Hi-Tech Tattoo to test Type 1 diabetes

Anne Trafton, MIT News Office : Christine Daniloff

Several pricks into your finger to track your blood sugar level can be little painful but more a hassle. You might sometime wish for a machine which could be attached to your body and immediately detects your glucose level. Chemical engineers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are working on carbon nanotubes that could be injected under the skin to reveal blood glucose levels.
Paul Barone and Prof. Michael Strano are working on a new type of blood glucose monitor that could not only eliminate the need for finger pricks but also offer more accurate readings.

Strano and Barone’s sensing system consists of a “tattoo” that’s designed to detect glucose, the nanotubes are wrapped in a polymer that is sensitive to glucose concentrations. A wearable device roughly the size of a wristwatch shines infrared light through the skin and onto the nanotubes, which fluoresce when in contact with glucose, thus displaying the patient’s glucose level.

The researchers plan to create an “ink” of these nanoparticles suspended in a saline solution that could be injected under the skin like a tattoo. The “tattoo” would last for a specified length of time, probably six months, before needing to be refreshed.

Claims are high and it seems pretty useful for those suffering from type 1 diabetes but is it possible to re-etch a tattoo on the same place where first tattoo is done? Or new skin area will be required, if this happens then one fine day you’ll have to switch back to contemporary blood sugar testing device. I think best is to eat healthy and exercise well to keep yourself away from these tattoos. Be more living and etch some real colorful tattoos 😉

Source: MIT

Tribute to Micheal Jackson with a Tattoo

Whole world was shocked on 25th June when the ‘King of Pop’ was reported dead.

Micheal Jackson was well-known for his many physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk.

When you think to give a tribute to Jackson what could be better than his signature moves.

The tattoo pictured is inked by Lokesh Verma of Devilz Tattooz, New Delhi, India. Jackson is seen in his signature ‘anti-gravity lean’, for which he was granted U.S. Patent No. 5,255,452, used in the music video for “Smooth Criminal”. Though, this patent expired on December 20th, 2005 due to failure to pay its maintenance fee.

That’s a separate story! So, guys what are you waiting for grab something more like Micheal Jackson and ink it to give a tribute to the ‘King of The Pop’.

Paul Booth tattoos Artful Stitches joining Skull

Tattoos are great pieces of art which an artist etches on the skin of his client till death. This art of permanent decorating your body has advanced day by day. Improved tattooing machines, inks, techniques and even diverse designs are giving tattooists cut-throat competition to keep their name alive.

Here, we a piece inked by award winning tattoo artist Paul Booth of Last Rites Tattoo, NY. His work brings images of death and mayhem to mind. He is famous in the tattoo industry for inking life-like evil characters.

Fake Taping is Killing Music Business

Tattoos are somewhere best way to express your mind…. and here in this tattoo Lionel tries to say no to pirated cassettes. We can see a pirated cassette on the cleavage of the lady reading “FAKE”.

May be the tattoo is a rejection to Home taping business!

Religious Text Arm Tattoo

Hanuman Chalisa is one the famous devotional poems by Tulsidas and Sam De of Guns N Inks got a chance to etch the starting lines of the poem on the arm of Rohit Malik.

Sam says, “the guy specifically wantd the Hanuman Chalisa…..”

Sam inked it for him and we brought it on PNT for you.

A word with Polish Tattooist, Anabi

Sorry Friends, for not posting anything for you in last month, guys what to say the life got so busy that I din get time to be online to write something for you. The fact was that I had been on a trekking trip to the hills of Kullu-Manali, India, and there was no cyber café over there to post something for you. Anyways, please forgive me and read further an interview with Anabi of ‘Anabi-Tattoo’, Szczecin, Poland.

Eloping from home to become a tattooist is something interesting and this interesting story is about Anabi, who ran from home at the age of eighteen and today he is a master of tattoos. Know his work and him better in this interview.

Disha Singh: Let’s start with your first rendezvous with the art. When did it started and how?

