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: Robin Eisenberg

I feel like 90% of my favorites artists are based out of California, I feel like I need to venture out there at some point of my life.
Robin Eisenberg, an artist and designer based out of California, who creates digital art and designs things like patches, pins, hats, key chains, prints and postcards!! I have this recent obsession with pins, and I need every single one from Robin's shop. 

What I love most about Robin Eisenberg's work in general is obviously the bright colors, and bold lines, and how her character girls all look so different! She makes sure to highlight all body types, because all bodies are great bodies! She's heavily inspired by feminism, badass women, space, fashion, sex, the occult, makeovers, "and other rad things!" 

Robin Eisenberg Website: http://robineisenberg.com/
Follow Robin Eisenberg on Instagram: @RobinEisenberg
Shop Robin Eisenberg PRINTS: https://society6.com/robineisenberg/prints
Follow Robin Eisenberg on Tumblr: robineisenberg.tumblr.com 

Check out the video below, featuring Robin Eisenberg, and a couple more of my favorites, Sara M. Lyons (wildly known for her "Whatever Forever" piece that is so widely spread on the internet!) , and another one of my favorites, Natasha Lillipore (who I actually have a tattoo of one of her drawings!)

Ball and Chain Co. ft Johnny Gloom

Ball and Chain Co. is an apparel, accessories, brand that makes high quality,  patches, jewelry, and pins! B&C paired up with one of my favorite artists/tattoo artists, Johnny Gloom, and used some of his signature designs on a varsity jackets, pins, lighters, banners, and more! A shop close by to my house actually sells some patches and pins by B&C, and I have a few of their patches that I've put on hats!

It's really my life dream to get tattooed by Johnny Gloom. His work is minimalist, and a lot of his work is really sexy, kind of dark, and always very clean. I really like art work done by John Willie, who is best known for his bondage comic strips, and fetish photography, and I get a similar vibe from Johnny Gloom's work!

Follow Ball and Chain Co. on Instagram: @BallandChainCo

Follow Johnny Gloom on Instagram: @JohnnyGloom

WCW: Colour Creep AKA Kimberley Margarita!

I talk about a lot of beauty and glam makeup artists here, and just about everywhere else, because those are quite easy to come by nowadays with YouTube makeup tutorials being such a huge way to learn the art form.

After doing makeup professionally for 3 years, she has began to use all that she's learned about makeup, to take on body painting, and more creative and whimsical styles of makeup. When beauty meets fantasy, that is  where you will find miss Kimberley Margarita! When looking for inspiration for a look for RuPaul's Drag Race Battle of the Season, I came across this gem! Kimberley can make something look so beautiful, even if it really is something still very grotesque, and creepy. There really is something very romantic, fairy like, and playful about her looks, but also never going without some kind of a eerie, and haunting vibe to it as well.

She's really inspired me to start trying some fantasy looks, and watching her YouTube videos, I feel like I've been able to pick up a few new tricks, that I'm really excited to play around with next time I do a more creative makeup look!

Follow Kimberley on Instagram: @kimberleymargarita_
Subscribe to Colour Creep on Youtube

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MEL

Hologram Hair!

Hologram prints, fabrics and textures have been my obsession since about two summers ago when hologram came back in style, and hologram came back stronger than ever. It was on backpacks, purses, makeup bags (which I have,) skirts, dresses, accessories, YOU NAME IT it probably comes in hologram! There's just something very 90's about it, and since fashion and style is being recycled heavily from the 90's right now, it's understandable why hologram took over when it did. ONLY RECENTLY have I seen THIS trend taking over. With all the hype about silver, white, lavender and pastel hair has become to popular, it really was only a matter of time until someone made hologram hair happen!

Really the first time I've ever seen this actually done, was by Guy Tang, the HAIR ARTIST of our time. He is really so sooo so talented, and he really is a master of his craft.  Watch the video below of how Guy Tang achieves this fabulous hair look! Definitely not to do something on your own at home, because it very well could go completely awry!

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MEL

Rose Ellen Swenson Art!

