Genuine fake.

Hey,
It's me again, grumbling about something. But I guess that's what you enjoy and also why you bother to read this.
So, what is it this time?
Well, in recent years, I've noticed distinct factions and uniforms becoming prevalent in TattooLand (tm). Natural, I mean, as primates we need group identification and to feel we belong. It's kind of weird though that tattooing is supposed to set us apart, it seems to be more about fitting in? I dunno......
Anyhoo,  that's not what I wanted to bitch about. In the last two or so years, there's been a style of tattooing that's starting to get on my fucking wick. The "fake folk art" that's part of traditional style work.
Like it's not enough to put a nice tattoo on, now you've got to make it look "vintage" or rad or whatever by drawing it badly so that it looks like it was done by some eccentric 1930's backwoods guy from Arkansas. When in truth it was done by some guy from a middle class background trying really hard to be interesting.  Probably with a big fuckoff beard, some 'esoteric' alchemical symbol tattooed under their eye and a taste for obscure doom metal.
Y'know, I love rough art. I love prison drawings, outsider art by asylum inmates, bad punk and metal record covers, shit like that, I love it because it's fucking raw, and genuine, and it's straight from either the heart or the anus, or both.
And tattooing is right in there, like Russian prison tattoos. That's some heavy shit, right?
The point is, that kind of art works on a visceral, gut level, but only because it's un self conscious and in it's context. Like if you see some drawing of a bat winged cock in the toilet of some fucking petrol station in the middle of Wales, that works because of the whole situation.
So when I see deliberately 'off' traditional tattoos that are wonky and have bad shading
or too much black or whatever, it seems like an affectation, like a pose, and I don't see why it's necessary to make a good idea look like shit because it's "authentic" or something. Hipster bullshit alert!
So, badly thought out rant over. What say you?
Laters pertaters.

Visiting Chocolate Cuckoo Clock Land........

Recently I ventured over to Lausanne in Switzerland to get a tattoo from Sailor Bit, the owner of Ethno Tattoo, one of Switzerland's best tattoo studios. Here's what happened.......
I had to fly from Manchester Airport with (Gr)EasyJet. I was a little bit apprehensive, as last time I flew by myself, I missed my flight back from Atlanta Georgia due to me being a bit of a dildo on occasion. That's another story, which if you buy me a drink I will tell you, you lucky people.
This was the weather when I left.....typical feckin' Manchester eh?

So all went well this time, I checked in with loads of time to spare, sat my stupid arse down on the seat, and admired the view of Eastbourne as we left the coast of Blighty.
As we approached Geneva airport, we were met with an Alpine storm that tossed the plane around a fair bit, but the pilot knew what he was doing it seems, and I was met at the airport by my friend Raphi Voirol. I was glad to see a friendly face, and once out of the airport, we were met with some more of the storm, even worse than Manchester rain! JEEZIZ!!

Next day was Monday, and after breakfast with Raphi's wife and children, we drove over to Lausanne. Bit wasn't there that day, but I took the time to look around the studio. It's on Rue Centrale, which used to be home to the world famous Leu Family studio before the building was demolished. Now, they're building some hideous concrete apartments where it was.

 Bit has done a lot of travelling, and the studio reminded me of a museum, some amazing things on the shelves, drawings pinned to the walls, an incredible shop. I decided to make a wee video, as I was mightily impressed. If you look closely, there are original drawings by Robert Hernandez, and a signed print by the father of  Biomech art (did I mention I like biomech?) H.R Giger. If you don't know those names, Google them, I guarantee you'll be impressed!

 

Well, I know that what I do in my life is of massive interest to you, and you're probably wondering "I wonder what Gerry decided to get tattooed on him this time? I shan't sleep until I know...."

Well, I'd always wanted a Japanese style dragon, and I had some space at the top of my right leg which would do the job nicely. I have a lot of work on my legs from various artists, and I was keen to get something from Sailor Bit, as we met a few years ago at the Evian Tattoo Convention, and I was blown away by his skill at Japanese style tattooing. I also met some of the other guys from the studio there and was flattered to be asked to tattoo Raphi and Virus.  They are all really friendly and funny guys, and their hospitality is unparallelled.Good times!!

