "mythological goddess Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap, a classic symbol of liberty and freedom, with its wings intended to symbolize freedom of thought." (I stole that from Wiki...)

(I need more "freedom of thought" in my brain so it seemed like a good image for me.)

I really enjoyed learning all the random historical bits associated with this tattoo, especially about the Phrygian Caps. They show up all over the place!

So anyway, I recently decided that I would draw/paint all my tattoos (for the drawing practice and to write down the stories that go with them)

So I started with my Liberty Lady...

* Here you can see the book she came from, my sketch, and the beginning of my final version (which I traced from my sketch).

* Here she is inked in black. I'm still trying to get a handle on using ink and spit-shading and all that. A few of the laurel leaves went so badly that I completely blacked them out. I was pretty frustrated by the inking going badly but I decided to press on and finish the thing. I sometimes quit too easily...

* Here's the mess on my desk.

* Here's the finished thing, glorious screw-up that it is.

(I mean that in a healthy way - I'm glad I actually finished it. I think it has some good points and some bad points... but the main thing is that I finished it.)

Thanks for looking. And thanks to Chris for the awesome tattoo.

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ASKing

I found the blurb below yesterday through tumblr. I think the person that posted it originally is maybe a transvestite? I'm not sure and don't really want to invest the time to figure it out right now... I just mention it because, if that is the case, then they probably have a lot of experiential wisdom to offer on the matter of getting to where you want to be in life.

(click here if it is cut off in your browser)

It is simple. So simple you might think you don't need be reminded of it... but you do. Or I do at least...

I've been thinking a lot about life/career goals lately - especially in light of my new family status (which I'm still getting used to and trying to be more open about - which is "involuntarily childless" by the way - as in, we wanted but can't have kids).

Anyway, my biggest problem in my life & career is always myself, getting in my own way with self-doubt and shyness and fears of failure. Possibly also fears of success...

I know there are A LOT of artists out there that are much better than me but I'm not afraid to admit that I'm a talented person with the potential to get much better.

I have talent but I often don't seem to have that fire in my belly that "great artists" have... the ones that create ceaselessly and with abandon. Or maybe I have a little flame but I'm very good at extinguishing it with my fears and insecurities. And let's not forget that for several years I've been trying to save room in my belly for something/someone else.

Anyway, it's warming up in there, in my belly. I'm working on something I have some passion for - which is fun. The biggest hurdle is going to be in about a month when I need to go out into the world and start asking people (who will probably still be strangers) to help me. I fear that. Hugely.

In response to this challenge and the blurb from tumblr I finally got around to hanging up these old sign letters in my house yesterday... as a daily reminder that I need to start ASKing - without fear of the answer "no"... because there is a chance that someone might eventually say "yes"... and that will be AWESOME!

(These letters used to be gold but I sprayed them white. I got them from the Re-Store in Guelph for $3 a piece... there were a few other letters available but this was the only word I could spell... signs and wonders?)

baby steps

Actually, I don't think these are even steps yet. I'm just crawling right now...

...but that's one way to get where you're going right?

I've started practicing some tattoo flash, trying to learn from the masters and all that. It's really different from the way I'm used to drawing - I've never really used ink or watercolour. I'm enjoying it but I know this stuff doesn't look very clean...

This stuff isn't great compared to some of the awesome flash I see on the internet however I don't think it's total shit either. I'm challenging myself to get better (faster) by posting my progress on the internet. Right now I'm just trying to figure out how to work with these new tools. I'll get better.

I'm pretty old compared to most people who dream of becoming a tattooist but this dream is well over a decade old now and if I don't go for it, I know I'll always regret it (in fact, I regret it already, not doing it earlier). It has taken me a long time to get wise to the fact that I'm not shackled to my conservative upbringing and can do what I want...

Anyway, as the old saying goes, "you're never too old..."

So finally, after asserting it quietly amongst my friends for a couple of years, I'm telling the world that I hope to become a tattoo artist. I want to do it the "proper" way with an apprenticeship and I've been saving my pennies to accommodate this... but I'm shy and I don't know any tattoo artists in this town yet.

But I'm willing to do the dirty work and the homework and the heavy-lifting for the chance to learn.

I'm responsible. I'm used to working with clients and deadlines. I'm shy and nervous about new things so I might seem "uncool" but I'm also earnest, likable, and fun. I'm loyal and helpful.

So... if you are someone or know someone who can help me with my quest, please get in touch. I'll help you in return.

*****

- Repaints of small Sailor Jerry flash.

- Merkaba based on part of a Chad Koeplinger tattoo (this was strictly for practice, I'm not trying to rip off any current tattoo artists...)

- Little Boxer from Stoney St. Clair.

- Roses from Tattoo Peter of Amsterdam.

- Horse head based loosely on Sailor Jerry.

- Horseshoe in Heart is a tattoo that my friend has on his leg, done by Bailey Hunter Robinson. It is based on very old military flash.

(FYI. I don't trace from the originals. I'm trying to train my eyes in terms of proportion... but I do trace from my own drawings when going from sketch to drawing.)

(Does anyone know if spit-shading is bad for your health?)

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on the horn with london

Totally out of the blue this morning an old friend skyped me from jolly ol' England - where she now resides. I was a little nervous when she first texted that she was going to call. We haven't talked in about 12(?) years, wouldn't it be horribly awkward?

But I was reassured from her very first giggle that it would be cool. Despite the "trans-atlantic" (as she calls it) accent she's developed she still laughs the same: a lot, infectiously, at the same stupid things I say, etc. We talked for an hour and it was really great. Our lives have progressed in alarmingly similar ways even though our careers and continents are so different.

She still inspires and challenges me. I'm still a little in awe of her - as I always was.

She felt bad that she was keeping me from work so I'm posting this doodle I did while we talked so she knows my hands were still busy.

This is a little boxer by the legendary "Stoney" from a Taschen book I have. I'll probably finish him on better paper, in ink, later on but for now I really DO have to get to work...