Brooklyn's Finest

As most of you know, I'm a Cleveland native, but have been livin' in Brooklyn for the past 4 years now, and have grown to love it. My first visit was in 1990 on a college field trip to the City, which had me as 'open' as homeboy in the Stevie Wonder, 'Livin' for the City' cut. "New York City... Skyscrapers and everything..."

However, as much as I liked to visit, I NEVER imagined living here. As luck would have it though, I was blessed with an opportunity to learn the prestigious art of tattooin' which was the means by which I was able to move here to Brooklyn, and NOT have to work at McDonald's to support myself while painting at night.

Now, some 18 years later, here I am in the heart beat, of style and culture, New York City. Although I've visited, worked, and have friends ALL over the city, I must admit that right here in Bed Stuy is my favorite..., cause Brooklyn IS the borough.

But, so as to not take anything away from the others, I plan on doin a set for all the boroughs.

"Big Shirley (Chisolm)"

"Brooklyn to the Fullest"

"Comin' Over the Bridge"

"I'm in Brooklyn, So it Must be Sign"

Sin - The Back Piece from Hell

Been busy in the lab cookin' up somethin' new and tasty; some painting, some airbrushing, some shoe design, some T-shirts, to name a few. Yeah, I'm mad busy these days. With Fall fast approaching, you gotta stack ya nuts before the slow season. So, I finally took the time to post some new work.

Because I seem to specialize in Black/Grey these days, I'd thought I'd try some tint action over the original to liven it up a bit. Yea or Nay?

From Shine-ola to Shit.

• 

Welcome to every tattoo artist's heartbreak. For those who have ever been with a virgin back in the day, and you made sure you set the bar high by 'puttin it on em.'  Remember? That way, you could always feel or hope they'd never find anyone better. Well, do you remember when after you broke up, then saw her/him with someone better and you had to give it up to him/her cause it was apparent that you couldn't hold a candle to them?

Now apply those same feelings to a tattoo virgin, but finding out they cheated on you with a "FUCKIN' TATTOO PARTY SCRATCHER! To make matters worse I only charged him $100.00 so money shouldn't have been an issue. I blessed him 'cause it was his first and I wanted to make it 'special' (no homo) to gain his trust and earn his business, then he goes and does this.

Of course, he now comes BACK to me to fix it. Now imagine that lover realizin' they made a mistake by leaving you and wants back in. I'm 'bout go Ike Turner on this fool. Please comment on Face Book to let me know how you would handle this. I posted an album that you can link to and comment on. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

Oh, did I say he has a whole $300 to correct and  finish the sleeve. Yeah, I know...

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2006363717194&set=a.2006345196731.121032.1186684918&type=1&theater

Yep, Thas Right. Yet, Anotha Show

It's that time again. Yet another show. I'm in that New York state of mind where I gotta keep makin' moves. For all those who made it to the last show waaaay back last month, I thank you. Your presence was greatly appreciated, and to those who purchased, your generosity is much appreciated.

For those who missed it, here's your chance to see some of the work from my last show with the addition of new work and a live painting demo, giveaways, and a raffle for the grand prize of a tattoo piece from my latest tattoo flash collection (Black Book: Images from the Urban Vol.1, available now conveniently to your right >).

The winner has a choice of almost ANY tat in the book each valued at $500+ in da hood and in the neighborhood $1200 in the Village) for only $200 to be executed and vidoed next month at the Urban Tattoo Convention in NY,  May 14th. I would love to offer it for free, but the $200 would at least cover partial cost of my booth in case for some unamiginable chance I DON'T win best Black and Grey arm piece. Just remember "Tipping" aint a city in China and is greatly appreciated.

Well, I hope to see all of you this Friday or next month at the convention. For those interested in the convention details, I will post info soon.

Sky Reynold's

Besides just trying something new with my tat presentations, I recently had an interesting conversation with  a tourist on my way to buy tat supplies after bein' spotted posting a "spoken word" symbol. Usually, I'm pretty good about being inconspicuous when "posting" up, but this one time, I heard out of no where, "I saw that. Shame on you." Granted, I was prepared with an explanation about it's social significance, and that it meant personal expression, yada, yada. Although, it was sicere, she didn't look like she was buyin' it. So I found myself caught in a bit of a grey area (as many artists are) in regard to what art is, isn't or should be. The facts of the situation were: it was a door that was already littered with other stickers, marker tags and flyers, I've seen the owner see someone "posting", as well as it being a tattoo(which many consider art) supply store.

Now I say grey area, but it was two. the first was, "Did I have permission?" The other was, "Is it art?" Well, that's a whole other blog, but after she and I amicably decided to agree to disagree. In closing she said, "I doubt you would deface your work." Of course having graduated from the hard knocks school of graf, I had to be true to my roots, and "keep it 100." For those that may be culturally challenged, it's the new phrase that replaced "keepin' it real."

 So, Mrs. Schnibleberg (more than likely I spelled it wrong) this one's for you. Of course she probably, wouldn't know the Internet from a hair net, but just in case.

Tell me what you think.

For more info on this symbol check the link: http://sky759.blogspot.com/2010/09/testing-testing.html

Greetings good people of Atlanta.  As you can see, name is Sky and I'm an artist.  More specifically a visual artist currently focusing on tattooing.  It's been 7 years since I first took this "tattoo" journey beginning in Cleveland to the great city of Brooklyn where I've been the last 4 years honing my craft.

This Summer, I'd like to start extending that journey to places across the globe starting with Altanta. Now, in order to do that I need your help. I'm sure you're familiar with Miya Bailey and the talented group of artists at City of Ink. Well, that's the tat studio I plan to sling ink (and get some myself) at.

So, how can you help? Well, if you (or a friend) are thinkin' of gettin new ink this Summer, and lookin' for some NY flavor, I would be honored to oblige during my visit.  If interesed, I invite you to review my work on Face Book thru a link on the right as well as to my current tattoo flash book of never-before seen works .

I haven't quite set a date yet, but most likely it will revolve around the screening of Color Outside The Lines: A Tattoo Documentary: http://t.co/3P3jGmR However, if I can add you to my growing Southern following, and make
it down sooner, that would be great, too. Please feel free to drop any ideas you might have into my FB message box, and we can touch base on the details on executing it.

Even if you're not interested in ink, I'd love to have you as a FB friend.

Take care, everyone,

Sky

B-Boyin' at it's Best

Every morning I like to set the mood of the day with some inspirational music. So this morning I'm searching through my Roots catalog seeing what videos I could find, when somehow I stumbled on this Hip Hop gem. At first, the quality thru me and I wanted to continue my search, but then I found myself captivated by the synchronicity and execution of those moves. It made me realize how much discipline and dedication these people had to have to pull off an almost 8min routine like this. If you're an ol' school Hip Hop head like me, you know those moves, for that long, with that many people, done that well is a spectacular fete.

Just thought I'd share it wit yall. Enjoy!

P.S. Oh, and order my Black Book - Images from the Urban Vol. 1. Vol. 2 is already in the works.