Lots going on...

I have been pretty quiet since august 2011. Had a few trips out of the country, UK, Rome, Japan... With the holidays and the new shop plans I have literally been absent from the world wide web aside from an occasional instagram pic or my daughters posting merchandise on or web site. I want to say thank you to everyone that chose my art in any form over the holidays and recent months. I am grateful and honored every time an order comes through for a print, shirt, poster, book, dvd... I know there are millions of products out there for people to spend their hard earned money on. I also know that the world is full of amazing artists and all kinds of talent so any time mine is chosen by anyone, it’s an incredible honor.

I also need to apologize to a few out there whose orders came late, damaged or otherwise ended up as an unpleasant experience. I am truly sorry. When I started selling things other than tattoos I didn’t realize how many aspects there are that can go wrong. Orders getting missed, lost, etc. Thank you all for your patience.

I am partnering with Off the Map Tattoo, Easthampton MA over the next couple months to become the pacific northwest’s Off the Map Tattoo Studio. We have a great lineup of artists scheduled and I’m so stoked to bring artists to our area from all over. My current co-tattooers, Mike and Jen Godfrey are planning on relocating to Huntington Beach CA soon and I was going to move to a private studio until I went to Rome for the Worldwide Tattoo Conference and talked to Gabe Ripley from Off the Map. I have heard crazy rumors that I have stopped tattooing, I’m moving, I’m only painting... None of which are true. I love tattooing, and I will tattoo as long as I can. I have no plans of moving, retiring or anything of the sort.

Jen Godfrey is still tattooing at the studio, Mike Godfrey is building machines, and tattooing by appointment at the studio and also in southern California. We also have Minneapolis visiting atist, Shawn Hebrank here for the next couple months. He is available for walk ins and by appointment through March.

Our grand opening party is planned for the first friday in March. Make sure to come by for that. I will be on the road quite a bit this spring. Milan in February, Japan in March and Australia in april.

I just want to let you all in on what’s going on. I’m hoping and planning on a good year in 2012.

OFF THE MAP NORTHWEST

112 Cottage Street

Easthampton, MA 01027

413-527-6574

OfftheMapTattoo.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Off the Map Tattoo Expanding to Grants Pass, Oregon

Off the Map Tattoo and Jeff Gogue will be joining forces to open a second location in Grants Pass, Oregon. Jeff Gogue will continue to tattoo and lead workshops as the head resident tattoo artist, but in March of 2012 the location will reopen as a rebranded Off the Map Tattoo. Off the Map Tattoo Grants Pass will mirror the original studio and main office in Easthampton, Massachusetts. This will include tattoo-savvy customer service, additional resident artists, and scheduled monthly guest artists - having many notables already setting dates. With Off the Map Tattoo handling the management of the studio, Jeff will be able to focus on what he loves the most: working hard to create and inspire around other like-minded artists.

Jeff Gogue started tattooing in 1999 and has not looked back since. Jeff is now being recognized with worldwide acclaim and shares his techniques in tattooing and painting through various seminars and instructional DVDs. Jeff continually strives for excellences in every venture that he pursues, and takes heed to the power of self-worth and one's duty to share whatever can be offered. “…..,” says Jeff about the partnership.

Off the Map Tattoo was established in 2005 with the goal of creating a professional, sterile, educational environment for artists and collectors alike. Now in its sixth year, Off the Map Tattoo is home to four full time resident artists and attracts forty plus guest artists from around the world annually, it is safe to say that that goal is being lived out. Also, Off the Map Tattoo hosts the Paradise Tattoo Gathering (TattooGathering.com), Paradise Artist Retreat (ParadiseArtistRetreat.com), and houses the offices of TattooNOW (TattooNOW.com).

All in all, with the combination of Off the Map Tattoo’s proven business plan and Jeff Gogue’s drive to create and facilitate inspiration, Off the Map Tattoo Grants Pass is the perfect match. Visit OfftheMapTattoo.com for daily news updates and GogueArt.com for Jeff Gogue’s portfolio.

Contact:

Mary Bowen – Studio Manager @ Off the Map Tattoo

HYPERLINK "mailto:Mary@TattooNOW.com"

(413) 527-6574

Rome.... after the conference...

It’s 4 am on October 25th 2011. I’m in the airport in Rome and my body is tired. I just spent three days with a small group of friends speaking at a conference about staging a rebellion against mediocrity in our field; art and tattoos. I find myself saying it in separate terms though I don’t see the separation. Tattooing is a form of art of course, but the trade of tattooing has meandered through the avenues of the average and the common for most of it’s modern existence. Rome. What an appropriate place in the world to do such a thing. Surrounded by the epitome of high standards in art and dedication to one’s craft. As I walked through the streets; the humorous attempts by vendors to sell trinkets made in china, bobble headed pope statues, disco style hand held laser pointers, and plastic miniatures of the colosseum reminded me that the majority of the population remains in the realm of the average and the addicted to mediocrity. Graffiti and trash were everywhere obnoxiously stating that so many people consume and discard, rather than contribute and nurture.

