TRUE NATURE TATTOO

Chrysanthemum, Skull, Koi Leg

2012-02-02T09:47:00.000-08:00

It's been almost a couple years in the making, but we're just about there...

We still have some background to fill in on the inner thigh, and some flames around the toad, then it's time to call it until we have to hook it up to whatever back/side work he'll probably get to in the future.

It's been a very enjoyable ride the whole way through. Since the beginning he's had a very clear vision of what he wanted, and as it went along his suggestions and input were always spot on. A color tweak here and there, or suggestion of how a certain part might flow, it was always helpful but not over bearing...

I feel no sense of ownership over the tattoos I do, and firmly believe that it is the client's piece to wear, not mine as the artist. There sometimes can be a conflict between fulfilling the client's wishes and doing what's "best" for the tattoo (in terms of composition, content, color etc). Each situation and person is different, so I have no real set system of how I go about things. I just take it as it comes and really listen to and try to understand the client, then do my best to make a nice drawing and be very present and focused while applying it.

Often times the client is 100% open to letting me do the tattoo as I see best and leaves everything in my hands. I really appreciate the freedom and trust, but it's a lot of responsibility and I don't mind having a little direction (as long as it's thoughtful and constructive). Luckily on this project his input was always constructive and really did help make it a better piece.
(And his ideas for the sleeve we'll be starting after this are pretty cool and unique as well)...

Chrysanthemums and Rocks

2012-02-02T09:13:00.000-08:00

Another poor quality phone pic, but it gives you the general idea.

These flowers are an extension of a half sleeve done several years ago (that I wrote about somewhere a few months ago). This session was finishing up the blue and gold one (although I just realized I forgot the center) and starting the red one. I'll still be doing a bit more than just that red to the upper one but we ran out of time.

On his other arm he has a few peonies that are very graceful and classic. The idea on this side was to go a bit wilder. I drew the whole thing on to try and keep it a bit looser and free feeling, and when it came time the color we wanted to crank up the excitement meter just a little.

There is a fine line however between something that is colorful and high energy, and something that is just gaudy and loud...

It's great that he's open to whatever, and it's fun for me to play around a little more with color combinations. It's not really that crazy or over the top at all, but a definitely a little push ahead of where I normally go with it...

Dragon

2012-01-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

Been forgetting the real camera, but the phone camera can always do the trick in a pinch.

I've got to admit, I had fun with this one. I didn't have as much prep time to work up the drawing as I like, need, or usually have, but we pulled it off. I like to have a drawing (especially a bigger one) completed well before the appointment so I can have some time to really digest and critique it. Sometimes you get so wrapped up in the drawing process, that you really need to re-visit it a day or two later with a fresh set of eyes and clear head. Not always, but often you'll see things that you weren't able to before (sometimes very glaring mistakes).

Due to some scheduling and communication glitches (not the end of the world though) I was actually finishing the final line drawing of this about 5 minutes before he came in. Like I said, certainly not how I prefer to do it, but it can also really work. If you've had nothing but one image in your head for a while and you're drawing, drawing, drawing and then jump straight into the tattoo, there's like a muscle memory thing that just transitions right over to the outline. It feels much more like you're still just drawing rather than tattooing. Hope that makes sense...

That in combination with the fact that this dragon design was a little looser than I normally do it (which is a direction I will certainly be heading in) and he sat like a rock made it a success.

(And as for the rest of the scales, he had to get out of there to pick his son up at day care, so we'll have to draw the remaining ones in next time)

Body Suit (Koi and Lotus)

2012-01-27T09:41:00.000-08:00

After the last year of diligently working on the dragons on his sides, it was finally time to start new work below the knee.

As it stands now, his dragons are outlined from under the arm pit down to the thigh, and the background is 100% done down just past the waist. The back piece (phoenix) has been done for years, although there is still a little background to finish on one butt cheek. We got to a place where it was either color in the dragons, or start outlining the rest. I decided to go the later route...

His whole upper body has clouds as background and as we get to the bottom we'll be transitioning into water and a few rocks. He had the dragonflies (of which I plan on adding more) on his thighs already that served as a very natural meeting point between the sky and the water. We went with lotuses as they're an aquatic flower, and there's not going to be much earth element going on in this piece.

Of course I didn't get a great picture, but from the back and side views it's really cool to see the upper body and legs almost connected. After next session (where my plan is to outline the whole back of the left thigh above the koi) he'll have solid tattoo from the top of the shoulder to the ankle. Pretty exciting stuff...

Koi Sleeve #2

2012-01-25T00:53:00.000-08:00

Second day...

Kept on going up the arm with more of the same as the day before (see below).

I'm digging how strong and bold it's looking with just those primary colors and black in there...

Koi Sleeve

2012-01-25T00:46:00.000-08:00

I'm very enthused that we were able to get some more work done on this sleeve that was started several months ago. She lives about 8 hours away, and she and her husband come up a few times a year to get tattooed. Last visit we outlined the whole arm during 2 sessions in 2 days. I was (and am) really into into it, and enjoyed the slight added pressure of having to do a little more work than normal for me, as she was traveling from such a long distance to get it.

This first of two sessions we began color starting at the wrist. Although I had some slight reservations about it at first, she really wanted vibrant blue water, and despite the fact that I almost never do it that way (black and grey shading has been the norm for me), I thought it could be really cool and knew that it would suit her very well.

It was a slightly different mental approach for me to go in making it as rich and bright as possible, but I think it really works. Once I got into the swing of things I started having a lot of fun with it. I'm always very conscious of staying focused and present while working, not really thinking about much, but I distinctly remember reflecting on how it was really fun to do something that was a slight tweak off of how I normally do it...

Chrysanthemum

2012-01-25T00:27:00.000-08:00

Well, this was actually started over a year ago, and we are just now getting to coloring the elbow region in.

There is a hawk above (that I did a few years ago) that takes up most of the upper arm, and a snake and clouds that were added later (that we're still finishing). After completing the lower arm, we should just have a couple more sessions up top to be pretty much done.

This go around I shaded in the background on the elbow and colored in the chrysanthemum bud. These flowers were intended to be very strong and bold, and I think have sort of that old school punch and good visual impact. I went back to the powdered Japanese white pigment on this one, and it went in great for sort of a rough spot on the arm. I'm also happy that the white on the blue flower from at least a year or more ago is still looking good and bright, and it makes me feel confident that this one will stay very vibrant as well.

Getting really solid, rich white can be tricky sometimes, but he seems to take it well.

He's always been super enthused about his tattoos and the process, and it's good to have him back in the rotation again...

Mucha Woman

2012-01-19T23:14:00.000-08:00

First color session on a piece we started a while back (within the last year I believe). This is one of three Mucha women on her arm (that will be getting a bunch of nouveau background eventually). I've actually finished the bottom two women recently, but wasn't able to grab decent pictures this time. I am super happy with how they turned out however and am planning on this one also going very well.

In the original print the hair is a kind of grey and brown, but she was interested in doing black hair, and I thought that would be just fine. The lower women were done extremely faithful to the originals, and she felt comfortable veering off slightly for this one.

This top piece is 2 or 3 times the size of the lower ones, so a very subtle thematic shift should work out just fine.

I love this style of art and I'm really enjoying doing these. Combining Mucha's very clean and technical line work (which is also extremely busy but perfect) with the very soft and watery color tones is a super cool look, and has given me lots of ideas and inspiration for some of my other work...

Tiger Sleeve

2012-01-17T09:18:00.000-08:00

Pretty cool session...

Picked up right where I left off last time and went up the chest, over the shoulder and down the backside of the arm. This means that the overall silhouette of the background is complete. There's still a little water and a few rocks to finish, but all the borders are done and it's got the look now (I think we were both equally excited to see it hook up all the way around)...

Time to start re-calibrating my brain for color mode soon, but I think I've got a few ideas.

He's back every three weeks for the rest of the year, so we should see a finished arm before not too long...

