Issue #1 June/July 2022

Paul Booth Last Rites

John Beal

Tragic Magic Tattooz

Jimmy Dalessio

Dora Bansagi And More!

Models!

Melissa Baker Renee Maybe

Courtney Reimer Nicole Ryan And Mogilkina Liza

Featuring

Haruethai Poole

Issue #1 June/July

Tat too F e sti va l s Baltimore May 13th - 15th 2022 Kansas City May 20th - 22nd 2022 Houston June 3rd - 5th 2022 Oklahoma City June 10th - 12th 2022 Charlotte June 17th - 19th 2022

Nashville Raleigh July 22nd - 24th 2022 San Diego August 5th - 7th 2022 Wildwood

July 8th - 10th 2022 Little Rock July 15th - 17th 2022

Milwaukee Sep 30th - Oct 2nd 2022 Savannah October 21st - 23rd 2022

August 12th - 14th 2022 Dallas August 19th - 21st 2022 Cincinnati September 2nd - 4th 2022

Denver

September 16th - 18th 2022

New Orleans September 9th - 11th 2022

Tampa October 28th - 30th 2022 Asheville November 4th - 6th 2022 Minneapolis January 6th - 8th 2023 Chicago March 17th - 19th 2023

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Staff Steve Azzara (RIP) President/Editor in Chief/MFIC Pamela Sellers Co owner/President/Writer Matt Sellers Writer/Creative director/Editor Chris Potts VP/Co owner/ Promoter Cypress Bates Video Journalist/Writer

Contributors

Millz Marley Fame Montalvo Mike Johnston Concert/ Event Photography Santelmo (Saint) Vazquez Cover Photo @image_faktory Cover Model- @sour_heart1 Speacial Thanks Daniel Kearney, Lydia Bruno, Santelmo (Saint) Vazquez, Mark Lawrence, Pepe Carire, Tommy’s Supplies, New England Tattoo Expo, Villain Arts, Sellers Ink Tattoo, WildWood Sean Hightower, Walt Anderson, Battlefield Expo ......... And anyone else if we forot you Thank you Very Much....

Table of Contents Melissa Baker -2 Dora Bansagi-1 Renee Maybe- 19 Jimmy Dalessio- 24 Haruethai Poole- 37 Paul Booth- 44 John Beal -60 Vaughn Ara- 74 Eleonora Bordoni-85 Melba Czosnowski-104 Courtney Reimer-114 American Tattoo Society-125 Mogilkinaliza-131

MELISSA BAKER USA

Photography by @rnb2photography Model @ta_loo_la_bell

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Dora Bansagi Austria 10

Interview-msellersink13

@doraarts @fatfoxtattoo

1. Were you born and raised in Austria? And what was it like growing up there?

I was born and raised in Salzburg, in the center of Austria.

Growing up there was nice, as a kid it was great because there was a lot of nature around. But as I grew up and became a teenager the possibilities were not as big as in bigger cities like in Vienna.

Thats why I moved there in 2012.

2. At what age did you discover your passion for art?

I noticed very early that creating art was a big passion on mine and since I was a child I was interested in tattoos. I even tattooed my barbies with marker haha

3. What was your apprenticeship like? And how long have you been tattooing for?

I’ve been tattooing for around 8 years now. I was lucky to learn at a good studio with skilled teachers. During my apprenticeship I was also studying Art and Spanish in the University which I finished in 2018. But if I’m honest, I think I learned more about art in the tattoo studio than in the renowned art University.

4. When did you start your own business Fat fox studio? And how is that going for you?

I opened the first studio in Summer 2020 and in a very short time it filled up with great artists that I’m super happy to work with. In December 2021, only one year after I opened a second Fat Fox Studio also in Vienna. I’m super stoked that it worked out so well.

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5. I see that you do a mixed variety of tattoo styles, what would you consider your favorite style is?

It’s very hard for me to decide which style I like most but lately I enjoy combining realistic works with abstract elements.

But I’m always trying to have an open mind about different styles.

6. Other than running a business and tattooing what are some of your hobbies?

I recently started producing music, my first song will actually come out in May. My artist name probably will be CRYMS.

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7. Do you ever travel for work like conventions or guest spots?

And if so what’s your favorite locations?

Before I opened my own shop, I went for some guest spots to Germany, Portugal and Spain.

I only have been to quite a few conventions in Austria, but I’m planning to take part in more international con-

ventions in the future.

8. Who are some of your biggest influences in the tattoo industry?

There are so many great artist that I really admire.

I don’t know where to start :D Robert Hernandez, Victor Portugal, Bob Mosquito, Black Minimal Tattoo, and probably a hundred more.

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Renee Maybe

USA

Photography- @reneeemaybe Model- @reneeemaybe @reneexreckless

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JIMMY D’ALESSIO usa

Interview by @Pammy_Sellers

@jimmydalessio

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So tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? Ect...

