Snakes in the Tattoo Biz: The X-Factor Researched & Written by Carmen Nyssen For a minute, put aside tattoo history’s themes of global culture, sailor traditions, and such. Consider snakes. They have a place. In my book, specifics in tattoo history are […]
A Tattoo Journey Researched & Written by Carmen Nyssen The ‘Tattoo Journey’ ahead is a sampling of the early twentieth-century tattoo artist travels that so significantly shaped the craft and trade of tattooing. In an era when sailing vessels were […]
Owen Jensen: Tattooer-Supplier TraditionBy Carmen Nyssen Born: October 10, 1891 Pleasant Grove, UTDied: July 24, 1977 Los Angeles, CABurial: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Cypress, CA Tattoo artist Owen Jensen was one of the celebrated entrepreneurs of the tattoo trade, whose […]
The Case of an Obscure Tattooer: Prof. J.L. Hayes By Carmen Nyssen In tattoo history, we often meet phrases like “obscure historical figure” and words like “ephemeral” (short-lived and out of reach). But such language is all a matter of perspective. […]
Painless Nell & Hughie Bowen, Tattoo TeamBy Carmen Nyssen In my previous Granddaddy of all Good Tattooing: Sailor Charlie Barrs article from a couple weeks ago, I forgot to mention that Bert Grimm introduced my grandma (his niece) to Sailor Charlie, and […]
Walter M. Lyons, Tattooer Researched & Written by Carmen Nyssen Born: 1872 in Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaDied: 2 Dec 1952 in Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaBurial: South Brisbane Cemetery, Plot 4B Although of foreign origin, Prof. Walter Maurice Lyons was one of America’s early West Coast […]
Tales of Tattoo Wars and Troublemakers Researched & Written by Carmen Forquer Nyssen Once upon a time in the tattoo trade, when local authorities governed more by random circumstance than regulation, tattoo artists worked under a whole different set of […]
Granddaddy of all Good Tattooing: Sailor Charlie Barrs By Carmen Nyssen Sailor Charlie Barrs One very special highlight of my Great Great Uncle Bert Grimm’s career is his working relationship with Sailor Charlie Barrs. Barrs tattooed in a style known today […]
A Roundtrip Ticket to Tattoo: From So. Cal. to Honolulu Written & researched by Carmen Nyssen History of Tattooing in Hawaii: Los Angeles Steamship Co. Before the now renowned tattoo artist Sailor Jerry Collins arrived in Honolulu, a local tradition […]
