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CREATIVE DIRECTORkatie tawney

DESIGN DIRECTORjake keglor

PHOTOGRAPHYjake keglor

RESEARCHkatie tawney + jake keglor

PRODUCTIONkatie tawney + jake keglor

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Copyright © 2010. TATTED.

ello readers of this premiere and ground-breaking issue of profound journalistic ven-tures and breath-taking pho-tographs of the tattoo cul-ture of the Tampa Bay area.Who are we kidding? We no-ticed the absence of a pub-lication that shows the immense talent that has col-lected in the tri-county area and began with a “eh, why not?” kind of approach. Quickly, the approach has morphed into something more. Tattoo magazines in general, with a few European publica-tions being exempt have quite possibly the worst layouts and writing in the magazine world. We have tried to change that with invention of “Tat-ted” and sure do hope that we have accomplished the feat of bringing readers a fresh look and feel of the previ-ously mundane and monotonous look of other publications.

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Jake

COVER STORY

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JAKE KEGLOR

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH

FLORIDA SENIOR-ISH

AGE> 22

FAV FOOD>Burritos

FAV MOVIE> First Wives Club

FAV BAND> Junior Boys

BEST CONCERT> Alkaline Trio

FAV TATT> sugar skull om left arm

.FAST FACTS

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WWW.URBANOUTFITTERS.COM

FEATURE STORY

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aking over in 2007, Foolish Pride Tattoo has become an unmistakable part of the scenery and culture that envelopes the Downtown St. Peters-burg area around Central Avenue. In the same building that was previously the Tattoo Emporium at 648 Central Ave. now stands a re-vamped tattoo shop filled with five award-winning and well-respect-ed artists, all well known in the tattoo and downtown community. Tattoo Emporium was purchased in 2007 by TJ Halvorson and Bran-don Pearce, two friends from Colo-rado that were looking to relo-cate and use their artistic talent away from the state that they knew all too well. They found their place in St. Petersburg. TJ was an artist at Area 51 Tattoo while in Colorado, while Brandon was a Business major at the University of Colorado at Boulder. TJ continues to tattoo at Fool-ish Pride, while Brandon sticks to only to piercing clients and also handles the marketing and

business aspects of the company. Among the artists of Fool-ish pride, Freydo and J. Michael Taylor can be seen on count-less people and some celebri-ties in the Tampa Bay area.

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J. has been a tattoo artist for three years after a stint as a graphic designer, which was not a fulfilling career or what he envisioned it to be after his stint at the Columbus School of Art and Design in Ohio. After being escorted by po-lice after attempting to kick his boss’ door down in frus-tration and anger after a dis-pute; J. took a hiatus and landed accidentally in the tat-too world, where he continues to excel after only 3 years.

I.A: In your career thus far, what has been the strangest tat-too request you’ve ever had?

J.: God, that’s hard…I’ve had so many. Actually today I’m go-ing to be tattooing ‘Nordic’ on our big Norwegian friend’s d!#k. I plan on taping a Pabst tall-boy to it after our office man-ager fluffs my client up a bit. (laughing) I’m sure he will drink the tallboy after we’re done.

I.A: Wow, I’m a bit flustered after that. So, on another note, what’s your favorite piece you’ve ever done?

J.: That’s a tough one… if I had to choose something I’ve done, it’d be the work I did on Chris Hovan of the Buccaneers. I did his whole left arm and I really like how it turned out and it is kinda surreal to see your work on T.V.

I.A: Words of wisdom for anyone look-ing to get into the tattoo industry?

J.: Being a tattoo artist is not a job, it’s a lifestyle and it’s definitely not for everyone. I work seven days a week constant-ly. When I’m out, I’m not out; I’m promoting. I am constantly meeting new people and answering questions and when I’m not tat-tooing or ‘promoting,’ I’m paint-ing or drawing so it’s just none stop and I think it takes a spe-cial person to do it. Some tat-too artist play the rockstar role, others are the true artist… I’m definitely more focused on the art aspect and doing quality work. It is important to stay grounded and not let things go to your head.

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B reaking into life as a tattoo artist is no easy task. Finding a good artist willing to take on an apprentice and teach one the ropes. Then go-ing through the motions of the apprenticeship and the ‘bitch’ work, as current apprentice Mike Jones affectionately called it.

