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The Tattoo Chronicles
The Tattoo Chronicles is an illustrated diary that offers an intimate look at a crucial year in the personal and professional life of Kat Von D, the charismatic, no-holds-barred tattooer and star of LA Ink.
When Kat does a tattoo, she writes an entry about it in her journal, reflecting not only on the significance of the tattoo for the person who is receiving it but also on how the experience of creating this tattoo affects her personally.
In these diary entries—some poignant, some hilarious, some confessional—Kat lays it on the line about how doing these tattoos influences her life and art. Here are the highs and the lows, the good, the bad, and the ugly—including her feelings about her fame, family, love life, friends, and fans.
Visually stunning, this graphically compelling diary is jam-packed with tons of Kat's images, from sketches of her tattoos to the finished works, and candid shots of her unusual personal collections—all photographed by Kat herself. Fans will love reading about her array of clients from all walks of life, including MotÖrhead's Lemmy Kilmister, Dave Navarro, and members of Metallica, Green Day, Kings of Leon, and the Eagles. Throughout The Tattoo Chronicles are captivating, color photographs of Kat that were taken specifically for the book, published here for the first time.
Here she is: the real Kat Von D: unscripted and uncensored!
When Kat does a tattoo, she writes an entry about it in her journal, reflecting not only on the significance of the tattoo for the person who is receiving it but also on how the experience of creating this tattoo affects her personally.
In these diary entries—some poignant, some hilarious, some confessional—Kat lays it on the line about how doing these tattoos influences her life and art. Here are the highs and the lows, the good, the bad, and the ugly—including her feelings about her fame, family, love life, friends, and fans.
Visually stunning, this graphically compelling diary is jam-packed with tons of Kat's images, from sketches of her tattoos to the finished works, and candid shots of her unusual personal collections—all photographed by Kat herself. Fans will love reading about her array of clients from all walks of life, including MotÖrhead's Lemmy Kilmister, Dave Navarro, and members of Metallica, Green Day, Kings of Leon, and the Eagles. Throughout The Tattoo Chronicles are captivating, color photographs of Kat that were taken specifically for the book, published here for the first time.
Here she is: the real Kat Von D: unscripted and uncensored!
239 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
45 people are currently reading
1726 people want to read
About the author
Kat Von D.
5 books152 followersKat Von D (born Katherine Von Drachenberg) is a Mexican-born American tattoo artist and television personality. She is best known for her work as a featured tattoo artist on the TLC reality television show Miami Ink. A subsequent TLC series LA Ink, premiered August 7, 2007 in the United States and November 11, 2007 in the UK.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
July 23, 2011
From the description, and her radio interview, I thought this was going to be a very interesting book. It was played up as a year long look back at the tattoos she had created for people and the stories behind them. She mentioned it also talked about her feeling while doing the work for people but I never got the impression that it wasn't about her work. Upon reading it I realize I've gotten a hold of some 13 year old girl's diary, who happens to do tattoos. She spends so many pages whining about her personal struggles, whimpering about her man-toy (Nikki Sixx) and only briefly mentions ANY of the work she does on her clients. The only tattoos she really explains much about are her own and Nikki's! I had to give this book away when I finished, it irritated me that much.
November 5, 2010
Very intimate, gorgeous to look at, and surprisingly heartwarming, this is a wonderful memoir that will make you a fan of the seemingly aloof, often shallow, mercurial tattoo genius Kat Von D. I am shocked that she put so much of herself out there on the page. And did I mention it was pretty? Typography, photography, tattoo, cover design - stunning.
January 17, 2011
Kat shares some intimate details of her personality. Better than the first. I had no idea she struggled with depression so much. It was refreshing to know that someone I admire and look up to has similiar things going on in her head.
July 20, 2011
Decent book but I would rather have read more about the stories behind the tattoos and less about her relationship with Nikki Sixx (especially considering they are no longer together). I guess what I really want is just an art book with pictures of the tattoos she did and why that person got it.
September 2, 2011
To start, I should preface by saying I’m enamored of the tattoo subculture and a fan of Kat's work as a top notch tattooer. The book I read was an autographed copy bought from High Voltage Tattoo by my wife on a visit to LA. The reviews I have read have been rabid fanbois or the hate for hate's sake variety. It is okay to open your mind a bit and see beyond celebrity, take raw emotion for what its worth, and FEEL human. Kat introduces her diary as just that:
This book is not a navel gazing extravaganza of Hollywood celebrity hi-jinx. What it is however is a beautiful collection of art, mixed with snippets of peoples lives as recounted and reflected on by a tattooer and recovering addict. It really is quite that simple. Yes she is celebrity, but Kat never dwells on that.
