Tattoos to save your manliness

2011-04-25T21:12:00.000-07:00

Please re-direct yourself to:

ALEXKASSTATTOO.COM

as it is my new and official website.

(friends, if you have a link for me somewhere on any of your sites, please re-direct that, too. thanks!)

2011-02-12T10:07:00.000-08:00

painted this a while ago. it's big. you can buy it if you want.

2010-12-28T12:26:00.001-08:00

you can now buy some of my stuff here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/alexkassxvx

thanks.

2010-12-24T14:27:00.000-08:00

If you like the band fight like hell, beating the shit out of people (jui jitsu), and smart writing, check out my friend joey's spot:

http://www.footlocksandpunkrock.com/

2010-12-24T14:16:00.000-08:00

this is a small shot of what we've got done on peter's arm so far. sorry for all of the iphone photos... i suppose i should have the foresight to bring my camera to work, right?

2010-12-24T14:14:00.000-08:00

this eagle is on the backside of peter's arm in the coverup/re-shoot sleeve.

2010-12-24T14:02:00.000-08:00

Did this little dude on my buddy peter as part of his coverup/re-shoot sleeve.

2010-12-16T19:00:00.000-08:00

this shit was fun. 2010

2010-12-09T14:00:00.000-08:00

painted this a while back. gold leaf trim.

2010-12-09T13:52:00.000-08:00

I don't know how to embed a video, but I painted a flash sheet for this book:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4SJKBYksjI

check it out, buy it up.

New Painting

2010-12-09T13:45:00.000-08:00

12-9-10 ... i'm sarcastic and i hate everyone. (except mark stewart and his awesome stickers)

2010-11-12T21:55:00.001-08:00

Got this for my new jacket

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simplicity

2010-11-12T21:54:00.001-08:00

......Is key

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Prepare to be offended

2010-11-03T12:26:00.001-07:00

I was going through an old huck catalog and saw these old nazi biker tattoos that I remembered seeing a few years ago.

I thought about how these blatantly racist and evil (in this context) images don't bother me at all. I'm so desensitized to this and any other shit that it just doesn't matter.

I might make prints of this if someone wants some.

Also, this was my first time using coquille paper. Kinda fun. I cheated and used some ink here and there.

F.T.WWW

2010-11-02T19:55:00.001-07:00

I find myself growing more disgusted with technology as time goes on. I like having this blog because it helps with my memory....but other than that I feel slightly bothered at times.

If it weren't for Facebook and twitter, how the hell would I ever know what anyone was doing? Maybe I could call someone or write them a letter like in the old days.

I love convenience, but nothing feels like it has as much value because there's no hunt anymore. Why does someone need to text me something from the car seconds before they pull up? Why do two people text each other in the same room so other people can't hear? Go have a private conversation in private.

Everytime I sit down with a few people for drinks or food, everyone is very engulfed in talking to someone who isn't there.......

Ftwww and fttf.

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2010-10-30T21:26:00.001-07:00

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2010-10-30T20:28:00.000-07:00

"Hello everyone, My name is Polly Hatter owner of DeLuxe Tattoos and good friends with Sailor Jerry Swallow. As most of you know this is Jerry's 50th year tattooing. Also most you know that the last few years hasn't been overly great to him .But I'm happy to say that he is doing well and getting ready to open his new shop in Halifax. This is were I am hoping for everyone to come in. I am looking to put together 50 guys including me and Jerry for a flash project. What I am asking is for everyone to paint a sheet of flash, that will be made into a book celebrating Jerry's 50th year. Second part of this I am also hoping that everyone will donate there sheet to Jerry to be hung in the tattoo shop.

50 Traditional Tattooers , 50 Sheets , 50 Years

We are asking that sheets are 11x14
Line drawings if you can
Dead line is December 1st/2010
Everyone involved will receive a copy of the book.

Much Love/Respect
POLLY"

I couldn't be more excited to be a part of this. Here's the sheet I did:

sheet for Jerry swallow book

2010-10-29T23:43:00.001-07:00

Working on this.... more soon.

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2010-10-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

I made a list of links of some of my friends, shops where I've worked or guested, and other interesting things. These are hand selected and high quality, so please enjoy them.

2010-10-29T11:48:00.000-07:00

These are about a month healed. Did them on a military dude from Southern California. Makes me miss the time I spent there guest spotting while Krista was still in college.

