I attended the Brighton Tattoo Convention in 2010 and I absolutely loved it – I was supposed to attend last year too, but due to unforeseen circumstances I was unable to (see the day of the phantom tweet).
The 2010 Brighton Convention was my first ever tattoo convention – I was a little younger and a little less tattooed, so I attended with apprehension. In fact, it doesn’t matter if you’re covered head to toe in ink or never intend to get tattooed, the Brighton Tattoo Convention welcomes all who are there to appreciate the art form. Although, this year I can’t wait to show off the ink I have collected throughout 2011…
See the beautiful photos from the 2010 Convention. This year I will be attending the convention with a little more experience and the help of Papercut Pictures, so I will be able to show you lots more photos and maybe a little film, too…
I have scoured the inner-most workings of my little ink-filled brain and I still cannot comprehend how it all happened. One sunny day in London, walking to Looby’s house, a beautiful sunny, if slightly chilly, day – one of those days that feels full to the brim of unlocked potential and wonder. My phone is happily tucked inside my handbag, my fur-coat is wrapped up around my earlobes and I am about to call on Looby, so that we can make our way to the Brighton Tattoo Convention (as I had informed you all I would).
I knocked on her door and made myself comfy on her couch waiting for her to finish preening herself in preparation for the day’s events. I got my phone out – as you do in these sort of situations. I gasped in horror as my – new still don’t know how to lock/work it – BlackBerry displays a tweet. One single tweet – a tweet that I did not write. The tweet in question had even managed to tag one man in it. One man – one man that I did not wish to mention in said single tweet. This man just happened to be the one tattooed art historian who I have previously described as my “ideal man”. I may have even swooned at some point in the sentence. Bloody twitter *swoons*.
This is the tweet and how it tweeted I am quite certain I shall never be sure. So after this I thought the day could hold no more horrors. Things can only get better and all that. How wrong could I possibly be? Myself and Looby arrive at London Bridge station ready to board the high speed to Brighton, must point out that is already around 4pm by this point. So, we get in the queue for tickets only to be informed that we would have to catch a rail replacement bus, oh bugger! This just ain’t gonna work for us. After much deliberation, tears and tantrums (from me not Looby I hasten to add) we come to an *almost* unanimous decision to go to the pub instead. By this point I need wine (and cigs).
so upset that my arm gets inked with a grumpy face.
Off we trot with the waifs and strays we have managed to collect along the way (a boyfriend and his brother and his girlfriend). In the pub the drunken chat, as ever, turns to childhood dreams, jobs and tattoos we always wanted. It was revealed that one of us (I mention no names) wanted a snowflake and a ladder tattoo. We wittered on about best tattoos to symbolise our jobs, i.e. stock market numbers from the Financial Times, globes, books and trains (am sure you can pick out jobs to match). So the day didn’t quite pan out as I had initially hoped, however it was fun and it does provide me with another amusing anecdote in the days and life of Alice Th’ink.
But please, please, pretty please can someone fill me in on exactly what I missed? Thanks muchly.
And here are some of my fave photos from the day stolen from those of you who are more wise than I.
This weekend I shall be attending two very exciting events.
Tonight:
This event, at 123 Bethnal Green Road, will celebrate the launch of Amelia Gregory‘s Compendium of Fashion Illustration. I am particularly excited about the goodie bags as they look utterly splendid (let’s face it who doesn’t love good tote?) I can’t wait to blog about this one, but in the meantime I must find something to wear…
Sunday:
The fourth annual tattoo convention in Brighton.
I attended the convention last year – I was a virgin convention goer back then – and I am a little more excited than apprehensive this time round. Some of the photos from last year are here, I will endeavor to get lots more photos, inspiration and artist info for you. As ever my trusty photographer Looby will be accompanying me, are you ready for this Loobs?
See you at the after party?
Extremely excited about both for very different reasons. Once the weekend has passed expect blogging, pictures and beauty of wondrous contrast.
Real people, real tattoos, realistic inspiration from the people I come across. Girls, boys, ladies, people, animals…anyone with art on their skin.
Location: Brighton Tattoo Convention 2010.
Just stumbled across these beautiful photos my friend took for me at the Brighton Tattoo Convention back in January. The tattoos are so soft and feminine, I love them. They very much suit this lady’s elegant look. Timeless and stylish.
