Indelible.

So Long Servitude!

2011-06-18T12:56:00.008-04:00

The cut has been made. For the better part of the past twelve years I have been a dutiful member of the foodservice industry. I have wined, dined, and accommodated the gastronomic needs of literally thousands of people. I'm a damned good waitress and am proud of my adaptability and skill in dealing with just about any type of person. To all the cranky, picky, crazy, and downright mean customers over the years...I wish I could have told you how I felt. But, I'm a professional and I smiled while biting my tongue, I coddled, and I graciously pretended to care. As for all the wonderful, appreciative, amazing people I was able to take care of...thank you for allowing me to have some lovely experiences over the years. I have worked with incredible crews of talented cooks, chefs, servers, bartenders, dishwashers, prep-cooks, baristas, bussers, & food-runners. I have learned invaluable lessons about humanity and the lengths to which my patience and quick-thinking can take me. I have developed a love for good food and a good store of knowledge about how to create it.

Now I'm incredibly excited about this next phase in my life. I don't know what it's like to have nights off, to have a regular day job, and to not wear a uniform! I can't wait to be at the shop five days a week, to paint and tattoo until my fingers hurt! I feel like dancing, and screaming. In the next few weeks I feel it's necessary to have some type of party. I've dreamed and schemed and worked to make this severance a reality. It's time for a little celebrating and a lot more hard work. Come see me and get a tattoo!

And please...Treat your restaurant staff with respect and kindness!

Inky, Optimistic, Springtime Promises

2011-06-05T09:53:00.001-04:00

Over dinner last night with my fella' we made a pact. It's a secret pact at the moment, but is a promise to make a big change in my life. A severance of something that feels like dead weight. This impending ending is actually an incredibly significant beginning. This is all so vague and mysterious...for the time being. When the cut is made I'll be screaming from the rooftops and celebrating like mad. I'm scared as hell but ready to take a leap.

This time of year is perfect for such change and transition. I'm a warm weather girl at heart. I appreciate the introversion of winter and the pause it allows us to feel. But when those last snowflakes fall and the first brave, green, plants of spring start to emerge I am happiest.

I haven't ridden a bicycle much since I was a kid. In April I purchased my own lovely bike and have been riding a lot more. We are non-car owners, my fella' and I, and I'm happy about that. I have come to love walking everywhere. He rides a lot, in all seasons and that is quite inspiring to me. So, pedaling about is becoming more of my routine and I absolutely love it. My bike is a vintage Austro Daimler Puch from the late '70's. Her name is Michelle, not by my choosing...it's actually the name of the model! We've made some alterations and he is going to switch out more parts to make it an even smoother ride. Such fun!

Tattooing is going well. I did an epic lettering project earlier this week and will post photos after the weekend. I'm thankful for John's decision to have me start with lettering when I began tattooing in October. All those hours of practicing letters and tracing tracing tracing have paid off. I feel comfortable drawing out words and enjoy tattooing them. I've also established some great clients who have been bringing me really cool ideas. Over the past few weeks I've been lucky enough to do some very meaningful tattoos for my clients. It is an incredible feeling to do a piece for someone; knowing that the tattoo is a big milestone or source of inspiration.

2011-05-28T21:14:00.002-04:00

And so it has begun! I am taking walk-in appointments and designing custom tattoos. This flyer will be seen all over Portland...until I draw a new one.

My new business cards arrived this week. They were made possible by Kate Schier. She kindly transformed my sketch into a print-worthy design. Stop by the shop, grab a couple & say hi! Help me hand out my first 1,000 cards.

In no chronological order these are some of the tattoos I have been doing lately. Some of the photos were taken as I finished tattooing, so there is some redness and the lighter colors may not be visible. My project at the moment is compiling photos of healed tattoos and putting together a book. Remember the paintings I worked on last year? Soon, I will be tattooing them. I feel that they will be important pieces to have in my portfolio.