That said, what I didn't like about The Tattoo Chroniclesis what would make the best reader with an ounce of testosterone cringe. Kat is a hopeless mushy romantic. Where she discusses her romantic relationships, it is syrupy over-the-top sweet. I can handle it in small doses, but in some places I just cringed.
I love the physical book itself. It's a great size, colorful, and chockful of delicious art and photos of tattoos. Who ever designed this book did a wonderful job as it truly is a conversation piece in its own right whether you read it from cover to cover or not.
Each segment of the book begins with a tattoo and the story of the person getting it. From there Kat ties the moment in time with something going on in her life, be it Nikki Sixx, her book tour, LA Ink, or her sobriety. It all just blends well as stream of consciousness. You see an artisan connecting with her clients and feeling their various stories. I found this a fun ride.
What I would have liked to learned more of is her struggles with sobriety. She never quite takes pride in it, nor does she hint of any difficulty staying the course. It was a very subtle undertone throughout. She made mentions of sobriety and left it at that as if she wanted to talk more about it. I find her such a strong person and am genuinely interested in this aspect of her life.
Bonus points for the wonderful preface written by Johnette Napolitano of whom I am also a huge fan!
Anyhow, whether you love or hate Kat, reality television, and/or the stigma of Hollywood, don’t pre-judge the book on that. You’re doing yourself a disservice. Fundamentally it’s a book about a tattoer, her art, and how the two gel. There are a lot of good words between the inked skin and glossy pages. Take some time to find them.
"...the words in this book are in no way meant to be read as gossip or criticism of anyone. I'm publishing this journal to share all I've been lucky enough to learn from folks from many walks of life.
By retelling the stories and sharing some of the crazy rants that have saved me from myself in these blood books of mine, I'm hoping that those things in life and love that were the hardest for me to overcome will become a bit more understandable for those going through similar experiences."
This book is not a navel gazing extravaganza of Hollywood celebrity hi-jinx. What it is however is a beautiful collection of art, mixed with snippets of peoples lives as recounted and reflected on by a tattooer and recovering addict. It really is quite that simple. Yes she is celebrity, but Kat never dwells on that.
That said, what I didn't like about The Tattoo Chroniclesis what would make the best reader with an ounce of testosterone cringe. Kat is a hopeless mushy romantic. Where she discusses her romantic relationships, it is syrupy over-the-top sweet. I can handle it in small doses, but in some places I just cringed.
I love the physical book itself. It's a great size, colorful, and chockful of delicious art and photos of tattoos. Who ever designed this book did a wonderful job as it truly is a conversation piece in its own right whether you read it from cover to cover or not.
Each segment of the book begins with a tattoo and the story of the person getting it. From there Kat ties the moment in time with something going on in her life, be it Nikki Sixx, her book tour, LA Ink, or her sobriety. It all just blends well as stream of consciousness. You see an artisan connecting with her clients and feeling their various stories. I found this a fun ride.
What I would have liked to learned more of is her struggles with sobriety. She never quite takes pride in it, nor does she hint of any difficulty staying the course. It was a very subtle undertone throughout. She made mentions of sobriety and left it at that as if she wanted to talk more about it. I find her such a strong person and am genuinely interested in this aspect of her life.
Bonus points for the wonderful preface written by Johnette Napolitano of whom I am also a huge fan!
Anyhow, whether you love or hate Kat, reality television, and/or the stigma of Hollywood, don’t pre-judge the book on that. You’re doing yourself a disservice. Fundamentally it’s a book about a tattoer, her art, and how the two gel. There are a lot of good words between the inked skin and glossy pages. Take some time to find them.
December 26, 2011
They say you should never judge a book by its cover but this one is beautiful inside and out - heavy weight paper, glossy photos, vintage style text. There's no denying it's a stunning bit of art to look at.
This was another of my christmas presents and one that I had asked for. I'm not any sort of massive fan of Kat - I've never seen Miami or LA Ink, but I do identify with alternative lifestyles and have a thing for tattoo's. Plus I also find her boyfriend (at the time the book was published) Nikki Sixx, an interesting person.
The book covers various people that Kat has tattooed in the space of a year, her thoughts on them, how it relates to her own life and an awful lot about her relationship with Nikki. The text has come from her personal journals, but seems fairly obvious to me that it has been highly edited for press purposes - I just can't see someone writing like that for something that is private, either that or when she originally wrote it, the intent was always to turn it into a book.