Here's a small bit of film of Bit working on a young ladies backpiece......

 

Incidentally, we went for beers the night before the tattoo with Raphi and Lorenz, and this kind of eccentric guy at the next table starting talking some proper bollocks at us, trying to draw us into some debate I think? Anyway, Bit bamboozled him with a Jedi mind trick known as "completely confuse the guy by blocking everything he says with the words "NO DETAILS!!"  Class in a glass, it was piss funny.

 

Next day was...TATTOO DAY!!

So, Bit drew a dragon up for me, and after foolishly declining the offer of painkillers, with butterflies in my stomach, the tattoo began.....

This is the results of my ahem, experience.....

The stencil.....

 

The lines weren't as bad as I'd expected, but then the grey clouds went in, and it all started to go downhill.....

Bit's machines are tres sauvage!

 

Despite the look on my face at the end of this video, I was very happy with the results.  I realised it was going to be a tough one at this point, but I was determined to stick it out to the end. Would I make it? 

 

So, nowhere left to go but onward....

I just couldn't relax, I did all the shit I tell customers not to do, I was the worst, but I tried my best not to move. All I could think about was just keeping going and getting it done. I was gurning like a maniac! (WHIPLASH!)
 Customers revenge!!!

All of you who have been tattooed by me were there in spirit form, pointing and laughing! 

 

At least Bit was having fun! I was gripping onto my underwear so hard at one point I thought I was going to rip them off and run screaming and half naked down the road! 'KIN ELL! However, I kept my kecks on and prepared myself for the last part. I was having serious doubts about finishing it now, as there was still a way to go. I sucked it up and carried on.....

 

 Bit's 6 year old incredibly cute daughter Mylene came through from the back and lent me her teddy bear. At this point I was "Halber Mensch"! Lorenz was highly amused...By the way, I was only half doing this face for the camera. Only half.

The sad truth is, after 6 and a half hours with maybe half an hour, maybe an hour to go, I quit. I just couldn't do it anymore, I hit the wall and threw in the towel. Crestfallen, but relieved.

That was the hardest tattoo I've ever had, beating the over- the- knee tattoo by Sabine Gaffron I had a few years ago. I moaned and groaned like an old horse with dementia. 

The next day I felt as if I'd been out drinking Swish all night and then got in a fight with a telegraph pole.

Not good. Bit was totally cool about it, but I still felt bad about not finishing. But now at least I know my limits!

We arranged for me to get it finished at the Mondial de Tatouage in Paris next year, and this time I'll take some sodding painkillers, and EMLA cream!

So this is the final result.....

 




































              Pretty fucking spectacular though I think, and well worth the pain. That shit ain't going nowhere! It's beautifully crisp and solid and just looks amazing. I'm really chuffed with it, and my trousers have been coming down at every available opportunity (EEK!!) to show my tattoo off!
Sometimes the hardest won things are the best! Thank you so much Bit, you rock!
Well, I had a couple of days left in sunny Suisse, so here's a few random photos. Can't wait to go back!
See you in Paris!
Here's some of  the guys from the studio....

Sailor Bit can take a fart in the face and still smile!

Raphael Voirol, Pote Seyler and client.

 Pote Seyler is an artist from the early 90's when tattooing was a lot smaller than it is now, whose work I admired when I first started getting into tattooing, mainly due to the Skin Shows books by Chris Wroblewski, which were one of the few books on tattooing you could get hold of at the time. Still banging the good shit out, I was pleased to meet him and be able to watch him work. 

Lorenz and Bit discussing finer points (GEDDIT?) with a client.

 

 

 

                                                                                  

A walk in the woods the next morning was most welcome. Mylene, Noelle (Bit's wife) and his dog Popeye came along. 