Moth Landing

2011-01-29T17:59:00.002-05:00

I've been tattooing many winged creatures.

These are all photos of unhealed pieces, and I apologize for the poor photo quality, my camera is not the greatest.

And so it begins...

2010-12-28T16:10:00.000-05:00

I have been so busy I have once again neglected to update for quite some time. Life at the shop is treating me well. I got licensed as a tattoo practitioner in November. But, the lovely state of Maine has yet to send me my official license. For the time being I have a temporary copy. Hopefully it arrives soon!

These images are of all the tattoos I have been doing lately. I have been averaging about three tattoos a week. By the end of January I will be moving on from the lettering to doing smaller pieces like the moths I drew in the fall. This will allow me to practice filling in more solid areas of color. By the time summer comes around I intend to be moving full steam ahead with tattooing. I will be taking a lot of the smaller walk in appointments and will be working as much as I possibly can.

As you can see, I've been writing up a storm. I feel like I'm falling in love with tattooing all over again. I get more confident with each tattoo I do and can't wait to do more once I finish a piece. It is an incredible feeling.

Pour mon père!

2010-10-28T12:33:00.001-04:00

This blog post is for my dad. He lives in France, so naturally, we don't get to see each other that often. I've let posting fall by the wayside recently and I promised I'd update so he can see what is going on in my little world of tattoos. Hello dad!

At the end of September I finally finished tracing all 294 sheets in the Sailor Jerry book. It felt great. I have opted to keep up with tracing so that I can keep building hand strength. I've been tracing a lot of larger pieces by Todd Noble. I feel much more in control of the machine and think I am getting to the point where it is actually more comfortable to draw with it. Pencils and pens feel tiny and too light in my hand.

My biggest news is the fact that I will be getting my Maine State tattooing license the third week of November. And that means...I'm ready to tattoo!!! This is the final draft of my lettering project. These words will be the first tattoo appointments I book.

I'm pretty happy with the lettering, but can't help but nitpick and critique them every time I see the sheet. That's the beauty of making art though; there is always room to grow and develop. I'm really looking forward to tattooing. I'm on the brink of a big shift in this learning process and I couldn't be more excited for it to happen.

Autumn in Maine is treating me well. Lots of tea, cider, cozy nights at home with my house mates and our awesome dogs. I'll be 29 in a couple of weeks. One of my biggest goals was to apprentice and begin tattooing before I turn 30. It feels terrific to have made this happen. I'm looking forward to winter, because that means spring will be next up on deck. Ice fishing, tattooing, and hibernation are definitely in order. Cheers!

Hit the Ground Running.

2010-09-16T18:25:00.000-04:00

During the first year of my apprenticeship I am required to do twenty paintings. They are all images of my design and are pieces that I will eventually tattoo. It dawned on me yesterday that this year is almost over. I've completed seven pieces and realize I need to be producing at a much faster rate. I just finished these two over the past few days. I like pressure and deadlines and often miss being in school. Apprenticing is way cooler than school though.

A Viking pinup. I'm getting more into working with traditional themes & styles. I think it's from all the Sailor Jerry tracing. His work is tried and true. He knew what looked good. He definitely knew how to draw the ladies...so many ladies. I think pinup tattoos are fun and enjoy drawing them. Up next? A Cowgirl.

Another favorite of mine are food tattoos. My friend wanted Chinese Lo Mein spilling out of a box and this is what I came up with for him. I am looking forward to drawing more food flash in the future. Menu to be determined.

So rainy and dreary this morning. At least I can wear my headphones and tromp through puddles in my Wellies on my way to town.

Caffeinated...

2010-09-04T13:34:00.000-04:00

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I'm all over the map today. I never ever touch caffeine, had a little bit of tea this morning, and I'm going crazy. Energy is good though so I'll just roll with it.

Yesterday our new appointment books arrived in the mail. It's exciting to think about all the projects I'll write in those pages for the coming year. So many tattoos that haven't been born yet.