I mixed that brown myself this summer, after my friend and part-time mentor, Tedd, showed me a thing or two. What a messy experience. Totally heals out as a great flesh tone, though. Love it.

memorial

2010-10-28T22:12:00.001-07:00

I painted this for krista's grandmother. Her husband, Wade, passed away last week. Krista is in north Carolina for the services this week.

Also ordered some coquille paper today. Very excited.

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2010-10-19T09:54:00.000-07:00

It's not the destination... it's the journey....

and oh boy, have I journeyed.

this is socks

2010-10-18T20:56:00.001-07:00

He is our cat.

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new card

2010-10-18T20:55:00.001-07:00

That Krista did up for me

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2010-10-18T20:54:00.001-07:00

Painting for a trade with my friend, Jack mauk, from orange county.

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2010-10-18T19:21:00.001-07:00

Yes.

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2010-10-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

and be sure to check out my old lady's design blog for work:

Krista

and check out my good friend matt's tat blog.... one of the only good guys left:

Matt Wes

word!

got this flash in a trade

2010-10-18T14:34:00.001-07:00

With Matt from red sea tattoo in Wichita. .. totally awesome shit. Took an old timey photo of it with my new android phone.

Redseatattoo.com check it out.

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2010-10-18T14:29:00.001-07:00

going to see crowbar tonight. they've probably been one of my favorite bands since i was around 12 years old.

one of my good friends, jessica, was in hungary visiting family and studying abroad (or two) this past year and she got to see them and hang out with kirk... and he loved the tattoos i did on her.

how fuckin' cool is that? maybe i'll get a chance to talk to them and offer to tattoo them tomorrow if they're not heading out too fast. we'll see.... i won't hold my breath, though.

pink mini rusto shader

2010-10-18T11:48:00.001-07:00

For Sale.... 300 or best offer. Email me. Alexkassxvx@Gmail.com

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2010-10-13T07:36:00.000-07:00

got this coleman replica liner from ernie carafa .... can't wait to get it.

2010-09-29T15:14:00.000-07:00

coverup on my homeboy, peter. I'm starting a project where I'm going to tattoo the shit out of him. Should be fun. I'll take photos.

2010-09-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

I don't usually try to persuade people to do anything... and I never lecture anyone about drugs, drinking, or straight edge, but I need to share a little bit here with you guys today.

Yesterday I got a call from my ex girlfriend's best friend. She was found dead in a hotel room.

If you or someone you know has mental health issues or drug issues, make them talk to you. Talk to someone. Get them help. Don't fall into eternal sleep because of stupid, mundane shit. Please get help.

2010-09-23T15:41:00.000-07:00

Flash set I painted. $50 bucks, shipped in the US. alexkassxvx@gmail.com if interested.

2010-09-23T15:39:00.000-07:00

This is the beginning of my new station. Got my new flash set making a cross in the middle.

2010-09-23T15:38:00.000-07:00

Took this while on the shitter last night at 2 in the AM

2010-09-23T15:35:00.000-07:00

did this HUGE rose on an army dude here in San Antone.

2010-09-23T15:32:00.000-07:00

did this as one of the first tattoos when I got to Texas. The black in the shield looks a little choppy but should heal down alright.

I need to clarify in this post that I'm not a Nazi, I do not hold Anti-Semitic beliefs, and I am in no way, shape, or form, associated with any White Power organizations. I, in fact, hate some white people more than anyone else in the world.

That being said, this was a fun tattoo.

2010-09-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

started this a while back. Still gotta pull some tight 3 lines into the leaves for the veins and color them in.... maybe add some more leaves while I'm at it.

2010-09-23T15:27:00.000-07:00

did this guy in Key Largo, on Kristal, the landlord, who lived upstairs.

2010-09-23T15:23:00.000-07:00

painted this sheet when I was in Key Largo, Florida.

Still have some prints available. Email me if interested.

alexkassxvx@gmail.com

2010-09-23T15:21:00.000-07:00

Painted this for Mark Stewart in the Spring of 2009

2010-09-23T15:16:00.000-07:00

painted this little 9x12 sheet in between tattoos at Still Crazy Tattoo in Indiana, last April.

Long time, no talk

2010-09-23T14:00:00.001-07:00

So, a lot has happened since I've posted on here last.

