Done did it again

Forgot to post that is. It is amazing how fast time flys. It been almost two months since I posted. I've become a year older, had a small magazine article in empire of honesty( a local mag), been promote to co-curator at the shops art gallery, went to Florida, been tattooing like crazy and now I am about to leave to go to Hong Kong.

I can't tell you all how excited I am but before I go I want to make sure I share some of the pieces I have had the pleasure of working on.

I have been wanting to do a price inspired by mandalas, Indian henna designs and some of the more current trends of stripling shading. Jennifer a repeat customer of mine brought in such a request. Today we did the first session on her arm. I am really looking forward to finishing it for her in a few weeks. :) pretty happy with my line work as well.

The painting never ends

I am working on an old design I tattooed on Taco during my apprenticeship. I always really got a kick out of it and since the end of the world art show has a very Mayan theme I felt it was the prefect time to give another life to the image. It still has a ways to go and the date of the show is soon approaching but I am confident I can get it all done and shipped with the other 2 images for the show in time. Funny how quickly the end of the world approaches.

Started and finished this reaper study for Bart's arm. It will be a cover up so I wanted to test out how I wanted it to look before hand. It helps me focus more on each line/ area if I already have a preconceived notion of what I want it to turn out like. Granted changes are always inevitable between paintings and tattoos but it still helps to have a game plan :)

The other is a drawing from a walk in who didn't care for this version and went with another take on it. I still really enjoyed this one so I am painting it up in the hopes of inspiring a future taker on getting it tattooed. :) I will be sure to post it as soon as its done.

Under the sea, Second session

Still at work on Jay's shoulder but we are defiantly moving along. I am excited to continue working on it :)

Give me something good

... To eat that is :) Jerimiah had me tattoo his arm pits furthering his bodily tribute to cartoon dogs before he moved back to Washington state. I wish him the best out that way. Knowing he will always get a good chuckle from his arm pits makes me feel like he'll do just fine.

Under the sea

Everything's wetter take it from me. -Sebastian the crab

This is a study for a tattoo I am doing tomorrow. Pretty excited.

Newbies

Today I only tattooed first timers. Sadly I didn't get a photo of the first one of my appointments today but Michael got his favorite college team logo. Hurray for North Carolina State University!

The other two lady's got things on their sides and we total champs about it. I I am bummed I don't have a better picture of the cross but you get the idea.

Gypsy

I loved designing and tattooing this gypsy for Christina. Traditional tattoos are defiantly some of my favorite to do. They just have a timeless feel that I can't easily explain. I honestly believe it goes beyond it being the main style of early tattoos in the modern era.

Traditional tattoos evoke the same qualities as folk art from cultures all around the world. The bold lines, simplified but strong designs paired with a very primary color palette really works toward that nostalgic timeless appeal.

Anyways both of us were very happy and Christina was a trooper to get it all in one session

A few inner arm beginnings

These a both first sessions I started last week. The bride of Frankenstein is on Arceli's inner arm and the Saint Micheal stain glass is the start of a religious sleeve on a GI who has some pre-existing religious inspired work on his arm and wanted to add to it with polynesian tribal. We're compromising by going with some stain glass motifs to fill the larger open areas before we fill in the remaining open spaces with more basic patterned designs; though I don't believe when we are done it will look very Polynesian it will still have a very stylized black and white feel.

Celtic > Tribal

The top image is what Tyler originally came in wanting and the bottom is what we finished today. :)

I do have to say though that Gerhard Weisbeck of Time Traveling Tattoo in Germany has been making me really admire and respect tribal designs. I have been attempting to convince my tribal fanatic walk ins to get interested letting me try something in this direction. No biters yet but maybe one day. Still check out Gerhard'swork if you haven't already. It's mind numbingly beautiful in its execution and style.

Promo video

I love our promo video that Cavan Infante did for the shop about a year ago.

Max Payne says it best

Thought this turned out pretty fun. I was trying to do something other than west coast script since I didn't feel it lent itself to quote.

"In the midst of winter, I found within me, an invincible summer."
-Albert Camus