Category Archives: Tattoo

Thomas Cave, Beanpicker,
and his Social Security Tattoo

I really love the atmosphere in historic black & white photos, especially photos where a bit of an old tattoo is visible. Once you've picked through a handful of historic tattoo photo books (Henk Schiffmacher's "1000 Tattoos" is a good place to start) you realize there are a finite number of vintage photos of tattooed [...]
By Chris HoldPosted in Tattoo · Leave a comment

Cowboy Ornament and the Tattoo

For me, cowboy hats are so iconically American, iconically Canadian too, really, considering the significance of our Prairie provinces to Canadian identity. It's been my experience that a good cultural centrepiece usually has a lot of power as a tattoo. As an eight-year-old I saw my first episode of Bonanza, in German no less, while [...]
By Chris HoldPosted in Tattoo · 4 Comments

New York State of Mind

Today I went and got myself tattooed by Chris David at Government Street Tattoo. (I gave the small painting above to Chris, a small token of thanks for the tattoo). I've been wanting to get something by him for awhile after seeing the bold and tidy traditional work he's put on for a couple friends. [...]
By Chris HoldPosted in Tattoo · Leave a comment

She’s Possessed to Skate

Some stiff competition in tattooland today. Gerry put up a fun challenge to the shop: everyone takes the same flash (pictured left) as a starting point and has to re-draw it, adding their own twist, no looking at each other's drawing! It was great to see what everyone came up with and, despite starting with [...]
By Chris HoldPosted in Tattoo · Leave a comment

Tattoos by Chris

Did up this little design from some anonymous historic flash during a great painting session at the shop with my ol' pal and coworker Bryan J. Turnbull. Lots of painting going on at the shop these days. It's fun doing something quick and simple to cap off the end of the day before heading home, [...]
By Chris HoldPosted in Tattoo · 1 Comment

Magneta, Magenta

Chemistry class, Grade 11. After combining a few dribbles of Hydrofluoro-somethingorother with two parts Whatsitium I was admiring the vibrant pink the solution had become. "Can anyone tell me what color the mixture should change to?" asked the teacher. I blurt out my response, "Magneta!" (You read that right: mag · net · uh) Probably [...]
By Chris HoldPosted in Tattoo · 2 Comments

Should History Matter to a Tattooer?

It's about being in the middle, not being at the end. You're not initiating something, nor having the last word, you're just carrying it through with the time you've got. Dan Higgs, Interview by Ed Hardy, Tattoo Revue Magazine. When you consider how long tattooing has been part of our history (at least 5300 years [...]
By Chris HoldPosted in Tattoo · 3 Comments
  • My Portfolio on Flickr

    My Portfolio on Flickr

  • My Tattoos on Flickr

  • About the Author

    About the Author

    Chris Hold, tattooer, author of this here journal

    This site is a repository of my tattoo-related thinkings and makings, and a healthy channel for the ineffable force that compelled me to pursue this bizarre carnival craft… continue

  • Get a Tattoo

    Get a Tattoo

    Interested in getting a tattoo? Contact the shop at 604-647-0826 or drop in for a visit. Sacred Heart Tattoo is in the downtown core of Vancouver, BC at 725 Nelson Street (at Granville). Want more detailed contact info and hours?