My name is Jimmy D’Alessio and I’m from a small town called Raritan in New Jersey. I always loved Halloween when it came every year and now I feel like it’s Halloween every day. I surround myself with inspirations to keep my mind creating. I have a deep connection to nature and the spirit world, and there is a balance between the two that pushes and pulls me in different directions every day. I feel like everyone is writing the chapters to their own story book and I couldn’t be happier with where the paths have led me so far.

At what age did you start getting into art?

I’ve been creating art since I was a little kid. I remember my parents giving me colored pencils with paper and I would draw monsters and dinosaurs with my brother, Nick. We really played off our creativity together, even to this day. The artwork from the “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” books were some of many creepy images I have burned into my memory. We watched a lot of horror and monster movies that we rented from blockbuster, usually based on the creature design on the VHS cover. I remember being attracted to alien and dinosaur movies which shifted into watching anything horror.

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What was the first thing that attracted you to tattoo art? And when did you realize you wanted to become a tattoo artist?

In middle school and high school I started discovering metal bands such as Lamb of God, Slipknot, and Chimaira. The music really gave my art a huge push into a more chaotic and twisted art form. I loved creating all types of art, and I still do, but I’ve always been drawn to darker imagery. And with this music, tattoos were a huge part of the metal culture. I started going to every show I could, from firehouses to arenas, it didn’t matter to me. I loved being around all the energy. From there, I became interested in tattoos, so I started going to tattoo conventions to talk to artists and seeing what the culture was all about.

Most artists really loved the path they took, and the others seemed like they would be miserable no matter what they were doing. I started looking for an apprenticeship right after high school which began my tattoo journey.

I see you do a lot of the dark arts style, at what point in your career did you realize that was the style you wanted to specialize in?

I remember seeing people with tattoos in stores when I was little, and they always looked really bad, so I never liked them as a kid. Later on, I saw tattoo artists like Paul Booth and Toxyc on google image searches, and I was blown away that there were tattoos that could look like that. H.R. Giger was a huge inspiration for me ever since I saw the alien films, and seeing tattoos inspired by his work really solidified my choice for going down this career path. When instagram came out, it was an inspiration overload with the amount of horror artwork I could see at my fingertips. That was how I was able to connect with other artists and let our creativity build off each other.

Do you enjoy traveling to tattoo conventions? If so, what is your favorite part about them?

I love traveling to tattoo conventions! I wish I could go to all of them and see the world. Traveling gives me a sense of freedom and I always encourage tattoo artists of all levels to go and network. That would be my favorite part of tattoo conventions, is meeting other like minded people in a familiar environment. Tattoo conventions connect artists from all around the world. I have met some of my favorite people in the world at a tattoo convention.

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Who are some of your biggest inspirations in the tattoo industry?

I would have to say from my beginnings of being a tattoo artist, Paul Booth and Toxyc started it all for me and continue to inspire me to this day. Some huge inspirations include Alexis Vaatete, Jesse Levitt, Brandon Herrera, Julian Siebert, David Jorquera, Gabe Londis, and Darwin Enriquez. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been tattooed by some of those artists. Most of them draw on the skin with markers to prep for their designs. Freehand art has always been a huge inspiration for me because of the way it fits the anatomy and accents body movements. I am inspired constantly by the tattoos these artists put out, and there is infinitely more that I can list.

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Do you have any long or short term goals for your career that you’d like to tell us about?

I feel like I am constantly adding more goals for myself. Some short term goals would be to set up more conventions, guest spots, and get more tattoos by my idols. I’d also like to take more instructional workshops and classes to help push my art to its next potential.

I love learning and I feel like I will never be complacent with where I am at. As for some long term goals, I would eventually like to teach seminars, workshops and tattoo around the world. Of course too, like almost every artist, I would like to eventually open a creative studio of my own, where tattooing and art workshops can have common ground. Ultimately, I would like to see how far I can push my artwork and really create a unique style that people would like to seek out.

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What are some hobbies that you enjoy doing outside of art and work?

I like wandering around in the woods and taking pictures of mushrooms. I love nature and love the textures it gives to us. Nature will always be the world’s greatest artist. I have recently rekindled my love for horror video games, which before tattooing, I wanted to be a concept artist for video games. Some of my favorites are The Evil Within, Until Dawn and Outlast. And of course concerts will always hold a special place in my heart. I try to keep a balance in my life, and it’s a push and pull. Sometimes the universe knows, and a last minute cancellation happens at a perfect time to force an unexpected day off. Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.

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If you could tattoo anyone in the world who would it be? And why?

I have been very fortunate recently, that most of my clients are really awesome and want to get my original artwork. I couldn’t be happier to be able to draw my original creatures and have them find a home in someone’s skin. That is exactly what I want to be doing and I am the happiest when I can tattoo artwork that both myself and my client are both equally excited about. I couldn’t be doing this without them and I can’t wait to see what’s next on this journey!

