Traditional

Collector

October 22, 2020

PART 1: DARK HORSE & TAKU HORISUZU

California based writer and tattoo collector Damien Belliveau shares his stories behind his collection. Part 1 : @horisuzu

Interview

May 21, 2020

Yutaro (@warriorism)

We check in with Japanese artist Yutaro (@warriorism) during London’s Covid 19 lockdown and talk about his current thoughts and feelings of the global pandemic on the tattoo industry and home life.

Interview

December 12, 2019

Stace Forand (@waterstreetphantom)

Heavily influenced by Japanese style, Stace Forand has developed a style that comes from a desire to strive for authenticity from deep within himself. Being self-taught, Forand discusses the importance of the close community around him, and the expanded horizons of other cultures and places.

Bay Area Tattoo Convention

November 11, 2019

Bay Area Tattoo Convention 2019

As a proud sponsor, TTTISM is pleased to present a series of photos from the 2019 Bay Area Tattoo Convention.

Profile

October 10, 2019

Gotch (@gotch_tattoo)

Self-taught tattoo artist Gotch grew up in the projects in Rousing, just south of Kyoto. He works in his own relaxed and private studio Harizanmai, and over his 20 years of tattooing has worked in Osaka and Paris.

Bay Area Tattoo Convention

October 7, 2019

Bay Area Tattoo Convention Retrospective

In anticipation of the 15th annual Bay Area Tattoo Convention, set to take place in late October of 2019, TTTISM highlights some of its articles on the convention to date.

New Releases

August 4, 2019

Ed Hardy: Deeper Than Skin at the de Young Museum

Ed Hardy: Deeper Than Skin is an exhibition curated by the de Young Museum in San Francisco, California. The exhibition promises to be a monument to the history of tattooing and runs from July 13th to October 6th.

Archive

July 16, 2019

Archive: Women of Myanmar (@desthex_artworks) in TTTism Issue 3

This feature is excerpted from TTTism Issue 3.

Archive

July 9, 2019

Archive: Gakkin (@gakkinx) for TTTism Issue 3

This interview with Gakkin is excerpted from TTTism Issue 3.

Interview

July 8, 2019

Ryan Mettz (@ryanmettz)

We speak with Ryan Mettz, a Brooklyn-based tattooer working out of Greenpoint Tattoo Co.. Mettz’s clients come to him for his tasteful style, and leave with pieces that combine traditional aesthetics with modern imagery.

Interview

June 24, 2019

Clemens Hahn (@clemens_hahn)

Clemens Hahn is tattooist and shop owner at Truly Yours Tattoo in Mannheim, Germany. Hahn offers contemporary subject matter done in a traditional aesthetic.

Interview

June 20, 2019

Josh Stephens (@joshstephenstattoos)

Josh Stephens began his tattoo career building a strong foundation in an American Traditional style. Heavily inspired by music, contemporary art, and David Lynch, Stephens remains grateful for opportunities that break him out of his comfort zone.

Interview

May 20, 2019

Tiago De Oliveira (@dongekotattooer)

We interview Porto-based tattooist Tiago de Oliveira, who works at and co-owns Heavy Handers Tattoo. De Oliveira’s work offers a compelling take on all things traditional, a consistent body of figural tattoos that maintain a penchant for realism.

Interview

May 13, 2019

Alexis Hepburn (@disintegrationxvx)

We interview Alexis Hepburn, a tattooist based on Australia’s Gold Coast. Hepburn’s work combines a traditional sensibility with techniques and imagery adopted from folk culture.

Profile

May 9, 2019

Dustin Barnhart (@dustinbarnhart)

Dustin Barnhart is a tattooist and co-owner of Berlin Tattoo in Kitchener, Ontario. Barnhart combines impactful imagery and hints of illusionism in a neo-traditional aesthetic. He describes his origins as a tattooist, life as a shop owner, and more.

Collector

April 3, 2019

Jessie “Juicy” Wells (@bruja_mota)

We speak with Jessie “Juicy” Wells, manager of Colorado’s Think Tank Tattoo and practicing health coach, about her impactful collection of figural tattoos.

Interview

January 11, 2019

Ivan Antonyshev (@ivanantonyshevtattoo)

We interview Russian-born tattooist Ivan Antonyshev about his beginnings in the craft (in Indiana!) and his passion for traveling. Antonyshev, a resident at no fixed studio, currently tattoos around the world.

Bay Area Tattoo Convention

December 3, 2018

Don Ed Hardy at the 2018 Bay Area Tattoo Convention

We are pleased to release a short video profile and interview with Don Ed Hardy on the occasion of the 2018 Bay Area Tattoo Convention.

Interview

September 21, 2018

Luca Ortis for TTTism

TTTism presents a video portrait of Luca Ortis alongside an interview with the London-based tattooist. Ortis’ discussion of his origins in the industry is complemented by images of rich, large-scale Japanese traditional tattoos.

Interview

September 4, 2018

Chingy Fringe (@chingyfringe)

We spotlight Chingy Fringe, an Australian tattooist currently based at Alfred Street Tattoo on the Gold Coast.

Collector

July 16, 2018

Josh Deane (@joshdeaneofficial)

Melbourne-based model, tattoo collector, and creative Josh Deane explains the inspiration behind his impactful work alongside a stunning visual portrait filmed by Justin Hart.

Interview

May 9, 2018

Alex Reinke (@holyfoxtattoos)

Ed Crooks interviews Alex Reinke (@holyfoxtattoos), an expert in traditional Japanese tattooing. The two discuss Reinke’s recent travels, his family’s history in Japan, his design process, and the development of his practice over two decades of tattooing.

Interview

March 13, 2018

Ross K. Jones (@rosskjones)

In this feature, San Francisco-based Ross K. Jones of Idle Hand Tattoo tells us about his main influences as a tattooist, his passion for traveling, and his vision for the future of tattooing.

Collector

January 8, 2018

Ross Tulloch

We interview Ross Tulloch about his collection of colorful, (neo)traditional tattoos done by artists such as Fergus Simms and Steve Boltz. Tulloch describes his process of discovering and following the development of new artists and the ways in which his collection has allowed him to have a more comfortable relationship with his body.

Profile

January 4, 2018

Ryan Shaffer

We profile Ryan Shaffer of East River Tattoo, Brooklyn. Shaffer discusses his origins in San Diego and his many influences–in addition to the production of his first tattoos, done as a five-year-old with washable Crayola markers.

Interview

December 24, 2017

Matt Andersson

We interview Swedish tattooer Matt Andersson, whose work both pays homage to and reimagines traditional iconography. Andersson tells us about his serendipitous beginnings in Thailand, opening his own shop, and his continual experimentation with the craft.

History

October 12, 2017

Vintage Tattoos direct from Instagram

A selection of posts from two Instagram accounts dedicated to documenting vintage tattoos as a means of preservation in the digital age.

Interview

October 12, 2017

Tati Compton

In conversation with California born ‘stick-n-poke’ tattoo artist Tatiana Kartomten, otherwise known as Tati Compton.

Documentary

October 12, 2017

Palaung and Shan: The Black Warriors of Burma

Travelin’ Mick ventured to Burma to meet the last warriors protected by traditional bodysuits