Rose Ellen Swenson's work is best described as portraying women as ethereal sensual dark goddesses that are entrancing to say the least. The way her pieces translate beauty, in a bold and powerful way, is absolutely effortless with the way she paints these beautiful models whose stares you can just get lost in. I feel like each of the girls she paints are something like Sirens, who lure you in with their beauty, but then eat your head off basically. I love that she paints her women looking so beautiful but not society's typical, standard, vanilla version of beauty. Her use of textures and mixing shapes that would normally seem like they would clash like geometric shapes and florals, seem so fluid and give the art a fantasy feel.

PORTRAITS & ILLUSTRATIONS
http://roseellenswenson.com
http://instagram.com/roseellenswenson
http://roseellenswenson.bigcartel.com/

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MEL

Moxi Roller Girls AKA Your New Squad Goals!

I found my new obsession. Aren sent me a video about the Moxi Girls earlier this week, and instantly, I was OBSESSED. You guys know how obsessed I am with girl gangs, and anything that shows women working together and doing something they all love so much, and empowering other women in the process! The feeling I got when I discovered the Longboard Girls Crew, I got when Aren sent me the mini documentary that Refinery29 did about the Moxi Girls (video below!) These girls are a combination of The Confetti Crowd meets Longboard Girls Crew, and those things together just makes my little girly heart explode with happiness!

I think what I love most about these girls, is that they really do embrace their femininity when they skate, and you'll always find them wearing bright colors, in their cute little booty shorts, and knee high socks. Not to impress anyone, but because it's just what's comfortable to skate in, and it's what makes them feel powerful! 

"We are tall and short, we are thick and skinnny. The most important thing is that we're all strong."

In the video they mention how the skate world is dominated by men typically, so when they go to skate parks, it's a bunch of guys on skateboards, and the girls show up in their colorful cute outfits, and roller skates, but do not be fooled... These ladies can do some badass things on these skates. Moxi is all about spreading a very positive message about being body positive, proving people wrong, breaking down barriers, and most of all having fun! The video below explains just about everything I could say about this badass girl gang, so I'll let them explain it all!

ALSO, I think I know what I want for my birthday.... ;)

SHOP MOXI HERE!
Follow MOXI GIRLS ON INSTAGRAM: @MOXIROLLERSKATES

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MEL

WCW: Luna Lovebad

I remember this babe from the MYSPACE DAYS! She was one of my scene inspos back in my scene days. Many many many years later, she's still so so so inspirational to me! She definitely appeals to the more girly, pink, fluffy, and glittery parts that exist somewhere in me. Miss Luna Lovebad is one of my favorite models, because her look is so sweet, but I also feel like her stare also says "I'm cute as fuck, but disrespect, and I will cut your tongue out." 

Luna Lovebad is a trans female model, that works closely with different clothing, accessory, and makeup companies, like Deandri, SugarPill, DollsKill, Valfre, So So Happy, and so many more!  On top of being a beautiful model, she also makes music, and does amazing cosplays as well! 

Follow Luna Lovebad on Instagram : @Lunalovebad
Follow Luna Lovebad on Tumblr: LUNALOVEBAD.TUMBLR.COM
Follow Luna Lovebad on Sound Cloud: Soundcloud.com/lunalovebad

ScoobToobins by Alisha Murray!

Alisha Murray, or going by her pet Pomeranian's name as her artistic alias, "ScoobToobins," is an amazing artist, based out of Detroit Michigan, and a family friend of us here at Vile Company! Heavily inspired by tattoo art, and actual tattoos themselves!

I think what I love most about ScoobToobins work, is that it's mostly hands! I have this obsession with hands, in art and in real life of course. It's something about hands that can tell you so much about a person. Tattooed hands have to be my favorite, and she's always giving us tattooed hands with her art.

Go check out http://www.scoobtoobins.com/ where you can purchase art prints, apparel, stickers and even ORIGINAL pieces!

Keep an eye out for a new design for Vile Company, by ScoobToobins coming very soon!!!

Follow ScoobToobins on Instagram: @ScoobToobins

ShopTuesday.Com // Tuesday Bassen!

"I make work centered around strong female characters and often use themes of literal violence as figurative representation of power."