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Haruethai Thailand Poole Photography @image_faktory Facebook.com/image_faktory

Model @sour_heart1 37

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Paul Booth Usa

Interview by @Pammy_Sellers 44

Artist @Paulbooth Headshots @panicgallery

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Pam: what was the first thing that attracted you to tattoo art and what made you decide you wanted to be a tattoo artist?

Paul:I think my first attraction was in my high school, my early years of high school, there was a kid who got a scorpion stick and poked into his arm, and he was like the bad boy of the school. He was the only kid with a tattoo in the whole school. This was like 1982 or 83. I’d look at it all the time and I’d be like, man if I was going to put something permanent on my body, I would want it to look cool, because it looked like shit. And I swore that, you know, I didn’t swear that I’d be a tattoo artist, but I was into getting them, and I was into drawing them before I even knew anything about them. Like I would do that if I could draw myself. And then when I was 19, I had a kid, and I was kind of freaking out about it, and a friend suggested I should get her name tattooed on me, which I did, and it helped, and I fell in love with the whole process. The ritual aspect of it was awesome, and the pain, the whole thing was just awesome. And I just had to know how to do it. I wasn’t even thinking about a career, I just had to know how to do it.

Pam: How many years have you been tattooing? And how has your journey been so far?

Paul: I started in 1988, so I think its 34 years now. And the journey never ends man. It always gets crazier and crazier. I got story after story after story. I love it.

Pam: when and how did you discover your dark art style?

Paul: When I got the freedom to do whatever I wanted on my friends. After I left the shop that I learned in, I was then able to start drawing more of my own tattoos, and my inclination was always to draw demons. That’s where my heart has always been since I was a child.

Pam: I see you’ve tattooed a lot of rockstars and celebrities, how did you get into that? And who were some of your favorite ones to work on?

Paul: Phil Anselmo is like a brother to me, he’s a favorite, Kerry king, same situation you know. I haven’t tattooed either of them in quit awhile but we remain close friends. Who else, lots of guys man, all those old timers that we are now you know, all the likely suspects, all the guys that played Ozzfest.

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Pam: Do you have any big art projects coming up? Like music, movies, etc...

Paul: Not big art projects, I’m working on some VR stuff and 3d design, that sort of thing, painting, and tattooing full time again. And I’m doing some NFT stuff, which I know everyone hates, but whatever. And that’s about it right now, I think.

Pam: Could you tell us about some your craziest gifts and collectables from your fans?

Paul: I just got a taxidermized fetus. Actual taxidermy. The skin is so like supple soft, like thin you know? Its genuine you know? And it’s the most horrid looking thing you can imagine when you know what it is. That’s right now my current collectable of the month 52

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Pam: do you believe aliens exist?

Paul: It’d be pompous not to. Only a fool could think we’re alone in the universe. Considering how vast it is, you’d have to be an idiot to think we’re the only living thing. And a bigger idiot to think…well never mind, I won’t get into religion ha-ha.

Pam: what would be some advice you would give to a new and upcoming tattooist?

Paul: It’s what I always say, run away, as fast as you can haha. Advice huh?

It’s a strange world now, its not like it was, its hard to give advice anymore. The industry is just not what it was, in a good way and a bad way, probably more in a bad way. I would say the best advice I can give is don’t let all the fans and clients you eventually get let you stray from the fact that they’re doing you the favor letting you tattoo them, don’t forget that. And when you start thinking you’re special, its time to knock yourself down a peg. In this business that’s important advice I think.

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Pam: one more question, what do you think about the newer tattoo styles that are out now?

Paul: Like the ignorant style?! I want to kick someone in the nuts! Are you kidding me?! How that jail house crap could be a style, its not even jail house, its worse than that. You see it on YouTube, its actually called the ignorant style.

It’s a new genre. It makes me sick, I want to break hands. It’s a disgrace, I didn’t work this hard for this long for that to be popular.

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John Beal USA 60

Interview by - @pammy_sellers Artist- @tragicmagictattooz_hamc

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Pam: What was the first thing that attracted you to tattoo art? And when did you decide you wanted to be a tattoo artist?

John: I guess I’ve always been attracted to tattoos. Back in the 80’s it wasn’t really a big thing, only gangsters and bikers and criminals had them, so I was kind of attracted to that. I started thinking about being a tattoo artist when I was in the penitentiary in Baltimore Maryland. My cell buddy was a tattoo artist, but he couldn’t draw a lick, so I was doing all the drawing, he was doing all the tattooing and making all the money. So then I decided that I wanted to make some of that money haha. So I had him teach me how to tattoo. And then from there I had 2 or 3 other skilled tattoo artists apprentice me while I was still incarcerated. And I never meant to do it as a job, just was kind of cool, and after time and getting better and doing more it ended up being my life long profession.

