Ed Hardy is the most impactful tattooer of our time. Now that he no longer working, does his influence end? [Watch this episode on YOUTUBE] Ed's legendary San Francisco shop, Tattoo City , closed its doors for good yesterday. His publishing company, Hardy Marks no longer has him at the helm. Does his influence end now that these two huge vehicles for how he performed and shared his work are in his past? While the shop is now gone, sadly, Ed handed the book publishing torch to a very capable team...
Dec 30, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 62
Andrew catches up with tattooer and musician, Dan Smith , backstage in Boston before Dan takes the stage with Eighteen Visions. They talk about the way music and tattooing can feed each other, Dan's experience with being featured on reality TV, and why he is enjoying slowing things down now. Find Dan at Captured Tattoo in Tustin, CA THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY: Afterlife Press Afterlife Press has just released Volume 4 of their flagship Afterlife Volumes series . Volume 4 features powerhouse ta...
Dec 16, 2024•45 min•Ep. 61
The legendary king of tribal tattooing, Leo Zulueta , was tricked into becoming a tattooer by Ed Hardy. Is there another tattooer with an origin story as crazy as that?! [This episode has a huge visual component, watch here on YouTube ] Leo talks about how the high contrast punk rock show posters he made in his younger years set the stage for the heavy black tribal tattoo style that he hugely brought into the visual vocabulary of western tattooing. Tattooing as we know it today would simply not ...
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 60
Adam Shrewsbury went all-in on pottery after a hiatus from tattooing, and has never looked back. Andrew visits Adam's pottery studio to see what he has been working on and what's next. Also, Adam discusses the clarity he has gained for his tattooing through taking a break, how tattooing suffers from a lack of outside influence, and a story about the time he got to pick up Thom DeVita from the airport. See more of Adam's work HERE (You can WATCH this video on YOUTUBE) BOOKS CLOSED is produced by ...
Dec 02, 2024•48 min•Ep. 59
Hold on tight, you are about to enter the mind of Julian Bast , and I don't think you are ready. (You can WATCH this video on YOUTUBE) Julian is a tattooer and artist who is focused on letting an unstructured process steer the ship. Modeling his approach after the freedom he saw his children have when making art, he keeps the idea of "play" at the forefront. I have admired everything he does for years, and was excited to finally meet him and spend some time getting tattooed and having the conver...
Nov 25, 2024•34 min•Ep. 58
Kicking off the new season with a Q+A addressing all of your important questions. Is tattooing dead? Are there too many shops? Is it a time for a new career? Nothing like doom and gloom to get back into the groove with the show! Andrew discusses listener submitted questions with his crew at Worship Tattoo. Bill Rocha, Kayleigh Rae, Kenley Darling and Mijo all sit in this week to try to answer all of tattooing's toughest questions. Stay tuned in until the end of the episode for some bonus unrelea...
Nov 21, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 57
Andrew heads to Savannah, Georgia to sit down with tattooer Zack Spurlock to discuss how he ruined his life for tattooing, which bands your favorite tattoos sound like, and why he strives for individuality in his work. Andrew also shares the story about his close encounter with his dream guest, Fred Durst. Watch THIS EPISODE on YouTube Find Zack at Kudzu Tattoo in Savannah, GA Find Andrew at Worship Tattoo in Portsmouth, NH BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by Andrew Stortz ( @andrewstortz ) Music by Epide...
Dec 04, 2023•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 56
Legendary tattoo artist, Filip Leu , sits down to discuss why he is excited to share his work with friends without seeking validation from social media, why no one is a “natural artist,” AI’s impact on making art, and why tattooing done with care is what it’s all about. This is part 2 of this conversation. Part 1 can be found on Ep 051. Watch THIS EPISODE on YouTube Watch the BEHIND THE SCENES of this episode Find Filip at The Leu Family's Family Iron in Bullet, Switzerland Find Andrew at Worshi...
Nov 27, 2023•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 55
Legendary tattoo artist, Filip Leu , sits down to discuss what a lifetime of tattooing can do to a person, the lessons his tattooer parents, Felix and Loretta, gave him over the years, and how tattooing is getting too darn detailed. Watch THIS EPISODE on YouTube Watch the BEHIND THE SCENES of this episode Find Filip at The Leu Family's Family Iron in Bullet, Switzerland Find Andrew at Worship Tattoo in Portsmouth, NH BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by Andrew Stortz ( @andrewstortz ) Music by Epidemic Sou...
Nov 20, 2023•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 54
NYC tattooer, Kati Vaughn , joins Andrew along with his first and only tattoo apprentice, Kenley , to discuss what it looks like to learn how to tattoo today. Then they dive down the rabbit hole of AI tattoos, getting large scale work done while under anesthesia, and TATTOOGATE. What a world! You can watch this episode on YOUTUBE Find Kati at Good Luck NYC in Brooklyn, NY Find Kenley and Andrew at Worship Tattoo in Portsmouth, NH This episode is sponsored by: TATTOO DREAM Procreate stamp brushes...