P.S. In my opinion, this is the best way to get a larger piece (at least what works best for me and seems to be good for my clients), having a half day session every 2-3 weeks for a several month stretch. Seems to be a nice balance of staying really consistent and on it, with just enough healing time in between to enjoy a little non scabby time before the next one...

Here's a few shots of the whole arm as of now:

Tengu Sleeve

2012-01-13T09:12:00.000-08:00

Last time we pretty much finished up the robes of the lower karasu (crow) tengu, and this time it was on up to the the big man at the top.

I do enjoy working on the clothing patterns, although these real detail oriented sessions can be a mixed bag. It really gives the tattoo that something special, but you sure don't cover that much square footage in a session. It ultimately is about quality over quantity (as with most things in life) and as long as I feel good about what we're putting on and he continues to be super happy then it's a win win.

I realized that we only have 1-2 sessions left and it's a done deal. I'm really happy with this set of sleeves he's gotten (fox one on the other side). We were able to do them one right after the other which really helped maintain aesthetic cohesion. That combined with their individual symbolism (and as a pair) in relation to the client's life just made for a very unique and positive situation.

Sounds like we'll be heading to his back next...

Skull Cover

2012-01-13T08:57:00.000-08:00

Man, I messed up...

Not on the tattoo (I think) but I lost the before picture of what this is covering. This was one of the craziest cover ups I've ever done. Believe it or not, there was a very solid black and grey half sleeve under there of a guy shooting himself in the head under a bridge or something made out of bricks...no joke. I've been doing other work on him for years and he's always mentioned wanting to do something about it but I always kept my mouth shut because I didn't want to have to tell him it couldn't be done.

We had been working on dialing in the lower section of the arm one day (which has a bunch of skulls and roses I was finishing that had been started by another artist) and he brought up the upper arm. I started looking at it and realized there were these three pretty dark spots roughly where two eyes and a nose would be. I started drawing on him and it was looking like it might fit, so we just went ahead and started outlining it. The roses up top are there to match all the ones that were already on the lower arm.

I really hope he has a picture of the old tattoo laying around, because I still can't really believe we were able to cover it so well...

Also, threw in the last picture to show how different these things can look in different lighting...

Phoenix

2012-01-09T21:40:00.000-08:00

I actually did this one a few years ago, but we never got around to finishing the inner tail feathers. I had always meant to add some stripy dark grey lines over the lighter grey shading, but we never quite got to it. Years later it finally happened, and honestly, it really pulled it together.

This piece is really about pattern and it looked strange to have one part not like the others...

Also, it was fun to just dive in after all that time and just do it. No drawing or over planning, just pick up the machine and go. Very free and fun...

It was very cool that he requested such a graphically oriented piece, and it actually goes very well with his arm of tribal on the other side.

Japanese Hulk

2012-01-09T21:29:00.000-08:00

Yup, that's right...it's a Japanese warrior Hulk.

Definitely one of my more fun and original requests in quite a while. He asked for the Hulk as a samurai or ninja or just some bad ass looking Asian dude.

It was super fun from the drawing through to the final session. The only snag was in the beginning, deciding the ratio of Hulk to warrior. Do you make it the classic bare chested Hulk with some Japanese clothing and weapon details, or do you focus on the Japanese part and let the green guy be secondary? I sort of chose the later approach. I figured as long as his face and hands were showing (and green), you'd be able to figure out who it was. That way I could focus more on the clothing and patterns (which to me is way more interesting than some green pecs and six pack) and try to "trick it out" a bit more. Since it's a sort of campy premise (and totally cool at the same time), I subtly hammed it up a little by putting the kanji for strength in the robes, and trimming it with the universal nuclear sign as a repeating pattern. He's the new school Hulk from the comics with the smaller head, but it makes his hands look way bigger and more substantial...

Super fun tattoo on a super fun guy who I'm looking forward to working on more in the near future (you should see his next idea...)

Horitoshi 1

2012-01-09T21:02:00.000-08:00

Not sure where I came across this one (or who made it or why it's so short), but I kinda dug it.

Both gentlemen are wearing Horitoshi body suits (the shorter haired one is my friend, Mr. Ishikawa, who I've had some great times with in Tokyo and SF, and the longer haired fellow is basically what I'd like to look like when I'm that age)...

Horitoshi has always been my favorite tattooer and one of my main main influences and inspirations. I've always admired his personal and artistic style, not to mention his ferocious work ethic.

I met him almost 15 years ago, and am very fortunate to have gotten to spend so much time with him and his tattoo family over the years.

There's a link to the right if you'd like to check out some of his work...

Warrior and Snake

2012-01-04T21:44:00.000-08:00

This one was started sometime last year I believe. I wrote about once before, but it actually is based on a bible verse. I'm not sure which one, but he had a list of a few key elements/images that need to be represented (I think it was sword, armor, serpent, helmet, and shield). His idea was pretty neat, to interpret a biblical passage as a piece of Asian inspired art...why not?

He mentioned a samurai at first, but I wasn't really clicking with that off the bat. Even though so much of this tattoo stuff is make believe and fantasy, a samurai just would have never battled a snake (at least not one that big). I decided to model the main figure after one of the Suikoden bandits (as depicted by Kuniyoshi). The thinking was this:

They are warriors that are often shown wearing helmets and armor, so check on that. And since the story is pure fantasy, there are times when the protagonists fight giant creatures of various sorts, so check on that as well. Also the shield was a big sticking point. There had to be a shield in the composition, but the samurai didn't use shields (ever the consummate bad asses, they had to keep both hands free for two swords, a bow, or spear), so that wouldn't have worked. But as the Suikoden warriors are originally from China, there were shields used (and depicted in the prints). I didn't love the idea of having it be a main focal point, so you can just see it poking out from behind his back, but it is there...

Seems like there are usually at least several months between each session, but it's coming together just fine and we're having a good time...

Tiger Sleeve

2012-01-03T09:20:00.000-08:00

Even though he's one of our favorite people around here, I sure didn't take it easy on him this session. Started right on the elbow and shaded the whole thing solid in one shot. Then it was around to the inner arm for more fill in. Rounded out the day by finishing the thick rock lines around both sides of the arm pit. I imagine it was one of our more intense sessions for him, but as always he laid there perfectly still and relaxed. His dedication to getting tattooed really invigorates me and is a constant reminder of all of the best aspects of what I do.

We've actually had another session since that one, and although I forgot my camera I was able to snap a couple pics on the phone...

Another painful day I would imagine. All up the inside of the arm, skirting the arm pit and onto the chest. It's cool to see the silhouette of the sleeve taking shape and I'm really focused on moving ahead in a couple weeks...

Body Suit

2012-01-03T08:48:00.000-08:00

Well for the first time in over a year we tattooed him with something that wasn't new outline or background shading. The really dark, dense background is what really makes this style (and he knows that full well and loves it) but it can be tedious just doing month after month of black and grey clouds.

This session was still just black, but we started coloring in the scales on the right dragon. This will eventually get color as well, and the black will serve as a little extra depth and texture. Again, his wish is for a traditional-ish suit that follows established Japanese aesthetic, but a little tweaked and unexpected. It's a bit hard to explain, but if you knew him it makes perfect sense.

We also began consulting for the next phase of the project, which we might even start next time depending on which way the winds are blowing. Here's a sneak peak (very rough, but it's a general idea)...

Chrysanthemum Cover

2011-12-29T12:15:00.000-08:00

It's been a several month layoff, but we finally connected and got one of the flowers colored in. Life definitely happens and it's not always possible or convenient to get tattooed every few weeks, but we were in a good stopping place and it's been easy to pick up where we left off.

We went with subdued tones that wouldn't over power her. She's got a lean frame and we're doing a fairly good sized tattoo that we both wanted to make sure didn't "wear her" if that makes sense.

She's had some very cool ideas to add on to it in the future and I'm very much looking forward to that...

