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Welcome To my home page Created for info on the world of Tattoo............and
other related body arts.
Editorial:
Welcome to my home page. This is a public service announcement without
guitar! Enjoy your stay. I hope it makes your life better. And wouldn't
that be cool!
caution: If you are not an open-minded individual,this is no place
for you.
BIO:
Mike "The Spike" Wheeler
Born : "The City Of Angels"
Studied : Fine Arts Major, Shasta College
Personal body-art collection : Kari Barba, Fip Buchanan,
Aaron Cain, Patrick Conlon, Elio Espana, Eric Hogan, Patty Kelly, Marcus
Pacheco, Martin Robson, Scott Sylvia .
Commentary: I have spent many years and many dollors persuing
my love afair with the art of tattoo. I've made some mistakes along the
way. But you live and learn. I care enough about this great art-form to
want to see it exsist in the best possible light. That's why I think it's
important to share this information with you. If we work together, we can
make the art of tattoo shine.
Acknowledgements : Special thanks to Samuel O'riley and
everyone who has ever worked towards advancing the art-form.
Disclaimer:
All efforts have been made to give up-to-date and accurate information.
I do not claim to be a medical authority. Therefore, I (mike "the
spike" wheeler ) do not assume any responsibility for the results
or effects caused by any individual to themselfs or to others as a result
of veiwing this web-site.
If by viewing this material you should contract a bad case of ink fever
be careful with the choices you may make.
Follow my advice:
TATTOO
Medical: 
Stop! Do not go any further until you have read the following. this
is important it could save your life.
Do not get Tattooed or pierced,branded,cut,or any other damn thing,
which breaks the skin by anyone who is not using modern hospital sterilization
techniques. This can be achieved with an autoclave sterilizer. To autoclave
Properly, the autoclave must employ a temperature of 273 degrees fa, with
steam under pressure. The amount of time necessary for the autoclave to
be employed will depend opon the particular model used. After sterilization,
all items which come into contact with a persons bodily fluid, should not
come into contact with any other person. Untill such time that said items
are once again autoclaved properly. All items which come into contact with
bodily fluids and can not be autoclaved are to be discarded. Also, the
work area should be maintained in a clean and anti-septic manner utilizing
universil precautions. A conciencious and professional tattooist will know
all this....... and act accordingly . But you should be aware of what to
look for and what to expect. Materials autoclaved in such a manner are
placed in plastic pouches which have an indicator strip which changes color
when properly sterilized. I cant stress strongly enough do the right thing
and look out for yourself. dont be shy, consult with your artist on these
matters. Getting a great tattoo is important. However, not dying or not
getting some terrible disease is more important. This is not to scare you.
Tattooing is an evasive procedure and must be done properly to be safe.
|
After - Care:
It is extremely important for you to understand that once the tattoo
has been put on it is still not finished.You must do proper after-care.
No matter how great the artist's work you can really screw it up by not
following the proper proceedures. SO,... here they are! 1.Remove bandage
after 8 hours. If bandage sticks, wet the bandage untill it comes off easily.
2.Clean tattoo with mild anti-bacterial soap and water using only your
hand. Do so gently. 3.Apply a light coat of anti-bacterial ointment such
as bacitracin. Do not re-bandage. Do not wear heavy clothing that might
rub. 4. Dont soak the area in water or exspose it to direct sunlight for
two weeks. 5.Gently wash tattoo with mild soap and water daily. Apply thin
coats of bacitracin as many times a day as needed to keep your tattoo from
drying out. To acheive this, smooth ointment over tattoo. Place paper towel
over tattoo,pat the paper towel over the entire area. When you remove the
paper towel, you will have a thin coat. 6.No matter what, do not pick at
it! As it heals, it may itch. Do not scratch it. 7. After one week, begin
using a mild hand lotion in place of bacitracin for another week. A WORD
TO THE WISE: the sun is the great destroyer. After your tattoo has healed,
the sun can and will cause it to fade. If you dont care, fine. If you do,when
outdoors cover up. Unfortunately, time will fade your tattoo as well. Think
of it like this: if you live long enough, your skin will "go to hell"
whether your tattooed or not!
GETTING YOUR NEW TATTOO:
OK. SO, YOUR STILL INTERESTED IN GETTING A TATTOO. GOOD. AFTER FINDING
A REPUTABLE TATTOOIST THAT YOU TRUST, THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT A LOT OF FIRST TIMERS SEEM TO BE CONCERNED
WITH IS THE PAIN THING. DOES IT HURT? YES, THERE IS SOME DISCOMFORT.THERE
ARE THREE MAIN FACTORS INVOLVED HERE. YOUR OWN PERSONAL PAIN THRESHOLD,
THE ARTIST'S TECHNIQUE, AND PLACEMENT ON THE BODY. RELAXATION IS THE KEY.
