Happy New Year, humans.
It seems that, beyond the sovereign duties of administering my kingdom—protection of the domain against foreign and invisible threats, adjudication of who deserves favor, etc.—my servants have formally requested that I, Bert the Cat, write the newsletters for Tattooology.
Apparently, my disdain for most of you (except Hailey—my beautiful, human girlfriend with treats) makes me "relatable" and I am seen as, frankly, more attractive than any of the humans who would assume the role.
Whatever. As the poet said, “Flattery will get you everywhere.”
Let’s get this over with.
NEWS
I have assumed the additional monarchical function of this newsletter. It stands to reason that the most relevant news would be a discussion of why my authority matters and what I intend to do with it here.
I rule my kingdom with my three human subjects: Chaleen, my beautiful human bride who feeds me treats; Wolf, my true brother, despite his urine and feces collecting obsession; and Micah, my steward, who is fine, if somewhat pathetic in my eyes. He was the one who made the request to speak to all of you—and I acquiesced.
The other shop members hail from other cat’s kingdoms, and though they reek of their stench, have met my approval and have met me with humility and a respectful distance, if not the appropriate treats.
The monthly newsletter will provide updates about what’s going on at the shop and interesting trivia, news, tributes, and opinions about tattoos, tattooing, and the tattoo industry. It will also contain information about deals, discounts, and sales.
In shop news, Micah, Johnny, Verne, Josh, and Hailey (sweet, sweet Hailey—how we have frolicked and treated in my harem!) have survived the holiday rush and the artists are back from their hibernations. The shop is sparkling clean and they say they are ready to do more and grander tattoos in 2024 than ever before. Book early, before tax season fills their books up. I know humans love to procrastinate.
TRIVIA
Every month, I will share a piece of tattoo trivia. If you come to the shop and can answer the trivia question (which will be posted at the front of the shop), you’ll get a collectible sticker for your collection. Collect four of them, and you’ll get a bigger sticker.
This is economics.
Who is credited with inventing the first tattoo machine?
Thomas Edison! So famous!
No, not really. It’s not Thomas Edison, but he always gets the credit.
What he patented was technically an electric engraving tool in 1877.
The precise answer is Samuel O’Reilly, who patented the first electric tattoo machine in 1891.
He DID base it on Thomas Edison’s autographic printing pen—so if you can’t remember O’Reilly’s name when asked, Edison will do.
Fun fact: O’Reilly’s machine made tattoos less painful and faster to do, which is great because I’m sure none of you could handle the old-school hand-poke method. You’re welcome.
Don’t forget: if you come into the shop and know the answer to the trivia question of the month, you’ll get a shiny collectable sticker. Get enough of these, and you get an even cooler sticker. A part of a special little human “club” I guess.
You’re welcome.
ARTIST CORNER
Johnny said that we should explain what “tattooology” means in the first month’s newsletter. When I said, “Nothing whatever,” the team decided Micah should explain it.
Bert the Cat:
So, Micah. What does tattooology mean?
Micah Faulkner, owner of Tattooology:
The word “tattooology” started off as a funny notion, but it literally means “the study of tattoos.” The more this neologism bopped around my head, the more it resonated with what I knew about tattooing and the tattoo industry.
I’ve been around tattooing a long time now. Perhaps the thing about it that’s most idiosyncratic about it is the cultural cachet within the industry that comes with expertise in its technology, culture, and theory (as opposed to merely expertise in tattooing itself). The tattoo industry seems unique among industries because a) tattoo artists tend to establish our status amongst each other with our mastery of this expertise and b) almost no one outside of tattoo artists knows any of this science, its lore, or first principles.
I founded Tattooology the tattoo studio—named for this notion—for a few reasons besides the commercial value of a successful tattoo studio.
Not to get too lofty, but I wanted to create an enclave for tattoo artists who especially embody this value of accumulating expertise about the industry. There, we could not only share our knowledge with each other (as tattoo artists have always done), but with others—with enthusiasts and customers. Our clients almost always gobble this information up like we do, but traditionally it’s not been shared with them. It would be like Plato’s Academy, but for tattoo folk. We’d need to be tattooologists.
We’d also need to store that knowledge—and the knowledge of other experts we could bring in to help—so it was archived in some way. With the advent of the internet, much of this information (about who mentored whom, about how the old tools work and were made, about what makes a “good tattoo”) is, ironically, becoming lost. In that sense, tattooologists are museum curators.
Finally, we’d need to combine those two task-sets with establishing a network between tattooers and, into which, outsiders could discover them. Tattooing has exploded as an industry and (again, ironically) this has made it harder to find a tattoo artist. We’ll need to connect tattoo artists with tattoo artists and tattoo artists with clients—or rather: tattooologists with tattooologists.
Bert the Cat:
Thanks, Micah. You bored me at “neologism.”
UPCOMING EVENTS
Viking Fest
Mark your calendars, because Tattooology will have a stand at Whitestown’s VIKINGFEST this April.
