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.

When I saw this photo on Ryan’s IAM page, I thought “weird. Ryan looks like he’s wearing a Freddy Krueger sweater” and had a good chuckle.

Then I saw this cutting. Connected? I think so.
You can find Ryan at PBA Scars.

More new old SW photos!
I love finding discs I had forgotten about; these were taken by my good friend and consigliere Brian Sowden. There are hundreds on the disc from the first and second events. SO many of our guests took pictures, and so FEW ever sent me discs of their images (that’s guilt-tripping, people… it’s never too late) but it’s always nice to see an event from another person’s perspective.

This shot features Dave Gillstrap, Ron Garza (back to the camera), Jesse Villemaire (on crutches), Johannes (aka Jo-hotness) Sammi (back to the camera) and in the distance Ryan Ouellette and Brian Decker cutting the first two pieces of the event at SW1.

Canada’s own Jesse Villemaire filled the time between appointments at the first SW event back in 2005 by shooting pictures. I just came across a whole bunch of them and I’ll be cherry picking the best for future blog updates. (Thanks Jesse)

Tonight’s update is a non work-safe update featuring a pubic cutting by PBA’s Ryan Ouellette on our friend Joolie. Click through for uncensored images.

Choosing a cutting by Ryan Ouellette (done at SW2 and photographed by Atom Moore) for our Halloween update had nothing to do with him dressing in all black or being Prince of Darkness-ey. Total coincidence.

That said, this flesh removal of a spooooky bat (which was one of two pieces that David had Ryan do at the event) seems to fit in perfectly.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Ryan holds the distinction of having the hardest to spell last name of all of the artists who’ve cut at the SW events. (Having edged out Jesse Villemaire)

He did this piece over a few grueling hours at SW3 in October of 2007 using line cutting and flesh removal.
You can see more of Ryan’s work at his PBA site: http://www.precisionbodyarts.com

Photo by Allen Falkner

Ryan did this Biomechanical piece at the first SW event in Philadelphia. I’m told that some workplaces block scarwars.net due to “violent” content. Something makes me think it’s pieces like this that they’re talking about?
I can see how flesh removal could give someone the heebie-jeebies, but at least I didn’t post a photo of the scraps. Today.

I’m watching the original G.I. Joe cartoon. If you’re old enough to remember the show from it’s original run you, like me, are probably terrified about the upcoming live action movie.

Not that the cartoon was amazing really. In retrospect, watching it as an adult (or as much of an adult as I can claim to be) is quite painful. Terrible voice actors cold reading equally terrible one liners during impossibly silly plots; it’s not as awesome as you remember.

That said, it did have one saving grace: Zartan.
Originally described as suffering from Paranoid Schizophrenia and Multiple Personality Disorder, Zartan turned green in the sun and wore KISS makeup.

If you’re wondering “what in christ’s name does this have to do with Scarification” the answer is simple: It’s Ryan Ouellette’s birthday today. While I can’t be 100% certain that Zartan is Ryan’s favorite G.I. Joe character… I can almost bet he is.

Happy birthday, buddy!

IAM.BMEZINE.COM members can swing by his iam.blog and wish him a happy birthday.

The cuttings that get the most press seem to be the largest ones or the ones with the most removal. This piece, done by Ryan Ouellette and photographed by Atom More is a a combination of simple line cutting and modest removal; the effect is subtle but still very bold. Keep reading after the break for a closer look.