Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Tattoos VS Biblical

I came across this article by Will Honeycutt on ' Is it biblical for Christians to get tattoos'.
Although it is not definitive, but the article did justice to identify on how so.
To our very own Maia Lee, you may want to read this to understand your new found love to God.


Bib•li•cal (ˈbɪb lɪ kəl) 


adj. (often l.c.)
1. of or in the Bible: a Biblical name.
2. in accord with the Bible.
3. evocative of or suggesting the Bible or Biblical times, esp. in size or extent: disaster on a biblical scale; a biblical landscape.

Tattoos are more popular than ever. Currently one in five U.S. adults has at least one tattoo (21percent) which is up from the 16 percent and 14 percent who reported having a tattoo in 2003 and 2008, respectively, by the Harris Poll. Entertainers, professional athletes, and even a 2009 version of Barbie, have multiple, and very visible, tattoos. With such prevalence and rising interest, Christians rightfully ask what the Bible says about tattoos.  
The short answer is...nothing. At least nothing definitive. The Bible makes no specific reference to tattoos as we understand them in modern times. Some Christians condemn all tattooing as immoral because God clearly forbids them in Leviticus 19:28. Since the word tattoo does appear in this verse in some popular English translations, this argument seems straightforward. For example, the NIV reads, “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.”  
Other Christians say this passage no longer applies to us because it is Old Testament law, and not for Christians. If you go online to try to answer the tattoo question, you’ll see both approaches and contradictory conclusions. Both of these approaches, however, are misleading because, as we will see, the answer to the tattoo question is that the Bible has nothing clearly to say about the practice of injecting ink under the skin to form permanent pictures, patterns or messages—a.k.a. tattooing.  
Leviticus 19:28 literally translates, “And a cutting for the dead you will not make in your flesh; and writing marks you will not make on you; I am the Lord.” The word writing refers to inscribed or engraved symbols/words, and is used only here. The word for marks, also used here alone, has an uncertain root, so we’re not really sure what the word means. Further, the word tattoo did not enter into the English language until the late 1700s.  This is probably why the KJV, written in the early 1600s, is closer to the literal translation saying, “ye shall not...print marks upon you.”  
The background to this law was that Israel, after being rescued from slavery, was between Egypt and Canaan. Recent archeology indicates that, while Egypt did tattoo, it was limited to women. Evidence suggests that tattooing the body parts of women associated with fertility (breasts, thighs and abdomen) was believed to be a good luck charm to protect the birthing process. Women also frequently had imprints of the fertility goddess, Bes, which seems to support this theory.
In Canaan, evidence indicates that instead of marking the body with ink, more extreme scarification measures, like branding, slashing or gashing the skin were used. Archeology, backed by biblical texts, indicates the Canaanites would customarily slash their bodies for ritualistic purposes (1 Kings 18:28), especially to mourn their dead and honor their gods. Leviticus 19:28 seems to imply this when it says, “you will not make cuttings in your flesh, for the dead, nor print marks on you.” In light of this information from Egypt and Canaan, it would seem God was forbidding scarification, not tattooing as we know it.
With this said, while there may be no clear passage in the Bible addressing tattoos, this is hardly a license for unrestrained tattooing. You still need to think before you ink, especially if you’re a Christian. The following are guiding questions to help you think through your decision.  
Modification – Since the Bible does not explicitly forbid tattoos, are there any limits? We know our body is not our own, but rather God’s temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The Bible has a high view of the body as God’s handiwork, which is not to be disfigured. Non-Israelites did not hold this view. Today, some have permanently modified their bodies to look more like animals or aliens than humans, who alone are created in his image. We must ask ourselves how much we can modify our bodies to suit our desires while not disfiguring the beauty of the human form as God made it.  
Motive – Why get a tattoo? If it is in rebellion to parents, it is clearly not acceptable (Ephesians 6:1-3). And while artistic self-expression can be OK, our primary motive for anything we do should be to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31). This means seeking to honor and draw attention to him, not ourselves. Getting a tattoo for purposes of witness may be acceptable, but remember, this is not the primary or most effective way to evangelize. It is in no way a substitute for verbally communicating the gospel. You are not fulfilling the Great Commission simply because you have a tattoo of a Bible verse.
Modesty – Modesty means not being self-promoting. Are you seeking to direct people’s thoughts toward God or yourself? Tattoos often accentuate certain areas of the body and get our thoughts on that body part. It is hard to believe that anyone with a “tramp stamp” (a tattoo on the lower back) is really seeking to direct people’s thoughts toward God. Thinking modestly will lead you to think about, and even limit, the size, number, and locations of tattoos.
Marketability – Will employers want to hire you? Numerous companies don’t want your tattoo to be visible, and it can actually prevent you from being hired. Many employers will restrict your tattoos, requiring you to cover them up because they are not socially acceptable from a business standpoint.
Message – What is it about yourself that you want to communicate to the world? Tattoos are powerful messages, automatically conveying what you value. They are nearly permanent and will likely be with you for life. A growing experience with tattoos is what has officially been termed, “tattoo regret.” As you mature, you may, like increasing numbers of people, regret your tattoos because you have outgrown their messages and changed your values.  
Money – Is this the wisest use of money? One website, Tattoo Info, says, “In America, you can expect a basic price of $80 to $100 an hour...very few shops will ever touch you for less than $40” (2004-2009). We are responsible to God for how we use our money. It’s also important to keep in mind that the removal technologies being developed are even more expensive than the cost of getting a tattoo in the first place.
Medical concerns – There are real health risks with tattoos. The Mayo Clinic warns, “don’t take tattooing lightly”. They’ve resulted in severe allergic reactions, infections, unsightly scars, and blood-borne diseases like Hepatitis B and C. Tattooing deliberately opens skin and exposes your blood to unknown bacteria. Tattoo parlors are not medical clinics, although they are puncturing skin and exposing blood.

