Say hello to Rachel, she graced our site years ago with her sleeves. As you can see from the recent images she has added some more ink! She Is also in our members gallery and I’ll be adding some more from this latest shoot this month!

Bio:

Most kids would beg for quarters for the candy or toy machines, but I always had my eye on the temporary tattoo ones. I am the youngest of five kids, born and raised in an East Texas town called Tyler known as “the rose capital of the Nation”. From the start my dad, who had two tattoos from his time in the service, tried his best to discourage me but he could never offer up a compelling enough argument against them. I got my first tattoo at 19, and had been to two different artists but didn’t really branch into the art until I was 21 when I moved to Carlsbad, CA and met the truly awe inspiring artist Chris Earnhart. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde has been my favorite story since I was a kid and when I saw Chris’ portrait work I knew he was the one to trust, and have not been to another artist since.

One of my most entertaining experiences with people’s reactions to my tattoos would have to be when I went to Mumbai, India for work a few years ago. Though the culture is exceptionally colorful, I saw very little permanent body art. Every time I would go to work or out to explore with exposed arms, I would be stopped and asked “Where I got my paint?” When I would tell them it was permanent, the reactions were more often then not a fantastic combination between confusion and amazement. One time when I was at one of the street markets, a vendor actually took me by the hand and dragged me to the opposite end of the row of shops to show me to one of her friends where they both started scratching at my roses to see if they would come off.

Aside from a deep love of body art, I am also a giant nerd with passions running from online RPGs, steampunk and cyberpunk, science (mostly the mad sort), pirate lore, cosplay, comics, and all manner of book and movie genres. I never seem to lose interest for things either, which gets expensive but is well worth it. One of my projects to be is starting a Harley Quinn cosplay portfolio. Though I currently work at a company where I have to keep my tattoos and gauged ears covered, I have always wanted to be an actress and/or model.

Additional Likes:

Maniacally laughing atop a building in a lighting storm
Debating “fictional” scenarios
Noodles

Dislikes:

Phrases like “You don’t look like that type”
Bad remakes of good movies
Most Reality T.V.

Of course more of  Rachel will be added to the members galleries soon!

Be sure to leave Rachel some love in the comments below!

Going off course a bit as this months Canvas is not someone I have personally worked with, yet! Say hello to Stephanie from the great white no

Bio:

I was born and raised in Eastern Canada.  To be more specific Moncton, New Brunswick.  At 14 years old I asked my mom for my first tattoo…and of course she said no.  She asked me to wait till I was of age which I completely respected and waited.  Growing up no one in my family had tattoos but I have always been drawn to them.  I worked as a body piercer in a tattoo shop where my love for body mods seemed to really take off.  Now I can’t stop thinking about what I am going to get next and where I will put it!!

I work full time doing payroll and accounting and work part time in a pharmacy as a technician.  So many people ask me how I landed such great jobs being so full of tattoos.  I simply reply “my work speaks for itself”.  I am very lucky and thankful that my bosses see me for me and don’t judge me in the least bit.  They know I work my ass off and always give 100%!!

I am very much a mommy and daddy’s girl and I don’t think either of my parents would have it any other way.  I was raised with good values and morals in which are still instilled in me.  I love my parents very much and they are the reason I am where I am today!

I took up modeling a little while back and love to shoot!!  It has really helped build my self confidence and I hope to one day be on the cover of a tattoo magazine!  I’ve been dreaming of that since my first tattoo!!  A small city girl can dream can’t she? LOL

Photographers:

WForrest Photography, Georges Long, BenI-Photography, Sebastien Payette, and Andy Quinlan

All copyrights remain with said photographers and images used with permission.

Say hello to Heahter, another beautiful lady Ive known for a while. First met she was just starting her side pieces, Came back into the studio this past month sporting a almost full bodysuit, and she’s still working on it!

Bio:

I’ve wanted to be covered in ink for as long as I can remember but I never thought I would be this covered. I love the thought of a man who wears a suit & tie everyday but underneath all that is a full bodysuit of ink. I want that but in my own girly way.

The last 4 years I have been working on my mini suit with my artists Greg Nicola. It started as a large black & gray side piece of a 1920s female gangster who just killed the God Father becoming the 1^st God Mother. J After that I wanted a color piece to fulfill my obsession with Alice in Wonderland. My suit has been growing ever since & I planned my suit to be able to be covered if I felt the need; which I don’t!