They’ll be selling temporary Norse tattoos, doing tarot readings, and being general ne'er-do-wells. That’s April 25-27.
You can find out more about the event at https://whitestown.in.gov/community/parks-and-recreation/events/viking-festival/
They’d love to see you there.
I will, of course, be at home—protecting my empire from the birds and Evil Cat outside my window.
Macabre Arts Tattoo Festival
The humans will also be at the MACABRE ARTS FESTIVAL in Louisville this summer. They’ll be surrounded by some of the best tattoo artists in the world (who are probably far more exciting than them. And probably have more treats). I’ll be there in spirit, sleeping somewhere far away from the chaos.
TATTOO CULTURE & NEWS
In a turn of sadness (and a reprieve from writing), I hand the reins to Verne Fritz to compose a brief eulogy:
Jack Rudy (1964-2025)
Jack Rudy died this month. Jack (1954–2025) was an American tattoo artist notable for his development of the black-and-gray style of tattooing, including realistic portraits, and his use of a single needle for fine line work.
After leaving the Marines in 1975, Rudy began his career as an apprentice at Goodtime Charlie’s Tattooland, in East Los Angeles. Under the watch of Charlie Cartwright, a friend he met while visiting the old Long Beach Pike, Rudy and Cartwright began to hone their craft of single-needle, black-and-gray style tattoos.
Rudy was known for his use of light and dark shades of black and grey. In addition to creating a softer and more realistic style of tattooing, with the advent of the new single needle tattoo technology, artists were now able to use a much greater level of detail than previously attainable utilizing older and more readily accepted tattoo machine and needle configurations. As the client base of East Los Angeles began requesting this 'penitentiary-style', the pair decided to create a single-needle configured tattoo machine.
Rudy was the president of the Beatnik's Car Club—a car club which requires the members to own 50s-styled hot rods and 'lots of tattoos.' He was the owner of Tattooland, an 'old school' street shop, located in Anaheim, California.
Verne’s take:
Jack Rudy had been a familiar character in my tattoo world since the very beginning.
His flash was always popular. His subtle use of black and gray was very eye-catching, and showed a certain level of finesse that most of the designs of the day lacked.
These designs were always a challenge to do correctly. Especially in the first few years of tattooing professionally.
I was eventually able to watch the man himself in action a few years later at a bunch of conventions. I never asked questions, but just watched intently as he made his way through several tattoos. Trying my best to figure out what his secrets were.
I learned a few things, and still use several of those techniques today.
Jack was a true titan in the tattoo business, his influence will go on for generations.
Thanks Jack.
—Verne.
DEALS
It’s tax return season, which means you’ll all suddenly have money to spend on tattoos. Predictable.
Booking spots are going to fill up faster than my food bowl (which I DEMAND be faster!), so don’t dawdle. Schedule your appointments now before you’re stuck waiting until summer.
You don’t want to be the only kid on the beach without a cool new tattoo, right?
All three artists have wannados available at reduced prices and the shop is still running the Ink Club special (just like the old Subway Sub Club cards, except instead of sandwiches you get hours in the tattoo chair: get 8 stamps, get 1 free hour).
CLIENT OF THE MONTH
The team gets to vote on these, so I’m sure this person is lovely.
Jacob Smith
Jacob is our very first Client-of-the-Month. He’s done six 4-hour sessions since the beginning of December on his new sleeve project. That’s 3 filled-out Ink Club cards in his pocket!
His inspiration was the stained glass portrait from Beauty and the Beast, but he says he came to his senses and decided to center his wife as the centerpiece of a stained glass sleeve. The sleeve, for now, has an underworld theme with Calcifer from Howl’s Moving Castle, Baphomet, and a redo of a tattoo that he’d had for 20 years. Coming up we will do a rose window on the elbow, his wife as Persephone, and a black swan holding a key. However, he’s also decided since we began to expand the project across his chest and as the design principle for his other sleeve as well! Ambitious! So far, the Baphomet is his favorite part.
Jacob calls Lebanon home, but grew up all over the country. He and his wife have had a good time raising their kids here, but he looks forward to international travel once they’re out of the nest.
He enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, going to live shows, and reading. As of late he’s been getting into playing board games, Magic the Gathering, and Dungeons and Dragons.
Stay tuned for next month’s newsletter to see who earned my begrudging approval.
MEMES
Memes. Treats, but for humans.
OUTRO
That’s it for this month’s newsletter. I’ve done my duty, and now I’m going back to monitoring the window birds. If you want to see more of the shop’s work, follow them on Instagram (@tattooology_studio, @micahfaulknertattoos, @johnnyronnin, @professorelectromagnet, @hailey.montgomery.tattoos, @memphisroantattoos), or on their other social media things found on their profiles at www.tattooology.com.
And for the love of naps, book your appointments now before the artists are swamped.
Love,
Bert
(and the humans at Tattooology)
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