Sailor Jerry ( English Sailor Jerry ) ( June 1911 - June 12, 1973 , Honolulu ), real name Norman Kate Collins - a famous tattoo artist who enjoyed the reputation of one of the most significant artists of his time. He had an extraordinary influence on the development of tattoo art in the 20th century, and is considered the founding father of the old school style - small format tattoos with large contours and several simple colors that can be filled in a fairly short time.
| Sailor jerry | |
|---|---|
 American sailors embellished with typical Jerry Sailor tattoos | |
| Birth name | Norman collins |
| Date of Birth | 1911 |
| Date of death | June 12, 1973 |
| Place of death | Honolulu |
| Citizenship | USA |
| Genre | tattoo artist |
| Style | old school |
Content
Biography and Creativity
Born in 1911. At the age of 19, he entered the Navy and traveled half the world. Southeast Asia's tattoo art had a special impact, and when he retired, Sailor Jerry opened his first tattoo parlor in Honolulu Chinatown, where sailors and soldiers became his clients. In addition, it is believed that the master actively tattooed during his service in the Navy in various ports, where he had occasion to step ashore.
The type of tattoos and set of plots created by Sailor Jerry in the 1930s and 40s quickly gained popularity and took it to a new level, making him a trendsetter. Images include pierced hearts, winged daggers, anchors, swallows, mermaids, busty girls and so on. - with generalized silhouettes and vibrant colors. Having worked in Honolulu until the end of his life, Sailor Jerry became, along with a pin-up , a kind of symbol of his time and a new stage in the development of American folk art, embellishing with his works the thousands of American sailors who traveled to Hawaii during World War II . The tattoos created by Sailor Jerry are characterized by a combination of the rough marine tattoos and the polychrome technique of the Far Eastern body art. Moreover, it is believed that he was the first to introduce American tattoo artists to the craft secrets of Japanese artists [1] . The artist’s desire was to “beat the Japs with their own weapons,” that is, to use the arsenal of Japanese skill to portray purely American themes.
| Good tattoos are not cheap, and cheap tattoos are not good. Good tattoos are not cheap, and cheap tattoos are not good. (Sailor Jerry's motto) |
The master has expanded the palette of colors available to tattooists, creating several of his own safe pigments. Invented a needle that injects pigment into the skin with much less injury. In addition, he was one of the first to use disposable needles and sterilize equipment at the medical level [2] .
Trademark
The graphic images created by Sailor Jerry are still protected by copyright laws, although in most tattoo parlors around the world his designs are perceived as “folk art”. The sailor Jerry left the rights to his name and work to tattoo artists Ed Hardy and Mike Malone , who also became prominent figures in his craft. In 1999 , they founded the small company Sailor Jerry Ltd., producing clothing and souvenirs, decorated with images created by Sailor Jerry. In addition, the company produces Sailor Jerry rum , the label of which is decorated with a master’s drawing - a Haitian girl.
Movie
- “Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry: The Life of Norman K. Collins” - documentary television movie, 2008 [3]
Literature
- Kate Hellenbrand. Sailor Jerrys Tattoo Stencils. ISBN 978-0764315626
- Sailor Jerry Tattoo Flash. ISBN 978-0945367185
- Donald E. Hardy, Jerry Collins. Sailor Jerry Collins: American Tattoo Master. ISBN 0945367112