Here's a before picture to show what we had to work with. I'm pretty happy with what we were able to pull off considering that original piece...

Sleeve Extensions

2011-12-29T11:29:00.000-08:00

If you've been following this blog for a while you might recognize this guy (or at least his tattoos). It started as a half sleeve on one arm, then when he overcame his fear of upsetting his folks we dropped it down to a 3/4 sleeve. Technically it really is called a 7/10 length, so I should start using the correct language from now on I guess. After we finished it with various kitsune (fox) motifs, we went to the other side and started a matching sleeve of various tengu. He had always expressed an interest in getting some tebori (traditional Japanese hand poke) work and said he would wait for that to bring it down to the wrist. Last year when my friend ToshiHide came to visit he got a couple of chrysanthemums around his right wrist. And recently when Horimasa was visiting, he got the other forearm done with the large orange chrysanthemum and a uchide no kozuchi (lucky hammer) pictured above.

He then asked me to bring the background down behind the new work to a clean cut off around the wrist. Sounds simple enough, but to hook up the the existing piece and navigate behind the new work and make it all look natural in such a tight space was a little trickier than it seems...

Luckily, I'd say it all worked out well. I have to admit that it's a very cool pair of sleeves. To get two sleeves by the same artist in a very close time period with matching motifs (aesthetically and symbolically) and then throwing in the twist of the hand poke work by two different members of the Horitoshi family...how sweet is that?

Still a few more sessions to finish the tengu side, then extending them to the chest?

Here is the other arm...

Painting

2011-12-23T12:17:00.000-08:00

Well I guess I'm a little late on posting this, oops. But fear not, if you're interested in checking it out I think we're just going to leave it up through January.

I was able to get one large new painting done in time for this one. I'm so wrapped up in tattooing and researching/drawing those tattoos that I honestly never have free time to paint. One main reason I wanted to do a show was to force myself to do another painting. Seems like with the schedule these days I get about one a year done. There were lots of very late nights and days off spent to get it together...

Painting for me is not something I can just relax with and have it all flow out naturally (although I am able to lose myself for hours in it and that can be pretty trippy and rewarding). I seem to mentally treat it like a tattoo and go through great pains to make it happen. I'm not really keen on putting myself out there artistically in the world, but if I do, I want to be proud of it and have it be a reflection of my mindset and work ethic.

I wanted to do a larger piece (the Arches watercolor paper I like to use is 22X30" or so I believe) but didn't really have time to do a big drawing to my satisfaction, so I thought it might be fun to re-imagine a large tattoo I'd done as a painting.

I decided to do the Tennyo (Buddhist Angel), as I'd just been given a great book called "The 500 Arhats" (arhat is like a very high level spiritual practitioner) by Kazunobu Kano, from my friend Horimasa when he was in town. It's a really amazing book of paintings and although what I did isn't really in that style, it served as a great inspiration. In his series of the arhats, he uses lots of gold in the patterning and background. A lot of Buddhist art utilizes gold, as it really does give a feeling of celestial divinity (come to think of it, lots of religions use gold in their art). What I liked about Kano's style, was that the gold served as a highlight in clothing and to create atmosphere in the background. The rest of the colors are great blend of earthy and vibrant.

It was difficult to try and photograph it and I only got one usable picture, crappy as it might be...

It's quite a bit cooler in real life, as it really comes to life and changes quite a lot depending on how the light hits it and picks up the gold. It reflects well as all the gold including the patterning was done with gold acrylic paint and a brush, not metallic pens.

Also, Mike and Aaron did some new pieces for the show that are very cool and should be checked out. Not to mention Mr. Sonny Wong who tapped into his inner Asian and came up with some cool graffiti inspired large scale pieces...

Shoki

2011-12-20T10:32:00.000-08:00

Finally getting around to some updates. The lack of posting certainly isn't a reflection of lack of working, just been fairly overloaded lately and have had to let a few things slip.

Really wanting to get more on the regular with these posts though, as it's been a very helpful mental exercise in self analysis/reflection/criticism over the past couple of years. I recommend to anyone doing art (or anything that they are trying to be mindful or creative in really) to try and write about it to others. It kind of holds you accountable in a way, and reminds you to really think about what you're doing and why. Also, I think people like reading about all the parts of the process that go into this. There is so much to try and consider when drawing and planning a tattoo, and then another whole mindset involved in applying it. Not to mention the client/artist relationships and all the strange magic that can come from that.

Anyways, enough rambling and on the the naked guy pics...

So on day three he got a break from the thigh and butt and we went over to the hip and outer thigh area. It's can be a bit spongy around there, so it was a bit slower going than usual, but we got it all filled in and connected. Getting more black around the tiger is really starting to help it lift off and pop more.

Day four is where it really comes together. We did a lot of solid black in the rocks where the butt and lower back meet. I say it really brings it together because that session effectively eliminated any skin showing anywhere from the shoulders to the thighs. Having solid tattoo all around the butt and not seeing the crack really gives it that heavy Japanese look that I love (and to all those wondering and who ask me...no, we do not go "inside" the butt. It gets tattooed to the edge of where the cheeks meet, and when he stands up it is a solid wall of tattoo). And some kudos to him for getting through all that work. It is some seriously dense tattoo in very unpleasant areas . I'm glad that his understanding and dedication to the aesthetic and tradition of this look kept it all in perspective for him.

Our fifth and last day for the visit was spent taking care of some random odds and ends. There was a little touch up to do on his left waist line where pants had rubbed on it too hard during the initial healing. Then it was filling in all the little red berries on the rocks, layering more color in Shoki's skin, and finally filling in his eyes. I was tempted to start some flames, but as we didn't have much time left, I'd rather wait and do them all at once during our next visit.

Also, here's a couple of bonus shots of the cut offs down the sides (the blanks spaces near on the back near the armpits and shoulders are intentional, as we'll be doing his arms next and I wanted to leave a little room to flow into them nicely). It's designed to be able to look good and finished like this, or very easy to hook up to if he decides to do his sides (munewari)...

Shoki

2011-12-08T09:12:00.001-08:00

Mr. Shoki's back in town for another action packed week. Last set of sessions got cut a bit short, but there are no distractions this time and we're in serious work mode.

The first session we shaded more rocks on the outer left thigh and outlined across the lower back and started to fill that as well.

Now everything is officially outlined and its all shading and color from here...

Day two was dedicated to finishing the rocks on the inner thigh and butt...

...not a fun day. All up under the butt cheek is really no fun to get tattooed (or even to do I guess), but we powered through with no breaks and got it done. The no break thing was really for two reasons. First, that area has a tendency to swell really bad and if we stopped for a chunk of time it wold be difficult to come back and tattoo an area that was raised a quarter inch off the skin. Second is pain management. Once your in there working, even though it sucks and is very painful, the best thing sometimes really is to just persevere and get it out of the way. If you take a break the body begins to relax and recover, and it becomes much more difficult to get back in "the zone" once you restart.

Three more sessions this week, might even get to some color...

Tiger Day!

2011-12-07T08:04:00.001-08:00

Same day, two very loyal and thoughtful clients, both getting cool tiger pieces.

First up is an older client of mine who's taken the last few years off and just now getting back into the swing. Luckily the tiger (which is maybe 2 years old or more) was finished as well as most of the background. Trying to match up years old color and shading can be near impossible.

This session we colored in all the bamboo, and things are starting to pop...

Next up was the two tiger sleeve that was started recently. The layout took a while and a lot of thinking and rethinking to get together, but it was well worth it, and now it's all shading and color. As always it was a great session and we're both getting a lot out of the experience I think. Really looking forward to making some serious progress with all our appointments over the next few months...

Hagoromo Tennyo

2011-12-06T09:08:00.001-08:00

100% officially done!

There was still a bit of cover up left to do in the top sash, and the swirl pattern we drew in did the trick. To refresh your memory, here is what was she looked like before we started...

...quite the transformation since last year.

