Tattoo Blog

The Ink Art Tattoos Blog brings you the latest in tattoo news, cool tattoo products and more. Check back often for original articles about tattoos as well as links to great tattoo sites.

The Internet Is Fickle, Tattoos Are Forever

July 9th, 2010

chuck norris tattoo The Internet Is Fickle, Tattoos Are Forever

A while back, we made a list of tattoos based on internet fads. The Huffington Post recently made a list of their own, and they did a pretty good job of it. They found a few excellent internet meme tattoos we missed. Take, for example, the stunning Chuck Norris tattoo pictured above. Chuck Norris is so bad ass that if anyone ever questions that tattoo, the tattoo itself will kick their ass. They found a few others that we missed, but you’ll just have to click the link, and see them for yourself. The Chuck Norris tat refused to share this post with any other tats, and we didn’t want to make it mad.

Both our list and theirs raise a valid point. Before you get that fail whale tattoo, remember,  Twitter will be gone long before that tattoo, and one day, you’ll be stuck explaining what a “fail whale” is to your grand kids.


Tattoo Legend Herbert Hoffman Has Passed Away

July 6th, 2010

herbert hoffman 470x600 Tattoo Legend Herbert Hoffman Has Passed Away

We’re a little late to report this, but Needles and Sins reported back on June 2nd that Herbert Hoffman passed away at 91. Hoffman was famous for his anchor tattoos, and people traveled great distances just to get a signed Hoffman anchor. Hoffman also received a great deal of acclaim for his photography, and he had several photography books published, featuring both his subjects, and his subject matter. Hoffman was often referred to as a “friendship collector” and he was always willing to talk with, and befriend anyone who shared his passion for tattoos. Hoffman was legendary in the tattoo industry, and his death marks the end of an era. Herbert Hoffman, you will be missed.


Tattoos Have Been Around Longer Than You Thought

June 30th, 2010

mummy tattoos Tattoos Have Been Around Longer Than You Thought

Time for a pop quiz! When did the first truly awesome back tat show up? A hundred years ago? A thousand? Both wrong. Actually, it was kind of a trick question – we’re not exactly sure when the first sweet back tattoo appeared, but the two pictured above are from somewhere between the 3rd and 5th century BC. During a thorough examination, three mummies housed in the State Hermitage’s Department of Archeology of Eastern Europe and Siberia  were found to have some ink. The mummies were originally found in the Pazyryk barrows in Altai in the 1940′s, but the tattoos weren’t discovered until 2004.

The moral of the story here is to consider your tattoo carefully before getting it. You never know, in a thousand years, someone might be examining your remains, and judge you based on that Hello Kitty tattoo.


The Best Temporary Tattoos Ever

June 29th, 2010

ta ta toos The Best Temporary Tattoos Ever

Temporary tattoos aren’t just for kids anymore. They’re also not just for your bicep anymore. Ta-ta-toos are temporary tattoos specifically designed to go on a woman’s breasts, preferably just above the bra. The tattoos last about a week, and they sport a wide variety of phrases, including:

  • Happy Birthday
  • 100% Natural
  • Naughty/Nice
  • Just Married
  • Let’s Celebrate
  • Paid For
  • Missed You
  • Special Delivery
  • Guess What? I’m Pregnant

We especially like “Guess What? I’m Pregnant”. That would be one hell of a practical joke to play on someone, or possibly an easy way to break the news to the new father.


Get Out The Funny Looking Glasses, 3D Tattoos Are Here

June 28th, 2010

3d tattoo Get Out The Funny Looking Glasses, 3D Tattoos Are Here

3D is making a strong comeback, even though it means wearing those goofy looking glasses. 3D movies like Avatar have been huge hits at the box office, 3D televisions are becoming more and more common, and now, we even have 3D tattoos. That’s right, just put on a pair of 3D glasses, and these tats will appear to pop right out of your skin. We sincerely hope that 3D isn’t just a fad, because these tattoos are pretty awesome, and we’d love to see some more of them. If you’ve got one, why not tell us about it?


Mother Tattooed With Dead Son’s Ashes

June 24th, 2010

mother tattoo sons ashes Mother Tattooed With Dead Sons Ashes

Three years ago, Kim Mordue lost her son Lloyd to a fatal run in with the party drug GHB. Kim’s husband runs a tattoo parlor, and together they’ve found a way to deal with her grief with ink. Lloyd’s ashes have been mixed with tattoo ink, and used to give Kim a new tat. When asked about the tattoo, she had the following to say:

As soon as I knew it was possible, I wanted to have the ashes tattoos as a tribute to him. Now, he’ll be with me for the rest of my life.

The tattoo shows a cabala tree, an angel, and a poem dedicated to Lloyd’s memory. We’re honestly not sure whether this is a touching story, or a slightly morbid one… or maybe both. What do you think?


Cambridge University’s Museum Showcasing Samoan Tattoos

June 23rd, 2010

tattoo art exhibit Cambridge Universitys Museum Showcasing Samoan Tattoos

Anyone who watches Futurama knows that one day, people won’t be interested in any sort of art that isn’t tattooed on a fat guy. For now though, we’ll have to settle for an art exhibit called Tatau: Samoan Tattooing/Global Culture. The exhibit showcases the photography of one of New Zealand’s finest photographers, Mark Adams. Adams took a series of photos featuring tattoo art created by Paulo Sulu’ape, Samoa’s most famous tattoo artist. The exhibit is on display at Cambridge University’s Museum until September 25th.


The Best PETA Protest Ever

June 22nd, 2010

tattoed peta protest The Best PETA Protest Ever

On November 24th 2009, visitors to the Pitt Street Mall in Sydney Australia witnessed what may very well be the best PETA protest of all time. Tattooed model Dani Lugosi went for a stroll in the mall wearing nothing but a sign that said “Ink not mink” . Her goal was to draw attention to all of the hardship and suffering animals on fur farms go through just so people can have fur coats, but we’re guessing she actually drew more attention to what was underneath the sign then what was on it.


Go Green With A Solar Powered Tattoo

June 21st, 2010

Everyone is looking for new ways to go green, and save the planet. One clever tattoo artist managed to harness the awesome power of the sun to power his tattoo gun for a short time. While the solar powered tattoo gun didn’t last long, it did work just long enough to get through a small, simple tattoo. We look forward to future revisions on the design that allow for more longevity. Hey, the only thing better than getting a new tattoo is getting a new tattoo outside on a sunny day.


Got A Twilight Tattoo? Moviefone Wants To See It

June 17th, 2010

twilight tattoo edward cullen Got A Twilight Tattoo? Moviefone Wants To See It

If you lost a bet, and were consequently forced to get a Twilight-themed tattoo, you might be able to turn your misfortune into internet fame and fortune. According to an AOL Seed listing, Moviefone is looking for tattoos inspired by the Twilight Saga to publish on their site. If your tat is chosen, not only will you gain all the fame and glory that comes with being published on Moviefone (we don’t know just how much fame and / or glory that is, but we bet it’s a lot), but you’ll also score twenty bucks! So get out the camera, and start taking some pics. While you’re at it, why not send us a pic of your tattoo?