DO NOT TENSE UP OR HOLD YOUR BREATH.TAKE IT EASY, REMEMBER, IF THEY WERE
TOO PAINFUL TO ENDURE, NO ONE WOULD HAVE THEM!
Body Placement:
When choosing a site on the body, the main consideration (of course)
is getting your new tattoo right where you want it. Even so, there are
still some things you might consider.
Many artists simply wont do tattoos on certain parts of the body such
as the face, hands, and genitals. However, I have seen tattoos on these
areas and every other part of the body. Let your conscience be your guide,
find the artist that you need and dont compromise yourself. although, It
has been my experience that many people like to have the option of covering
their tattoo with clothing in certain social settings. Its something to
think about. also, the size of your tattoo is important in relation to
where it go's on the body. trust me on this, I have seen literally thousands
of tattoo's and a very small tattoo looks good on a knuckle. It doesent
look good on a bicep. Ultimately the choice is yours. Just remember there
is some permanace involved which makes it difficult to rearrange your choices
later.
If YOU DO FIND YOURSELF WITH A TATTOO THAT YOU JUST SIMPLY CANT BRING
YOURSELF TO LIVE WITH, YOU STILL HAVE A COUPLE OF OPTIONS:
THE COVER UP:
THE COVER UP IS A SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUE WHICH COVERS YOUR OLD UNWANTED
TATTOO WITH A NEW ONE YOU CAN BE PROUD OF. Not every tattoo artist can
accomplish this. Again, selecting the right artist to suit your own particular
needs is important. Check out the artist's portfolio. If you proceed with
caution from the outset prior to getting tattooed, chances are you wont
be needing a cover up. But,... if you have a tattoo your not too crazy
about, it's a godsend to know that with a little effort it can be much
better.
TATTOO REMOVAL:
this is not my dept. however, I will share with you what I do know.
The only modern method of removal worth considering is removal by laser.There
are to my knowledge two types of lasers used for tattoo removal. If you
happen to have red pigment in your tattoo, you DO NOT want to use the ruby
laser, as it will not remove the color red. The sensation of removal has
been described to me as being similar to a rubber band being snapped against
the skin. I understand it takes several applications to fully eradicate
the tattoo. I imagine that the expense is considerable, due to the fact
that the procedure is performed by a dermatologist.
THE ART PAGE :
Design choices,...
Now we get to the fun part. Absolutely ANYTHING that you can imagine
that can be drawn and placed upon the body can be tattooed. In this day
and age of mass communication this gives you a hell of a lot of choices
! Once again, finding the right artist will do you a world of good. As
some artist's will excel where others will fail.
Here are some of my favorite art sources- 
HARDY MARKS PUBLICATIONS
DON ED HARDY
has done more than any other individual to elevate and promote the
art of TATTOO in a good light. Along with being one of the foremost practitioners
of the artform, he has made available to the public many fine books on
the subject. Browse his web-site at http://tattoos.com/hmarks/books.htm
or write to: HARDY MARKS PUBLICATIONS P.O. BOX 90520 HONOLULU, HAWAII 96835
LAST GASP OF SAN FRANCISCO . If your into
the counterculture, and you dont have their catalog, get it. 777 FLORIDA
ST. SAN FRANCISCO, CA. 94110 MAIL ORDER 1-800-848-4277 FAX : 415-824-1836
books on the art- work of ROBERT WILLIAMS, and
coming soon COOP.
International Tattoo Art . This magazine
will change the way you think about tattoo's for life . Some of the best
work that's ever been done in the history of mankind . And it's a steal
at $4.99 Subscription orders-1-888-664-7827
Juxtapoz magazine . The coolist alternative
art magazine there is . Period . Subscribe ! Juxtapoz, po box 884570, san
francisco,ca 94188-4570 or call 415-822-3083
For those who follow trends, here's...
Styles:
These represent the top trends in American tattooing and some of the
top artists working in the world today who epitomize the particular styles
listed
Please note:This is in no way an affront to the artists not listed.
I dont have the time or inclinaton to list every competent tattooist in
the world. Choose whomever YOU like. Just dont sell yourself short.[ed.]
For my money, the best old-timey tattoo art designs were done by NORMAN
"SAILOR JERRY" COLLINS. Collin's wasn't the only old time
tattooist doing quality work, he's just simply my favorite. His pinups
kick ass ! You can find out more about SAILOR JERRY by contacting HARDY
MARKS PUBLICATIONS P.O. BOX 90520, HONOLULU, HAWAII, 96835
An artist I would recommend for putting on this kind of art is ERIC
HOGAN . You can find Eric at AMERICAN GRAFFITI
1219 19th STREET SACRAMENTO CA. 95814 PH# 443-7778
Other notables in the traditional style: DAVE GIBSON LUCKY'S TATTOO
PARLOR SAN DIEGO CA.
