Body modification enthusiasts obviously love art, but our favorite artists are quite different from the typical collector and you probably won't find any of these paintings at your local estate auction. Here's a list of the top ten artists typically preferred by those with a taste for things more on the edge. If you're looking for a gift idea, this list will be very helpful to you.
David Bollt is a tattoo artist who is also widely known for his flash art, which exists in almost every tattoo shop around the country. But he's also an excellent fine artist, offering prints and canvas paintings that delve into the realms of fantasy and surrealism. The prints are only $19.95, and museum quality canvas reproductions are more than reasonably priced.
Brian Froud has long been recognized for his highly original fairy and creature art. Having worked with Jim Henson on designing concepts for movies like Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, he's got a prodigious talent for creating creatures that appeal to the masses. But Brian isn't the only Froud contributing to the art world. His wife, Wendy, is a renowned doll maker and the creator of the Star Wars character, Yoda. And their son, Toby, who was the troublesome baby in the movie Labyrinth, has grown up to become a master stilt-walker and has an interest in film making. Books, prints, and other products featuring the Froud family are available at their official Amazon store and the Goblin Market. Both links can be found on their website.
The whimsical creations of American artist, Mark Ryden, have a high level of "shock value," featuring doe-eyed girls and fuzzy animals that have been mutated or mutilated in some odd yet intriguing way. His surrealism isn't for everyone, but his style often appeals to the tattoo collector. One of his paintings - Rose - of a gothic girl with tears of blood rolling down her face has been reproduced numerous times on skin. Definitely a good choice for someone with a dark and twisted sense of reality. Unfortunately, Ryden's official store doesn't have much of his work available right now, so it may require some searching online, including auction sites, to find them.
Spanish artist, Luis Royo, is well known for his sexy, fantasy women. In addition to the scantily clothed women bearing medieval style weapons and armor, Royo adorns his leading ladies with futuristic tattoos, piercings, and implants that enhance their beauty. Luis Royo's art transports us to a time when body modification is a symbol of strength and status. You can purchase prints, posters, etc. through the Luis Royo website, but it takes you to a 3rd party site that's all in Spanish and the prices are in Euros. If you need an English site or a North American vendor, then you can check out
Art.com and/or
Fantasy Gallery Art.
Yamato Toy USA even sells collectible figurines based on Royo's art.
Born in Lima, Peru, Boris Vallejo immigrated to the U.S. in 1964 and has been creating stunning works of fiction since 1970. His fantasy works from the 1970s were well ahead of their time in vision and creativity, and he continues to contribute some of the most amazing fantasy works ever seen. The art of Boris Vallejo has been, and continues to be, a favorite amongst body art enthusiasts and would make a great gift. Not only are the prints affordable, but each one is hand signed by the artist himself. Works by his talented illustrator wife, Julie, as well as collaborative works by both of them are also available on the site.
H.R. Giger appears to be the "founding father" of what we now call biomechanical art. What he does, and what many after him have emulated, is a style that combines both organic (biological) components with mechanical or robotic components. The result is something amazingly powerful, futuristic, and complex...you could stare at a Giger painting for hours and probably still miss many of the minute details. He's a favorite with tattoo collectors and artists, and his works would look very nice on anyone's wall. The official site store appears to be down for the time being, so the best place to purchase prints and posters right now is
Art.com.
Frank Frazetta was originally a comic book artist, but his creations go way beyond the typical comic book style. We're talking full-on fantasy art created for the serious hard-core comic adventurer. His character known as the Death Dealer became so popular that a book series was written specifically for the purpose of creating a story to go along with the painting. The Death Dealer has also become a popular tattoo subject, as have many other Frazetta creations. The Frazetta site store offers lithographs, sculptures, prints, and many other items featuring the works of this talented artist.
Jennifer Janesko has her hands in several different business ventures, including a cosmetic line, a jewelry line, and fine art. The jewelry is limited, and I'm not familiar with Janesko cosmetics, but her paintings are deliciously saucy, featuring highly alluring models that are drawn to perfection. The website has a wide variety of prints and liths available, and you're just in time to get her 2010 pinup calendar.
Olivia DeBerardinis, usually known by her first name only, is considered the "high priestess of pinup art" according to her website. Bettie Page is the foremost icon of pinup beauties, and Olivia is foremost in sharing the beauty of Bettie with the world via her lovely paintings. Of course, Bettie isn't the only pinup she paints, and all of her models are equally beautiful. The website offers lots of great stuff from prints to t-shirts to note-cards and much more.
Coop's racy "soft porn" style art isn't appreciated by all, but definitely appeals to the edgier art connoisseur who probably doesn't have small children in their home. Coop's controversial creations (like the nun getting it on with a sexy devil woman) incite fun and require a sense of humor. If you have someone like that on your gift list, check out Coop Stuff, which is chock full of fun products featuring Coop's art.
