The traditions of tattooing have been deeply rooted in the echoes of time. If you meet anyone who has been tattooing for more than 15 years, they will tell you how things used to be. […]
Author Archives: Matt Hodel
5 Traits that Hold You Back
Posted in Positive Message
Tagged art, Bastards of art, big tattoo, colorful tattoo, drawing, good tattoos, matt hodel, ragtime tattoo, St. Louis, tattoos
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The Transition.
Haram is past the honeymoon phase at the shop. She has plenty to do and knows what is expected of her. It is obvious that she is up for the challenge. Teaching someone to tattoo […]
Posted in Haram
Tagged art, big tattoo, colorful tattoo, good tattoos, haram, haram ahn, hodel, matt hodel, motivation, ragtime tattoo, St. Louis, st.louis, tattoo, tattoos
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Most People Won’t
Putting the extra into your hard work is what makes you rise to the top. Nothing will be given to you. What is amazing is how many people will come to help you once you […]
Posted in Positive Message
Tagged Bastards of art, big tattoo, matt hodel, motivation, St. Louis, st.louis, tattoo, tattoos, travel
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The Sketchbook
The learning process can happen so fast. Successfully absorbing all the new information is overwhelming. I have gotten in the habit of keeping Mole notebooks handy to write notes and sketch pictures. These provide […]
Posted in Haram
Tagged apprenticeships, big tattoo, colorful tattoo, good tattoos, haram, haram ahn, learn tattooing, matt hodel, motivation, ragtime tattoo, St. Louis, tattoo
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Tattooing has Changed, Have You?
In 1995 there were 14 tattoo shops from O’fallon, Illinois to O’fallon, Missouri. In 1998 there were 40. With each shop averaging 3 artists working in house, that would equal 78 new jobs for tattoo […]
Posted in Positive Message
Tagged art, colorful tattoo, draw, drawing, good tattoos, learn tattooing, matt hodel, motivation, productivity, ragtime tattoo, St. Louis, tattoo
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Fancy Door Bells…
The Tattoo Machine. The first tattoos were hand poke. Humans used sharp instruments to rip tiny pockets under the skin. A repetitive popping motion that was performed by hand. Pop Pop Pop. Some people say […]
Posted in Haram
Tagged art, colorful tattoo, good tattoos, haram, haram ahn, learn, learn tattooing, matt hodel, St. Louis, tattoo
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Advice for the New Tattooist.
Tips for the Freshman Tattooist. Its has been said that you haven’t been tattooing until your fifth year is complete. This is when you get to see your old tattoos healed. It takes that long […]
Posted in Positive Message
Tagged art, big tattoo, colorful tattoo, good tattoos, haram ahn, learn tattooing, matt hodel, photography, productivity, ragtime tattoo, St. Louis, tutorial
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Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals.
My friend Haram is wanting to learn how to tattoo. After learning a bit about the history of tattooing, she took quickly to studying the designs of the past. It is important to understand what […]
Posted in Haram
Tagged art, colorful tattoo, design, good tattoos, haram, haram ahn, hodel, learn tattooing, matt hodel, ragtime tattoo, st.louis, tattoo, tattoo flash
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Emotionally Driven Tattoos
Emotionally driven tattoos When a loved one passes away, the feelings of helplessness washes over us. The desire to “do something” gnaws at our heartstrings. Tattooing has always been the ultimate act. The one thing […]
Posted in Positive Message
Tagged art, colorful tattoo, good tattoos, matt, matt hodel, ragtime tattoo, st.louis, tattoo
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Worked to Death.
Measuring success. What is your barometer for success? What are your benchmarks to get there? Have you been making progress? As self employed practitioners of the tattoo arts, we enjoy a rebellious reaction to those […]
Posted in Positive Message
Tagged art, draw, freedom, good tattoos, matt hodel, money, productivity, ragtime tattoo, St. Louis, tattoo
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Want More Money? Then Stop Worrying about the Money
Your reward is a byproduct. The fastest route is a straight line: unless you’re so focused on the destination that you fall off the path. This happens when you are trying so dang hard to […]
Posted in Positive Message
Tagged art, big tattoo, colorful tattoo, drawing, goal, good tattoos, matt hodel, money, productivity, ragtime tattoo, st.louis
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Haram’s Approach to Success
The greatest thing about working with others is watching them grow. Perspective and comfort zones are put to the test as we merge into a new way of life. Tattooing is just that: A Lifestyle. […]
Posted in Haram
Tagged art, colorful tattoo, haram, haram ahn, learn tattooing, matt hodel, productivity, ragtime tattoo, St. Louis, tattoos
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Become the PRODUCT!