Nov 13, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 53
Australian tattooer, Onnie O'Leary , joins the show this week to chop it up about smut, art inspiration and unwanted face tattoos. You can find Onnie at TLD Tattoo in Sydney, Australia Get your limited BOOKS CLOSED "Tattooings Not Dead" T-shirt designed by Taki ( @stateofgracetaki ) This episode is sponsored by GoReminders BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by Andrew Stortz Music by SAKURA @sakura.beatz & Epidemic Sound...
Feb 02, 2023•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 52
This episode, Andrew is joined by tattooer and reluctant podcast guest, Justin Olivier . They discuss growing up in New Orleans, escaping hurricanes, the benefits of traveling, and why he likes to keep his head down and focus on his work. Recorded at Worship Tattoo in Portsmouth, NH BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by Andrew Stortz Music by SAKURA @sakura.beatz & Epidemic Sound...
Aug 10, 2022•44 min•Ep. 51
Coming at you from a big historic mansion this episode, Andrew sits down with Juli Moon and Erick Lynch to talk about tattoo history, collecting tat stuff, and how their pasts inform their futures. This conversation was made possible by Historic New England and their exhibit “Loud, Naked, & In Three Colors.” It traces the popularization of tattooing in Boston through the stories, “flash” art, memorabilia, and ephemera of the city’s leading tattoo pioneers. See the show for yourself through O...
Jul 25, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 50
Thank you for tuning again after an extended hiatus! This episode is somewhat of a "drawing room discussion" that happens often at my shop. I thought it would be fun to record it and make it into an episode after being radio silent for a while. Lots of room for discussion on this one since we are mostly just spinning our wheels from one topic into another. Recorded at Worship Tattoo in Portsmouth, NH Follow me on IG @andrewstortz Follow Billy on IG @billychop www.booksclosedpodcast.com for more ...
Jun 10, 2022•47 min•Ep. 49
Tattoo artist, Sharky , talks about how travels and adventures have prepared her for almost anything, how that same spirit played into the start of her tattoo career, and about her friendship with Lyle Tuttle. Find Sharky at Classic Tattoo in San Marcos, TX. Catch her new IGTV show live every Monday night at 9pm EST, “Welcome To The Backroom” and watch archives on @richfie page. This episode is sponsored by: HIRING NOW AT: High Priestess is one of the Pacific Northwest's premier piercing and tat...
Apr 26, 2021•48 min•Ep. 48
The past year has been riddled with shutdowns and uncertainty in tattooing and the rest of our lives. Andrew takes a look back at some unpublished interviews from last May, as well as some current stories from a couple tattooers who are still feeling the effects of the pandemic in different ways. This episode's guests : Lauren - Diamond Mind Tattoo (Massachusetts) Adam Hays - Dedication Tattoo (Colorado) Freak - Deep Seas Tattoo (California) Jasmine Wright - Kings Avenue (New York) ERoy - Texas ...
Apr 19, 2021•47 min•Ep. 47
Nikko Hurtado is one of the biggest names in the tattoo industry. We discuss the path that lead him there, side effects of the pandemic, new trends in social media, and what's up with Fred Durst? Find Nikko at Black Anchor Collective in Hesperia, CA and Black Anchor Gallery in Hollywood, CA. This episode is sponsored by: DOS-M Digital Optimizations For Tattoo Artists Head to digitaltattooers.com to get your FREE strategy session setup today! BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by Andrew Stortz ( @andrewstort...
Mar 17, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 46
Tattoo artist Hanna Sandstrom talks about her career that has brought her around the world, and how she has slowed it all down to focus on her health and what is truly important after getting a cancer diagnosis. Follow Hanna's work here and find more current info about her here BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by Andrew Stortz ( @andrewstortz ) Music by SAKURA @sakura.beatz and Epidemic Sound Books Closed Voicemail Line: (857)444-0662...
Mar 08, 2021•57 min•Ep. 45
Have you heard about the ink ban in Europe? After seeing some conflicting information online, I talk to Selina Medina about what is really going on. What does it mean for tattooers? Will the US follow suit and start regulating tattoo pigment? Check out the resources that Selina shared with me HERE . Get your copy of "The Science of Tattooing" Read the NPR article about the ink ban here Watch this full episode on YOUTUBE Do you know Fred Durst? Help me get him as a guest on the show! BOOKS CLOSED...
Feb 25, 2021•45 min•Ep. 44
In this episode, I talk to Chicago tattoo artist, Faith ( @americanflesh ), about how she walked away from tattooing for over 2 years to undergo conversion therapy through a church, what it was like coming back to tattooing afterward, and her inspiration to open her new shop Wish Me Luck Tattoo . Timestamps : (00:00) Intro (00:17) Do you know Fred Durst? (02:50) Faith’s 2.5 year break from tattooing (05:23) Conversion therapy (12:32) Starting to tattoo again after being ex-communicated from the ...
