You call that a needle? THIS IS A NEEDLE!

I’m quite fascinated by the experimental ultra-wide needles that experimental art tattooists Cy Wilson and Caro (see the blog skintraces.blogspot.ca for an engrossing view into their avant garde world of ink). Check out these monstrosities:

big-needle-bar

If you’re wondering what sort of strange art you might create with such a contraption, here are three guniea pigs they’ve experimented on with them, using them to do strange calligraphic brushstrokes that would be almost impossible with a traditional tattoo tool — the only other thing that could easily create such a pattern are some of the hammer-like hand-tattoo chisels that some polynesian tatu masters use. In the past people have experimented with similar needles to speed up black filling, but here they’re being used more creatively. Click to zoom in on these images:

skintraces1t skintraces2t skintraces3t

Again, do check out skintraces.blogspot.ca — whether you love it or hate it, it’s a fascinating look at the borders of the tattoo artform, where it intersects with modern art.

36 thoughts on “You call that a needle? THIS IS A NEEDLE!

  1. I can only imagine how amazing that would look in colour as a kind of ‘painted’ tattoo. Love it.

  2. I can only imagine how amazing that would look in colour as a kind of ‘painted’ tattoo. Love it.

  3. I can only imagine how amazing that would look in colour as a kind of ‘painted’ tattoo. Love it.

  4. theres nothing strange or experimental about big mags most tattooists use mags in excess of 23 needles wide every day they do the same job as a small mag just cover more area they are commonly used for detailed portrait work japanese work photo realism so i really dont see what the point of the article is

  5. theres nothing strange or experimental about big mags most tattooists use mags in excess of 23 needles wide every day they do the same job as a small mag just cover more area they are commonly used for detailed portrait work japanese work photo realism so i really dont see what the point of the article is

  6. theres nothing strange or experimental about big mags most tattooists use mags in excess of 23 needles wide every day they do the same job as a small mag just cover more area they are commonly used for detailed portrait work japanese work photo realism so i really dont see what the point of the article is

  7. cool! this needles could be used in other styles of tattooing in the future…

  8. cool! this needles could be used in other styles of tattooing in the future…

  9. cool! this needles could be used in other styles of tattooing in the future…

  10. That looks like garbage, whoever did that middle tattoo completely destroyed that guys arm

  11. That looks like garbage, whoever did that middle tattoo completely destroyed that guys arm

  12. That looks like garbage, whoever did that middle tattoo completely destroyed that guys arm

  13. So…the top of the one on the middle…is the client wearing some sort of clothing? Like black woolen or delicate knit? Because otherwise the person who tattooed this seems to have no regard for simply destroying skin. Unless I’m just seeing something wrong, I’m appalled.

  14. So…the top of the one on the middle…is the client wearing some sort of clothing? Like black woolen or delicate knit? Because otherwise the person who tattooed this seems to have no regard for simply destroying skin. Unless I’m just seeing something wrong, I’m appalled.

  15. So…the top of the one on the middle…is the client wearing some sort of clothing? Like black woolen or delicate knit? Because otherwise the person who tattooed this seems to have no regard for simply destroying skin. Unless I’m just seeing something wrong, I’m appalled.

  16. i dont think so, to me it looks just like my black arm a day after the session which then turned out beautifully..you can see the bottom part is still red, so it must be quite fresh.(and check the blog, its not a guy, but a girls arm…). and when you look at the overall quality of their work, it seems ridiculous to me to say they dont care about destroying the skin..i mean look…
    and yes, big mags for filling are normal, but its nice to see someone experiments with them in a different way..no?

  17. i dont think so, to me it looks just like my black arm a day after the session which then turned out beautifully..you can see the bottom part is still red, so it must be quite fresh.(and check the blog, its not a guy, but a girls arm…). and when you look at the overall quality of their work, it seems ridiculous to me to say they dont care about destroying the skin..i mean look…
    and yes, big mags for filling are normal, but its nice to see someone experiments with them in a different way..no?

  18. i dont think so, to me it looks just like my black arm a day after the session which then turned out beautifully..you can see the bottom part is still red, so it must be quite fresh.(and check the blog, its not a guy, but a girls arm…). and when you look at the overall quality of their work, it seems ridiculous to me to say they dont care about destroying the skin..i mean look…
    and yes, big mags for filling are normal, but its nice to see someone experiments with them in a different way..no?

  19. Hey guyZ!
    I’m the girl with the tattoos on the 1st and the seconc pic.
    My partially black arm, represents a city on a cliff which is crossed by an oscillo-cardiogram which finished on a finger.
    I am very tattooed but Cy’s tattoos and Caro, were the only ones who healed very quickly, with a regular and not bruised skin.
    The quality and the finality are just perfect!
    Furthermore, to answer the young man who thinks that I spoiled my arm, it is certain that my tattoo fascinates, and much to my surprise, people from 7 to 90 years old.
    And to finish, beyond the quality of execution and the hygiene, much more reassuring than in hospitals, it is a great meeting of 2 people who give of their soul and they hold an expensive place in my heart.

    MéLa

  20. Hey guyZ!
    I’m the girl with the tattoos on the 1st and the seconc pic.
    My partially black arm, represents a city on a cliff which is crossed by an oscillo-cardiogram which finished on a finger.
    I am very tattooed but Cy’s tattoos and Caro, were the only ones who healed very quickly, with a regular and not bruised skin.
    The quality and the finality are just perfect!
    Furthermore, to answer the young man who thinks that I spoiled my arm, it is certain that my tattoo fascinates, and much to my surprise, people from 7 to 90 years old.
    And to finish, beyond the quality of execution and the hygiene, much more reassuring than in hospitals, it is a great meeting of 2 people who give of their soul and they hold an expensive place in my heart.

    MéLa

  21. Hey guyZ!
    I’m the girl with the tattoos on the 1st and the seconc pic.
    My partially black arm, represents a city on a cliff which is crossed by an oscillo-cardiogram which finished on a finger.
    I am very tattooed but Cy’s tattoos and Caro, were the only ones who healed very quickly, with a regular and not bruised skin.
    The quality and the finality are just perfect!
    Furthermore, to answer the young man who thinks that I spoiled my arm, it is certain that my tattoo fascinates, and much to my surprise, people from 7 to 90 years old.
    And to finish, beyond the quality of execution and the hygiene, much more reassuring than in hospitals, it is a great meeting of 2 people who give of their soul and they hold an expensive place in my heart.

    MéLa

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