Leanka Kevin Art La Vey Artist!
Cyd Syd Sera Tyce Models!
Cover Model
Kara Gutierrez
shooting with Marcy Harper
Steve Azzara (RIP) President/Editor in Chief/MFIC
Pamela Haven Co owner/President/Writer
Matt Sellers Writer/Creative director/Editor
Contributors
Cypress Bates Video Journalist/Writer Santelmo (Saint) Vazquez
Cover- @karaspotonbeauty Photographer- @dellamoredante
Special Thanks to...
Daniel Kearney, Santelmo (Saint) Vazquez, Mark Lawrence, Shawn Alexander, Tommy’s Supplies, New England Tattoo Expo, Sellers Ink Tattoo, Sean Hightower, Walt Anderson, Carnival of Ink, The Most famous studio, Urbans edge tattoo after care. New England tatoo expo, DR. Rebecca perry Pro Team
Lydia Bruno, Pammy Sellers, Pepe Carire, And Jimmy Dalessio, Ninetoes, Nikko Gould, Josh Paul, Mike Geyer, Tyce Johnson, Zach webb, Omri Amar, jlynn attaway, Ryan stratton
Let’s start off with where are you from and what was it like growing up? Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I grew up in the Australian Outback, A couple of kilometers away from a small town called Gulgong. We were about 4 hours drive from Sydney, The town had far west vibe because it had developped during the gold rush in the late 1800’s, and later became partialy abanndoned when the gold was gone.
My father studied wine making in Germany were I was born and the family set up in Gulgong to plant the vineyard and build the winery, we would all work very hard, struggling against big coopérations, interest rates, and drought. A common occurance would be of my father raising his fists to the sky, yelling “ rain you Bastard !! “
At what age do you remember getting into arts and crafts?
I was average at school, shit at spelling and really liked art. My mum was pretty crafty, she had a few books printed in the 1970’s on handicrafts that I would always look at and I would make clothes for my dolls, because we didnt have much we had to be pretty resourceful.
Around the age of 15 I became interested in punk Music and style, and this kind of lead me to find more people like me. So at 16 I left school, ran away from home and moved to Sydney. This led me to London in 1995. I worked as an assistant dress maker and on the weekends at a piercing studio in Camden. This introdcued me to the tattoo and modification scene, and we would attend à few tattoo conventions around Europe. In 1997 I moved to Strasbourg France, and started working full time in a tattoo shop were I learned to Tattoo. My husband at the time was a tattoo artist and to occupy my time at the conventions we attended, I would make and sell a lot of wood cut outs, mirrors and boxes.
So you make awesome products from toilet paper holders to wall art, tell us about your products and what got you into this career?
I’ve learned over the years many skills, like painting, sewing, ceramics, wood working, and as time goes by it becomes easier to express myself with my work.I am a huge fan and collector of traditional folk art from around the world, the tattoo industry is one that thrives from mutual cross-cultural exchange, this opened my eyes to the many art forms and techniques across the globe which have inspired my work.
My creative process is a lot about learning from my mistakes, slowly developping the skills that allow me to push myself further.
I don’t think too much about it, I just do it. I will have an idea, I’ll do a quick sketch, make a template and then construct, from that I will say, ah maybe I should add legs, or wings. Usually the ignition process fuels different varients on future pieces, that will then become a series, and sometimes a base color will inspire different floral forms and color palettes.
I like things to have a utility and what I would like for myself. I do a lot of functional pieces for tattoo shops, small furnishings, glove box holders, pamplet racks, and the folky traditional tattoo fusion works well.
Have you ever thought about being a tattoo artist?
So, I was tattooing full time from 2004-2024, After 20 years working and running my own shop, I needed a change, I looked into documentry film, I took a few courses in that area, and produced a few clips. My primary goal was to produce a “docu” series about popular crafts from different regions, but as I learned doing this solo, its a lot of work with very little reward. So I stopped tattooing and went back to what I liked to do before , with over 20 years of illustrative tattoo baggage.
Your pretty covered in tattoos do you have a favorite and do you have a most painful?