When time allows I like to paint. For the past few years I have been interested in rendering outer space on large scale canvases. It is a nice departure from line-work and thinking like a tattooer. A friend has decided to purchase one of my big pieces and I'm going to use the money to purchase myself some new tattoo equipment and inks. I mean I could go buy a new pair of boots or something, but I've got the tattoo fever and I want to build my collection of things. My mind is racing over what I want to purchase first. Wednesday next week will be dedicated to shopping and buying supplies. Can't wait for that package to arrive in the mail.

I will not be laboring this weekend. Time spent at a lakefront camp is in order. Summer's last stand...hope you all enjoy it!

Strength training...

2010-09-01T19:20:00.001-04:00

I've written of how I've been tracing and how little I have left to go. Being so close to the end of the project is awesome, but on Saturday I realized I need to change my approach. Tracing with the pencil isn't enough. I'm not used to holding a tattoo machine. I'm certainly not used to drawing with one. It feels awkward and my muscles need to work toward holding machines for longer periods of time. So, John let me borrow one of his. Instead of a normal setup, I used a ball-point pen with an attached metal grip.

I began with a Staple's brand pen and a paper towel grip. Staple's ball-points are the worst ever. I found a penmate kicking around with superior ink flow and I replaced the towel with a grip to counter the weight of the machine behind my hand.

It was a cumbersome work-out. I look forward to attempting again tomorrow.

My first tattoo at Made-Rite!!!

2010-08-29T15:56:00.001-04:00

We have had an amazing and busy summer at the shop. Yesterday marked the end of our awesome team that we've been working with for the past few months. The lovely Sam has been assisting us with web projects, flyering, and just general things around the shop. Walter Beckwith has been shadowing us for July and August as research for an anthropological study of tattooing. So fancy.

So, as a thank you to Wally for his efforts we decided to tattoo the crap out of him yesterday (we would have tattooed Sam as well, but she's not old enough yet). John did an awesome chest piece for him. And then he kindly volunteered to let me do my first tattoo on his leg. We told him it had to be a pig and I decided it was going to be riding a Penny-Farthing bicycle. A most sophisticated pig indeed. His name is Quicksilver.

This is the outline, with some black shading...

And Mr. Quicksilver in all his glory...

Tattooing again gave me such a boost of enthusiasm and energy. I've been working on all these other pieces and aspects of learning this craft. Actually attempting to put that knowledge all together and tattoo felt incredible. John has been tattooing for a long time and makes it look so seamless and easy. I have so much to learn and that was reinforced in my mind yesterday. I will be doing some more pieces in the coming weeks while taking time to digest all this information. Thanks to Wally for trusting in my beginner's skills and letting me practice! And I am endlessly thankful for having such a thorough and kind teacher. John is an amazing person and I am privileged to be learning from someone so terrific.

Pictures I want to draw on people.

2010-08-15T22:38:00.000-04:00

These are my flash designs that will become tattoos eventually...

This piece was the first painting I did when I started at Made-Rite. A Carrion Crow with a Deer head. It is based on an Audubon print that I like a lot.

I also like rabbits, monocles, and delicious vegetables. This is the Professor of Veg.; a most discerning critic of goings on about the garden.

The ill fated Marie Antoinette. At least she got to live it up while it lasted, right?

Skeleton keys are cool.

Nancy and friends again. Those yellow hardcover books were such an escape when I was a young lady.

So that's the sort of stuff I've been working on. I've been pretty exclusive with lettering lately and I need to do more drawing this coming week. I've got floral designs and skulls and bats and so many other images floating about my head. Several sheets of small thumbnail sketches for designs would do me some good. That's the plan. If they're not totally awful, perhaps they'll make an appearance here. It's all on me.