 

 

This was the view from Bit's house in the morning. Switzerland really is as beautiful as it looks. 

This is Popeye. Handsome Jack!

Some ace shit in Lausanne!

Some more ace shit in Lausanne!

SKULLS! Ace shit!

At Geneva airport. Wonder what that magazine's about?

 

Swiss Gerry leads jetset lifestyle. FACT.

Right, well that about wraps it up for my visit to Switzerland. I had a fantastic time, everyone was really friendly and accommodating of my rubbish Francais! And an awesome tattoo to boot!

Big thanks to Sailor Bit, Raphael Voirol, Virus, Noelle, Mylene, Pote Seyler, Lorenz, David Gusanito, Herve, Benny, GeGe (apologies for the spelling !) and everyone else I met, sorry if I missed you out!

If you want to check out their website, here's the link, I recommend you do......

http://www.ethno-tattoo.com/

Here's a bit of film of the very pleasant flight back. Until I reached...AAAAGH!!! MANCHESTER!!!!!

 

Laters pertaters!

The game is up.

Just a few thoughts on the current state of the profession....
    There's a lot of fist shaking and outrage at the moment at businessmen who have nothing to do with tattooing making vast amounts of money off the back of  the profession. I can understand the anger and frustration, but it seems to me that the hard fact is....
    We got too good, and we were (and still are) largely unregulated by any professional body. Someone or "someone's"  found a way to exploit the "edge" that tattooing has. Same thing happened with hardcore punk, skateboarding, graffiti and most other "underground movements". It's naive to think that tattooing was any different.
    Why all this outrage now? It's been going on for several years - TV shows, rum, clothing brands, the list goes on. It's the nature of capitalism that whatever you throw at it, it will absorb, assimilate and try to sell it back you at twice the price (that isn't my insight by the way, I heard it in an interview years ago!). But that makes sense to me, even though I may not like it. Bottom line, tattooing is a business, we draw things on people to make money. It's commercial art.  There's a lot more to it than that of course, but as I see it, you can't argue with that fact.
Businessmen are always looking for untapped markets, and it was inevitable that tattooing would attract the attention of those businessmen. Business doesn't care about "professional ethics" or  "keeping it real"
Their art is to make lots of cash as quickly as possible, and to move on to the next cash cow once this has been sucked dry.
So given that tattooing is a business, and it attracts businessmen from outside the profession like locusts, what do you do as a tattooist? Here's my tuppence worth....
The only thing that holds any sway with businessmen is your wallet.
Buy from suppliers within the business who only sell equipment to registered studios as much as possible, don't attend the conventions run by said businessmen. That is if you really care, some people don't. Those people shouldn't be ostracised for making their own choices either, that only creates more bullshit and hot air.
Like I said we make money off tattooing too. It's unrealistic to expect every tattoo studio in the UK and elsewhere to boycott certain magazines, conventions etc, it's just not going to happen.
Be happy in the knowledge that you're running an independent business, with your own ethics, and putting good tattoos out there.
To quote Fugazi (again! hah!) -WE DON'T HAVE TO TRY IT, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO BUY IT. Now, I've got drawing to do.......

The Ego Has Landed!

Well, we made it!!
We've been in for a good couple of weeks now, stress levels have abated somewhat, and there's a few million wee things left to do. So I thought I'd let y'all know where things are right now, and to show off a bit....

Firstly though, I'd like to drone on about the old shop a bit. The last person to get tattooed in Octopus Tattoo Phase 1 was none other than my mentor and friend Mr Steve Potton, which was a fitting end and a bit of an honour for me. I was reworking a piece he'd had done by another quite well known artist that hadn't healed well. A tricky one, as it was on his neck leading down almost onto the collarbone, which is a bitch to get in to for me. If anyone has any suggestions for better ways to approach this area, please contact me.

So I had my work cut out, but it was biomech, and I knew I could make it look pretty good. Here's the progress in picture form....Steve's gurning was cracking me up. Even though it really hurt him, we had a good laugh with it. Good time, Thanks Steve!!

