Blue after storm
and a new tattoo flash event on the agenda.
Dear beautiful you,
I missed writing to you. I’ve wrote some words in the last 6 months in letter form. They were mostly practical words though and I want to dive deeper again than only staying on the surface level.
The reason for this was is super logical. I definitely am able to give myself some grace to why I didn’t had the capacity to do so before. I was going through some major life changes and after everything settled a bit, I got into an accident and wasn’t able to continue life and work for a full month.
But as the storm slowly disappears (does it ever fully though?), the blue colours of the sky make an appearance again. They greeted me with a smile and gave me the space again to take a breath - allowing me to put my thoughts into words again.
What practical things I will share with you later in this newsletter:
Last open spots for lino tattoo workshop 05/07
Flash event / open studio at Kyō
New lino stamped tattoo flashes + discount
Tattoos I did recently
Now that I’m slowly coming back again with both feet on the ground, I wanted to look back on some really exciting things I did before the accident happened.
I planned on sharing about how I started my long anticipated outdoor adventures (I went on my first bike-packing trip). But those stories will have to wait a bit longer to be told. My outdoor adventures already continued after the accident and they will definitely be happening more. So therefore I decided to first share about my first lino tattoo workshop I organised in May, because I don’t want to brush over or forget about this really exciting day.
Almost 7 weeks ago I organised my first lino stamp tattoo workshop. It was such an inspiring afternoon that was spend with a small group. We started the day with a little introduction to each other and shared the ideas we already had.
We dove into the process together - got inspired by some really art/nature books, tried out some carving techniques, drew out different sketch ideas, transferred one of the sketches onto the lino and started to carve out the image step by step. After a lot of ideas, good conversations and carving, the lino stamps were ready to be stamped with ink onto paper at the end of the day.
First I thought that the 3 hours that I planned in would be too long. That we would go too fast through all the steps. Also of course like most artists, I doubted my capabilities to give this workshop.
Yes I organised a lino carving workshop before. So I knew that I was capable in hosting this specific workshop. But I still doubted my skills as a printmaker. I am self taught in this medium and I am nowhere near being a technical printmaker as others are. The changes are even quite big that someone will join this workshop who has more technical knowledge than me.
But I also am a big advocate for that we don’t need all the technical skills as an artist. That we can still share the knowledge that we do have with others around us. That the act of learning from one another also lays in the act of reciprocity - a web of exchange of knowledge between more people instead of only one person that learns others how to do it.
I don’t see myself as a teacher when hosting these workshops. I see myself more as a facilitator with some knowledge about a craft who creates a space for others (and myself) to learn together.
And as for the doubt of not being able to fill the 3 hour workshop time…we ended up ended the workshop more than 1,5 later than planned. And even then we had to stop ourselves with everything we were making.
So for the next workshop on the 5th of July, I also decided to plan in 4 hours instead of 3.
I am really looking forward to tattoo the lino stamps the participants made. It was such an honour to enjoy their creative process and I can’t wait for the next lino stamps workshop that I have planned.
NEXT LINO STAMP TATTOO WORKSHOP // SUNDAY THE 5th OF JULY
Time: 14:00-18:00
Location: Tollensstraat 49b in Rotterdam (the Netherlands)
Price: €500 —> €400 when booking in before the end of the day on the 23rd of June. Price is inclusive workshop and tattoo.
You can find more practical information about this workshop via the booking form below.
Flash event at Kyō
On Sunday the 19th of July we will open the doors again of our contemporary studio to the public. You can come bye to say hi, chill in our beautifull garden or get some art on your body. I will share my first flashes below. More practical information about the flash event will follow in the next newsletter.
Some practical information:
When: Sunday the 19th of July from 13:00 till 20:00
Where: Tollensstraat 49b in Rotterdam, the Netherlands
What: tattoo flashes, piercings, hair, tooth gems and vintage.
I will also share more about how you can get tattooed by me in the next newsletter. I will probably plan in the first 2 spots of the day beforehand and the rest will be open for walk-in. The price of my tattoos will be from €100-250.
All flashes that I haven’t tattooed during the flashday will be available to get tattooed but they will have a higher price.
New lino stamped tattoo flashes + discount
I made some new lino stamps again that you can get tattooed. For you readers of my newsletter you get a 20% discount* when getting them tattooed in June + July.
You can find the sizes and prices of the stamps below.
142: 2,8 x 1 cm - €180 —> €144
143: 3 x 2,8 cm - €250 —> €200
144: 4 x 0,9 cm - €180 —> €144
145: 3,8 x 4,9 cm - €300 —> €240
146: 4 x 4 cm - €275 —> €220
147: taken
148: 2,9 x 2,9 - €€225 —> €180
149: 2,5 x 0,9 - €180 —> €144
150: 2,9 x 2 - €200 —> €160
151: 4,9 x 4,2 - €350 —> €280
152: 4,9 x 1,1 - €225 —> €180
When getting a lino stamps tattooed; I stamp the image on your skin with the actual lino stamp. Therefore there are no adjustments possible and the size is also fixed. You will also bring the stamp home with you.
Fill in my booking form below when you want to get one (or more) of these lino stamps tattooed. When getting more stamps tattooed during the same session you will get a discount (this only applies if one person gets more stamps, so you can’t share the discount with someone else).
*This discount only applies to new appointments
Tattoos I did recently
The last weeks I’m once again reminded of how happy I am with the work I’m able to do. It is such an honour to tattoo each and every client of mine. To meet new people. To slow down together. To create a little bubble in time where we are able to just be.
The act of tattooing is also a way for myself to nurture my nervous system. To follow the rhythm of poking each dot into the skin. To slow down and be. To connect to the people I tattoo on a deeper level.
Below some of the tattoos I did since I’m able to get back to work again after the accident.
Thanks for reading what I have written to you. You can always send me a message to get in contact with me if you have any questions, inspiration to share or want to collaborate with me!
With love,
Mandy
Links to my work:
✿ Tattoo booking form*
✿ Available tattoo designs
✿ Instagram
✿ Website
✿ Youtube
*I currently only tattoo in the Netherlands, I will share here when I have international guest-spots planned.