Elayne Angel
Encyclopedia
Elayne Angel is a professional body piercer
and body modification
enthusiast. She was the first person to register a tattoo with the United States Patent and Trademark Office
and has angel wings tattooed on her back.
after a casual encounter with a woman bearing a nipple piercing
at a Renaissance Faire in 1981. Through her encounter, she became involved with and employed by Gauntlet
, the first, and at the time only professional body piercing studio in the United States. While employed by Gauntlet, she worked at the Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco branches. She was the first recipient of a Master Piercer certificate, from Gauntlet founder Jim Ward. Her technical contributions to the field of body piercing include the invention, naming and popularizing of several placements, including the fourchette
and the lorum piercings. She is also widely credited with popularizing and promoting the tongue piercing
.
In 1993, Angel opened her own studio, Rings of Desire, in the French Quarter
of New Orleans, Louisiana
. Rings of Desire was the first body piercing studio to receive state licensing from the Health Department in Louisiana, and the only licensed body art business within the French Quarter. Elayne has been involved with the crafting of regulatory legislation regarding body piercing in Louisiana, and the training of the professionals who enforce those laws. She also distributed the research study for doctors at the University of South Alabama on the relationship between female sexual satisfaction and vertical clitoral hood piercing
. Positive results were published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Following Hurricane Katrina, Angel closed her New Orleans studio and relocated to Merida, Mexico, in the Yucatan. She planned to operate a Bed & Breakfast & Piercing establishment there, however those plans did not come to fruition. Instead she wrote The Piercing Bible--The Definitive Guide to Safe Body Piercing, the first book in the English language to delve deeply and exclusively into the subject of body piercing. It was released in early 2009 by Random House.
with a banner
across it reading "slave". This design, which was the inspiration for the logo for her studio, was registered as a U.S. service mark
(No. 2,645,270, issued November 5, 2002) and was done by Bob Roberts of Spotlight Tattoo in Los Angeles, California
in 1987, it has since been cancelled due to the registration not being renewed. After receiving the service mark for this design, the circled "R" was added to her right buttock by Joey Galiger in Los Angeles, California, at the advice of her attorney.
Her entire lower body has been tattooed with fish-like scales
and fins, giving her a mermaid
-like appearance from the waist down. This was done over an eleven-day period by artist Juli Moon at her studio, Juli's Bed and Breakfast in Seabrook, New Hampshire
. Symmetrical tattoos of flowers and vine
s extend from her wrists to her biceps
, done in 1991 by her former husband, British
tattoo artist Alex Binnie. Small flames were tattooed over her eyebrows by Cap Szumski of Timeless Tattoo in Atlanta, Georgia
in January 1998. She also has small tattoos of flames behind each ear, which were also done by Galiger. Her most recent work, done in 2005 by Walt Clark of NOLA Tattoo, is a miniaturized version of the vines and flowers from her arms, which covers both hands.
Over the years, Angel has had a variety of body piercings, including multiple (5) tongue piercing
s, various genital piercing
s, nipple piercing
s, ear piercings and facial piercings.
. She was previously married to the tattooist Alex Binnie.
Angel has an Associate of Arts Degree in Sign Language
Interpreting from Pierce College
, in Woodland Hills, California.
Body piercing
Body piercing, a form of body modification, is the practice of puncturing or cutting a part of the human body, creating an opening in which jewelry may be worn. The word piercing can refer to the act or practice of body piercing, or to an opening in the body created by this act or practice...
and body modification
Body modification
Body modification is the deliberate altering of the human body for any non-medical reason, such as aesthetics, sexual enhancement, a rite of passage, religious reasons, to display group membership or affiliation, to create body art, shock value, or self expression...
enthusiast. She was the first person to register a tattoo with the United States Patent and Trademark Office
United States Patent and Trademark Office
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that issues patents to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property identification.The USPTO is based in Alexandria, Virginia,...
and has angel wings tattooed on her back.
Career
Angel became interested in body piercingBody piercing
Body piercing, a form of body modification, is the practice of puncturing or cutting a part of the human body, creating an opening in which jewelry may be worn. The word piercing can refer to the act or practice of body piercing, or to an opening in the body created by this act or practice...
after a casual encounter with a woman bearing a nipple piercing
Nipple piercing
A nipple piercing is a piercing, centered usually at the base of the nipple. It can be pierced at any angle but is usually done horizontally or, less often, vertically. It is also possible to place multiple piercings on top of one another...
at a Renaissance Faire in 1981. Through her encounter, she became involved with and employed by Gauntlet
Gauntlet (body piercing studio)
The Gauntlet, also known as Gauntlet Enterprises, was a business founded in November 1975 by Jim Ward that pioneered the field of body piercing in North America. It was inspired by Ward's friend and mentor, Doug Malloy...
, the first, and at the time only professional body piercing studio in the United States. While employed by Gauntlet, she worked at the Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco branches. She was the first recipient of a Master Piercer certificate, from Gauntlet founder Jim Ward. Her technical contributions to the field of body piercing include the invention, naming and popularizing of several placements, including the fourchette
Fourchette piercing
A fourchette piercing is a female genital piercing. It is a piercing done at the rear rim of the vulva, in the area of frenulum labiorum pudendi. Many women do not have a pinchable flap of skin in the area, and are not suited for this piercing...
and the lorum piercings. She is also widely credited with popularizing and promoting the tongue piercing
Tongue piercing
A tongue piercing is a body piercing usually done directly through the center of the tongue, and is the most popular piercing site in the western world after the ear and nostril.-History and culture:...
.
