INK SLINGERS
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! S T S I T R A T S E T A E R G Dmitriy Randy
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33 CONTENTS
06 Dmitriy Samohin Randy Engelhard 16 22 Alex De Pase Freddy Negrete 34 42 Mike DeMasi Moni Marino 50 60 Boris George Mavridis 68 74 Bob Tyrrell London Reese 82 90 Andy Engel Murran Billi 98 106 Kamil Mocet
Ink Slingers is quickly becoming the threshold for getting a glimpse at the work of some of the world’s most talented tattoo artists. However, even with that being tried and true, this issue will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest ever! It was a cold February night down on NYC’s Lower East Side when I ran into Billy Burke as he was about to duck into one of the city’s newest speakeasies. "Hey, why don’t you do a special issue with all the artists we have signed up with INTENZE?" Billy asked. However, before I could answer, he had a straight edge at my throat and growled, "Maybe this will help make your decision?" Okay, you know that’s BS. We have been bugging Billy (and James) for ages to help coordinate this epic issue. Well, just as we suspected, we ended up with a murderer’s row of artists from all over the world. This is some jaw-dropping, eye-popping, heartthumping work right here…and it spans from cover to cover. Feast your eyes and satiate your ink thirst on the works of worldrenowned artists like Alex De Pase, Andy Engel, Bob Tyrrell, Boris, Mike DeMasi, Randy Engelhard, George Mavridis, Billi Murran, Moni Marino, London, Freddy Negrete, Kamil Mocet, and Dimitry Samohin. C’mon, where have you seen a better collection of great artists in any one magazine? Answer…Nowhere! Enjoy The Editor PUBLISHER
Christopher Perretta
EDITOR IN CHIEF ART DIRECTOR MANAGING EDITOR
Paul Gambino Frank Cafiero Emmanuel Ureña
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION Evan Honig PRODUCTION MANAGER CIRCULATION DISTRIBUTOR
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Ink Slingers (ISSN 1949-2898), #33 Published monthly, under license, by Loki Publications, Inc. Contents copyrighted © 2013. All rights reserved. Nothing herein may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission of the publisher. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and photographs if they are to be returned, and publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Any similarity between people and places in this magazine and any real people and places is purely coincidental. People appearing in this magazine are models, except where otherwise noted, and are used for illustrative purposes only and neither the photos nor words used to describe them are meant to depict model’s actual conduct, statements and personalities. All letters and photographs send to the publisher will be treated unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to publisher’s right to edit and comment editorially. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any advertisements or any representations made therein including, but not limited to, the quality or deliverability or the products or services advertised. PRINTED IN THE CANADA.
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Article By Clive Young
rguably the most proficient tattooist to come from the Ukraine, Dmitriy Samohin transforms the human body into a breathing canvas. Religious motifs, wildlife, animation, and demonic imagery challenge the eye to decipher art from the living when this native of Odessa puts ink to skin. INK SLINGERS: Your ability to create realistic portraits on skin is almost unparalleled. Can you talk about your artistic background and the training you underwent to become such a proficient portrait tattooer? Dmitriy Samohin: I am a self-taught artist whose skills come from years of practice and hard work. My focus has always been tattooing, painting, and sketching. I learn through repetition, which is where I gain experience. I feel strongly that mistakes made are lessons learned. My desire to improve is always there. Portraits are the most difficult in any medium. I enjoy them because they are complicated and difficult. That is why I like them the most. They challenge me
and that makes me focus and try harder. You are an Intenze Artist. Can you talk about the work you have done with Mario Barth and his ink company? Intenze Ink is quality ink with lots of color varieties. It is my opinion that the ink quality is superior. Intenze is the only ink I use for my tattoo work. Being associated with Intenze is something I find of value in my career as an artist. Mario Barth and I met during conventions. Moving into the future, I have a desire to remain working with all the other Intenze artists. It’s a great bunch of people who demand and produce quality work. You are equally skilled in black and grey as well as color work. What do you see as the advantages and challenges of working in color as opposed to black and grey? I like to work in color and in black and grey. Color work, however, is more difficult, more complex, and takes more time than black and grey. The technique to apply color work is totally different. Color work needs more healing time than black and grey. People who know me see a theme in everything I do. I like challenges. Being able to work with different pictures or designs, whether in color or in black and grey, is what makes my work enjoyable. Mixing it up keeps it interesting. I like both, but need the
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change. I will always be trying new things. Being able to do both helps keep me a satisfied artist. You have done some brilliant large pieces and full back tattoos. Do you get more fulfillment from working on large-scale pieces or from having to fit a lot of detail and shading into a smaller piece? The size of the piece does not make it more or less enjoyable. I like the large and small size pieces. As mentioned in a previous question, it is change that is important and keeps my work interesting. Details can be made alive in every piece. To express them in a tattoo, small or large, is what I like to do. The more detail, the better, whether small or large.