Shifting & Tracing

2010-08-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

Not that I ever like to see the end of summer's hot days and warm nights; but I'm ready. I am prepared for the shift in seasons and the transition to the colder months of the year. Fall and winter are always a time of internalization and 'work' for me. I retreat a little, as I think we all do. My goal for the coming colder months is to hermit. I want to remove myself from a lot of what is familiar and focus on what matters most...growing and learning as a tattooist.

I will, and always do, miss the fruits and fresh things about summer. They will come around again in the spring when that whole beautiful cycle of growth begins...as it always does.

June's makings for Strawberry Rhubarb pie. My favorite. Until next year my little red friends.

Each day I trace sheets of Sailor Jerry tattoo designs from this rather large binder. I don't know how many sheets there are total, probably about 200? John has me trace them to learn the flow of lines, common traditional tattoo layouts, and muscle memory of drawing from my shoulder. I 'stretch' with my left hand while I draw with my right. This is done by pulling elastics taut between my index finger and thumb. I am trying to build up hand strength so that they will not be so fatigued when I begin to tattoo.

I have so little left to trace from the book. I do four sheets a day and will be done in nine days. It's something I never thought I would complete when I started. I figured it would be at least next year by the time I traced all of it. Only 36 more sheets to go. When all is said and done I will have a collection of tracing pads that contain a large part of Sailor Jerry's tattoo design collection. Pretty cool.

Now I'm off to enjoy a lovely walk to the shop in this beautiful summer weather. It's not over for awhile yet, but that North wind is coming, and I welcome it with open arms.

Moving in. Moving forward.

2010-08-05T13:27:00.001-04:00

This amazing artifact greeted me as I arrived to open the shop yesterday. An antique prosthetic leg, made of wood and leather, complete with a handsome oxford shoe. It was left as a gift for John by his friend Eric.

This all came about because of John's prosthetic arm sweatshirt design. Modeled by the lovely Mazie, photo by Randy Williams.

The sweatshirt is available for sale at Made-Rite...along with several different styles of T-shirts. Stop by, say hello, check out the apparel and admire the prosthetic limb. Once we've got more time on our hands this fine antique will be adorned with some traditional tattoos.

Apprentice life is going well. This weekend I am going out in search of items to stock my station. I need jars to keep my supplies in and other odds and ends. I found a leather office chair at goodwill for $8.00! It will be my chair for sitting in while I draw pretty pictures on my clients. I'm going to bring my books and some knick-knacks to customize my workspace. It feels like I'm moving in!

I've been continuing to work on my lettering. I completed a couple of alphabets and have begun putting together words. I think that the first tattoo I do here at Made-Rite will be for my good friend Justin. He originally hails from Salem NH and wants to represent. This is a rough sketch of the lettering I will eventually do for him.

Aside from establishing my corner of the shop I will be ordering an appointment book soon and I will start booking spots for my first tattoos. I am so ready.

I've been living a double life for the past six months. Apprentice by day, restaurant worker by night. I have been in the foodservice industry for over ten years. It has been an amazing experience. It is a lifestyle that I will both miss and happily say goodbye to. I have served food and drinks to thousands of people. My skills in dealing with the public translate so perfectly to the tattoo shop environment. People don't intimidate me, I enjoy interacting with them, and am able to adapt my personality to a specific person's energy. Incredible friendships and bonds are often formed between tattooer and client. I see it happen all the time and can't wait to reconnect with people on that level. I see the joy a new tattoo brings and the contentment felt in creating something lasting and beautiful.

The tangible movement of belongings and etching out of space in the shop has given me a boost of enthusiasm. I'm in love with this life and what I am about to begin.

Cheers.

ABC's and Girl Sleuths

2010-07-23T13:25:00.000-04:00

Forgive me, it has been ages since my last post. I've got to make this part of my weekly routine. Life at the tattoo shop is going well. Summer is in full swing and with it comes good energy and interesting people.

