A modern approach to an ancient art is the foundation and embodiment of Bound by Ink, an award-winning magazine devoted to art’s impact on tattoo culture, tattoos and the lifestyle. The mysterious appeal of Bound by Ink is its unique melding of engaging design with inspirational and thought-provoking editorial. The culture is brought to life in the form of in-depth interviews and a wide array of topics that help promote, educate, and empower the artistry of tattoos. Designed for the creative and intellectually curious, this magazine encourages and infuses readers with a new awareness for an art which has us all bound by ink.

Don’t miss out!  The double cover of Bound By Ink Magazine featuring Kelly Eden is available on newsstands now!

The double cover of Bound By Ink Magazine features Kelly Eden in two very different striking covers and it hits newsstands soon so don’t miss out. Today I dropped by the office to go over some of the new projects we’re working on which includes the release of the highly anticipated Recoil Magazine. This magazine is sure to start off with a bang and when you see the paper quality and graphic design it’s sure to please. We also went over plans for more new magazines that we’re planning to release so hang tight and as always thanks for the love & support.

Modeling is a world where doors are only open for a select few. Before entering its hallowed halls, a bevy of aspiring and sometimes gorgeous females are put through a series of dilemmas, some of them physical and most of them moral; very few make it to the proverbial other side. These women are strong, beautiful, independent, and confident. While these “perfect 10s” aren’t exactly a dime a dozen, an even smaller percentage can claim the joint titles of “model” and “matriarch.” Hence the rise of a queen to lead them; a queen named Esther Hanuka, herself a mother of five and one of the most sought after models in today’s scene. “I am excited that because I built my own name and have done it with five children, I’ve gained a following that sees me as proof that you can do whatever you want to do in life,” Esther says proudly. At 31, she wears her motherhood on her sleeve, quite literally, as well as her journey and breakthrough to the other side for the world to see.

Queen Esther takes her throne in California now, by way of her Guatemalan and Israeli lineage. Growing up in Hebrew and Spanish cultures, as well as American, provided a unique life experience which gave Esther strength and compassion, not words often used when describing a model. “I never lived in one place for more than a year,” she offers candidly. While this would seem to be exciting on one hand, it was not without its pitfalls, as Esther often drew the ire of scorned classmates, jealous of her attention as the pretty new girl. Through it all she built character — a resolve to constantly help others and put their needs ahead of her own, much like she does now through her family life and her own modeling agency, Queen E Modeling, where she cultivates her own brood of upcoming models. With several magazine covers and spreads to her credit as well as sponsorships from companies like Fresh Peaches Swimwear and Rebel Rock Jewelry, it appears that there is no end in sight for this Queen’s reign.

In the early 16th century, where women painters weren’t exactly accepted with open arms, Artemisia Gentileschi certainly changed the mold, as she became one of the most famed Baroque painters in the world. She not only broke down stereotypes, but also became the first female painter in history to become a member of the distinguished Accademia di Arte del Disegno in Florence. In doing so, she not only paved the way for females but also opened the doors and minds in having the public accept future female artists. With that being said, fast forward to the 20th century where a young, beautiful, and talented woman by the name of Ashley De Vor is now trying to make her mark while scheming to leave her artistic footprint on this world. Ashley is a talented artisan in every sense of the word, and when she’s not booked with modeling gigs or playing video games, she’s painting, sketching, or apprenticing at a tattoo parlor. Like Artemisia Gentileschi, she’s had to endure hardships on her road to success; one of them is being a tattooed female model and artist in this day and age. Ashley has persevered and overcome initial stereotypes as evidenced by her meteoric rise. She is an extremely busy person and Bound By Ink happened to be fortunate enough to catch her on a day which she happened to be balled up in her bed ready to do absolutely nothing but chill and reenergize herself for another all day and night marathon of “Call Of Duty: Black Ops.” Ashley De Vor doesn’t hold back and let’s hope the world is ready for her reign.