I am a Costume Designer for a major Halloween costume company.  I am blessed to work in such a creative industry. I started out as an Assistant Designer right after graduating from Fashion Careers College. I paid my dues & was promoted to Costume Designer last summer. I don’t plan on staying in the Halloween biz forever; I ultimately want to design for movies & television shows. I want to see my name in the credits! One day I hope to have my own label. I have been published in local magazines, web sites, blogs  & featured on local news segments for fashion show I have participated in.

I am a small town girl; born & raised in the state of Maine. I married my high school sweetheart; we have been married for 10 years now. He joined the Navy & we eloped when we were 19. No kids yet, which shocks everyone. Since we were so young when we married, we haven’t felt the need to rush into parenthood. We are just 2 big kids who can’t grow up.

I am extremely fortunate that my husband still finds me sexy after 10 plus year together.  With him being in the Navy & deployed for more then 6 months at a time, I have become a stronger & more independent women. Which means I have no tolerance for bull shit & ignorance.

Like every other heavily tattooed women, I get asked this question all the freakin time! “What are you going to think of yourself when your old with grandkids?” Answer: I’m going to be the coolest granny on the block & I’m enjoying my life now wile I’m still able too. I try to do what most people only dream of doing; such as winning 1^st place in the Best Large Color Tattoo Category at the San Diego Body Art Expo in 2011.

I hope to compete at more Tattoo Conventions in the future.

Likes:

Tattoo culture
Fashion
Horror flicks

Dislikes:

People who don’t use their turning signal in a vehicle
Spoiled brats with mommy & daddy’s credit card
Poor manners

Of course more of Heather will be added to the members galleries soon!

Be sure to leave Heather some love in the comments below!

Say hello to Monica, better a day late then never get to see her Hope to do more with her this year as well. Leave your comments below and check out Monica’s Facebook page as well.

Bio:

My name is Monica Renee and I was born and raised in beautiful San Diego, CA. Being a true southern California girl, and I LOVE spending time at the beach, soaking up the sun and lounging with my friends.

I also have a huge passion for music (especially the hardcore genre) and try to see as many live shows as possible. I have been professionally modeling for over five years now and have loved every minute of it.

I love each and every one of my tattoos…every one of them reminds me of a time in my life and I love being able to look back at all of that. I will definitely continue to get more tattoos over the course of my life. I think they are beautiful expressions of ones individuality and beauty and should be celebrated!

You can also become a fan of Monica at her Facebook page The Real Monica Renee

      

New Tattoo Gallery

Yep we are opening a new gallery on the site for visitor submitted images. Now we are not taking any image you happen to find on the web. No these images must be of yourselves ladies, or taken by you fellow photographers. We are looking for high quality images as well. There are many sites that will show the snapshots, we want to showcase the best there is!

New Tattoo Shop

The old print shop had you find the image you liked then paste in the image number. This may have been to difficult so we changed the print shop to show specific imaged that you can add to your shopping cart. Now most images on the site are available as a print so if you don’t see the one you want in there just send us an email to info@thefemalecanvas.com and we’ll get it up in the shop. All prints are also available in canvas and metal, just ask! WE also added a members only shop for exclusive prints and items!

iPhone Tattoo Cases

Looking to keep your favorite Female Canvas in your pocket? We now have iPhone 4 and 3 cases available! We are putting some up in the shop, but just like prints you can get just about any image on them, just ask! iPad case to come soon

Ok Ok the Giveaway…

yeah you are all just looking for the freebie this month is an 8×12 print of this months canvas, Ashley! The photo you see up there on the page. You should know the drill by now. We are using rafflecopter to mange the giveaway and there are several ways you can enter. We do check and if you say you tweeted and you didn’t tweet or if you say you are a member and you are not then that entry will be disqualified.

Update:

Calendar provider is offering free shipping till Jan 31st so you go get your calendars. Use code WHOASHIPPING305 when you check out.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bio:

I will never forget the look on that elderly woman’s face. She glared at me with a mixture of disgust and intrigue as I stood in front of the mirror, trying on my various finds from the thrift store.

