Tattoo Machine: No Artist Required?

A few months ago, I was hanging out with friends and we started talking about how one day in the future, someone is gonna invent an automatic machine where you program any design you want and it will just ink you. Of course I dont agree that this idea, a machine can never replace what a tattoo artist can do. A machine cannot make a custom design or personalize any type of shading. Tattooing takes skill. I dont know anyone amongst my friends or family that would seriously consider this.

As always, stumbling across random stuff on the internet, I came across this: a tattoo machine that you can program to give you a tattoo. Here is a summary of the product, from

http://www.dudeiwantthat.com/gear/gadgets/programmable-tattoo-system.asp


"There's no arguing it, if you have a tattoo, you're cool. But, some of us aren't ready to make a lifelong commitment to a a random drawing a tattoo artist designed on the spot. This is where the moodINQ Tattoo System finds its niche.
MoodINQ gives you the opportunity to change that skull and crossbones to a tribal sign with a special wand you just pass over your surgically implanted E ink canvas. So how does it work? The good people at Think Geek have partnered with leading physicians and technicians in the cosmetic surgery industry to implant the E ink grid, called a canvas. The canvas can go anywhere on your body and be configured to the size and shape of the body party you'd like to ink. After a short healing period (usually 2-3 days), you can begin using the moodInq software included with your kit to change your canvas to display the tattoo you desire!"

My opinion on this is "ummmm, are you serious???" So your not getting actual ink done, youre getting Implants of E Ink. That just sounds weird and fishy. Almost as strange as a tattoo school that can teach anyone to tattoo in 2 weeks. Really People? If youre gonna go through all the trouble to buy this thing just to get some cheesy flash design that everyone has, then you are just sad. You have to get the implants inserted in your body, so How much is that gonna cost you? Prolly the same amount that you would pay to have a tattoo removed. So you might as well just go get a real tat and if you dont like it, then go get it removed, it will prolly amount to the same that you pay for to get the implant.

The grids look so weird, that it doesnt even look like a real tattoo. Temporary tattoos look better than that! If you dont want to commit, then go to wally world and buy a pack of dragon temp tatts. *sigh*

If you wanna see more about this, go to Thinkgeek.com

Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.
George Bernard Shaw quotes

I just had to share this with my readers. What do you guys think about it? Would you use it? Would love to hear your thoughts



Surrender to Your Inner Artist

Blow Your Hair Out, Not Your Brains

Isnt this sooooooooo cool??? If you dont know already, I am into some pretty cool stuff.  If I am not in an antique store, or in some cool, eclectic store, I am online searching for things that nobody else has- I guess I am a modern picker hahahaha (oh boy, Ive been watching too much American Pickers! hahaha)

But check this sweet baby out! The 357 Magnum Gun Hair Dryer! Say whaaaaaaa????

On one website, it shows the price starts at $225, but when you follow up on Etsy to the link provided, it shows a listing price of $550.

Made in 1981, this cute dryer has 3 settings: Style, Dry or Quickdry. It comes with a white and silver holster with an option to screw into a wall for easy storage. It does not list the wattage of this dryer, but given when it is made, its wattage is prolly not as high as our modern day dryers.

I love this! When I have my studio, I would def have this or something like this hanging up where my salon section would be at. I have so many plans for the future, I love interior design so this really appears to me as a statement/conversational piece. I would prolly not use it just because its so vintage, but I thought I would share this!

Here is the ETSY link if you wanna check it out, or even purchase it!
357 Magnum Gun Hair Dryer

I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I have written it for you! Come back soon!

"Nostalgia is a seductive liar."
George Wildman Ball quotes

Surrender to Your Inner Artist

Geeky Cool Gifts for Artists

I was browsing online different websites, such as Etsy.com and FredFlare.com and came across some pretty cool gifts, at least I thought they were cool. hahahaha I just wanted to share with yall, so check em out!

Cute Onesie

Pin Up Artist iphone case

Sketchbook with a spot for drawing tools

Apron for your lil girl artist and her crayons

Foldable Portfolio and Storage for sketchbook

Comic Book Drawing Kit

Ceramic Holder for Paintbrushes

Music + Keeping warm= AWESOME

LEGO Star Wars Alarm Clock

Etch-A-Sketch Ipad Case

An Awesome reference Book for Fashion Majors!

A Fashion Sketchbook/Journal

Plug in Software to record for your musician artist!

Cocktails anyone???

I love all these gifts! And each are withing a pretty reasonable price. I still have more Christmas shopping to do and of course I procrastinate about it! I hope you all have your Christmas shopping done already!

Anyone who believes that men are the equal of women has never seen a man trying to wrap a Christmas present.
Unknown quotes

Surrender to Your Inner Artist

Super Service Day II

Rudy & Kelly Academy Paul Mitchell hosted its second Super Service Day this past Tuesday.  I have posted about this before, so for those who do not know what it is, Super Service Day is where the whole school takes on a salon atmosphere and the future professionals get a chance to be booked all day with back to back clients. Last SSD was in September or right before September, and I had booked 5 clients and also had 2 walk ins. I had sold the most takehome products for the day and won a set of Paul Mitchell Cutting Shears. (Which is AWESOME, because those babies are expensive!)