It is always nice for me to be able to step back when it's done and just take it all in. When you're in the middle of all these sessions and figuring everything out, and working hard and concentrating, it can be very difficult to appreciate the tattoo as a whole.

Kudos to her for following through and being dedicated to getting it done the right way. It's not an easy thing to get a tattoo of this scale, and she should be very proud (and happy too I hope). These things can definitely be taxing physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially (taxing on the artist as well, but I won't complain), and I view it as a serious accomplishment to see it through.

I've got a friend with a photo studio, so hopefully this winter when everything is really nice and settled in we can get some arty professional shots...

P.S. Thanks to all who have been very kind with your feedback and response to this tattoo. It's all hers, but there is a bit of my soul in there, and it makes me happy that she loves it and others enjoy it as well.

Geese

2011-11-28T16:32:00.001-08:00

What a perfect tattoo for the season. All the geese have been taking flight here in Humboldt and heading wherever they do this time of year, so there's a very cool environmental tie in going on.

This tattoo technically isn't done yet though, the plan being that we wait until the grey shading heals on the big goose and then layer in some browns and other natural goosey colors, giving a rich stylized realism (think Audubon).

Also wish I had a better picture of the front. She's a dancer and pilates instructor and the curve of the goose's neck fits her very well and really moves great with the hip.

Durga Weapons and Flowers

2011-11-28T16:13:00.001-08:00

I think that we've finally agreed that it is a finished tattoo. I thought we might be done a session or two ago, but she had some areas that she wanted to fill and tweak, and ultimately it really did help strengthen the piece and bring it all together.

From the get go, we were trying to balance something that would be super dense opening up to reveal more skin toward the top. How much is too much is very subjective (you don't know where the edge is until you've gone over it as they say), but I feel like we got it just right. Sometimes the person living with the tattoo really has an opportunity to absorb it and see it so much more than I can, and is able to notice things I might not have. Especially in a piece like this that has so many different elements all working together. She's got a really unique look with this one and it suits her very well.

I think this is a good example of the client really knowing what they want while still giving the artist enough freedom, and the tattooer really trying to tap into the client's vibe and style while mixing it with their own (and knowing when to listen to and respect their input, and knowing when to put their foot down and do what's best for the piece...)

In summary...I think it's a cool and original sleeve, and I'm proud of it.

Body Suit

2011-11-28T15:55:00.001-08:00

These are a couple of quick pics we took after a really short session a few weeks ago. We've actually done a more extensive session since then, but as it was all an inch away from the crotch and the inner part of a butt cheek, so I figured I'd spare the graphic close ups and let you use your imagination for now...

I'm actually supposed to tattoo him tomorrow, but I've been bed ridden with a really nasty flu for the past several days, and it isn't looking good. We've got appointments through next year, but it's always a shame to have to miss any of them and upset the rhythm.

Now that the dragons are completely outlined and the background is down the thighs, I've got some serious decisions to make. Do I start coloring them in, or start outlining from the ankle up till we meet the dragons, then color everything at once?

Need to decide soon...

P.S. Here's an old shot I found from our first consultation about this project. Hard to believe that this turned into that...

Chrysanthemum

2011-11-22T09:37:00.001-08:00

Finished up all the color and now it's a wrap. Took three sessions to do, but it's s pretty good sized flower (that I was instructed to make as busy and gnarled as possible).

I really dig the way it fits on her and I think she wears it well. That day after we finished there was even some serious discussion of a matching one on the other shoulder. We've got lots of different projects in mind for the future, but another one of these is certainly a welcome addition to the queue...

Phoenix

2011-11-22T09:07:00.001-08:00

This is actually the start to a phoenix/dragon sleeve. And lucky me, those happen to be two of the more complicated images in terms of line work and design in the bank of Japanese tattoo imagery to try and fit on one arm. Since he already had the big shamrock (and even if he didn't it would be pretty tight) eating up some valuable real estate, I'm trying something slightly different.

Next session I'll be adding the tail feathers going around the shamrock and cascading down the arm. My plan is to let them fall where they will flow well and look good on the arm, not worrying to much about the dragon. The phoenix will be in full color, and the dragon will be black and grey sort of blending in with the misty background.

It wouldn't really work to try and show the entire thing, so there will just be a head and neck with bits of body and claw and what not peeking through behind the bird throughout the arm...

Tiger Sleeve

2011-11-14T18:54:00.001-08:00

Been going through an extra busy patch of life lately and haven't been able to keep up on everything. The site here has seen a little neglect as of late, but it certainly isn't because of any lack of cool tattoos.

The other week I got to finish the rest of the line work and start shading the background. We got to log a bit more time than usual and it was a great session.

It's rare that I only have one person in a day, and this one one of those times. I really got to draw and tattoo at a relaxed pace (mentally), and was really able to just zone out in the piece. It really is a treat to just direct you energies toward one task a day and have the recipient stoked on it as well.

I'm really digging this one, and am excited to start covering some serious ground soon...

Shoki

2011-11-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

He's back already for another 5 day stretch.

Did a short-ish session to get back in the swing of things, and shaded a bunch on the left thigh.

Then at the end of the session I wanted to get a full body shot to kind of take it all in and plan some more, then it really hit me, this is seriously starting to look like something.

It's very exciting for me to start to see the over all silhouette come together. Usually you stay so focused on these small patches that are right in front of your face, you don't ever just stand back and enjoy the tattoo. Should be quite the sight by the end of Saturday...

Hagoromo Tennyo

2011-11-02T09:56:00.000-07:00

Added the "ghost" pattern to the lower robes. It's basically outlined in purple that has a drop of black in it, and the idea is that when it heals in all the way it will be subtle, but still clear and readable.

I also filled in a couple of robe folds that I had spaced on before, and that just about does it. I need one more session in the upper yellow sash to complete the cover up portion of the tattoo, then I think we're good.

I'll admit that I'm feeling a bit relieved that the pattern worked out so well. There is a danger that any artist faces of over working a piece toward the end (not knowing when to call it finished and walk away) or not quite nailing it on the finishing touches.

I chose this pattern for a few reasons. I wanted something very geometric that would play with the eyes a little and contrast to all the flowiness of the piece. She also was really wanting to incorporate stars around the tattoo, as this is a celestial being. I didn't want to do any stars near this piece, but one way of looking at the pattern is seeing a bunch of six pointed stars, so star problem solved!

It is also a very old pattern that is sometimes used in Buddhist deity's robes, so I deemed it "appropriate" for this image (and it looks nice with the dorjes, a buddhist implement, and her daughter's middle name).

All in all, I think the tattoo is just right for her, and it's been quite the journey for the both of us.
P.S. That's not a bruise on her right side, just some left over purple...

Phoenix Leg

2011-11-01T09:30:00.000-07:00

Started this one a while ago, then he moved to Colorado. He's back in town for a little bit, so we're hoping to knock out as much as we can. This session we drew on a bunch of the tail feathers and got them outlined. Then, after those were done, I was looking at it and thinking flames would be a good idea...so that's what we got into next.

I'm planning on adding more feathers and flames all around the inside and back of the leg. The idea is that this will be the one big piece on this leg to sort of bring all the smaller ones together. The chrysanthemum was done by Shad from Belgium, the grey peony by Toshihide and the purple peony by Shunho (both from the Horitoshi Family in Tokyo), the peonies at the bottom by Bill Salmon from SF, the red dragon by Joel Long from Colorado, and the wacky traditional stuff by none other that Mike Taylor of Arcata fame...

It's pretty fun to weave in and out of other people's work and make it all one big piece. The goal is to not overwhelm the smaller existing tattoos, but not make it look like you're avoiding them either. I'll most likely be adding some pieces of flowers popping out here and there to really make it cohesive and more unified. See him again in a few days so maybe then...?

Tengu Sleeve

2011-10-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

We got in a pretty mellow session to color all the maple leaves.

