TATTOO TALES

Today, I’m sitting down with Rue from Ruethless Irons for a conversation that gets right to the heart of things.

Rue has been in the game since the late 90s, coming up in San Francisco and Amsterdam before finding his true calling in machine building.

But we aren't just talking history. This episode is a wake-up call about the current state of tattooing. We get into the quiet corporate takeover happening right under our noses, as private equity firms buy up our supply chains to strip and consolidate them.

We talk about the absolute necessity of voting with our dollars, ditching the convenience of corporate monopolies, and throwing our support behind independent, tattooer-owned brands. We also touch on the real why behind machine building and how smaller, tattoo-focused conventions are keeping the real community alive.

Tattooing has given us everything, and this conversation is all about how we protect it.

Follow Rue on Instagram

ruethless-irons.com

stefbastian.com

In this episode of Tattoo Tales, I sit down with a man who has spent over three decades navigating the deep waters of our craft with utmost dedication: Pino Cafaro.

 

This talk felt very inspiring as Pino brings both tradition and a progressive mindset into his work, as he says “Balance beats perfection”.

His insights, matured over a long and successful career, can be very helpful to all the committed artists and tattooers that share the struggles of draftsmanship and the quest to grasp the bigger picture of a culturally and visually rich style such as the Japanese. 

 

 

Find Pino on Instagram

White Fox Gallery

 

Find out more about Stef’s courses, seminars and projects

Curious about how to make woodblock prints?

 

In this episode of Tattoo Tales, I’m joined by Australian artist Terry McKenna, known by his artist name Toraku ("Fun Knife"), who traded oil paints for the traditional Japanese art of Mokuhanga over twenty years ago.

From his school in the mountains of Karuizawa, Terry breaks down the intricate world of woodblock printing—from the discipline of his apprenticeship in Kyoto to the specialized tools like the baren and cherry wood blocks.

 

We dive into the striking parallels between the heritage of Japanese printmaking and the tattooing world, exploring how the craft has evolved from the rigid assembly lines of the Edo period to a contemporary "Golden Age" where artists handle every step of the process.

 

It’s a deep dive into a tactile, timeless and versatile medium that rewards patience and honors the rule of "making it from yourself."

 

Artists mentioned in the episode:

Hiroshi Yoshida (shin hanga)

Munakata Shiko (sosaku hanga)

 

Suppliers:

Gwasendo (art supply store in Kyoto)

Michihamono (tool maker)

Sekaido (Tokyo)

Mokuhankan (Tokyo)

 

Mentioned tattoo-friendly onsen:

agri-yu

 

Learn more about Terry’s courses and residencies

 

Terry’s school on IG

 

Stef’s mentorship and projects

 

Stef’s IG

Get ready for another very nerdy episode into Japanese Folklore. This time we explore the figure of the Tengu, as portrayed in medieval chronicles and scrolls. Not what you’d expect. 

Source: The Seven Tengu Scrolls, by Haruko Wakabayashi

 

Mentioned texts: 

-Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan)

-Kōjaku Monogatari-shū

-Hira-no-Kōjin Reitaku

-Shūi-ōjōden

-Tengu Zushi (scrolls)

 

(mentioned anime about Japanese Hell: HOZUKI’S COOLHEADEDNESS)

Today I sit down with the wonderful artist Tabby Booth to pick her brain on her evolution as an artist, how she balances creativity with parenthood, and the intuitive way she approaches illustration, painting, and inspiration.

 

Tabby shares openly about finding her style, navigating collaborations, and building a life around art that feels true, sustainable, and exciting. It’s an honest, heart-warming conversation with someone who’s carved her own path while staying deeply connected to the joy of creating.

 

I’m sure her words and priorities resonate with a lot of you and her insights can help you in your own journey as a creative. 

Follow Tabby on Instagram

Get her prints and find out more about her work

Sailors jail Gallery

 

stefbastian.com