Artist Updates

In case you missed it, we have had the good fortune of tattooer and entrepreneur LT Woods joining our crew!  L.T. was not only the creative force behind St. Louis's first Tattoo The Lou Convention, he is a world traveler and renowned tattoo artist with 16 years in the industry.  His illustrative and dynamic style has been recognized with awards and featured in publications such as Prick Magazine in 2012, as well as Tattoo Society and Taboo Magazine. LT has tattooed at prestigious shops around the world including Artistic Element, Ink and Dagger and Studio 13.  Needless to say, we are humbled and honored to have his presence at the shop.

In other exciting news, our own Jessie Langs is going to be leading a class at for the Pulitzer Arts Foundation!  The Botanical Art program will showcase the life's work of Ruth Asawa and Lola Alvarez Bravo, while Jessie takes participants through her process of botanical life drawing.  The class will soon be listed on the schedule for October 13th 2018, so mark your calendar!  We will update you when sign up begins, so make sure you subscribe to our blog down  below.

Alchemy Tattoo Collective, and Jessie specifically, was also mentioned in Alive Magazine last month! What an honor! 

Oh, and don't forget, this month brings another Friday the 13th tattoo special!  With it, we will be trying a new approach to bring you fun designs at discounted rates.  So stay tuned!!

We couldn't be more proud and excited for what this collective has done so far and where it is going.  Of course, we couldn't have done any of it without all of your loyal support and patronage!!  Let us know what you want to hear from us or what you would like to see more of.  We love hearing from you, and thank you sincerely!

Apprentice Model Contest

ApPRenTiCe MoDeL ConTest

We had such a huge response from people wanting to be one of Justine's first tattoo clients, we decided we needed to have a contest to choose from over 380 of you who responded!

If you are interested in winning a spot as one of Justine’s models for her growing portfolio, you could be the winner of a free tattoo or be one of 5 winners of one of the $80 designs posted for a $30 sitting fee!  Check out her portfolio page to see the awesome work she has done so far.

Justine will be starting with this beautiful sheet of nature inspired designs.  They will be black and grey and Approximately 3-4 inches in size.  No changes to the design or color.  

We will continue to offer chances to win and there will be many winners! So if you don't make it this round, stay patient and you could make it in on the next!  

Winners will only be allowed to win one time only.  

Thank you for all of the support!

Good luck!!

How To Get A Tattoo Apprenticeship

What you need to know to break into the industry.

What does it take to get into the world of tattooing? There aren’t any tech schools or degrees, so how does one go about getting their tattooing license?  Here are a few tips for those of you curious about what I look for in a tattoo apprentice, after 13 years in the industry. The regulations vary greatly by state, so I can only speak for my home state of Missouri, however a lot of these preparations with get you closer to tattooing no matter where you are from.  

1. Portfolio, portfolio, portfolio.  And no, I do not mean a collection of your pencil drawings from your sketchbook.  That is not a professional artist portfolio.

This piece was taken from a former apprentice’s portfolio website, www.justinecho.com. You can see Justine had a clear attention to detail and the subject matter would be easily translated into a tattoo. She also has a degree in fine art and a full portfolio of work.

When I look for an apprentice, I am looking for a student that already has a grasp on the technical aspects of design, composition, and technique.  I look for portfolios demonstrating various styles, subjects, and media.  Just a sketchbook tells me you have not put in the hours to make a completed piece of art. The sketch is stage one.  If you have not experimented beyond that, you have not put in enough time.  I suggest using YouTube to research and practice professional drawing and painting techniques.   You want at least 15-25 solid pieces of various subjects and mediums that are not under-developed.  Your art should show attention to detail, without any part of the design being overlooked or underdone. The better your portfolio looks (and you should be comparing it to professional tattoo artist work, not fine artists) the easier it will be for a tattooer to see your potential and your tangible, demonstrated dedication.  

Subscribe to our email list to be notified when we are taking apprentices.

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2. Get tattoos.  I know, they get expensive but, if you want to really be taken seriously as a prospective student, you have to show a passion for the craft.  Not only that, but there is a lot to know that just the process of being tattooed can show you.  If you are not willing to make getting a tattoo a priority you should question your dedication to that career path. Getting tattooed will also give you the undivided attention of a professional artist.  And, isn’t that what you are wanting out of an apprenticeship? 