Hadn't tattooed him in a while as he took the summer off to enjoy the sun and water, but he's back with a vengeance. He came in for two appointments with Masa the other week to get the orange chrysanthemum and lucky hammer (uchide no kozuchi) on his lower arm. We actually did this session the day after they finished. Looking forward to finishing up and seeing both arms completed as a set (his other side is a 3/4 sleeve of kitsune (fox) images that also has a tebori chrysanthemum at the bottom) as they were intended to match each other. The placement of the main characters, masks and shrines on the inner arm all match up pretty well.

He's had to cancel his next one due to a freak can opening accident, but wishing him a speedy recovery and hoping to get back to it soon...

Phoenix Drawing

2011-10-27T09:34:00.000-07:00

Speaking of all that drawing, here's one from the other night.

This is the first part of what will be a pretty solid sleeve. He's already got a tattoo at the very top, so this will sit around the bicep, and the tail feathers will end up cascading down the arm.

There will also be a shadowy dragon lurking in the background between all those feathers down below...

Life/Work

2011-10-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

Long time no post...

The past few weeks have been non-stop to say the least. If you've been keeping score, our good friend Horimasa was visiting town and working the past couple of weeks...

...and he was as busy as he could have possibly been. We worked six days a week for the two weeks he was here, getting to the studio by 10 or so every morning and leaving at 10 at night on average every day. One of his clients got around 35 hours of tattooing done over the course of 8 days! The fellow above had four 4 hour sessions in a row himself. It was an amazing and very productive visit, and we look forward to having him again.

After our intensive tattoo stint here, we headed straight to San Francisco to work at the Diamond Club Tattoo Studio together for a couple of days. I got to do some fun work on some old clients (forgot any pictures of course) and work alongside Masa for a little bit longer.

Again, very long days at the studio and late nights talking tattoos and eating way to much food like this...

Delicious, yes. Healthy, no. After several days on a steady diet of ramen and curry rice, I'm ready for a serious cleansing...

It was an action packed, inspirational/educational last several weeks, but I'm pretty worn down. On top of my regular crazy schedule and doing some serious daddy duties while the wife's been out of commission sick, I've got a lot of serious drawings to do in the near future. Which brings me to my final point...

-A Note On Scheduling-

I really do try my best to accommodate all new clients and requests, but it has become increasingly clear lately that this just isn't totally possible. I realized recently that I'm booked for a good chunk of next year, and won't be able to take on much if any new work for a while. I would still very much like to hear from folks with their ideas, and see what we might be able to figure out. In the past, I've tried a waiting list (epic failure), and cancellation lists and there seems to be no perfect solution. I apologize if I'm not able to give my attention or time to any one's project request, but that has just become the reality of the situation.

I enjoy many styles of tattooing, and do like me a good challenge (although I might complain about it), but I am looking to prioritize larger work, specifically trying to focus on predominately Asian style themes (though I hesitate to say that is exclusive and am open to all ideas).

Thanks for your understanding in this. My goal is to do the best work that I can, and constantly improve. I invest a lot of personal and emotional time and energy into this lifestyle, and need to make sure I stay focused, productive and stress free as possible...

Hagoromo Tennyo

2011-10-18T21:49:00.000-07:00

I'm sure I've said it before, but seriously, we're pretty close to finishing.

All that's left is the patterning in the upper yellow sash, and a subtle under pattern in the purple of the lower fabric.

I feel like it's really coming together in these final couple sessions.

I'm looking forward to getting some good photos after it's healed for a few months and everything is really looking like it should...

Peony

2011-10-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

Drew this one right on the side of the butt and went to town.

I've been trying new color ideas and combinations lately. This one is sort of a plum, or merlot I call it sometimes. I'm trying to go for rich colorful tattoos that aren't so "bright". I've come to realize that colorful and bright are not the same thing. Seems to give pieces a more mature feel and not so cartoony and loud...

The outline and color was already healed, and we just did a shorty to finish the leaves this time.

Flowers and Swirls

2011-10-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

Been crazy busy lately with Masa in town and the regular hectic schedule, so hopefully some new pics will be coming soon.

This one is on one of our favorite folks around here. We started with some flowers on her back, and it morphed and grew over the shoulder and down the arm. The flowers and swirls on her back are all down the right side (I'll remember to get pictures some day) so there isn't much tattoo down the back of her arm. That way, when she's standing with her arm at her side, it's not just a jumbled mess of tattoo.

It's been fun to just sort of piece it together as we go, and draw on each new section as we go with no real master plan...just let it kind of take on a life of its own. The dragonfly and peony were done by hand when Toshi Hide was in town a few months back.

It's starting to look pretty cool, and I'm sure we haven't seen the last of her...

Shoki

2011-10-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

Got the rest of the left thigh outlined. That pretty much leaves us with a small patch on the lower back and it's all there. I'm keeping the right shoulder open for now so that we can tie in the arm seamlessly when it's sleeve time.

If I had just capped it off all the way up the sides, and then done the sleeve, it would look like we did a back piece and then glued on the sleeves. Doing it this way shows that the whole thing was thought out as a whole, not piece by piece. Pretty cool opportunity.

And here's the whole enchilada as of now...

Shoki Body Suit

2011-10-06T10:28:00.000-07:00

I think I lost count of what session this is, but I'm just happy to be back to it. After a little hiatus (and very graciously giving his last set of appointments to his lady) we're full steam ahead.

Probably wasn't the nicest thing for me to outline his butt after an extended layoff, but what can you do. This demon was initially slated for the back of the thigh, but it just wasn't clicking. Then he suggested putting it on the cheek, and it worked perfect. I love it when the client comes up with an idea that totally works (looking back it seems obvious, but when you're in the thick of some creative fog it really is hard to see past it, and some help is always appreciated). Really reinforces the idea that we're in this together. Also, the curve of that part of the body gives a really cool effect to the arch of the oni's back.

Took the day off yesterday, but more drawing and outling today.

Here's a reminder of how the other side is looking...

Hagoromo Tennyo

2011-10-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

The devil's in the details as they say...

It certainly seems like we're getting fairly close to finishing, but there is still plenty to do. I've got plans for more patterning and tricking out of the robes. Think ghostly subtle design work in some of the solid areas. It might sound like a bit much, but I don't think it will interfere. Hopefully it adds a real double take element to the piece. You see it and go "wow, pretty neat", then really get in there and see some cool stuff...
That plus some skin tones and we might be there. Stay tuned...

Snake and Hawk

2011-10-06T10:06:00.000-07:00

I know this next picture is fuzzy, but it's all I got for now...

This one's a blast from the past. Started last year or so, and haven't seen him over the last several months (planning a wedding and getting married apparently takes over tattoos on the priority list). He's super enthusiastic about the piece and fun to tattoo, so it's really great to have him back in the rotation.

We did the hawk a few years ago, and he came back shortly after for the sleeve. We added the snake and chrysanthemums, and had been starting to get all the clouds going. This first session back we did most of the shading up the back of the arm. Still a bit to go go and over the shoulder and filling in the rest of the snake, but it's starting to take shape...

Horimasa Part II

2011-10-04T20:48:00.000-07:00

Horimasa will be flying into Arcata tomorrow to stay and work with us for a couple weeks. I posted some of his tattoo photos here the other day, but realized that they were a bit dated. Here is some more current work...

I'm really looking forward to working together and learning as much as possible...

Chrysanthemum

2011-10-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

Drew on the leaves and got them all colored up to start things off.

She was very specific about wanting a rich blue/purple flower (not a bad choice by the way) so I mixed in a little purple with the blue to get a periwinkle thing going.

It takes a bit more time to leave the little air spaces of skin in there between all those lines, but I feel like it really gives it a kind of a subtle pop, and lets the color "breath" and not just look like a blob.

Next time we'll be fading a lighter tone out of that blue, then putting a more contrasting purple in the undersides of the petals...

