Artist Tattoo Feature: Guy Aitchison

Many new school tattoo artists have begun to blur the line between tattooing and fine art. By bringing their creative genius and artistic flair into the studio, they have helped to elevate the world of tattooing into an art form in its own right. World renowned artist Guy Aitchison has dedicated most of his career to educating and expanding the minds of up and coming artists, and demonstrates the need to continually push the boundaries of artistic expression. Inspired by visionary artists such as Alex Grey and HR Giger, Guy is renowned for his striking biomechanical tattoo designs and stunning fractal landscapes. He is the author of a number of tattoo books which are collectively known as the ‘tattooist’s bible’ and showcase incredible tattoo designs alongside fine art paintings.

Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Guy exhibited artistic talents from a very young age. An absence of a television set in the family home resulted in him and his siblings spending most of their free time creating art. Although his parents were not artists themselves they actively encouraged artistic expression and filled their home with art supplies and books. His sister, Hannah Aitchison, is also an accomplished tattoo artist and appeared on reality series LA Ink. After finishing high school a semester early in 1985 Guy worked as an apprentice in the art department of the Jacklich Corporation for one year until he began a full time job painting album covers for Shrapnel Records. Providing the artwork for artists such as Hexx, Vinnie Moore, and David Chastain, Guy continued this work for four years until finally venturing into tattoos. After completing a two year apprenticeship at ‘Bob Oslon’s Custom Tattooing’ in Chicago, he opened his own studio ‘Guilty and Innocent Productions’ which remained successful until Guy decided to close in 1998 to pursue his painting and publishing goals.

Guy is currently involved in publishing a series of tattoo manuals called ‘Reinventing the Tattoo’ which are a must read for any aspiring tattoo artist and have sold thousands of copies. His seminars at tattoo conventions draw hundreds of admirers and he is regarded as one of the most important artists in the business. He maintains an online studio called ‘Hyperspace Studios’ alongside his wife and fellow artist Michele Wortman, which showcases his artwork, books, merchandise, and flash designs. Together with his wife Guy is breaking new ground in the tattoo industry. Travelling to numerous conventions and publishing manuals catered to artists, he is constantly developing new techniques and concepts in regard to tattooing.

Guy is known as the biomechanical wizard of tattooing. His designs are heavily influenced by Salvador Dali, Alex Grey, and Giger, and are infused with his own addition of a few organic colors to add extra layers to each piece. His 3D work is mind-blowingly realistic and is evident in a full back piece which appears to be a gateway into another dimension. The use of light and shading in the piece gives the impression that you could reach into the design and the piece fits the contours of the body beautifully. Guy is known for his ability to intricately shade each design to give different textures and levels which create the impossibly realistic designs that have become his trademark. While most artists prefer to work in gray scale to preserve the realism of their work, Guy is able to create some of the most realistic tattoos in the most vibrant colors.

His itinerary is available at his online studio along with his tattoo manuals and a gallery of his work. As a firm believer in tattooing as an art form, Guy uses his artistic vision to push the physical limitations of tattooing and seeks to recreate on flesh the intricate designs he creates on canvas. A heavy weight in the tattoo industry he is first and foremost an artist and his paintings are exhibited in galleries around the world. Together with his wife, he is taking the tattoo world by storm and will no doubt continue to inspire thousands of artists from all over the world.

Guy is unfortunately not performing tattoos at conventions at the moment but does attend them in order to give live painting performances, seminars, and promote his books. His itinerary is available at his online studio along with his tattoo manuals and a gallery of his work. His next big project is the Paradise Artist Retreat which he is promoting along with his wife and TattooNow’s Gabe Ripley. The retreat is held at Jiminy Peak Ski Resort in Western Massachusetts and focuses primarily on fine art mediums. A heavy weight in the tattoo industry he is first and foremost an artist and his paintings are exhibited in galleries around the world. Together with his wife he is taking the tattoo world by storm and will no doubt continue to inspire thousands of artists from all over the world.

