Philly, Flash and Feel It!
Philly Convention this weekend!
Caroline, Melanie, Bobby and @DrizzyEmpBoy are at the Philly Convention Jan 24th thru 26th! There have been some bumps along the way, but that won’t stop ‘em! They are geared up for a great weekend and can’t wait to see you! So, stop by and see them even if you are not getting tattooed! Call/text for appt 732-503-8469, or just walk up to the booth! For more info about the convention visit https://villainarts.com/tattoo-conventions-villain-arts/philadelphia-tattoo-arts-convention/
Flash Day is Jan 29th!
Speaking of available appointments, there are still some Flash Day Jan 29th appointments available too. Check out the January Flash below in the Jan 9th blog post and make your appointment now!
All the Feels
Recently the world became aware of a 45 year old influencer, Ricardo Godoi, who tragically died of cardiac arrest while being administered anesthesia for a large back tattoo. While police are still investigating, Godoi’s family, friends and followers are mourning his untimely and unnecessary death.
Apparently, it’s becoming a trend for the insanely rich to go under anesthesia for large scale tattoos. As seen in multiple videos posted to tiktok by artist Joaquin Ganga. It cuts hours and hours off multi session tattoos, reducing weeks and months of work down to one 8 hour session with as many as six artists working at once. Oh, and they say it’s pain free.
Now, a lot of us die hards are going to ask…If it’s pain free, what’s the point? Your tattoo is no longer a symbol of your ability to endure, a badge of dedication that transcends agony and suffering. It is minimized to the extent that it becomes the equivalent of changing your clothes.
In an article written by Chloe Nordquist in Scripps News Life, Dr. John Baer, DO, an anesthesiologist and chair of anesthesia at Swedish Medical Center in Colorado said, “Back in the 1940s it was about 1 in 1,000 people would die from anesthesia, now that number is closer to 1 in 100,000. Anesthesia is really a lot more complicated than just flipping a switch like turning off a light, but those who have the money, the fame, they will find the places they can get this safely done, but still there’s always that inherent risk.”
The risks are laid out by many medical websites, such as the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Yale Medicine, but this is what the American Society of Anesthesiologists says.
“Surgery and anesthesia are safer today than ever before, thanks to continuing advances in science. But this doesn’t mean there is zero risk. In fact, surgery and anesthesia are inherently dangerous, and as with any medication or procedure, there is always the chance that something can go wrong. Certain patients are more likely to experience problems or complications and possibly even death than others because of their age, medical conditions, or the type of surgery they’re having.”
Anesthesia is safer today than ever before, right? Plus, you are not subjecting your body to multiple sessions of torture.
“The whole picture is done, you don't have to come back multiple times, and I can see how somebody might see some value in that,” Dr. Baer does think this process could generate more interest. However, right now, it’s mainly for celebrities and the wealthy with a price point of somewhere around $40,000.
Ben Shaw with the Alliance of Professional Tattooists, who has been tattooing for 23 years, said, “You have to go through it to get to it. You have to go through the pain to get the reward of a tattoo. So, when you see someone who is heavily tattooed, you know they can withstand pain, they know how to commit to something.”
I get it, you don’t have the time or energy to get a tattoo the right way. Has cutting corners ever made anything better? No, and you can die from it.
While surgery and tattooing are not the same, getting a tattoo does cause trauma to the body. Your body still needs time to heal and it will tell you when it has had enough. Will you be able to hear it if you are knocked out?
And what would this mean for other tattoo artists, who don’t surrender to this reckless speed tattooing trend?
“If there’s some negative things that come about from this, it will reflect poorly upon us professionals who are trying to do it safely, moderately,” said Shaw.
“If there isn't an appropriate medical staff that is around to take care of those types of situations, then that's something that can become an even bigger concern of ours,” said Mick O’Herien, the vice president at the Alliance of Professional Tattooists.
If you are curious or concerned about this type of procedure, talk to your tattoo artist about it. The cost alone may be a detriment for the majority of tattoo enthusiasts, but finding a tattoo artist willing to be involved may be another.
https://www.scrippsnews.com/life/tattoo-sedation-is-it-safe-and-will-the-growing-trend-take-hold
https://madeforthismoment.asahq.org/anesthesia-101/types-of-anesthesia/anesthesia-risks/
Flash Day, New Contest, and Boots, oh my!
There are still a few spots left for the Philly Convention Jan 24th thru 26th! Caroline will be assisted by Melanie, and sharing the booth with shopmate Bobby and @DrizzyEmpBoy. Stop by and see them even if you are not getting tattooed! Call/text for appt 732-503-8469, for more info about the convention visit https://villainarts.com/tattoo-conventions-villain-arts/philadelphia-tattoo-arts-convention/
Speaking of available appointments, there are still some Flash Day Jan 29th appointments available too. Check out the January Flash below and make your appointment now! Call/text 732-503-8469
New Contest!
