"A Match Made in Hell", Hell City Seminar

Russ and Gunnar love each other.

FK Iron's Spektra Rotary made special for "A Match Made in Hell".

Russ Abbott and Gunnar Gaylord teamed up at Hell City Columbus to break a few paradigms and co-teach a seminar together. Only “A Match Made in Hell” could ignite the professional tattooists in attendance in an information bonanza that covered topics from line weight to color composition and every combination of practical application in between. The comprehensive three hour tour featured both Gunnar and Russ’s extensive experience with concepts covered as well as a multi-media presentation, swag bags, giveaways, and a plethora of learning tools. The two led the group through wide-ranging concepts while playing off their shared experience and longtime friendship.

“If this was 1990’s Gunnar he would have made this reflective light in turquoise, where now we would prefer a neutral grey that will read as cool against these colors.” Russ playfully chided.

The dynamic between Gunnar’s art-based vocabulary and Russ Abbott’s practical application complimented the lessons delightfully, while engaging those in attendance and making time for their questions.

Did he say what I thought he said?

“These kinds of things are really good for me,” said longtime friend and accomplished artist in his own right Chris Dingwell. “It’s like a refresher, color theory and stuff that I learned in art school, but it’s really easy to take that stuff for granted. You forget about more than you realize. Sitting down and going back through it is really helpful; it really brings it back to the forefront of my toolkit. It was good for me to do that, it was fun. I thought they did great together. It was good to have that balance of technical information on one side and a little bit more experienced-based information on the other side and being able to go back and forth to see how to take that technical information, and how to use it.”

Step by step with Russ Abbott.

 The seminar goers were also rewarded with tools including Russ Abbott’s “Left-Brained Labels” and Gunnar’s own booklet of anatomical templates as well as True Tubes,and True Tube Grips. Two lucky participants left with surprise give aways from Eternal Ink and FK Irons.

Robby Soulliere won the Eternal Ink collection.

"Left-Brained Labels"--Russ Abbott's innovative compulsion to categorize. 

The two will be presenting the seminar one more time at the upcoming Hell City Tattoo Fest in Phoenix, if you missed it in Columbus, make sure to reserve your seat at the next one!

Stay tuned for details!

"This is how I hold a pen." Russ Abbott

 

Gunnar showing folks how to do it.





Chris Dingwell (dot com) cruisin' for swag

Gabriel Cece wookin' pa nub.



Button, button who's got the button?






Mr.Abbott was hoping he'd won...

Scotty Munster Guest Artist May 22nd-23rd

Inspirational tattoo artist  Scotty Munster will be making an Atlanta appearance at Ink&Dagger Tattoo Parlour May 22nd-23rd. Scotty hails from Olde Town Tattoos in the land of 10,000 lakes, St.Cloud Minnesota. Get in where you fit in, you do not want to miss an opportunity to see this amazing artist in action.

I&D Welcomes Guest Tommy Helm May 15th-19th

 TOMMY HELM will be at Ink&Dagger Tattoo Parlour May 15th-19th, 2013. Mr.Helms joins us from his shop The Empire State Studio all the way up in Ocenside, NY.  You know him best for his boldly color-packed tattoos with tons of detail, but he was also a finalist on a little known show called InkMasters AND Tattoo Nightmares. Call Ink&Dagger at 404-373-6655 to connect with this phenomenal artist and outstanding man.

Ink & Dagger Does Hell City--Proper.

  "Qui si convien lasciare ogne sospetto; ogne viltà convien che qui sia morta."Dante's Inferno, Canto III, lines 14-15Loosely translated as
"Here one must leave behind all hesitation; here every cowardice must meet its death."

Tattoo by Javier Rivera 

The Ink & Dagger crew faced their fears of leaving Atlanta to journey into the unknown(kind of, they do it every year).  They found themselves in a dark wood (Columbus, Ohio) (not nearly as dark as it was a gorgeous weekend and a tidy town) and entered the gates of Hell City.  While not nearly as dark or as hellishly warm as the name would suggest, and by invitation only, the place kind of looked cool (especially with all of the Suicide Girls decorating the halls and stage).  And they were not at all alone-- they found that all of their friends were already there. It was in fact, not very bad at all--it was quite the opposite.  It was a devilishly good time.

