Tattoo Drawings “150″
Idea Tattoo celebrates its 150th issue with designs by 15 artists
150 IN CHICANO STYLE
Here are two artists who speak the same tattoo language: lettering. The Italian Davide Zannoni and the Argentine Alvarex have interpreted the number 150 in Chicano style, the most popular style for written tattoos.
Zannoni’s design focuses on the number and celebratory words. The lettering of the text is enhanced with the addition of the diamond, which features in the middle of a stroke on each letter.
In Alvarex’s design the 150 is surrounded by two figures: a swallow, a good luck symbol and stars, a symbol of light and hope. In the background there are flames, symbolising change and a source of light.
150 = “TATTOO” GRAPHIC
Adding graphic to the concept of design. The title “150 rocks”, by our graphic designer Michele Vancini, heads the article published in the Italian edition and contains a typical tattoo element: the word “rocks” makes use of an old school style font.
150 IN OLD SCHOOL STYLE
Traditional old school (the American style which formed the basis for contemporary western tattooing) is the inspiration behind British artist Alan Oliver’s design in which each figure is represented by an animal or object: a dagger for the number 1, a snake for the number 5 and skull for the zero.
Oliver has produced three versions of the number 150. The linework version, with just an outline of the design, was made up especially for the website. The colour design appears on the cover of the Italian edition, while the shaded design (left) featured in all the editions of Idea Tattoo 150, both in Italy and abroad.
150 IN NEW SCHOOL STYLE
Danilo Sini, artist and tattooist (he currently works with Tattoo Crew Production in Sassari, Sardinia) and the illustrator Massimiliano Mariani took their inspiration from the new school tradition, a style which evolved from old school and now boasts various stylistic variations.
Sini’s design brings together three classic tattoo icons: a woman, some playing cards and the devil. The woman is holding four cards: on the left is the devil, representing the joker and on the right she has a set of three cards with three numbers on, which, read in order, make up our 150.
In Mariani’s design the shading creates a metallic effect: it is a precious 150 (there are diamonds set into every figure) sitting on a bed of roses. The clouds represent the peak, the ascent skywards represented by 3 stars and luminous effects.
150, A MOTOR RACING TRIBUTE
The illustrator Luca Tarlazzi was inspired by the motor racing world to create his 150. The digital style number appears on an electronic display, framed by two elements: the black and white chequered flag which always signals the end of a race (motorcycling, Formula 1, rallies); the flames represent the combustion engines, which often emit flames from their exhaust pipes when racing.
150 IN CELTIC STYLE
The art of knotwork is a skill which belongs to the tattoo artists of northern Europe, but Francesco Rosalbi, an Italian tattooist (who works at the Tora Tattoo Studio in northern Italy) and Celtic culture enthusiast has enjoyed international acclaim for his speciality: knotwork designs inspired by Celtic and Viking art and published by Idea Tattoo.
To celebrate Idea Tattoo 150 Rosalbi has designed this “jewelled” Celtic style number, with a pearl set inside the zero.
150 IN POLYNESIAN STYLE
Idea Tattoo readers will already be familiar with the name Renato Verzaro, a designer who specializes in tribal subjects. For this occasion Verzaro has developed a Polynesian style 150, making use of what is currently the most popular tribal style in tattoo studios.
The design features figures represented by tribal animals which are typical of this style: the number 1 is a seahorse, a symbol of perseverance and patience, while the zero is a turtle, a symbol of family and long life.
150 IN VIKING STYLE
Red is an artist who lives in Norway, one of the lands where the Viking culture began. In his design, which is a clear tribute to Viking style knotwork, three imaginary animals with a snake-like body entwine to form the number 150.
The word “knotwork” mainly describes the decorative motifs of Celtic art, but we also see these ornamental elements in Viking art, which was influenced by the Celts. The traditional motifs of the Celtic knotwork are often combined with animal or anthropomorphic forms, or others evoking the plant world. The Viking knotwork mostly features knots, interlacing and intertwining lines with images of snakes and imaginary animals.
150, A PIN-UP TRIBUTE
Our celebration also has two mascots, in the form of two very special tattoo flashes.
The tattooed pin-up, by the Argentine artist Andrea Blanco, is the main attraction in a scene which includes roses and flames, the number 150 and a banner with the words Idea Tattoo emblazoned upon it.
The Hawaiian pin-up is the work of Tuscan illustrator Lorenzo Bagatti (who works with the Tattoo Mic 90 studio in Pontedera, near Pisa). She is holding a flag with the number 150 on it, positioned vertically.
150, A JAPANESE TATTOO TRIBUTE
Another talented Argentine artist, Nahuel Elio Loscerbo, has combined three classic elements of Japanese tattoos (the carp, waves and the peony) together with the number. The style of the 150, however, is inspired by the American old style tattoo tradition, the same style as the word “rocks” by Vancini (top of the page).
150 = ROCK, LOVE AND THE TATTOO MACHINE
Now to the last three designs in our special anniversary gallery.
Stex, the “nom de plume” of the tattoo artist Stefano Gollinelli (who works at the Left Hand Studio in Rome), has designed the 150 carved into a rock – also our favourite kind of music! – held aloft by an angel and a devil.
A tribute to the tattoo world and its artists with the tool which makes it all possible: here is a tattoo machine designed by Andrea Blanco & Alvarez together, with the number 150 covering the coils.
Last but not least, here is a romantic sketch designed by Mary Tiussi, editor-in-chief of Idea Tattoo. The heart of flowers frames a section of sky where the number 150, made up of stars stands out.
Want to know more? Read the Curious Facts about number 150