Tuesday Bassen (Yes, Tuesday is her real name,) is a 26 year old independent illustrator based out of LA who designs everything for her online shop called ShopTuesday! Not only does she design everything for her shop, but she also does freelance design for clients like The New Yorker, Playboy, Adidas, and Paramore! She's even supposed to be designing for Sophia Amoruso's second book, "Nasty Galaxy!" ShopTuesday will soon be expanding into a store in HIghland Park, Los Angeles! You can even find Miss Bassen featured as one of the "New Faces of Feminism!" in Teen Vogue magazine!

Follow ShopTuesday on Instagram: @TuesdayBassen

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MEL

MONTHLY FAVS

I didn't get to do this post last month because of my Black History Month topic last month, so I'll pick up this month!

BEAUTY

Brown Lip Colors & My New Big Bald Head

Brown lip colors have been so addicting at the moment. Probably because it's an obvious trend throw back to the 90's of days when celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez, Drew Barrymore and many more could be found rocking the dark lip anyday. I remember my mom having so many different shades of brown and red brown lipsticks! One of the first lipsticks I remember stealing from her makeup box (Sorry mom...,) was actually a liquid matte brown! Which thinking back now, was so long ago for the liquid matte lipsticks being such a huge trend now, like it was new or something.

Also, yes I did it finally. I've had a a shaved head now for a few weeks now, and I'm so happy with it. My mornings take so much less time when it comes to getting ready. My showers are shorter since I don't have to wash my hair for like 20 minutes like before. I could go on forever about it, but I'll just say I LOVE IT, IT MAKES WEARING WIGS EASIER, AND BEING BALD IS FUN. 

FASHION

Baseball Caps / Hat Patches and Buttons

I've seen tons of hats like this from so many clothing and accessory companies recently. The baseball cap is definitely a really big trend at the moment. As someone who wears hats every day of their life, this fits to my tastes very very well! Specifically hats with cute patches, embroidered designs, or buttons on the front are what I'm seeing a lot of. UNIF put out a whole line of baseball caps with little fruit embroidery on the front of each one, also different color caps to go with whatever fruit is on the hat. I've seen a hat similar to the UNIF ones at PacSun (wonder where they got the idea.......) I've taken to thrifting different caps, and putting patches / buttons on them myself to create one of these designs myself!

 

INSTAGRAM

I've been SOOOO obsesesd with this Tomboy Style page on Instagram. Tomboyish style is something I love so much, and I have my tomboyish days for sure, but it's really been taking over my entire style, and it has a lot to do with this Instagram page.

WCW: Illma Gore

"My latest painting "Make America Great Again" 
Because no matter what is in your pants, you can still be a big prick.

Meet Illma Gore, the brilliant artist behind the infamous painting of Donald Trump hunched over with a micropenis, that has swept the face of the internet within the last couple of months. I've been following following Illma's instagram for quite awhile now, because of her Human Canvas project (I'll get to that in a minute,) and when this piece of Donald Trump started circulating, and finding out Illma was the one responsible for it, it made me sooooo happy! The illustration has cause quite a bit of controversy, and in turn social media pages like Facebook, Twitter, and even eBay have tried to censor and ban Illma and those who are sharing the image from their internet platforms. Watch Illma's response to these internet powerhouses trying to censor her art, below!

“There is something absurd and beautiful about having absolute strangers’ names draped over my pale goth skin, even if half of them are ‘Penis Butt’. Why, you might ask? Simply because I can. I am my own ultimate canvas.”

I first came across Illma when I heard about this artist who was getting people's names and stories tattooed on her body for just $10 through her Human Canvas GoFundMe Page. Through this gesture, people just donate at least $10 and submit what name, nickname, phrase, etc they would want tattooed on her body. Illma has had live tattooing exhibitions of her having these submissions tattooed on her. I'd love to add to her tattoo project! She's inspirational, she won't backdown, even when threatened by Facebook to be taken to court, to defend her art, and free expression.

LA Weekly has said "Artists like her make life beautiful. Well, more beautiful than life is... Without people like her, we would have no creativity in this world."

Follow IllmaGore on Instagram: @illmagore
Official IllmaGore Website
Human Canvas GoFundMe

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MEL

Your New Girl Gang Goals: CONFETTI CROWD!

The Confetti Crowd is the UK's leading "girl gang of creatives!" These women have all come together to give you excellent, rainbow fashion, create on levels that are absolutely unimaginable, and empower women and girls everywhere about being whoever you want to be, wearing whatever you want to wear, and supporting other women, creating an extremely unbreakable support system, of a girl gang! These ladies are a representation of the strength and determination of women, and they aim to empower young females! With a message like that, I think any girl can get behind these ladies! 

