jonvandyck black and grey tattoo, film tattoos, nerdy tattoo, portrait tattoo, realism tattoo, Uncategorized

Addams Family Tattoos:

The Addams family have been creeping people out and making them laugh since 1938 when the kooky family first appeared in Charles Addams’ cartoon in The New Yorker. Since then, they have also appeared in the 1960’s sit-com that ran for two seasons, a cartoon show in the 70’s that also ran for two seasons, a live action feature film in 1991 and a sequel in 1993, and a cartoon feature in 2019.

Addams Family quote by Meg Lewis at Stallions and Galleons Tattoo in the UK
Morticia and Gomez by Max Puga

As tattoos, the character “Wednesday” is probably the most popular for fans, followed by Uncle Fester and Thing. Quotes and other characters also make for great tattoos. The most prevalent styles are black and grey, realism, and neo-traditional. 

Hyper realistic portrait of Uncle Fester by Sólyom Dániel at James Tattoo Gallery in Budapest
Thing by Emma Maris at This Dark Horse Tattoo in Manchester, England

Wednesday Addams has long been a fan favourite, but like the other characters, she didn’t have a name until the 1960’s show. She was named after the nursery rhyme called “Monday’s Child”, detailing the days of the week, with Wednesday being described in the rhyme as “Wednesday’s child is full of woe.” In the original cartoon she is pail, dark haired, and has an obsession with the macabre. In the 1960’s show she is much sweeter and kinder, though her favourite hobby is raising spiders. The 1990’s films made her much darker again, and it’s this version of Wednesday that usually makes it to tattoos. 

A devilish Wednesday by Peter Granite Crowell at Lighthouse Tattoo Club, in Auburn, CA
Wednesday and poison by Kim Cauchi at Modern Tribe Tattoo Studio

Creator Charles Addams was known for having somewhat macabre interests and hobbies, hence his ability to create such fantastic characters and stories. His house was apparently filled with medieval weapons and torture devices. He had a particular love for crossbows and even admitted to fantasizing about shooting an intruder or robber with one.

Uncle Fester by Kyra Leigh at To The Grave Tattoo in Lexington, KY
“Stay Weird” Wednesday by Brianne Sienkiewicz at No Man’s Land Tattoo in Middletown NY

Angelica Huston (Morticia Addams) apparently grew up reading her parents’ book of Addams Family cartoons and even pretended she was Morticia. It is interesting how she ended up playing the character in the movies 30 years later. She also had to go through a daily routine of fitting into a metal corset that created the cartoonish figure of Morticia. This included gauze eye lifts, neck tucks, and fake nails. 

Cartoons Wednesday and Pugsley by Toni Mazuranic at Tattoo Hardline in Zagreb, Croatia
Wednesday and the house by Uncle Trashcan in Orlando, FL

Who is your favourite Addams Family character?

Edited by Harrison R.

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jonvandyck film tattoos, nerdy tattoo, Uncategorized

The Office Tattoos:

The Office (US) is the immensely popular series based on the UK series of the same name. While both shows are popular, the American version has seen much more popularity worldwide, while the UK version receives most of its praise within the UK. The British version came to be (mostly in part by Ricky Gervais who also acts in it) and ran for two seasons. The US version was created in 2005 and ran for nine seasons, has been nominated for a total of 193 awards, 51 of which it won, and has one of the most loyal fan-bases in television, leading to many hardcore fans getting tattoos dedicated to it.

“Identity theft is not a joke, Jim!” Done by Ryan Ashley DiCristina
“Hello, Clarice…” Done by Erin Davies at La Belle Tattoo Studio

As tattoos, many people opt for getting the more popular characters, usually Dwight or Michael; but any and all of them can be found. Direct quotes and images based on quotes also make for popular tattoo designs; such as Michael’s infamous movie ”Threat Level Midnight.” 

Threat Level Midnight by J. Partylord at Bona Root Tattoo Parlour
Matching “Nard” dogs done by Robin Patel at Timeless Tat2

The Office has become such an integral part of North American pop culture that psychologists have even explored why people are so obsessed with it. Many people have even continuously binge watched it on Netflix, on repeat (myself included). Reasons for peoples’ need to watch and re-watch the show seem to all be about comfort, such as relieving stress, dealing with trauma or heartbreak, and even coping with mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. 

