Tatted mom’s review: Kat Von D’s new book, High Voltage

Posted in Uncategorized by powerfulmothers on February 4, 2009

Tatted mom’s review: Kat Von D’s new book, High Voltage

Review of Kat Von D’s book, High Voltage:

You know it’s funny, out of all the stories, articles and comments… my page, about tattoo’s have had the most hits out of all of them on this blog. And it’s no surprise really, I love them and I know a lot of other people do too. Mostly because I am an enormous tattoo lover.

I have been an artist since birth, and rebellious for all my years under 30. I tried selling my art work to tattoo shops, where the competition was fierce. I actually sold my drawings of women and faces, to the boys at school. They told me what they want and how they were dressed, and I would sell them for $15-$20 a pop. When I was 23 years old, I got my first tattoo to commemorate my divorce and freedom; with a Harley Davidson heart of fire.

My Eric Clapton tribute

The next three tattoo’s came at other defining moments. My commitment to my current husband who is Cuban, which was my own design and although I think it still needs work. I got “Cubanita” in script on my lower back across the street from where Miami Ink was being filmed in Miami. They were in the process of filming, so I went across the street.

That is where I became interested in Miami Ink, the show. Then I discovered a field producer friend of mine from a reality TV show I was on, ‘Extreme Expeditions’ was also co producing Miami Ink.

So I started watching the show, and really liked it. All the stories, and the human to human interaction were great and all the dedication and balls it takes to get a tattoo was the hook for me.

Enter Angelina Jolie. Always been a fan, but when she got the tiger in Cambodia, well-that was it. I was in love with the concept, and the old fashion technique in which she got it. Then I became fiercely interested in her tattoo’s, and removal of them. I knew I was ready for my next endeavor with ink. My next tattoo had to be a masterpiece, a statement.

Enter Kat. I was working in a restaurant in between filming in Hollywood at The Velvet Margarita. It was early one morning, and there was a production crew in the place filming someone sitting on one of the high back red benches. I didn’t know who she was, but ran into her on her way to the bathroom as I was walking into the restaurant. She was as tall as me! I always notice things like that, because I am 5’10. I noticed stars on her face right away…but didn’t know who she was, so I asked someone and found out she was from Miami Ink. She will be filming her own show, ‘LA ink’ next door. They had been building this awesome ink shop next door and now I know why it looked so studly inside.

After her interview I was outside when she walked out and we started talking, I asked about my friend, the field producer. We hit it off, and I noticed how nice she was. Like almost gracious. I immediately liked her. We took a picture with my cell phone, and we exchanged numbers and I told her I’ll call her up, but I lost her number. I remember how cool she was for someone having her own television show, and she was deliciously covered in tattoo’s.

My tiger. So, one normal day before I went to work on the set of a film we were producing, I took my 16 year old son and we went to the only shop that was open and available in the San Fernando Valley. We walked into Ink Fever Studio* in North Hills. Nice and old and lived in. My son didn’t want to watch as I went to the back to get ready for the biggest tattoo I ever had. I might have been influenced by Angie’s tat, but I did get a tiger, nothing else represented me. It is mean and healthy with big paws and a perfect body. The artist, I can’t remember his name, ‘Big Daddy’ or “big something’…he was big with a light touch, or light hand and blue eyes and bald. He was super cool, and friendly. I was unbelievably happy. I promised to come back for shading and possible color.

I must say I got really sick the next day. I couldn’t get out of bed. Maybe it was the combination of the Red Bull, the late night and the amount of ink combined-but I got really sick. Nauseas, head ache, bone chills, the whole thing. I found out later, I was probably allergic to the ink. But, I love my tiger. I have big plans for her. She is going to have ivy and leaves, maybe a stream and some flowers. Oh, it’s going to be killer.

Then tonight I was in Borders book store looking around, comparing books to my first book (!)I just had published. Checking out the scene and comparing different styles, I saw The Book of all books on tattoo’s, High Voltage Tattoo; with Kat’s face perfectly placed on the front cover in a fake emblem, picture frame type of thing. I picked it up, and it was poufy and soft. Ooooh, I sat my green tea down and sat on the floor. I opened the page. Wooooow. Every page was meticulously designed to perfection. From it’s ‘old parchment paper’ looking pages in soft beige color with burnt edges, to it’s beautiful glossy crisp photo’s of Kat in every position from page one.

: Nikki Sixx & Kat Von D

Half hidden in dark shadows, with light hitting her little stars on her face to her red-red lipstick I was hooked. I couldn’t turn the page, because there was so much to look at. The forward read, “I don’t mean to be forward but, this is a forward” in descending order with type font of huge ‘Black Letter’. The forward was from Nikki Sixx, and it was beautiful said. Raw and real and strait to the point, I got a feel for who Kat was-it was perfect.

The acknowledgement was written by hand by Kat, and it was to her sister Karoline. It was so beautiful I read it twice and I was so moved, I got teary eyed. I was raised as an only child, and always wished for a sister. All along I had one but she lived her with her father in El Salvador, and I never met her (until recently). I never had that experience with a sibling. The love Kat has for her sister was so intimate and breath taking. I thought of my four daughters. My two teen girls are 18 months apart, and my last two little girls are close in age too. They are very close like that.

There was a little picture of her and her sister in naked butt shots when she must have been only a year old and two years old. There were many other photo’s of her growing up, and her crazy short blond hair cuts (which I used to have myself) and her rebelliousness that I know all too well. I felt a kinship to this woman. I realized I was really glad I had met her. An entire decade apart, but she seems like an old soul.

As I continued to thumb through the book, the pages got more colorful, photo’s so crisp-the images jumped out of the book. All the artist she works with and admires are included with amazing photography. Many beautiful images of tattoo’s and photographs of arms, legs, body parts covered in ink. It also went over her love for music, which I can love also.

I realize that I can live vicariously through her because with five children there was no way I was covering my body with art, it wouldn’t fly. But, my back…my sides? That’s another story. Free range. I didn’t buy the book because I was didn’t have any money on me, but I will be getting it. When I sat down to write this, I discovered it went public January 20th, and to my delight my book went public January 24th. Awwww.

I think I might want to have it signed in person. Great job Kat.

Footnotes~

How to see her book: Web page or Amazon

How to see my book: Lessons We Learned From Obama: from a former Republican mother of five

**it is going to be on Amazon very soon.