As the lazy sunbeam of an L.A. afternoon drips to the floor via skylight in his West Hollywood Memoir Tattoo Studio, Shawn Barber stands smiling. Paintings adorn every facet of wall space, and he is enthralled in conversation with fellow artist Adrian Dominic, as Adrian applies a fresh leg piece to an also-smiling customer. The sounds of Sabbath fill the room, and Barber’s girlfriend and studio co-founder Kim Saigh sits at a drawing table, preparing for whatever Tuesday afternoon’s client has in store for her. The warmth in the room is abundant, and it becomes clear to me that Barber’s smile stems from the piece of mind that a person can only get when they are exactly where they want to be in life. Surrounded by art, this open studio space is “like a dream come true” for this purveyor of many palettes. While he may be enjoying the moment, the underlying perfectionism within Barber serves as the yang to this Zen-like yin. It is his fuel and his resolve; he is simply never satisfied with his work. “Taking a look back at the work I’ve done, I can honestly say that I wish I could redo all of it,” he says in between smiles. He’s dead serious too, but this sentiment is not uncommon among true artists, who usually spend a lifetime looking for ways to better execute technique and express themselves. Famed “Nighthawks” painter Edward Hopper was once quoted as saying, “If I could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint.” Perhaps this is why Barber is best known for his works on paper canvas, aside from the fact that his journey with the living canvas is just beginning.

Speaking volumes about his reverence for tattoos, Barber’s painted works are to contemporary tattoo culture what Annie Leibovitz’s photographs are to pop culture. If you name an iconic tattoo artist, chances are that Shawn has painted a portrait of them. It seems as though he is an unofficial portrait journalist of the culture, capturing these iconic men and women who have chosen to dedicate their lives to the hum of a needle. Rooted in realism, Shawn’s interest in figurative painting was heightened by the dimension of having to add tattoo work on his subjects. “The challenge for me is now bigger than portraiture; of course it’s exciting trying to get a likeness, to get the essence of that person. Unfortunately, it can become boring, and for me, tattoos make it a lot more interesting. They tell a story about that person’s life and my job is to also capture them in a painting. It’s a different kind of challenge,” Shawn says. After graduating with his BFA in 1999 from the Ringling School of Art & Design, in Sarasota, Florida, Shawn began teaching art courses, a path that eventually led him to San Francisco, where he lived for six years and shared a studio with tattooist Henry Lewis. “The studio we had was above a gallery called Whitewalls, and in that gallery there were tons of artists from all over the world that visited every month, and a lot of them had tattoos. I started to document these people by doing paintings of them, and Henry encouraged it. My friend from back home, Bryan Bancroft, who did a lot of my work, had wanted me to get into tattoos for years. Henry was working for Mike Davis at the time, and he asked him if I could apprentice there, so that’s how I started to become a tattoo artist,” Shawn says in between booking appointments. While not an easy transition at 35, tattooing has since become the newest muse of this incredible painter.

Barber’s painted works can be found in the collections of icons like Van Morrison and Robin Williams, in addition to extreme sports legend Mat Hoffman and Rolling Stone magazine founder Jan Wenner. In addition to two published books, Tattooed Portraits, and Forever and Ever, Barber’s work can also be found all over the globe, including the Joshua Liner Gallery in New York, where he will show off his latest exhibition this July. He has received accolades from American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, RSVP, and The Artist’s Magazine, among others. Yet and still, he is focused on his latest infatuation with the living canvas, obsessing about tattoos day and night. Tattooing has definitely made its own mark on this revered painter, and though it would seem strange to some that such an accomplished artist would focus on a different medium, it’s important to remember that Barber’s world clearly revolves around making one’s own choices, oblivious to the skepticism of convention. In the shooting gallery of choice, Barber pulls the trigger and never looks back, confident in his empowered walk through life as a true artist.

Entertainment and art are much like beauty; their merit is all in the eye of the beholder. Some people like movies, some people prefer music. Others watch sports, and yet others would prefer to read. For years, mankind has always found activities to enjoy while passing the time in between responsibilities. Simply put, we’re a collective sucker for something to be interested in. Stage acts have been popular since the Vaudeville days, and extreme performers have also captured our collective fancy. Circus performers and daredevil troupes like the Flying Wallendas and stunt performers in the vein of Evil Kenevil have pushed the boundaries of performance art, paving the way for modern incarnations like Cirque Du Soleil and perhaps the most dangerous and darkest performance artist ever: Samppa Von Cyborg.

