The all-seeing eye, the eye of providence, the eye of god, etc.  All of these terms refer to one simple symbol, an eye in a triangle with rays of light coming out of it.  Most Americans see it every day on the back of the dollar bill.  Popular culture has convinced us that it is a Masonic symbol (I’m looking at you Nic Cage).  Regardless of the name and where it is located, it always means the same thing, an eye that sees everything.  Who the eye belongs to is open to interpretation, but for this particular eye, it belongs to a client of Nick Bertioli.  Nick was doing a guest spot at Exxxotic Tattoo in Paris when he was asked to create this eye, and according to him, he had a lot of fun while doing it.  Hopefully we’ll see more from Nick’s travels soon.

So Monday night I was out at the bar with some friends and we were talking about just how difficult it can be for female tattoo artists to be taken seriously, especially at the beginning of their careers.  One friend in particular talked about how at one of the first studios she worked at, the owner would call her “Tits McGee” and ask her to take part in wet-t-shirt contests to promote the shop.  To think that we’ve come so far as a civilization that the idea of a female president is a topic of serious discussion, yet female tattoo artists still have to work twice as hard just to be recognized for their talent and not their “assets”.  Jackie Rabbit from Star City Tattoo in Roanoke, VA is another artist who, like my friend, had to work her ass off to be taken seriously as an artist.  So when a client came into the shop and requested a Rosie the Riveter tattoo it meant a lot to her.  Here’s what Jackie had to say.

I dont know the significance this tattoo has for its owner but I know it has a lot of meaning to me and was very proud to do this classic symbol of female strength. It can be very hard to feel strong in the “boys club” that is the tattoo industry. It has gotten better over the years but that isnt saying much. I got my apprenticeship at 14 and was second chair by 16. When I struck out into the world and started traveling I found it very hard to be taken seriously when in most studios (particularly at the time) the only place for a woman was as shop girl eye-candy. It has been a struggle to be seen for my work instead of my sex and my age. I have now found a wonderful studio where I am comfortable and respected. I may still be the youngest and only girl in the studio but all that matters is my personality and my work. I love you Roger and all the Star City crew. Im so glad that I have finally found a forever home <3

Every year the gang at BMXnet.org get together to hold their annual conference.  This year’s conference is being held in Essen, Germany the weekend of October 14th, with events starting on Thursday Oct 13th.  There are still a number of spots available, so if you’re able to attend, register as soon as you can.

The list of classes hasn’t been posted yet, but going by the speaker list, you can expect seminars from the likes of Allen Faulkner, Steve Haworth, Ron Garza, Dan Dringenberg, Havve and Christiane from Wings of Desire, Gabor Zagyvai, Swasi Dan, Paul King, and many many more.   This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from some of the world’s finest modification artists, at a reduced rate.  Because admission gets you into all of the classes, you’ll be able to see seminars that would normally cost quite a bit individually.  These seminars are all on top of the regular classes on everything from piercing techniques to anthropology, laser tattoo removal to store management, and so much more.  In addition all classes will be offered in both English and German.

In addition there will also be a large number of vendors and exhibitors, your food is included in the price, and you’ll get to stay at the wonderful Unperfekthaus, a former convent turned into an art project house.

Just click here to register, and start packing your bags for Germany.  Oh and while you’re waiting, check out some of the stories that have come from past BMXnet conferences.

She has her make-up on, her hair did, and with that vertical labret in place, Nixiie is off to the prom.

A client walked into Brandon “Fox” Layng’s studio, Fox Tattoo Designs in Bowmanville with a photo of a painting.  The only thing he said was that it was “The exact moment everything changed”. Since doing the tattoo Brandon has looked high and low as to the origins of the original piece, so if you recognize it speak up, as he’d like to know a bit about the painting he reproduced.

It what appears to be a part of a suspension performance, the Abyss Crew from Russia creates a fantastic looking crucifixion suspension.  The first photo in particular is striking as you can almost see the cross that he’s nailed to.  The second photo, while not possessing the religious weight of the first, does show a better view of the placement of the hooks.

That is the question.  The human question.  Much like this human question hand-poked piece by Max Harris.  Given Hamlet’s famous soliloquy is about him questioning his own life, and contemplating what happens after death, it really works well with this design.  Taking a look at these lines, you can see how the figure not only appears as a question mark, but also as a man ascending in a resurrection pose, an image linked to both death and rebirth.

To die, to sleep;
To sleep, perchance to dream – ay, there’s the rub:
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause – there’s the respect
That makes calamity of so long life.

Well, if the science behind magnets confuses you, Nilrem is here to help you explain just how these miracles work.

The magnets themselves are a couple of years old, but recently Nilrem went to visit Tom C from Broadway Tattoo Lounge in South Amboy, NJ to get the magnetic fields added.  What’s great is that instead of just getting black lines, he ended up getting blue UV ink.  And with UV ink comes the obligatory black light photo.

You can see how fresh they are by the little splashes of ink that haven’t been cleaned up yet.

So not only is he showing how magnets work, he’s also showing off even more sciencey goodness with the UV ink.

It’s been too long since I put up a BMEBoy, so to rectify that, here’s a gratuitous photo of Nail from Hungary.

If you can’t make it out, the script on his chest reads “Modified Lifestyle“.

So happy together!

If the distinct style didn’t give away the artist, the watermark definitely did.  This is the handiwork of Budapest’s own Gabor Zagyvai.  This piece in particular can be found in the cartoon and comic tattoo gallery.