I enjoyed the book and as you can see I've read it in a day. I think it's perfectly readable even to those who aren't massive fans as it gives you an insight into anothers, very interesting life. You may find this book grates on you a bit though if you get annoyed by people constantly mentioning thier relationship. This is one book I'llbe keeping in my bookcase - it's too pretty to give away!
This was another of my christmas presents and one that I had asked for. I'm not any sort of massive fan of Kat - I've never seen Miami or LA Ink, but I do identify with alternative lifestyles and have a thing for tattoo's. Plus I also find her boyfriend (at the time the book was published) Nikki Sixx, an interesting person.
The book covers various people that Kat has tattooed in the space of a year, her thoughts on them, how it relates to her own life and an awful lot about her relationship with Nikki. The text has come from her personal journals, but seems fairly obvious to me that it has been highly edited for press purposes - I just can't see someone writing like that for something that is private, either that or when she originally wrote it, the intent was always to turn it into a book.
I enjoyed the book and as you can see I've read it in a day. I think it's perfectly readable even to those who aren't massive fans as it gives you an insight into anothers, very interesting life. You may find this book grates on you a bit though if you get annoyed by people constantly mentioning thier relationship. This is one book I'llbe keeping in my bookcase - it's too pretty to give away!
May 12, 2011
Groan. Why do I read this junk? Just because my local library has books by reality stars doesn't mean I need to check them out and read them.
This is Kat Von D's second book. The topics, of course, are tattoos and Nikki Sixx (he's so deep! yet so distant.)
I wish there had been more about her product line and perfume development with Sephora, but the only mention is one sentence about flying to meet with two of the biggest perfume houses in the world and a spunky mention of a meet and greet in Canada ("Canadians are so cool!"). I'm sure book three will come out soon, chronicling the impending doom of her relationship with Jesse James.
This is Kat Von D's second book. The topics, of course, are tattoos and Nikki Sixx (he's so deep! yet so distant.)
I wish there had been more about her product line and perfume development with Sephora, but the only mention is one sentence about flying to meet with two of the biggest perfume houses in the world and a spunky mention of a meet and greet in Canada ("Canadians are so cool!"). I'm sure book three will come out soon, chronicling the impending doom of her relationship with Jesse James.
November 5, 2010
interesting but i skimmed a lot of the pages. i kind of took this book to be a "look at me and all my COOL CELEBRITY FRIENDS WHO I TATTOO ON THEIR BIRTHDAYS BECAUSE I LOVE THEM". it also read heavily into her now defunct relationship with nikki sixx... i liked the concept of the book but i think it really fell short.
August 9, 2012
The first book was a nice biographical look at her coming of age as an artist. This was a personal, intimate, self indulgent disappointment. If you're looking for the personal diary of kat, then this is your book, if you're looking for artistic inspiration, look elsewhere. I just felt very mislead when this book was coming out. I preordered it and it was not what it was made out to be.
September 2, 2012
This book is so dreadfully boring I kept hoping someone would shoot me to end my misery. I LOVE the show and everything else Kat Von D does, but the way the book is put together is just a real snooze. I love how in the shows you got to hear the amazing stories behind the tattoos....but these stories were just dumb and hardly detailed in the slightest. I would recommend it to NO ONE.
November 23, 2010
I finished this book in a day. It was an easy read and I couldn't put it down.
I loved seeing how the stories of the tattoes she works on affects her.
Kat is truly an amazing artist, writer, and woman.
I loved seeing how the stories of the tattoes she works on affects her.
Kat is truly an amazing artist, writer, and woman.
July 31, 2013
I bought this book today on some weird sale - damn, it was 3 euros - and I freaking love it. This book itself is a work of art.
August 17, 2015
Motley Crue –> Nikki Sixx –> Kat Von D. Makes more sense than most of my obsessive literary progressions, no? Gold star in the linear reading department!
I’ve always been attracted to tattoos. The human body as a blank canvas concept appeals to me on so many levels. Art and creativity, emotional exploration, individual expression and documentation of life unfolding… There’s no question that that kind of perfect storm can have stunning results! Kat Von D is the perfect person to bring us brilliant examples as she reflects picture-and-journal-style on her experiences as the artist behind many of these creations.
I mean, sure, folks get hollow tattoos all the time (“I’ll take number six, please– that’s Japanese for ‘YOLO,’ right?”), but I really feel like that’s user error. There is profound beauty in pieces driven by personal significance, meticulously planned and created with the delicate sacredness that comes when you’re so fully honoring your own truth. And that ritual bit of tattoo blood pays perfect tribute to the often painful struggle that accompanies any honest creation of identity.