“Oh, honey,” she began in mock sympathy. “What will you do when you need to wear a wedding dress?”

Immediately I knew what she meant. She ran her fingers across her sternum, stroking the spot that I had covered with a large chest piece of blues and reds and purples.

I replied, “The person I marry will love me as I am, and my tattoos are a part of me.” She scoffed and went along with her shopping, unable to comprehend that someone could love a monster such as me.

But I know nothing else. Born in Elizabethtown, Kentucky in 1986, my family moved to San Diego when I was three years old. For as long as I can remember, my mother and her then-husband had tattoos that I admired. As a child who loved to personalize her effects with stickers, tattoos were like the next best thing.

My first tattoo came a few months after my 18th birthday. It’s artwork from the band AFI, a heart with bat wings between my shoulders. Second came the traditional rose on my right hip, an homage to a rose my mother has on her leg. Then an old-school rose on my left hip, my chest piece of a pin-cushion heart, a garter around my right thigh and finally a pin-up pirate girl on the outside of my right leg from my knee to my ankle.
It has been a few years since my last piece. I have been deeply contemplating what the next work of art shall be but I haven’t come up with anything that speaks to me. I suppose I will know when the time is right.

As for the elderly woman, I think of her words from time to time. But personally, I find that my tattoos are the best screening process for potential acquaintances, friends and lovers. I have always possessed the desire to get to know someone’s true character before judging them. It’s only right that I should want the same from those in my life. If someone does not like me simply upon sighting me, I have decided that this is not a person I want in my life anyway.

Life is too short to let others dictate your path in life. Even as my skin sags, my tattoos stretch and droop, I will be happy knowing that I lived life for myself.

Things that piss me off:

Rudeness. (A man who is polite to a cashier/server is so sexy!)
Ignorance. (Along with love, the pursuit of knowledge is the meaning of life!)
Religious zealots

Things that turn me on:

P90X
Fantasy novels (See: The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind)
Gaming
Camping

             

Of course more of Ashley will be added to the members galleries soon!

Be sure to leave Ashley some love in the comments below!

There are many ways to enter just follow the instructions below. I am using the new raffle copter that makes these giveaways so much easier to run. You must comment on the blog first for your first entry then you are welcome to do all the other ways to get yourself several entries in. Contest ends New Years Eve with the winner announced New Years Day!

Stay tuned as we will be annoying the new skate decks that you can have hanging on your wall with your favorite Female Canvas soon!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Welcome to our second feature of fellow photographers from around the world that enjoy photography beautiful ladies with ink. Welcome an up and coming photographer from the great white north Melanie Titus from Canada.  

Bio:

Melanie Titus is a Halifax, NS Canada based photographer who specializes in pinup and portrait photography. Melanie’s love affair with photography and images from the past began when she received her first Polaroid camera at age 10. It is only in the last few years, though, that she has become serious about it, having spent 3 years studying English at a local university before realizing that she would never be satisfied in that field . During a two year program at a local college, Melanie gained an important mentorship with local fashion photographer Brent McCombs (AlterEgo). This relationship hugely influenced her processing style, work flow and her approach to lighting. Having never used Photoshop before her formal education, Melanie began watching every online tutorial she could get her hands on. Processing has since become a a major component in her work. After finishing the 2yr program, Melanie graduated at the top of her class and decided that she would focus her attention completely on shooting what she was passionate about.

“I remember an instructor telling our class that as a photographer starting out, you would not be able to shoot only what you wanted. I didn’t buy that for a second. I thought that I would much rather be great at one thing than be alright at many…”

Photographing tattooed subjects seemed like a natural fit. Now 26yrs old, Melanie has been fascinated with tattoos since childhood and has herself been getting tattooed since she was 17yrs old. Many of the women she was working with were into the local rockabilly scene and she soon realized that her passion for vintage could aid her in carving out her niche in a small city. Obsessed with details, Melanie spends much of her time researching and collecting period appropriate wardrobe and set pieces. She is heavily inspired by Irving Klaw, Chas Ray Krider, Viva Van Story and illustrators John Willie and Tyson McAdoo.

For Melanie, 2011 has been a remarkable year of firsts. With her first publication in Inked Girls Magazine in January, a wave of success has followed. Seven more major publications followed, including her first cover, and she is showing no signs of slowing down.

