Bound by Ink Magazine Articles

“Sugar and spice and everything nice; that’s what little girls are made of.” Starting from birth, the traditional model of a woman is sculpted and molded into the demure Donna Reed–version of a housewife. Cooking, cleaning, supporting her husband and raising her kids is all a woman is supposed to do in this dated model of feminine expectations. Well Suzy Homewrecker is certainly not one for tradition. Unless of course that tradition is the culture and sport of the roller derby; a long lost ’70s spectacle that pitted beautiful women against one another in a glamorous and dangerous competition to separate the best from the rest. “It’s like rugby on skates,” Suzy says matter-of-factly. “There’s no tripping, no hitting, no punching, and no hand grabbing, so there are actual rules.” While there are rules, there are also injuries; Suzy herself has suffered a broken bone in her hand and a dislocated shoulder, the latter stemming from a postgame night out on the town. The roller derby track isn’t the only place this courageous woman sees blood and guts; she’s worked in phlebotomy and is currently pursuing her bachelor’s of science in the hopes of being accepted into a program to become a pathologist’s assistant. “That’s the ultimate goal for me, but it’s a lot of work. You have to have the same working knowledge of the human body as a physician.”

In the modeling business, there are few absolutes. Shady photographers, fly-by-night opportunities, tough working conditions, behind-the-scenes drama, and tough competition abound, but all of that becomes irrelevant when the camera falls in love with you. “The camera doesn’t lie,” and that is the one industry rule that both models and photographers alike abide by. Clearly, no one knows this better than alternative model Carly Lyn Terrell, whose penchant for capturing the heart of the lens is matched only by her business acumen and grounded work ethic. Once a successful child model, the modeling business actually came knocking on Carly’s door, not the other way around. “My husband and I were going to hot rod shows because he likes those cars, and I decided to dress like a typical cheesecake cute pinup girl,” Carly coos via telephone from her Arizona home. “People started taking pictures of me there, one thing led to another, and next thing I know, the photos ended up in a magazine. I started getting emails from clothing companies and magazines, and it became something I loved to do again.”

The human brain is a fascinating myriad of nerves, synapses, and passageways that act as the epicenter for human thought and emotion. Studies have shown that the brain is divided into two halves, and not just anatomically either. It is widely believed that the left brain and right brain have vast differences when applied to each human being, with some being more reliant on one side than the other. The left brain is your “rational” side; a side in which verbal expression, organization, thought process, logic, and explanation rule. The right side is your “creative” side; a side defined by free association, intuitiveness, and randomness. While the left side is objective and the right side is subjective, most personalities show a clear dominance in one way or another. You are either “Type A” (left-brained) or “Type B” (right-brained). The balance between these sides is rare, and those able to find a happy medium are usually very interesting people. Take the case of modern artist/tattooist Nick Baxter. He’s one of the rare breed of individuals as interested in science as he is in art, and his works speak volumes to his viewing public.

Making artistic fantasies come true is nothing new for visual aesthetician/photographer Justice Howard. In fact, it is second nature, old hat. Something innate drives her to tip-toe the fine line between the sane and the deranged, pulling out images that are more modern works of art than they are mere photographs. Point blank? The woman is a badass, a nod to the throwback days of the Sunset Strip, when rock ’n’ roll was rock ’n’ roll, and living for the moment was paramount.

Fetish and music photography are just two of this artist’s muses. In a portfolio that exceeds some 300,000 images, Justice Howard’s works pull from a number of different styles and influences. This sense of artistic diversity is stunning, as evidenced by the fact that you can find her works in publications like Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Life, and People, and in the same breath, find her spreads in Playboy, Savage, and Heavy Metal. Justice has seen and done it all and has the visuals to prove it. Her works evoke the spirit of empowerment and her subjects embrace that concept wholeheartedly; with the fervor of reunited lovers. “I shoot for the people who ‘get it.’ I don’t explain what I do,” Justice says unabashedly, with the rawness of her statement only matched by the sense of coolness she exudes while saying it. And “get it” they do. Justice’s subject resume is every photographer’s bucket list, boasting a who’s-who of musicians and celebrities. Still, as egotistical as she would have the right to be, she’s cool as shit, moved only by one simple concept in life: beauty. “I was one of the first women to start shooting erotica, and I think I got good at it because I could understand the empowerment angle. It’s all about beauty to me. I think men shoot for sex, and women shoot for beauty.”

