Tattooing in Chicago [VIDEO]

In this video we witness a very special tattoo session between 18 yr veteran Miya Bailey and someone who will sustain and carry the tattoo industry forward in Ryan Henry.

Production Notes: Chicago Edition from artemus jenkins on Vimeo.

- Posted from my iPhone

Bullbog in Chicago

On the way to the airport... We stopped by a few stores....I picked up a new tie... I decided I will start wearing more ties and get my grown man on... As I stepped out the store I ran into a bulldog... As y'all know I'm a big fan of the bully breed.... This 3 year old girl was beautiful to me











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Wicker Park

My last night in Chicago I hooked up with some friends and hit up Wicker Park for some underground hip-hop....from taggin' to b-boyin' hip-hop is alive in the chi...




















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Location:Chicago

Sophie's Last Chicago Tattoo

Sophie usually hits the road Witt me... She a real hard worker and a go getter like me....I love to see COI artists getting that money and creating tattoos that will turn heads....here is her last tattoo from Chicago


To book Sophie in Atlanta or New York please call 404-525-4465 1pm-10pm closed Sundays. Sophie also takes walk-ins @ City of Ink 323 Walker St. Atlanta GA, 30313


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Location:Chicago

My Last Chicago Tattoos

The last day of the tattoo expo was an easy day...I was tired so I'm glad my last appointments didn't try to over work me... Time was limited, it was my wife's bday so i wanted to take her out on the town for a nice dinner... And my back was in serious pain from tattooing long hours without any real breaks.....enjoy these pieces...








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Location:Chicago

The Last Day at the Body Art Expo

This was the last day at the Body Art Expo.... Chicago people are REALLY cheap when it comes to quality tattoos... So I'm lucky I didn't take "walk-ins" and had my own appointments... My clientele pays me what my art is worth... And I'm very thankful to them.... I wanted to check out Chicago to see if there is a place for a City of Ink there... I love the city but I seen some really really really poorly done tattoos in the city... So I fear the first 4-5 years of business would be all cover-up work and that would make any tattoo artist depressed.. So I'm sorry Chiacgo I doubt I will be opening a shop there.... Too many scratchers and too many cheap customers... A city that beautiful really should have people covered in the best body art.... Instead I seen a lot of hood tattoos and poor quality work...I will have the NY & ATL shop so my Chi clients are always welcomed to visit my other shops...I promise you it will be worth the trip...tattoos are for life....the Body Art Expo was "ok" I still wish more black people would come out and support the black tattoo artists that were trained for them... Instead the black people just went to the booth who had the cheapest prices... Very sad... A cheap price over good quality is crazy to me... But hey to each Its own.... As long as COI supporters came out for me & Sophie... I'm thankful... I will be back many blessings!





















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Location:Chicago

Zulu She-Warrior & Lion: TATTOO

Here is the tattoo that was inspired by the big booty toy...it was honor.... Thanks bruh









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Location:Chicago

Big Booty Babe

I have always collected toys and figures... And the Big Booty Babes have always been some of my favorites...you rarely see figures with real curves, so props to the creator for designing these....one of my appointments brought one in to inspire his Zulu Warrior tattoo









Posted from my iPhone

Location:Chicago

Son's of Water

I wish I had a better photo of this tattoo on my iPhone... I will post better ones once I have time to sit down in front of a computer and download the photos....this piece was done in Chicago... She wanted something to rep her two sons... Both born on the same day.... 3 years apart....she also wanted it to rep for her husband... And the Aquarius.


I started off with my Shapier markers drawing a design straight to her body following her nature curves..


Next came the outline with a solid black background to give it a feeling of depth...


After the outline & shading I added warm colors to pop off her skin tone.... Now it's finished

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Location:Chicago

Chicago Nights & Weed

Walking from my hotel room... I thought about my life.. All the changes...my children...their safety in this crazy world.. Knowing I can't protect them from all pain... Thinking about my marriage and where we will both be in a year.... Together or apart? ....since forgiveness isn't easy all the time... How long will I be punished for not telling her the truth...and for my flaws....





After I got back to my room I looked at the news.. And these people were talking about weed... Is it crime or should it be legal.... 99% of everyone I know smokes weed... Who they fooling.. Chicago needs weed... These dudes wild...a fatherless region of young warriors with no guidance... No real leadership... Let them smoke their weed...I know my nerves bad and I need it to relax me and I'm just an artist... Just imagine a life where trying to stay alive is a Struggle... I wish they would just legalize it and focus on real American issues like the homeless and people who can't find jobs to eat their families...






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Location:Chicago

Walking the street of Chicago

Yesterday was the first day of the tattoo convention... Both of my appointments showed up... I even got a tip (rare) y'all know some of "our" people don't be tipping.. So I was super thankful....





After a long day of working... We hit the streets of Chicago to explore the surroundings...














Chicago is a very beautiful city....From the buildings to the people....I don't have to tattoo Monday so I will get to check out "The Taste" that will be fun....I will post the tattoo photos later

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Location:Chicago

4 Week old French Bulldog in Chicago

I'm walking down the streets of downtown Chicago looking for a good deep dish pizza spot and ran into this beautiful one month old french bulldog...y'all know I love frenchies...making me miss mine already



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Location:Chicago

Tattooing in CHICAGO June 25-27 fri-sat

City of Ink's Miya Bailey & Sophie are tattooing in CHICAGO this weekend June 25-27. Call or text 404-644-1912 for tattoo info.

Tattoo Expo
@ Donald E. Stephans
Convention Center
5555 N. River Rd.
Rosemont, IL 60018
Fri. 2pm-11pm
Sat. 11am-11pm
Sun. 11am-8pm
404-644-1912 (Miya Bailey's cell call or text for info) http://miyabailey.com


















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Location:Donald E. Stephans Convention Center

Back to Reality

It was time to leave Asheville and get back to Atlanta... I started getting a little sad because I know what Atlanta has in store for me.... More work, less time to relax and a lot of fake people all wanting to be seen and be stars




Sometimes I miss the simple life of Asheville the only problem there is I hate seeing my people struggling and settling for less...I watch Asheville grow from the outside looking in and it's growing so fast that black people and the poor are getting left behind... But I needed this trip to see my daughters and get inspired again to remind me why I moved to atlanta in the first place...





3 hours later I'm back in Atlanta....a lil sad because I don't want to be in Atlanta but Samba booked me some tattoo appointments so I had to come back here for work...by the time I got back in town it was late and my family was sleep so I went over to my art studio fired up my candles and got myself into a peaceful zone....I put on "Blue Train" by John Coltran...put some weed in my bong.. And worked on that old "Fly High" drawing.. I got bored with that so I started on my "City of Ink Films" logo for my new business I'm starting up











Back to reality....and back in Atlanta home of the bullshit "Black Hollywood" scene....on the positive side, my son is out of school for the summer and I get to see him more....and I go to Chicago for the first time this month.


Posted from my iPhone