Posts Tagged ‘behind’

What is a good resource for finding the meaning behind Japanese tattoos?

I am researching a Japanese tattoo themed sleeve and I don’t want to disrespect their culture or get something that doesn’t mean what I think it means. What is a good resource or book on the meaning Japanese tattoos.

Looking Behind the Mug-Shot Grin

Looking Behind the Mug-Shot Grin
Jared L. Loughner was described as a curious teenager and talented saxophonist. But when he was arrested after the Tucson shooting, a deputy detected no remorse.

Read more on The Tuscaloosa News

Can laser tattoo removal really remove tattoos (black) or does it always leave a cloudy mess behind?

I am debating whether to remove a large tattoo that is mostly black and grey. But I’d hate to leave behind a cloud of funk. The people at the tattoo removal place swear that black comes off completely. What do you think?

Dale & Shaun: the meaning behind their Tattoos – Seether

www.youtube.com

The Art Behind the Music

An Interview With Classic Rock Art Curator Michael Goldstein of RockPoPGallery

Rock and roll has been part of our pop culture for many decades and, so too has pop/rock memorabilia and art associated with it. Many classic album covers were created to not only sell music, but the concepts and images that were often the driving forces behind the music as well.

A business that is keeping this ideal alive is www.RockPoPGallery.com, a site that is dedicated to bringing customers the best selection of limited-edition rock and pop music related art prints, photography and related collectibles on the market today.

I spoke with curator and owner Michael Goldstein of RockPoPGallery.com about his business and why it is so important to preserve these pieces of audio history. Let’s learn more about the man behind the scenes:

RockPoPGallery.com was founded in 2005 in Huntington, NY by Michael, a long-time collector of music related artwork, as Michael explains:

”It was my personal collection (and my display of it in my offices at the TV network I worked at) that got me into the business in the first place.”

And his interest in the art of the music was apparent at an early age, as Michael details:

”My father was a cartoonist/caricaturist and, while I only had 20% of his natural ability, I did a lot of drawing. I’d done a reproduction of one of Roger Dean’s “Flying Machines” on a wall in the basement of the house I grew up in, and that was the first time that I really sat down and took a look at the artistry that went into these covers. Growing up during the heyday of record cover art- from the Beatles to the Rolling Stones, from Iron Butterfly, the Electric Prunes and early Black Sabbath to King Crimson, Yes, Frank Zappa and The Mothers, and the Mouse/Kelly’s works- all of those images ingrained in my psyche. Later on, when I got into cartoon animation and then into TV/Web production, I had a chance to work with some of the illustrators and photographers whose works I’d admired while growing up; and seeing how many of the still ‘had to work for a living’ made me mad/curious as to why these works of art and most of the people who’d made them were, in my opinion, seen as outsiders by the fine art establishment. I had to do something about that. These images were all expressions of the collaboration between musical artists, art directors, illustrators and photographers, and many of these images have certainly survived the ‘test of time’ even better than some of the music they accompanied! The artwork is about emotional connections and different forms of inspirations (sometimes chemical) and I think that is why my visitors enjoy the album art-related Cover Stories I write, as they’re all about the art and the artists.”

Not knowing much about fine art, I asked Michael about the specifics of the business, some rather obvious, and some that needed some clarification. Here are some of the questions I was curious about:

What is a print?

”To put it simply, unlike a painting, prints are made by drawing not on paper or canvas, but on a surface such as stone or a metal plate, from which the image can then be printed a number of times,” explained Michael. “The surface is inked, a sheet of paper is then placed over it and the two are run through a press. The total number of prints that are pulled is decided by the artist and the publisher beforehand and this is called an “edition”. Each impression in the edition is signed and numbered (and sometimes embellished otherwise) by the artist. Once the edition is completed, the original plate or stone is either defaced or destroyed so that no more can be made.”

”Original prints are often referred to by the technique that was used to produce them, such as lithography, silk-screening and the newest (and somewhat controversial) method – digital printing (or Giclee’). I explain these techniques in detail on the website.”

I asked Michael, how do I know what I’m buying is an original?

”In almost all circumstances, RockPoPGallery buys its inventory from only one of three sources – either directly from the artist, directly from the artist’s publisher, or at auction from auction companies that can authenticate the “provenance” (the documented history of a work of art from its production to the present) of a work of art,” stated Michael. “While many items come from these sources with complete documentation, this is not the case with all works and so we guarantee originality, based on our knowledge, provenance and the above checks. As an art lover, collector and a gallery owner I would not consider buying or selling a work of art that I am not 100% sure about. Upon request, RockPoPGallery will provide you with a Certificate of Authenticity, which will include a copy of the provenance provided from our sources. You can then go visit the web sites of the artists/publishers, and if the description of the print matches theirs in every detail, then there is a very good chance it is original.”

