SAMMY RAY
They/it
Brooklyn, NY
Hi i’m sammy i don’t want to write this in third person or an official voice, maybe i’ll change it one day.
i am from texas and i went to NYU to study photography and then covid happened and then i went to NYU again (lol) to study communication and interactive design because one day i want to make playgrounds and kinetic sculptures that you can climb on and hang out with your friends. Until then, I love tattooing its my favorite thing and i want to get really really good at it.
i like to ride bikes and dj and play with my cat and cook and read and never stop learning <3
GLOSSARY
(this was an idea from my friend @prettyskinstickers)
BLASTOVER
When a newly made tattoo goes over the top of an older piece in such a way that does not obscure the original work. A layering effect surely ensues, especially when color gets in the mix.
I personally don’t love this article but I am appreciative that I was a part of it. The images provide great examples
https://www.dazeddigital.com/beauty/article/60649/1/blast-overs-the-tattoo-trend-challenging-the-permanence-of-body-art
BLASTUNDER
See Blastover but now think about going “under” old tattoos.
Can make old tattoos POP.
See Blastover but now think about going “under” old tattoos.
Can make old tattoos POP.
MAG DRAG RIBBONS or SINEW
When I use a very large, wide grouping of needles called a Magnum in a less-than-conventional way to create these sinewy, stranger textures and movements. I like them a lot, theres a lot of in the moment decisions to be made using this technique.
When I use a very large, wide grouping of needles called a Magnum in a less-than-conventional way to create these sinewy, stranger textures and movements. I like them a lot, theres a lot of in the moment decisions to be made using this technique.
COIL MACHINE (or similar)
This is a type of tattoo machine used for over a century by tattooists. Instead of operating with a motor, it uses a pretty simple circuit forming an electromagnetic mechanism that will pull an armature bar with a needle attached to it forward and backward. The many springs that make up this mechanism are what set it apart from the pen and rotary types, which have grown to be the most common type of machine industry wide. Unlike an unrelenting motor, springs have an added benefit of a natural bit of give as different skin types are passed over by the needle. Because of this, coil type machines are excellent at lining and lining fast!
I have a variety of machines and will choose the best one for the job, and sometimes it will be a coil type. This means you will hear a pretty loud buzzing noise and it may hurt a bit. This is in pursuit of a more efficient and healthy process.
This is a type of tattoo machine used for over a century by tattooists. Instead of operating with a motor, it uses a pretty simple circuit forming an electromagnetic mechanism that will pull an armature bar with a needle attached to it forward and backward. The many springs that make up this mechanism are what set it apart from the pen and rotary types, which have grown to be the most common type of machine industry wide. Unlike an unrelenting motor, springs have an added benefit of a natural bit of give as different skin types are passed over by the needle. Because of this, coil type machines are excellent at lining and lining fast!
I have a variety of machines and will choose the best one for the job, and sometimes it will be a coil type. This means you will hear a pretty loud buzzing noise and it may hurt a bit. This is in pursuit of a more efficient and healthy process.
FREEHAND
This is where I will use markers and paintbrushes to apply a design onto the body before tattooing, rather than the more common stenciling method. This allows us to create a piece together and also sometimes these textures are hard to print lol
This is where I will use markers and paintbrushes to apply a design onto the body before tattooing, rather than the more common stenciling method. This allows us to create a piece together and also sometimes these textures are hard to print lol
CARE FOR YOUR BODY
Please heed pre and aftercare instructions. They tend to be useful outside of just the tattooing process.
For example: Drinking water is great for your skin (ink goes in, ink stays in) and also your heart and hair and nails and muscles and tbh every part of you. Moisturizing your skin is also good for resilience in case of injury (or tattoo needle). Loosening up on alcohol and smoking allows your body to do its natural processes without any inhibition and you can bounce back from injuries, bad dreams, and (yep) tattoos way better.
Holistic Approach happy healthy hooray <3
Please heed pre and aftercare instructions. They tend to be useful outside of just the tattooing process.
For example: Drinking water is great for your skin (ink goes in, ink stays in) and also your heart and hair and nails and muscles and tbh every part of you. Moisturizing your skin is also good for resilience in case of injury (or tattoo needle). Loosening up on alcohol and smoking allows your body to do its natural processes without any inhibition and you can bounce back from injuries, bad dreams, and (yep) tattoos way better.
Holistic Approach happy healthy hooray <3