Tee hee! It tickles!!

Stopped tickling, started hurting!

Cor blimey Guv'nor! 

Sticky tonguey out time! Steve is not impressed, going for the Kenneth Williams face.....

I was having fun anyway....

Gittin' ma groove on!

Stopped being funny now, just HURTING!!!

Keep going Steve......

Finished! From the back.....

And from the front! Don't try this at home with your shitty Ebay gear kids!

So, once Mr Potton was all bandaged up and sent on his way, the work began in earnest. At least for me.  Sylv, Ben and Ellen had been hard at it for the previous few weeks. So I packed the old shop up (with help from Sylv).......

And the sign finally came down after nearly 5 years.......

Pus Tattoo??

And after a lot of decorating, screwing screws, nailing nails, humping boxes, arguing, nail biting, and general stress, we managed to open!!  I have to say, it was the hardest thing Sylv and I have ever attempted to do, and planet sized THAAANKS!! must go to Ben and Ellen for being the two heroes that they are, we could not have finished it without those two. Major gratitude!
So, here it is as it looks now. Compare it with the pics I first posted on here, and you'll see the transformation is quite remarkable.....

The main work room.

Still a few boxes and things to clear in the back....

The office. The black chair is a massage chair like the ones you see at airports. SUAVE!!!

This is the waiting room.There's Eric hanging around as usual.  No lie, our previous place would have fitted into this area.

Okay, I've got me feet up for five minutes. Gimme a break!

The opening party was awesome, thanks to everyone that made it, and those who dropped by for a brew! I'm really proud with what we've accomplished, and most of all, I'm really proud of my gorgeous wife Sylveline who put herself mind, body and soul into this project. I couldn't ask for more. Thanks, love.

STAY TUNED!!

Studio progress report...

We decided to expand our plan of worldwide domination last year by opening a bigger studio. The main reason is CASH! I WANT LOTS AND LOTS OF IT! NOW!
Seriously though, there were many reasons  why we decided to move. The studio as it is is only big enough for one person really (so big thanks here to those who have endured guest spots) There is only so much work that one pair of hands can do, and I've just gotten bored of working by myself. I miss the craic!
So anyway, after negotiating the lease, arranging everything with the solicitor/estate agent/landlord (who have all been excellent) and finally paying off the Council for their exalted privilege of doing very little for a lot of money, Sylv hired some recommended tradesmen, and work began.
Here's the story so far.....

This is the front part of the workroom looking out towards the studio waiting area. So that's half the shop front area taken up.

That's the main workroom, and a wheelbarrow, and Sylv.

The partitioning for the toilet (natch) The reason it's so big is for disabled access. It was two toilets, but it's just going to be one big one. I'm thinking of leaving it like this, and planting some tomatoes at the bottom of the trellis. Be handy when you get hungry while on the bog, just reach out, and a tasty snack is yours.

This is known as the reverse Tardis, but will eventually become the cleaning room. Boy, the fun never stops eh? Can you take much more?

Finally, this will be the office and staff area, away from the public. This has all been cleared now, so pretty soon, we'll be ready to start the decorating.
I should say that pretty much all of this has been arranged by Sylveline, because she's awesome (those of you that have already me her know this though, right?). I realise how absolutely screwed I'd be without her mad skills. My role hasn't been anything more than keeping the ink flowing in the old place, but once the decorating happens, that's my chance to feel useful!
We're looking to open in mid May, all being well. Stay tuned for further developments!!

Year Zero.