I lost my job at Ruffhouse Tattoos in Indiana around the beginning of April. I did a brief stint working with one of Roy Boy's (RIP) ex-wives, Deb, at Roy Boy's II Still Crazy Tattoo. It was located behind a truck stop in Lake Station, Indiana. Definitely one of the strangest locations for a tat shack that I've ever seen, but nonetheless, I had a good time and saw a little bit of local tattoo history while gearing up for a summer long road trip.

I started off my trip with my destination being Orange, California, where my old lady was going to school. I decided I would head back to Denver, as it was on the way, I had a few shops to guest spot at, and I still had clients who loved me and wanted more tattoos there. I sold off many of my worldly positions, picked up a little late 90s japanese station wagon from a polish guy in Chicago, got her fixed up, and hit the road.

I drove 8 hours to Omaha, Nebraska, where I decided I'd rest my head for the night after grabbing some food. Krista looked on google maps for me and found a motel on the southern side of town in a suburb. I drove there and went through a quaint little downtown area that looked pretty pleasant. I checked into the motel, read a bit, watched some television, and listened to a party that was going on about 2 rooms over. As I was waiting to fall asleep, I thought I heard some firecrackers going off. I heard some occur on the other side of the room and then realized, "YO, THESE CRAZY MOTHER FUCKERS ARE SHOOTING EACH OTHER!"

I immediately rolled off the bed and laid on the floor for a few minutes, waiting for the commotion to die down. After a while, I went to the window and saw that the police had arrived.

The next morning, there were still cops there and the news crew was already on the scene.

I hit the road and put the midwest in my rear-view.... hit Denver, grabbed up some friends, and went directly to go eat some Pho. It felt great.

I did a week long guest spot at Art With Heart, where some of my friends worked. I had a good time messing around with them and tattooing some of my old clients and even a few new ones.

When leaving Colorado, I lied to Krista and told her that I'd be tattooing nonstop all day on a Monday, and that I'd have little time to call her between her classes in California. Turns out I'm a liar. I woke up at 4:30AM to hit the road by 5, after she kept me up on the phone until 2 or later. I drove straight to Las Vegas, where the mecca of vegan donuts awaited me: Ronald's Donuts.

I got there 20 minutes before they closed, informed the owners that I had got up and left Denver at 5AM to make it there, and that I was still going to Southern California after that. I bought 3 dozen donuts, and they even gave me a free box of extras for my drive.

I got to Orange County around 8pm or so, and proceeded to Loving Hut... Krista's favorite restaurant. I ordered 2 chicken burgers and grabbed a seat. I felt myself getting really dizzy and even starting to fall asleep sitting there. Driving over 16 hours on 2.5 hours of sleep was probably the WORST idea ever. After the food came, I started driving towards Krista's house and called her.

I told her, "hey, I'm gonna send you a text and I don't want you to read it until I hang up... and I've been lying to you, by the way." She sounded really devastated. I parked outside her house and sent her a text letting her know that I was actually outside and had not been tattooing all day. She ran outside and jumped on me. We went inside and ate. Good day.

That weekend, after receiving an invite from another vegan-edge tattooer by the name of Jason Hudson, we drove up to Tried and True Tattoo in Arroyo Grande, California. It's on the coast, about 3 or 4 hours north of LA, if I remember correctly. We ate at a few different delicious places, hung out at the shop, did a little bit of tattooing, painting, and a lot of having a great time. I also made friends with the shop owner, Robert Pesina, who put us up at his house for the weekend. I made a small Percy Waters pig tattoo on Jason that was fun. All in all I had a great time and would love to go back.

We headed back to OC on Sunday night. I did a few days of messing around and painting while Krista had classes. I had spoken to a shop about guesting there for a few days before Krista had her graduation ceremony and we had to leave. I did a few days at Old Towne Tattoo in Orange, California. It was actually about half a mile from where Krista lived and that was nice.

I did a few tattoos, watched Paul and Aaron do some tattoos, hung out, bullshitted, and had an overall good time.

Krista graduated, we packed everything in the station wagon, and headed to Texas.

We stayed the night in Tucson and then drove to Texas the next day. I took a week off of work but drove around and met some people in Austin and San Antonio. I didn't meet George Strait as I had hoped.