CONTACT INFO: Dmitriy Samohin facebook.com/DmitriySamohin INK SLINGERS
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Article By Gerard Haze attooing for over 12 years, Germany’s Randy Engelhard has established himself as a master of realism in both Europe and the U.S. His bold, striking colors and line work make Randy’s pieces instantly identifiable, and have turned this artist into one of the most in-demand slingers on the American convention landscape. INK SLINGERS: We see you at a lot of conventions. How has traveling and spending time with other great artists made you a better tattooer? Randy Engelhard: Conventions are great because of the competition; there is a constant compulsion to get better and better. If I win a contest, there is a good feeling that comes with being the best artist among other great artists. How did you get hooked up with Mario Barth and the Intenze brand?
I’m really pleased to be an Intenze Artist. For me, Intenze has the best colors and the biggest selection of different colors. I’m really thankful to be sponsored by Intenze and my relationship with them is great. You are well known for the amazing color work you do. What have you learned about working in vibrant colors over the years that continues to help you grow as an artist? Because of my journeys through the world, and all of the meetings I’ve had with other great artists, I am able to improve my techniques. And, the Intenze colors help me a lot because of the many color tones of the inks. How are things going at your Heaven Of Colours studio? At our shop, everything is good. Everybody is happy to make beautiful tattoos every day. I am very proud of the work we do at Heaven of Colours, and I want to invite everyone to come out and see what Heaven of Colours is all about. What is the best way to contact you for an appointment? You can contact me, or any other artist at Heaven of Colours by going to our website. You can email us any time you’d like, and you can always call the shop to try and set something up.
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CONTACT INFO: Randy Engelhard
heavenofcolours.de/en/ 24 INK SLINGERS
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Article By Clive Young orn and raised in Italy, Alex De Pase has set many of the standards by which portrait slingers are judged since the turn of the 21st Century. As a teacher of tattoo art, Alex is cofounder of the World Wide Tattoo Conference–a traveling movement organized to educate people about skin art, and advance the cause of tattooing to become recognized and accepted as a true “art form.” INK SLINGERS: There is a definite signature style to much of the work you do. How would you best describe that style? Alex De Pase: What I’m looking for in my tattoos is to find the best realistic effect and atmosphere, taking care of all the details. I keep researching to reach the right skin tone
when talking about portraits, of course, in order to achieve the most natural and soft tone as possible. Also, I think there is a lot more to do in this style, especially thinking about comparing tattoos to the other art forms like airbrush or oil painting. There still is margin for improvement, and this is one of the biggest things that makes me love the style I’m trying to do. It makes me stay in a sort of never-ending story where I’m pushed to try to do something more. How did you come to be an “Intenze Artist?” What is it about Intenze products that made you choose to work with this ink line? Becoming an “Intenze Artist” has been a real honor for me. I was asked about two years ago, and I immediately took the chance to be part of this amazing team. Nowadays the tattoo industry runs around the sponsorship, and it looks like every artist is ready to accept any kind of product just to put the logo of the brand on the banner at the convention, but to me this is not that. I choose to be part of Intenze because I trust the products and I’ve been using them for a long time. The colors guarantee a perfect stability and I’m sure about the result long after it heals.