Favorite tattoo, not really, maybe more because of the sentiment, would be the grape vine and lady for my Dad, my name “Leanka” comes from a grape variety native to Hungary.
Most painful, for me its the healing period, the worst, I would say, elbow and neck.
Are we expecting new products in the near future and how can our readers reach out to you?
Whats next ? I would like to work on bigger exhibition pieces , perhaps using fiberglass, and I would like to continue my “ Folk heart” documentary séries, travel to many countries and work with the different artisans in the hope to high light and preserve these handicrafts, and popular traditions. I am mostly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leankahari And my YouTube chanel @leankaka7968
@nicole Macabre
@tashi Edwards
Thank You!
Tell us a little bit about where you are from and what was it like growing up?
Hi Matt! I’m Kevin Laughton,Tkserenity on insta. I’m from Baltimore, Maryland and now reside in Aberdeen. I currently tattoo at Badlands Tattoo MD. Grateful to the artists that came before me for paving the way. Thank God for recovery and another day in this amazing life — ten years sober.
Growing up was tough. As it was for a lot of us. My dad was abusive by today’s standards. I almost died from alcohol poisoning at 13 and started touring different jails, rehabs, and institutions at a young age.
I don’t think I truly grew up until I lost my younger brother to a drug overdose almost 11 years ago. That changed everything for me.
Recovery gave me a second chance. It helped me heal, grow up emotionally, and learn gratitude. And most importantly find serenity. Freedom from my anger. Today I’m thankful for every day I get — especially the chance to be present for my family and live a completely different life than the one I came from.
Still not sure I’m grown up though lol.
Do you remember what age got you into art?
Ma dukes had me outside doodling on sidewalks with chalk while she was gardening when I was about 4 or 5 years old. I’ve always loved art, drawing, painting, graffiti. But I was told it wouldn’t pay the bills — that if I didn’t want to be a starving artist, I needed a real job.
So I worked construction and went down some bad paths along the way.
I didn’t find tattooing until I was 35 years old, around the same time I found recovery. Looking back now, it feels like tattooing found me exactly when I was finally ready for it.
How long have you been tattooing for and how has the journey been treating you?
I’ve been tattooing for 14 years now, and it has saved my life.I started tattooing in an institution with a handmade machine made from a Bic pen. Like full on prison style. Then I did an apprenticeship and then continued teaching myself. Learning from every possible person I could.
Tattooing is treating me better than I deserve. I stay humbled by the amount of talented artists in this industry, and I feel too blessed to be stressed to be living this dream.
How has the industry changed since you have started? Is it good or bad?
A lot— good and bad.
The bad:
The process of setting up your station or making fun of clients or apprentices gets glorified more than the actual tattoos. It’s sad when chasing trends or doing shitty tattoos gets more popularity than creating beautiful work.
The good:
The quality of tattoos in general is now way better imo. Also, more artists encourage each other and share information instead of just bashing one another and gatekeeping. That’s been a positive change in tattooing these days.
Who are some of your biggest influences in the tattoo and art industry?
There are so many, Ami James, Philadelphia Eddie, Carl Gracie..but one that stands out is definitely Robby Latos. I got to meet Robby a couple years ago at the Baltimore Tattoo Convention when he came up to me and congratulated me on winning first place Best Small Black & Grey. He was there promoting his seminars, and I remember thinking, this guy is on another level and he’s congratulating me.That interaction stuck with me. It made me realize that’s the kind of artist and person I want to be. I’ve always been very passionate. But that humility is essential for without it growth is impossible.
Do you have any travel plans for the current year? If so, where?
Yes I’ll be at the Lancaster Pennsylvania tattoo show next month, villian arts Baltimore in April, Cruel Summer in Southern Maryland in June, and the Great Appalachian Tattoo Festival in September.
Also looking to do guest spots in Florida, Myrtle Beach, Alaska and any where else that’ll have me.
Meeting artists and cool people from all over the world is one really rad part of tattooing I never expected. Very grateful for that.
What is one word of advice you would give to an apprentice?