There’s no shortage of terrible tattoos on the internet. Found this gem on https://www.reddit.com/r/shittytattoos/

This is what home-made tattoos look like folks. And, I can assure you the "artist" learned very little by not having someone available to tell them what was going wrong.

3. Do not tattoo on yourself or friends.  While many artists started by doing just that, it is still very frowned upon in the industry and is by far the most difficult way of learning anything.  Imagine if your dentist learned that way.  Tattooing without instruction communicates to the artist that you do not think you have anything to learn or any work to do before attempting a tattoo.  It is disrespectful to the hours an artist has put in practicing to get where they are.  If someone walked into your job and said they would cover your shift, but needed no instruction or training because they claimed it wasn’t needed, would you not scoff and say “good luck with that?”  Nothing is as easy as it seems to the outside observer.  Even the simplest of jobs require adequate training.  Just like learning any technical skill, you have a lot of preparation work to do before you pick up the machine.  I have seen first hand what home-made tattoos look like from your friend’s basement who was “a really amazing artist” in high school.  It’s not good.

4. Once you have a well-developed art portfolio, ask an artist you respect and trust (by now you hopefully know at least one from getting tattooed) to critique your work.  And expect to use their suggestions to improve.  The critique is an invaluable learning tool you will use throughout your whole career, if you are lucky enough to find an artist to give it to you.

That’s it.  If you are dedicated and keep the end goal in mind, I can promise you it will happen. There is no degree you can signup for or class you can buy your way into, but with a little intention and work, you will find a way. 

Why You Should Leave Your Family at Home for Your Tattoo

We get it, getting a tattoo can be super exciting and fun, and even anxiety-inducing.  So, it makes sense to bring all of your best mates and family to your tattoo appointment, right? It never hurts to have reinforcements, does it?  Unfortunately, it does.  Bringing people to your appointment is usually not the great idea it may seem at first.  While getting tattooed can be an important milestone for people, it is usually best done alone.  Too many people can be distracting to both the artist and the client and result in a less than perfect tattoo experience.  

The application of the tattoo takes the artist a great deal of concentration. They are focusing on the depth and speed at which many tiny needles are puncturing the skin, and as you would expect, accuracy is important.  Space is often limited in tattoo shops, and just like any technician operating a machine, it is best to have space and concentrated focus.  Having a lot of people walking in and out and around the area can be a big distraction, and there is usually not a lot of seating in the tattoo area to begin with.  Clients interact with their guests, and not surprisingly, when people talk, it moves the rest of their body, including the area getting tattooed.  Especially if you use gestures (as most people subconsciously do).  Imagine having to write a perfect, permanent letter in your best cursive while resting your paper on your friends back; that is what it is like to tattoo on someone even if they are holding still!   If you stop your pen for just a second, you have disrupted the flow of the line.  Friends often make us laugh, so imagine writing a letter on someone who is laughing and gesturing and moving their hands.  It sounds like a terrible idea, right?  

A lot of people in the shop can also distract the client, but not in a way that decreases pain.  On the contrary, one of the best ways to manage pain while getting tattooed, or being in any pain really, is by intensely focusing on your breathing and finding a state of relaxation and calm.  This is why pregnant women learn "lamaze" breathing, and why half of the eight examples in Harvard Health Publishing article, "8 non-invasive pain relief techniques that really work", involve breath and relaxation techniques.  Having friends and family around can prevent clients from "getting in the zone" and managing the pain in an effective way.  It can even make the pain seem more intense.  Being around more people in a new and painful situation can cause more tension and resistance in the body, the opposite of what is needed.

Most shops often save space for their clients to have one guest.  As TattooNow.com points out in their article "BRINGING YOUR FRIEND TO YOUR TATTOO APPOINTMENT", one person can be a help to some clients.  If you have a partner or someone who would like to assist you in staying relaxed and wants to come along, tattooers are usually able to accommodate, and you will have someone to fetch you water.  Just make sure they can keep themselves occupied while sitting for a few hours, (hint: not children!)   

Making your tattoo a social event is no more fun than taking your friends to your hair or dentist appointment.  Some things are best done alone.  Then, when you are all done, you can go show it off to all your friends!  

Happy Tattoo Collecting!

