From Tattooing to Graphic Design

A few months ago, i decided to go back to graphic design after seven months of illness. There have been some significant changes in our lives lately and as i work, i have realised just how much i have missed it. This was a custom piece for a theatre group who wanted a design for their project. They wanted something simple, yet stylised that they could print onto tshirts and posters. It was a great starting point after being out of practice for so long.

A few months have passed and i have had to make the big decision to either go back to tattooing or continue working as a freelance graphic designer. While i was ill, i picked up design jobs here, which re-lit my passion and grounded me better than i ever thought possible. Everything really does happen for a reason!

Tattoos – How do you judge a book?

Those are the words Dermablend used to kick this video off. It’s an interesting question. Many people see Rick Genest as a freak, but having coming from the tattoo world, i admire the art and technique of his artist and also happen to think he is exquisitely beautiful. This is not only my view, but Thierry Mugler and Lady Gaga obviously agree! There was a lot of debate about this guy in the tattoo studio – some admire his courage and others just don’t get it (mostly clients). But how many of you have been discriminated against for the way you look? Do you like to fit in or stand out? Do you have any tattoos yourself? If so, are you proud of them or do you regret them? Lastly, do you judge people who are a little different or do you embrace them?

Wandering through Plasticland…

Plasticland is a place i can ‘wander around’ and lose myself for hours on end. Easily one of my favorite websites for gifts, homeware, clothing and accessories, It’s just gloriously weird with all it’s kitschy goodness and fabulous curiosities!

Jordan Berry & Rebecca Nyhus came up with the idea for an alternative fashion boutique in 2002, a year after i opened my own alternative clothing shop in my local town.
Like me, they were fed up with seeing the same copycat fashion items in local shops and malls, so decided to put together something that would appeal to people with slightly more alternative taste and style.

A friend of mine sent me the link to the website a long time ago. It was one of those ‘saw this and thought of you’ kind of deals. Thinking it had something to do with Frank Kozik and being a huge fan of lowbrow art and owning the book with that title, i clicked on the link and became instantly excited. It didn’t have anything to do with Frank, but i wasn’t disapointed for a second.

My own shop failed due to the lack of demand for ouija boards, nu metal tshirts and bondage trousers but plasticland is still going strong. Of course, i am sure even in the early stages of their venture, their stock was probably a hundred times more impressive than mine. They sell everything from lowbrow art fashion accressories to vintage inspired clothing and shoes. The do a wide selection of gifts and homeware, too! I highly recommend that you check them out and give them a wee shot. Their customer service is amazing and they ship internationally, although there is a minimum order of $100 for international customers, but i don’t think that’s too much if you want to make the most of the shipping cost, is it?

A Live Action Daria Movie?

A bit of 90’s nostalgia hit me this week as i caught up on season 8 of Beavis and Butthead. I have no idea how i missed the beginning because i have been patiently waiting since the rumors began. Anyway, i was not disappointed. So it is a little bit more politically correct than it used to be but that isn’t Mike Judge’s fault. I expected to hate it but it was almost like it had never left.

After that, i revisited my Daria DVDs, geeked out with my old buddy, Cookie and searched online to see if Judge was thinking about bringing her back from the crypt. I got more than i bargained for when i found this :

Alas, it was not to be and was actually a Cosplay photoshoot by Russian photographer, Sergey Nekrasov. After a little further investigation, i discovered that MTV had cast a vote on the ideal cast for a live action Beavis and Butthead movie. That didn’t go down so well with their readers and most agreed that Daria would be a better candidate for a movie. They set two votes: For Daria Lookalikes and A full live action cast.

There seems to be a lot of criticism out there about MTV’s Clutch blog dealing with hypothetical  issues. Personally, i don’t see the problem. At 49, Mike Judge still has the same sense of humor he always did, so what’s wrong with making the movie as long as he writes the script and oversees the project?

Below is my Daria revival outfit, inspired by a challenge set by the fabulous Miss Cookie.