Claire Reid – A Spiritual Life in Tattooing

Article by Travelin’ Mick

Photography by Claire Reid and Travelin’ Mick

Claire Reid must be one of the most inspired—and inspiring—artists around the tattoo world at the moment. Her work, heavily influenced by oil painting techniques, is easily recognizable for its luminous qualities, graceful use of mostly earthy pastel colors and sheer endless creativity. Reid is a true tattoo artist in the original sense, as well as a dedicated activist for several charitable causes.

This twenty-nine-year-old former art gallery owner, with a university degree in sociology, only started tattooing in 2005, but has already shot up into the ranks of those precious few tattooists who are widely respected among their peers as someone entirely dedicated to her cause.

Find the feature in its entirety in the June/July Anniversary issue of Skin&Ink.

On sale now!

By Vicki Botnick

Photography by Andrew Brusso

Since ancient times, Hawaiian hand-poked tattooing has been a facet of the native culture that not only adorns the skin but protects, heals and guides the wearer, as well as perpetuating and honoring his or her family line. Because of the spiritual and cultural importance of traditional tattooing, acquiring one is a long and thoughtful process involving genealogy, deep reflection, prayer and familial consent. And yet despite the crucial role that this process has played in the history of the Hawaiian people, as of forty years ago, it was barely being practiced.

Hawaiian Keone Nunes had grown up exposed to family members who still spoke the native language and elders who still remembered the tribal practices of their past. Although as a young man he thought that his knowledge of indigenous culture was something everyone knew, he soon realized that he held in his mind a treasure trove of national customs that were on the brink of being lost forever. With a strong sense that his heritage must be perpetuated, Nunes sought to learn all he could about traditional tattooing, to practice it and pass on his expertise.

Even as a child he was learning about his culture, but it wasn’t until adulthood that he chose to become steeped in it. After one financially draining year of school in the continental U.S., Nunes returned to Hawaii. While other young men hit the nightclubs, he would sit at the feet of his elders, soaking up their first-hand remembrances.

Read the rest of this amazing feature in the June/July issue of Skin&Ink…on sale now!

The four finalists in the Win $500.00 Towards Your Dream Tattoo Contest were announced in the June/July 2012 issue of Skin&Ink. Now it’s your turn to vote for the grand prize winner.

Just click on the banner on the right side of the homepage to take another look at the finalists and their dream tattoo stories. The vote for the finalist that you would mode like to see received $500.00 towards the tattoo of their dreams.

Thank you for voting and wish wish the best for all four finalists!

Skin&Ink June/July 2012

ON SALE NOW!!

Cristal Bavaro

Hometown/current location: Born and raised in Redondo Beach,CA, but I’m a Reno, NV gal for life. Occupation/career :piercing apprentice, wholefoods market associate and professional tattooed model.  Website:modelmayhem.com/304616 Facebook.cristal.bavaro.com Photographer: Bill Larkin

See more of Cristal in the April/May 2012 issue of Skin&Ink. On Sale Now!

Carl Grace

By Sam Paul

To look at a tattoo done by Carl Grace is to look at a work of art. His hauntingly realistic black-and-gray tattoos contain a level of detail and reflect a level of mastery that sometimes make it hard to believe that they were done on the skin with a tattoo machine. It is even harder to believe that Grace has only been tattooing professionally for three years. In those years, he has crisscrossed the country perfecting and honing his skills and making a name for himself in the tattoo industry. Last year, Grace traveled to twenty-eight shows. When he’s not working the convention circuit, Grace divides his time between shops and coasts, working at The Painted Bird in Boston and now at a newly established shop, 7 Ink, in Las Vegas.

Read the rest of the Artist Spotlight feature on Carl Grace in the April/May issue of Skin&Ink. On Sale Now!