$30 TATTOOS

It's almost time! Our apprentice, Justine will soon be entering into the tattooing phase of her apprenticeship.  Sign up to be one of her first clients and get tattooed for free with only $30 sitting fee to cover the cost of overhead.  Spots are limited!

Check out Justine's portfolio and follow her instagram to watch her art and tattooing skills progress. See original designs as she creates them and let us know which one's you want her to make into tattoos!
Designs will be preselected by the artist based on your feedback, so let her know what you like and what you want to see!

Clients who sign up to her list will be the first to be notified and will get to choose their design before making an appointment.  Slight alterations might be possible, but please consider most designs "as is".  Her first round of appointments will be taken on a first come, first served basis with a $30 sitting fee that covers supplies, reserves the tattoo station, and the artist's time for the appointment. The size of the tattoo will be limited at the artist discretion (No, she cannot do a sleeve!)

Signing up to this list does not guarantee you a spot.  Only booking the actual appointment with a deposit will secure your place.

Hope to see you in the shop as Justine enter's this phase in her tattoo journey!  

Thank you for your continued support!

~Chelsea

The Alchemy of Earth Alchemy Tattoo

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The only thing constant about alchemy, is that it strives to change and become more than what it was.  Transformation requires growth and creative evolution.  So, to stay true to our namesake and to ourselves, we have some big changes happening in the coming year!

First, we will be moving into a new home!  Not to worry, we will still be on our beloved Cherokee Street; just two blocks down from our current location in the gorgeously restored Cinderella building.  Find out more about the interesting transformation she has undergone in this article from the RiverFront Times or from the St. Louis Post Dispatch.  We are convinced she will be a "perfect fit" for the growing crew at our shop.  We don't have a moving date yet, as she is still undergoing her own trasformation with renovations tailored just for us.  We plan on keeping a photo journal of the renovations so expect more on this as it progresses!

The Cinderella building on Cherokee Street.  Our future home!

Starting back with us on a temporary basis is Valencia Miller!  We are excited to have her energy back in the shop.  Schedule with her today and keep an eye out for posts of her recent work.

Valencia Miller is back!

We also now offer new services that are unique to our shop, including permanent cosmetics and next year, tattoo removal. Stay tuned for more before and afters or schedule a consultation to find out more about what we can do to help you feel your best effortlessly.  

Permanent Cosmetics Application

The shop continues to develop an apprenticeship program and as we celebrate Jessie's transition into fully licensed tattooer, we welcome Justine Cho as she starts her journey into an apprenticeship.  Follow her progress with us and sign up to be one of the first to know when she is taking appointments for free and discounted apprentice tattoos.  We will be sending out an email to our subscribers soon..

To go with our beautiful new spaces, faces and services we have decided to update our name and logo to celebrate and highlight our shop's dedication to a collective and ever-evolving mind-set.   When we expand into the new space, we will transform from "Earth Alchemy Tattoo Collective" to a more concise and focused "Alchemy Tattoo Collective."  With new logo designs comes fun new shirts and merch as well as many collaborative ideas beginning to sprout.  Starting with our first Friday the 13th Special.  More info to follow...

Keep up with all we have on the horizon by subscribing to our blog and our email list.  We can't wait to see our new ventures blossom.  Thanks for following along with us.  

Love and Gratitude, 

The Earth Alchemy Team

What do you think of the changes?  Tell us what you want to see more of, we love hearing from you!

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Enter To Win A Free Tattoo!

Win a $150 Tattoo Credit With Artist, Nikole Knebel

 

Contest ends July 21st, 2017

Tattoo Give-A-Way!

It's a Girl... and a Boy!!

We are excited to introduce two new additions to our Family at Earth Alchemy Tattoo Collective, Nikole Knebel and Cody Moore.  

Formerly an artist at St Louis Ink, Nikole specializes in permanent cosmetic tattooing and offers walk-in availability for traditional tattooing of various styles as well.  Contact Nikole for more information on permanent make-up and check out her page to see her portfolio.

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New to Saint Louis, Cody Moore is taking appointments and walk-ins at Earth Alchemy Tattoo. He enjoys painting and is a self-proclaimed vinyl junkie.  Check out his painterly style tattoos on his page and available designs on our home page.

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We have more exciting announcements coming to help welcome our new staff.  Book a consultation online or stop by the shop and say hello! 

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