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Pam: How long have you been tattooing? And how has your journey been so far?

John: I started in 1984, so God knows how long that was haha. And it’s been great. It was shitty at first, back then no one got tattoos, it wasn’t like it is today.

So I was a struggling artist in a small town. I had about 6 or 7 shops, and I lost 5 or 6 of them haha. So it was a struggle, but now with the present time and everybody getting tattoos and everyone loving tattoos and it being a lot more acceptable, it has been financially great for me now.

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Pam: So we’re sitting in your shop Tragic Magic Tattooz right now, when did you open this business? And how has it been going for you?

John: I started this shop here in 2010, and my location is actually prime right now. I’m in the middle of a shopping mall located by the food court, so anyone who doesn’t know, it’s a street shop but it’s very lucrative. At first it took time for people to realize about a shop in a mall. But since then it has been nothing but great. I suggest everyone open shops up in malls haha.

Pam: I see you do a variety of different styles, what are your favorite styles to tatoo? And least favorite? And why?

John: Well once again, this is a street shop so we do everything, so I’m actually OK with doing everything. I like black and grey, I think you can get a lot more detail and texture in black and grey tattoos than color. I’m not big into the cartoony, girly lollipops and cupcakes. I will do them if I need to. My least favorite is tribal. I think it’s attractive on some people, but it’s very boring to tattoo haha.

Pam: Being in the game so long, how do you feel about how the tattoo industry has developed? As far as the newer equipment, and new styles, ect...

John: Well I wish I was the one to invent the rotary machine, that’s what we used in prison 30 or 40 years ago. So the rotary machine is just a high class jail house tattoo machine, and I wish I was the one who developed it haha. But for a long time I was loyal to the coil, like all old tattoo artists, but I have definetly stepped up and now I use a rotary pen, and I just love the development of it. I think anyone who holds themselves back by not trying new stuff is crazy. I have a bunch of young artists that come into my shops and work for me, and I look at what they’re using, and look at how they’re doing it, and I just learn from them. It’s definitely a big improvement in our industry. I’m very happy with it.

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Pam: Do you ever travel for work? And if so, what are some of your favorite locations and event to work at?

John: No I dont travel anymore. I use to do the curcuit back in the 90’s to do the conventions, but now I don’t. We’re so busy here at the shop now, I don’t have time for it. I have done a couple European tattoo conventions as a spectator, not as a worker, just to see what they do and how they are out there.

But no I try not to travel anymore. Business is just so good here so I don’t need to.

Pam: You are also the president of the Hells Angels Maryland chapter, and you guys throw a lot of events. Tell us a little bit about that........

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John: Well we do do a lot of events. We do a big charity car and bike show for hospice. All the proceeds go to the hospice house. And we do that about 2 or 3 times a year, we do a St. Pattys day event where all the proceeds go to hospice.

We try to stay focused on Maryland charitys. We try to keep it in our state and in our town, sometimes in our county. But we do that, we do the toys for tots, and a bunch of different charitys to try to benefit our area.

Pam: Who are some of your biggest influences in the tattoo industry?

John: For a long time Guy Aitchison. He inspired me to do better. I always thought man if I could be half of him that would be great. But now we have all these new artists out here that are just phenomenal. Steve Butcher now is another one thats just phenomenal. How does he make those tattoos look like that? So, those are 2 of my biggest influences lately.

Pam: What would be some advice you would give to a new and upcoming tattooer?

John: SLOW AND STEADY! Haha, as I’m speaking to my apprentice. Yeah I jumped right in it, you know, I went straight from prison to tattooing all my friends. I never really took my time and slowed down and learned the industry.

And there’s a lot of information out there now with the internet. I suggest anyone that wants to get into the business, slow down, take your time and do a lot of research. And if you can’t draw, become a mechanic haha. Don’t be a tattoo artist if you can’t draw. Be a mechanic, be something better you know what I mean? A lot of people are coming into this industry that can’t draw a lick and they just want to follow lines and color things in. And that’s fine, you will come to a certain plateau, but you’ll never advance if you don’t have the artistry to start drawing first. And I’ve seen it through people I’ve apprenticed and artists I’ve worked with. They’re great at certain things, but that’s where they peak out at, and that’s it, because they don’t have the background of the art of drawing.

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Pam: If you could tattoo anyone in the world, alive or dead, who would it be? And why?

John: James Douglas Morrison. Jim Morrison from The Doors. I would love to tattoo him.

I actually have him tattooed on me, so I’d like to tattoo something on him.

And why, just because growing up he was a big influence on me. I loved his music, I loved his philosophy. So it’d be really cool to hang out with him for a day. I would’nt even need to tattoo him. It could just be something small and stupid just to hang out with him for 10 minutes would be cool.