Feb 03, 2021•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 43
Best buds Paul Dobleman (Blackheart Tattoo, SF) and Austin Maples (Enjoy Tattoos, LA) sit in for the show and talk about the state of California tattooing amidst the lockdown, how they've curated focused clientele, and each reveal a deep dark secret. This is a fun one! Timestamps: (00:01) Intro (00:38) Do you know Fred Durst? (02:02) California tattooing shutdown (07:08) Austin’s new shop (09:02) Forced break helped to reprioritize (19:09) Moving out of California? (22:13) Why are so many people...
Jan 28, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 42
What happened to tattoo magazines? Tat-journalist, James Musker ( @toadhell___ ), joins Andrew this week to talk about his experiences writing for various online and print publications, being there for the end of Skin Deep magazine, and what the future may look like for those who write words about pictures on skin. BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by Andrew Stortz ( @andrewstortz ) Music by SAKURA @sakura.beatz What do you think about this episode? Leave me a message on the Books Closed Voicemail Line: (8...
Dec 09, 2020•43 min•Ep. 41
Is tattooing a performance art? What if the performance is more highly regarded than the tattoo itself? Bill Rocha ( @billychop ) sits in for this episode to discuss one of the most unique tattooers on Instagram: @RixardTattoo Links to the videos discussed in this episode: Bicycle Feet/Head tattooing Fencing Drone Cello Trampoline BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by Andrew Stortz ( @andrewstortz ) Music by SAKURA @sakura.beatz What do you think about this episode? Leave me a message on the Books Closed Vo...
Oct 22, 2020•56 min•Ep. 40
Steve Byrne joins the show again to talk about the legal battle between Sailor Jerry’s widow and a big liquor company, art ownership, intellectual property, and why he wants bootleggers to eat their copies of his work. Steve works at Rock Of Ages Tattoo in Austin, TX. Buy his book Non Stop Tattooing from Atonement Books BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by Andrew Stortz ( @andrewstortz ) Music by SAKURA @sakura.beatz Books Closed Voicemail Line: (857)444-0662 This episode's sponsors: ETERNAL INK Use coupon...
Feb 24, 2020•48 min•Ep. 39
Work/life balance for tattooers is a never ending challenge. Since it was just Valentine's Day, let's talk about relationships with the most special of guests...my wife, Rachel . We also hear from Greg Christian and Cindy Stroemple about what it's like when two tattooers tie the knot. I have always felt the pressure of keeping my obsession with tattooing in check. It has had repercussions in my personal life, and is something that I still strive to balance as we speak. My wife sits in on the sho...
Feb 17, 2020•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 38
Hannah Wolf drops some knowledge about tattoo ink and Billy White tells us why he will always cover racist tattoos for free. Hannah Wolf works at Occult Tattoo in Oakland, CA. Check out her book The Science of Tattooing Billy White works at Red Rose Tattoo in Zanesville, OH. Watch the documentary he is featured in: Beneath The Ink BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by Andrew Stortz ( @andrewstortz ) Music by SAKURA @sakura.beatz Books Closed Voicemail Line: (857)444-0662 booksclosedpodcast.com THIS EPISODE'...
Feb 10, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 37
I talked to Alex Kass and Zac Scheinbaum , a couple tattooers who pursue tattoo related projects in addition to their day to day work. Alex runs the instagram page @tattoogear4sale , which has become the top place to buy, sell and trade (yes, you guessed it) tattoo gear. We talked about how he started the page, and some of the challenges that come with keeping it running. Zac created Afterlife Press , an independent publishing company that has put out two amazing books focusing on some of the gr...
Feb 03, 2020•59 min•Ep. 36
Didn't get enough on Ep 032? Here is more with Doreen Garner . Doreen works at Saved Tattoo in Brooklyn, NY. This extended episode is sponsored by: GoReminders Eliminate no-shows, save time & increase revenue with GoReminders. It is simple, automatic appointment reminders via text messages and email. This service pays or itself with just ONE avoided no-show appointment! Head over to: goreminders.com/booksclosed for 10% off for life!...
Jan 15, 2020•38 min•Ep. 35
Tamara Santibañez talks about what it is like to be stretched between two "worlds" within tattooing, and the weight of tattoos on those who get them and those who do them. Tamara's Informed Consent and Trauma-Aware Tattooing brochure can be found here . Doreen Garner shares what drew her to tattooing, and the positive effect that increasing diversity can have on the industry. You can get tattooed by Tamara and Doreen at Saved Tattoo in NYC. BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by Andrew Stortz Music by SAKURA...
Jan 13, 2020•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 34
Nick Colella joins the show this week to talk about how much of the old school mentality can realistically be applied in today's tattooing. Should we really be trying to blindly celebrate the past? You can find Nick at Great Lakes Tattoo in Chicago, IL. BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by Andrew Stortz Music by SAKURA @sakura.beatz Books Closed Voicemail Line: (857)444-0662 booksclosedpodcast.com THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS: ETERNAL INK ( eternaltattoosupply.com ) @eternalink Use coupon code BOOKSCLOSED to ge...
Jan 06, 2020•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 33