Born in Finland and living in London, Samppa himself is a master of many trades, including tattooing and body modification — a trade in which he’s considered a true innovator, having pioneered flesh stapling and inventing the “Mad Max bar.” While he is unparalleled in the body modification industry, he has become almost more known for his bizarre and gory stage shows. With good reason; his Psycho Cyborgs stage show features a myriad of tricks which most people would probably classify as “torture.” Live stunts involving piercing, skewering, electric shocks, drills, nails, suspensions, and bloodletting are certainly not selling points on Broadway or in a Las Vegas venue, but you will find all of those at each of the shows. “Everything that’s wrong in the world is right here,” snarled a judgmental Simon Cowell after seeing the Von Cyborgs perform during an appearance on “Britain’s Got Talent.” Obviously Simon hasn’t seen Samppa’s latest incarnation, “Portrait of a Serial Killer,” in which he plays the killer, using torture devices as his puppet strings, who ultimately compels his victim to return to him after each act of controlled violence, only to serve as a palette of live blood in which he paints an actual portrait. Yes. He cuts his victim and while she is bleeding, uses her blood to paint a masterpiece. These shows are certainly not for the faint of heart, although fainting has become Von Cyborg’s version of a standing ovation. “Pretty much every show we do, someone in the crowd passes out, and that’s really the best feedback we can get. It’s kind of become our trademark,” Samppa says with a sinister grin.

Given the extreme nature for the shows, it begs the question, “Is this art?” Samppa thinks so, and he’s quick to point out that while it may look like chaos on stage, the stunts are carefully planned out — even though there are no doctors present on site. “We have certain rules. No doctors on staff, I do everything by myself. No anesthesia at all, during or after. We have a no-drugs-no-alcohol policy a week before the show, and no painkillers. Everything you see is 100-percent real and that’s the point of the show. We want to show how far you can go.” With no deaths or serious accidents — even the Flying Wallendas and the Circus can’t claim that — are Samppa’s shows any different from the many previous forms of death defying entertainment, at least in terms of risk? We’ll let you decide. As innovative as the shows are, Samppa does maintain that people should not try to imitate them on their own, and we certainly second that notion. Even controlled, these deadly stunts can cause serious injury or worse, and Samppa advises the same regarding body modification. “For many people, body modification is about addiction. Sometimes this causes people to do their own piercings at home, instead of calling professionals and they fuck themselves up,” he cautions.

Whether you consider him an artist or not, let it be said that Samppa’s is a world with pushed boundaries, an extreme utopia where normalcy is maxed-out and style and pain are pushed to the forefront and outer limits. Taking inspiration from Giger, Samppa’s contributions to body modification cannot be denied. He has blazed a trail of innovation in his field and toured the world as a true exhibitionist, sacrificing his health, his body, and his mental capabilities along the way in the name of self-expression. Is that not the mark of a true artist? We’ll let you decide.

Combine the paint and color skills of your favorite graphic novelist, throw in the unique character style of your favorite graffiti artist, add the ethos of tongue-in-cheek, ironic humor and satire, and you have the blueprint that has evolved into game-changing Richmond, Virginia, tattoo artist Jesse Smith. His work is akin to a modern day, skin-canvassing Dali: utilizing his gift for abstract imagery and Chuck Jones-inspired cartoon perspectives to paint some of the most vibrant and visually stunning scenes ever depicted in the tattoo genre. Jesse’s transition from backpacks filled with Krylon and Montana to the tattoo studios filled with Intenze and Skin Candy has certainly been a breath of fresh air, and it’s evident in his work that the hours he spent adapting those street techniques of color blending have actually transcended both mediums, transforming Jesse into a super hybrid of artistic styles and genres. To top that off, many of Jesse’s pieces carry a social commentary on par in wit with the best street artists of New York and Los Angeles. You won’t find this savant parading the hipster scenes of these two metropolitan provinces, however. Instead, you can find this 34-year-old genius tattooing in Richmond, Virginia. “I honestly don’t think that there are too many other places in the world that I would rather be a tattoo artist than in Richmond,” Jesse explains.