Will Honeycutt 
has been a professor of contemporary issues and apologetics at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, since 1995. He lives in Forest, VA, with his wife of 25 years and their adult daughter, and enjoys teaching college-aged adults in his church. < Article from crosswalk.com>

Sunday, August 17, 2014

People behind facial tattoos

There's no main reason why people wish to have facial tattoos.
Sometimes, many people assume there is a reason behind it. But all we should do is not to understand but to accept it.
I have many tattooed friends associate with facial tattoos. I tell you, its not easy for them for.. being them.
You may ask why then? If doing mundane things like running errands or queuing for McDonald's become such a negative stereotypical assumption including suicide rates, criminality and depression, then why do it?!

Photographer Mark Leaver has tried to challenge some of the negative surrounding of face tattoos with the series of photos that involve those with the inking. He said tattoos had never been more popular, in part because of the way celebrities had made them fashionable. However, Leaver said the usual tattoos did not interest him. It was 'facial tattoos which grabbed me and the direct confrontational nature of them'/
Facial tattoos now represent individuality, creativity, aesthetics, transformation and spirituality.
Many of them are the most down to Earth people he had ever met and hoped the project allow for a contemporary look on tattooing.
The photographer said there was no main reason for why people decided to get their faces tattooed. Some were addicted to tattoos, some just wanted to say ' I do not want to work 9-5' and some wanted to change their appearances. He added that he had heard some sad stories about people with face tattoos being asked to leave restaurants and clubs, but the main those with the ink work pretty strong personalities.



Buzzfeed
Richard James
Photographer: Mark Leaver











Monday, July 28, 2014

World Cup Tattoo 2014

Alright, World Cup'14 is over for awhile now but who can forget the most memorable and outrageous moments of the World Cup history? Like how July 8, 2014 will go down in Brazilian history as the day of infamy; when their football team got their asses whipped by the GERMANS in a shocking 1-7 defeat.
While Brazil mourns its ignominious defeat, many online pranksters created memes to mock them. But let me say, memes is sooo over !
Let me show you why....

1) Some is inspired by the famous incidents.... like the Suarez bite.

                                                     Regardless how wrong the spelling is....                                          



 2) Some who are overly optimistic about the impending Champion title for Brazil... that will never happen..


3) Some of the likenesses of the players...like Clint Dempsey or Neymar




  4) Or Chile's Mauricio Pinilla who immortilized his heartbreak with a tattoo?


 5) Italian teammate Daniele de Rossi's ink provides a warning... of a slide tackles?


Monday, July 14, 2014

It's a whole new level


Hello everyone, sorry for such a late post!
Today, I'm sharing with you on a different note. So far, we all know tattoos and body piercings have evolved and remained part of our lives now. It's not difficult to spot someone with a tattoo, I mean there's like tons of people on the street flaunting and wearing their tattoos proud.
I came across this article in firsttoknow.com about Joel Miggler, aka Bodymoded Punky who has take body art/modification to a whole new level. This 23-year-old Germany artist and alternative model will shock and make you cringe with his choice of extreme body modification. He spent a whopping $6800 to alter this body for a passion of bizarre things.
Probably the most obvious alterations are the two gaping holes in his cheeks, which he often sticks his split tongue through to get a reaction out of people. In addition to these mods, he also has 27 piercings, six tattoos, various implants and a branded butt.
Check out the pictures below for a glimpse into Bodymoded Punky’s life. Also, I'm sharing different extreme body modification that will enlighten you on the level of endurance, passion and the name of Art?





