All posts in category Robert Ryan

Thom DeVita Part 1: Tattoo Age

All tattooing is folk art.
Vice.com has finally begun airing the Thom DeVita arc of their ‘Tattoo Age’ series, with episode 1 currently streaming.
You can check it out here.

The first episode features Ed Hardy, Nick Bubash, Clayton Patterson, Scott Harrison, Angelo Scotto, John Wyatt, Robert Ryan, Bubba Reeves and of course Thom. If you use the Freddy Corbin arc of season 1 as a yardstick for quality, it’s really hard to imaging it getting any better. But seeing the enthusiasm that other people have for Thom and his work wins you over. Harrison’s face lights up when he talks about his ‘bad’ DeVita tattoos. These episodes- five in total- will end up being a once in a lifetime view into the life of an iconic artist.

Check it out.

Thom Devita- Tattoo Age

Last year I was lucky enough to have been tattooed by Scott Harrison.
After the tattoo I had plans to swing by the Vice offices to drop off a VHS copy of Frisco Skin and Tattoo Ink to Chris Grosso, the producer of the Tattoo Age series. At the time only a few of the episodes had aired and it was already shaping up to be and amazing tattoo documentary series; the perfect alternative to the cable network atrocities that were airing.

Harrison is a natural story teller, and as the tattoo continued he told me about Tattoo Age filming with him and Thom Devita. I was floored. DeVita. I had seen his work, of course, and compared to the relatively young tattooers featured so far he was a major score for the Tattoo Age folks. Scott detailed how they got Thom to talk on camera, shared a few great anecdotes and we eventually moved on.

Of course when I got to the Vice offices and met Chris, the first thing I brought up was the DeVita footage. At the time, I’m fairly sure they were editing the Corbin episodes (thus the VHS I was dropping off) and the season if thats what you want to call it was coming to a close. So… when was Thom’s arc going to air?

Chris didn’t have an answer. At the time there was no official word about season 2 so that footage could have potentially never seen the light of day. That would have been a tragedy. When I left the Vice offices I was worried. Several months later I was getting tattooed by Robert Ryan and we started talking about DeVita, and he mentioned that he had just completed an interview for Vice, for Thom’s segments.

I’ve been waiting for these episodes since last year, and I couldn’t be happier that they’re finally going to air. The first episode airs on November 21.

Update: Just got word from Juliette from Vice- The DeVita arc will be FIVE episodes long. Five. Feel the love.

Harmonize and Higgs

First and foremost, a sincere thanks to the folks who’ve contributed to my birthday giftcard bonanza. I really appreciate it. Austin will be the first city I visit, so anyone local… I’ll be seeing you soon!

My NYC Birthday trip is already looking like an amazing time; I was scheduled in NYC on Tuesday night, but after seeing the announcement from Robert about Harmonize Most High and Daniel Higgs playing at Zebulon in Brooklyn, I decided to come to town a day early. I’ve seen Higgs play live in various incarnations (Lungfish, solo, Defekts) but till now haven’t had the opportunity to see Robert perform. It promises to be a really good time; as always, if you see me tug on my shirt tail and say hi.

Information is as follows:
Harmonize Most High and Daniel Higgs
Monday 30th July
Zebulon
258 wythe St
Brooklyn

Hope to see you there!

Robert Ryan- Tattooer

Electric Tattoo from Adam Worth on Vimeo.

Adam Worth directed this short clip featuring Bradley Beach, NJ’s Robert Ryan. The more I get tattooed by Robert the more I’m confident that he’s one of the finest American tattooers currently working. If you haven’t been tattooed by him- you owe it to yourself to make the trip out to the beach and spend some time in one of the most relaxed tattoo joints on the east coast, and leave with a damn fine tattoo.

1 Comment

by Shawn Porter on July 18, 2012 • Permalink

Posted in Robert Ryan, Video

Tagged American Folk Art, Occult Vibrations, Robert Ryan, Tattoo

Posted by Shawn Porter on July 18, 2012

http://occultvibrations.wordpress.com/2012/07/18/robert-ryan-tattooer/

Solstice- Robert Ryan

I’m currently on Vacation in sunny Las Vegas taking some time with friends to clear my head and affect some much needed change in my life.

I had intended to not check my email while I was away, but thankfully I did. Hiding in my inbox between all my nerdy Pintrest updates was a note from Robert letting me know that his Summer Solstice print set from Artifact is finally available.

This is a must have. Just hope there are some left by the time I get back from Nevada!

Artifact Publishing.

Robert Ryan Summer Solstice print suite. PRE-ORDER

Set of 28 individual 7-1/4″ x 7-1/4″ screen prints (3 and 4 color water based ink on French “whitewash” cover-stock paper). Prints are separated in groups of 7 and enclosed in 4 heavy stock engraved envelopes with tab and slot closures. A 5th envelope is included with an engraved compact disc featuring a 3 track audio recording by the artist.

Envelopes are housed in 8-1/2″ x 8-1/4″ pine / balsa wood boxes with engraved cover, inside lid and floor panel. An off white satin Grosgrain pull ribbon is attached for easy removal of contents.

Each box is signed and hand numbered by the artist on floor panel.

Carefully packed with interlocking crinkled paper padding and shipped in a corrugated tab lock mailer sealed with a hand made craft paper sticker.

This is a limited edition of 100 and will not be remade.
Sorry, we can not meet any requests for specific numbers from the edition.

There are no returns, refunds or exchanges on this item.
This item will begin shipping in July.

The opening of this edition marks the June 20th 2012 Summer Solstice. The longest day of the calendar year. Our most sincere thank you for supporting us in our endeavors.

All packages are carefully packed to ensure safe delivery however we can not be held responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen packages. Customers must enter a valid and reliable shipping address. We highly suggest shipping this package to a destination where it will not be left outside. We also suggest selecting PRIORITY MAIL for fastest and most reliable shipping. Please allow additional shipping time for destinations outside the United States.

2 Comments

by Shawn Porter on June 20, 2012 • Permalink

Posted in Robert Ryan, Tattoo Artists

Tagged Robert Ryan

Posted by Shawn Porter on June 20, 2012

http://occultvibrations.wordpress.com/2012/06/20/solstice-robert-ryan/

Cosmic Christ

I went in yesterday to spend some time with Robert Ryan.
I always gush about getting worked on by Robert; I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- you get a heck of a lot more than just a tattoo from him. He turned my sloppy thumbnail into the perfect tattoo and spent the day cracking me up.

I also found out that Mike Schweigert is cooler than everyone who HASN’T had Pushead do an album cover for them.

My life is in a weird transition right now and this tattoo really helps solidify the changes that need to be made and helps me focus on my goals. When I started OV last year, I said “some tattoos are distilled images; sigils that compress thought into a symbol and say everything that needs to be said without having to burden the world with more mindless rambling.”

So I’ll cut out the rambling, and just thank Robert, Mike, Andy and Mike for a really cathartic day.

7 Comments

by Shawn Porter on May 29, 2012 • Permalink

Posted in Andy Perez, Robert Ryan, Tattoo Artists, Tattoos

Tagged Cobra, Electric Tattoo, Hindu, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Occult Vibrations, Robert Ryan, Tattoo

Posted by Shawn Porter on May 29, 2012

http://occultvibrations.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/cosmic-christ/