The New Tattoo

Rating:
Summary: A Few Nice Tattoos, Little Else
Review: There are many beautiful and unique works of art throughoutthis book. I was, however, a bit disappointed in the photography anddocumentation. Some of the tattoos needed to be displayed differently to be fully appreciated. There is a small introduction at the beginning that provides a brief history of this ancient art. Beyond that, there are only pictures. I would recommend this book as a conversation piece. It is also a good book to add to your collection of body art photography/books. If you are looking for experiences or general information, however, I suggest you look elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: Berndt's Photos are a Must
Review: This 1994 book provides an excellent overview of modern American tattooing. Berndt's photos are what make this book, and the collections are well grouped. Sections include tribal, painting/portraits, imagination/fantasy, neotraditional, and "all the rest." This is tattooing as post-modern art, with tons of art school influences and present-day tribal interpretations throughout. Featured artists include Leo Zulueta, Don Ed Hardy, Jill Jordan, Alex Binnie, Fred Corbin, Eddie Deutsche. This book is also unique in that it was authored and photographed by women. Lautman and Berndt have created a great piece for your tattoo library.

Rating:
Summary: Must-have for anyone who loves tatoo art
Review: This is a must have book for anyone who loves the art of tattoo. The book features a wide variety of tattoo styles, and many unusual designs. The photography is excellent, so the details of each design can be seen clearly.

Tattoo styles include tribal, fantasy, neo-traditional, paintings and a wide variety of others. One of my favorites is of a woman with beautiful butterfly wings covering her entire back.

I also enjoyed several tattoos that were styled after Chinese sumi-e painting. The beautiful designs include many birds & a large fish with a woman. I found a circular tribal tattoo on a man's head to be interesting as well.

Another of my favorites was a flourished bird on a man's back. At the end of the book there is a great section on the tattoo process, if you would like to get one for yourself. A list of other tattoo books & magazines was also helpful.