Artist Feature: Paul Booth Tattoo

There has been much debate over the years regarding whether or not tattooing can be considered as a true art form. Although the practice has been around for centuries many art snobs believe it to be the reserve of the criminally minded and anarchistic. As body art gains more recognition and becomes more socially acceptable, many artists have begun to push the boundaries of tattooing and integrate it into the world of fine art. No artist has worked harder on this goal than the ‘Master of Macabre’ Paul Booth.

Hailing from Boonton, New Jersey, Booth is credited with helping to bring the world of tattooing into the medium of fine art. Through his many artistic projects and organizations he has managed to unite tattoo artists from all over the world and showcase some of their most spectacular works of art. Known and revered for his incredibly dark and aggressive designs, Booth is regularly sought out by heavy metal bands who give him the freedom to create some of the most horrifying designs ever seen on human flesh.

Paul Booth displayed entrepreneurial skills from a very young age. At just 15 years old he opened his own shop designing and making signs. He worked a variety of different jobs including airbrushing and rope-man until he finally found his calling in 1988 and began an apprenticeship at a studio. His very first tattoo was the name of his daughter ‘Tabitha’ and was the start of his now impressive collection of personal body art.

His career really took off after he completed his first full back piece in 1991 which received a huge amount of attention and praise. He decided to take the tattoo to the largest convention at the time in Pittsburgh and walked away with the prize for ‘Best Up and Coming Artist’, ‘Best Black and Gray Large Female’, and ‘Best Tattoo at Convention’. This thrust him into the spotlight almost overnight and he appeared on a number of magazine covers and gained the attention of a number of professional artists. This spawned a number of years on the road at conventions and festivals until he finally opened his own studio in New Jersey followed by another in New York.

Nowadays Booth can be found at the aesthetically stunning ‘Last Rites Tattoo Theater’ in New York. The creepy Gothic atmosphere of the theatre is evidence of his belief in the importance of atmosphere during the creative process, a theory which he has given many seminars on to try and teach the concept. As well as the theater he owns his own record label, media production company, and art gallery. As an active member of the National Arts Club he has constantly strives to bridge the gap between fine art and tattooing. His gallery in New York ‘Last Rites Gallery’ regularly features exhibitions from tattoo artists around the world and some of the biggest names in dark art.

He founded the Art Fusion Experiment, a movement that brought together tattooists from around the world with the goal of creating one of a kind works of art. The project was born at the ‘Tattoo the Earth’ festival in 2000 after he and artist Filip Leu took turns in tattooing the chest of musician Ryan Martinie of Muvayne. Each artist took turns in working on the design in short bursts so that neither had the opportunity to dominate the piece. This resulted in an artwork that could only be created by the combined minds of two prolific tattooists, and the technique has been repeated at various gatherings.

Paul Booth is known for his dark and warped images usually rendered in black and gray shading. His talent is so impressive that his waiting list is approximately 3 years long with many more clients added each day. His depiction of the 7 deadly sins (above) as part of a black and gray sleeve is beautifully detailed and the different tones and hues used throughout the piece create depth and texture. The 7 faces convey the different emotions of their personal sin and display Booth’s incredible talent for realism.

One of his designs that has the power to render anyone speechless is the full chest piece that spreads over the arms and stomach. This incredible design has so many details and layers that it is impossible to consider it anything less than a masterpiece. The zombie woman peering out from behind the spinal column with her hand wrapped around the front of the spine is one of the best examples that can be seen of the power of a 3 dimensional design. The hours of work that must have gone into this are truly mind blowing and every small detail has been carefully shaded including a small design inside the pendant around the neck.

Well aware of the disturbing nature of some of his designs, Booth spends many hours in consultation with his clients determining whether or not they can handle the implications of living with such a dark image. A design that has no doubt shocked many passers-by is the stitches around the throat of a man which give the impression of a severed head. The client, who lived in the bible belt of America, had to wait many months before Booth agreed to ink such a dramatic design in an extremely conspicuous area of the body.