Well, why do this, I ask myself.
Various reasons.  I needed somewhere to put down what actually goes on behind the scenes at Octopus Tattoo,(www.gerrycarnelly.co.uk) where I labour to produce some good quality tattoos, and generally get on everyone's wick, and some of the rubbish that comes out of my head, so it's sort of a brightly coloured rubbish dump! Doesn't smell as much though.....
 There'll be a lot of tattooing and art on display, and I'll also be documenting The Third Mind Collective's monthly sessions, which is an art collective that I put together five months ago. Also, I listen to a lot of music of the non-manstream variety, and watch a ton of movies, so there's going to be a fair bit of that as well.
If you feel like sifting through the detritus, like the poor sods in Brazil who live in the dump itself, then be warned, you may not like some of what you read.  But you can feel free to sling retorts like sharpened stalactites and destroy my ever -expanding ego before it takes over THE WORLD!!!!!
Just before I go any further, I'd like to say that I REALLY don't like the idea of ripping people's custom tattoo designs off the internet, so be smart, and try to find your own ideas elsewhere. I accept it can't be stopped, which sucks but is a truth, but please try to focus on INSPIRATION, NOT IMITATION!!

IAN'S TATTOO
Ian's the Dad of a customer of mine who I did a mexican sugar skull on a wee while ago. Here it is...

I liked doing this one, the style was a departure from my usual, which is a lot more three dimensional, I fancied stripping it down and doing something more graphic. I like the eyes, it has a crafty expression because of the central spirals, which was accidental, but once I noticed it, I liked it and left it in.
I also liked the little guys coming out of the nose, they remind me of Willo The Wisp, which was an early 80's animated kid's show about a talking cloud of marsh gas, more of a fart with Kenneth William's face on it really. The bad guy was an evil TV set with a really pissed off face on it called Evil Edna. It was quite bizarre. Here's a link...
http://youtu.be/sAwtC0b_gf4

Ian wanted something along the same lines as an Uncle Allan piece he'd seen in a magazine, which was an awesome tattoo of a hand holding an all seeing eye pyramid, which was radiating light. The wrist ended in a traditional style rose. Beautiful piece of work. I had a lot to live up to.
But it was just my kind of thing, and Ian was cool about letting me put my own touch to it. He also wanted a snake in there, which was a double bonus, as I love doing snake tattoos, even though drawing them drives me nuts to this day! They never seem to have that power that someone like Grime gets with his. By the way, Grime's going to get mentioned a fair few times as we go on, as he is undeniably THE SHIT as far as I'm concerned. Don't want to do his thing, but he is a big influence on me at the moment.

So I started scribbling, we'd already decided not to have the all-seeing eye, as that would make it too close to the Uncle Allan tattoo, so I went for the simpler option of just putting an eye in the palm. Ian had wanted an Eastern feel to it also, so I opted for Tibetan style flames. I put the snake winding around the wrist, but it just didn't seem "alive" enough, and I felt it could be more dynamic. Here's the first draft....

So after a while, I came up with the idea of making the snake head larger, so I could have it's mouth open at the base of the wrist, to make it look as if it was attempting to swallow the wrist. the flames would be emanating from the tongue, which would be flowing up towards the eye, to bring the viewer's attention to the centre. The eye is a powerful image, so bringing everything to bear on that area, I thought it would add to the impact.

Then another idea involving the snake came to me.  I'd wanted to do it in a tradtional sort of style, heavy black and solid areas of colour which would contrast with the three dimensional hand. So I was thinking about patterns to put on the back of the snake, and in keeping with the "eye" theme, put some eye markings along the length of the snake, and also made it blind, with a milky blue eye. I was starting to get really excited about doing it now, and it was difficult to keep the design simple, as so many options and ideas started occurring to me.
It's something I've learnt over the years, that restraint is very important. It's as much what you leave out as what you put in, to keep the picture balanced and readable.
So once everything was pepared, and the stencil had been applied, time to get down to work....

And after 6 hours, I made the final wipe down, and uttered the words every tattoo customer longs to hear.....
"Right, we're done...would you like to have a look in the mirror?"
Here's what he ended up with.....

He was made up, and I felt like I'd done a proper smart tattoo to put on my website. The best thing was a couple of days later, I got an answerphone message from Ian saying how pleased he was with his new piece, which let me know that I'd done a good job, and earned another happy client! BONUS!!