                                                                    
     Eyeball Tattooing (or 'scleral tattooing) involves injecting coloured ink into the whites of your eyes.

 Western world has borrowed the Ethipian Mursi tribe's traditional lip plates practice and turned it into the extreme bod-mod trend.

 Extraocular Implant- This procedure created in the Netherlands involves a small piece of jewelry. It is implanted into the white of the eye

Bagel head- In Japan's underground scene, they get saline injected into their foreheads that temporarily resemble the look of a bagel.

                                                                  Need I say more?

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

10 Life Lessons People With Tattoos Can Teach You

I found a good read from tattooartistmagaizineblog.com that worth a re post!
Many of the 'lessons' are undoubtedly true as many judgmental individuals have been blindsided by the taboo.

So let's set the record straight, shall we?

1) Your standards are the only ones that matter
- Of course, not everyone would think that your new chest piece is as gorgeous as you do, but why should that matter? As long as you love the way it looks and feel good about yourself because of it, those stares on the street are laughable

2) First impressions aren't always right
- Any one with tattoos or a heavily-tattooed friend can tell you this life lesson is true. I can't tell you how many times I've watched perfectly nice, loving, and intelligent people get judged because of their ink. Having tattoos and knowing people with tattoos enlighten you to not place value on appearances and, instead spend more time getting to know new people.

3) Pain is temporary
- This, for sure, is something every tattoo-ee can attest to. Regardless of your pain tolerance, you're bound to encounter one tattoo that hurts like a B.I.T.C.H. But making through a painful tattooing experience just makes you more proud of the end result.
Sometimes we forget that painful things can lead to great things, but I think tattoos are a fabulous reminder of that.
 (P.S: I beg to differ. Not everybody is a hero. And if you need some helping hand, we don't really judge you , either :)

4) Fear of new experience is overrated
- Getting your first tattoo can be scary for alot of people. It's something you have never done before and, let's face it, it is a substantial commitment. But people who go through getting a tattoo, despite of their fears will allow themselves to feel better and be happy with the experience. Most of them will even go back for more.
 (P.S: Another words, YOLO! With responsibilities and commitments as well.)

5) Meaning is subjective
- No 2 tattoos have exactly the same meaning. Every person molds their own ideas, experiences and memories into their tattoos and what it truly represents. To judge someone based on what you think their tattoo means is completely pointless.

6) And, not everything tend to be a meaningful one
- On the other hand, it is also pointless to assume that every tattoo has something important or uniquely meaningful. Many people tend to get tattoos based on a concept, the pattern they like and that's about it. That said, not everything need a universal purpose to exist. Some things exist 'just because'.

7) Money isn't everything
- One of the misconception is how much money a tattoo should cost. Each tattoo artist or tattoo studio is different and runs differently. But a decent coloured tattoo is likely to set you up for a cool couple of hundreds at least. But so what?
Not only do you get some cool artwork (that you picked) and that will keep with you forever, but also a lasting memory or fun experience that you can tell people for the rest of your life! Now I called this priceless.

8) Nothing is ever a mistake if you are true to yourself
- Yet another misconception: Just because you hold a 9-5 job (and have to conceal yourself during working hours, that doesn't mean you make a grave mistake to get a sleeve donw. I called it a win-win ; not only do you get to keep your job but you get to wear your tattoo for the rest of your life. That said, there'e only one of the both that is FOR LIFE.

9) Being outrageous is FUN
- While staring at someone's tattoo can be rather obnoxious, sometimes its thrilling to get stared at. Especially if someone is staring at a tattoo that you're particularly fond of.
Most people don't get tattoos just to show them off, but showing them off can be rather fun once in a while

10) Being who you want to be is the only way for you to be truly happy
- This sums it all up....

By Kayla Matthews

Monday, June 16, 2014

For a cause....


