Out and About

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Ben

Something is coming…

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Ben

It is always darkest before the dawn…

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Ben

Rites Of Passage Tattoo Convention 2012

Posted on May 21, 2012May 21, 2012 by Ben

This weekend was one of the best weekends i’ve had in a long time. It just so happened that Carbon was on at the same time meaning friends new and old would be flying in from all over the country for both events. To say good times were had would be somewhat of an understatement!

Sorry about the lack of updates too, Tristan and myself have been over in the States for the last few weeks!

Life is good.

Jetsetting…

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Tristan

Jane Laver

Posted on April 6, 2010June 1, 2014 by Ben

I recently caught up with Jane Laver of Chapel St. Tattoo, Melbourne. It seems like i’ve been featuring a lot of female tattooists from Australia of late, it’s not that I don’t like mixing it up or that I am in any way biased toward Australian tattooers, but this country boasts some amazing artists, and I feel that by not sharing them with you all, I am doing you some what of a disservice.

You would be right in thinking that Melbourne is the tattoo Mecca of Australia, it’s crazy that so much talent is jammed into one city, and Jane is definitely at the forefront of that talent!

Chapel Tattoo is located at 155 Chapel St. Windsor Victoria Australia – This studio hosts some of the finest artists in the country, and if you are looking for traditional work, you can’t go past it!

For those who don’t know, can you tell us a bit about who you are and what you do?

My name is Jane Laver, i’m a female who tattoos for a living. I love my dogs, riding my bike, travelling, music, tattooing and painting and learning Spanish….In no particular order, except that dogs are definitely at the top of the list. I have a 15 and half year old Brown and Black Aussie mixed up dog who is a blessing to me. His name is Booty.

How does a typical day in your life usually unfold?

Typical day – walk the dogs, coffee, work, home or out for dinner with friends, spending time with Henry, my partner for 8 years.

What initially got you involved in art, and how did that lead you in to becoming a tattooist?

I’ve always loved to draw, but never wanted to work for a graphic design company. As cheesy as it sounds, I hung out with some punk rocker types in the late 80s, early 90s who inspired me to do tattooing. My sister encouraged me greatly and my friend Borgy made me a tattoo machine. I tattooed only him, really drunk, and then decided to do no more until I was in a shop. I went to the US, got a job in NYC at Eastside Ink, Stayed there for a couple of years, then returned to work with Andrew at Chapel Tattoo in 1995. I had known Andrew for a long time previously and he has been a major part of my life as a tattooer.

Favourite medium to work with apart from tattooing and why?

Watercolour, I love the richness of the colour and the texture it has on the paper.

Who taught you to tattoo, and how have they had any effect on your style today?

No one person taught me, there were many influences, and I still am learning today. I learn something every day from my colleagues.

And in saying that, how have your styles evolved since you began tattooing?

I hope i’m technically cleaner, I try to simplify all the time, bring it back to basics, as I believe less is more. As boring as it sounds, i try to adhere to the tried and tested formula in traditional American and Japanese work – the more whack you do it, the more quickly it dates.

I guess you could say Tattoo’s have become accepted in today’s society, possibly even expected, obviously there being more people for you to tattoo is a good thing, but do you think there is a downside to it?

I think it’s good that being tattooed is not so stigmatised..I do worry that people buy tattoos like they buy a pair of jeans. It shouldn’t be fashion driven.

I dislike how everything is based on how booked up people are. I wish people could just walk in and get a tattoo when they feel like. I think I would have preferred tattooing in the 50s and 60s. I guess, however, the current popularity is good for business. I’m sure we’ll get a minor backlash, but at the end of the day, tattooing is legitimised by it’s history. We’re not going to stop overnight after hundreds of years of tradition.

How do you think certain “reality” tattoo shows on TV have affected tattooing on a broad scale?

LA Ink and Miami Ink have single handedly changed the face of tattooing. Never would I have thought the influence to be so huge. Good, but bad. People think that they need some kind of meaning behind every tattoo. There is nothing wrong with frivolous tattoos – They mean something by the very fact of where and when and by whom you got them.

What’s been pumping through your speakers lately?

Musically? So much.Lots of Jay Reatard and The Reatards since he died, The Seeds, Slayer, Thee Buff Medways, Destruction, Zeke…Thee Oh Cees. So much stuff.

Greatest accomplishment as an artist/ tattooist?

I haven’t had my greatest accomplishment yet.

No doubt you have seen some pretty fucked tattoo’s in your time, what is the worst tattoo you’ve ever seen?

Too many shit tattoos to even remember. I can’t believe some of them even cost money.

Favourite place to kick it?

Favourite place to be is generally at home with Henry and the dogs, but i’m happy any where if the company is good.

What are you thoughts on the resurgence of Traditional Tattooing?

I think the resurgence of traditional tattooing is a natural thing because those guys back in the day knew how to convey honest human emotions in simple ways. That shit holds up over time as well.

What was your first tattoo, and who did it?

I got two Borneo rosettes from Geoff Wilson out at Body Language in Lilydale. It was a very exciting day for me, and Geoff was ace.

What inspires you to create?

All things inspire me – Lots of old and folky art, other tattooers, travelling.

What’s in your pockets right now?

A tissue.

What are your views/opinions on the World and Society today?

I just want everybody, all religions, all races, all cultures to get along.

Politicians are all the same, left or right, power hungry and self serving and merely a puppet of the system. It is rare to find a politician who is intelligent.

What are 5 things you always pack on your travels?

My lucky frog, clean underwear, passport, photo of booty, and a book.

How much has tattooing changed since you began, and where do you see it going in the future?

It has changed hugely. It is not underground or special anymore, but I still love it.

Any words of advice for any aspiring tattooers out there?