Every month our artists draw a tattoo based on criteria from a roll of the dice, Tattoo Paint Roll dice. The pictures will be posted across all social media channels (FB, IG, tiktok, YT) and we are asking for your critiques! You will need to figure out what the criteria is and ensure that all artists’ tattoos incorporate the correct criteria. Winners will receive a free t-shirt. Your critique can be as simple or as nuanced as you feel each tattoo requires. Sample critiques can be found here https://youtu.be/9N64ytaseV4?si=UeijZeC0dZvsHWCf
Custom Boots!
Caroline finished the latest commission for a pair of custom hand painted boots! In addition to tattooing, running a business and sitting on various industry boards, she hand paints boots, purses, shoes, jackets, etc. If you are interested, you can find more information here https://www.tattoosbycaroline.com/custom-boots
January 2025 is underway!
We have gotten some of the new and exciting things going and some are still in the works. We’ve started our morning stretches and will be doing a video series on the importance of keeping our bodies stretched, strengthened and moving. The new contest is still in the works and will be ready to roll in the coming weeks. But now, lets talk about Flash Day 1/29 and the Philly Convention 1/24 – 26.
Flash Day Jan 29th
The new Flash Day flash is featured below. These images are offered at a discounted price one day only, arms and legs only, about 3”x 3.5” depending on image. View the flash sheets below. Call/text 732-503-8469 to book an appointment, or walk in.
T-shirts!!!
Caroline will be bringing all the t-shirts that we’ve had for sale in the shop to the convention. We need to make room for all the new merch that will be arriving soon, so grab your last minute merch now before it’s gone forever!
Also, if you are a client who lives in the western NJ, PA area and are looking to get a tattoo by Caroline or Bobby, call/text the shop and make you appointment before all the spots are gone. Shop 732-503-8469, for more info about the convention visit https://villainarts.com/tattoo-conventions-villain-arts/philadelphia-tattoo-arts-convention/
Looking Back at 2024
Looking back over 2024, we have done a lot! We donated to causes, we attended educational events and have added to our growing tattoo shop family.
MY BODY MY CHOICE Tattoo Fundraiser Event
Last year we donated $520 to the National Network of Abortion Funds from our MBMC tattoo event in July. This is up from 2023, but down from the first year. Hopefully, 2025 shows a bigger turn out, maybe some cool new flash for the event will draw more people in….
We also donated a $50 gift certificate to Brick football and a $50 gift certificate to Brick cheerleading fundraisers. We have been happy to be a part of this community for the last 9 years and love to be able to give back. There are some new organizations that we are looking into donating to this year.
We started a new client appreciation reward for our Friday the 13th Flash Days. We were able to reward our clients twice since there were 2 occasions of Friday the 13th!
Educational Events
In July of 2024, we attended the Lyle Tuttle Collection Skull Session Tattoo Art Event in NYC which was fun and informative.
Caroline attended Paradise Tattoo Gathering in Jiminy Peak, MA again this year. Paradise is a week long gathering of art seminars with the added bonus of visiting with your out of state tattoo family members that you may have missed at the conventions.
Our tattoo shop family is still growing!
In 2024, our tattoo shop family grew by leaps and bounds! We added 2 established artists, graduated 1 apprentice and began the graduation process of another. In 2025, we are looking forward to graduating the last one and taking on some new apprentices!
How to book our artists:
Caroline – Call/text 732-503-8469 Koryn – DM @koryn_tattoo on Instagram
Casey – Text 732-451-4904 Bobby – Call/text 732-503-8469
Rich - Call/text 732-503-8469
Anticipating January 2025!!!
Some of the exciting things that will be happening are Flash Day 1/29, the Philly Con 1/24 – 26 and exciting new contests for our clients and followers to play along with.
Ch, Ch, Ch, Ch, Changes!
If you haven’t noticed, the shop has been going through a lot of changes in the latter half of 2024 and will continue in 2025. We have welcomed 3 new artists (Koryn, Bobby and Casey) and have extended our hours to 7 days a week. We’ve rearranged furniture and our social media presence. We will be rearranging our contests and client participation events as well. The info on those will be coming as things are finalized. In the meantime, you can leave us a google review about your recent tattoo or an old one that you still love.
The Villian Arts 27th annual Philly Tattoo Convention
It will be held in the Pennsylvania Convention Center from 1/24 to 1/26. A 1 day pass is $25 or a 3 day pass is $50, children under 12 are admitted free. In addition to hundreds of tattoo artists from all over the country, there are also entertainment artists that will be performing all weekend. Caroline doesn’t miss this convention, since it is one of her favorites and this year, Bobby will be joining her. If you do decide to attend, swing by her booth and say “hello” they’d love to see you there!