I have been working on lettering, which entails drawing alphabets in script. I am trying to learn the feel for the letters, to commit the shapes to memory. John says the lines of the letters should flow smoothly and be fun to draw. This makes a lot of sense. If something about a letter is 'off' it feels awkward to draw it. So I've made myself some old school lined tracing paper, takes me back to elementary school, and I've been practicing my ABC's.

My next step is to come up with a sheet of all different kinds of words. Love, hate, doom, faith, blessed etc. These words in my script will become my first tattoos at Made-Rite. Rather than jump in and get involved with color and completing a more complicated piece I will be focusing on the most crucial element of tattoos...line work. By starting here the idea is that I will build a good foundation and move forward. I'm super excited. This should be happening within the next month or so.

I've also been working on my paintings, most recently I finished this piece, an homage to the amazing Nancy Drew.

I coveted the old school Nancy Drew hardcovers when I was younger. My friend Kate feels the same way, and this piece will eventually become her tattoo. This was a fun piece to draw that went through many many different versions before I finished.

Cheers!

My first tattoo machines

2010-05-03T16:07:00.000-04:00

Well, I did it. With John's instruction I managed to assemble my first set of machines. John tattooed one of his clients with them and they work! I need to make some minor adjustments but for the most part they are ready to go. Watching my liner create it's first marks on skin was a pretty incredible experience. I have lots to learn in terms of machine science but this is a big first step.

This is my liner. I used old photos of tapestries from Versailles to cover the coils. Fancy.

My shader. These coils are wrapped with the embossed cover of the December 1938 issue of the magazine Plaisir De France.

I will be tattooing soon...

Shop Life

2010-04-14T22:35:00.000-04:00

I enjoy my routines at the shop. Daily chores make me feel centered and connected to the space. Often, when I arrive early to mop and sweep I think back to my life before joining John at Made Rite. I may have had more 'free time' but I wanted that time to be spent working toward this goal. I am happy to be this busy and to have a shop to keep clean.

One of my tasks each day is to make needles. John has been tattooing with my handiwork for a couple of weeks. Apparently, I'm doing something right because he tells me they work well. For my first year of tattooing at Made Rite I am to only use needles I have made. I like this. Previously, I had been using pre-mades. As a beginner in this industry I feel it is important to learn subtle nuances of all aspects of this craft. Taking a needle out of a box does not foster understanding of how they work. Now that I know how they are put together they are no longer mysterious little brushes. I am anxious to tattoo again and see how my needles feel on skin.

This is the giant rubber tree that John found on Craigslist. It was advertised as being a whopping seven feet tall, in reality it's closer to my height...just over five feet.

John's work space. This is where the tattoo magic happens.

These are my newly powder coated machine frames. Gold felt like an appropriate color to commemorate my very first set of machines. I will start assembling them next week. John is going to show me what to do step by step but I will be doing all of the work. When they are finished he will show me how to tune them and make sure they are running well. After they've passed inspection he is going to tattoo with them. I can't wait!

The Beginning...

2010-04-13T18:58:00.000-04:00

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I began my tattoo apprenticeship with John Biswell in February of 2010. Our shop is called Made Rite Tattoos. We are located at 24 Exchange Street in Portland, Maine. www.biswelltattoos.com

It is now April, trees are blossoming, and I am three months into this process. It is a process that took me three years to even begin. My journey is not unlike many who choose this line of work. I experienced a lot of closed doors, moments of great self-doubt, and a false start. My search for a true teacher led me across the country, and finally, back to Maine.

I feel compelled to blog about my experiences and role as a traditional apprentice. I am a former college student, disillusioned by years of aimless liberal arts education. In this trade I am a humble and complete beginner. But, this is an education I believe in, that I will fight for, and that I am privileged to be experiencing. For the first time in this lifetime I feel I am truly on the correct path.

This blog will serve as a place for my ramblings, as well as images of my artwork. I am also preparing to build my first set of tattoo machines.

-Gemma