Holiday Wishes

 

Merry Christmas from the No Egrets Crew and I. I'm a bit behind but I was thinking about you guys and they say its the thought that counts. :) Now lets all enjoy our presents and get ready for the New Year!

What a hoot

Birds are always in demand as a tattoo item. All of the images walk ins who wanted to get bird related tattoos this month. Even the painting was done based on a drawing for a walk in (we did something slightly different and I unfortunately didn't have get a photo of the tattoo to compare).

The feather and the owl with the moon are both cover ups. I have been terrible this month at not remembering to take before pictures so I apologize for the lack of comparison again. The feather is covering small foot prints and the owl initials.

The love birds represent the parents of the client. They apparently love birds and act like a couple still very much on love. :)

The other owl was for a long time customer of No Egrets. She and her sister have been coming to get work done by the artists here since we opened. This was my first time tattooing one of them and it was a great honor. Especially since this peice is for both of her grandmothers who loves owls. I love this owl. It reminds me of old tea coozies for some reason. I think it's the flowers.

The End is Near

 I don't actually believe we're all going to die in a fireball of global doom but I am surprised at how accurate the Maya were at predicting major social change. Each of their Dynasties prior to their loss of power was marked by a huge social change that effected the culture. In some cases it was marked by violence but in others it was more of a shift of perspectives and cultural understanding. If the Maya were still around I feel they wouldn't be surprised at all to note the major changes in our society since the many wars and ages, particularly the industrial revolution, that have lead way to us as a whole now being forced to realize our effects and responsibilities to our planets natural resources and humanity as a whole. If I had to say anything the end of this Maya dynasty marks one of the most important cross roads that we as humanity face as a whole in our combined history. Namely how we intend to handle the major issues of health, rights, economics, and our effects on the creatures and nature of this planet. Do we ignore the signs of our abuse on natures systems or work to create a new culture that works with in the natural laws of our environment.  Do we continue to hold back our scientists, educators and healers allowing the sick become weaker, the poor to become poorer, and the ignorant to remain just so the rich can continue to be richer or do we let knowledge and empathy have a chance to blossom so that we can all have the ability to live full healthy lives filled with understanding. That is the cross road I believe we are at. I have faith that humanity will choose to follow the path of knowledge and growth but in the end we'll see. Its an interesting time to be alive. Thats for sure. 

Phew. Well you might need some fun after a rant like that so if you live on the Atlantic coast and don't have any plans for the 21st you should check out the End of Times show at House of Madness. I mailed off my paintings for the show and can't wait to hear about how they are received at the gala to celebrate the end of all seasons. I only sent off two paintings but they are both themed around the Maya.

This one is based on a tattoo I designed and tattooed on a fellow named Taco in my apprentice ship. I've always gotten a giggle out of it and knew I wanted to paint it eventually but never seemed to get around to it until now.  

This beauty is a reworked drawing from a design I created for a walk-in customer. I'd kind of hoped to have enough time to paint another version of her for the show that I have drawn up but the time never presented itself so for now this is a lone Amazon but she's pretty boss with her jaguar head dress and face paint. 

Hopefully the world doesn't actually end and I can get some photos of gala and these beauties hung with the other amazing work from the other artists participating. 

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 :)

Super Storm Auction Winner

The winner of the skate deck I donated to the Tattoo Fight Club  Super Storm Art Auction was Stacy. Thank you for participating in the auction and helping to raise funds for those in need. All the proceeds raised were donated to the Red Cross. I hope you enjoy the board its one of my favorites that I've painted. <3

The winner of the skate deck I donated to the Tattoo Fight Club Super Storm Art Auction was Stacy.

Under the Sea, part II

We did a good long session of lining out Jay's shoulder and chest. The octopus was a ton of fun to draw. Really excited to start bringing these to life and really tie them together. The empty space between the shoulder and peck is where we'll be putting the remaining tentacles.

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.

Cash for Cash

Volunteered some time yesterday at one of my favorite shops in Nashville, Kustom Thrills.

The benefit went great. Turn out was awesome, tons of amazing art and goodies were auctioned off. Including a small watercolor I'd done earlier this year. At least 120 tattoos were done with all the proceeds going to help Cash, a little boy with brain cancer.

Best wishes to Cash and his family.

Benefit Auction for Super-storm Victims

Hey everyone. Tattoo Fight Club is holding an art auction for proceeds to help the victims of Super-storm Sandy. I've donated the piece below. Also check out the other amazing artists work. Buy something awesome and help out those in need. If you're interested go to their instagram: tattoo fight club  or Facebook: Tattoo Fight Club.  This board is on an auction for this week and will end SOON.

DC Tattoo Convention

Time to start getting ready for conventions again. If you're in the area and want a tattoo or to just hang our get in touch with me:

Heidi Arata
Amazingly.cute@gmail.com

The pits

Silly lil' jobber for Jeremiah Smith.

Painting

Here are a few paintings I have been working on. The traditional eagle is finished.

The Virgin Mary and Mayan Amazon are in their first stages. Excited to get them finished they'll be going in an art show in MD in December.

What a girl wants...

Every straight girl wants flowers and good guy by her side. So, here are some flowers I finished on Jessica's shoulder yesterday. As for men...

These man ups embody all of those female fantasies. Not sure who did the man ups photos but they are amazing and I am sure I will be using them for inspiration in the future.

Now where did I put that stash of chocolate ;)