Work hard. Stay hungry. Be humble.
Kara Gutierrez: Heart, Hustle, and the Art of Transformation
For those who have had the chance to meet her, Kara Gutierrez is unforgettable. For those who haven’t yet — it’s only a matter of time.
Tattoo artist, educator, advocate, entrepreneur, mother, wife, and relentless champion for others, Kara has built a reputation in the tattoo industry not only for her technical skill but for the heart behind everything she does. Known for wearing many hats both in life and in tattooing, she has become a respected force in multiple genres of the craft while simultaneously helping change the industry itself.
And somehow, despite the accolades, the advocacy, and the packed schedule, she remains what many who know her say first: one of the kindest people you will ever meet.
Her story is one of transformation.
Sixteen years ago, Kara weighed 316 pounds and was navigating life as a young mother. Today she describes herself as a “humble bombshell mom,” and as of November 7th and 8th, 2025, she proudly added another title — wife to her longtime partner in life and business.
But the real story lies in the journey between those two versions of herself.
From Athlete to Artist
Kara’s path to tattooing didn’t start in a tattoo shop — it started on the field.
As a college athlete, she was used to discipline, grit, and pushing past limits. When she graduated from college, like many athletes do, she suddenly faced a question many people experience when their structured path ends:
“Now what?”
That turning point eventually led her toward tattooing.
In 2011, her late brother taught her how to tattoo after she developed an interest in permanent makeup. What started as curiosity quickly became a calling, and Kara entered a traditional tattoo apprenticeship — the kind where respect for the craft, its history, and the artists who came before you is everything.
This was before tattooing was easily accessible online.
There were no tutorials explaining every technique.
Just learning the hard way, earning trust, and understanding the responsibility that comes with putting permanent art on another human being.
Her Louisiana roots also played a role in shaping her journey. Influences such as tattoo legend Jacci Gresham and artist Annette LaRue became both inspirations and eventually friends along the way.
The determination she developed as an athlete, combined with the responsibility of motherhood and the warmth of Southern culture, created the foundation for the artist she would become.
Tattooing didn’t just become a career. It became the driving force that shaped her life.
When Tattooing Became “Medical”
As Kara developed her skills, she became deeply involved in restorative tattooing for breast cancer survivors — particularly hyper-realistic areola restoration.
During this work, she began noticing something that concerned her.
Tattooing over scars and restorative work was increasingly being labeled “medical tattooing.”
But Kara saw it differently.At its core, it was still tattooing.
Scar tissue behaves differently than normal skin, and understanding surgical procedures, healing patterns, and anatomy is extremely important when performing these tattoos safely.
But the procedure itself is still tattooing — not medicine.
This distinction matters.
And Kara wasn’t afraid to speak up about it.
Her advocacy for better education and clearer standards began gaining attention throughout the industry.
The Viral Moment That Changed Everything
In 2019, Kara unexpectedly found herself at the center of a viral moment that would further push her into the spotlight.
Using Li-FT saline tattoo removal, she corrected a severely botched permanent makeup case that became widely known online as “The Woman With the Four Brows.”
The case exploded across social media.
The viral attention gave Kara an opportunity to speak publicly about something many clients didn’t understand:
Permanent makeup is not truly “semi-permanent.”
It is still tattooing.
And when done incorrectly, it can create serious long-term problems.
Rather than simply correcting the work, Kara used the moment as an educational platform — encouraging artists and clients alike to research properly, seek real training, and understand the long-term responsibility of tattooing the face.
That moment helped ignite a much larger conversation about regulation, education, and safety within the permanent makeup industry.
Changing the Law
What started as education eventually grew into legislation.
Kara helped advocate for changes in Missouri law requiring permanent makeup practitioners to be licensed tattoo artists — something that previously wasn’t required.
The goal wasn’t to exclude people.
It was to protect clients and preserve the integrity of tattooing as a professional craft.
During this effort, Kara joined forces with fellow tattoo artists and industry advocates including her best friend and maid of honor Liz Cook, longtime friend Sean Brown, and many other tattooers who believed the industry is strongest when artists stand together.
