Articles from December 2009

Filip Leu


A third-generation artist and second-generation tattooer, Filip Leu was born in Paris in 1967. He’s the son of Felix and Loretta Leu aka Don Feliz and Y Maria, and grandson of artist Eva Aeppli, Jean Tinguely’s first wife.


His parents were artists, bohemians, hippies and also enthusiastic travelers. This meant that Filip and his 3 siblings, Ama, Aia and Ajja, grew up in Europe, North Africa, India and Nepal. Felix and Loretta began tattooing in 1978 in Goa, India and Filip started to learn the craft from them when he was 11.


Together with his parents he created “The Leu Family’s Family Iron Studio and Museum” in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1982. He began tattooing full-time there; he was 15.


At 17 Filip undertook a world tour visiting and gathering more knowledge from tattooers in India, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and the U.S.A, completing it with a year’s stay at Ed Hardy’s Realistic Tattoo Studio and a 3-week visit with Paul Rogers in Florida where he learned much about tattoo machine construction.


In 2000 Filip opened “The Leu Family’s Family Iron Street Shop” in Lausanne.


In 2001 he co-founded the Art Fusion Experiment, a group presenting tattoo artists as fine artists. Together with his wife Titine Leu, Paul Booth, Guy Aitchison and other artists he has created collaborative painting events before a public in places such as the Palazzo Ducale, Genova, the National Arts Club, N.Y.C. and Alex Grey’s Microcosm Gallery, N.Y.C.


Filip has also worked on collaborative tattoos, a similar concept, with Paul Booth, Tin-Tin, Guy Aitchison, Bill Salmon, Claus Furhmann, Shige, and other artists.


Filip was always struck by the beauty and power of Japanese body suits. First through photographs in books and then from his first visit to Japan on the bodies of the people he met there. This admiration and study of Japanese tattoo art was expanded over time to art from his own imagination. As early as 1994 he did a series of 100 original life-size charcoal drawings of back pieces and body suits.


As can be seen in his work today he continues to explore and further this interest, although he doesn’t limit himself to Japanese-inspired designs only and is known for a variety of artistic innovations.


Because of his preference for doing large pieces, Filip is one of the pioneers in the use of larger needle configurations. He finds that, similar to painting, larger canvases require larger brushes. This means that he can cover more space in less time. Also it makes for simpler and bolder work, one of the things he feels that gives their power to traditional Japanese as well as other style body suits.


He tattoos and paints in Switzerland where he lives with his wife Titine, who is a painter, and the rest of his family.








You can see more of Filip Leu’s work at: http://www.leufamilyiron.com/

Valerie Vargas


Valerie Vargas tattoos at Frith street Tattoo in the heart of soho, London.








Check out Valerie Vargas’ website at: http://valerievargas.wordpress.com/

Shawn Hebrank


Shawn currently tattoos at Identity Tattoo in Maple Grove, Minnesota. His mission statement:


Rarely does one size actually fit all.
And seldom does one specific style please everyone’s tastes.


My portfolio has definitely changed over time. I used to put something in there for everyone. But over time I’ve leaned more toward showing what I am excited about and the style that I would like to promote most.


I do custom tattoos in an ‘illustrative’ to ‘illustrative realism’ style. Of course, I’ll do almost any style, but this is where I really shine.


My subject matter usually features animals, either normal or personified, beautiful or absurd. I used to do bird taxidermy for Yale’s Peabody Museum in Connecticut, so living and/or dead birds are a big favorite. I’ll put antlers on anything. It started as a friendly competition with a tattoo artist in another state, but it’s gotten out of my control.


I treat my customers like old friends. It’s a loud, storytelling time getting tattooed by me. I may be living and tattooing in Minnesota now, but I’m still an
East Coast kid when it matters.


Come into the shop if you’re able to. Look through my portfolio, tell me your idea. Check out the preserved tattooed skin I have framed on my wall. I have a mini fridge full of Dr Pepper, and I’m good at sharing.







Check out Shawn Hebrank’s website at: http://www.shawnhebrank.com/

Brian Morris (aka ooo000ooo)


Brian Morris born in ‘76, lives in the southern side of Chicago, married, eats a lot of red meat, prefers whiskey to wine, his favourite color is black, he draws because he likes to, second favourite color is black, works in advertising, a ‘62 Cadillac in the garage, his dead kitty’s name tattooed on his wrist, doesn’t believe in god, believes in people, love heavy metal poser, country music, Faber-Castell’s, tattoos, beard, believes in deep love, goes to bed early, his favorite quote is: the old is new, the new will be old.