Anabi: Since I was a kid I used to like drawing 🙂 I was reading a lot of books and comic books, drawing my favourites heroes and make my own histories 🙂

Disha Singh: What’s the inspiration behind your creative tattoo designs?

Anabi: Inspirations for me is a lot of things… paintings, sketches, photography, digital art, etc…

Disha Singh: Are you a perfectionist? Are there any tattoos, paintings, etc. that you wish you could change?

Anabi: My clients know that I will sit with them until every little thing will be done as good as I can 🙂

I finish work in first approach very seldom, I spread sessions on instalments most often, I have perfect control as tattoo over due to healed and where I need to correct something to make him beautiful.

Disha Singh: How did the idea of becoming a tattoo artist come to your mind? Were your parents comfortable with your decision to become a tattoo artist?

Anabi: When I was 18 years old I ran away from home, I have taken up residence in catholic internat, one of colleague had self made tattoo machine,
He knew that I possess drawing skills and he asked me about design for him.
I looked for a while how he tattooed himself, then I said “give me a try”
…and that’s how it began 🙂

Then I searched hints in tattoo studios.

Between 2002 – 2004 I was practicing two years in “alien tattoo studio run by Joseph” in my hometown – Szczecin. Eight months ago I opened my own tattoo studio, and it’s first custom tattoo in Poland.

I don’t have albums with tattoo flashes, every design is individually made for each client.

Disha: What we see Anabi doing when he is not tattooing?

Anabi: I spend whole day in my tattoo shop…when I’m not tattooing, I spend my time at drawing, making new tattoo designs, working in gym and spend some time with my girlfriend and friends.

Disha: Which machine and ink do you use?

Anabi: I use several machines… at this moment my favourite is Shader from SUNSKIN, I use it for colour works too. Another good for colour/shader machine is “SWAN” from “WORKHOUSE”

For outlines I’m using custom machine from “VIKING TATTOO POLAND”
which I won as an award in contest for best tattoo flash.

Last one is shader from our live tattooing legend Piotr Zurawski, who got first tattoo shop in Poland.

Ink that I use is Intenze and Starbrite for colour works and Indian ink and destilled water for shading.

Lately, I bought set of 21 ink concentrates made by Waldi Wahn from Shockin’ City.

Disha: Which is the strangest request you have ever had for a tattoo?

Anabi: 38 year old woman want a cobra on her face. She always dreamed about it, so I did it 🙂

Disha: How much does a piece cost?

Anabi: It’s belong from piece 😉
If It’s a piece that need more then two session, I Usually take charge by session…

How much is belong how long session is, and how big is progress at session.

Disha: How have things changed regarding your inking over the years?

Anabi: Over years? I just started and I’ve got a looong way to go 🙂

Disha: Who is Anabi in flesh and blood?
Anabi: You need to ask my friends!

Disha: Finally, what suggestions do you have for the newbie in the industry and especially to those who want to get tattooed?

Anabi: Choose good artist and show him your satisfaction with a fat tip 😉

Under Training Foot Tattoo- Not Bad!

Wow! a Graphic & Web Designer, turns to be a tattooist. Todd Dumas thinking to do something different has starting practicing tattooing on himself and here is one of his efforts.

The first tattoo by him on himself is very different which was he made just to create it. He says,

“I am attempting to teach myself the art of tattooing. Right now, I am just doing some “freestyle” experiments with lines, colors and shading. As I get farther along (and more skilled), this will turn into a neo-tribal, abstract piece. This represents about 5 different 20-minute sessions.
This tattoo is damn embarrassing in its current state. The lines are shaky and the shading is terrible.”

However, he agrees to the fact that most new tattoo artists practice on themselves, and mistakes are expected. Though most new tattoo artists have spent a great deal of time in tattoo shops. He thinks that a lot can be learned from just being in the environment and getting work done. Before this, he only had a tiny, black piece that he got over ten years ago.