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You have also worked as a teacher or instructor with newer tattoo artists. What do you believe are the most important things that a developing artist needs to know in order to become successful in this business? In my opinion, the real goal in this business is to be able to live as an artist and be free to decide what piece of art you want to do. To get to this point is not easy, but it’s possible. Studying, having the right attitude and mentality is the key. I work also as a teacher and speak at the World Wide Tattoo Conference, but I also keep on learning. I’m always interested in attending other artists’ seminars every time I have the opportunity. The more you want, the more you’ll have. Do you work American conventions? How can our readers find out where you will be, and how they can lock down sessions with you? I normally work in the U.S. once or twice a year. Just follow me on Facebook or check my website to know where and when my upcoming dates are, then send me an email. I collect all of the requests, and about a month before the shows, I choose the most interesting project to work on. So stay tuned and be open-minded for cool ideas.
CONTACT INFO: Alex Depase alexdepasetattoo.com facebook.com/alexdepasetattoo
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Article By Mannie Pendexter he fine-line black-and-grey style of tattoo – which originated in California’s penal system – has become one of the most prevalent styles in the world. Los Angeles, CA, artist Freddy Negrete is credited for perfecting the timeless style, and bringing it from behind the bricks to the entire world. During a stint in a juvenile detention center when he was 16-years-old, Negrete was fascinated by all of the tattoos he saw on a fellow inmate. Although Negrete was already tattooed – with a full sleeve by the age of 12 – he never really thought about picking up a tattoo machine and attempting to master the art up to that point. Armed with a homemade machine fashioned from cassette player motors, guitar strings and batteries, the self-taught artist ventured into tattooing. Negrete was tattooing in there for three years, and every day he was getting closer to perfecting his art.
After he was released, Negrete was tattooing out of his apartment. Word of his work reached Jack Rudy who was working for Charlie Cartwright at Good Time Charlie’s Tattooland in East L.A. At the time, there was a growing demand for black and grey – or prison style art – in the area. Negrete’s opportunity came when Ed Hardy bought the shop from Cartwright. Hardy hired young Negrete to supply his skills in the popular prison style. The rest is history. As an Intenze Artist, Negrete continues to deliver the style of tattooing – often dubbed as Chicano style – that made him a legend in the industry. His fine lines, coupled with his shading work, give the tattoos a more realistic, threedimensional effect, preventing the pieces from looking flat and boring. Negrete’s art has been featured in countless publications and has even landed him gigs in the Make-Up Departments of feature film productions such as Con Air (tattoo designer), Blade (tattoo designer), Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (body makeup), and Blood In, Blood Out (tattoo designer). In the latter, he even made an appearance on-camera. How badass is that? Today, Negrete can be found tattooing at Mark Mahoney’s Shamrock Social Club in Hollywood, CA. You can call up the shop to make an appointment, or
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to find out if Negrete will be hitting a convention near you. You can also check out more of his work on his Instagram (@freddy_negrete). Shamrock Social Club 9026 W. Sunset Strip Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90069 310.271.9664
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Article By Clive Young
n exceptional portrait artist, Mike DeMasi feels most at home when working in the style of realism. The California slinger lists Tony Olivas and Jack Rudy among his influences, and DeMasi pays it forward by creating work that continues to inspire the latest generation of artists who strive to match his skills and work ethic.