What determines the market price of a particular print?

”The international art market decides the price, based on the principles of supply and demand, basic economics really,” Michael explained. “Original prints may exist in multiples of more than one, which can account for a difference of thousands of dollars between the price of a mass-produced poster, an unsigned ‘open edition’ print and a signed and numbered limited-edition print. If a certain print is in demand and the supply is no longer there, the price will go up. However, price also very much depends on the condition of the print. Works on paper are extremely delicate and can easily be damaged by mishandling, poor framing, exposure to strong light and, of course, the passage of time. Prints in good condition are more sought after by collectors and therefore their prices are higher. And finally, some prints have been signed by both the artist/photographer and the musical act that the cover was done for, such as the Jimmy Page-signed Led Zeppelin IV prints, the David Bowie-signed Ziggy Stardust prints, and the Tony Iommi-signed Technical Ecstasy prints we sell. I have much more detailed information on the website.”

What is the most expensive piece you sell, or conversely, maybe the most interesting item you have owned or sold.

”This really changes day-to-day and expensive is a relative term,” said Michael. “Compare to a Warhol or a Lichtenstein or a Haring- all of whom did record covers- none of my images are expensive. The highest-priced items tend to be the pieces where the editions are nearly sold out- like the Led Zeppelin 4 cover art signed by Jimmy Page, Karl Ferris’ photos for the covers of “Are You Experienced?” and “Electric Ladyland,” Entwistle’s “Who by Numbers”, etc. As far as the most interesting item I have sold, well the one with the most personal story must have been my copy of Roger Dean’s “Magician’s Birthday.” I bought one for my personal collection at a very good price and then was offered a lot of money to sell it, which I did; not knowing how much I really wanted to keep it. To punish myself and to let me look at it everyday, I had a section of it tattooed on my right arm!”

I enjoyed my conversation with Michael and have certainly learned valuable information about the fine art that is available for rock and roll fans. I think what impressed me the most about conversation was Michael’s commitment and passion for what he does, certainly intangible qualities that you cannot place a value on.

What is the tattoo price of a 4 inch cross behind my arm?

I’m thinking about getting a 4 inch cross tattoo and having 4 letters in the middle, around my triceps area (behind you arm where almost your shoulder is). whats the cost?

How much would the 4 inch cross and the 4 letters be?

The Mystery behind Tribal Tattoos

The designs behind tribal tattoos are quite contemporary, but guess what? They’re actually the oldest forms of tattoos, having passed through many ancient civilizations before they got to us! As per their name, they were first started off by ethnic groups from yore.

This type of tattoo is very popular today, as many actors, sports figures and musicians sport them. Angelina Jolie has a neo-tribal tattoo on her belly, Mike Tyson sports one on his face, Alyssa Milano from Charmed has a tribal tattoo on her nape, and so on. The list in endless!

One of the main causes of tribal tattoos increasing appeal to people is the ease of getting them. They are easy to draw, and relatively simple, so they don’t hurt a lot! New tattoo artists use this tattoo design as a starting point before moving on to more elaborate tattoo designs. Tribal tattoos, apart from being one of the simplest tattoos to etch, are also fairly symmetrical. They are drawn using circles, swirls, loops, sharp edges and moon-crescents integrated together.

In the olden days, tribal tattoos had a lot more significance than they do today. Getting a tattoo was a rite to achieve adulthood in a tribe. In some ethnic groups, a girl who could not bear the pain of tattooing was taken to be fragile and was bound to stay single because she supposedly did not have the tolerance to go through childbirth. If the same thing happened to a male, he was deemed to be a coward and incapable of joining in hunts.

The Maori tribe in New Zealand takes a lot of pride in their tribal art. The higher your rank in the tribe, the more complicated and elaborate the tattoos you sport! Hence, a tattoo that has been added on to suggests that you have risen in the ranks, with the chief having the most intricate design of all! The women of the Maori tribe tattoo their chins and lips.

Hawaiian tribes use tribal tattoos mostly to show symbolism. The people in these ethnic groups have strong belief in the tattoo gods. If they want to get a tattoo done, they will first pray to the tattoo gods asking for safekeeping during the tattooing process as well as for quick healing later. They also pray to ensure that their tattoo looks good and striking!

Polynesian tattoos, perhaps from the land of Samoa, are said to be the pioneers of the modern tattoo. James Cook, explorer of the seas, landed on the Polynesian Islands and when he traveled back to England in the 70s, his men sported tribal tattoos which are eerily similar to the neo-tribal designs popular today. These tattoos were inked on the chest and upper arms of the sailors.

However, in the modern world of today, tribal tattoos have endured to become more popular for their appeal as well as their symbolism!