In 1993, Angel opened her own studio, Rings of Desire, in the French Quarter
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
of New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. Rings of Desire was the first body piercing studio to receive state licensing from the Health Department in Louisiana, and the only licensed body art business within the French Quarter. Elayne has been involved with the crafting of regulatory legislation regarding body piercing in Louisiana, and the training of the professionals who enforce those laws. She also distributed the research study for doctors at the University of South Alabama on the relationship between female sexual satisfaction and vertical clitoral hood piercing
Clitoral hood piercing
A clitoral hood piercing is a female genital piercing through the clitoral hood surrounding the clitoris. There are two main types of hood piercing, the vertical clitoral hood piercing and the horizontal clitoral hood piercing. As the name indicates, the difference is in the direction the piercing...
. Positive results were published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Following Hurricane Katrina, Angel closed her New Orleans studio and relocated to Merida, Mexico, in the Yucatan. She planned to operate a Bed & Breakfast & Piercing establishment there, however those plans did not come to fruition. Instead she wrote The Piercing Bible--The Definitive Guide to Safe Body Piercing, the first book in the English language to delve deeply and exclusively into the subject of body piercing. It was released in early 2009 by Random House.
Involvement with the Association of Professional Piercers
Angel is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) and served two prior terms on its board of directors in the position of Outreach Coordinator and Medical Liaison. She is now serving her third term on the Board, and is again the Medical Liaison for the organization. She has edited their newsletter "The Point", authored a variety of brochures that have gone on to be industry standard for piercing care, taught workshops internationally and attended and participated in yearly APP conventions.Her modifications
Angel is best known for her large tattoo of angel wings on her back. The lower right wing is interrupted by a heartHeart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
with a banner
Banner
A banner is a flag or other piece of cloth bearing a symbol, logo, slogan or other message. Banner-making is an ancient craft.The word derives from late Latin bandum, a cloth out of which a flag is made...
across it reading "slave". This design, which was the inspiration for the logo for her studio, was registered as a U.S. service mark
Service mark
A service mark or servicemark is a trademark used in some countries, notably the United States, to identify a service rather than a product. When a service mark is federally registered, the standard registration symbol ® or "Reg U.S. Pat & TM Off" may be used...
(No. 2,645,270, issued November 5, 2002) and was done by Bob Roberts of Spotlight Tattoo in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
in 1987, it has since been cancelled due to the registration not being renewed. After receiving the service mark for this design, the circled "R" was added to her right buttock by Joey Galiger in Los Angeles, California, at the advice of her attorney.
Her entire lower body has been tattooed with fish-like scales
Scale (zoology)
In most biological nomenclature, a scale is a small rigid plate that grows out of an animal's skin to provide protection. In lepidopteran species, scales are plates on the surface of the insect wing, and provide coloration...
and fins, giving her a mermaid
Mermaid
A mermaid is a mythological aquatic creature with a female human head, arms, and torso and the tail of a fish. A male version of a mermaid is known as a "merman" and in general both males and females are known as "merfolk"...
-like appearance from the waist down. This was done over an eleven-day period by artist Juli Moon at her studio, Juli's Bed and Breakfast in Seabrook, New Hampshire
Seabrook, New Hampshire
Seabrook is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 8,693 at the 2010 census. Located at the southern end of the coast of New Hampshire on the border with Massachusetts, Seabrook is noted as the location of the Seabrook Nuclear Power Station, the third-most...
. Symmetrical tattoos of flowers and vine
Vine
A vine in the narrowest sense is the grapevine , but more generally it can refer to any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent, that is to say climbing, stems or runners...
s extend from her wrists to her biceps
Biceps
Biceps may refer to:*Biceps brachii muscle, a muscle located on the inside of the upper arm*Biceps femoris muscle, one of the hamstring muscles of the back of each thigh*Biceps , a point in a metrical pattern...
, done in 1991 by her former husband, British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
tattoo artist Alex Binnie. Small flames were tattooed over her eyebrows by Cap Szumski of Timeless Tattoo in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
in January 1998. She also has small tattoos of flames behind each ear, which were also done by Galiger. Her most recent work, done in 2005 by Walt Clark of NOLA Tattoo, is a miniaturized version of the vines and flowers from her arms, which covers both hands.
Over the years, Angel has had a variety of body piercings, including multiple (5) tongue piercing
Tongue piercing
A tongue piercing is a body piercing usually done directly through the center of the tongue, and is the most popular piercing site in the western world after the ear and nostril.-History and culture:...
s, various genital piercing
Genital piercing
Genital piercing is a form of body piercing and is considered a form of body modification. It involves piercing a part of the genitalia and subsequently inserting and keeping a foreign object in the opening until the wound heals. This forms a tunnel of skin around the foreign object, thus creating...
s, nipple piercing
Nipple piercing
A nipple piercing is a piercing, centered usually at the base of the nipple. It can be pierced at any angle but is usually done horizontally or, less often, vertically. It is also possible to place multiple piercings on top of one another...
s, ear piercings and facial piercings.
Personal life
Angel is married to female-to-male transsexual porn star Buck AngelBuck Angel
Buck Angel is a female-to-male transsexual and adult film maker and an LGBT icon of popular culture. He is also founder of Buck Angel Entertainment, as a vehicle to produce media projects...
. She was previously married to the tattooist Alex Binnie.
Angel has an Associate of Arts Degree in Sign Language
Sign language
A sign language is a language which, instead of acoustically conveyed sound patterns, uses visually transmitted sign patterns to convey meaning—simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's...
Interpreting from Pierce College
Los Angeles Pierce College
Los Angeles Pierce College, also known as Pierce College, Pierce, is a community college that serves more than 23,000 students in the northern Chalk Hills of Woodland Hills, a community within the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California.The college began with 70 students...
, in Woodland Hills, California.