Pam: What are some things that you enjoy doing outside of work?

John: Motorcycles, spending time with my kids, things like that. I’m a big outdoors kind of guy, so if I could just be outside hanging out that’d be great. Instead of sitting in this shop 24/7 haha.

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Vaughn Ara USA

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Interviewed- @Msellersink13 Model- Vaughnara33 Photograhy- @jeffcphotography

Where are you from and tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am originally from KC, though spent many years in CO and the southwest.

I currently own and operate three businesses under the Vaughn Ara umbrella, producing tattoo skincare / all natural cosmetics / tattooer web design and soon will begin handcrafting leather body wear for women. I also love creating in all forms including modeling, and all things dark arts. If I had to pick a true love it would be traveling and architecture to feel the history and experience the art of diverse places.

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You are the owner and creator of Vaughnara products. Let’s start with you telling us about the cosmetics. When did you start this business and how did you get into cosmetic products?

Vaughn Ara Cosmetics current line is my third and I also offer a full skincare line that works in combination with my cosmetics making it versatile in coverage and finish. It took me over a year to formulate se7en Formula Pigments and they are set apart from others in that one pigment can be used for anything on the face and the compatibility allows you to create your own shades. Clean, simple ingredients make my products suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin, and they are high density pigments that hold their weight with big brands.

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Vaughanara also produces and creates a tattoo line, how did you get into that and tell us about your products?

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Yes, I started Tattoo Salve by Vaughn Ara 5 years ago after being around the industry for many years. I have a background in Herbalism and a desire to use/produce clean ingredient products. It was originally formulated as all heal salve using herbal infused oils... turns out it works as an amazing Artist Salve that does not clog needle groupings, allows for better saturation, not thick or oily, keeps redness and inflammation down even after several hours. And as aftercare Ive had nothing but positive feedback that it can be used by those with even the most sensitive skin, it cuts healing time, and because of how I formulated it the salve will also keep plasma build up down which means no crusting/scabbing. Currently it is also being noted as a salve to help with eczema in 8 out 10 people.

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You also do modeling and some really awesome photo shoots, is modeling a hobby for you or another profession?

I love modeling. Just a few years ago I had a very big phobia around cameras and made it a point to overcome. It started as a way to try to earn money that could help me invest more into my brand. From there it has taken on a life of its own. Modeling is a way for me gain content for my brands, as well as for other brands at times. After being in the industry for awhile and after reach out from other women I also started model coaching on the side. Also at times its great to collaborate with photographers that I can offer some of my ideas to and we can work together to bring into fruition. I’d say dark art is my favorite genre.

What is your favorite tattoo on your body and why?

Well this is a hard one, I have so many great pieces from the talented Bob Bitner ( Catalyst Arts Collective ) that are each amazing in their own right with great memories of the conventions they were done at. And of course I love my Three of Swords piece on my left hand done by Heather B. ( Waldo’s Darkside ) Its really impossible to choose a favorite as they all uniquely express a facet of myself with such impeccable art.

Do you have any big plans coming up in the near future?

I do! Im honored to say I’ll be shooting with the talented photographer/artist Matt Lombard soon, you may recognize his name and work from him designing the covers for bands such as Cradle of Filth and Combichrist and more.

He produces captivating dark art and I encourage everyone to check out his art. And of course I’m always creating new products and designing new things...

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Interview-@msellersink13 Artist-@norab.tattoo

Nora Italy

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So where are you from, And what was it like growing up?

I’m from a little town, not far from Rome, Italy.

I grew up surrounded by nature and animals, helping my grandfather to pick the olives by climbing the olive trees (actually a very good oil, I am very proud of it).I feel very connected with nature and fiscal activities, I think is in my genetics, like drawing. I drew since I was a child, looking at my mothers painting oil landscapes.

My parents always pushed my creativity. I was lucky, I studied until I was 25 years old, classic studies and than in an art academy.

When did you start tattooing? And how did you get into the tattoo industry?

I starting getting tattooed at 18, but I walked in a tattoo studio asking for work at 29. Very late. Or maybe not. I think everything I did before brings me where I am now.