If you want to be a tattooer, try and get in with a shop, and be prepared to do the hard work before you get your hands on a machine. Always keep your ego in check.

Jane Says:

All of the above.

Word association, you know the deal, say whatever comes to your mind when you read the word.

Australia – Is where I was born

Kevin Rudd – Harry Potter

America – full of contradictions, both amazing and not so good. It’s influence is hard to ignore.

Obama, good man, idealist, and a soon-to-be-victim of political skullduggery.

Religion – no one can prove anyone is right, so don’t kill people for it.

Time – Cliched – But there is never enough and it goes too fast.

Greed – I hate it.

Humanity – I hope it wins one day.

Peace – is a dream, people are too stupid to realise it.

Freedom – is a concept too – we’re free to an extent, some more that others, but at the end of the day, complete freedom would mean total anarchy.

Tattooing – I love it, and sometimes hate it, but it always keeps me interested.

Art – There is art in everything, even bricklaying.

Life – We’re lucky to have it, I guess.

Happiness – is sweet, and comes from within. Money don’t buy that shit.

Meighan Mary

Posted on March 22, 2010June 1, 2014 by Ben

aSomeone asked me the other day, “Why do you post so much traditional tattoo stuff”? To be truthful, i didn’t really have an answer. It’s not as if i don’t like other styles of tattooing, I have all the respect and admiration in the world for guys like Paul Booth and Jack Rudy, through to the Japanese masters such as Horiyoshi III (hint), all the way to guys doing super realistic portrait style work such as Nikko and Mick Squires, but something always draws me to traditional tattooing, whether it is how it speaks volumes through it’s relative simplicity, or be it that it is a style that will stand the test of time – I’m not too sure. Perhaps it still retains that certain element of magic and mystery that seems to be ever fading in the tattoo world, whatever it is you are sure to find a whole lot more of it here at This Life.

Staying true to building you a database of the best tattooers from all over the globe, thslfe is stoked to present you, Meighan Mary, working at Alien Art, Mayfield NSW, AUSTRALIA.(Soon to relocate to Melbourne, VIC)

Thanks for your time Meighan, whats been happening?

No problem. Lately i have been working a lot, getting ready for this years body art expo and spending as much time as i can with my new little pug baby, Nacho, oh and getting ready to move!

For those who don’t know, can you tell us a bit about who you are and what you do?

well im from newcastle, which is about two hours from sydney. im a pretty quiet person, i like good rum, good people and good humor. i have been tattooing for three years now an totally enjoying it. i love doing traditional tattoos i find them the most fun an exciting to do.

How does a typical day in your life usually unfold?

Get up and all that stuff, get to work then have a coffee or tea, draw stuff for the day, draw a penis for Ash, work work work then home to Mitchel and Nacho.

What initially got you involved in art, and how did that lead you in to becoming a tattooist?

I always loved art and making it from when i was young, but i went to a fancy school and it never occured to me that you could make a living from doing art unless it was graphic design and i’m terrible with computers. So i sort of gave up on it for a while until i started getting tattooed.

Favourite medium to work with apart from tattooing and why?

I like watercolour, i’m too impatient for anything else. I kind of have a love and hate relationship with painting, i’ll do a bunch and then have painters block for months.

Who taught you to tattoo, and how have they had any effect on your style today?

I sort of learnt to tattoo in a little street shop but i really think i learnt the most from getting tattooed by artists i looked up to.

And in saying that, how have your styles evolved since you began tattooing?

When i first started tattooing my style was a bit darker. Now its a bit more like the tattoos i have myself. I like it when i put a tattoo on someone that i would like on myself.

I guess you could say Tattoo’s have become accepted in today’s society, possibly even expected, obviously there being more people for you to tattoo is a good thing, but do you think there is a downside to it?

I think it’s lost the mystery abit. I love the craft’s history and it’s kind of a shame people dont care about it and a tattoo to them is just the latest trend or to be like that “cool dude” that has hand an throat tattoos without a job.

How do you think certain “reality” tattoo shows on TV have affected tattooing on a broad scale?

I guess good and bad. I don’t really watch it so i dont think i can really comment but i just wish people would stop telling me what their tattoo represents. Those shows are not real!

What’s been pumping through your speakers lately?

I like a bit of everything. mostly Rancid or the Slackers, West bound train i’m enjoying and i love the new Spinnerette album.

Greatest accomplishment as an artist/ tattooist?

Putting a clean tattoo on a happy customer

No doubt you have seen some pretty fucked tattoo’s in your time, what is the worst tattoo you’ve ever seen?

Ohh yes haha thank you Ebay. I’ve seen some horrid portraits and i once saw a cock an balls with schoolies 07 at the bottom.

Favourite place to kick it?

At home with my boys. I really enjoy the food and Sangria at our local mexican resturant.

What are you thoughts on the resurgence of Traditional Tattooing?

I think its great.They stand the test of time and they are so beautiful, i don’t know why people wouldn’t like traditional tattoos.

What was your first tattoo, and who did it?

It was a small star on my wrist, by some dude in some shop i really can’t remember who it was.

What inspires you to create?

Where do i start? So many things, from other tattooers to the weather, a gin and tonic, it can be anything really.

What’s in your pockets right now?

Some dog treats for Nacho, money and some Dr. Pepper lip gloss.

What are your views/opinions on the World and Society today?

I’m a pretty simple person and i try to just focus on my immediate world because the world as a whole is a bit fucked up.

Name 5 you always pack on your travels?

Camera, Mitchel, nacho, thongs and rum.

How much has tattooing changed since you began, and where do you see it going in the future?

Well i havent been tattooing all that long. I guess it’s a lot more popular now. A guy i work with is convinced were all gonna go back to Celtic and Ornimental tattoos, i hope he is wrong.