LEGENDARY ARTISTS AROUND THE WORLD

While we still cannot hop on a plane and go, or even drop down to our local tattoo studio, we will keep traveling in our imagination and anticipation. Today we take a look at two utter legends within traditional tattooing who are still practicing their art to this day.  

ICON OF YOKOHAMA AND IREZUMI >>>

THE JOY OF ANTICIPATION – TRAVEL AND TATTOOS

While we all await the reopening of societies, borders and air travel, there is nothing wrong with dreaming of future trips – and future tattoos. Studies have shown that anticipation is one of the happiest parts of a travel journey. And as any tattoo lover knows, planning for the next piece with your artist and counting the days in the calendar until the appointment can also be exhilarating and full of expectation. 

With that in mind, and in the effort of sparking some much-needed anticipatory joy (as January 1st 2021 did not turn out to be a panacea for the world’s woes we had all hoped), let’s take a look at some of the most unique tattoo studios around the world – so that you can begin planning for your next epic adventure. Because we will never take traveling for granted again, right, so we might as well get the pieces to remember our journeys by.

CAIO TATTOO, RIO >>>

WE CANNOT WAIT TO SHOW YOU WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON! >>>

We thought we would give everybody a glimpse into the work which has been commencing on the 10^th Vivid Ink Tattoo shop in Coventry, the studio is looking fantastic if we do say so ourselves and we really look forward to showing everybody the finished shop once complete and we are allowed to open.

WATERCOLOUR TATTOOS

It is the darkest time of the year, and spring feels like a lifetime away, so we thought we’d treat ourselves to dreaming away in colour. Gaining in popularity faster than you can say #tattooinspo over the past decade, watercolour tattoos have become a style of their own. They have prompted discussions on whether or not they are style over longevity, but the artists that specialize in them say that they heal – and last – just as well as other genres, given that you care for them properly.

THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF TRADITION >>>

WE ARE STILL HERE

So, unless you have been hiding under a rock, which may seem like a good idea at the moment, I think it’s fair to say you know the U.K is in another national lockdown, what does this mean for tattoo studios?  Unfortunately, it means we have had to temporarily close the doors to all of the tattoo shops rendering us unable to complete the amazing tattoos that we do on a day to day basis. Our doors may be closed for our incredible tattoo artists to work from but that doesn’t mean we can’t continue to serve our fantastic clientele with the very best customer service we can.  We remain committed to dealing with all questions, booking request and general enquires.

So drop us a shout, were still here and we look forward to helping in any way we can >>>

TATTOOS AND NATURE ELEMENTS

The better part of 2020 and the beginning of 2021 have been a difficult for anyone who loves nature and the outdoors. While walking and cycling around the neighbourhood may allow us to discover new parts of our cities, they are no substitute for a getaway to mountains, woods and rivers. So while we hopefully do our best to get as much fresh air as possible in the ways it is available to us, let us take a digital forest bathing dive into the relationship between natural phenomena and tattooing. >>>

DO TATTOO REMOVAL CREAMS ACTUALLY WORK?

We are slowly emerging from the double haze of 2020 and New Year’s Eve, even though the latter may have been slightly less of an exuberant party occasion than normally. However, it is still a new year and with that comes the inevitable desire to reinvent oneself. A sense of having wiped the slate clean, a chance to start over. Which could explain why many believe that cover-up tattoos will be one of the biggest trends for the coming 12 months. >>>

THE YEAR IN REVIEW – 2020 AND THE GROWTH OF THE VIVID INK COMMUNITY

The past twelve months may go down in history as the ‘year that shall not be named’. Kind of like a hex, or a curse you throw at someone. Something along the likes of ‘I hope you will spend the rest of your life in 2020’. While there has certainly been turbulence, and in no way are we making light of the individual and collective hardships the year has brought, we will choose to end it focusing on the good. 

Yes, it was a year when panic purchasing and internet comment sections showed us many variable traits in our fellow humans. However, it was also a year when communities, neighbours, and families came together (albeit at a distance) more than ever before. Let’s take a look at some of the good stuff – including the growth of the Vivid Ink family. >>>

Tattoo Trends for 2021 – Part III

As the year draws to a close and we are looking back at 2020, what can we say… It was a year that made us come to terms with our own vulnerability, put us face to face with whatever investments we have or have not made into our mental health, and made us realise how quickly the freedoms we take for granted can disappear.

Twelve months ago, we were busy making plans for the new year. Not many of them had time to come to fruition before a pandemic broke out and turned everything on its head. Tattoo shops all over the world had to close their doors, and the art form had to take a break in the name of public health and safety.