Are there people who regret their tattoos? Yes. (I’m looking at you, YOLO-in-Japanese idiots). But there are many more who don’t. There are plenty of 80 and 90 and 100-year-olds out there totally rocking their wrinkly, sun-spotted sleeves and chest and back pieces. Plenty who fondly appreciate their accumulated, portfolio-body evidence of personal meaning and of life lived.
One thing is for certain– if I make it to elderhood, you can be sure to find me amongst the wrinkly retirement-home rebels and misfits, reminiscing about all the days and experiences and lessons that we’ve valued enough to carry with us both in our hearts and on our skin.
I’ve always been attracted to tattoos. The human body as a blank canvas concept appeals to me on so many levels. Art and creativity, emotional exploration, individual expression and documentation of life unfolding… There’s no question that that kind of perfect storm can have stunning results! Kat Von D is the perfect person to bring us brilliant examples as she reflects picture-and-journal-style on her experiences as the artist behind many of these creations.
I mean, sure, folks get hollow tattoos all the time (“I’ll take number six, please– that’s Japanese for ‘YOLO,’ right?”), but I really feel like that’s user error. There is profound beauty in pieces driven by personal significance, meticulously planned and created with the delicate sacredness that comes when you’re so fully honoring your own truth. And that ritual bit of tattoo blood pays perfect tribute to the often painful struggle that accompanies any honest creation of identity.
Are there people who regret their tattoos? Yes. (I’m looking at you, YOLO-in-Japanese idiots). But there are many more who don’t. There are plenty of 80 and 90 and 100-year-olds out there totally rocking their wrinkly, sun-spotted sleeves and chest and back pieces. Plenty who fondly appreciate their accumulated, portfolio-body evidence of personal meaning and of life lived.
One thing is for certain– if I make it to elderhood, you can be sure to find me amongst the wrinkly retirement-home rebels and misfits, reminiscing about all the days and experiences and lessons that we’ve valued enough to carry with us both in our hearts and on our skin.
January 16, 2016
When this book was given to me as a Christmas gift I was reading reviews and saw a lot of negative comments about it. A lot of them concerning the book having a lot to do with Nikki Six (which it does) and how a lot of the tattoo stories (not all) are about her 'famous' friends. I found nothing negative about this book though. I absolutely adored it. I feel like anyone giving these critiques isn't taking in the fact that this book is practically her diary edited into a book for us fans. This book was her life for a year so of course a lot of it is going to concern Nikki Six (whom she was dating at the time). When someone is in your life that intensely you cannot not put them in your book. Especially when they are a part of your life every day. Regardless, it's a very easy read and I found myself enthralled. You really get to see into the head and thoughts of Kat Von D on a very personal level. She talks about her work, anxiety, growing up, her relationships (and past relationships), and many other things that happened to her in that year time span. Not to mention it's filled with not only pictures of tattoos she's done but pictures from her personal collection. The print is very fun as well. A lot of it is segmented as if it were a diary she's written in everyday with fun prints every once and a while for certain words. If you're a huge Kat Von D fan, like myself, it's a great read. Just don't go into it expecting it to be like any book you've ever read. This book really is a portal into her head during that year time span so keep that in mind while reading. Regardless, I loved it.
January 28, 2012
I couldn't find her first book at the library and I really wanted to read one of her books so I picked this one up.
I knew there was a reason why I enjoyed LA Ink on tv. I really liked Kat Von D. This book made me like her even more. She's a real person and she's has amazing talent.
I enjoyed reading her blood diaries, as she calls them. They are filled with true emotion and beautiful insight into her as a person.
I couldn't put this book down and I read it in one sitting late into the early hours of Saturday morning.
I have much respect for her and what she has accomplished in her young lifetime.
I knew there was a reason why I enjoyed LA Ink on tv. I really liked Kat Von D. This book made me like her even more. She's a real person and she's has amazing talent.
I enjoyed reading her blood diaries, as she calls them. They are filled with true emotion and beautiful insight into her as a person.
I couldn't put this book down and I read it in one sitting late into the early hours of Saturday morning.
I have much respect for her and what she has accomplished in her young lifetime.
March 2, 2019
I liked the tattoos part. I think Kat is one of the best tattoo artists out there, but I don't really have respect for her as a person. She seems to have a little arrested development, not too bad, she just comes off as a 21 or 22 year old.
December 17, 2012
This book is nicely put together. I like it much better than her previous volume. The Tattoo Chronicles reads like a journal with plenty of photos and artwork to keep readers interested.
