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05/14/2008
Artist Profile: Danielle Distefano

Photo of Danielle Distefano tattooing by Matthew Miller.

While recent artist interviews have been filmed as part of our video series (found in our Media Center), today I'm taking it old school with a blog Q&A featuring Danielle Distefano of 13 Roses Tattoo Parlour in East Atlanta, Georgia. I talked to Danielle about her tattooing in a variety of styles, mastering techniques, using vegan inks, being a woman in the craft, and a lot more. Danielle is back in New York, her hometown, for the Upstarts Art Show, which she co-coordinates with Matt Greenhalgh. It opens tomorrow at Saved Tattoo from 7-11PM. There you can view the fine art work of Danielle and other tattooists.

Danielle's art has been featured in the book Revisted, as well as in the Empire City Press Tattoo Flash Calendar 2008, and on clothing for Trouble Girls, among others.

Check out her tattoo work on the 13 Roses Tattoo site or her MySpace page.

[Needled:] First off, how's Atlanta treating you? Experience any culture shock moving from Brooklyn to the South?

[Danielle:] The South has been amazing and treating me well surprisingly. ...

Phil Holt is the tattoo artist's tattooist. Tattooing for over 12 years professionally and in a variety of styles, he can take a Tonya-Harding-dressed-as-the-devil half sleeve and make it into a beautiful biomechanical work of art.

Recently, Phil put up a number of his fine art for sale online -- magical works, from his limited edition giclee dragon and monster prints to his breathtaking Original Sin original watercolor to my most favorite, the last of his enamel on steel angels. All can be purchased through his site except the watercolor, which is available through Canvas Los Angeles.

As Phil wrote on his blog in March, he and his family have had to move back to Tampa, Florida -- away from Skull & Sword in San Fran -- until he can sell his home (which he says is short of full scale foreclosure). Thus, by purchasing these stellar works of art, you'll also be supporting a member of the tattoo community caught in the midst of this housing crisis.

Grime is still keeping Phil's position at Skull & Sword open, while he currently works at his former ...

Paper Mag has posted on its blog that Williamsburg tattoo artist Scott Campbell (shown above), owner of Saved Tattoo Studio & Gallery, will be designing a series of Mom tattoos for Mother's Day, this Sunday, May 11th for just $100 a pop! A far cry from his $1,000 for the first hour regular tattoo rate.

Campbell will be needling folks with his own take on Americana tattoo art at Earnest Sewn, as part of their Installation Series, from 9 a.m.-7 p.m.. The shop is located at 821 Washington St., b/t Gansevoort & Little West 12th Sts.

While some moms may find it a wonderful sentiment of love, others like mine would prefer that you don't show up to brunch bloody. Chocolates should work fine.

I rarely post on weekends, but I couldn't help myself after seeing Coolhunting.com's stellar video on Scott Campbell, Brooklyn tattoo artist and owner of Saved Tattoo (no stranger to Needled). Scott is not only known for his A-List tattoos but for bringing his tattoo designs to mediums beyond skin like laptops, Camel cig packs, leather furniture, books, canvas...

The Cool Hunting video takes you into Saved's Williamsburg studio and not only shows how the laser etching works -- cool indeed -- but you get to enjoy footage of Scott coloring in a winged tooth tattoo. The studio's in hipster heaven remember.

Just another example of why Cool Hunting was nominated for a Webby.

Two of Needled's most beloved homeslices, writer Jenni Miller and tattooist Tim Kern, team up for Premiere Magazine to give us the dirt on Charlie Kaufman's upcoming film Synechdote, New York, which stars Michelle Williams, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Jennifer Jason Leigh,  Robin Weigert and other stars.

Tim created the beautiful full body floral tattoos on Weigert, specific flowers to go with music Kaufman had written for a scene. He also worked on Michelle William's full back design that he painted with makeup artist Ralph Siciliano. In the interview, Tim talks to Jenni about the process of creating the faux-tattoos, such as using Temptu body paints for the first time (a film standard these days) and how Weigert lay naked for 20 hours during application; he also talks about the role of tattoo in films and what they convey beyond script lines. The best part: Tim reveals how Jennifer Jason Leigh tattooed him! Oops! I gave the ending away.

But there's tons more tattoo goodness in the interview, plus great photos. Click on Premiere now and pass the link around.

Photo courtesy of Temptu.com.

Tattoo by Guy Aitchison

The Hyperspace Studios clan have been in the news quite a lot lately with their numerous projects, and one of the latest interviews is on Apple Hot News looking at how Guy and Michele use their Macs in creating tattoos, paintings and multi-media artwork.

It's a quick must-read, even if you're a Bill Gates fan, because, as Guy says, "Computers and the Internet have completely revolutionized [tattooing]." And we're not just talking Photoshop and Safari. In the article, Guy also discusses how he uses 3D-modeling apps like DAZ Bryce:

"I may build a clay model in collaboration with a visiting tattooist, then Photoshop it together with elements created in Bryce. The resulting image may end up being tattooed on someone, or done as a collaborative painting, or both."

Cool.

See Guy on LA Ink tomorrow where he does a collaborative tattoo with his sister Hannah.

And see our own Needled video with Guy and Michele here.

Thanks to Brayden for the Apple link!

Before I get to the tattoo headlines, I have some truly sad news to report:

The tattoo community has lost an extraordinary artist and extraordinary friend to many. Jason Saga, tattooist from one of London's great tattoo families -- Into You Tattoo -- died last Friday, March 21st. He is greatly missed already.

To Into You's innovative atelier, Jason brought vibrant color with his own interpretation of Japanese and East Asian iconography tattoos -- work that was graphic, bold and often daring for such traditional subject matter. And it all worked beautifully on the bodies of his clients.

View his portfolio online and understand what an artistic loss it is for tattoo lovers in addition to the personal loss felt by those who loved Jason.

Our condolences go out to Into You and all of Jason's friends and family.