This was a photo taken after Super Service Day in September, I had received flowers for my birthday and stuck the fallen petals in my hair. hahahaha

We are all broken down into teams, andonce again I was on the GREEN TEAM. I had prebooked 7 clients and with my friend Hailey's help she assisted in blow drying and sectioning, shampooing. I had to pass off a haircut to her because I did not have time to cut a clients hair. I had two other assistants Josh and Ashley that helped to blowdry and style out my cousin, Jessica. See below

I did about 3 or 4  all over color applications, a Keratin Conditioning treatment, a manicure, blowdry and style. Almost every guest of mine bought products and this morning, they announced that I won for having the most services performed for SSD! Hailey also won for most take home products sold! And we are both on the green team.

Everyone that had a guest that day was able to pick two items out of a big cart full of goodies, and I grabbed some clips ( because you can never have enough) and Modern Elixers Foam, I also won a Paul Mitchell Express Ion Dry V2 Dryer, and The Style for a Cause Stylist Pink Pack. I took a quick pic below

I had alot of fun doing the SSD especially since I graduate next week. I just wanted to share this with you on one of the many fun things I do at school!

Thanks for stopping by! Hope to see you again!

Smile through the hard times, even though it doesn't seem to get any better, cause a smile is the first step to fixing things.
Unknown quotes

Surrender to Your Inner Artist

Guest Speakers

Steve and Terry Cowan are owners of the Paul Mitchell Academy in Chicago. They are also the main distributers of Paul Mitchell in Illinois. Rudy and Kelly Academy welcomed them with open arms to hear them speak to us all, future professionals and learning leaders.

I tried to sit up front as much as possible, I was in the second row, and sorry if you hear my laughing and side comments and see funny faces from friends at school. hahahaha

I just loved the intro of their presentation and their inspiring stories and words of widsom. I am really glad I was able to meet them especially before graduating, and speaking of which I graduate next week. AHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Ok, on to the videos.



There are three videos that I edited, since for some reason I cannot load videos longer than 15 minutes although I had the access to for a while. But oh well, I divided it up, and editing them as fast as I can even though I am not really taking out anything, just adding a title and credits. Its just my movie editor takes forever to save and then upload onto youtube. hahahaha So here is the second video




I only recorded about half of their presentation, only because for 1. My hand started getting tired :( and for 2. Time was running out and they had to speed up their presentation. I do want to say that their visit reminded me why I chose this industry to get into. I love the beauty industry. You meet so many awesome and inspiring people.

I was supposed to post this last week, but I got busy, so here it is. Even if you are not a hair stylist, these two are just hilarious and you can appreciate humor! :)

I hope you enjoy and come back soon!




Surrender to Your Inner Artist

Ni'Jai Photography Team

After I worked the Lawrence Brothers Hairshow, I was able to tap into a network of other Makeup Artists, stylists, photographers and models where everybody is able to show his or her work, photos, bounce ideas off one another and sort of form a family together in this ever-changing industry in our lil neck of the woods we call the 757, Hampton Roads, Virginia.

A photographer by the name of Aaron Ni'Jai approached me and wanted to see if I would be apart of the team with other artists, ranging from  stylist, makeup artist, nail tech, wardrobe stylist, graphic designer and photographer. Aaron has worked with other photographers, and one valuable piece of advice was to have a reliable team working with you.

Many of us have worked on a job or a shoot where we are thrown in with other artists and stylists, and people are not prepared, or do not work well with others, or do not listen to what the client wants. I know I have worked on a few projects where other people were not prepared and I had to pick up the slack.

I loved the idea that Aaron had, to have a team, a family who has many talents and can have a cohesive group of people who can rock it out!

Most of us got a chance to meet up with one another last weekend at a Panera Bread and exchange ideas. I love it that we all met because I love to meet other professionals motivated in their passionate craft. They say that "You are who you surround yourself with". I love to surround myself with positive, creative people.

Aaron Ni'jai FACEBOOK
Photographer

Le'louch Vi Giovanni FACEBOOK

Wardrobe Stylist. Image Consultant

Bryant Murphy: FACEBOOK

Hair Stylist. Event Planner. Chef

Cecilia Marie

Makeup Artist. Hair Stylist. Body Painter. Artist

Talya Pennant FACEBOOK

Stylist. Fashion Blogger

Jasmine Cross FACEBOOK

Nail Tech. Makeup Artist

There are other members that I have not met as of yet, but I wanted to introduce my viewers to some fabulous and talented artists that I will be working with in the near future!

I tried to link everyone and their pages so you can check out everyones work.

Thanks for stopping by! And if you are in the 757 area- you can contact anyone of this group for any photoshoot ideas or your beauty needs!

Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.
Unknown quotes

Surrender to Your Inner Artist

Facebook Timeline

A friend of mine told me to check out a new developement by Facebook called the Facebook Timeline. I said "The whaaaaaaaaaa???? What is that???" He posted a link which you can go to below to read the articles and see a few videos made on it and why you might want to get one.

http://mashable.com/2011/12/07/facebook-timeline-guide/

For personal use, this would be really cool to see how you have changed or your family. To see how you went from a young adult through college, through relationships, accomplishments, and you see where I am going from there. Some reviews I read on it by other users was that while it was fun for personal use, it was even better for business use. Businesses can broadcast through their timeline their products or services, or in my case as an artist, I can post different events or projects I am involved in. I can show off sketches that I design clothing and post the process of bringing the sketch to life from paper to production to finished product. I can see the advantages of this tool.

This timeline app is not advertised as much for public use, but if you want to see how it is, or if you are interested, the link above will give you directions on how to get on this timeline train.

I have not yet taken the steps to get one of these apps, but will def think about it in the future!

Just wanted to share this with fellow readers! Good luck!

Don't waste a minute not being happy. If one window closes, run to the next window- or break down a door.
Brooke Shields quotes

Surrender to Your Inner Artist