What are the different styles of sleeves if I can’t decide on one big tattoo? Hi anon! I’m super pumped about this question and I totally understand why you’re asking it. Though I do write from my own knowledge I also do research to fact check myself and make sure I’m not missing anything; and […]
Author: Gatekeeper
Hi there! I'm Taylor, you may know me as Sterling Skull reception, or gatekeeper, or most recently Tater (thanks Chris). I love writing, creating and I love tattoos; so what better way to use my passions than to bring you a personal experience of our studio via a blog! Welcome, please stay a while!
American Trad Pt 2: Bert Grimm
Bert Grimm is an important figure in American Traditional tattooing who lived from 1900-1985 and spent nearly 70 years tattooing. Grimm got into tattooing at a young age, he started hanging around shops in Portland around 11 and had his first tattoo machine in 1912. When he was 15 years old Bert ran away from […]
Reworks
Is it okay to rework an artists work that is currently not tattooing? The short answer is yes, especially for an older tattoo. As tattoos age they fade and wear with the skin (checkout an earlier post on why ink fades) so it is common for people to want reworks and touch ups down the […]
Tattoo Artwork
“Ok… So here’s some training wheels for tattoo clients. Your artist is absolutely not required to draw (work) for you for free. If your artist is kind enough to do this they have given you a gift. If they send you a preview they are making themselves extremely vulnerable. Requiring uncommunicated revisions on a piece […]
What’s the Deal With Watercolour?
This week we’re talking about a popular tattoo trend in the last few years, watercolour. Watercolour is a beautiful painting style that has transitioned into the tattoo world recently. Watercolour tattoos have soft fades, bright colours, ink drops/water splatter to make it look as if it was painted right onto the clients skin. Watercolour can […]
Dear Potential Tattoo Apprentices
Dear Potential Tattoo Apprentices, Generally a tattoo artist wont take on an apprentice without it being of benefit. The student must have a portfolio that exceeds the expectation of the mentor, and has to exhibit respect for the mentor, industry and the applicant must have work ethic and integrity. Most times the foot in the […]
American Traditional Part 1
American Traditional is a simple but complex style with a large history, so this is going to be a multiple part series. This week I’m going to start with the key characteristics and establish a foundation and then in coming weeks we will dive more into specifics and some different traditional images, people and history! […]
S week
March 9-13 This week at SSS has been busy, full of s’s and snakes. As you may or may not know winter is the slow season in our industry. Since the weather has been on the upturn (for the most part) we have been getting busier! It has been making my days go so fast […]
How Does Tattoo Ink Work, and Why Does it Fade?
In the Skin The Science When tattoo ink is injected into the second layer of skin, the dermis, it creates a wound. The wound initiates the body’s immune system. Macrophages are the first line of defense in the immune system and they rush to the area. Macrophages job when there is a wound or infection […]
Historical Figures and Their Tattoos
Throughout history tons and tons of people all over the world have gotten tattooed, no one is surprised there. You might be surprised though to learn about some historical figures who have tattoos. Starting at one of the earlier figures King Harold II. King Harold II was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, he reigned […]