True Widow

If you are not aware of the band True Widow, do yourself a favor and check them out.  Truly Amazing.

Leave of absence...

I am officially taking a sabbatical from machine building.  I've spent the last 6 months or so really focusing on tattooing and I feel way better about that part of my career for the first time in a long time.  If I get the time to build machines this summer, I'll post them for sale here or on instagram (I'm @turnermade).  I'll have some available at upcoming conventions as well.  Here's what I'm getting at - if you send me an email requesting a machine, it will probably be ignored.  I'm really tired of disappointing people with unreasonable deadlines I set for myself and this seems like the best way to handle this part of my business.  My plans are to spend my summer tattooing, painting, and squeezing in some fun here and there for a change.  Chances are, I'll be back to taking orders come winter, but until then...  back to the tattoo grindstone.

Dear Facebook, We need to talk. It's not me, it's you.

I've always had my reservations about social networks. They are great tools for promoting yourself and networking, but then there's all the other bullshit that comes with it.  So I've decided to move on from Facebook and consolidate my efforts.  I'm still on Instagram @turnermade, where I post the most recent pictures of my tattoo work, paintings, and machines I'm building.  If we were having a conversation via Facebook and our business was left unfinished, please email me at turnermade@me.com .  That's all for now.  This is yet another effort to answer all correspondence in a more timely manor.  I'd like to have a life outside of tattooing and building machines one day.  Thanks!

Ps.  The Hell Bomb Tattoo page is still up on Facebook.

2012... The End is Here.

The good people at LLL publishing have done it again!  "2012, The End is Here", is an artistic look into how we perceive doomsday prophesies in this sensationalized year.  Many of the worlds most talented tattoo artists are featured in this publication and I highly recommend you check it out.  A big thanks to Zach and Ezra for inviting me to be a part of this amazing project.  Ordering can be done via their website, www.lllbooks.com

Prints Available!

Prints of this lovely mermaid lady I painted are finally available.  They are 12"x18" on lightweight watercolor paper. $45 post paid anywhere in the US.  International orders add $10.  Paypal turnermade@me.com  Thanks!

New Milton Zeis Tribute Book...

A big thanks to Mr. Scott Boyer for inviting me to be a part of his book project honoring the life and work of Milton Zeis.  It features an amazing amount of talented tattooers paying homage to the historic flash he created from the 1920's through the 1970's.  If you'd like to get a copy, it's scheduled for release in early 2012.  Pre-orders are now available through Yellow Beak Press.

Tattoo Artist Magazine Blog...

A big thanks to Dawn Cooke at Depot Town Tattoo for the mention in the new Tattoo Artist Magazine blog.  I'm in good company on this list that features some of my favorite tattooers.  Click the banner to check it out. 

Got to do this fun hand tattoo last week.  Thanks Lyle for being a trooper!

Winter is a coming...

Things have been so hectic lately!  I'm certainly not complaining... I'd much rather be overworked than bored to death.

First off, I just got back from getting tattooed by Thomas Hooper in Brooklyn.  It was a fantastic experience and I'd like to say thanks to everyone at Saved for being so cool.  My good friend Andy and I got to see Portishead which is something I never thought I'd do in my lifetime.  Good times.

Thank you Thomas.

Portishead at the Hammerstien Ballroom.

MOMA

In other news, I have constructed a chicken coop.  It's been nice working on something that isn't tattoo related.  I grew up on a farm just outside Wichita and it's nice to have a bit of that in my backyard.  One of these days I'm gonna move back to the country, but utill then, this will have to do.  

Here's a couple of new painting projects I've finished recently.  Thanks for looking!

New tattoos!

Thanks Ashley!

 Cover up in progress...

"Portrait" of Wichita's infamous Larry Keith on Mr. Heath Leffel

In progress.  Thanks Ant!

A few new tattoo machines!

Twitter!!!

So, I'm on twitter.  If you wanna witness all the ridiculous things I have to say.... then follow me.  Do it now.
@thatsteveturner

Get Rad!!!