:
This style borrows from traditional imagery but brings it up to date.
' in my book' the foremost artist in this categorie is DAVE
WAUGH. And, as a major bonus; Dave can put 'em on as well as he
can draw them . You can find DAVE WAUGH AND HIS DESIGNS
at LITTLE VINNIES TATTOOS PH.# 410-876-4638
This style is typified by being cartoony, weird,
and fun. The guy who does the crazyist tattoos Ive ever seen is JEFF
RASSIER. I dont know if he sells design sheets,
I do know he does custom work and can be found at
One more artist who does'nt mind doing the wacky
stuff, and does it very well is DAVE LUM SALEM
ORE.
These curvelenier abstract shapes are mostly
done in black. But can just as easly be in color . Although everybody and
his brother seem to be doing this stuff these days , the big kahuna is
still LEO ZULUETA . Leo
owns and operates BLACK WAVE TATTOO 118 SOUTH
LA BREA LOS ANGELES CA. PH#(213) 932-1900
Another artist whose tribal work I think alot
of, is NALLA SMITH TATTOO CITY 722 COLUMBUS
AVENUE SAN FRANCISCO.
It's just what it sounds like . And when it's
done well, it's astounding. The last stuff that really floored me was done
by STEPHANE CHAUDESAIGUES ,GRAPHICADERME ,
AVIGNON FRANCE .
Some other world-class notables are: KARI
BARBA OUTER LIMITS ANAHEIM CA. BRIAN EVERETT ROUTE 66 FINE LINE TATTOO
ALBUQUERQUE NEW MEXICO JACK RUDY TATTOOLAND ANAHEIM CA. TIN-TIN PARIS FRANCE
DAWEI ZANG DA WEI TATTOO SANTA CLARA CA.
In my opinion, the artist who "rules the
roost" in this dept. is MARCUS PACHECO.
He's partial to cubism . You may contact him at PRIMAL
URGE STUDIOS SAN FRANCISCO.
This style of tattooing was very popular durng
the 1970's . My favorite fantasy tattoo art was done by GREG
IRONS who thrived during this period. GREG
died in 1984.He was a giant in underground comix as well, and also worked
on th e classic Beatles animated film Yellow Submarine.His "flash"-I.E.
[ graphic art designs created specificly for tattoo's ] can be purchased
along with a bunch of other cool tattoo related stuff from C.
W. ELDRIDGE TATTOO ARCHIVE 2804 SAN PABLO AVE. BERKELEY, CA. 94702 PH#
(510) 548-5895
This one's hard to describe. Think of alien /organic
/machinery. A couple of names which instantly come to mind Are -GUY
AITCHISON GUILTY AND INNOCENT PRODUCTIONS 3105 LINCOLN AVE. CHICAGO, IL.
60657 PH# (312) 404-6963 and AARON CAIN EVERLASTING TATTOO SAN FRANCISCO
CA. PH# (415) 928 - 6244
The top dawg's these days in this paticular style
in my eyes at least, are D.E. HARDY TATTOO
CITY SAN FRANCISCO CA. and PAUL JEFFRIES. Paul
can be found at SMILING BUDDA in CALGARY,
CANADA.
Another great artist of note in this vein is
GREG JAMES SUNSET TATTOO LOS ANGELES
The undisputed king of dark is PAUL
BOOTH. Cristian's beware ! contact paul at
LAST RITES N.J. N.Y. AREA 201-402-2380
My favorite artist's in this catagorie are:
IAN of READING READING ENGLAND and WALT DAILY j.r. SPOKANE WASHINGTON U.S.A.
Best Graffiti-style I'VE ever seen ,
--- GRIME PRIMAL URGE SAN FRANCISCO CA. also,
EDDY DEUTSCHE 222 TATTOO SAN FRANCISCO CA.
There are a number of artist's working today
who can do ANY STYLE with ease . My personal favorite tattooing by an artist
who can do it all, is by SCOTT SILVIA at 222
TATTOO SAN FRANCISCO CA.
HONERABLE MENTION : THE
PIZZ .! Although the pizz does'nt do tattooing
himself, he does have tattoo flash available through AVALON
TATTOO 1035 GARNET AVE. SAN DIEGO, CA. 92109 PH# (619) 274-7635 For
info. on gallery shows contact LA LUZ DE JESUS
GALLERY 4633 HOLLYWOOD BLVD. LOS ANGELES CA. 90027 PH# (213)666-7667
BODY PIERCING:
LE FastCounter
The big mother of them all ,...
GAUNTLET INTERNATIONAL.
Online at http://www.gauntlet.com/
My favorite local piercing studio
is:
THE EXOTIC BODY 12I9 19TH STREET
SACTO CA 95815 PH: (916)- 447- OUCH
click here
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