Traditional Tattoo

The state of Oaxaca was by and large physically isolated from the northern half of the country, and indeed the broader world, until the arrival of the pan American highway in the late 1940s. While the odd adventurer would make his way down to Oaxaca between then and the early 1960s, it was the hippie movement later that decade and into the early 1970s which opened up southern Mexico to the concept of North American and European counter-cultures, including tattoos, and then body piercing. However the prevailing sentiment of the Mexican middle classes was that their children should be insulated from foreign youth, and all that its subculture stood for. Here is a quick little henna 'glove" style. It has that lacy sort of feeling that many people like. This photo of course is not the big news. The BIG News is that I I just "met" a very talented henna artist from Singapore, and she sent me a link to her blog. To see some fabulous bridal henna just visit SJ Henna D

Kai is thirty years old. Practicing law wasn't for him. By the time he had graduated and had a taste of the working world of attorneys (less than a year), he had already become an established tattoo and body piercing artist, with his own studio, albeit quite smaller than his current digs. And besides, most lawyers in Oaxaca do not earn the level of income that provides for a middle class lifestyle, at least by Western standards. Tribal Tattoo - Spirit Tribe Healing Tattoo Here's a Sprit Tribe pattern. The pupose was to facilitate healing, balance, a return to ground. Archtypal energies from Spain & Scotland came to play in the creation of this tattoo. Of course I have just finished printing up new books full of traditional henna tattoo as well as some nice "Anywhere Designs" if you are not having a tribal moment when you stop by Midnight Sun Be sure to visit Spirit Vision Henna to see the updated "henna movie"

Kai's current studio, Dermographics, in the heart of downtown Oaxaca, consists of: Taureg Henna Pattern for Soles of Feet This is a Taureg pattern for the soles of the feet from the Joyous Art of Henna by Catherine Cartwright-Jones. Henna by Ann George of Spirit Vision Henna , foto by Chelsie. If you would like a tattoo like this, it's best done at late in the afternoon or in the early evening. Or you could chose to have a henna party. (Nope... it doesn't tickle.)

• The reception area with long desk and computer, tropical fish filled aquariums, display cases with mainly jewelry relating to body piercings, wooden African floor sculptures and masks (as well as a few Mexican masks), a bookcase filled with albums containing drawings and photographs of mainly tattoos, and two comfortable sofas where customers can browse through the "catalogues" at their leisure • A similarly adorned middle room with supply cases by now of course filled with modern, commercial equipment and supplies, and a small adjoining workroom • The back room, with chairs and "operating" table, for attending to tattoos and body piercings Full Palms Henna - traditional henna tattoo! I had the good luck to be able to do this lovely full palm henna tattoo today. I hope you enjoy it. I suppose it took about 45 minutes from start to finish. I hope to have a foto of the finished color on line soon. Just stop by Midnight Sun to look thru lots of patter

"Here in Oaxaca we don't refer to ourselves as 'artistas,' Kai explains. "In the United States there's much greater acceptance of the art form and those who are dedicated to the skill, so in the US and other countries such as Canada it's acceptable to use the term 'tattoo artist.' But in Oaxaca we just refer to ourselves as tatuadores." Gilded Chrysanthemum Tattoo Here is a gilded mum tattoo for a young woman who stopped into Midnight Sun last Saturday. She was very patient with me as I did my first ever chrysanthemum henna . The design is gilded with a lovely pearly white paste touched with a bit of rose glitter to make the flower... the leaves are done in a peridot gilding paste.

Kai & Colleagues Participate in Twelfth Annual Tattoo Fest in Oaxaca, Summer, 2010 Traditional Indian Henna for Feet Want to see all the images of this henna pattern? Just CLICK HERE for the slide show. This is a Sunday afternoon henna moment for a friend. It was a very peaceful time, and a great help to me to be able to practice bridal style Indian henna. Come back.. I hope to have photos in color soon.

Henna Dragon Tattoo Henna Dragon Tattoo Here is a wrist tattoo that became a wrap around dragon . We weren't sure quite how the dragon would go... but as always seems to happen, henna has a way of finding the natural patterns in a person. This tattoo is one example. Click the image for a full sized photo. If you want henna, remember, Spirit Vision Henna is avilable Saturday afternoons, or by appoitment for parties of all kinds. Henna Dragon Tattoo Henna Dragon Tattoo

Geometric Henna Pattern for Toes Here is a pretty geometirc henna pattern for toes . It is done with Jamila Henna using the recipe methods posted earlier in the blog. There is a sweet little embellishment for one heel that is not picutred today, I will have to put it online soon. Of course, if you are coming to Midnight Sun for henna toes.. it may be best to go barefoot for the rest of the day, or to wear the tiniest flip flops possible.

Abstract Henna Lotus - Gilded for summer fun. Don't you love gilding? I think it is great fun! Here is an abstract lotus pattern that a favorite here in Jax. If you know the author of this design, please send that info along so I may give credit where credit is due. Henna by donation (folding money please) at Midnight Sun on most Saturday afternoons. This design features glitter as gidling in ruby, turquoise & "diamond" (which is hard to see in the foto). The photo shows paste on the skin.

Quick Henna for the Back of the Hands I have a new tip, which is probably not news to more expericenced artists, but you may find it helpful. I have some henna powder, that while still good, is not super fresh... so I decided to put it in a mortar & pestle & grind it a bit more. (This powder is already super fine, so the pulverizing was not to improve the texture, rather to see if the grinding would help the powder release it's dye.) The result (which surprised me) was that the newly ground henna (from Pakistan) suddenly behaved like Yemini henna I had purchased in the past in that the henna had that gummy, yeasty quality when mixed as a paste.