They are a group of five creative, ambitious, goal driven female creatives, who all are working in different parts of the fashion, music, art, and TV industry!

You definitely need to check out all of their individual sites, and blogs! I linked them all below, just click on the image of the Confetti you'd like to visit the page of! 

Snoochie Shy - DJ / Presenter / Model
Instagram - @SnoochieShy

Lulu - Fashion Designer
Instagram - @LuluTrixabelle
(I've been following Lulu for YEARS now. She's the blogger who inspired me to start getting into fashion, and made me want to start a blog of my own!)

Heidi - Singer Songwriter
Instagram - HeidiPetite

Heli - Stylist / Photographer / Owner of Vintage Brand "Sassy World"
Instagram - HeliBells

Tiger - Fashion Photographer
Instagram - TTigerLilly

What I love about these ladies is that they're all in their 20s and they're spreading such an amazing message! 
I'm on a constant personality struggle between wearing all black all the time, or just being super colorful and fun like these ladies, and The Confetti Crowd really inspires me to embrace the rainbow more this upcoming Spring and Summer seasons!

Follow the Confetti Crowd on Instagram: @ConfettiCrowd

XO
MEL

Undercut Hair Tattoos

I know a few months ago, I did a post about Bald Babes, with shaved heads! I've been seeing a lot of something that's called "Undercut Tattoos" in the past few weeks, on Instagram a bunch! Basically what it is, is people are shaving just a little bit of under their hair, and putting cute designs on them, from geometric line work, flowers, mandala designs, stars, and so much more!

I feel like the shaved hair trend has been very big since last Summer I'd say! I know it's nothing new of course, but I'm seeing a lot more recently amongst more than just very "alternative" styled people. A lot of people are doing it for utilitarian purposes like, their hair is really thick, and they want to take it down a notch as far as how much hair they have, so shaving a bit off definitely does the trick, and looks really awesome, and since you're shaving your hair, why not give it some pop, but adding a design, or some color! It looks great when your hair is in a ponytail!

XO
MEL

WCW: Miryam Lumpini

Miryam Lumpini the self titled "Swedish Elf" with Congo Blood, insanely talented and very well established tattoo artist who is now based out of Los Angeles, California! Miryam was a young artist who wanted to find a way to make money off of her art, but if you're a small time artist as she was at the time, you know it's tough to make a ton of money off of just selling your art, unless you're widely known, and well established. The idea of tattooing came to her! The only problem with that, was that she was just 17, and nobody would tattoo her obviously, let alone allow her to tattoo them. So, 17 year old Miryam took to purchasing her own tattoo kit online, and began tattooing friends of her's, and allowing them to tattoo her.

"I was like 17 and we were just a bunch of punk ass kids getting wasted every weekend and tattooing each other- all my tattoos looked like shit." 

So her next goal was to find someone who was in need of an tattoo apprentice, and once she was connected with an artist, only for it to turn out to be a shady situation, that ended up being a bust. She talked to her boyfriend at the times' tattoo artist, and he saw so much potential out of her, and offered her a new apprenticeship with him. It worked out very well, and she worked under him for about 3 years! She participated in her first tattoo convention, ended up winning 2nd place in Best of Show for a piece she did on a friend at the convention, and was on the cover of Nordic Tattoo magazine, all at the age of 20!

During her apprenticeship, was also designing posters for Emmaboda Festivalen music festival, because she's also an amazing painter on top of all of this other talent this queen holds. I could really go on forever about her accomplishments and milestones. Her upbringing and experience starting all the way back from when she was living in Sweden, with a single mother, chopping wood, and living a frugal life. This girl's got thick skin, and that has really taken her a very long way, which is so inspiring. As an artist, that's the kind of personality you have to have, and being a female in a male dominated industry like the tattoo industry, she's very much well equipped for the job. 

Reading her story has really really inspired me to begin making art again, and makes me want to push myself to start being creative again, before I lose the drive to!