Beneath Booth’s fearsome exterior lies the delicate soul of an artist. His art is infused with a macabre beauty which stimulates emotion in anyone who views it, whether or not they appreciate the subject matter. His talent has made him a household name and he has used this fame to push the tattoo culture to the limit and has directed two documentaries that aim to educate the world about the world of tattooing. His creative genius has taken the form of music, sculpture, painting, tattooing, and film and he has become an inspiration to thousands of up and coming artists. Anyone lucky enough to land an appointment with Booth in his specially designed theatre will have not only the experience of a lifetime, but a personal piece of stunning artwork to call their own.

Joe Capobianco Tattoo

Larger than life tattoo artist Joe Capobianco is responsible for some of the most original pin up style tattoos seen anywhere in the business. By blending his airbrushing skills with 1950’s style pin up images, and adding his own unique touch, Joe has created his very own style of tattooing and coined the term "Capo Girls". Having stumbled into the business on the advice of a friend, he has travelled around the world working in countless shops as a guest artist, had his work published in a number of magazines, and appeared as a featured artist at many conventions. He even appeared as a guest artist on reality series "Miami Ink" and counts some of the biggest names in tattooing as his close friends and influences.

Born in Long Island, New York, Joe began his artistic career by designing biker t-shirts. During a tattoo session that he attended with a group of friends, a friend mentioned to the tattooist that Joe himself was also an artist. This innocent remark started a chain of events that led to Joe earning his place among some of the greatest tattoo artists working today. The artist who had tattooed Joe and his friends later opened his own shop and remembered Joe’s artwork and after commissioning a couple of paintings, offered him an apprenticeship. Joe then gave up painting and began an apprenticeship 6 days a week at "Cliff’s Tattoos".

Working alongside fellow artists Civ, Thom Butler and Joe Olsen, Joe has stated that he gained an extremely strong work ethic from his time at Cliff’s. After a year at that studio Joe left to spend the next 6 years working at "Lotus Tattoo". He then met artist Cory Kruger whose work he became enthralled by, and the two decided to open their very own studio "Color Box" in Seabrook, New Hampshire. The studio lasted for almost a year and a half before he relocated to Connecticut and began work at "Dark Side Tattoo".

Joe is currently operating out of "Hope Gallery" in New Haven, Connecticut, alongside renowned artists such as Eric Merrill, Julio Rodriguez, Tim Harris, Phil Young, and Christian Perez. He is still a regular at conventions and continues to travel and work as a guest artist in studios around the world. Joe’s unique style can be somewhat attributed to his early career as an air brusher. His fantasy comic book style of tattooing and artwork is influenced by airbrushing techniques and he has used this to invent his own method of working. Joe is said to use his own unique color palette and this is responsible for the high color saturation used in his designs.

Working almost exclusively in color, Joe is a master of the pin up genre of tattoos and can use shading and light to create striking images that seem to be straight out of a 50’s retro magazine. His talent for female fantasy art is unrivalled in the business and he has created a number of books and instructional DVDs to help educate up and coming artists. His books include ‘Knock Yerself Out’ which is a collection of artwork by him and Brett Bryan and also ‘What’s Not Ta Like?’ His instructional DVD ‘A Moment with Joe’ is a two hour documentary featuring a candid talk about his life and work, all the while focusing on a hand tattoo being done by Joe from start to finish.

Joe’s work has taken him all over the world from Europe to Japan and even Australia in search of inspiration and knowledge. He has developed his own style and technique and even helped to create his very own tattoo machine. Even though he has reached a level of success than many artists can only dream about, he remains humble and even slightly bewildered by all the fame and adoration. He currently lives in New Haven, Connecticut, with his wife Alethea and French bulldog Molly

Lou Jacque Tattoos Gallery

Lou Jacque is a native New Englander who has been quietly carving out a place for himself among some of the most talented black and gray and realism artists in the industry. Currently operating out of ‘Transcend Tattoo’ in Branford, Connecticut, Lou has had to balance his love of tattooing with his other passion for playing music. An accomplished musician, he has found a way to integrate his two interests and blend the worlds of music and tattooing to create something truly special. Lou’s designs have earned him international recognition and allowed him to collaborate with some of the biggest names in the business. A devoted husband and father, Lou has decide to shun the festival and convention circuit and prefers to spend the majority of his time working out of his shop and with his family in New Haven, Connecticut.