Thus, I make more mistakes than most would. But each session gets a bit better, and my lines are getting cleaner. Hopefully, I can salvage the design before I have to ink my entire foot black , he added.

Tattoos are Token of Love

Tanya from Ont., Canada, got this bright Chest Tattoo from Denis Prevost of Live Once Tattoos.

Tanya says, “I just wanted something bright and bold and I gave Denis’ the reigns on this one the only thing I was looking for was his name in it since he was Brave enough to get mine on his neck.”

Her tattoo matches her body and personality.

Søren Hand Poked Tattoo

Colin Dale of Kunsten på Kroppen Tattoo Studio, Denmark, inked this Søren tattoo.

Talking about the tattoo he says,

Søren’s tattoo was hand poked using traditional tools of a type used in the Scandinavian Bronze Age. The design is also inspired by petroglyphs and rock art from the same age. The warrior is meant to move and fight as Søren does… protecting his back.

Søren is a Viking who trains and competes in traditional sword fighting.

Kat Von D geared up with her High Voltage Tattoo Book

Darling Kat Von D, has again come up with new venture other than tattooing though about tattooing…am I confusing you? I don’t think so. You remember last year in May she brought out her Make-Up Line and this year she is ready with a book called, High Voltage Tattoo, which she claims, is a window into the world of tattooing through her eyes.

Book appears to be a real treat to eyes and in it you will also see the tattoos Kat has done on the likes of Bam Margera, Kerry King of Slayer, My Chemical Romance, Green Day, Anthrax, Alkaline Trio, Eagles of Death Metal, Margaret Cho, Jeffree Star, Jamie Thomas, Steel Panther, Fireball Ministry, Nikki Sixx, as well as some of her never before seen final tattoos on her all time fave clients!

Let’s see what introduction they give for the Book:

“High Voltage Tattoo is a graphic perspective on today’s global tattoo culture by Kat Von D, star of The Learning Channel’s L.A. Ink and one of the most talented and popular artists working today. Designed in a style that is reminiscent of a handmade Gothic journal with its red padded cover, ornate typography, and parchmentlike pages, it throws the door wide open to tattooing culture in the way only an insider like Kat can.

High Voltage Tattoo traces Kat’s career as an artist, from early childhood influences to recent work, along with examples of what inspires her, information about the show and her shop, her sketches, and personal tattoos. The book goes deep into tattoo process and culture: readers can see up close the pigments, the tools, and the making of complex, even collaborative, tattoos.

With a foreword by Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx, the book features images and stories about celebrities, rockers, pro skaters, and everyday citizens, including Slayer’s Kerry King, Anthrax’s Scott Ian, Margaret Cho, Jackass’ Bam Margera, David Letterman, and many others. It profiles and showcases the work of artists Kat has selected from all over the world, her interviews with people who have compelling tattoos and stories, and amazing images of extraordinary tattoo work. Numerous portfolios throughout the book showcase a range of relevant subjects, from the black and gray portrait work for which Kat is famous to a popular tattoo theme, such as the rose or biblical images. There is a knockout ten-page full-body spread of Kat—clad in a yellow bikini and seven-inch, rhinestone-studded red stilettos—that catalogs in detail all her personal tattoos on her front, back, left, and right sides—even her hands and head.”

High Voltage Tattoo, By Kat Von D
will be available January 20th in bookstores nationwide,
as well as on The Official Book Tour launching January 18th, 2009.

Virgin Megastore Hollywood & Highland
6801 Hollywood Blvd 105
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Thursday, 1/22 @ 7pm

Virgin Megastore
2 Stockton Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
Friday, 1/30 @7pm

Tattoo artist, Kat Von D, will be signing copies of her book, “High Voltage Tattoo.” Purchase your copy beginning 20/1/2009 at Virgin Hollywood and receive a wristband that guarantees you a spot in line to have your book signed.

*While supplies last. 1 person per wristband. 1 wristband per purchase.

Book Release dates: Read the rest of this entry »