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. ( )

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. ( )

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. ( )

A nice book to flick through. ( )