Body art and tattoos Books

In 1881, a writer in the Saturday Review called tattooing ‘an art without a history’. ‘No-one’, it went on, ‘has made it the business of his life to study the development of tattooing.’ Until now. Painted People is a beguiling and intimate look at an...

Vintage Tattoo Flash is a one-of-a-kind visual explorationof the history and evolution of tattooing in America. Aluscious, offset-printed, hardcover tome-a beautiful andserious addition to the understanding of one of the world'soldest and most popular...

Human Canvas combines Wolfe’s world-famous photography with his exquisite painting to create a groundbreaking collection of body art.What does it mean to be human? In Human Canvas, Art Wolfe uses his exceptional photography and his background...

'History, it seems, is seldom written by the tattooed.'In this impressively broad yet personal account, John Miller 'a conventionally dressed middle-aged academic with a full bodysuit' explores tattooing as a unique expression of individual, cultural and...

These days, it seems like everybody wants a tattoo. But choosing the right design isn’t easy. This in-depth resource offers more than 1,000 patterns in a wide range of styles, all by renowned artists: angels, devils, pirates, pin-ups, signs of...

Japanese characters served up with histories and cultural clues to help you decorate your skin/body/life with just the right word!Bold, visual, profound, symbolic: Japanese kanji characters communicate powerful graphic messages that look great on skin,...

Thinking of getting a Japanese-style tattoo? Want to avoid a permanent mistake? Japanese Tattoos is an insider's look at the world of Japanese irezumi (tattoos).Japanese Tattoos explains the imagery featured in Japanese tattoos so...

The acclaimed follow-up to one of the most widely heralded special effects makeup tutorial books ever published. A Complete Guide to Special Effects Makeup Volume 2 incorporates a variety of supernatural and sci-fi character and creature designs, from...

Vintage Tattoos: A Sourcebook for Old-School Designs and Tattoo Artists

A perfect gift for anyone dreaming about getting a tattoo, this gorgeous guided journal and sketchbook offers thoughtful prompts and plenty of blank space to hold all your tattoo ideas and inspirations. What kind of imagery would make the most...

ILLUSTRATED PLAYING CARDS from Oliver Munden, creator of Tattoo Tarot A FULL DECK OF 54 CARDS means you can play all your favourite games with ease DISCOVER THE MEANINGS behind popular tattoos through time, from a sailor's sea creature to a spider woman,...

This book uncovers the meanings behind over 150 tattoo symbols, delving into the history of the most popular motifs that recur in many different tattoo styles, including tribal, traditional, Japanese and realistic. This beautifully illustrated guide...