Check out Brian Morris’ art work at: http://www.ooo000ooo.com/

John Dyer Baizley


John Baizley is a painter and musician based in Savannah, Georgia. He is notable for his album cover and t-shirt art for bands including Kylesa, Pig Destroyer, Darkest Hour, The Famine, Daughters, Skeletonwitch, Torche, Cursed, Black Tusk, Vitamin X and his own band, Baroness for which he is the singer and rhythm guitarist.







You can view some of John Baizley’s work at: http://www.myspace.com/johndyerbaizley

Dana MacKenzie – Danamacdesign


Since graduating from the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary in 1994 and completing a post-graduate program in Computer Animation at Sheridan College in 1996, Dana MacKenzie has been working as a professional illustrator and designer in both Canada and The United States within the videogame development industry, for the last 12 years. His games career has involved working with Electronic Arts Canada in Vancouver, Universal Studios in San Jose, Neversoft Entertainment in Los Angeles (makers of the ‘Tony Hawk’ and ‘Guitar Hero’ franchises), and Sony Computer Entertainment America in Bend, Oregon.


In recent years Dana has taken all of his professional experience in game development, and reinterpreted it back into his freelance illustration and design work, working with a range of clients from Tony Hawk Inc., Rise Up Interntational, Bravo Sports, Something Sacred, Kryptonics, Deschutes Brewing and Rage Films, to name a few. Focus has been on the development of apparel designs, skateboard graphics, fictional illustrations and traditional paintings.


Dana produces digital vector work in Adobe Illustrator, as well as traditional work using acrylics, spraypaint, china marker and ink on a variety of surfaces including pebbled art board, corrugated cardboard, canvas, and recycled metal sheeting.


This past summer Dana hosted his first art show in Bend, Oregon entitled “Skullz ‘n Skates”, based around his love of skulls as a creative theme, and his experience developing skate graphics for both videogames and real-world clients.







Check out Dana MacKenzie’s website at: http://www.danamacdesign.com/

Murdoch Stafford


Murdoch is a self taught artist hailing from Brisbane, Australia. It’s hot and there’s not a lot going on but it’s perfect for locking yourself inside with beer, Poison Idea records and a handful of pens. Chained to his desk he whips up record covers, t-shirts, posters and flyers for punk and hardcore bands. Recently he has also done work for local and international Skateboard Companies. Without coffee he is nothing.







Check out Murdoch Stafford’s website at: http://www.murdochstafford.com/

Miguel Angel Cervantes


A graduate of the Art Institute of Los Angeles, Miguel loves to draw and draw-from a rich cultural heritage in Southern California. His work is just as comfortable in an East LA tattoo parlor as a stark white gallery wall in Beverly Hills.


If you know him, chances are he designed your favorite t-shirt, which by no coincidence is probably the one you get the most compliments on. He’s of no relation to the author of the same name, but just maybe to Don Quixote.







Check out Miguel Angel Cervantes website at: http://keeptrucha.tumblr.com/

Keith Neltner


Neltner Creative is the visual and verbal expression of the mind of Keith Neltner, brewed in his century-old summer kitchen in Camp Springs, KY. Keith’s approach to design, illustration, branding, and advertising began taking shape in the 80′s growing up his family’s farm. From the time he could grip a pen, he drew on anything he could get his hands on. Crates, labels, 2x4s-didn’t matter. This instilled in his spirit and his sensibility an appreciation for texture, vintage signage, and an honest hand-crafted feel that shows up in his work to this day.


Over the past 12 years, Keith honed his trade within respected firms such as Landor, Bridge Worldwide, WonderGroup, and most recently Intrinzic. His breadth of exposure and experiences has allowed his work in the music industry, merchandising, and film to flourish, often times collaborating with his brother Rick, as well as writers, illustrators, and designers all over the country. Keith has crafted his work for the likes of Hank Williams III, Sector 9, Sanctuary Records, House of Blues, The Kentucky Struts, and countless other bands. The work generated by Neltner Creative is sometimes evocative of 1950s apple pie Americana, other times infusing down home country visuals with macabre, bloody tendencies. Either way, the artwork retains a distinctively old-fashioned, if not morbid, allure.







Check out Keith Neltner’s website at: http://www.neltnercreative.com/

This limited edition, 18 inch x 24 inch, 4-color screen printed poster is now available from The Black Axe. Printed on Mr. French Black Licorice paper this art print is limited to 50 copies and is on sale for only $20 bones!


Grab yours today at: theblackaxe.bigcartel.com