I graduated in “fashion and costume academy” of Rome. Where I also taught for 5 years while I was growing as a tattooer. Sociology is the reason why I started tattooing. I try to be synthetic, but it is a very interesting topic. I began analysing fashion under a sociological eye: why we choose one style in particular, and why we choose one shape or colour, instead of another? In the 50 years fashion changed fast, the way we use it is changed. The way we communicate with our outfit is changed cause our relationship with our bodies changed.We are every year more “naked” clothes are thinner and “easy”. Our body is exposed, is even more important than our “dress code”Getting tattooed today is a reappropriation of our own identity. To keep it simple: a personality who gets a full sleeve in a traditional style, maybe doesnt have much in common with a man who choose a realistic Lion with a crown (for example :) Everyone, right or wrong, has an immediately idea of who are dealing with. Is an immediate expression of one’s personality. Maybe it is not really matching with our real self, but for sure (for social commons meanings) is giving a first clear impression of who we wanted to look like. The size of the tattoo can be also a way to “read” a personality. We can also talk about “mainstream” tattoos, that can identify a large part of that kind of society that is getting tattooed as a “trend”, that is far from all the people who looks for a particular artist, that fits with their own style and way of life, where meanings are “not so easy” to be read. I found every shades of this way to look at tattooing very interesting.. so I put my “drawing needing” ( cause I do it every day, in every moment) at the service of who decide to express itself with his skin, with his body.And the best thing, and I know this is for every tattoo artist, is when customer desire matches with my own vision.

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I see you enjoy doing “New School” style tattoos, What got you into that certain style?

My style is new school. I think it is because it is the more interesting and funny style, talking about the design phase. What I mean is that I am creating shapes that are not existing in reality. It is challenging, it is much more fun than repeating something from a picture or some thing you can just copy.

You have another instagram page (@norab.art) full of Curvy Dolls, tell us a little bit about those, and do you ever get to tattoo any of them?

My curvy, rounded dolls are the union of my fashion studies on the woman body, and the need to make them “out of reality”, to move it, shaping it, round it up. I also feel that my personal vision of living, influence my style and colors. I’ve always been a positive and generally happy person, a bit hyperactive. My designs and so my dolls, are full of life, like inflated of life :), all my characters are bold and like moving. And sometimes are sexy (isn’t sex one of the joy of life?)

What do you like to do outside of work?

It is embarrassing to say, but when I don’t draw for my job, I draw.

I draw with every tool and on every material. I simply need it. I feel like every day all the things I see around, that I read or feel are pressed together inside me, till I make a shape, till I draw something. But I also love sports. I always did, any kind of sport, especially the hardest. Swim, boxe. But now that I am older and less hyperactive I started to do yoga. And I love it, especially for the healing effect on my tattooer neck.

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If you could get sponsored by anyone who would it be and why?

Honestly the first thing I thought of is color ink. My favorite are World famous ink actuallly. I like how they heal and they’re easy pushing in to the skin, And I love all the shades they have.

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Where do you see yourself in three years?

Still in the industry, still guesting and travelling a lot. Knowing other artist is the best way to grow, having fun, talk and exchange experiences.

What is the weirdest or craziest tattoo you have done?

Definitely the “foot job” flower I did on one of my loyal customers, and a friend.

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Nicole Ryan Usa

Model-@nicoleryantattoos 98

Photographer- Leah Jacobs photography

Photography- @the_noobietaco

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@the_noobietaco

@the_noobtaco

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Photography- @grimview.photos 102

Photography-Christian Levens Of Morbid Art Images

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Melba Czosnowski USA

Interviewed By Pammy_sellers 104

Artist- @swanconsultingpmu

Hi Melba, we are very excited to have a permanent cosmetic artist in our magazine for the first time! Let’s start out with you telling us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? Ect..

My full name is Melba LeAnne Czosnowski. I was born in the suburbs of Baltimore City, Maryland and have lived in Maryland most of my life. I attended Concord University in West Virginia, so I’ve also lived there for several years. I am happily married to my husband Marc for going on 16 years and we have a beautiful daughter named Morgan who is 15 years old. We love to travel mostly to tropical destinations.

What made you want to start doing permanent cosmetics? And how long have you been doing it now?

I had a passion for the beauty industry at a young age, however, did not pursue it in my younger years. Instead, I majored in Business Management and Computers.

Honestly, that is where I thought there would be more opportunity to make money.

I ended up working in Commercial Banking as Manager for 17 years. In 2000 I had my eyebrows and eyeliner tattooed somewhere in Virginia. It was a fad just surfacing in my area and I loved it. But at that time, never considered pursuing a career in it.

Fast forward to 2006. I became pregnant after being told I couldn’t have children and found myself on bedrest early contemplating my life and what I could do to be more of a hands-on Mom. I was also in desperate need of a touch up and began looking for an artist closer to me in MD online. That’s when I started seeing advertisements for Permanent Cosmetics training and the light bulb went off. I started school in 2007 and by 2010 I started my own business.

I see you do a variety of different types of permanent cosmetic procedures, tell us about what all you offer at your shop.

I offer all services related to Permanent Cosmetic tattooing such as eyebrows, eyeliner, lips, scar camouflage, areolas restoration, and scalp micropigmentation. I listed them in order of popularity. For Brows I do all techniques from hairstrokes, powder, ombre, or a combination of techniques.

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I understand that you are also a member of the SPCP (society of permanent cosmetic professionals) and that you also bring students into your shop to train them in this field. How did you get into that? And tell us a little bit about the importance of getting the proper education.

