So this should be my final rant on girls and tattoos...well at least the two of them together haha Lately tattooing has exploded and with that came a rush of artists into the limelight. Girls doing tattoos is nothing new. It is however highly unappreciated. Tattooing is a male dominated field. Thats not sexism....its just the truth. Theres no denying it or dancing around it. When it comes to "well-known" female artists...most people think of the girls from LA Ink. Ms Kat Von D, Ruthless and Amy...but theres so many more with so much talent.
The annual Marked for Life Female Tattoo Expo was held this year January 13-16 at the Radison World Gate Resort in Kissimmee, Florida. It featured the best female tattooers around the country. Deana and George Lippens of Deana's Tattoo in Orlando, Florida are the driving force behind it all and deserve much praise for all the hard work they put into it. As one of the pioneers in female tattooing, Deana has helped promote aspiring female tattooists for the last decade.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Phone: 347.602.2560
1228Tattoo@gmail.com
http://www.1228tattoo.com/
Ashley Love ~ Ashely is the second full-time artist at Twelve 28 Tattoo, along side Joy. She moved to New York City in the Fall of 2010 from Winston-Salem, North Carolina after doing a few guest spots at Twelve 28′s first tiny location. Her style is traditional with a mix of folk art, a decorative twist & a stunning color pallet. Even though she can be a bit of a hermit, this premature cat lady uses her time wisely. A hard worker at heart, she always finds time for handmade valentines, late night adventures & extreme baking.
Twelve 28 Tattoo
28 Marcy Ave - 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Phone: 347.602.2560
1228Tattoo@gmail.com
http://www.1228tattoo.com/
http://ohashleylove.com
Michelle Myles ~ was an early convert to tattooing, and, like Rumore, is a shop owner. Myles got her first tattoos in high school in Texas, then more in St. Louis. At Parsons, where she earned a BFA in painting. Myles co-owns Fun City Tattoos (it is the oldest pre-existing tattoo shop in New York City) and Daredevil Tattoo (since 1997) with partner Brad Fink. Eleven artists work at the two shops.
Fun City Tattoos
94 Saint Marks Place
New York, NY 10009
(212)353-8282
ink@funcitytattoo.com
http://www.funcitytattoo.com/
Jen Beirola ~ Owner and operator of Grinn and Barrett, Jen Beirola is an east coast transplant who started her tattoo career in 2000 while serving a 7 year term in the Airforce. Her residency at G&B led to her eventual purchase of the shop and she has since developed a reputation that has made her one of the most respected studio owners / tattoo artists in the Midwest. Jen has been featured in such national and international magazines as Savage, Tattoo Review, Pain, Prick, Tatuales (Mexico), International Skin Shots (UK) and Tattoo Revival (Australia) as well as several local and regional publications. As a multi-award winning artist, Jen is equally skilled at vibrant color, photo realism, detailed portraits, script and creative cover ups. She especially enjoys putting a new twist on traditional tattoo imagery. Grinn & Barrett won a Best of Omaha Award for 2006 and 2008 and a Reader’s Choice Award for Best Tattoo Studio in 2009.
Grinn & Barrett Tattoo
5002 Center Street
Omaha, NE 68106
(402) 553-7714
info@omahatattoo.com
http://omahatattoo.com
Tonya Van Parys ~ She moved to San Diego from South Bend Indiana in 2004 with the
goal of becoming an artist. Within the year she found herself a cozy new home doing
local art shows, enjoying the sunshine and eating California burritos. Soon after she got my first tattoo she knew what her next goal was, to become a tattoo artist! After two years of cleaning toilets and fetching coffee in a few random shops she got a break in a busy beach shop in early 2007 and has been tattooing ever since. She works at Avalon Tattoo in San Diego, CA. Avalon features 12 professional artists between its two locations.
Avalon I
Pacific Beach
1035 Garnet Ave.
San Diego, Ca 92109
(858) 274-7635
Avalon II
2nd floor
3039 Adams Ave.
San Diego, Ca 92116
(619) 280-1957
http://avalontattoo.com/
Eva Huber ~ She has been tattooing for 7 years. Originally from Buffalo NY. She currently works at Horseshoes & Hand Grenades Tattoo in Chicopee, MA, which is owned and operated by Tattoo Andy. Her preferred styles of tattooing are traditional, realistic, and custom. She paints and draws obsessively and has a summer-time split personality where all she does is party. Then spends the rest of the year being anti-social and hibernating into artistic endeavors.
Horseshoes & Hand Grenades Tattoo
6 Center Street, Chicopee MA, 01013
413.331.0636
tattoosbyeva@gmail.comhttp://www.allegoryofeva.wordpress.com
http://www.myspace.com/tattoochicopee
Kim Saigh ~ Kim is an American tattoo artist and television personality. She is best known for her work as a featured tattoo artist on the TLC reality television show LA Ink. She got her first tattoo at the age of 16. At the age of 18 she became an apprentice at one of her friend's tattoo studio. In 1994 she relocated to Chicago to work in Guy Aitchison's tattoo studio. She later opened the Cherry Bomb Tattoo Studio, and was then invited to Los Angeles to work as an artist in High Voltage Tattoos; the shop which is followed by the reality television show, LA Ink. She currently works at Memoir Tattoo in LA with fellow artist Shawn Barber.
Memoir Tattoo
7377A Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323)272-3870
http://memoirtattoo.com/
1259 N. La Brea Avenue
W. Hollywood, CA 90038
http://highvoltagetattoo.com/
Amy Nicoletti ~ she has been a tattoo artist for six years. Move to California from New Jersey, and starred on La Ink at the shop American Electric. She prides herself on excellent customer service skills and has the ability to build a large clientele very quickly. She is the designated driver who doesn’t drink or party. She is passionate about music, having acquired an eclectic taste over time. Amy prefers to stay sober in all aspects, always drug-and-alcohol-free. She has a 16 year old son, Cameron, who lives in New Jersey. Her boyfriend, Michael, lives in Scotland. She is currently working at Sinful Art Tattoo in Vineland, NJ. She wont be there for too long, which means if you live in NJ...take the chance to get a piece done by her ASAP.
Sinful Art Tattoo
3929 N. Delsea Drive
Vineland, NJ 08360
(856)362-5873
http://sinfularttattoo.com/
Ruth "Ruthless" Pineda ~ She got her first tattoo when she was 19 years old at Physical Graffiti in Bridgeport, Connecticut by an artist named Tattoo Joe, who later agreed to put her through a rigorous seven month apprenticeship so that she could channel her artistic vision into her favorite art form. Drawing from her Filipino roots in a non-traditional way is exactly what Ruth “Ruthless” Pineda does as a modern-day tattoo artist. By combining long-established forms with new techniques, while focusing on artistic influences from Eastern art and even some Americana, Ruthless has created her own unique style of tattooing that takes Neo-Traditional to a whole new level. Before coming to American Electric, Ruthless gained experience working in Los Angeles shops such as Vintage Tattoo Art Parlour, Madison Tattoo Shoppe, and Ink Candy. She also guest spots in Hawaii and Honduras.
American Electric Tattooing
3532 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
323-664-6530
http://americanelectrictattoo.com/
There really isnt much more to say. The work these girls put out speaks for itself. And it speaks volumes. So do yourself a favor, and when you go into a shop and see a girl behind the chair....dont underestimate her or dismiss her... You may end up passing up the best tattoo of your life. <3