After a week of hanging out, we set our sails towards South Florida. We decided to drive through New Orleans as neither of us had ever been there. We got food at a terrible place that sucked shit and decided we needed to get the fuck out of dodge. We stayed in a motel about 45 minutes north east of the city. The next day we woke up and drove to Mobile, Alabama, a few hours away. We stopped as the USS Alabama and did a little messin' around. We then hit the road again and made it all the way to Tallahassee, where we did not meet Dead Prez, but we did eat at the Soul Veg down the road from where they met in college.

We ended up in St. Petersburg, Florida, where we stayed the night with my german grandmother and uncle. The next day we headed down towards Cape Coral/ Ft. Myers area where we made a stop to visit my great friend Mark Stewart, owner and tattooer at Forever Tattoo Parlour.

We drove straight to the shop, but he wasn't there. Chris informed us that his wife had a photography opening at a coffee shop in downtown Ft. Myers. Shit. We hit up our google maps for blackberry and drove our happy asses over there and surprised them anyway. You can see some of Mandy's work here.

After bullshitting for a while, we finally hit the road towards Key Largo, Florida... our destination. Key Largo... Montego... baby why don't we go....

I was working in Key Largo at Key Largo Illustrations for the months of June and July. The owner, Tedd, who I had met 2 years ago in Colorado, was going to Tel Aviv, Israel for the summer and he's the only one who works at his shop. So when he goes out of town, he calls me to come work there. We had an amazing time staying there and even made a few friends.

A million different things happened while we were there and we did a bunch of different stuff, and the entire summer seems like a blur to me, as this traveling still kind of has me dizzy.

In the beginning of August, we headed up to Orlando where Krista's aunt and uncle lived. We discussed it and thought that it might not be a bad place to settle down. I went and interviewed at Cast Iron Tattoo in town. I got to meet Danny Knight, who is a great machine builder, an excellent tattooer, and a comical guy. I didn't end up getting the job there, as they have an apprentice who is about to go full time and it'd be unfair for us to be fighting over walk ins and taking food out of each others' mouth.

My previously aforementioned friend, Mark, had offered me a job in Cape Coral, as his employee, Chris, was planning on leaving soon. We headed over to Cape Coral and hung out for a few weeks while Mark was in New York. Krista couldn't find any work in time and Chris ended up not leaving as soon as everyone had thought. We watched and played with Mark and Mandy's dogs while they were in New York. I had a great time working there and I painted a flash set while hanging out. I miss everyone there a lot and I wish the firm Krista applied to work at wasn't so wishy-washy about shit so we could have stuck around.

So, we headed back to Texas. I called Jason at Mind's Eye Tattoo in San Antonio, as he seemed really cool and the shop seemed nice. He said they'd love to have me and I told him I'd be there in a few days. The rest is history.

I've been here for a few weeks now and I'm seriously digging it. I've been tattooing a lot of military dudes on the weekends, painting a lot during the week, and eating tons of tacos.

Life probably couldn't get any better at this point.

I learned a lot over the past year and I have no regrets about anything. I sometimes seriously miss the people I'm not friends with anymore and wish them the best of luck, but I met some amazing people along the way. I tried to put as many links in here as possible for your enjoyment. Make sure you check everyone out and try to give them your money.

I'll post some photos here in a bit.

-Alex

2010-03-23T12:15:00.000-07:00

2010-03-05T21:10:00.000-08:00

I've gotten really bad at adding anything to this. I'm always busy doing all kinds of shit and I never feel like I have any extra time like I did when I was in Denver.

It doesn't help that I don't get to do many cool, original, or custom tattoos at this shop. I honestly don't mind, as tattooing anything that comes through the door pays my bills and keeps me fed, but every now and again I do get something cool.

Here's a pyramid getting splayed by a dagger:

strange...

2010-02-18T15:43:00.000-08:00

the other day, while tattooing some simple lettering....

i dotted an "i" before i did the body part of it. this felt like the strangest thing that i've ever done.

2010-02-07T21:48:00.000-08:00

here's a tattoo I did on my friend Matt from Move Along while I lived in colorado. This is a healed photo and it's off of a sheet of girls from august cap coleman...

my old mentor, charley, bought me the sheet from the tattoo archive and I had it hanging up in the shop for a long time.

this tattoo was fun for me and i'm happy the the outcome.