INK SLINGERS: You have a reputation for doing amazing portrait work. What would you say is the key to mastering portraiture as a tattooer? Mike DeMasi: I believe there are so many keys to mastering portraiture in tattooing. To be completely honest, I don’t believe I have mastered it yet. I always see things to improve on. I guess when I believe I’ve mastered it, it’s time to do something else. But some important keys to touch on would be: one–finding the right picture; having a good reference is definitely cru-
cial to make the best tattoo. Two–choosing the right colors for the piece, and knowing where to place those colors. Three–placement of the portrait. This is super important and often overlooked. Placing the portrait on the body can be tricky, because unlike canvas or paper, the body is round and made of different shapes and sizes. So when placing the piece on skin, we have to be careful not to place it in an area where the piece will distort. Four–make sure to pay extra attention to the detail in the eyes. If these basic principles are followed, you should be able to make successful portraits. Last but not least, trust the process! Just believe in what you’re doing. You are an Intenze Artist. Can you talk about the work you have done with Mario Barth and his ink company? It’s definitely no secret Mario (Barth) has been one of the biggest influences in my career and personal life. He’s changed my life in many ways. I’ve been working with Intenze for some time now, and every day I still feel more and more honored to be part of the Intenze team. Mario has built an amazing Intenze family, not just the artists representing the company, but all the amazing people behind the scenes. I would consider some of these folks to be my best friends. Together, myself and the Intenze team have developed my own ink sets, and I couldn’t be more proud. The first set that’s out now is my color portrait set, 19
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colors designed to help achieve a realistic color portrait. Some stuff we can’t talk about because, once again, Intenze is going to revolutionize the ink industry. But I can tell you, I’ve been working with a new set coming out soon. It’s called the Flesh Set, and the ink has been done for a while. I’ve been working with it and pushing it as far as I can, making changes here and there till we get it just right. Now I’m happy to say it’s right, and I couldn’t be more proud of what we have created. Right now, the design team and I are working on the packaging. We share the same vision, and just want it to be perfect before we release it to the world. As you mature as an artist, does it become harder or easier to stay inspired and challenge yourself to grow? Man, that’s a tough one. It’s definitely become harder instead of easier. I’m fortunate enough to have surrounded myself with people that inspire me on a daily basis, and that definitely makes me grow as an artist. Some say I’ve become a hermit and hide under a rock, because I don’t go out much anymore. But man, that’s so far from the truth. I feel like I’ve never worked harder in my life. There are so many shows nowadays, but I’m just picky about the ones I choose. I’m constantly working on something and always trying to improve myself, not just artistically, but mentally and physically as well. It’s definitely not easy, but it’s worth it. I’m definitely a family man, and I’m focused on my family first. They are my biggest inspiration. What is the best way to contact you for an appointment? You can find me at Art Junkies Tattoo in Hesperia, CA. Ask for Robin [laughs]! She’s our shop manager.
CONTACT INFO: Mike Demasi artjunkiestattoos.com mikedemasi.com 48 INK SLINGERS
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Article By Razor Leary ith two decades of tattooing experience to her name, Monica (Moni) Marino’s portrait and photorealism ink work have made jaws drop on five continents. Along with flawless skills, Moni’s flair for highly imaginative takes on traditional themes have garnered the respect and admiration of both seasoned collectors and her ink-slinging peers. INK SLINGERS: If you had to pick one tattoo that you have done that best represents you as an artist, what would that piece be? Monica Marino: The tattoo I’ve done that best represents me as a tattoo artist is the realistic portrait of a cat with a blue flower. Taking eight hours of work, this tattoo with the Intenze colors is particularly studied in details, especially the spherical eye, which gives the tattoo a realistic effect.
As an Intenze Artist, can you talk about what benefits the Intenze ink line brings to your tattoo work? The use of Intenze colors is essential in my work. The infinite range of colors stimulates my imagination and the desire to create a tattoo more and more beautiful and detailed. The consistency of the colors is perfect and they allow you to work with more ease and safety. The tattoos also heal with vivid and bright colors, and they maintain their fresh look. What do you rely on in the machines you use in order to attain the great detail your work is known for? The choice of the machine and the needles is essential to achieve extremely small details. I work with the Cheyenne Hawk, the most accurate machine that I have used until now. The great thing is that this machine does not need to be adjusted. It’s so easy. What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in your career? The biggest challenge I faced in my career is the one with myself. I don’t ever think that I have arrived at the destination; the challenge continues every time I start to make a new tattoo. I always try to do even better than last time, and that is a con-
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tinuous challenge. For me, tattooing is a process of continuous growth without limits. What is the best way for potential clients to get in touch with you? I travel frequently to allow customers from other countries to be able to be tattooed by me. When I have free time for appointments, I share my e-mail address and new customers can write to contact me. I also always inform through Instagram and Facebook the dates of my guest spots or tattoo conventions which I participate in.