Horimasa

2011-09-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

I'm very pleased to announce that Horimasa from the Horitoshi tattoo family in Tokyo will be visiting and working with us October 6th-19th. He is one of the senior members of the family that I've known for over 10 years now, and does amazing work as well as being a terrific person.

This is real traditional Japanese tattooing from one of the most respected families in Japan. Outling is done with machine, and the shading and color is hand poked (tebori).

He is already booked up for most of his visit, but there is one or potentially two time slots available if anyone is interested.

You can contact the studio at 707-826-0456 or email truenaturetattoo@gmail.com

Tiger Sleeve

2011-09-28T09:06:00.000-07:00

Drew on another big chunk of the background and got to it. This was not one of those magic, the drawing just comes flying out of the tip of the brush pen situations. It took quite a while to get it figured out, but I'm happy with how it went (and really, it's not a race or anything).

I suppose I feel an extra push and pressure on myself to really make this one shine, as he has been an outstanding client to work with.

After we finish this side, we've got plans to go straight to the other side and do the matching sleeve. It is a very cool opportunity to do two sleeves on blank arms, within the same time period (keeping the style very consistent), of cool subject matter that the client has thought out well and given you ample freedom with. Really want to seize this opportunity and make the most of it...

Chrysanthemums and Rocks

2011-09-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

Got another chunk drawn on and outlined. It was one of those rare and wonderful times when the pen touches the skin and kind of does all the work for you. This was just pretty much one pass and we were happy with it. Sometimes there is a lot of erasing and re figuring, but sometimes if your mind is clear and you're not forcing it, it just happens.

I mentioned before, that this section would be just chrysanthemums and rocks, and here is the quick overview of why:

He has two matching half sleeves that we did years ago. One side is a young Musashi (the most famous swordsman in Japanese history, who's philosophical writings are some of the most influential musings on the warrior's way ever printed. Google "Dokkodo" for a good introduction...) and the other side is an old Musashi.

As a young man, Musashi was a brash and gifted swordsman who went undefeated in countless duels and gained great notoriety. As an older man, he lived as a hermit, and in his final years he retreated to a cave to write and paint, reflecting on his life's journey.

I think the upper half sleeves represent a personal journey, and the pursuit of a higher state of mind (especially through art for this dude). When he decided to bring the arms down to 3/4 length we decided not to complicate it thematically and compete with the images of Musashi, so we went floral.

On the young Musashi side, we did all peonies with rocks and water. The peony is associated with spring, which in turn represents youth and vigor. Also this great line lifted from Wikipedia says it well: "The peony became a masculine motif, associated with a devil-may-care attitude and disregard for consequence."
Also, the water gives a feeling of mental looseness and flow. Here's an old quote from Bruce Lee that kind of sums it up: "Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend."
On the old Musashi side we did chrysanthemums as they are associated with the fall, representing the twilight of life in this case. Spring to fall, the cycle of life and all that jazz...
And the rocks are solid and immovable, as his mindset had evolved over the years.
So that is a little glimpse into the thought process behind this set of arms. It is always nice when you can give somebody a nice set of tattoos and really be able to tell a story with them.
Here are some pictures of the lower portion of the "young" arm that we're almost done with:

Peacock and Blossoms

2011-09-23T08:01:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to lie...I really like this tattoo. She came to me a year or two ago needing a big cover up. The peacock on her arm was born out of wanting to get rid of this...

I was a bit hesitant at first, but the peacock seemed like it might work so we went for it. Got most of it done, then she moved to Portland. She came down to get tattooed the other week, and we finished the wings and some inner arm feathers of the bird.

Then the next couple days, we added all the blossoms. I really liked her idea of adding them as it creates a really nice "frame", and the color contrast reads very well I believe.

Also, I like the gentle scattering across the front. It gives a heavily tattooed look without all the thick density that seems to be on a lot of chest pieces.

Still might want to tweak on the bird a little more and really dial the cover up, but from what we were having to work with, I'd say it's worked out quite well...

Durga and Flowers

2011-09-21T09:52:00.000-07:00

The saga continues...

Thought we were almost there, but we've decided to do some fine tuning, and she really wants to make it more dense. She's been digging the really busy, layered sections, so the plan is to make it as jungle like as possible from the wrist to the elbow. Then we're thinking about adding more flowers on top and possibly some stylized clouds.

Sometimes the concept of a piece can evolve during the process. Being open to let this happen is very important in my opinion. The difference between a drawing on paper and the skin can be pretty dramatic, and sometimes you have to live with the tattoo on the skin for a little while to really see where it needs to go and dial it in...

San Francisco

2011-09-21T09:05:00.000-07:00

Just got back from one of many visits I make to SF every year. I went down to interview my good friend Kahlil Rintye from Ed Hardy's Tattoo City. It was an honor to document some conversations with such a thoughtful and serious tattooer, and to do it for what I consider the finest English language tattoo publication around, Tattoo Artist Magazine (a very high end quarterly trade journal not available on regular news stands). Kahlil's style and work ethic have been a great influence to me and you can see why at tattoocitysf.com.

Here's an example:

It was great to get away and recharge the creative batteries. I also had a chance to do this...

...so I'd say it was a perfect trip (yes, that's Toshiro Mifune eating ramen...and true, it doesn't really get cooler that that).

Dragon

2011-09-16T10:44:00.000-07:00

Here's some better pics of the dragon from last week. She's healed super fast and smooth so I'm happy about that. Now on to her next, bigger, more complicated tattoo she's been after...

Hagoromo Tennyo

2011-09-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

We've actually done more since this session, but I've been forgetting my camera at home lately.

Pretty much down to the details these days. This session was finishing the feather colors and doing the white tips in that waist sash. There will be color going into the white, but she has to pick up the kiddo from school at a certain time, so we had to stop a little short.

This last session we started the eyes of the feathers, and it looks pretty cool. Also, the spotty texture in the feathers is starting to show through nicely on the healed sections. Here's a close up of a settled in part...

Getting very excited to see this one finished. Just a couple more sessions or so...

Chrysanthemum

2011-09-13T08:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, another chrysanthemum, and unfortunately some not so great photos. His arm was shaved so smooth that it was reflecting any slight bit of light and had some serious shine going on. Someday I will take the photography part of this more seriously, but I've got my hands full for now just trying to get all these tattoos on folks.

We recently finished a 3/4 sleeve on his other arm (forgot to get pics of course) and this is the start of the other side. There will be more chrysanthemums and we're thinking just rocks for the background. There is some pretty specific reasoning for these choices that I'll get into some other time.

Had fun drawing it on and trying out something a little different. Nothing crazy, but I tried to get a little fancier on the petal ends. He's a great dude and cool artist, so I had to give him a little something special...

Body Suit

2011-09-08T09:04:00.000-07:00

A lot of times I meet or interact with people that know I'm a tattooer, but not really familiar with the actual studio or work. Then at some point they'll tell me they've checked out the blog. Usually they are super nice and complimentary, say something about how impressed they are with all the big involved tattoos, then most will make a comment about how many butts I tattoo.

I guess I do have quite a few projects in the works that go south of the border.

First off...I really admire all the folks getting these big pieces that have no trepidation or self consciousness about tattooing below the belt. It hurts a lot, you never really see it, but it really adds so much scale and dimension to a piece to not just stop at the pant line. So many people only think in terms of having clothes on, that it can really limit their tattoo. A really solid back piece that stops at the waist can feel very square and squat. Kind of cuts off the flow and doesn't really make use of the body.

I'd also like to thank all my clients getting this work to allow themselves to be photographed all the time. It's a small area, and a lot of folks know them (and their rear ends well by now), but their dedication to the work is very deep and they embrace it.

A small amount of nudity is just a part of these big back tattoos, and actually it really is hard to feel naked when you're this covered...

Cherry Blossom Cover Up

2011-09-08T08:36:00.000-07:00

Got all the branches shaded in. So far so good as far as covering the existing tree (by the way, covering a tree tattoo with another tree, trying to match up the branches and all...is quite the challenge).