Trusting your studio in the New Year >>>

Tattoo Trends 2021 – Part II

As New Year’s Eve parties and celebrations have been pretty much cancelled this year, let’s see 2021 in with a different kind of bang – the scheduling of the next tattoo kind. Nothing is more exciting than the thought of the next time the buzzing starts and the adrenaline kicks in and you know you are going to walk out a slightly altered human being than you came in. Or is that just us?

Maybe you are already entirely clear on what you would like to get next. But just in case you could use some inspiration, we have dived deep into the tea leaves of the internet to find out what they say will be the big trends in tattooing over the next year. Last week we found out about cover-ups and large-scale tattoos due to lockdown introspection and the realisation that life is to be lived, not merely planned. Now, we move on to…

Space Theme Tattoos >>>

TATTOO TREND FORECAST 2021 – PART I

As the year is drawing to a close and we all wonder, or rather dread, what more mischief it could possibly get up to in its final two weeks, we begin to look ahead, cautiously optimistic about spring and a much-needed reboot. 

What blog worthy of the name does not play at predictions at this time of year? While we don’t engage in tarot readings or horoscopes, we do not want to be any worse. So, we thought we would take a look at what the internet (that is an authority on things, right?) believes the biggest trends in tattooing for 2021 will be.

2020 MAY HAVE TAUGHT US TO LET GO >>>   

CYBERPUNK – AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH TATTOOS

We interrupt the festive blog extravaganza and Christmas flurry of posts to dive a little deeper into what has been the big event of all things gaming at the moment. Yes, of course we are talking about Cyberpunk 2077, the much-anitcipated RPG that may have turned many a non-console aficionado into backseat gamers with the announcement of Keanu Reeves’ participation at the keynote of E3 in 2019.

The crowd, and subsequently the internet, pretty much lost it when the Matrix and John Wick star appeared on stage. Initially intended to launch on May 16th this year, as so many other 2020 plans, it got, well, delayed. 

WHERE DOES THE TITLE COME FROM? >>>

WHY TATTOOS MAKE THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

Many things are unusual about the holiday season of 2020. When we are physically separated, it is more important than ever to show our care, share our love and support each other in different ways. Christmas inherently lends itself to overt displays of affection through the giving of presents. And what better, more mood-boosting, sustainable and supportive gift than the gift of a tattoo? Here are five reasons why tattoos make the best Christmas presents. >>>

VIVID INK DERBY NOW OPEN

It is with great pride that we have opened our doors for all tattooing services in our derby studio this week,Vivid Ink Derby launched on Tuesday the 8th of December and the reception has been nothing short of fantastic. Amazing feedback from the local residents has been received on our studio and we look forward to a long and prosperous future in the lovely city of Derby. >>>

END 2020 ON A HIGH – HOW GETTING A TATTOO CAN BOOST YOUR MOOD

It is the darkest time of the year. And we still have another two weeks to go before the winter solstice as the light begins to come back just before Christmas. Seasonal affective disorder, aptly abbreviated SAD, is a winter-related depression that affects as many as 29% of the adult population in the UK. Add to that a year filled with uncertainty, lockdowns, concerns for oneself and loved ones, along with the certain prospect of a very different Christmas this year, and it has all the potential of being, well, not a very cheery season at all. 

EASING OUT OF LOCKDOWN WITH SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO >>>

CHRISTMAS THEMED TATTOOS

Joy to the world, tattoo studios are back and reopened following lockdown 2.0! Just in time for you to get all inked-up for the holidays. Or to wish for donations for your next piece. While Christmas may certainly look a little different this year, it is still a time to tune into a spirit of generosity, and to focus on family – the one we were given at birth or the one we have chosen – friends and, of course, some epic body art. Especially since we are most likely not off to any far-flung winter sun destination this year, which will give our new pieces an ample amount of time to heal. >>>

WE ARE BACK…

November was a long month for all in the U.K with the closure of all none essential business due to the national lockdown,  However, the doors to our tattoo studios across the Midlands, are once again open to all of our fantastic customers.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL SOON.

STAR WARS TATTOOS SPECIAL: DAVE PROWSE/DARTH VADER TRIBUTE

This series of posts began because of the return of Disney+’s The Child (meaning Baby Yoda) to a screen near you. The Mandalorian has connected even more to Star Wars lore this season, and many fans couldn’t be happier as Clone Wars, and Rebels characters show up in earnest. However, this extra instalment on this theme will be in tribute to Dave Prowse, or, as most of us know him, the man who portrayed the most iconic cinematic villain of all time – Darth Vader. The actor passed away on Sunday, November 29th, 2020, at 85 years of age. >>>