CONTACT INFO: Moni Marino facebook.com/pages/MONI-MARINO-TATTOOARTIST/140946925977945
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SLIN INGGERS
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Article By T.K. Whelton
any tattoo experts and journalists consider Boris of Hungary to be the all-around top slinger on the international tattoo scene today. He is most noted for his fantasy and realism work, and his clientele often travel across the globe to visit his shop in Austria or catch up with him at one of his frequent convention bookings. INK SLINGERS: You have become a master of many styles of tattooing. For you, what has been the most challenging theme or style to master? Boris: First of all, thank you for thinking of me this way. I really tried to find the style that could satisfy my desire for challenges. I have found it in realism and fantasy. How has using Intenze products contributed to the quality of the tattoo work you do? Since I have been using Intenze since it appeared on the market, I could say that, compar-
ing it to other products on the market, it has helped me to work faster and nicer. The inks also make tattooing technically easier. The richness, brightness, and intensity of colors were also appealing. After using them for more than a decade, I see they are also long-lasting. We also see you at almost all of Mario Barth’s conventions. How would you describe your working relationship with Mario and his team? My relationship with Mario goes back to the ‘90s. I didn’t know him personally yet; only his work was familiar to me. I considered him a great tattoo artist and, since he founded Intenze, I see he’s not only a professional as a tattoo artist, but as a businessman. He gathered a very great team around him with whom it’s not only easy, but also a pleasure to work. Having accomplished as much as you have, how do you continue to challenge yourself and grow as an artist? Just like every artist, I also have periods when I focus on a certain thing. I immerse myself in it and try to work with it the best way possible. Because I do only tattooing as an art, I have one thing that keeps my mind occupied–it is the flow of the human body. And, with its certain equalities, each person is
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still very different, and this brings variety into my work. How can people find out what conventions you will be attending, and how can they set up appointments with you? The conventions I attend are regularly posted on my website about six months in advance. My Facebook and Instagram sites show the actual conventions where I participate. Those who email me will be directed or/and scheduled by my assistants. Since my customers have been coming from all over the world for ten years now, appointment scheduling is also done through email at
[email protected].
CONTACT INFO: BORIS boristattoo.com facebook.com/Boristattoo instagram.com/Boristattoo
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Article By Dez Ward eorge Mavridis learned to tattoo as a teenager in Greece. Over a long and accomplished career, Mavridis has become one of his homeland’s most successful artists and shop owners. His work falls into classifications ranging from Biblical to erotic, and then there are pieces that defy any label at all. The common threads in his tattooing are line work and shading that often help his art to walk the line between two and three dimensions. INK SLINGERS: I read where you described yourself as a “man suffocated by art.” Can you explain that? George Mavridis: I don’t feel suffocated by art, I feel suffocated by people who stress me out, like always asking for tattoos even if I don’t have time. Anyway, I got used to it.
You are an Intenze artist. Can you talk about the work you have done with Mario Barth and his ink company? Something like a year ago, Intenze honored me by asking me to be one of their sponsored artists. It has been my honor because I believe that Intenze is a pioneer and top company in ink. Although I don’t have a lot of personal relations with Mario, I totally believe that he is one of the strongest and most powerful people in the tattoo scene. You are a self-taught tattooer. How would you say not getting traditional training has aided you in developing your unique style as an artist? I am a self-taught artist in general. I learned to paint on my own, and I am still progressing. One can see by your work that you have a very unique and vivid imagination. What would you say have been some of your greatest influences as far as shaping the style and imagery you create? My life has been my biggest influence. What is the best way to contact you for an appointment? You can book through my personal fan page on Facebook. I don’t have any specific requirements apart from two things: I want both me and my clients to agree on the tattoo that we are going to paint, and I want them to be kind, as I am as well.
