Recently flew to France to be a guest at the Belfort Tattoo Convention and also for a small break to catch up with some friends etc.
I also planned prior to going that i was gonna do a shoot with model French Doll and also an interview for Rise Tattoo Magazine.
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Judging the Tattoo Contest
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Satomi + Lukas Zpira – French Doll
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.The Interview.
Please Jay, can you introduce yourself to our readers?
I’m Jay Read, I’m a Designer / Model / Artist from Birmingham, England.
When did you start to get tattooed?
What was your first ideas about getting tattooed at that time?
My first tattoo was at 21, I didn’t really know what i wanted, i just knew i wanted a tattoo so i went to the local studio and within 30mins i had some stupid lettering on my arm! ha
I always knew i would follow in my dads footsteps in becoming heavily tattooed and was sure that 1day i would end up completely covered!
For many years i would have any image / design i wanted for whatever reason it mite be, Sometimes it was just because i liked the design but many of my tattoos from the age of about 22-26 were innuendos of certain things in my dark life / lifestyle i was living.
At about age 26 i became very close to a well known artist and through meeting her my eyes were opened to the real world of tattoo art and from then i used the small spaces i had left to collect work from some of the amazing artists i now know!
It seems your work is now on a new level with your tattoos, After getting very exposed tattoos on your body you erase them to get new ones above?
Ye from about age 26 i realized id gone the wrong way and rushed to become fully tattooed and had many tattoos i was unhappy with so i used the space i had left very carefully.
I decided to completely lazer remove everything i had (90% of) to begin a full body cover up but this time planned from start to finish!
My plan was to be lasered once per week for 1.5 years until i was fully faded and ready to start my cover up but i have many commitments in my business / life as well as traveling abroad every month so it has taken alot longer than this but i am still on track to complete the full cover up in the 5 year time frame i set myself!
My right sleeve is re’covered and I’m halfway through my left, I am keeping my neck, face and head and my left B+W collection leg but everything else will be gone!
The design for the front of my body is basically the same shape as a Japanese back piece but is obviously on my front and goes onto my upper thighs,
Also including my Cock / Bell-end / Balls / Arsehole and Inner arse cheeks which i started a few months ago.
It is a 3way collaboration between Matt Difa, Xed Le Head (tattooing) and Lukas Zpira (scarification)
We have the design all planned and it is definetly on ANOTHER LEVEL!
Is Tattooing = 1- A Lifestyle? 2- A Culture? 3- An Art? ……..And Why?
1- Obviously for some people who work in the industry like tattoo artists, convention organisers, tattooed models, tattoo magazine owners etc then it plays a big part in their lives and without it they wouldn’t be doing what they are doing today and it can be life changing so yes it is definitely a lifestyle!
2- For many people who live as part of any scene that involves tattoos then I suppose it is part of their particular culture, Weather its graffiti artists in England, Kids on the rock scene in France, Maori’s in new zealand, Street gangs in America or ancient tribes men in the amazon jungle, to all of these people tattoos are part of their culture and to them it has never been any different!
3- I think all these different types of people and all their different styles of tattoos are all art!
No matter weather the actual tattoos are good or bad or weather you or I like them or not it is still a decoration and enhancement of their body and something that somebody else does not have so it is all art. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!“
For me personally it is all and non of these things both at the same time, I just do what I want to do and think nothing of anybody else’s opinion nor do i let myself be categorized or live by any rules and i am part of no scenes ….I am just me!
Any last words?
It is out of our control that we are born to this earth and non of us asked to be here so you owe nothing to nobody and the skin that covers your body is your own to do with whatever you will!
You only get one chance at life so live it hard and fast, don’t waste time pondering on things you regret doing, just take them as a lesson learnt and make sure you don’t make the same mistake twice!
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Had an amazing weekend and met a few good people i wont forget!
……..ROLL ON BELFORT 2011!