If you are a client who lives in the western NJ, PA area and are looking to get a tattoo by Caroline or Bobby, call/text the shop and make you appointment now. Shop 732-503-8469, for more info about the convention visit https://villainarts.com/tattoo-conventions-villain-arts/philadelphia-tattoo-arts-convention/
Flash Day is Jan 29th!
Flash Day is the day we offer flash tattoos at discounted prices. Only the images on the flash sheets are discounted and only on Flash Day.
Check back for updated flash sheets. Our artists are drawing up some brand new flash to feature for this month, so don’t miss out! You can see the new flash posted here, on our Instagram, Facebook, tiktok or on the front desk in the shop, so if you are in the area, stop in and say, “hi!”
Friday 13th was Flash Day
A Special Surprise…
Our second Friday the 13th Flash Day was just as fun as the first, and like the first, a special surprise will be arriving in clients mailboxes soon… What special surprise you ask? 13 GIFT CERTIFICATES! As a special thank you to those who participated in our Flash Day, we are giving each of them 13 gift certificates, 1 to use towards their next tattoo and 12 to share with friends. We will be doing this every Friday the 13th so 1) Check your calendar for the next Friday the 13th 2) check our website for new flash and pick one (or more) you like 3) book your appointment 4) check the mail for your gift certificates!
Need a last minute holiday gift?
Buy them a gift certificate! Simply purchase a gift certificate online here https://www.myradiantenergy.net/gift-certificates and have it sent to your email, or directly to your recipient’s email! No fighting the crowds, no endless shopping, you don’t even have to wrap it!
Everybody’s New Hours
We are happy to announce that we have so many talented artists at our shop, even being open 7 days is not enough! In order to give everyone equal time in their work spaces, all artists are enjoying a 4 day in shop work week. What does this mean for you? Well, someone is always in the shop to consult with walks in, but your favorite artist has specific hours. Check them out below.
@carolineannevans
Caroline is available on Weds, Thurs, Fri, Sat from 12pm to 8pm. Caroline’s enjoys the challenge of Celtic knotwork and coverup tattoos.
@koryn_tattoo
Koryn is available on Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri from 12 pm to 8 pm. Koryn loves doing anime and fineline.
@doomsayer.art
Casey is available on Sun from 5pm to 8pm and Mon, Tues, Weds from 12pm to 8pm. Casey loves creating art and loves all styles.
@ryzarttattoo
Rich is available on Fri and Sat from 12 pm to 8 pm. He has started his apprenticeship tattoos. Rich loves neo-trad and enjoys applying his talents to other styles as well.
December Overview
November was full of fun (machine building) and family (Thanksgiving) and December will continue with even more! We start with our FLASH DAY on Dec 13th! It’s a Friday the 13th Flash Day, so the flash is a little bit spooky. All new and old flash sheets are posted below.
Being Thankful for Tattooing
Every Thanksgiving we reflect on what we’re thankful for. This year I am especially thankful for tattoos. I was first introduced to tattoos when my mom got her first one on her shoulder blade. The tattoo has three flowers representing my mom, my sister and me with “my two daughters” in Chinese. From that moment on, I fell in love with the art of tattooing. When I was playing with my Barbies, I would take black permanent markers and draw flowers and butterflies all over their bodies. I had begged my mom since I was 16 years old to let me get a tattoo. When she said no, I took India ink and a sewing needle and poked a moon onto my ankle (don’t try this at home kids). When I turned 18, the only thing I asked my mom for was a tattoo. She agreed, and I was hooked. After I spoke to my artist about becoming a tattooer, he told me not to do it. He said that it isn’t always guaranteed money, and it takes a while to build up a client base. But I didn’t care, I knew it was what I wanted to do. After a year of building my portfolio, I got a tattoo apprenticeship, and my life changed forever. I’ve met some of the greatest people who are now my closest friends. I’ve gotten to travel the state and meet artists from around the world at conventions. This career was definitely the right choice for me. Every day I go into the shop, I have more fun than the last and I get to create works of art on people that they get to keep for the rest of their lives. I am beyond thankful.
Casey Ritacco
No turkeys were harmed in the creation of this AI image.
Machine Building Day
Koryn
The machine building class was a very unique, hands-on experience. And with new technology coming out all the time for modern tattoo artists, it was a nice refreshing way to turn back the clocks a bit and really appreciate how far the industry has come. From learning proper wiring and all the fine tuning it takes to make a machine run properly for the job at hand, I took away a new appreciation for all the artists before us and the machine builders who are still working on their craft to this day.
Casey
I haven’t had much experience with coil machines, so learning about them and how they work definitely made me more confident with using them on actual skin.
Caroline
My take away from this was that even after tattooing for 3 decades, there was stuff that I had learned. There is always something to learn, you learn something new every day……and I got another machine ☺
Check out our machine building day