Book Review: High Voltage Tattoo

Tattoos, considered body desecrations by those who don’t understand the culture behind it, are another form of art. People who swear off tattoos and say they are permanent blights on the skin or marks of a strange and rebellious generation have difficulty understanding the temptation and motivation behind tattoo junkies.

To all the tattoo heads around the world, being inked is a form of outward expression in an unconventional way. Stephen King chose literature, Kat Von D chose tattoos.

In her first book, “High Voltage Tattoo,” Von D delves into her own motivations behind turning herself into a living canvas. She also takes a look at how the craft is done and how she has made tattoos for celebrities, rockers, pro-skaters and other everyday citizens.

Only part of the book centers around Von D’s personal story about the path she took to getting her first tattoo and how she became a renowned tattoo artist. The rest of the book takes a closer look at tattoo culture in general. Using her tattoo parlor in Las Vegas as an example, the “L.A. Ink” star breaks down the art of tattooing. She gives a behind-the-scenes look to readers, talking about how she started her parlor and the tools tattoo artists use. Von D also explores different techniques used in creating a tattoo, walking through the steps for tattoo virgins.

The most appealing parts of the book are the design and layout. As a piece of non-fiction, most would expect the book to be dry with the same boring textbook-like layout: small printed words in Times New Roman with a sparse scattering of poor quality, pixelated pictures.

Get ready for a shock to the system, because the minute the cover is opened, a glamorous world of gothic style, mixed with parchment-esque paper design and stunning colored images, is ready to blow the reader’s mind. Every page is a new adventure for the reader. Along with the text Von D has included snapshots of her past (old family photos, drawings she did as a young girl) and quotes from a variety of different sources. While the writing is presented in an organized manner, the other graphics are thrown onto the page like glitter on a poster board. Surprisingly, this style works.

Along with the actual design, another appealing part of the book is the pictures of tattoos, including Von D’s and others. After her autobiography, Von D breaks down, in several pages, all the tattoos she has on her body and explains the significance or story behind them all. Some of the other people featured in the book, such as the cover band Steel Panther, show off an assortment of their tattoos and Von D breaks down how the work was done.

An interesting take on tattoo art and culture, “High Voltage Tattoo” is a must read for all enthusiasts in this form of expression and those thinking about joining the culture or getting their first tattoo. Although it might not be the ultimate reference book about tattoos, it’s a good start for those who are curious. Read the text to learn more and enrich your visual world with the saturation of pictures, graphics and a whole lot of tattoos.

~Nepenthe