The Design Blog

Apprenticeship Update No. 2

Yeah, so it's obvious I am no good at keeping blogs! Funny, because I uses to rock at keeping diaries!

So it's been like 3 1/2 - 4 months since I started my tattoo apprenticeship and it has been an amazing whirlwind of creativity, bustin' ass, love, support, and I wouldn't trade it for the world! I love having the tattoo machine in hand, making art, and most of all, I love my shop!

A custom art shop, Hollywood Stars Tattoo, in Los Angeles, California, is literally just a step outside of Los Angeles International Airport. This location puts us in contact with so many wonderful people who are coming and going, staying, and traveling. Our customers range from locals to tourists, celebrities to the average Joe, but all amazing body art collectors after our guys put a needle to them!

So, if you're reading this and actually know who I am and this journey I am making, you might be asking yourself, but T, what have YOU been doing at the tattoo shop? Aside from jonesin' for more ink?

Well, I have started working on tshirts for the shop based on the artwork of our artists, working on the shop website, and, with the help of Lovely Lesley, the other shop apprentice, redesigned one of the tattoo stations. Photos to follow. Along with the redesign, I have reupholstered an office chair to match, and thanks to Craigslist, found a vintage dentist chair-made tattoo chair to match!

So I have the tools. I have the station. I just need the flesh! Any volunteers? 

My Tattoo Apprenticeship: Week One

So it's now Friday morning. Midnight ended the first week of my tattoo apprenticeship at Hollywood Stars Tattoo and all I can say is "Give me some more!" The shop is great, the people already feel like family, and I am loving the experience!

Things got off to a good start on my first day when I impresses the guys with my glasses-fixing skills. I think they were just surprises to see me pull a mini Leatherman tool out of my pocket and take matters into my own hands! But that's the kind of person I am. While I have had no problem picking up the regular apprentice duties (mopping floors, cleaning up after tattoo sessions, etc) I have also been able to bring my particular skill set to the table in means of graphic design and administrative tasks. I am currently in the process of building a database for the shop to help streamline schedules, client info, marketing info, etc. I cannot tell you how rewarding it is to have your input heard and implemented.

And of course, every chance I get, I am observing! When I hear that machine buzz, smell that green soap, my heart starts to smile and I come sneaking around the corner to watch these incredible guys do their thing.

Now, I have wanted to be a tattoo artist for as long as I can remember. I was the kid who was always drawing on myself. Crayola, Magic Marker, Sharpie, BIC pens, you name it. My mother always told me that one day I would get ink poisoning. Sorry to prove you wrong, mama. I was just destined to wear ink and will one day give ink.

And this week was the first step. Can't wait for the next one!

Today is the Day we Rock N Roll!!

Actually, today is the start of a whole new adventure for me! And I can't tell you how excited I am! After years of admiration and interest, today, with the help of some amazing people, I start my tattoo apprenticeship!! So along with my design work, I am also planning on using this blog to document my journey. I know it will be rough. I know it will be hard work. A lot of it. And I am game! I have wanted to become a tattoo artist since I the first time I knew what a tattoo was (thanks to the Cupie doll on my grandfather's forearm from his time in the army). 

So let the learning begin!! 

Freakshow Deluxe at the Hollywood Fringe Festival!!!

Okay, so those of you who knew me in class or know me through facebook, life, or something like that have probably heard me say that "I perform in a carnival style circus sideshow..." Well now is your chance to see my group perform LIVE in Hollywood, California!! Tickets are going quick and the theater's not so big, so buy your tickets today, and tell them you're there to see Frankie Fairlaine (AKA yours truly!)� �

Fringefest_web

FreakShow Deluxe is Hollywood’s own and ONLY carnival-style sideshow – since the days of having their OWN theater: The Empire Amusement Hall, in the heart of Hollywood’s Theater Row – until now. And finally they are returning from traveling the country to perform on their home turf!

FreakShow Deluxe presents a new show: “I INVENTED SIDESHOW!” Expect all the classic working acts, from sword swallowing, to fire manipulation, to the Bed of Nails and Human Blockhead — all with a liberal dose of comedy and a huge helping of sex appeal (with some lovely burlesque dancers) — and some surprises, too!!

FreakShow Deluxe has performed across the nation – from Coney Island’s Sideshow by the Seashore in New York City, to Hollywood’s exclusive private club for illusionists: the Magic Castle – and plenty of amusement parks, theaters, nightclubs, private events, fairs, festivals and rock concerts in between!! Why is it nationally renowned?

FreakShow Deluxe hits the stage like a raucous freight-train – full of sexy performers, stunning visuals and a sense of humor that keeps the audience enthralled. Like the voice from a bygone era, the FreakShow Deluxe comes straight out of America’s mythology. It is a dark vaudevillian extravaganza that keeps spectators coming back for more.

FreakShow Deluxe is not a “collection of glowing light” or “avant garde tribal culture” – it does not pretend to be “immersed into otherworldly magic” or “marching into the stratosphere on the wings of imagination…” FreakShow Deluxe certainly is NOT made up of “outsider artistic children that never grew up” who wish to “travel upon a modern day pirate ship.”

FreakShow Deluxe is about the REAL. It deals in flesh and blood; in pain and pleasure; in flame, fire and sharp pointy things! It treads the fine line between the dastardly and the divine. FreakShow Deluxe is made up of professional entertainers – and through our actions, we prove the amazing and the astounding. that anything is possible.

So come and check out “I INVENTED SIDESHOW” on Tuesday, June 22 @ 9:30pm at Fringe Central’s Arena Stage; or on Friday, June 25 @ midnight for a Special Adult No-Holds-Barred Mayhem Show at The Complex’s Ruby Theater. TICKETS ARE ONLY $12 for each show (cheap). Limited seating! BUY NOW!!!

http://www.hollywoodfringe.org/project/view/212�

:: final :: package mimicry

Left: Original Package

Right: My mimic of the Extra Fruit Sensations Watermelon Gum. 

Thanks Jocelyn, now I love this gum despite knowing all the in's and out's of the package!! ;)

:: classwork :: exercise in BLENDING

Blending

here, love bunny bunny bunny bunny.... 

a photoshop exercise in blending. 

:: extra credit final :: wahine mahine papercraft doll

Girl

About two years ago, my brother started telling me about the papercraft movement in design, designers making characters out of paper. It is  great exercise in package design and I've been hooked ever since. So when Walter proposed this project as a final, I cannot tell you how excited I became!  So here she is, ladies and gentlemen! My little wahine!! I used the figures from nicebunny.com as a template because I wanted my little girl to have a shape (because shapely women are beautiful!!) So print her out! Cut her out! Fold her up! and admire!!

She was created in Illustrator CS2 and embellished in Photoshop CS3.

:: homework FOUR :: how to... eat fire

Fire

An homage to one of the classic carnival sideshow acts... eating fire! The actual act is VERY dangerous, do not try at home!

Created completely in Illustrator CS3.

::classwork :: icons in illustrator

Pacheco_talia_illustrator1

:: classwork :: beautify a face tutorial

Beautify

Photograph by Macsorro

This tutorial was based on the Beautify a Face tutorial from lunacore.com. 

It's interesting that doing something that sounds so simple as touching up a face is a very invested project! When I first saw it, I loved this photo taken by my friend Macsorro. However, typical girl, I thought that some touchup could be done to make it even more impressive.  I've always used Photoshop for photo compositions more than for photo editing. So this was definitely a good exercise! And I learned that everyone could use a little editing!!