Read
October 7, 2013For the heart is an organ of fire.
The Tattoo Chronicles has been in bookstores for almost three years now, so it may be that I am a late-comer to the Kat Von D phenomenon. It is not even her first book (High Voltage Tattoo was published in 2009). However, I have an ArtBreak presentation to prepare for at the Birmingham Museum of Art, so her stories of why people get tattooed are what drew me to the book.
I should probably add another disclaimer: all I know about her TV show, LA Ink, is what I read on the Wikipedia page prior to writing this review.
If you are a regular reader of Zen Dixie, you likely already know I have a fascination for why people get tattooed (see the December edition of Bright Life). Making the decision to get tattooed is one thing – you are permanently marking your body. Choosing the design, especially if it is particularly meaningful to you, is the most interesting part of people’s tattoo stories.
In The Tattoo Chronicles, Von D put together the stories from a year of tattooing in her LA shop, High Voltage Tattoo. She has tattooed the famous – readers will find stories about Johnette Napolitano from Concrete Blonde and Bam Margera to Dave Navarro and Nikki Sixx – and the not so famous. Either way, in this book everyone has a story to tell.
Napolitano wrote the foreward as a four-part letter from a friend, as well as a client (she has a tattoo of Edgar Allen Poe in a frame on her bicep). Dave Navarro, of Jane’s Addiction fame, had Von D tattoo an image of his mother, who was murdered by an ex-boyfriend. For Sixx, she tattooed a portrait of his bandmate and friend Mick Mars.
Portraiture is Von D’s specialty. Many of the featured stories revolve around portraits of loved ones or famous figures. There is a particularly intricate tattoo of Ganesh, the Hindu god revered as the remover of obstacles.
From what I have gathered, Kat Von D seems to be the type of personality that people seem to either love or hate as a result of her fame. Regardless, The Tattoo Chronicles is an interesting look into a year in her life as she balanced tattooing, filming, entrepreneurship, and dating someone even more famous than her.
Some of it will feel unreal to most readers (specifically, the over-the-top birthday party she threw for Sixx). However, the photography is excellent and the stories behind the tattoos are interesting. I managed to read it in a matter of hours.
This review originally appeared at Zen Dixie, http://www.zendixie.com/read.html
The Tattoo Chronicles has been in bookstores for almost three years now, so it may be that I am a late-comer to the Kat Von D phenomenon. It is not even her first book (High Voltage Tattoo was published in 2009). However, I have an ArtBreak presentation to prepare for at the Birmingham Museum of Art, so her stories of why people get tattooed are what drew me to the book.
I should probably add another disclaimer: all I know about her TV show, LA Ink, is what I read on the Wikipedia page prior to writing this review.
If you are a regular reader of Zen Dixie, you likely already know I have a fascination for why people get tattooed (see the December edition of Bright Life). Making the decision to get tattooed is one thing – you are permanently marking your body. Choosing the design, especially if it is particularly meaningful to you, is the most interesting part of people’s tattoo stories.
In The Tattoo Chronicles, Von D put together the stories from a year of tattooing in her LA shop, High Voltage Tattoo. She has tattooed the famous – readers will find stories about Johnette Napolitano from Concrete Blonde and Bam Margera to Dave Navarro and Nikki Sixx – and the not so famous. Either way, in this book everyone has a story to tell.
Napolitano wrote the foreward as a four-part letter from a friend, as well as a client (she has a tattoo of Edgar Allen Poe in a frame on her bicep). Dave Navarro, of Jane’s Addiction fame, had Von D tattoo an image of his mother, who was murdered by an ex-boyfriend. For Sixx, she tattooed a portrait of his bandmate and friend Mick Mars.
Portraiture is Von D’s specialty. Many of the featured stories revolve around portraits of loved ones or famous figures. There is a particularly intricate tattoo of Ganesh, the Hindu god revered as the remover of obstacles.
From what I have gathered, Kat Von D seems to be the type of personality that people seem to either love or hate as a result of her fame. Regardless, The Tattoo Chronicles is an interesting look into a year in her life as she balanced tattooing, filming, entrepreneurship, and dating someone even more famous than her.
Some of it will feel unreal to most readers (specifically, the over-the-top birthday party she threw for Sixx). However, the photography is excellent and the stories behind the tattoos are interesting. I managed to read it in a matter of hours.
