Chiaroscuro: A Dimensional Dance Between Dark and Light
Greetings, internet! It's Livia Michael again! As an apprentice at Speakeasy Tattoo in Los Angeles, I am not only learning about the world of tattoo, but also art history and technique as well. There are a multitude of art movements and techniques that have evolved throughout the course of history, but one remains fundamental to the way in which artists accurately represent their surroundings - chiaroscuro. Chiaroscuro is a conjugation of two Italian words. ‘Chiaro’ translate

Livia Michael
Apr 193 min read


Tattoo Artist Profile: Norman 'Sailor Jerry' Collins
Greetings, internet! It’s Livia Michael again! At Speakeasy Tattoo in Los Angeles, I am learning about the various giants and icons of the tattoo industry. One name that has become incredibly well-known and closely associated with the world of tattoo is Sailor Jerry. Sailor Jerry was born as Norman Collins in Reno, Nevada in 1911. Collins’ father gave him the nickname, ‘Jerry’ when he was a child, after the family mule, Jerry, since they were both very headstrong. Collins lef

Livia Michael
Apr 123 min read
Red Tattoo Ink and Allergic Reactions
Greetings, internet! It’s Livia Michael! As I continue on my journey as an apprentice at Speakeasy Tattoo in Los Angeles, I am immersed in so many aspects of the tattoo profession. I was recently assisting my mentor, Scott Glazier, with the setup of a tattoo appointment. We were preparing a multitude of colored inks for this tattoo and he shared with me that red tattoo ink produces the highest amount of allergic reactions in clients. This really intrigued me, and made me very

Livia Michael
Apr 53 min read
