Welcome to Art Of Gold Tattoo

Portland Tattoo Expo Experience.

By Betty B

    I packed my Van on Thursday October 21st on Bowen Island, BC, Canada, and headed to Portland, Oregon, USA via The I5. We arrived in Portland late on Thursday evening and headed straight for our friend and fellow Tattooer Rachael Gilbert of No Hope No Fear. She and her Fiancée Cas were kind enough to let us crash at their place and show us around their city for the weekend.

   We got up the next morning and headed for the event and the sometimes daunting, but always exciting task of load in and set up. It?s great the feeling when you get there, seeing all of your friends and the familiar faces from past shows. The line-up of Artists this year was phenomenal. Many of the Artists had already set up by the time I arrived. Straight away I noticed Nikko Hurtado, Myke Chambers, Big Gus, Carlos Rojas, Lisa Schmoldt, Miss Mikky, Jeremy Justice, and of course James Kern Owner and operator of No Hope No Fear Tattoo, just to name a few.  Aside from the neck cranking list of artists there was also a small collection of vintage vehicles and incredible fine art being set up for everyone?s viewing pleasure. All of this in the first 5 minutes after sign in and before I?ve even found my booth that I am honoured to be sharing with Lucky Barnard and Taylor Wooten of Artful Dodger Tattoo in Seattle.  Set up is surprisingly smooth and our location is prime. But seeing the crew of Artful Dodger after a couple month hiatus was easily the best part.

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    2:00 pm Friday October 22, doors open to the public. Being a workday the crowd slowly trickled in and provided some glorious people watching while I awaited my Client and friend Ashley from Seattle to arrive at 4.  After She arrived I finished a Neo-Traditional Owl tattoo on her forearm I had started at the Seattle Convention in August. While I was tattooing Ashley, the contests and events began around us. The buzz of machines was easily heard around and over the music, the M.C., and general chatter of the crowds. Ashley?s tattoo took some time, unfortunately we were supposed to be done by 10 and the convention center shut off the lights at 9:59 to the dismay and anger of many still working artists. The promoters of the show had them turn the lights back on fairly quickly.  A smart decision, I mean would anyone really want a mob of huge angry tattooed people after them over a few minute discrepancy?.

   After we wrapped up the tattoo and left the convention it was time for Portland at night. We had been invited to the grand opening of Miss Mikky?s tattoo studio Fortune Tattoo. It was obvious that the general consensus was this would be the place to be so we headed there. In this case the general populous was correct. There where custom choppers and vintage hot rods everywhere, and the crowd to match.  A band was taking the stage in the space set up beside the studio, and everyone was raging. Mikki?s night was a grand success, I am sure the same can be said of her new venture. @font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }

    Saturday Noonish, I find myself in my general expo haze and it?s only day 2. Artists are wondering in and the crowd is hitting full swing. I started setting up for my client, when I hear my friend Lisa Schmoldt call my name. I turn around to see Toby Froud and his wife Sarah, Lisa had tattooed them in August in Seattle. I almost let out a little scream. I don?t usually find myself star struck, but in the presence of Faerie folk I could barely control myself. It was pure coincidence that I was tattooing a Froud Faerie that same day and got to show it off to Toby and Sarah.  Earlier Taylor Wooten decided he wanted to be tattooed by Myke Chambers so I introduced them and they decided to do a tiger head on his throat. Taylor took it like the seasoned collector he is, and Myke did an amazing job!.  About halfway through the day I was lucky enough to catch a performance by Broadway Revue and the Area 51 girls. The beautiful Area 51 Girls performance was sexy with a side of class, and style, not to be missed.

   We wrapped it up at around 10 and decided an unofficial after party was to take place at Acropolis, a local peeler and steak bar. I heard the term steak and titties said numerous times throughout the day.  When we arrived it was a star-studded cast of tattooers and fans. The food and entertainment were both delicious and a great time. I knew soon after we got there that Sunday would be a tough day. @font-face { font-family: "Times"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }

   Sunday Mid Day we begin day three. I have lost my voice and what noise I can make sounds mostly like a 13 year old pubescent boy. Could have been the cigarettes, the Drink or the hollering at the Dancers but most likely a combination of all of the above.  From 12-3 Nikko Hurtado is doing a colour portrait seminar that I wish I could have been at, instead I will live vicariously through my friends who were fortunate enough to attend. I was told it was phenomenal and that Nikko is a gracious and modest teacher.  There were other seminars all weekend including Dan Dringenberg : Machine Tuning Workshop, Russ Abbott: Colour Theory , A conversation with Shotsie Gorman and Splat Ter: Blood Borne Pathogens

   6pm it?s time for the long awaited Best of Show for the famed Dringenberg award a custom made diamond encrusted tattoo machine. The winners of tattoo of the day for the weekend all competed for the award, amazing work was shown by each of the artists. Unfortunately there can only be one winner and the award went to Michael Toth for a beautiful skull forearm piece on a lucky collector.

     Portland?s second annual tattoo expo was a great success, now a Hot Toddie for my throat and the highway home to Canada. Thanks everyone see ya?ll next Time!.

Betty B