Jul 26
High Voltage Tattoo
Posted on Sunday, July 26, 2009 in Tattoo Information
High Voltage Tattoo is a graphic perspective on today’s global tattoo culture by Kat Von D, star of The Learning Channel’s L.A. Ink and one of the most talented and popular artists working today. Designed in a style that is reminiscent of a handmade Gothic journal with its red padded cover, ornate typography, and parchmentlike pages, it throws the door wide open to tattooing culture in the way only an insider like Kat can. High Voltage Tattoo traces Kat’s career as an artist, from …
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Completely Awesome.
I absolutley love Kat’s autobiography. But its much more, she really gives you insight into her entire life. She listens to rad music.
I’m not sure what I was expecting when I ordered Kat’s book. I saw how much work she put into it on LA Ink, so I preordered it. I expected some biography on her, maybe some stories, and some pictures of tattoo artwork.
This book has all of that, but it is so much more! Kat tells her story from her birth in Mexico, childhood and adolescence in California, running away at age 14 to Georgia, to her start in tattooing, going to Miami Ink, and being offered her own show, LA Ink.
She also includes photos of her favorite tattoos she has done and the stories behind them, as well as other tattoo artists and some of their tattoos. She has tattoo myths and etiquette. The artwork in this book is inspiring. Although it is a biography of Kat, it is more like an art book. I read it cover to cover and studied a lot of the tattoo photos closely.
The book itself is very nicely put together. The front and back covers have a sort of padding, and the pages have the look of old parchment.
This is a wonderful book and well worth the price. I paid $23 (including shipping) for a preorder and the book retails for $29.95. However, I wouldn’t balk at an even higher price for the book. It is that well put together and beautiful. I have never done a review on a book before, but this influenced me to write one.
2.0 out of 5 stars
Who is Kat Von D?
She’s 27!!!!!! How can she write a book about “HER LIFE”??? She HASN’T lived! Yea, I read it. In fact, people who I apprenticed with know her. She is a very competent artist!
Well I guess I should start off this review by stating emphatically that I don’t have any tattoos, nor do I ever intend on getting one. Not that I have anything against tattoos, it’s just that they aren’t for me, although I do appreciate the incredible amount of talent behind a lot of the great tattoo artists of the past and present. Now having got that out of the way, I absolutely love some of the intricate designs and artwork that goes into a lot of the tattoos that I have seen. Especially those I have seen on TLC’s L.A. Ink: Season 1 and LA Ink: Season 1, Volume 2 reality series. Of which we all know Kat Von D is the owner of the tattoo shop High Voltage and star of the series.
I was surprised to learn that she had a book coming out and learned about it after watching the episode where she talks about it and finally gets a foreword for it by none other than boyfriend and heavy metal god, Nikki Sixx, guitarist for the incredibly talented band, Motley Crue. Ever since then, I have been anxiously awaiting January 20th, 2009 in order to get my copy, which I am proud to say I have and already read through it twice.
Kat is very open and honest in this book about her life growing up and all the trials and tribulations that she, and her family, went through as she went from sweet little girl to, how should I put it, not so sweet little girl. At least in the eyes of her parents and certain other people in her life. Not that everyone felt that way, but I am quite certain there were more than a few.
I really enjoyed the variety of personal photographs from her early years, and in one instance early seconds of her life that were included in the book. It really added something personal to the book and I felt really allowed the reader to have a quiet personal moment with her.
The artwork that is displayed prominently throughout this book, both from Kat and a slew of other artists, is simply breathtaking and quite beautiful especially when you are also able to read the stories behind the artwork. From early childhood drawings, I especially liked the one of Catwoman, to her latest tattoos, Kat Von D shows you in a modest, very personable and quite energetic way why she is without-a-doubt one of the best tattoo artists alive today.
This book showcases some of Kat’s favorite tattoos and the amazing stories that go along with them. Some are quite funny, while others are tear flowing sad, especially the one about a man losing his best friend, his best friends wife, and their baby, all in the same day. He memorialized them with a beautiful black and gray tattoo on his side. This is just one example of the stories in this book and the amazing artwork that Kat has done to bring them to life.
It is also painfully obvious that Kat herself is an amazing human being in the way she looks at life through her tattoos and the almost worship like appreciation and respect she has for other artists in her field. Of which she so graciously names several and, in some cases, showcases them and their artwork towards the end of her book.
Even if you are not into tattoos, this book and the life of Kat Von D is such an entertaining and enlightening read, that I would strongly recommend that you pick it up and read it. If you do have a tattoo, you and it (your tattoo) just won’t ever be complete until you also have a copy of this book.
Shawn Kovacich
Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.
4.0 out of 5 stars
High Voltage Age!
Great Book. If you like or want to understand the subject.
Kat Von D. is an Excellent Artist.
This book is packed full of interesting facts and pictures. I read it all today; I couldn’t put it down. I appreciate the different sections; it is not super long. She has a lot of experiences to share for someone of her young age. I love the show, so I had to pre-order the book. I was not disappointed; every time I pick it up I notice something new.
4.0 out of 5 stars
http://maryinhb.blogspot.com/
I have to say this is one fascinating book. The mini autobiography on Kat von D herself is nicely done and gives us a great background on her life and how she ended up with her…
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing!!!
I really liked this book!! Not only it is a great book for those who like tattooing themselves, but for those who appreciate a great artist!! Kat is amazing!!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Impressive well-crafted book from a true artist
“Celebrities” often have ghost writers create books to cash-in on their fame. The books often lack substance or purpose — neither is the case with this entertaining,…
4.0 out of 5 stars
Coolness
This is an very good book. Was way more than I expected it to be. Acutally got it as a gift for hubby and he loves it.
5.0 out of 5 stars
long history for a short life
Kat von D is only 26 and its amazing how much she’s accomplished in those few years, already establishing herself as one of the premier tatoo artists.
5.0 out of 5 stars
splendid
kat’s book is wonderful. she does a great job explaining the culture and, as someone heavily tattooed that’s experienced it, hopefully helped tear down some of the unfortunate…
4.0 out of 5 stars
interesting
love the book, she has a great life story going, can’t wait to for the next “chapter”