Kat Von DReseñas

Checking it out for summer reading program for the teens, and so far it's fantastic. The entry on Jeffree Star is great, and totally teen relevant and appropriate.

Summary: High Voltage Tattoo is a graphic perspective on today's global tattoo culture by Kat Von D, star of The Learning Channel's L.A. Ink and one of the most talented and popular artists working today. Designed in a style that is reminiscent of a handmade Gothic journal with its red padded cover, ornate typography, and parchmentlike pages, it throws the door wide open to tattooing culture in the way only an insider like Kat can.

High Voltage Tattoo traces Kat's career as an artist, from early childhood influences to recent work, along with examples of what inspires her, information about the show and her shop, her sketches, and personal tattoos. The book goes deep into tattoo process and culture: readers can see up close the pigments, the tools, and the making of complex, even collaborative, tattoos.

With a foreword by Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx, the book features images and stories about celebrities, rockers, pro skaters, and everyday citizens, including Slayer's Kerry King, Anthrax's Scott Ian, Margaret Cho, Jackass' Bam Margera, David Letterman, and many others. It profiles and showcases the work of artists Kat has selected from all over the world, her interviews with people who have compelling tattoos and stories, and amazing images of extraordinary tattoo work. Numerous portfolios throughout the book showcase a range of relevant subjects, from the black and gray portrait work for which Kat is famous to a popular tattoo theme, such as the rose or biblical images. There is a knockout ten-page full-body spread of Kat—clad in a yellow bikini and seven-inch, rhinestone-studded red stilettos—that catalogs in detail all her personal tattoos on her front, back, left, and right sides—even her hands and head.

Well, the summary there pretty much sums that up. (Her bikini is actually lime green though.)

It was definitely interesting. I had no idea that Kat was such a skilled musician. That was the most interesting part - just reading about how she got into tattooing. She started at 14. How in the world did she know how to make tattoos at 14?

She really is an artist. Some of her tattoos are just gorgeous. The book even shows some of her non-skin artwork *lol*.

And it was really cool to learn about her own body's tattoos. Why she got them, who inspired them, etc. Lots of drunken nights with friends.

An honest look at her life and how she got there. It is an interesting story of an artist even if you are not into the tattoo world. The book art work and print is beautiful and very detailed.

Couldn't put it down!

This was a exhausting book. Kat lives his heart on his sleeve. The reader got a 10th of what a day in a life is for her. On the outside it would seem that she would have everything, but her day to day life is a challenge. What she wants is love. I was surprised how this book chronicled her relationship with Nikki Sixx. She works to make it work, asks for advice and gives everything to make it work, yet as Lemmy from Motorhead gently tells her "Romance Without Borders." You almost forget that she has clients. The tats she does for her clients and the stories behind them are wonderful. After reading this book, all I wanted to do is give her a hug.

The Tattoo Chronicles details a year in the life of Kat Von D, tattooer and star of the TV series LA Ink. Her shop is in Hollywood and she frequently tattoos celebrities, as well as anyone who wants to pay the bloated price to be tattooed by her, and she always seems to have something insightful to say about everyone who enters her shop.

The book claims to be taken from her journals, which she is frequently shown writing in during the show, but if this is the case it has been heavily edited for the book. She frequently goes in depth describing who certain people are for the reader, which wouldn't be necessary if she were writing in her own personal diary.

The book is also a bit clogged with descriptions of her relationship (at the time) with Nikki Sixx. It became a bit nauseating, really. She's a sweet girl and I'm sure all that was important to her, but it probably could have been cut out of the tattoo book.

With all that said, I still rather enjoyed the book. Her art is amazing and is on full display here, and I really did enjoy her commentary. I'll definitely consider reading her previous book, at the very least. Not bad.

This is a awesome book. Kat left no stone unturned, from the cover (which feels like a tattoo bench), to the text inside. She covers her autobiography, intereweaving it with her tattoos. Those on her body and one that she has done for others. After reading her book, I want to get a tattoo. I would rearead this book before going into a tat shop.

This book was picked up on a whim when I walked by it at Chapters and the cover caught my eye. I love to admire artwork tattoos and she is a fabulous artist but I this book was more a journal about her love life than her art. The artistic tattoos shown and the background story on each piece were wonderful, but there was too much drama about her love life in the book.

Beautiful and funky book to flip through - Kat Von D does beautiful work. I wish there was a bit more of it displayed in the book. My copy was VERY poorly bound, and I had to send it out for re-binding in order to keep all the pages. Not Kat's fault, but the publisher/printer's, though.½

I'm a fan of Kat Von D's art and, regardless of what you think of her personally, you have to agree that she is one heck of a talent when it comes to tattoos. In this book, she relays some of the stories she has been told by her clients while working on their art - and adds her own comments on why this or that particular story was important or poignant to her. There are loads of beautiful photos in the book, not only of tattoos, but also of Kat's own art and, sometimes bizarre, collectibles. And, there are many, many, many stories/anecdotes/descriptions of her relationship with then boyfriend Nikki Sixx. This is the biggest beef I have with the book; it was described to me as a book about Kat's journal entries about her art, but I got loads of Kat's journal entries about what it's like to date Nikki Sixx, which is information that interests me little. It is a beautiful book with very nice print and some great stories, but had it been named Personal Journals, rather than Tattoo Chronicles, I would have given it a higher rating.

A nice book to flick through.

If you're a fan of Kat's - which you are if you've seen her art - this book is quite a treat. It's mainly about Kat's upbringing and family and how she became the accomplished tattoo artist that she is. There are lots of pictures of her own artwork and that of other artists (there's even a ten-page "map" of Kat's own tattoos). The only problem is that I wished there were more detailed pictures of the tattoos she writes about and maybe a few less pictures of her celebrity friends, but other than that, it's a very aesthetically appealing work.½

A stunning book which emulates Kats style perfectly and shows off her amazing talent. Beautiful pictures and very interesting text make this a must for any fan. Highly recommended.

Yeah, got to agree loved it, really amazing photos and great to read about Kat's fascination with the art form!½

Excellent book. Kat is extremely talented. The artwork and tattoos in the book are amazing and is a must have for people who love tattoos.

Autographed in person