Ron Garza travels more than some pop singers and by and large has a lot less (televised) meltdowns than Brittney or Beiber. He recently traveled to Croatia, where he did this collaborative piece with our new friend Christian Bedics. You can check Ron’s blog out at here for more of his travel misadventures!

tiana cuttng

I field a few questions a week from folks looking to learn how to “do” scarification. While it may be easier to just cut/paste a form letter, I generally respond with a (admittedly standard) treatise on how to get envolved in the community and how to earn your way into learning proper technique.

Needless to say, most people respond with a curt “well, no one will apprentice me, so I’m just going to learn it on my own” message. The greater truth is this; you’re probably NOT going to find an apprenticeship for cutting/branding. Sure, there are classes to purchase take, but to really get an education, the best way to do it is to show artists that you respect that you’re worth their time. By not expecting anything to be handed to you. By doing the right thing and by putting your heart where your mouth is.

That brings us to tonight’s update. My friend Tiana is in the process of learning scarification in what I consider the “right way”. Slowly, cautiously and under the eye(s) of established professionals. On a recent visit she told me that she was headed up to New Hampshire (while on vacation in Philadelphia) to do a collaborative piece with Ryan Ouellette. The piece was on a friend who could have easily gotten the work done back in the Bay Area. But Tiana chose to do the piece as a learning experience.

I guess for people who want the instant title of “scarification artist” on their business cards would consider driving from Philly to New Hampshire just to do a cutting under someone else’s tutelage a waste of time. It’s nice to see that there are some folks out there who still care about doing things the right way; and looking at the finished piece, clearly Tiana is one of them.

You can find Ryan at Precision Body Arts in New Hampshire.
You can find Tiana angry at me for putting her under a spotlight.

Back in February, Efix & Jesse collaborated on Gabriel’s birthday cutting… Efix just checked in with a healed photo.
It has the dubious pleasure of being the first image to go up with the new “theme” I installed over WordPress.

Not sure if I’m married to it, but change is usually never a bad thing!

Courtesy of Canada’s finest; Efix and Jesse got together and worked on a collaborative piece for Gabriel’s birthday. Collaborative pieces are surreal; you get a dislocation of sensation as the two (or more) artists work on different parts of the design.

Click through to see the finished piece!

More Lewis Dodd?
Hell yes. This decorative skull piece was done at Addicted Tattoo & Body Piercing in Barcelona; a collaboration between Mr. Dodd and Addicted’s owner Capo.

I’m freshly returned from John Joyce’s Scarab Body Arts in Syrcause; newly tattooed by Rick Lohm and enjoying a day off looking through pictures for the next few sw blog updates. Check back later tonight for more from Thorsten!

Aaaaand they’re in!
After some delays (you know who you are) the Fall/Winter book is finally in. I’m still waiting on the shirts, but rest assured that they’re going to be badass.

Eventually there will be a massive full sized (and maybe an oversized) SW book. I have so many images to choose from that I find myself constantly revising and reediting the book in it’s current state… I’m eventually going to bring in a co-editor who’s not so emotionally attached to the images and who will kick my ass into gear and get you guys a finished product. Eventually.

Until then, thanks so much to the folks who picked this version up!

A few weeks ago Claire and I headed up to Pittsfield, Mass for the annual ROP Campout; I was able to catch up with a few friends who had healed scars for me to photograph; one of them was the always impressive V, who you may remember from here, here, and here.

The dagger brand by Mister Decker @Pure with a hyfrecator unit and her public cutting (done at SW3) a collaboration by Wayde Dunn & Brian. The pubic piece turns two years old in about a week.

Click through for a NOT SAFE FOR WORK full photo.

This piece was done at Scar Wars 2 in LA, which was 3, maybe 4 years ago?? Man, time flies….
Anyway, this is what it looks like as of a couple days ago. Brian Decker was working on this piece while I was watching, and holding Sam’s hand, offering my support. He asked if i wanted to help out and I jumped at the chance. We pretty much split the piece down the middle, him working on one side, and myself on the other.

I just received a few more pics from Sam of the work I did on her ribs which I will post later today or tomorrow. And if you are in the Santa Cruz area, you can check out Sam and her boyfriend at their new studio Way Body Arts.

I’m whipping up a website exclusive shirt/book combo that will be available late October 2009; incredibly low print runs (books will be around ten copies, shirts will be around 25 printed) available only through pre-order.

The book is from the same small printer that’s created the Modprom SW book (limited to two copies) and the APP exclusive (limited to 10 copies) and will feature tons of fun photos from the three SW events. Hardcover, 11.25″ wide and 8.75″ high with twenty double sided pages and a wrap around cover. (which is currently the AC/DC inspired text cover but is subject to change)

The shirt is going to be a “baller variant” reprint of the classic Hearts with Scalpel design by Dave Gillstrap done in metallic gold, silver and copper.

Book + Shirt combo: Limited to ten sets and available in small-xl at $66.60 shipped in the US. For other sizes/destinations inquire about price.

Shirt alone: Limited to 15 shirts and available for $25 in small-xl with shipping within the US. For other sizes/destinations inquire about price.

Contact me at shawn@scarwars.net for payment information.

Photo of Corinna at SW1 by Philip Barbosa.

Corinna sat for a grueling all day session at the first SW event in Philadelphia. Her bamboo back piece (which was done primarily by Brian Decker with help from Jesse Villemaire) is one of the most iconic cuttings to come out of the events; quickly becoming an (copyright infringing) internet meme. “Look what your children are doing NOW” emails, blog entries complete with snarky comments… Corrie’s piece took on a life of it’s own.

Through the whole process Corrie sat like a champ; even allowing the in progress cutting to be documented at various stages throughout the day. Phil snapped this photo when the piece was complete but not cleaned up.