Jesse’s foray into tattooing began 11 years ago, in the summer of 1999. “Prior to that, I was jumping between tattooing, graffiti, drawing caricatures at Busch Gardens, and airbrushing at the mall,” Jesse says. A lifelong fan of drawing, Jesse became serious about his art at the age of 22. A difficult decision in those times in America, as financial success as an artist had become an increasingly seldom occurrence. This decision has obviously proved to be the correct one, as Jesse has rapidly become one of the most sought after artists behind the needle. While he’s clearly a master of the color medium in his drawings, painted works, and tattoos, it’s hard to believe that this young ingénue focused solely on black and grey drawings in his younger days. “All the way up until the age of 17, I drew mostly in black and grey,” Jesse says. “My mother would always push me to use color in my art, but for some reason, I always stuck with black and grey. During my junior year in high school, I started to write graffiti and color became a lot more entertaining to me. It opened up a whole new artistic world for me.”

Likewise, Jesse has opened up a whole new world for us. Day-tripping through his images of surreal, animated, and biting backdrops, one can’t help but to imagine the boundaries he will push going forward. It is the theatre of Jesse Smith’s own mind that Bound By Ink has been invited to sit, and we hold our balcony seat tickets in the enthralled amazement of the unique world he has laid out before us.

Photos are a unique art form; they represent a visual moment in time while doubling as tunnels that connect the captured image to the beholder in a way that transcends time, space, religion, race, color, or creed. In the same vein, tattoos can be considered even more intriguing, as the commitment is a much more painful and personal process followed by immediate permanency. Tattoos are the gateway to one’s soul and as each piece showcases triumph, tribulations, and sometimes tragedy, it also reflects an in-depth philosophy and world perspective on anything such as relationships with one’s better half or tales of one’s neighborhood. Bound By Ink is proud to connect these two spiritual art forms in a way that attempts to do justice to the visual majesty, and regardless of how you interpret the photos or the tattoos, they are much like dreams in the simple fact that they act as windows to the soul. Each photograph in this issue tells a unique tale, connecting with our readers on different levels of consciousness; whether you appreciate these images for their sheer artistry or their mystical composition, the artwork here shares no common ground — aside from the fact that they’re all printed on paper. With that said, we’ve compiled some of the best photos we’ve orchestrated and assembled a limited edition look book which further promotes the unadulterated vivaciousness of tattoo culture. With a visual history comes a clearer future.

In closing we’d also like to send out a special thanks to Andy Hartmark for his creative and compositional prowess when it comes to photography. To say that a picture speaks a thousand words is truly an understatement when it comes to his work, but in the same breath he’s the creative power that separates a snapshot from a photograph. Much respect and admiration goes out to Andy from our entire staff.

Respectfully,
John Jarasa

Saturday night’s toast to the one-year anniversary of The Honorable Society took place in West Hollywood, California, and it certainly did not disappoint. The sterling guest list of movers and shakers, accomplished artists, and some special celebrity attendees spent a good part of the evening rubbing elbows, socializing, and talking tattoos, as well as Bound By Ink. To help lift spirits, patrons were treated to energy drinks supplied by Dr. V’s and spirits supplied by Tequila Avion and St. Germain. All of the artists at the event were congenial and never apprehensive, especially Marco Cerritelli, the host of the event and owner of The Honorable Society. If you have never been to The Honorable Society, you owe it to yourself to visit or just stop by. The place is no joke.

Mark Mahoney kicked off St. Patrick’s Day in the grandest of fashion by releasing a new ink collaboration he developed with Intenze. The new ink, appropriately called Shamrock Green, was limited to only 50 hand-crafted sets and even better was the packaging from which they came in. The Irish whiskey–inspired bottles were packaged in handcrafted wooden boxes and if that weren’t enough to impress, then the list of tastemakers and industry elite would have. Guests at the event were treated with nothing but genuine hospitality and care; once the meet and greet came to an end, the party carried on over at The Whisky in West Hollywood, California. In all, it was a kick ass get together that lived up to the name and reputation built by the legendary Mark Mahoney and the rest of the crew at the Shamrock Social Club.