For Kara, collaboration has always been the key.
“We’re so much stronger together,” she says. The work helped raise awareness of the need for better education and standards — and the fight to improve those standards continues.
A Dynamic Duo Kara’s advocacy eventually merged with another powerful partnership.
Her husband, Dr. Arian Culp, MD.
Together they created a unique educational team that combines medical knowledge with tattoo experience. Since 2018, the two have taught courses that include bloodborne pathogen education, anatomy considerations, and restorative tattoo techniques.
It’s a rare collaboration — a physician and a tattoo artist working side-by-side to help improve safety and standards within the industry.
But if you ask Kara, they’re just having fun doing it.
A Life as Colorful as Her Work
Outside the tattoo studio, Kara’s creativity takes a wildly different form through her oddities and curiosities business.
From framed butterflies and preserved specimens to her infamous “stripper mice” sculptures dressed in risqué outfits, her artistic expression stretches far beyond skin.
Humor, curiosity, beauty, and a little bit of chaos all coexist in her world.
And that same energy carried into one of the most unforgettable celebrations of her life.
In November 2025, Kara and Dr. Culp hosted a two-day wedding event that perfectly captured their personalities.
Day one was gothic, glamorous, and adults-only — featuring burlesque performances, DJs, elaborate decorations created by Kara herself, and an atmosphere equal parts elegance and rebellion.
Day two shifted into a family celebration filled with glitter, aerial performers, emotional moments, and unforgettable memories.
Instead of gifts, the couple asked guests to donate to their 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting breast cancer survivors through free areola restoration tattoos.
Love, community, and generosity defined the weekend.
Just as they define Kara herself.
The Woman Behind the Work
Today Kara Gutierrez continues to balance an extraordinary number of roles: Tattoo artist.Permanent makeup specialist known for healed results. Educator. Industry advocate. Entrepreneur. Mother. Wife.Artist and oddities creator. Comedian and storyteller.
But above all, she is someone who genuinely cares about people. She credits the tattoo industry for giving her everything — purpose, friendships that became family, and the ability to change lives through art.
And she never takes that for granted.
If you ever meet Kara Gutierrez, expect a laugh, a hug, and probably a story.
Her favorite phrase says it best:
“We’ve met for a reason.”
Art La Vey
Tell us a little bit about where you are from and what was it like growing up?
I’m originally from Billingham, near Sunderland in the UK. It’s a small industrial place, growing up there was nice - it was more close knit and more of a community growing up.
How long have you been tattooing for and how has the journey been treating you?
I’ve been tattooing for nearly 20 years now, a lots changed from when I first started. A lot of good, some bad but it’s been an incredible journey so far. A lot of good people met, a lot of amazing experiences.
How has the industry changed since you have started?
Do you see it as good or bad?
It’s a mixture of both really. Things have become a lot more accessible, artists are giving away advice for free and it’s opening a lot more doors for ‘scratchers’ to come in and cause damage. But on the other hand it’s giving hard working artists advice and help to progress and further their own careers. It’s two sides of the same coin really.
What are some of your biggest accomplishments in your career?
As a Star Wars nerd, getting to work at Star Wars convention in London and getting officially licensed by Lucas Film Ltd is an absolute highlight of mine, winning my first awards and my first news article were also a bit of a ‘oh my god’ moment for me too.
Who are some of your biggest inspirations in a Tattoo in art industry?
Paul Acker is someone I’ve always looked up to, Nikko Hurtado too. They both dominate in colour, Paul especially in colour.
Do you have any big plans for the rest of the year?
Work
work work. This year is mostly being spent focusing on really pushing myself to the next level and hopefully it’ll open some new doors.
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I’m a Certified Professional Photographer and PPA Craftsman with a back- ground in design that drives my visual style. My work lives in the space between beauty and darkness pulling from themes of mortality, transformation and identity.
Model-@thepaleenchantress
Whether it’s conceptual shoots or editorial work, I focus on creating images that feel raw, intentional and visually striking. Based in Las Vegas, I am currently booking clients.
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