2010-02-06T22:00:00.000-08:00

Krista was here for 2 weeks a little while ago. We had a great time, ate a lot of food, and now I'm upset that she's gone. We went to Chicago a few times, worked a lot, and ate even more food.

Here's some photos:

This photo is from when we went to the pick-me-up cafe in chicago with Matt Wes, after attending a party that his shop, Family Tattoo, puts on. We had a good time and realized that pineapple juice and ginger ale make a good mixed drink for vegan straight edge kids. Matt took this photo:

This is Krista with my Ma. My ma is a wild lady and they love each other. Glad they get along.

featured in this photo, in my kitchen, is a vegan carrot cake... fuck yeah. and a huuuuuuuge can of vegan "big franks" hot dogs.... oh, and my lovely girlfriend.

Krista didn't want to try the frosting, so I told her I would make her.... she then tried to assault me with some brass knuckles and I proceeded to put the frosting in her mouth. Take that!

We went to Chinese Town in Chicago. It was very cold and there's no bathrooms. We bought lots of little cute things... tons of knick knacks and crap. I got a very nice black apron for work. I'm going to get "BIG AL" embroidered on it soon.

On the last day before Krista had to leave, we realized we forgot to light off this huge roll of black cat firecrackers. I lit this entire thing off and threw a chair at the area and knocked over those boards and something caught on fire. Had to stamp it out...and then couldn't stop coughing for an hour or so from the smoke.

That's all for now. Hope you all are doing well.

2010-01-27T11:11:00.000-08:00

So I've been in Valparaiso, Indiana for about a month now.

I've been overwhelmed with settling in at work, moving into a new house, Krista visiting for the past 2 weeks, and catching up with friends and family.

I haven't had a ton of extra time until recently, so I'm finally updating on here.

A few weeks back, Boomer came up to get tattooed while visiting his family in Illinois. Chris Zibutis was visiting the shop with his camera, so we shot some photos of his back and a new piece I did on his stomach. It's based on an old Owen Jensen piece, I believe.

Here's some photos:

my new boss and I, photo by christopher z photo.

tattooing boomer in my new room, photo by christopher z photo.

boomer's new stomach, 4 hours of black, photo by christopher z photo.

here's a healed photo of boomer's back I had been working on in Colorado: photo by christopher z photo.

ain't no roses no more

2009-12-22T21:23:00.000-08:00

did this little guy on my friend, matt, who has the panther a posted about a few posts ago.
it was fun...ain't really got too much to say about it.

I'm in Indiana, at Ruff House Tattoos now, and having a good time, thus far.
Hopefully things stay up.

holy....shit....

2009-12-16T22:28:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my last day of work in Denver. I decided to do another $60 traditional tattoo day as I did on black friday.

On top of that, one of our buddies was visiting from Alaska came to hang out. He mentioned having something called "jungle fever". I had never heard of it, so I assumed he was in the jungle and got sick...but apparently there's no jungle up in Alaska. Strange.

Apparently, when someone who is white wants to fornicate someone who is of the African Diaspora, the condition is called "jungle fever".

This is the end result:

Sushi Party Tonight...

2009-12-15T00:45:00.000-08:00

We've got nothing better to do... than eat some rolls and slam some sake brews.....

My favorite mexican roommate, Matty Shitbags, and I both share an affinity for good sushi. Through realizing this, we discovered a great sushi spot in the baker neighborhood of Denver, CO. I've heard a lot of people talk a lot of shit about a lot of different sushi joints.... and I've even heard some mark-ass tricks say that sushi is similar to pizza, in the fact that "even when it's bad, it's still good". I want to assure you with the firmest backhand across your sushi master-less face that you are, indeed, wronger than heil.

Being vegan, a lot of foods escape me and I find myself eating the same shit everyday.... qdoba, chinese, pizza. Being vegan has been especially frustrating while living with non-vegans. It's always hard to find a place that can accommodate both myself and still be appetizing to the carnivorous few I roll with. I'd have to say that our sushi spot is the tightest around.

So, after enough beating around the bush, I'd like you to consider:

GO FISH
1 Broadway
Denver, CO 80203-3900
(303) 733-8881

Typically on a trip here, I'm ordering some edamame to start, anywhere from 32-40 avocado rolls, 5 tofu skin rolls, 2 tofu pockets, and a few iced teas to wash it down... and maybe some white rice on the side to clear the palate every now and again.