The SPCP is a wonderful organization that has been around for over 30 years. They are a non-profit membership organization comprised of many permanent cosmetic artists from all over the world. They are committed to bringing education and ethical practices to artist to better improve our industry. Being a member and participating in training conferences helped my career excel rapidly and I quickly realized I have a passion for teaching. I took their Train the Trainer Program after I had 5 years of experience and opened my Permanent Cosmetics School in Maryland teaching Fundamentals of Permanent Cosmetics which is a 180-hour course. Their minimum requirement for becoming a Certified Permanent Cosmetic Professional (CPCP) is 100 hours. I have found that most students who are new to Permanent Cosmetics need more practice time than that to learn.

Getting the proper education and practice hours with a skilled instructor is so important in this industry. It’s not as easy as it looks. It takes artistry, dexterity, and a steady hand to be good. We are tattooing peoples faces. Botched work is not easy to hide. It is so important to practice on practice skin until your skills are developed. And it is so important to be knowledgeable about so many things such as skin in general, risks and contraindications, proper sanitation procedures, and color theory as it relates to permanent cosmetics to name a few. I could go on, but this is certainly not something you can learn in a weekend. The general public should know that it is a non-regulated industry in many states.

So, you really need to research your artist wisely. It’s a buyer beware market. A person in search of a permanent cosmetics artist should look for adequate training credentials, review the artists portfolio of work and make sure it is actually work the artist they are considering actually did themselves. Check for reviews and ensure the establishment is clean.

And the public needs to be better educated on Permanent Cosmetics as there is a lot of misinformation out there. The most important fact I love to emphasize is that it IS a tattoo. It IS permanent. There are inexperienced artists who lack knowledge spreading falsities that have the public confused. It doesn’t matter what tool is used to perform the work (microblade, machine, pen, soft tap, etc.). It is all a tattoo, and it is all permanent. It fades over time due to the special formulations of pigments used in the PMU industry. Certain colors fade faster than others. But if placed in the proper layer of the skin, you will always see evidence (including the scar) of the tattoo for many years after the procedure. To not call it permanent is unethical in my opinion. It requires touch ups every few years to keep it looking its best, so it is a lifetime commitment unless you get it removed.

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. Do you ever travel to conventions for work? If so, what’s your favorite part about

doing that?

Yes, I typically travel twice a year to attend conventions or advanced training classes. I am continuously improving my skills or learning new techniques. To remain current in my certification, I am required to have continuing education hours each year. But I don’t do it because I have to…I really enjoy learning to be the best I can be. I’ve made many friends over the years, and we tend to get together at training events, so it is a lot of fun too. The networking is my favorite part.

Who are some of your biggest inspirations in the permanent cosmetic industry?

There have been so many over the years, but if I had to name a few it would be Mary Ritcherson who specializes in machine nano stroke eyebrows because her work is phenomenal and I am always working to be as good as her, Teryn Darling who runs Girlz Ink Studio and training in Las Vegas because she is so giving of her knowledge and has a real passion for helping artists in our industry succeed, and one of my former students Erin Exline from Delaware who runs her own business called Brow and Beauty Bar. She inspires me because she wasn’t afraid to take the big leap towards her dreams. She works so hard, and she has come so far because of it.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Do you have any goals or plans coming up?

In 5 years, I see myself teaching more strategically. I plan to partner with Erin in the future to provide advanced PMU classes to slightly larger groups. I currently only take 2 students at a time. But I certainly do not plan to retire anytime soon. I have a lot of years of tattooing left in me.

Do you have any other tattoos other than permanent cosmetics? If so, what are they? If not, do you plan on getting any?

The only tattoos I have are the ones on my face, LOL. I have permanent eyebrows, winged eyeliner, and full lips. I do not have any traditional tattoos or body art yet. I just haven’t found the right design. I am not opposed to it, but no immediate plans on getting other tattoos.

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I see you also rescue baby squirrels; how did you get into that? And tell us a little bit about it Yes, I am a sucker for animals in distress. During covid my brother found an abandoned baby squirrel and he brought him to me. He didn’t know what to do to help it. I didn’t either, but we were on lock down and I had nothing but time to figure it out. I did a lot of research, joined numerous support groups, and brought him up to full grown. Afterwards, he was released back into the wild. I posted his journey on Facebook and got a reputation. So now I get calls when someone finds and injured or orphaned baby squirrel. It’s fun and exhausting. They do not make good pets. I am happy to help them and then release them when they are ready.

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Courtney Reimer USA

Model- cprtattoos Photography-digitalcon 115

photo-@digitalcon

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Photo-@digitalcon 117

@shannonlarouge 118

@shannonlarouge 119

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@shannonlarouge

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@Americantattoosociety @Allamericantattooconvention

Ryan & Nicole Harrell

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USA

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Chris: How and when did you get your start in the tattoo world?