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Article By Mark Robbins hances are if you are a regular attendee at the major U.S. and European conventions, you have a “Bob Tyrrell” story to tell. To see this Motor City Master work live and in person is a must-have experience for every ink fanatic. His portrait works on skin and canvas are incredible to behold, and Tyrrell credits his personal ink line from Intenze for enabling him to achieve the shading, detail and color combinations that are trademarks of his tattoo work. At Mario Barth’s conventions you’ll find Tyrrell stationed with fellow legends
and Intenze Artists. Tyrrell always makes time to chat and take photos with fans, collectors and admirers in between sessions, and he never shies away from offering advice and tips to any up-andcoming ink slingers. Tyrrell names Paul Booth as his biggest artistic inspiration. His list of influences, however, run the gamut from Jack Rudy and Filip Leu, to Deano Cook and his father, Robert J. Tyrrell. For those who are looking to make their dream of getting tattooed by Bob Tyrrell come true, you can get his full guest spot and convention schedule at his official website. There is also an appointment request page on the site to help you connect with Tyrrell while he’s on the road.
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CONTACT INFO: Bob Tyrrell
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Article By Razor Leary ondon Reese is a fast rising West Coast slinger with a fine arts background that helps keep him at the top of his game as a tat artist. Anyone who has ever booked time with London knows that the end result will be a one-of-a-kind piece of body art that is guaranteed to impress and is made to last. INK SLINGERS: You spend a lot of time on the road at conventions and guest spots here and abroad. How would you say that working on the road so much has contributed to your growth as a tattooer? London Reese: Traveling is one of my favorite things to do. I find it very important to change my surroundings—both physical and mental. Environmental change is very freeing. It allows me to find new inspiration and social interaction that I don’t experience any other way. Doing conventions in various
locations, all over the nation and world, is incredibly enlightening and powerful. Seeing the work of fellow artists in person, as opposed to on my computer monitor or iPhone, is amazing. It allows me to see every detail and gradation with perfect and untouched clarity. It pushes me to look at tattoos and art differently, which directly influences my technique and attitude toward my art. Aside from tattooing, you are very accomplished in other art mediums. Do you believe that training in other art mediums has helped you develop as a tattoo artist? I have been drawing since I was two-years-old and have been dabbling in all sorts of mediums ever since. More recently, I’ve been enjoying oil painting and charcoal media. I definitely see a connection between my drawing, painting, and tattooing. My color schemes in each medium certainly reflect and influence each other. I think versatility is important and I’m always pushing myself so that all of my work is constantly progressing. How did you get involved with the Intenze brand, and what has using Intenze products brought to the art you put to skin? Intenze ink was one of the first lines of pigment that I tried, years ago, and I fell in love with it. It stood out early on compared to others I had tried prior. A friend and mentor,
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Mike DeMasi, reintroduced me to the brand and newer colors that had been developed a couple years ago, and I fell in love with it all over again. I have noticed the fluidity of the pigment allows me to smoothly and quickly apply the color to skin. The results are really what define the quality for me, though. Clients come back with brighter, smoother, and stronger tattoos. I love this stuff. I can achieve visual effects and tones with Intenze that I cannot with any other brand. I stand proudly behind it. Where is your home base now, and how can people who want some work get in touch with you? I am now back home in Orange County, working at Vatican Studios in Lake Forest, California. The best way to get in touch with me is to email us at
[email protected] or call the Vatican.
CONTACT INFO: London reese theartoflondon.com 88 INK SLINGERS
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Article By Dez Ward ecognized as one of the most versatile and gifted tattooers in the body art scene in his native Germany, Andy Engel is quickly becoming a world-renowned ink master. Constant touring on the convention circuit and masterful ink work have enabled Engel to take his place among the leading artists of the modern era. INK SLINGERS: You are known for your mastery of many tattoo styles. However, which styles of tattooing are you most drawn to as an artist? Andy Engel: I like to work in every style, but my favorite is absolutely all kinds of realism, like portraits, horror and skulls. Is there a secret to being able to achieve that “lifelike” three-dimension and texture that we find in much of your ink work? Or is it simply a matter of practice and determination?