I’m sitting here with a headache from the two hours sleep I struggled through since I haven’t been here long enough to get over the jet lag yet I’m heading back home already. I often find myself sort of reveling in being tired. In my case it’s more often the result of being somewhere in the world that most people would say is a trip of a lifetime. I find myself routinely resolving as the plane takes off; that if it goes down in flames, I am satisfied that I have had many many trips of a lifetime, and that my family and friends will know that I tried with all my heart, to live well, to experience more, and to inspire others to do the same.

My friend (Nick Baxter) was one of the other guest speakers this weekend. I have known him for years and worked alongside him often around the world. I had the privilege of attending his seminar and it is as the rumors have it; it is life changing. He is one of the few people I know that shares the the stage of the exceptional, intriguing and inspiring individuals among the masses. Alex Depase, of Italy also ignited a new drive in me to reach for higher ground personally, artistically, and professionally. I was honored to share the stage with Nick, Alex, the world class tattooer, Boris of Hungary and business leader Gabe Ripley of Tattoo Now and The Paradise tattoo gathering. This was an unprecedented event in the tattoo community. Not open to the public, or to people tattooing; it was a true conference for artists to be challenged to step up to the next level in many facets. I am honored and grateful to be one of the people who got to share my thoughts, perspective and insight, and I feel especially grateful for the immediate return of insight, inspiration, and education I received myself. If you get a chance to attend any event like this in the future, I suggest you do what it takes to make that a reality.

I put together a quick very candid video from the trip just as a small reminder for me. I'd like to share it with you.

http://youtu.be/jJwZRILJpr0

WORLDWIDE TATTOO CONFERENCE, ROME ITALY

I'm leaving this evening to be one of the honored guest speakers at the first Worldwide Tattoo Conference, held in Rome this weekend http://www.worldwidetattooconference.com/HOME_ENG.html

My good friend Nick Baxter and I along with the amazing Alex De Pase, (Italy) Boris (Hungary) and Tattoo Now owner Gabe Ripley will be teaching and speaking for two days in one of the world's most incredible cities. I am honored and humbled to be chosen for this with such accomplished artists. Check out the website and let me know what you think about the concept of this kind of conference. They are considering the same conference, possibly in Chicago 2012. here's a couple pics of Nick and I painting a few months ago. We have the prints in house of the spark plug collaboration. I just need to get them to Nick for signing and numbering before they are released to you. Thank you all and wish me luck!

Tattoo Jam, Doncaster UK 2011

I want to thank the staff of Tattoo Jam for their incredible hospitality and support at this year's show, especially Editor: Sion Smith, Events Manager Shelley Bond, and Managing Director Stuart Mears! You all are awesome and great to work with. The Venue was super cool, clean and easy to get around. the people attending and working were all cool, kind and great to meet and be around. I got to do a painting Demo with Jason Butcher, Lianne Moule, Jesse Smith, and Nikko Hurtado! Nikko and I painted from a live model, in front of hundreds of people sitting three feet behind us... nerve-racking! Jesse did an amazing monk painting! Jason did an awesome green skull and Lianne did a beautiful bird, (Didn't get photos) The paintings are being auctioned for charity through Skin Deep Magazine! Such and Honor. All the artists attending the show were inspiring and made me want to come home and work harder. I finally got to meet Chris Crooks in person and deliver his painting, he also purchased the colaboration I did with Jason Butcher. I had the privilege of winning "Best International Artist" which was so cool! Thank you all for the support! I got to tattoo some old friends, do a new piece and do a figure study along side my good friend Nikko the last night. Great time! Great show! Again, to the staff and help of Skin Deep, Tattoo Master, and Tattoo Jam.... Cheers! You guys rock!

p.s. Thanks for letting me be the "staff photographer" at the end;)

jeff

FUSION INK... Gogue Signature palette!!!!!!!

http://www.fusiontattooink.com/

I had the incredible privilege of creating my own signature tattoo ink palette with Fusion's co-owner Adam Everett over the last two days. They are done, and on their way back to the production facility in Southern California to be introduced into the Fusion family! I got to do a quick 3 hour test tattoo on Adam himself and loved the way they worked. I designed them to work with the rest of the Fusion line but wanted to see them alone. A couple are made to transition from existing colors and to work as vibrant neutrals, so to speak. They are mature colors for a more earthy aspect to tattooing. I of course believe on striving for bright tattoos but those colors are already available and I often end up needing transition colors or earth tones to accentuate the bright ones I'm trying to get the viewer to focus on. I'm super stoked on these colors and also believe they will enhance any tattooer's existing palette and help in an efficient execution of any style of work you're going after.

click on any of the photos to see it bigger.

Here's the line up:

Midnight

Lotus

Super Red

Morning Shade

Chinook

Forest Green

Blackberry Porter

G.I. Green

http://www.fusiontattooink.com/

It cycles... it circles...

I started tattooing in Aug. 1999. One of my first role models was a guy out of Grass Valley, CA. named Cory Norris. His work was great, and he was super cool. I used to take my portfolio to him as he was doing my left arm and get advise. I was just starting out and he would always be honest and make me want to try harder. He also always kept me humble and striving for integrity in my work. It's so crazy to me that twelve years later I would be interviewing him for the leading trade journal of the tattoo industry. Tattoo Artist Magazine (TAM) asked me to do this article two years ago and after some unfortunate roadblocks it's finally out. I am completely honored beyond the meaning of that word to have done this. Subscribe now to this publication, read it and send Cory an email. He's an incredible artist, friend and person.