This review originally appeared at Zen Dixie, http://www.zendixie.com/read.html
February 9, 2019
The Tattoo Chronicles by Kat von D gives us an insight into her life back in 2008 - I am late to the game in reading this, I know, but let's ignore that! In her diary she chronicles her life as a tattoo artist, including the stories of the reason the people were getting certain tattoos, talking about her love life and certain parts about her family life, along with her own working life that doesn't focus on tattooing - remember when she had a tattoo 'reality' TV show? Part of that is all in here.
Is this book interesting? Yes. Does it give a bit of an insight into Kat's life? Yes. Does it show everything? No, because that would be incredibly silly.
The interesting thing about this book is when you look at 2008 Kat (approx) to 2018/2017 Kat, you can see how much she has grown, she's now a vegan and there is a part in the book where you can tell that although she loves animals - she does have a few cats after all - as well as the past her was just starting her make-up launch, with a few other things that fluttered around.
Is it a book that everyone should read? Not really. Should all Kat fans read it? That depends, are they interested in Kat as a whole person and not just a make-up company boss, or a tattoo lover who wants stories about tattoo's, this would be an interesting read, and again you can see how much she has grown, with herself and her business adventures.
This book isn't currently available on Kindle, even if it was, I would suggest against it, unless you have a Kindle Fire (Or is it Wildfire?) or an iPad, because there is tattoo's in this book, along with other pictures of her friends, work associates and herself throughout the book that really needs to be seen in full colour.
Would this be a book that I am likely to read again? Short answer, no. Long answer? As interesting as it was to read, it's not a book that I feel I would want to read again. There are biography's that I can easily re-read again, because they focus on the whole life of a person, this is simply a year, and while interesting and relevant, it doesn't make me really connect with Kat at all. So this book will probably either go to my local take a book bring a book at my train station, or it will be going to a charity shop.
January 25, 2019
This book is more entertaining than I thought it would be. I figured it would be more of a picture book of all the tattoo she did in a year time span. However you get entries from her journal / diary as well as notes on each tattoo she did and the person's backstory for the why they wanted it. On days that she did not tattoo you get to hear about her personal life.
April 9, 2012
My feelings regarding this book are a little mixed. When I purchased it, I thought that it was going to be about the tattoos and the stories behind them, with a lot of pictures to go with. Yet, what I found was that there was a lot more of Kat and her feelings and thoughts regarding her life; especially her life with Nikki Sixx. While I was disappointed I didn't get to see more artwork and telling of random people's stories, I still enjoyed seeing inside Kat's mind and that, even though she's in the spotlight and seems to have confidence galore, she has her insecurities too. I actually related a LOT to things she was saying in regards to her relationship with Nikki and her habit of being a hopeless romantic...it made me feel a little less alone and not so messed up to be feeling those same things she was feeling, seeing someone else put into words in a published book the struggles I also have.
That being said, I kind of wish that maybe the tattoo stories and Kat's thoughts had maybe been separated into two different books or something. I realize that a whole book on Kat and her worries might not appeal to a lot of people, and Kat herself probably wouldn't want to be portrayed as a whiner if she had a whole book dedicated to her insecurities...but I mean incorporating it into something else maybe, but not a book about other people's tattoo stories. Sometimes there would only be a sentence or two regarding the tattoo she did and the rest of the entry would be about how much she misses Nikki or something along those lines.
Like I said, my feelings are mixed. It's an interesting enough read I suppose but I can't really say I would recommend this book to anyone, artist or otherwise. It's more like a book you would pick up and flip through if you're bored.
That being said, I kind of wish that maybe the tattoo stories and Kat's thoughts had maybe been separated into two different books or something. I realize that a whole book on Kat and her worries might not appeal to a lot of people, and Kat herself probably wouldn't want to be portrayed as a whiner if she had a whole book dedicated to her insecurities...but I mean incorporating it into something else maybe, but not a book about other people's tattoo stories. Sometimes there would only be a sentence or two regarding the tattoo she did and the rest of the entry would be about how much she misses Nikki or something along those lines.
Like I said, my feelings are mixed. It's an interesting enough read I suppose but I can't really say I would recommend this book to anyone, artist or otherwise. It's more like a book you would pick up and flip through if you're bored.