Still sorting out the options for covering the glob of lily/fairy mess underneath, but it will happen.

With a cover up of this scale, I feel it's best to have a loose idea and not get to fixated on one exact design. The existing work does really dictate the shape and color of the new tattoo, you've got to work with its flow and not try to force some new image over it.

And a reminder of how it all started...

Dragon

2011-09-07T09:30:00.000-07:00

Since she didn't come back the next day as promised for a proper photo and to get appointments for her next big piece, all I got is this low quality cell phone pic for now.

After lots of "debate" over proper dragon aesthetics and color, this one is finally done. This was her first big tattoo, and she's kind of learning the process as we go. I'm happy with the finished look, and she really loves how it fits on her frame, which is quite long in real life (giraffe like as she says).

Looking forward to some better pics from different angles. Sometimes when doing a tattoo, you get so focused on the task at hand and are just concentrating on one small area at a time, that it's hard to really take the whole thing in. I spend a lot of time just looking at the pictures of the piece later to be able to analyze and critique it. I also really enjoy seeing them in real life after a few months to a year, when the've been lived in for a while. To me a tattoo with some age on it is much more enjoyable than something shiny and new. I think I feel that way about most things...

Even More Mucha

2011-09-07T09:16:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought I was free of these highly detailed and super technical (though very beautiful) women, I had one more to fit on this arm. The others are elsewhere on this blog from the past few weeks.

It's been cool to do a few in succession on one person in a short amount of time. The more we do, the more I feel like I pick up more subtle nuances and start to understand the flow and formula.

We've decided that before we start any background we'll do the color in them. Think really soft and "watercolorey"...

Rocks and Water

2011-09-02T08:34:00.000-07:00

He is easily one of my best clients ever, so I did feel a little bad turning the back of his knee almost solid black.

His ability to sit perfectly and stay relaxed during any session continues to amaze me.

We've still got the giant toad to finish on the outer part, then it's inner thigh time.

I'm not sure if there's a term for a "full sleeve" on the leg, but if there is, that's what we got going on.

Here's a slightly older pic of what's happening on the lower leg...

Water Woman

2011-09-02T08:12:00.000-07:00

Been chipping away at this one for a while. She and her husband are great clients who have had standing appointments every other week for the last year or more (and have already booked through next year!)

This piece has been a little different for me as she has come in with the ideas the day of the appointment and I get it ready on the spot. The jellyfish was a stencil, but everything else was drawn on the skin and done the same day (she already had the purple rose at the bottom and some older work on her upper arm).

We've still got some nooks and crannies to fill, but almost done (then on to many other projects). It's been cool to do things with more spontaneous energy and figure it out as you go. Leads to a more "unique" look from me I think, that has a bit of a fun quality to it...

Chrysanthemum

2011-08-31T09:06:00.000-07:00

Sometimes drawing a tattoo on the skin can be the only real way to make it fit properly, but man it sure makes it trickier as well (especially when the client tells you they have "very high expectations" of you)...

I've been doing a bunch of work on her lower arm (jungle scene) and did that lion on her back years ago, but she's always mentioned wanting a large chrysanthemum on her shoulder.

The other day seemed as good as any to go for it. I do a lot of flowers, and especially "Japanese" ones, but never ever tire of it. It's an interesting thing to try and free up your mind and have something flow and feel natural, while at the same time having it be a very technical and focused process.

I'll be adding the leaves and starting the color next time...

More Mucha

2011-08-29T18:15:00.000-07:00

So this is the next lady on the Mucha sleeve I started a while back.

(http://truenaturetattoo.blogspot.com/2011/07/mucha-woman.html)

I think I mentioned it before, but I really love his work and am compelled to reproduce it as close to the original as possible. Sometimes translating very fine line work from a print to a tattoo doesn't really work so well, but I think we squeaked it out on this one. It was difficult (and a little scary) to do something so delicate and complicated on the forearm, as any glitch would be very obvious. I'm especially relieved that the face worked out. I'm not exactly sure, but it's probably the size of a dime or so.

Another Mucha muse on the back side of the arm coming soon (then background)...

New Guy

2011-08-23T09:32:00.000-07:00

Well, after this week I guess he's not really "new" any more, but that's what people still seem to be calling him.

After almost 2 years alone, and the last few years with just me and Mike, I've finally made a new addition to the shop roster.

His name is Aaron Osborne, and he's the newest member of our little tattoo family.

I've always been vaguely receptive to the idea of a third person, but figured it would happen in time if it was meant to be.

As a lot of you know, our little studio is fairly small and intimate, so expanding the energy is a pretty big deal and it really had to be the right person.

Aaron is a great artist and tattooer that can do just about anything extremely well, and is super hip to our philosophy of treating clients well and giving them our all.

Here's just a few examples of his work...

Tiger Sleeve

2011-08-18T08:26:00.000-07:00

Started the lower tiger on this sleeve that is a continuation from a few weeks ago:

http://truenaturetattoo.blogspot.com/2011/07/tiger-sleeve.html

As always, he was a model client, and his understanding and respect of the process really motivates and lights a fire under me. I like being around people who are really passionate about the things they are into (and if it's their tattoo work, even better).

This tiger will have water cascading over it, obscuring the rear and one side of the body.

A couple of weeks ago I noticed this Hokusai print...

...and was really struck by it, and wanting to go for a similar look. That composition looks like a natural fit for a forearm, and although mine isn't quite the same, it served as great reference.

I have been fortunate to have spent time with some amazing tattooers over the years, and some of the best advice I've gotten was to buy books, study them, and keep them around myself. Over time, you start to really form a mental library of images (and the more of a visual foundation you have to draw off of, the better the tattoos is the idea)...

Durga and Flowers

2011-08-18T08:08:00.000-07:00

Got the weapons colored in finally.

In true Hindu deity style, they are solid gold baby. The snake is technically one of her implements as well, but that will be getting its own unique little color scheme (and really tie things together).

We're also brainstorming on the addition of some flowers and leaves to fill in more space.

With something this busy, it's nice to get the bulk of it on and colored, then really sit back and take it all in to really see what could use more attention and what to leave be...

Hagoromo Tennyo

2011-08-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

We've had a few week layoff and now we're back on it. I'm not able to get a crazy amount done in these hour sessions, but once you add a bunch of them together, it starts coming together.

Another session or two to finish the feathers, another for the skin tone and some detailing, then probably another for more patterning and I imagine we'll be pretty close to done.

It's been a little while in the making, but I feel like she's really growing into the tattoo, and in these final stages is really starting to understand and "own" it...

Water Dragon

2011-08-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

I might want to go back in on a spot or two, but this is basically a done deal.

We did the upper portion of his arm several years ago with no plans to bring it all the way down, but I like the way it blended together.

The top of the arm is very tranquil and serene, and he wanted to really contrast that on the bottom. Chaotic and tumultuous was the feeling we were going for...trying to show that there can always be darkness and difficulty lurking under the surface (but the dragon is grabbing a pearl of wisdom on the inner arm rising out of the turbulence, for him to signify that calm and wisdom can be achieved if you have the fortitude to weather the storm).

Nice opportunity to do some fun art while at the same time give someone the very specific meaning and symbolism they were wanting to capture...

Mr. Natural

2011-08-15T12:56:00.000-07:00

He is complete...

It's really got the look now that it's all colored in, and I for one am very happy.

I love that this tattoo is at the same time whimsical and goofy, but also fairly deep and philosophical. It's also the type of piece that makes people smile when they see it, sort of a feel good tattoo.

If you missed it before, here is the last post that gives more of the back story of this inspirational underground icon...

http://truenaturetattoo.blogspot.com/2011/07/mr-natural.html

Dragon

2011-08-10T09:29:00.000-07:00

People who've been getting mostly black shading for a while always seem to get so excited for the color.

But I guess this is starting to pop a bit more now that it's got some, and that's a good thing...

