Blackwork Tattoo Artist: Johnny Gloom!

At just 23, artist Johnny Gloom- the pseudonym of a Parisian tattoo artist (a she, not a he,) is a name that's on the come up in the realm of minimalistic, blackwork, traditional tattoo artists. 

Finding inspiration for designs in everyday life things, and describing herself as "sensitive to her own emotions," and using that as a guide for her work. "Love, Hate, Violence, Passion... Love is the burden of humanity, everyone recognizes it.... Graphically, I love simple things."

Obviously taking inspiration from fetichism, BDSM, film noir femme fatales, doomed lovers, etc. I love this style so much, because it shows that you don't need loud colors, lots of detail and intricate designs to convey a short story. 

Johnny Gloom and Ball & Chain dropped the brand new "ADORE" collection on Monday, August 8th, featuring apparel and accessories featuring the works of Johnny Gloom! My girlfriend and I are obsessed with the work of both Johnny Gloom, and Ball & Chain, and the two working together can do no wrong. She actually ordered a bunch of items from the ADORE collection drop from this past Monday, for her and myself, and words can't explain how excited I am!

Follow Johnny Gloom on Instagram: @JohnnyGloom
Follow Johnny Gloom on Tumblr: @danslamaisonnoire

XO
MEL

WCW: Special Effects Makeup Artist, Erika FX!

If you love special effects makeup artists, optical illusions, and scary real prosthetics, you're going to love Erika FX! Body painting, and SFX makeup is something I've always wanted to take up as a hobby, ever since I did my Halloween makeup as a Pop Art Zombie! I love featuring SFX artists here on the WCW blog, so here's another for ya!

Check out her Instagram, because it was really difficult to choose only a handful of pictures to put in the slideshow, because I love all of her work so much! 

ErikaFX Instagram: @erika.fx
ErikaFX Facebook Fan Page

XO
MEL

The Art Hoe Collective

Last week, I was visiting some friends of mine in Asheville, North Carolina to celebrate my 21st birthday, and when I finally crashed on an air mattress in the middle of my friend's living room, the TV was on a channel called Viceland, and we were watching a really great show, about the fashions around the world, and what the modeling/fashion industry is like for women around the globe. The channel seemed to have a lot of pro-women advertisements, and previews for upcoming documentaries, etc. Suddenly this flashed across the screen.

I instantly hopped up, because the phrase "Art Hoe" is in my daily vocabulary, and you don't always come across internet phrases like that plastered on a television. Instantly completely taken by whatever was next to come, I was SO PLEASED. I can't figure out how to get the video onto this post so you'll just have to watch it HERE HERE HERE HERE!!!!

Mars and Sage
Co-Founders of the Art Hoe Collective

“Artists of colour are constantly being underrepresented and exploited. If we’re not getting swept under the rug, our bodies are being overtly sexualised and used as muses,” -- Mars, 15 year old co founder of Art Hoe Collective

After watching this stunning, progressive, brave, and entrancing commercial, I shuffled for my phone to look for more information about the Art Hoe Collective.

"The Art Hoe Collective was started by QPOC to provide a space for all creatives of color. This is for us, by us."

Artists and activists are what really come out of Art Hoe Collective. Artists of color submit art work, photography, poetry, dance videos, and really so much more. Everything that is submitted that makes it through to be posted on Art Hoe Collective's Instagram page, is posted with the artist's name, age, location, Instagram handle, pronouns, race/ethnicity, and a little written background about the piece of art that is being posted. Everything that is posted, is so worth reading the bios about. This online movement is giving POC to portray themselves the way they want, free from stereotypes, preconceptions of who they are. Art Hoe Collective has been supported and embraced by Amandla Stenberg, young activist and actress, who I've blogged about here awhile back, and teen polymath Willow Smith.

As a queer woman of color myself, who identifies as an artist, this is the most inspiring thing I've come across in months.  It's inspiring as an artist, as a woman, and as a person of color. 

Follow Art Hoe Collective on Instagram: @ArtHoeCollective
Follow Mars on Instagram: @SensitiveBlackPerson
Follow Sage on Instagram: @Sageaflocka

XO
MEL