Matt will typically eat a miso soup or two, get an entree size shrimp/veggie tempura platter, a salad, and all kinds of weird fishy rolls that I couldn't even begin to explain. He's eating more than I am, typically.

It's amazing to think that something as simple as avocado rolls, for me, could be good one place and terrible at another.... but this place really nails it. the softest, stickiest rice coupled with perfect nori, and wrapped with sesame seeds and some other type of seed whose existence I was previously unaware. Double this with the way their wasabi is made. I can't even explain how disgusted I get when sushi is delivered and the wasabi is all moist, slimy, and disgusting. It's the little things that are done that mean anything. I pay attention to detail.

Anyway, I don't want to ramble, but this is seriously the best sushi place I've been to in Denver. I hear sushi den is fantastic also, but I haven't been there...so we party here.

Remember, tip your sushi chefs a few minutes after your order is in. Matty and I usually drop in 5 bucks a piece... and then still tip your waitress too, ya jerks. We tip well and now every time we come back, we enjoy free shit... sake shots, extra appetizers, TEMPURA CHEESECAKE (SMELLS LIKE THE BEST THING I'LL NEVER EAT), and overall great service from an awesome staff.

go there, meet the manager "Thomas"...and tell him ol' X face sent you.

also, there's parking behind the building, because everybody in Denver knows that parking in Baker is the worst shit ever.

enjoy some photos from previous sushi parties:

A big "thank you"...

2009-12-14T10:42:00.000-08:00

...to everyone who's been reading.

Tomorrow will be my last day of work in Denver and I'll try to have photos of the day.

I'm doing another $60 sheet day like I did on black friday to get all of my friends and clients to come out for one last hurrrrrrrrrahhhhhhh.

If you read this and you want to come hang out, please do!

American Tattoo Company
5608 E. Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80220

It's first come, first served from 12pm-9pm... some come on down!

Cheers!

This mom will be my anchor

2009-12-13T00:43:00.000-08:00

I don't want you to go around thinking that I like MLIW because I made a joke title with their lyrics, but it sounded funny.

I did this tattoo last week as a pair of ma and pa tattoos on the backs of this young lady's legs.
I decided to use some light purple in parts of the anchor and it was a nice change of pace.

Hopefully you like it as much as I do.

Matty Shitbags

2009-12-10T23:22:00.000-08:00

I have a hilarious roommate that I mentioned before. His name is El Paso Matt, or El matt, for short. He was born and raised in El Paso, hence the name.

He became a tattoo collector when one of our friends introduced him to Chad Koeplinger and they became friends. He flies out to new york every so often to get tattooed.

Recently, I have been doing some tattoos to fill in one of his legs. To say that I'm intimidated to be making tattoos right next to stuff that Chad's done would be a complete understatement. Chad has been one of my favorite tattooers for the past few years and I'm honored to think that someone who collects from him would also want to collect from me.

Here's a piece I did on Matt recently:

2009-12-10T23:04:00.000-08:00

My friend, William "Boomer" Patch, is a fucking character to put it lightly. He's annoying, obnoxious, and he doesn't have a filter between his brain and his mouth. Boomer is the kind of guy you want to love because he has the best intentions, but you definitely have trouble doing so because of the things he says.

I met Boomer when I was 15 or 16 and he was touring with some bands that my band played with. We ran into each other every now and again in the midwest.

A few months ago, I went to see my friend Matt's band, Folsom, and after the show, someone I didn't know from Denver approached me outside and said, "yo, is your name Alex?"

I looked at him and tried to place his face... and realized who he was. "HOLY SHIT! Boomer! What the hail are you doing in Colorado?!?!"

Turns out he had been stationed down in Colorado Springs for the Army. He's been coming and getting tattooed by me every since. I did his back, some stuff on his arms, the insides of his fingers, and recently I did the tattoo in this post.

Boomer had to take an unfortunate last minute trip to Atlanta. Apparently his brother had run into some trouble with his wife and drugs and took his own life right outside of their home in Georgia.

Upon his return to Colorado, we made this tattoo for him, based on the Down song "Stone the Crow. It reads, as the chorus says "I've never stoned the crow".