Pam’s drawing of the office done by Karina Aroca at Evilvink Studios
“We need a new plague.” Done by Landon Lewis at Black Thorn Gallery

Some fun facts that you may not know about your favourite show include: the temperature on set had to be kept at a cool 17 degrees (64 F) because actor Steve Carell has active sweat glands that could ruin a shot. Jim and Pam’s proposal scene was the most expensive shot of the show, costing around $250,000 (US) because the backdrop of the storefronts were built for the show. Rainn Wilson (Dwight) auditioned for the role of Michael Scott, Seth Rogen auditioned for the role of Dwight, and Adam Scott auditioned for the role of Jim. Clearly, the casting director made the right choices (no offence to Seth and Adam). And speaking of casting, Phyllis Smith (Phyllis Lapin-Vance) was initially an assistant casting director for the show, but the producers were so impressed with her reading of lines for those who were auditioning that she was asked to act in the show instead. 

Prison Mike done by Pierre Gwood at Deerhound Studio in Ottawa
Kevin’s famous chilli done by Shawn Patton at Trustworthy Tattoo

For many of us, The Office is a favourite that makes us laugh over and over, and can be an immense source of comfort in dark times. It’s a show that’s such a big part of our lives that some even opt for immortalizing it on their skin forever.

Dwight portrait done by Dillon Robertson
Jim’s present done by Tom Hall at Seventy Two Street Tattoo

Do you have an “Office” tattoo?

Edited by Harrison R.

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To see more Office tattoos check out Dunder Mifflin Tattoos here.

jonvandyck film tattoos, literary tattoos, tattoo, Uncategorized

Tintin Tattoos:

Tintin, in The Adventures of Tintin, has been entertaining fans since his first appearance in the comic “Tintin in the Land of Soviets”, which was published in 1930, and has since been published in over 70 languages. The comic was created by Belgian illustrator and writer Georges Prosper Remi AKA Hergé, and features Tintin, a Belgian reporter, his white fox terrier Snowy, Captain Haddock, and Professor Calculus, among other lesser characters. Tintin was also made into a cartoon of the same name in the early 1990’s, a feature film in 2011, and there are talks of a sequel being made as well. 

Tintin and Snowy by Jang Yongbin at Club Wildcard, Busan South Korea
Tintin and Snowy by Adrian Morales

As a fun fact, believe it or not Tintin actually made it to the moon before humans did, in his adventure “Explorers on the Moon”, in 1954, almost 15 years before the real moon landing. Hergé did lots of research on the subject and apparently even conducted experiments to make the comic as realistic as possible. 

Captain Haddock by Victor Skinsy in Karlstad, Sweden
Tintin and Snowy by Aaron Piechocinski in Melbourne

As tattoos, Tintin pieces are mainly done in a new school/cartoon style, and are also done in a neo-traditional, old school, black and grey. As well as fine line, and realism. Tintin himself is a popular subject for tattooing, as is Snowy the dog, and Captain Haddock. 

Captain Haddock by Niamor at L’encanaillerie
Punk Tintin and Snowy by Broderson Tattoos at Kodiak Tattoos in Hamburg

Additionally, if you decide to re-read the comics you’ll see a blonde man with a long nose in every comic. This is actually writer Hergé as himself for an added cameo. 

Tintin in space by Dima Rizhkov in Moscow
Tintin and Snowy by Carly V at Lygon St Tattoo co.

More than 230 million copies of Tintin have been sold, and he is still a popular comic for young readers searching for adventure. Of course, he is also clearly popular enough for people to want him and his buddies immortalized on their skin forever.

Captain Haddock by Margot Bulot
Snowy in space by Helena Cortez in Rio de Janeiro

Which Tintin adventure is your favourite?

Edited by Harrison R.

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jonvandyck american traditional tattoo, traditional tattoo, Uncategorized

Artist of the Month: Joel Soos

Joel Soos is a tattooer working out of Sanctum Tattoo in Stockholm, Sweden. 

Classic Pharaohs Horses
Cool mythical/folklore piece

Joel tattoos mainly in classic old school American traditional style, with dark and muted colours. He also does work with no colour, as well as work in the Japanese style. 

Skeleton from Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre and traditional building
Gnarly palm skull

Much of Joel’s work features dark imagery such as skulls, demons, snakes, and reapers. When he does work in the Japanese style, he mainly focuses on Oni and Yurei (demons and ghosts). 

A very full back with a lady head, skull, snake and flowers
Matching hands of a swallow and rose

Joel does a lot of smaller work that can be done in one session if you’re just visiting the area, but he also does a lot of beautiful large-scale work such as full sleeves and back pieces. 

Sacred Heart with roses
A devilish bleeding goat head

Joel’s work is just what you look for in an old school artist, with dark bold lines and perfectly shaded colours, particularly in various shades of red, yellow, and green.

A different depiction of the Grim Reaper
A sacred heart and severed heads

Be sure to get some work done by him if you’re traveling in Sweden or if you live in the area.

Edited by Harrison R.

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