Ink&Dagger was pleased, as always, to be a guest last weekend at The Hell City Tattoo Festival , and a first-class time was had by all.  Russ Abbott, Javier Rivera, Kelly Doty, and shop manager Keith Laguna drove up to "Killumbus" Ohio  to represent the Ink&Dagger booth at one of the greatest tattoo shows in the country run by longtime friend Durb Morrison.  The weekend was chock full of jaw dropping tattoos, good times with friends, learning, and teaching -- sometimes consecutively, sometimes concurrent, most times a dash of each ingredient shaken and stirred.  

I&D Client Adam Petrillo--winning with the Suicide Girls

TimmyB and Kelly Doty sitting in a tree

Tattoo by Kelly Doty

The Ink & Dagger booth was a rockin' all weekend long  with death defying acts of tattoo, blood, and friendship. Javier Rivera stayed neck deep in tattoos with his traditionally inspired flash he had available on a first come, first tattooed biases. They were joined by "Best Ink" contender and Kelly's road trip buddy Teresa Sharpe who made a very spooky broken doll on her client's neck.   Timmy B came by to collaborate with Kelly Doty on a goat head rising out of a bloody book booth-side on Saturday .   Russ Abbott was joined with long time friend Gunnar Gaylord to teach the ground-breaking Seminar "A Match Made In Hell" (complete details of this in the next blog), and even had client Adam Petrillo show up to take home the coveted 2nd Place Large Color trophy.   In a celebration of friendship and the macabre, there was plenty of blood.

Ink&Dagger was brave in the face of it all and even took a moment to party down with friends after hours There was a REALLY wine-laden discussion with Joe Capobianco (holy fuck what a nice conversation) and an afterhours, in room gathering  (sorry, to preserve the innocence that debauchery will be picture free).

Tattoo by Russ Abbott

The  team continued to party the Hell out of Columbus by doing a guest spot at Durb Morison's Red Tree Gallery the days after the event.  

Javier Rivera

Don't worry, they all made it home safe and while they were unscathed, they were definitely affected and recharged. 

Tattoo by Javier Rivera

Tattoo by Javier Rivera

Tattoo by Javier Rivera

Tattoo by Teresa Sharpe

Teresa Sharpe tattooing 

Joe Capobianco taking a moment withI&D booth buddy Teresa Sharpe

Timmy B collaboration with Kelly Doty

Kelly Doty's party pics! xoxo

Collaborative tattoo by Kelly Doty and Timmy B

Rob Petillo's award winning Russ Abbott Tattoo

Tattoo by Russ Abbott

Guest Artist Jeff Johnson April 24th-28th!

 Ink&Dagger Tattoo Parlour welcomes guest artist Jeff Johnson  April 24th-28th, and his work is gnarly.  Check out his website at www.jjtattoos.com and contact him to make your black work, stipple or biomech dreams come true.

 Jeff will be visiting with tattoo artist Nathan Kostechko on their tour of the South before heading off to Puerto Rico, good times will be had.

Now EAR This!

Folio Magazine (Zurich) featured Russ Abbott's rendition of the Vacanti Mouse on Jes Strickler's  head in their article titled "The Reluctant Monster."  We don't speak or read German very well, but we think they liked it! 

The caption reads (we think!):"Work of tattooist Russ Abbott. Commented one fan: We have seen work like this but he's taken it to the next level!"

The tattoo was made at the Red Tree Gallery in Columbus Ohio after Hell City Killumbous last year.   
Jes Strickler said "My head tattoo might be ridiculous or crazy to some people but I feel it's one of the most innovative things done with a tattoo and a body part in a long time.  To have it recognized internationally is huge for Mr.Russ Abbott and tattooing. Thanks Russ!"
Ear, Ear, Jes and Russ!