Recently, I saw this video that I thought it is worth to be mentioned in this blog. We all know tattoo is a way of expressing one'e feeling, represent a sentimental memory or person - you know these sort of stuff..But Vinnie Myers from Finksburg has become a celebrity amongst the breast cancer survivors and he does it for the right reasons.Basically he gives women who survived breast cancer their bodies they used to love before they were hit with this deadly disease. For such a cause, he secured himself and made himself known around the world.
I must say, it is just a handful of people in this world that is lucky enough to help people with a cause and yet able to create such a beautiful masterpiece.
Mr Vinnie, I salute you!
Check out his video below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Itj5z5eilo

(Partial nudity- ALERT)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Itj5z5eilo

Friday, May 30, 2014

It takes 2095.... Volunteers

A writer who tattooed a book word by word on the skin of more than 2000 volunteers. Shelly Jackson doesn't call these willing participants but called the tattoo volunteers 'words'. As she simply regards them as with great affection and admiration. Well indeed, she is one of the greatly admired author herself.
Shelley's story "Skin" exists only in the flesh and on the flesh of about 2000 words (volunteers).
The story was written by having these volunteers to each be tattooed on a single word. And the fact is the book has NEVER been told/written in any other form.
So you can imagine,if you or someone who wanted to try to piece this story together, it is almost impossible to fully assemble such an artwork. Why?
As one of the words (volunteers) fell ill and died few years ago :( Which makes " Skin" both physically and ephemeral that is simultaneously so tangible and less real than a printed story.
But some genius idea can't go to the drain with some help as an edited version was assembled. Below is one of the videos that her words have uploaded onto Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viF-xuLrGvA
I don't know about you, but I'm freaking amazed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viF-xuLrGvA




Thursday, May 8, 2014

When these two meet...

For those hungry for pain [sic] tattoo fanatics who probably LURVE the 'slicing-throbbing' gazillions pinpricks on your skin. Now see how, in such kinetic way, a tattoo machine meets your skin in s-l-o-w  m-o-t-i-o-n.
I must say this video is not foreign to me nor other tattoo-goers but to see the actual development zoomed in and in slow motion can be somehow- hairy. I'm thankful for that person who produced such interesting eye-opener video that makes me relate to what's really going on when I get my next tattoo.
For tattoo-goers- Be inspired, in awe.
For newbies- I hope it will not stop you from getting your first. And please don't be alarmed by the video. You know, God-knows-what-you-put-in-your-mouth and if you were to see the food you've chewed in your mouth microscopically.. you will be ALARMED too! 

Drop your comments if you wish to share your experience!



Wednesday, April 30, 2014

New addition to Gimmelove Tattoo!

We are psyched to announce that we have a new crew to our studio! And we heartily welcome Frankie Sexton to join our GML family! With this opportunity, we will want to inaugurate GML studio to a place where we can welcome new friends and celebrate more fully our shared humanity.And with that in mind, create a platform of commendable and diversified art pieces for all of tattoo fanatics.

Frankie produces some evocative work  and I can't wait to introduce some highlights of his portfolio.
Stay tune as I will be updating his current work in progress/completed work soon again!

If you are interested to get some work done by him, you can pm him through https://www.facebook.com/frankie.sexton?fref=ts, follow him on Instagram or contact him @ 96722347.
Althernatively, you can email us!



                                 







                                                                Cover Up Work







Monday, April 28, 2014

Till death, do we not part...

Many people will keep their deceased loved ones such as their favourite clothes, diaries, shoes or books as memento for keepsake purposes. Its a way of dealing the grief of loss. Imagine you can keep your loved ones' tattoos that once proudly represented them. Yes, I really mean KEEP!
I read this particularly fascinating yet slightly uncomfortable article about , as I will call it- Tattoo Preservation.
Brace yourself- It is possible, and it's happening !
Just so I thought: The world is just getting weirder with creative minds.

Dutch entrepreneur to preserve tattoos of the dead

Article Photo
When Floris Hirschfeld's mother died two years ago, he had her portrait tattooed on his back to honor her memory. One day he hopes the image, skin and all, will adorn the wall of an art collector's home.
It might sound like a macabre Roald Dahl story, but could soon be reality with the help of a Dutch entrepreneur who has set up a business to preserve the tattoos of the dead.
"Everyone spends their lives in search of immortality and this is a simple way to get a piece of it," Peter van der Helm, the tattoo shop owner behind the concept, said in an interview...
Hirschfeld and about 30 other clients of the "Walls and Skin" tattoo parlor, which is tucked away in a canal house in the Dutch capital, have donated their skin to the company in a will and each paid a few hundred euros.
When they die a Dutch pathologist will remove the tattoo and freeze or package it in formaldehyde, ideally within 48 hours. It will then be sent to a laboratory outside the Netherlands, where a 12-week procedure extracts water and replaces it with silicone, leaving a rubbery substance.
Hirschfeld, an only child with no children of his own, does not yet know who will inherit his tattoo, but he knows he wants it saved.

Article from: http://carloz.newsvine.com/