“I just love my tattoo! It was fast and efficient!” -nobody ever Why. Why do I want to rally the troops? Why do I want to reach out to artists? Because times have changed. The […]
Posted in Positive Message
Tagged art, big tattoo, colorful tattoo, good tattoos, matt hodel, productivity, ragtime tattoo, St. Louis
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Haram’s Next Step to Tattooing
If you have been following my posts, I have taken on a young lady who would like to learn how to tattoo. We are still young in our relationship so she is not the apprentice […]
Posted in Haram
Tagged big tattoo, haram, haram ahn, matt hodel, ragtime tattoo, St. Louis, tattoo
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Cancelation Policy!
People cancel their appointments. This is a simple fact of business. I do not take offense to a cancelation. Do you want to know why? I love my clients. I love hanging out with them […]
Posted in Positive Message
Tagged art, big tattoo, cancelation, good tattoos, matt hodel, motivation, productivity, ragtime tattoo, St. Louis, tattoos
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Snazzy old Drawings
In a perfect world I would sit in a small cabin and draw pictures that made me giggle all day. Here are some ink and digital pictures I drew last year or so.
Lessons Learned
My SELFJournal has a few parts to it. There is an opening of the day that includes writing your Itinerary, a Gratitude lList, Targets and daily Goals. Upon closing the day, you write Lessons Learned, […]
Posted in Interesting, Life, Positive Message
Tagged art, Bastards of art, big tattoo, good tattoos, haram, haram ahn, matt hodel, motivation, ragtime tattoo, St. Louis, st.louis, tattoos
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The Showmen of Tattooing
Another great and informative blog on the History of Tattooing. Tattooing is rich with culture. There are so many aspects of just getting the tattoo that adds to the meaning behind the action. Without the […]
Posted in Haram, Humor
Tagged good tattoos, haram ahn, Haram Tattoo, matt hodel, ragtime tattoo, st.louis
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Bastards of Art Podcast : Episode 26
Learning to Tattoo Recently I have been hanging out with Haram. She wants to learn how to tattoo. But first she must understand what it is she is asking for. Matt Hodel
Tattoo Artist Meet-up!
What we do is not secret. Secrecy has been considered a value in the tattoo culture. It has been such a tradition to guard all of your information that we pretend we are sitting on […]
Posted in Positive Message
Tagged art, draw, good tattoos, matt hodel, motivation, ragtime tattoo, St. Louis, tattoos, tutorial
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Tattoos I Tattoodid…
Sometimes I feel so swamped drawing new tattoos for clients that I forget how much I have done. They say if you wanna have self esteem, do something to be esteemed about! I’m posting this […]
Posted in Art, Tattoo Pictures
Tagged art, bad ischl, big tattoo, colorful tattoo, good tattoos, hodel, learn tattooing, matt hodel, motivation, photography, St. Louis, st.louis, tattoo
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History Lesson in Tattooing
The history of tattooing is as colorful as tattoos themselves. Where would Batman be without the Joker? Every town has their rival shops. Without them tattooing would be boring. I can teach someone how […]
Posted in Haram
Tagged art, big tattoo, colorful tattoo, good tattoos, haram ahn, ragtime tattoo, St. Louis, tattoo, tattoo history
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New Episode!! Bastards of Art Podcast
Episode 25 starts a new chapter for the Bastrards of Art PODCAST! I’m back with some short and sweet episodes! Miss me? I know you did!! -Matt Hodel
Posted in Uncategorized
Bastards of Art : Lost Episodes
The Bastards of Art Movement Last year I had the idea to try a podcast. I wrangled Jon Fournier into the project and together we recorded 24 episodes that were released weekly. Together we […]
GET SOME!
No one said it would be easy!!