Ryan: I started my web design agency in the early 2000’s and one of my first clients was Chop from Chop Shop Tattoos in Hope Mills NC. I consulted with a few studios over the years including Nicole when she first opened her studio.

After Nicole and I got serious I was more involved in the studio and I basically closed down all my other endeavors and focused all my energy on American Tattoo Society.

Nicole: When I think about the industry of art and tattooing I cannot remember a time that I wasn’t around art and artist. It’s kind of weird when I actually sit and think about it. Looking back, in my early teens I lived in a neighborhood with 4 up and coming artists who went on to become well-known established tattoo artists in North Carolina. After graduating high school I went on to college at East Carolina University and I spent my summers back at home in Fayetteville NC working in a studio learning how to pierce and often running the counter.

Chris: How did you get into the convention world?

Ryan: I went to a few in the past like Little John’s conventions in Greensboro NC and the Cape Fear show in Wilmington when I was working with Chop but wasn’t really exposed to them until after the guys from the studio started traveling to do the shows. I was hooked from the first time I went to a large convention.

Nicole: I went to a local holiday trade show and thought, “wow” this would be great to incorporate tattooing and showcase local tattoo artists and tattoo artists from around the world to our local military. I went to our local health department with the idea and was shot down very quickly. The next year I brought the same idea back up and still was denied. Some years later, after I started dating my husband, I went to the Villian Arts Baltimore Convention and pitched the idea to my now-husband. That was the first time I felt like anyone actually took what I was saying seriously, and I knew he would do whatever it took to make it happen. I think in our mind it was a no-brainer even though people had told me for years it wouldn’t work.

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Chris: What is the best and worst thing you have dealt with so far?

Ryan: I don’t know about bad things, I mean we go through some bumps here and there like any business, but when I look back there aren’t many things I can point at and say “This was bad”. I think being a part of an industry like this is rewarding because I get to stay creative and be myself and work with some really awesome people. Maybe that would be it, the worst part is the relationships you build along the way and that as years pass people move on and change, life happens and things are different. Maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be though, because I definitely experienced it with my other businesses over the years.

Nicole: The best and the worst part of this industry is the people. Period. Point Blank.

Chris: How hard was it to get your shop into the military bases and how long did it take?

Ryan: Man, how long do you have?! haha. No, it was not bad, in the beginning, it was a lot of vetting, making sure we could do what they wanted. We had to give them tons of info and at first, I thought it was a lot to get a space at Ft Bragg, but later we learned it was for all the bases. That made more sense but it was a surprise and a challenge that we welcomed. It took over 3 years before we got the first space at the end of 2019, but due to COVID, we weren’t able to open it until Sept of 2020. When we were first given the opportunity I told Nicole that we had to do it, who knows what would have happened if someone who didn’t really care about the industry got it. I really felt like that would be bad for tattooing. If we were able to do it the right way then it would be a win/win.

Nicole: During the beginning stages it felt like a never-ending vetting process. There were definitley days when I thought it would never happen. Looking back now after opening several studios on military installations it seems like it went by so quickly. Yeah, 4 years of hurry up and wait was stressful and I know a lot of people probably thought we were full of it. But then when it did happen in year 1 we opened 3 studios and it was off to the races. After we opened, everyone (us & the military) saw it was going to be more work than we thought due to the demand. Everyone stepped up and help put together regulations and a plan in place for setting up new studios, which took almost a year itself.

Chris: What keeps you pushing forward daily to make tattooing a better place so to speak?

Ryan: I would say 100% our people, our team, our family. Everyone works so hard. It’s inspiring for us to see. I think that knowing there are 60+ tattooers and counter staff at each location that rely on the fact that we have to have our shit together in order to pay their bills and feed their kids. That keeps me motivated to give them a place that is home to them and allows them to be creative and use this amazing trade to provide for their families.

Nicole: The tattoo industry has evolved so quickly. I think we bring a new edge to the game of tattooing in what the company provides to artists, employees, and customers at American Tattoo Society. It’s not a one-and-done type of thing, it’s a constant thought “How can we make this better?” attitude.

Chris: Do you believe Aliens exist and why?

Ryan: Absolutely, to think that in this infinite universe we are the only intelligent beings would be kind of wild. I am not saying there are lizard people living amongst us, but there is something out there I’m sure.

Nicole: Umm if Elon Musk doesn’t believe there are aliens then I’m gonna stick with no, lol.

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All American Tattoo

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Convention

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Mogilkinalizq @mogilkinaliza @mogilkinatattooer 131

Photography@anastasiairgl

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To our beloved friend Steve Azzara your legacy and hard work will be rememberd and continued through your magazine and memories. We all think about you everday until we meet again ol friend.

Rip Steve Azzara Owner/ Founder / Mfic