I just try to work as close as I can on the photo, and try to find a way to make the tattoo look alive and not too clean. For American collectors who want to get work from you, at what U.S. conventions are we most likely to find you working? I like the convention in New Jersey (Inked Out) a lot. It’s so nice and so much fun! I also like the Las Vegas show (Biggest Tattoo Show On Earth) as well as the Hell City show in Ohio. But, I will definitely try to work more in the States next year, and maybe some guest spots here and there. As an Intenze Artist, what can you tell us about Intenze products and how they contribute to the quality of your art? I like all of the Intenze colors. Their colors make my life so much easier. The healing is great and the color stays very good in the skin over many years. Also, my Intenze color set–I love to work with those colors, I especially love my flesh tones and my mixing. It’s just very easy to work with them. I can tell you that my color work is much better since I began using Intenze colors. You also do work with breast reconstruction art. How did you get into that work, and what sense of fulfillment do you get from helping breast cancer patients? I got into that work because a woman asked me many times if I could help her with that problem. So I did it, and the feeling I had as she was looking in the mirror was amazing. She was so happy, and I was, too, because she had a really
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bad time with many surgeries. And now, she was happy after all the bad times. It just feels great for me to help clients like her.
CONTACT INFO: Andy Engel andys-tattoo.com
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Article By Gerard Haze
his native of St. Tropez, France, has been tattooing for over a decade. Although Murran Billi is not one to shy away from color work, he has established himself as one of Europe’s truest masters of the black-and-grey discipline. Murran says the best way to describe his style is, “Realism, while adding a renaissance touch in a modern version.” In order to get the shading and boldness of his works in both black-and-grey and color, Murran has worked long and hard with the brain trust at Intenze to develop an ink line perfectly suited for the style for which this artist is best known.
When asked how he continues to expand his artistic horizons and keep from resting on his laurels, Murran says he draws inspiration from interactions with contemporaries. Jess Yen, Nikko Hurtado, Boris, and Carlos Torres are among the artists within Murran’s network of influences. When not occupying chairs across the world doing guest spots or working conventions, Murran can be found turning out masterpieces from his studio in Italy. If a trip to Florence is in your plans, or if you would like to see what conventions or shops where Murran is scheduled to appear, visit the contact page at his official website.
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CONTACT INFO: Murran Billi
murran.net/
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are poisoned, blinded, and killed. Please choose only cruelty-free cosmetics. For your free shopping guide to compassionate companies, visit PETA.org.
Photo: Joseph Cultice (www.josephcultice.com), for Weiss Artists t Grooming: Tegan Rice t Special effects: Aurora Bergere
Animals used for painful and deadly product tests
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Article By Clive Young right, bold, exotic, erotic and brilliantly imaginative are some of the adjectives most often used when ink freaks describe the work of Kamil Mocet. Gorgeous female nudes, ferocious beasts, insects, creatures from beyond, and gore scenes are among the themes for which Mocet is most famous. The turning point in Mocet’s development as an artist came when he took an apprenticeship early on with Robert Lypik Cracow (RobTattoo). Over their year together, Mocet began to explore his special brand of tattooing. He also learned to place a very strong emphasis on considering the body’s natural curves and
contours when designing a piece. Because of this, Mocet’s works on skin have a very natural flow on the body, which enhances the beauty and attraction of the piece. When asked how he achieves the color separation that adds dimension and lifelike texture to his skink art, Kamil Mocet points to the inks he developed with the Intenze company. Mocet credits the original ink line he helped develop for not only helping him turn out attention-grabbing works of art on skin, but also for allowing the pieces to maintain their integrity longer than it would with most other ink brands. Kamil Mocet mainly works out of his shop in London, but American collectors are afforded the opportunity to schedule sessions with this top tier slinger at U.S. expo appearances.
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CONTACT INFO: Kamil Mocet kamiltattoos.com INK SLINGERS
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