“I really hate the cleaning and stuff, but that’s just part of me paying the dues,” the 23 year-old Jones said. “I forget all that when I do get to do a tattoo, makes it all worth it.”

Jones started his apprentice-ship with Atomic Tattoo’s in St. Petersburg nearly 6 months ago and life for Jones has been in a tattoo shop.

“I’m there pretty much all the time,” said Jones. “I love it, though.”

Jones came into the tattoo scene by accident or fate, whichever one chooses to be-lieve, although he has al-ways has an interest in art and tattoos specifically.

“Through bars and mutual friends, I knew some of the guys from Atomic. Flores asked me what I was doing with my life and I had no clue. He asked if I could draw and the rest is history, I guess.” Jones said.

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Life for Jones’ friend, Nick Morgan, has not reared the acci-dental opportunities that Jones has been lucky enough to get.

Morgan is only 20 years-old, but has quickly become frustrated on his quest to begin apprenticing.

“I’m doing the part time gig now, just get-ting by,” said Mor-gan. “But I am only 20, so I got some time left.”

Jones did his first tattoo on Morgan’s thigh, a good and trust-ing friend. The old school skull and cross-bone shows the potential that the novice Jones had, with no experience at all with a tattoo gun.

“He was dumb enough to let me do it,” said Jones, laugh-ing. “I’m glad it turned out alright, for Nick’s sake.”

The second tattoo Jones did was on the face of one of the artists at Atomic, which read “B.C.G.M” mean-ing “Bitches Come Get Money.”“I was so scared,” said Jones. “If I screwed that up, there isn’t much he could do to cover it up.”

Even at 20, Morgan knows about the tat-too life and culture. He lives it and his skin

shows it, nearly covered head to toe. Jones isn’t far behind.

Both have the heart and de-termination to make it, although Morgan questions his luck and whether he’s cut out for the life, which he wants so bad.

“I’ll get there one day.” Mor-gan said. “I just want it to happen now and that’s just not realistic but I got to stay optimistic.”

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Morgan lives life with no cares and doesn’t

care who knows it.

SMALL BOTTLE

BIG RUSH

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bobby

&case

y Few things are more permanent than tattoos. This permanence destines couples with initials and such piec-es of love and remembrance to added pressure and all too often, regret.

After five years and much trib-ulation, Casey Miller and Bob-by Brixius decided that piece of permanent art commemorating each other and their relationship.

“I just thought it was fit-ting,” said Brixius. “After all, I do love her and always will.”

Casey just blush-es and nods in agreement.

The pieces the couple got were very personal, leaving vey little room for interpretation with the por-traits of each other’s faces. Bob-by has Casey on his hand and Casey has Bobby on the inside of her arm.

“I don’t ever see us apart,” said Miller. “If we were to part, I would still love him and the memo-ries we had together. I won’t re-gret getting the tattoo, I couldn’t.”

The tatted couple also has their fair share of ink, aside from their portraits. Casey is in the middle of getting her full sleeve done on her right arm.

CONTINUED w

By: Katie Tawney

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“I am enthralled by the Hindu religion and the art-work,” said Miller. “I just re-ally wanted a full themed sleeve, so I started with Genesh on my shoulder and moved down.”

Brixius has more personal pieces. His forearm is graced by a abstract bass guitar, a ren-dition of the one he personally owns and plays. He has played in numerous bands in the area and continues to search for the right situation where he could use his talent and make it a fulltime, bill-paying and touring gig.

He also bears the logo of an old band that he was a part of, Code of Arms.

“We had a lot of fun in that band,” said Brixius. “Some mem-bers moved away, one went to jail

and the others just grew apart, thought it would becool to get a tattoo to commemorate good times, because in the end, that’s what it is all about… good times.”

Other pieces of Brixius’ tat-toos exhibit more of a message.

“I have one symbol of each of the organized religions of the worlds manipulated into various poses. I’m not looking to be con-troversial, I just hate organized religion and the destruction and conflict they cause,” Brixius said.

“They all mean something to us and the time we’ve spent together has been some of the best years of my life and I hope he would agree,” Miller said. “I’ll never forget him and don’t want to, even if it were to all go terribly wrong.”

After all, I do love her and always will.“ ”

The time we’ve spent together has been some of the best years of my life.

“” -Casey

-bobby

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