Born in 1974 in Northampton, Massachusetts, Lou was interested in both art and music from a very young age and got his first taste of art by watching his older brother Ryan. He found outlets for his creative talent by playing in bands during his youth and completing sketches for friends. After graduating high school he decided against college and signed up for an apprenticeship at ‘Body Graphics Tattoo’ in South Windsor. Three years later he joined ‘Darkside Tattoo’ in East Haven, where he spent the next eight years among an assortment of talented artists. Throughout his career he has continued to play music and is now an accomplished bassist, guitarist, and drummer. He is currently performing tattoos at his studio alongside respected artists Anthony Plaza, George Carter, and Jeff Mansolf to name a few.

Lou’s work is characterized by an incredible attention to detail and firm understanding of lighting, tone, and texture. Many of his designs have an emotional quality that lends each piece its own individual beauty. His black and gray portrait of Spiderman (above) shows the Marvel character in deep contemplation and is a unique representation of the usually bold cartoon character. The graduated shading in this piece is expertly done and the lighting gives the character an ethereal appearance. His talent for black and gray realism is shown once again in his portrait of two deer surrounded by a forest setting. This design is based on a sketch by his older brother Ryan Jacque who is himself a talented artist specialising in wildlife and animal portraits. The carefully graduated shading in this piece gives a 3 dimensional effect and could easily be mistaken for the actual sketch.

Lou’s love of music and art is brought together in the spectacular musical themed full leg sleeve. Full of color and detail, this tattoo is a masterpiece and would take the viewer a full five minutes to fully appreciate each individual element. The design features a guitar player, keyboardist, gold record, and old style microphone all blended together in a whirlpool of color and lightening. Combining his two passions has allowed Lou to create something amazing and he has still managed to infuse the piece with his own individual style.

There has always been a connection between tattooing and music that has existed for hundreds of years. From ancient ceremonies to heavy metal rock concerts, tattooing has always been a huge part of the music culture and many fans wish to pay tribute to their favourite bands by wearing them permanently on their skin. The frighteningly realistic depiction of nu metal band Slipknot on a client’s leg shows the nine members in all their gruesome glory. Wearing their trademark horror masks, the band are shown in incredible detail surrounded by an organic, swirling background consisting of many different textures and tones. Realistic black and gray portraiture work is a difficult feat in itself, but to be able to add to that the raw spirit and blistering energy of a heavy metal band like Slipknot is an impressive accomplishment.

In regards to self-promotion Lou can be considered a relatively low-key guy. As possibly the last person on earth to not have a Facebook or MySpace page he has chosen to publicise only his work and keep his private life to himself. As well as tattooist and musician, Lou can add painter, illustrator and sculptor to his list of occupations. He also designs t shirts and album covers for musicians and creates impressive digital artwork. Anyone wishing to contact Lou can do so through his website to request a tattoo appointment or commission a piece of original artwork.

For such a multi-talented and unique person to choose to keep away from the limelight is a refreshing change in this fame obsessed society. Quietly performing his artwork and inking spectacular tattoos in the daytime, Lou spends his evenings with his wife Sarah, and daughter, Emma. Quite often the most extremely talented people will choose to live their lives privately without the need for constant attention, and Lou Jacque definitely falls into this category.

Mermaid & Ocean Ghost Tattoo Designs

These two paintings were created at the same time on one piece of line and wash board. Each picture is a mixture of watercolor and ink. The ghost is painted in white acrylic.

The thinking behind the ghost picture is: he is willing the bottle across the ocean, but I never worked out in my mind what the message inside would say. I assume he sent the bottle himself when he was alive.

The mermaid picture has no real meaning. She is just vain.

Try our Tool - Free Tattoos

So lately every time I sign into my Facebook account I am shocked and amazed by the amount of pictures posted by "friends" of their horrible tattoos. Now I say horrible not in a snobby "I'm an elite artist" kind of way, but as in the "what the hell were you thinking" kind of way. I see people post about tattoo parties they are hosting or are promoting. And I wonder why, if they know who I am and what I do why they would still get these bad tattoos.

Anarchy Tattoos

Anarchy Tattoos