Wichitans, mark your calendars.  This Saturday evening there is going to be a fantastic art show happening at the Commerce Gallery.  "Get Rad" is a skateboard themed art show put on by Matt Headly of Red Sea Tattoo and Chris Trenary of Notes and Noises.  The roster is killer!  I'm sure it's going to be a great time.  Thanks to Mr. Headly and Mr. Trenary for letting all of us at Hell Bomb be a part!  Check out the website for all the info and list of artists.

Finally! Some industry media we can appreciate.

Check out this great Dan Santoro interview.  Vice has done it again!  It's interesting, fun, and insightful.  I wish all tattoo related media was of this quality.  I've got some major peeves about tattooers and their interviews.  Most of the time they read like the back of a baseball card.  The same old boring stats about how long you've been tattooing, where you have worked, ect.  I think most magazines could do away with their boring format for interviewing and move to a standardized fact sheet, thus eliminating the trite bullshit and publish more pictures.  I don't know about you, but that's what I'm after when I peruse a tattoo publication.  I'm sure it's very much the interviewers fault, but who cares.  My point is this- Dan's video is amazing.

On the same note, Marcus Kuhn's Gypsy Gentlemen is a fantastic peice of current tattoo media.  A great insight as to what tattooing is really about for those of us who really care.  Worth checking out.  Hat's off Marcus!

Daily Grind...

Few new tattoos I've been working on...

Thanks Erik! 

Thanks Ben! 

 In progress...  Thanks Todd!

Thanks Tim!

Thanks William!

In other news, I'll be tattooing in Bowling Green, KY August 10th-13th. Contact Carters Tattoo (270) 843-1122 for appointments.  Thanks! 

Communication Breakdown...

If you e-mailed me in the past 4-6 months and did not get a response, please try me again.  I just cleaned out my inbox and tried to catch up on anything I might have overlooked.  I'm not the most organized person.... and I'm a tattooer = ultra flakey at times.  I apologize if I did not reply to your messages.

On a similar note... I'm going to be simplifying the way I take machine orders.  From now on,  throw a money order ($400) and a detailed note in an envelope and send it my way.  Upon receiving your payment, I will email you to confirm payment and you will then be on the list!  It's that easy!!!  I'll do my best to accommodate your requests as long as your not too bossy.  This will cut down on the back and forth via email and phone calls and will essentially get you your machine much faster!  Everyone wins.

Rebuilds...  I'm not taking anymore rebuilds at this time.  It's been a super hectic summer and I'd really like to get caught up on the ones I already have.  I'm planning on lifting this embargo in December when things slow down again, so stay tuned.

WOW! I need to get this blog updated!

I have so much respect for the people out there who faithfully update their blogs.  I can't seem to find the time, so.... my "blog" has turned into an un-updated, failed website.  Maybe one of these days I'll have the time to really get on this and make it into what it really should be.  Dare to dream.  In the meanwhile, here's some pics of some of the things I've been up to.  Now back to work.

Que Pictures.... Tattooing...

Thanks Lyle!

Thanks Rob, you're a trooper!

 Thank you Jesse!

Thanks Rufas!

Thanks Carl!

Thank you Josh!

 Thanks again Shelly!

Thanks Kevin!

Tattooing Devices...

For Ms. Karrie Blackbird

For Mr. Jerrad DeRossett

For Mr. Will Lollie

For Mr. Chris Lain

Check out these other blogs!!!

Ben Siebert finally got himself a blog!  Check it out here.

And why you're out and about on the internets... check out my friend Jordon's blog.  Highly entertaining and very obscene.
Jordon the Barbarian!

A few projects finished....

Finished up this koi fish tattoo.  Teri was down with doing a wild color combo which made it even more fun.  Thanks Teri!  

Also finished up Shelly's cobra / rat tattoo.  Healed pics coming soon.

 Another koi.  One sitting and another fun color scheme.  I've been very fortunate lately to have clients who are down with taking their tattoo in fun directions.  Hell Yeah!

Such a comedian...

Oh Mr. Leffel, you are quite a character.  Another installment of "this my life...".  I've got a stockpile of these drawings somewhere. When I find them, I'll be sure to share them with the world.  Heath really needs to get his comic book career off the ground.  I really think the tattoo community would appreciate it.

On a more serious note, I built the machine pictured above for Mr. Weston Keisel.  Thank you sir for your patronage.

Untitled...

Fun henna style dagger I did a while back.