Follow Miryam on Instagram:
Miryam Lumpini Website

XO
MELANIE

WCW: @KieraPlease

So in celebration of Black History Month, I'll be making my posts this month about some influential, beautiful, and powerful black women that I follow! The first post, goes to the wonderful and amazing @KieraPlease ! Awhile ago while scrolling through Tumblr, I found these pictures of Kiera with flowers of assorted colors in her gorgeous mane of hair!

After finding her Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr (@kieraplease for all) it wasn't long until I fell in love with her! She has such a positive radiance about her, amazing style, and an infectious smile! 

Kiera recently started her YouTube channel, watch her intro "25 Random Facts About a Potato" video below! WARNING: YOU'LL PROBABLY FALL IN LOVE WITH HER.

XO
MELANIE

Colin Christian

Colin Christian is a sculptor of the twisted and creepy, with his work shown in art galleries and museums all over the world, and his distinctive style of work of taking human anatomy, and turning it over on it's head, by making it non human, creepy, and something out a child's nightmare, when you see Colin Christian's work, you'll instantly know he's the artist behind it. Colin and his wife Sas started a small business of making and selling latex rubber costumes for fetish stores around the world, and have been featured in Penthouse and Two Skin magazine!

Taking his knowledge of clothing manufacturing, and combining that with his love for movie special fx makeup, Colin began to produce fiberglass figures and sculptures, which has brought him to where he is today! At this point in his career, he has worked with so many big names, and is exhibited all over the world, including exhibitions in London, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Rome, New York, Tokyo, and you can usually find some of his work at the ever so popular art fair Art Basel in Miami, Florida! He was even commisioned by Kanye West to produce artwork for his "Glow in the Dark" tour, back in 2009 (shown below!)

I first saw Colin Christian's work on Tumblr a few months back I believe, but couldn't find any kind of source for who the artist was, so for awhile I just sat with this image of teeth pushing out of flesh, on a face... I then found him on Instagram not too long ago, and just spend so long just scrolling through his feed, and was so hypnotized at the work he produces. 

Follow Colin Christian on Instagram: @ColinChristian

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MELANIE

Black Light Hair DYE!

Alright so this is some wild shit. I mean its not the wildest, but how cool is it? The hombre/pastel trend is good and all but black light hair dye?How awesome of an impression will you make while you are out at a show or even just when the lights go out? Science is Amazing! We know this isnt exactly new technology but we are stoked for it to be a trend. Go check it out and get your mermaid hair on! 

you can see an example of this in the Grimes video for "Go"

Look Human Clothing & Accessories!

Yesterday, I was getting my hair cut, with my girlfriend, and when I hopped out of the chair, she said she found this website that she knew I would want everything on. When she showed me what she was talking about, she specifically was on the "Feminista" page, with a million feminist shirts and accessories. Instantly, I was hooked. 

"At HUMAN, we believe that every printed object can be a mechanism to declare identity and belonging. We work every day to create compelling clothing, accessories, and home decor for trendsetters and pop culture nerds with a bold sense of humor. Everyone on the HUMAN team has their own unique voice and personality, but we all share in our mission to enable self-expression through exceptional design. Dress Yourself To Express Yourself."

I wish I would have found this website earlier this month, and I would have done a lot of my Christmas shopping from here, because there's really something for just about anybody, on LookHuman! I really just have a general appreciation for witty, funny t shirts, mugs, home decor, and things of that nature, so this website was definitely a really great find on the behalf of Sarah!

XO
MELANIE

Fashion Blogger Duo LOLA AND LORA

Lola and Lora are the girl gang duo from my dreams. Lola aka Flamcis (Left) and Ellen V Lora (Right), are two fashion bloggers who are based out of California, who really are taking over the fashion scene, all via Instagram! They've been featured by Maybelline NY Cosmetics, Lime Crime Cosmetics, they've been featured in the Chris Brown music video for AYO, this list could really go forever honestly.

These ladies travel together, model together, and even design together! They have their own collection on MYVLCLOTHING.COM, a clothing company I've been following for so long, so I was really happy to see they were partnering up in the LOLAXLORA collection!

This duo really is taking over the fashion scene, all via Instagram it seems!

Follow Lola on Instagram: @Flamcis
Follow Ellen on Instagram: @EllenVLora
EllenVLora's Personal Fashion Blog: http://pureevl.com/