March 9, 2017
The Quote: But in all honest, I believe there is always a reason – and a bright side. A domino effect does occur whether you want it to or not. Living means learning and teaching all at once. And the more people talk about it, the more we’ll learn from each other – in the same way I’m learning from my clients. – Kat von D
2nd quote: Shopping food, sex, drugs, all these outlets act as a Band-Aid, but until you actually get down and dirty you're never going to get to a place where you feel that sigh of relief and you're ready to move on. It's going to take walking through some discomfort to get to the other side, but you're a stronger individual as a result of it. - Dave Navarro
This book made me so happy. Kat is a stunning woman, I really like her. This glimpse into her mind makes her relatable because it’s a slice of life from May 2008 to June 2009. It focuses on her tattooing and how it helps her process her life; largely her relationship with the wonderful Nicki Sixx (it’s hard to not call him wonderful given how the reader is shown him). It’s easy to fall into her mind or what she allows the reader into.
I picked this up for the tattoos, something that has always fascinated me. The illustrations are amazing the stories and people that accompany them maybe more so. There are celebrities such as Bam Margera, Tre Cool, Dave Navarro and Nicki Sixx. But many are everyday people whose stories are shared. I really liked the striking Jeffree Starr his is one of the really early pictures, he’s gorgeous. The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse tattooed on Weyman Thomas. Michael Von Drachenberg getting his sister’s art tattooed on his arm is a wonderful gesture and Karoline’s art itself is clever.
This is one for tattoo lovers, or people who like the stories of others.
2nd quote: Shopping food, sex, drugs, all these outlets act as a Band-Aid, but until you actually get down and dirty you're never going to get to a place where you feel that sigh of relief and you're ready to move on. It's going to take walking through some discomfort to get to the other side, but you're a stronger individual as a result of it. - Dave Navarro
This book made me so happy. Kat is a stunning woman, I really like her. This glimpse into her mind makes her relatable because it’s a slice of life from May 2008 to June 2009. It focuses on her tattooing and how it helps her process her life; largely her relationship with the wonderful Nicki Sixx (it’s hard to not call him wonderful given how the reader is shown him). It’s easy to fall into her mind or what she allows the reader into.
I picked this up for the tattoos, something that has always fascinated me. The illustrations are amazing the stories and people that accompany them maybe more so. There are celebrities such as Bam Margera, Tre Cool, Dave Navarro and Nicki Sixx. But many are everyday people whose stories are shared. I really liked the striking Jeffree Starr his is one of the really early pictures, he’s gorgeous. The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse tattooed on Weyman Thomas. Michael Von Drachenberg getting his sister’s art tattooed on his arm is a wonderful gesture and Karoline’s art itself is clever.
This is one for tattoo lovers, or people who like the stories of others.
June 13, 2012
I picked up this book because I was looking for books about women and tattoos. I was hoping for more "chronicles" as it mentioned in the preface, the stories behind why people got the tattoos they have, but the book was disappointingly more of the self-indulgent ramblings of a B-list celebrity. About 2/3 of the book is journal entries about the author's relationship with a member of Motley Crue, leaving about 1/3 for actual tattoo stories.
The book itself is laid out like a newspaper/graphic novel hybrid. I enjoyed all the tattoo pictures, but the columnar text was really small, which made me feel old beyond my years. It bothered me that the author never really got inside the head of the clients on her table; it was all about her.
Kelly Hitchcock
Author of The Redheaded Stepchild
The book itself is laid out like a newspaper/graphic novel hybrid. I enjoyed all the tattoo pictures, but the columnar text was really small, which made me feel old beyond my years. It bothered me that the author never really got inside the head of the clients on her table; it was all about her.
Kelly Hitchcock
Author of The Redheaded Stepchild
September 19, 2013
A marginally entertaining book if you have time on your hands and there is nothing more substantial to read. It's sad how mainstream tattoo culture has become in our society. There is nothing rebellious, outlaw or dangerous about it anymore, and it can be bought and acquired at any mall or retail outlet, as this book demonstrates aptly. Celebrities with book deals are getting very played out. This book doesn't tell a story, it just meanders through various vignettes, trying to seem deep by adopting some dark, quasi-outsider, antiestablishment poses. I also have to say that I'm tired of books whose graphics are laid out to look like a wanted poster from 1836. Enough, already. The author seems like an awesome person with a lot to say, and it's a shame this book is so shallow and meaningless. If I were a celebrity with a commodity to market, I would do my damnedest to avoid this kind of useless overexposure. If you're in your basement, waiting to transfer your laundry from the washer into the dryer, this is the book for you, (provided nothing better is around).
February 28, 2012
Just like Kat, a gorgious book. I was hoping for more stories about the tattos and the stories of the people getting them but this was more about her relationship w/Nikki. The cover and the pictures inside are beautiful. I especially love the ones of Kat taken for her perfume line - Saint and Sinner. She's lovely with the tattos but the picture without any of her tatto's shows just what a stunning woman she really is. The book showed a real vunerable/human side and personally I'm grateful that she chose to share that with her fans. I can't wait to read her first book and I look forward to any more that she may write.
