Today is Brian Decker’s birthday, so we’re featuring a new hybrid piece in his honor. Scalpel cutting with cautery highlights (giving a drop shadow effect when it’s fresh, it’ll be interesting to see how it heals).

Happy Birthday, buddy!

Quite a few important folks in my life are joining the “dirty 30″ club this year; today’s inductee is Brian.
Over the last 9 years Brian has fulfilled many capacities under the blanket title of “my consigliere”, some of which I don’t even know about (and I was there for them).

Claire pointed out that I normally post photos of him in some state of undress, so I dug out this Atom Moore shot from Scarwars2 of B relaxing in the Standard’s pool after a long day of work.

Happy Birthday, buddy- I’m looking forward to our next decade of good times!

I love the juxtaposition of the anatomical heart and the more simplified tree design, courtesy of NY’s Brian Decker. Open, subtle cutting like this allows the body to form a consistant scar without overworking the skin. You can contact Mr. Decker via the PURE link in our blogroll.

Speaking of, if my calendar is correct, today is Brian’s birthday!
As of this year, Brian is officially old enough to run for President of the United States. Still makes him younger than me…. so happy birthday buddy!

Forty is totally the new Twenty.
June 23rd can only mean one thing: Håvve’s birthday!
Here’s a shot Casey Goldsmith took of Christiane cutting Håvve at the SW3 event. As long as Håvve keeps having birthdays, I’ll keep digging up photos! Happy Birthday my friend.

We’re still months away from my visit to Efix in Quebec City; months to plan, make travel arrangements and most importantly save bail money. So as much as I’d like to wish him a Happy Birthday in person, it’ll just have to wait.

In lieu of a birthday spanking… Happy Birthday, buddy. Have a poutine on me!

I’ve told the story dozens of times now; but in place of a standard “happy birthday”….

The first time I met Dave Gillstrap, I happened to be exposing myself to a lady (she asked) and David walked up and SLAMMED me in the testicles. Before the shock could hit me, he started singing “yat-dat-dat-dat-daaaa” in a Carney-esque tone and was smiling from ear to ear.

I still love the guy. And today is his birthday. So there ya go. Happy birthday, ‘ol Blackballs- hope it treats you well!

(ps: I still owe you one)

I met Philip in Toronto, the evening before the first MODCON event. Shannon and I had thrown around the names of plenty of well known photographers to document the event (Joel Peter Witkin was contacted but couldn’t comply with our requests) and the job finally fell into Philip’s capable hands.

We were all so goddamn young. That was ten years ago.

Philip documented all of the Modcon events and when the time came for a portrait photographer for the first Scarwars event, there was only one name on the list. Phil worked under grueling conditions for three straight 15+ hour days and produced a body of images that helped put faces to the new scarification culture.

Today is his birthday, so send him some love.

Today is my good friend David Bruehl’s birthday. I love David like family and he’s always there for me when I need him.; as a friend, mentor, student, partner in Talladega Nights chicanery, tattooist and Scarwars tshirts designer. I’m being kept warm right this second by a hoodie with art he drew up for me. Beat that!

So happy birthday David. Hope it treats you well!

To visit Mr. Bruehl’s tattoo portfolio, click here.
To read an interview I conducted with him, click here.

I have lots to say when it comes to John Joyce; that he can control the weather by touching his beard, that he knows when you’ve been bad or good (so be good, for goodness sakes) or more truthfully that he’s one of the best scarification artists in the world. Most importantly though, I can say that John is my friend. And that’s pretty goddamned awesome.

Happy birthday JJJ.

We try to photograph everyone who comes to the SW events; even if they don’t have scars or aren’t covered in blood. Our goal is to document people who support our community. The portraits we take every year are usually my favorite pictures taken.

The Lovely Rachel took this shot of my friend Gregg at SW2 in California back in 2006. On my infrequent trips to Southern California Gregg always makes it out for a drink and for good times.

Today is his birthday, so I’m returning the good times and my wishes for a great b-day. If you have access to the iam.bmezine.com site, swing by and give him some love: KungFuGreg