“The biggest hurdle for me is living in a small city, away from most major centres. It feels really great though, to show people that you don’t have to live in Toronto to produce quality and have it noticed. You just have to be extra hungry”.

Melanie is looking forward to expanding her portfolio by moving into latex and fetish images. She will be teaming up with Toronto based latex designer Adala in the coming months and is in talks with several publications and designers. She is forever on the lookout for new models with incredible canvases.

Contact:

www.melanietitusphoto.com

   
   

All images are copyrighted by Melanie Titus and are displayed with permission

Say hello to Jessica, one of my favorite ladies to photograph. She is a natural beauty and we have had so much fun at each shoot since early 2007! Been to long since last one and need to get her in front of the camera again, promise!

Bio:

My name is Jessica but everyone calls me Muffin J
I was born and raised in the beautiful city of San Diego. I have been getting tattooed for about 8 years now
I am one of 5 siblings all in which are all heavily tattooed except for one. Expressing one’s self and being an individual was always supported in my upbringing.
I feel that our bodies are a shell our souls are renting while we are here on earth, so why not paint the story? My body shows through art the places I’ve been, the people I have loved and lost, the experiences I have had and the things I adore.
As long as there is room on my canvas to paint, the art will continue!

Things that piss me off:

Negative attitude
Bad Breath
Toe Shoes!!! Oh my gosh! Worst ever hahaha!

Things that turn me on:

Yummy perfume or cologne
A sexy smile
Closet kink 

Hobbies:

Rocking out in my car, shower, and wherever else I can J
Puffy painting and arts n’ crafts
Cooking
Naughty websites

      

Want to see a lot ‘more’ of Jessica? Well I will be load lots of her images to the members gallery this month! Of course prints are available!

You can also find her on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/MUFFIN619

Be sure to leave jessica some love in the comments below!

Welcome to our first feature of fellow photographers from around the world that enjoy photography beautiful ladies with ink. We start out here with Peter Gonzales of New Mexico.  Been following his work for awhile now and love seeing what he comes up with next. Please welcome peter to The Female Canvas.

Bio:

Peter Gonzales is a photographer based in Albuquerque, NM and specializes in Fitness and Glamour photography. Although he has always been involved in something creative, photography is a comparatively new endeavor to him. While assisting a friend who was photographing a wedding, the process and visual impact grabbed hold of him.  Peter went out, bought his first camera and hasn’t looked back, “I began reading everything I could find, or get my hands on”.  Peter is self taught in photography and photoshop and attributes his success to many sleepless nights of reading on Garage Glamour and Retouch Pro or examining photos on the internet and countless other sites, not to mention a number of books.

Early on, Peter was amazed by the work of Rolando Gomez, Traci Hicks and Andy McFarland but was truly intrigued by Robert Alvarado’s work. The combination of styling, editing and lighting had an immediate effect. “His style had a huge impact on how I look at things, and still does”. Peter spent a great deal of time researching and trying to understand how the workflow can achieve such a stylized look, one step at a time. It Was Alvarado’s love of using women with Tattoos and other body modifications that lead Peter down the path of shooting women with artwork.

“I love the personal statements, the stories behind the ink” says Peter. “In many cases, the story is quite personal and is very detailed, a personal tribute to life itself.”

Peter continues working hard to achieve a style of his own and his work has paid off.  He has been the photographer for Albuquerque’s Hard Rock ‘Hard Body’ Calendar the last two years in a row and his work has been published several times in 2011.  As he prepares to enter 2012, he is aggressively pursuing more published pieces for various magazines, websites and promotional products. In addition to shooting a great deal of fitness competitors and models, he finds time to hold workshops at his studio, teaching lighting techniques to new photographers and acting as a network coordinator. These events strive to create a comfortable environment and help put beginning photographers and new models together to expand their experience and portfolios.

Contact:

http://petergonzalesphotography.com/ and  facebook.com/pgphotographynm

Models:

Gabrielle and Licai Vigil, Jenna Elaine, Jessica Rinaldi, Mercy Beaucoup, Meredith Haleigh, Michelle Avila

All images are copyrighted by Peter Gonzales and are displayed with permission