Reputation is the cornerstone of power. It is also the key element to the success of the life of a tattoo artist. While you can read The 48 Laws of Power if you wish, any veteran of the tattoo scene would tell you that building your reputation is obviously the key to longevity in the game. This notion becomes second nature, common sense. Beyond the word-of-mouth of your satisfied customers, gaining respect within the close-knit circle of veteran tattoo artists is priceless and cannot be bought. Luke Wessman understands this better than anybody, and not only does it apply to his own niche and identity in the world of tattooing, it is relevant within the context of Luke’s life in general. A product of a rough upbringing, the concept of standing on his own two feet as a man has always been Luke’s objective, even when the odds were against him. “I was a poor white kid living in these super-organized ghetto areas in between the Latino and black neighborhoods and trying to find my identity,” Luke says regarding his formative years growing up in Oceanside, California. “Luckily I had an older brother who got into a lot of trouble with gangs, and I know it sounds bad, but he kind of showed me what not to do through his actions. It made me keep my nose clean and start working hard from a young age.” Like any adolescent boy bred in a rough neighborhood, Luke sought the respect of the streets, but he did not want to become the product of them and refused to become another tragic statistic of wasted talent.

The beauty of being a true artist is that over time, your body of work represents your journey through life. Every sketch, tattoo, or painting becomes a moment suspended in time; snapshots of where we’ve been and more importantly, where we are headed. The career of budding artist Nobu Isobe is one such testament to artistic growth. A scholar of fine art and social commentary, Nobu’s world is a world filled with progress and pain, and his works speak to those unable to see the darker side of humanity. How a 24-year-old entertains such a deep connection to the woes of the world is Nobu’s gift, and how he translates that to canvas is nothing short of extraordinary.

Born in the countryside of Japan, it was Nobu’s emigration to the United States, specifically Los Angeles, which marked his true artistic beginnings. Influenced initially by American music and album art, it was his indecision in choosing a major while at Citrus College that sparked his artistic revolution. “I’d never done any painting in Japan, but when I came here five years ago, I had to declare a major in community college. Art major sounded kind of cool to me, so I took a few basic drawing classes, design classes, and such,” he says. Nobu absorbed this relatively new world like a sponge, soaking up classical paint influences from Renaissance-era masters, and he began to apply those principles to his own contemporary works of art. “In college, it is all progressive, so the higher I got up in the classes, the more I loved what I was doing,” the protégé says with a smile.

A combination of strengths brings to life what is considered to be one of the greatest tattoo festivals the world has yet to see and Bound By Ink was there to cover every square foot. The show has been considered by many to be a portal where art is united with the artists, while doubling as a meeting point that brings with it the most creative international minds. It’s a lesson to the novice as well as the experienced, and for the heavily seasoned industry vets, it’s a networking affair alive with good spirits, great art, and a good sign of things to come. The festival, which is backed by the beautiful backdrop of Milan, Italy, continues to display the best body art from just about every discipline and style. If you haven’t been, be sure to mark it in your calendars as a “must attend.” Enjoy the pictures and we’ll see you next year!

Jack Rudy, Charlie Cartwright, and the crew at Goodtime Charlie’s Tattooland celebrated their 35th anniversary, and the turnout was stellar and a clear indication of their history in the tattoo industry. Supported in conjunction with Sullen Clothing and H20 Ocean Tattoo aftercare, the get together celebrated decades of not only changing up the game but also giving it the foundation by which they’ve built a reputation of excellence and nobility.

Goodtime Charlie’s is the mecca of tattoo parlors, and its figureheads, Jack Rudy and Goodtime Charlie Cartwright, are part of tattoo’s Mount Rushmore. All things considered, those who turned out for this event realize this wholeheartedly, and it was good to see these greats celebrating a monumental occasion not reached by many tattoo artists. Goodtime Charlie’s has seen its fair share of noteworthy artists and apprentices, while the two mainstays have willingly passed on their teachings to that deserved few.

* russian
The head and face are oftentimes considered untouchable and sacred, but when it comes to these bold individuals they’ve deemed it the perfect canvas to show that they’re headstrong and dedicated to the art.
Name: HUERO
Artists: CHUEY QUINTANAR
Studio: GCC TATTOOLAND
City/State: ANAHEIM, CA
www.chueyquintanar.blogspot.com
Photo: www.pepwilliamsphotography.com

* italian
It’s the segue between what’s felt and what’s said, and when it comes to tattoos it has been considered one of the most painful areas to get done. It’s the only tattoo considered to be one’s secondary voice of expression.
Name: TOMMY GUNZ
Artists: JOHNNY QUINTANA
Studio: INK SHOP TATTOO PARLOR
City/State: ARCADIA, CA
www.facebook.com/eljohnnyquintana