(On a personal note, I HOPE, HOPE, HOPE she does not stay with Jessie James. For one, shes WAAAAYYYY to good and beautiful for him and for another, once a cheater ALWAYS a cheater!!)
(On a personal note, I HOPE, HOPE, HOPE she does not stay with Jessie James. For one, shes WAAAAYYYY to good and beautiful for him and for another, once a cheater ALWAYS a cheater!!)
October 7, 2016
My boyfriend found this in a charity shop and after flicking though it quickly and seeing the pictures I found myself intrigued to give it a go. This is really something that I would never pick up and I find biographies and autobiographies a genre that I wish I enjoyed more and read more of.
The Tattoo Chronicles actually really surprised me. I thought it was going to be solely about the reasons behind the tattoo's she's done for her clients, but it was merely a year of her personal diary with snippets of her tattooing - and I think her "blood books" is what I enjoyed the most. Yes I enjoyed reading about her celebrity (and non-celebrity) clients, but her life and the struggles she hid were really quite interesting to read about and I would definitely pick another book up about her if there was any.
The Tattoo Chronicles actually really surprised me. I thought it was going to be solely about the reasons behind the tattoo's she's done for her clients, but it was merely a year of her personal diary with snippets of her tattooing - and I think her "blood books" is what I enjoyed the most. Yes I enjoyed reading about her celebrity (and non-celebrity) clients, but her life and the struggles she hid were really quite interesting to read about and I would definitely pick another book up about her if there was any.
December 17, 2012
I'm a big KvD fan. (All my reviews seem to start this way - guess I just like people).
What I really enjoyed about this book were the relationship bits..Kat falls in love really rapidly and describes the experience so viscerally that you get a delicious shivery reminder of how love feels.
You can't put a price on that.
The book is designed beautifully full of tattoo art, photos, curiosities from Kat's personal collection and was obviously collated with love and lots of personal touches. It was a joy to page through, each page a delight to the eye.
Having said that - it is a journal so you don't get a sense of a story style narrative, and I'm sure most people will want to buy the books for the tattooing stories not the gooey lovey dovey stuff...
What I really enjoyed about this book were the relationship bits..Kat falls in love really rapidly and describes the experience so viscerally that you get a delicious shivery reminder of how love feels.
You can't put a price on that.
The book is designed beautifully full of tattoo art, photos, curiosities from Kat's personal collection and was obviously collated with love and lots of personal touches. It was a joy to page through, each page a delight to the eye.
Having said that - it is a journal so you don't get a sense of a story style narrative, and I'm sure most people will want to buy the books for the tattooing stories not the gooey lovey dovey stuff...
May 1, 2011
The Tattoo Chronicles is an illustrated diary that offers an intimate look at a crucial year in the personal and professional life of Kat Von D, the charismatic, no-holds-barred tattooer and star of LA Ink. When Kat does a tattoo, she writes an entry about it in her journal, reflecting not only on the significance of the tattoo for the person who is receiving it but also on how the experience of creating this tattoo affects her personally. Lots of journaling about her then boyfriend Nikki Sixx which I didn't find too interesting. I did love the images and the stories behind the tats; in addition, the book is visually very cool and beautiful.
May 23, 2013
I love Kat and I love LA Ink, but this book doesn't offer anything that you don't get from watching her television show. Sure, she loves her family, she loves being in love and throws her heart into the ring without hesitation, but I already knew that. I already knew that she's a genius tattoo artist with celebrity clients and a workaholic personality. Tell me something I haven't heard already. I still love Kat, and I'm already planning on purchasing her new book. I'm just hoping that since she's not on TV anymore, there will be something in the new book that sheds a little light into a part of her personality that I haven't already been exposed to.
March 4, 2011
I enjoyed this book because it was so real from a personal perspective. At first I thought it may be too "emo" for me since a lot of it focuses on her then relationship with Nikki Sixx. Then, I thought this is her journal, it's supposed to be full of emotion. In the end, it's what I liked about it the most.
She is amazingly talented, but like all celebrities, she is still human. You can almost feel the contradicting pull of the celebrity and attention she hungers for while becoming a prisoner of introversion in the gaze of an unflinching public eye. Overall, really enjoyable.
She is amazingly talented, but like all celebrities, she is still human. You can almost feel the contradicting pull of the celebrity and attention she hungers for while becoming a prisoner of introversion in the gaze of an unflinching public eye. Overall, really enjoyable.
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