TATTOO TALES

Today I want to introduce you to a new series that I’m incorporating in what we normally do in the podcast. This series of extra episodes is called PANEL, and it will feature multiple guests at once, breaking down a specific topic. Each artist with their own unique experience and perspective.

 

For the first panel, I sat down with four of the most inspired and experienced artists, Holly Ellis, Chad Koeplinger, Robert Ryan and Andreas Coenen, to talk about something they excel at: American Traditional.

What does “Traditional” mean for them; where do they draw inspiration from; what’s their unique process and approach.

 

I believe that multiple perspectives can foster originality, the pinnacle of creativity, and hopefully these points of view can inspire you and your vision.

 

After two years of restrictions, cancelled conventions and trips, it’s been beautiful to sit down with them, even if virtually, to share an honest moment about something we all love. At least for me it’s been the closest thing to those shows and dinners we all love, made of friendship, technical talks and laughs. I want to thank these artists for sharing their insights, giving me a lot to think about.

 

If you find value in these episodes and would like to help me create more, I’d be very grateful if you could give the show a 5 star rating and a review on ITunes and Spotify. And if you are listening to it now, why not taking a screenshot and share it on your social medias. 
It doesn’t cost you anything and it makes a big difference in helping the show reach more people.

 

Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy the episode 😊

———

 

Holly

Chad

Robert

Andreas

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Shotsie Gorman is a character larger than life. One of those old timers that, you know, “they just don’t make them anymore”.

Behind his 4+ decades of tattooing there is a deeply routed drive for Art, with capital A, and perhaps a la even deeper appreciation for Life and the people he crossed path with. 

In this episode we talk about his start in tattooing with Mike Bakaty, the crazy characters he met along the way, his love for Italy and what it means to be a tattooer. 

You can find Shotsie on Instagram and at Tarot Art Tattoo

You can follow the updates on new episode on Instagram

I could introduce Dana Brunson mentioning all his accomplishments and all the majorly influential artists he crossed path with in his 50 years tattooing, Huck Spaulding, Paul Rogers, Cliff Raven, Don Nolan, Crazy Eddie… but we won’t do that.

The aspect that I feel best describes Dana is his wonderful heart and genuine love for tattooing and the people he meets along the way.

The wisdom that comes from a lifetime of dedicated appreciation is priceless and I am extremely grateful for hearing these words directly from him. They inspire us to not only aim at being better tattooers but better and more connected human beings.

 

You can find Dana on Instagram

 

Follow the updates about new episodes on @tattootalespodcast

Charlie Cartwright is a living legend.

Crossing paths with some of the most influential American tattoo artists(Bert Grimm and Owen Jensen, to name a few), he’s been tattooing for six decades now.

Together with Jack Rudy and his team of artists, he developed in the 70’s what we call today “fine line”, bringing tattooing from 3-6 needles to just one, mimicking and refining a style that was developing amongst the Hispanic community within the Los Angeles prison system. 

 

Today Charlie is working on the non-profit “Tattoo Heritage Project”, with the goal of establishing a large scale Tattoo History Museum in Long Beach, CA. 

To support the project and learn about tattoo history, you can head to tattooheritageproject.org

 

Find Charlie on instagram

Check out the project on instagram

Frank Rosenkilde is a walking piece of Danish tattooing history. From a country with a very rich tradition, Frank has been tattooing for over four decades, crossing paths with some of the most significant tattooers of his time. Tato Ole, Mike Malone, Tato Svend and Henning Jorgensen, to name a few. 
His passion, burning today as forty years ago, made him collect memorabilia from all over Scandinavia, to the point that he created the Danish Tattoo Museum with the intention of preserving this craft’s history. 
History that, in his words, is important to form a more conscious new generation of tattooers. 
Frank is also committed, with the Danish Tattooers Association, in shaping a better industry in his country.  

You can find Frank at BEL AIR TATTOO in Copenhagen and on Instagram

 

 

Follow the updates on the podcast at Stefbastian.com and on Instagram

Tamara is a talented and respected member of the tattoo community. There’s much more than what meets the eye tho.
Artist, Anarchist, Teacher… a spirit that transcends and breaks the boundaries of one specific field. Tamara’s work in the field of social justice highlights the potential that tattooing carries with the concept of trauma-informed care and enriches this world with unique compassion and vision. 

Please find these amazingly valuable resources at santibaneztattoo.com

 

Find Tamara on Instagram at @tamarasantibanez

When Kari talks about tattooing, a rare quality strikes you right away. The fresh sparkle in her eyes tells you, better than a thousand words, that her 42 years in the business haven’t diminished her passion. If anything they distilled it into a deep, humble appreciation for what this represents. Personal growth, meaningful friendships, craftsmanship and dedication. 


Her personal trajectory crossed with some of the most significant tattooers in history -Ed Hardy, Jack Rudy, Paul Rogers, Horiyoshi II to mention some- and just listening to her recollections is a reward on its own. 

I hope that her words will make you feel inspired and humbled as I do. 

 

 

Stef Bastiàn

 

You can find Kari at outerlimitstattoo.com

C.W. developed a passion for tattooing very early on. His service in the Navy in the 60’s brought him across the world, collecting tattoos in exotic parlors like Pinky Yun’s in Hong Kong.
After getting tattooed by Ed Hardy he got offered the opportunity of learning tattooing and from there he crossed paths with pillars of modern tattooing. Paul Jeffries, Good times Charlie, Jack Rudy, Jerry Swallow to name some. 

Since 1980 he has been promoting the history of tattooing through research and education, founding The Tattoo Archive and, together with Alan Govenar, D.E. Hardy and Henk Schiffmacher, the non profit “Paul Rogers Tattoo Research Center”. 

Find and support his work on Instagram and at tattooarchive.com

Alex Binnie needs no introduction. Founder of the legendary Into You in London and unanimously considered one of the most influential artists for more than one generation of tattooers, Alex shares his invaluable take on art, the creative process and the unique relationship between artist and client. 

  

Find Alex on Instagram  

@abinniepaperandskin @1770tattoo

 

Follow the updates on the latest episodes on Instagram @tattootalespodcast and Stefbastian.com

 

 

 

 

40 years tattooing and going strong.

That’s the word that I think can describe Deb best, Strong.

She’s well known in the community for her kindness, authenticity and genuine love for tattooing. That type of old school lifelong love, matured in times when you often had to swallow your pride to belong to this world, especially as a woman. Beside that, Deb’s path hasn’t been an easy one. The obstacles she faced would have been enough to sink the toughest of us but not her.

 

In this interview she stoically shines a light into the darkness of her abuse and sets an example for that type of courage that sometimes, only a woman can have. The courage to keep your heart open despite all.

 

Find Deb on Instagram and at Eagle River Tattoo

 

 

You can follow the last updates on the podcast on Instagram and stefbastian.com

 

Thanks for listening 😊