I'm not sure of his exact symbolism or connection behind them, as I don't usually ask, but there's flames and smoke because apparently his brother thoroughly enjoyed marijuana. Props to doing what you love.

I wish I was a better photographer, but here it is:

Prints

2009-12-10T22:54:00.000-08:00

Ironically enough, as I'm sitting around complaining about how people post too much lovey shit on the internet, I'd like to present you with a painting that I made for my girlfriend as an early birthday present.

I actually made a few prints of this that I'm selling for $25, shipping included. It's definitely the weirdest thing I've ever painted.

I'll even write your name on it if it's for you.

email me for more info. it's an 11"x14".

alexkassxvx@gmail.com or whip.shaded@gmail.com

The hilarity that is my life and career

2009-12-10T20:48:00.000-08:00

I made this tattoo on one of my recent friends, adam. He's from florida originally, and he lives in Denver now and works for comcast.

I met him through one of my other clients...he came over to my house to hook up my cable illegally...but we couldn't do it because we had qwest wires and not comcast ones.

this is the most recent tatty I did on him in a series of a few. It's based on a quote from Kyle Orten's twitter.

"I'm good at three things: chuggin' whiskey, swordin' skanks, and winning fucking football games!"

here ya go:

2009-12-10T09:39:00.000-08:00

For a while now I've been reading a blog from a tattooer in California who does some awesome traditional americana stuff with some cultural influence. His name is Carlos or "Los" as most people know him. He's vegan, edge, and seems like a nice guy from the little bit of interaction we've had online.

Check him out here.

Anyway, I digest. His shop does this "$60 sundays" which seems like a totally fun premise where everyone comes out and just gets tattooed a bunch... so on black friday this year, I threw a rather large sheet together with a bunch of small and medium sized tattoos and invited everyone to come out.

The following tattoo is on my friend, Matt Flynn. He plays in a Denver hardcore band called Move Along. Great dude, great band, younger guys keeping shit alive and I love it. I also tattooed their singer, Ben, a little while ago right after his 18th birthday.

So here's a $60 black friday tattoo I did on Matt...totally fun:

First post...let's roll with this shit!

2009-12-09T10:31:00.000-08:00

Today is my first post on this blog... i've been a livejournal user for years, but that tends to be good for crying and complaining about stuff... and anytime you write about something positive it seems like people don't care... so I'm going to post work and other life stuff on here.

As of right now:

I live and work in Denver, Colorado...have for about the past 2 years.
I'm vegan and straight edge.
I have a lovely girlfriend who is going to school in California currently and I miss her all the time.

Soon:

I'm moving to Valparaiso, Indiana for a job opportunity and I couldn't be more excited.
During the summer I'm living and working in Key Largo, FL for 2 months and that'll rule, also.

My girlfriend and I are also going to be doing quite a bit of traveling this coming year, which excites me, too.

In january, she'll fly into chicago and hang out for a little bit to get to know the area, as she's hoping to land a job in an ad firm in chicago, post-graduation.

In march I'll be flying to California to hang out for her spring break. Haven't decided if I want to try to guest spot or not.

In may I'll be flying back to Califas for her graduation and to help her drive her stuff back to texas... and then flying back to chicago.

Then she'll fly up to Chicago and we'll be driving down to florida. Shit, this is getting messy.

While in florida, we'll visit my friend, Mark Stewart, who owns forever tattoo and probably get tattooed. last year when I was in florida, mark and I traded tattoos and had an awesome time. he and his wife are lovely... and I also got tattooed by one of his employees, Heather Law, who is hilarious.

While in florida, I'll be working at Key Largo Illustrations. The shop is owned by my good friend and recent mentor, Tedd. Tedd's been tattooing for 30 years or better... born in germany, raised in new york, he's a friend of the current company that I work for in colorado, peter tat-2.

man, there's a lot of shit going on in here and i'm probably rambling like a madman, but there's been a lot of stuff going on in my life with tattooing and learning art in the past 6 years...this isn't even 2 years of it.

anyway, also check out these links of people who are awesome:
Christopher Z Photography
Monica Z Photography
Mat Wes XVX, Tattooer
Juice E. Joel, Clenched First, Illustrator, Awesome Dude
Andrew "Memphis" Murphy, Joel's brother, Drummer for DBD
Matty Shitbags, my favorite mexican and hilarious roommate

That's all for tonight, lemme leave you with this gem: