Cap’n Coleman

In this sheet, Coleman’s pin ups evolved from the traumatic shock of seeing your aunt coming out of the shower to dreams about the club swim teacher you had a crush on in Fifth Grade. This tattoo flash came through Paul Rogers, the Albert Morse Collection and was shown at the Oakland Museum in California.

Matisse and Brooklyn Joe

Big colors bouncing around at the Matisse Cut Outs exhibit at MoMA. This exhibit focussed on the paper shapes pinned to the walls of the hotels and studios he lived in France. But what’s this? A mermaid and a parrot? Look at the solid blue shapes on either side of the canvas. Could it be…

First Tattoo Pinup Ever?

Samuel F. O’Reilly  After emigrating from Ireland in 1871, Samuel F. O’Reilly set up his tattoo business in the back of a barber shop at 11 Chatham Square, New York City. This image, showing a woman’s legs was considered quite racy in the late 1800s. A lady, when crossing the street, must raise her dress a…

Question About “FLASH”

Q. What does the term “flash” mean again?   A.  It comes from the carnival world. It means an attraction, a dazzler, an eyeful designed to catch the “marks” attention as he walks through the state fair, seaport, circus, rodeo or strolls down the carnival midway. Flash is the bright design, the purple dog on…

More Captain Jack Howard

Just in to Lift Trucks: A tattooists interpretation of the Italian Renaissance. Note Christ tempted by the babe in the rose (bottom right.) Captain Jack Howard, Barbary Coast, San Francisco, ink and watercolor in heavy paper, 22″ by 29″, c 1920’s. And just for fun, the sheet as a blueprint. The Barbary Coast was a…

True or False

This is from the book  “Pierced hearts and True Love.  A Century of Drawing for Tattoos” The Drawing Center, 1995. They label it as “Unidentified tattooer, c. 1950” A most excellent book. There are lots of 3d tattooed arms supposed to be old and supposed to have been employed in tattoo shops. Here’s a pair…

The Holy Grail of Tattoo Art

Here’s the scoop from tattoo enthusiast and professional researcher Mr. Carmen Forquer Nyssen. His excellent detective work uncovered this old postcard of Coleman’s Place. Clear ok, maybe a trifle blurry, but evidence that Battleship Kate was indeed Coleman’s creation. Thar ‘ she is matey!  Luckily not to have been reduced to a crispy cornflake by…