Still have one more short session to finish everything up and then she's anxious to get going on her next piece (large phoenix on the opposite shoulder).

Now that she's decided not to do Burning Man and Phish and whatever other psychedelic wanderings this summer, it looks like we can really prioritize focus our energies in the right direction towards new work...

Cherry Blossom Cover-up

2011-08-03T22:21:00.000-07:00

So here's what was going on before we started...

She 100% wanted to get rid of the lily and fairy in the lower/middle back, and was open to going over the tree as well...but definitely keep the Bambi.

We discussed several options, and my biggest concern was not doing something too "heavy". The work to be covered is very thick and dense, and a serious challenge to cover (not to mention all the tattoos we have to work around at the same time). The idea of doing part of a cherry blossom tree arose and seemed like it might be workable.

It was very difficult to cover the existing branches with new ones and maintain a little skin showing through, while not totally overwhelming the lower back. She has a fairly lean frame, and anything too blobby wouldn't look good at all.

There was a desire on her part to bring the tattoo from the hip up over to the other shoulder, and this image was able to do this very well I believe.

We still have to finish outlining a section on the lower right, and the rest of the lower middle back tattoo is getting covered with a very stylized rock formation.

It took quite a bit of effort to figure this one out, but I'm really happy that she's getting rid of something she truly didn't like (imagine a really bad haircut that never changed), and feeling really positive about her new tattoo...

Durga and Flowers

2011-08-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

A little while ago we started to color in the pomegranate branch on the top. Almost done with all the flowers on the arm, then on to coloring the weapons.

Kind of a hard one to photograph as there is so much going on, but I think having all the weapons filled in the same will really bring it all together.

This was one that seemed pretty daunting at first, but we've found our rythym with it and it's going to end up being something really cool I think...

Vacation

2011-08-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

So this was my view for the last eight days...

My life lately has been a fairly relentless drawing and tattooing schedule, and combined with some personal stress, it was just time to escape from real life for a little while.

Just got back and I'm feeling more rejuvenated than I have in years.

Looking forward to getting back to all the work in progress and starting up some really exciting new projects. Didn't even pick up a pencil for almost two weeks, kind of had to flush out my system and start fresh (sometimes you need to empty the cup so that you can fill it back up).

New pics coming soon hopefully...

Mucha Woman

2011-07-11T23:04:00.000-07:00

It is no exaggeration for me to say that this was one of the most demanding outlines I've ever done.

Mucha is one of my favorite artists of all time, and I always love the opportunity to do one of his pieces.

One thing I forget every time however, is just how difficult it can be to turn them into tattoos.

Most Mucha tattoos that I've seen are always simplified or streamlined in some way. They can still be beautiful and have a great flow, but they are not truly representative of his drawing style.

I feel that to really do justice to this great artist and designer, you need to really get into his head and do the thing as it was drawn.

Even getting a good line drawing from the original print was a challenge (as a lot of the lines are actually thinner than a normal pencil can even draw), so I find myself with a copy of the original taped to my lamp the whole session, constantly looking back and forth between it and the tattoo.

It's mostly single needle throughout, with certain boldness here and there to give it that line depth that I love about his work.

P.S. This is only one of three women scheduled for this arm...

Body Suit

2011-07-11T22:38:00.000-07:00

Drew on and outlined all the scales from the waist down. Also brought the background down a little more in the front along the hip and added another claw toward the inside of the thigh.

I know he's been waiting patiently to see some color, and at this rate it's not going to be too long at all.

He's into vivid, unexpected, and not quite traditional looking work so expect something a bit more fun than usual...

Mr. Natural

2011-07-11T22:25:00.000-07:00

I love this tattoo.

It is a reproduction of an existing piece of art (although slightly more difficult to do from a technical standpoint than it might appear), but it is from one of my favorite artists, Robert Crumb.

If you don't know who he is, you really should.

Mr. Natural is one of my favorite characters ever and almost sort of a personal hero.
I really dig the look and message of this tattoo and can't wait to finish the color.

Here's some clips lifted from Wikipedia to give an idea of the vibe of this comic icon of the 60s...

At first appearance, Mr. Natural is a mystic guru who spouts aphorisms on the evils of the modern world and the salvation to be found in mysticism and natural living. He has renounced the material world and lives off anything he can get in exchange for his nuggets of wisdom.

Crumb's bearded guru is too unapologetic to be called a con man. Despite his renunciation of the material world, he's an unrepentantsybarite. His straight talk, while refreshing, can get him into trouble, as when he was kicked out of heaven for telling God it's "a little corny" in "Mr. Natural Meets God". But he may be the only Crumb creation who is genuinely likable.^[2] Mr. Natural's aphorisms such as "Keep on Truckin'" form a disconnect with his image as a sage, and his inventions are at once brilliant and crackpot.

In the "biography", "Fred Natural" leaves America and travels for many years in Asia, which is where he picks up his unique combination of wisdom and chicanery. For a time he worked a taxicab driver in Afghanistan.^[4] He returns to America during the Beat era of the 1960s, and is drawn to the San Francisco Bay area by nubile girls and people willing to listen and pay for his improvisational spirituality. He exhorts his disciples to eat only his own line of "Mr. Natural Brand Foods", and to listen to his broadcasts on WZAP Radio.^[4]

^{When asked, "What is the meaning of life?", he responded, "It don't mean shit."}

Peonies, Rocks and Water

2011-07-11T22:03:00.000-07:00

Got in a nice "power session" last time. Finished up the grey shading and did almost all the color.

Should leave us with a pretty mellow session to finish up and then we hop over to the other arm and start outlining.

There was a last minute cover up request that came after everything was already lined in, but I feel pretty good about how we handled it, and I think it fits fairly seamlessly.

We talk about art and design quite a bit during our sessions, and I think we do a good job picking each other's brains and motivating each other to draw more and better.

(Also, he loves sake, Zatoichi and Wu-Tang, so it's sort of like tattooing myself...)

Tiger Sleeve

2011-07-11T21:41:00.000-07:00

First session of what I am hoping will be a really cool sleeve (and one that I am very excited and honored to do).

We finished his back piece just two weeks before starting this and he's rearing to go...

This is the first of two tigers that will be the main attractions of the arm (along with more bamboo leaves, rocks, peonies and as I've recently decided, a waterfall).

I'm very happy with how it fits on him, as it can be a difficult transition to have an animal on the arm coming on to the chest and have it fit properly and look dynamic from all angles. In my opinion, tigers are the most awkward to fit this shape as their bodies are way less free form than say a dragon or snake.

The tiger on the bottom of the arm will be quite a bit more fierce and the idea is that together they will form a nice balance and contrast.

We have been working very well together on actualizing his ideas, and it's nice that we can both get a lot out of the experience...

Hagoromo Tennyo

2011-07-11T21:27:00.000-07:00

Finished all of the under texture in the feathers.

Once those little dots heal in I'll be layering more color over them. I'm finally starting to feel like this thing is really taking shape. A handful more appointments and we're pretty close to the end of our crazy tattoo journey together (and what a journey it has been).

Still more bells and whistles to come, and the last few sessions should really bring it together and give it some final oomph...

Suikoden Backpiece

2011-07-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

Finished at last (well 99% at least)!

It's been a great experience for the both of us and I'm very pleased with the outcome.

He's been a great client and I really admire his dedication to getting tattooed and positive attitude.

Before the last session for this we had a consultation to brainstorm ideas for his sleeves.

So about two weeks after finishing this piece, we started the first of his arms (which is also very fun and cool). I'll be getting some pics of the arm up when I get a free minute. The work schedule has been on maximum overload. Been doing non stop high energy work, but that means little to no time for any of the extras in life.

A big thanks to all for putting up with the crazy schedule and staying so motivated on these big projects...

Dragon

2011-07-05T09:39:00.000-07:00

Updates have been slow as I've been tattooing/drawing non stop, hosting our guest from Japan, and maintaining a normal as possible home life...

After what seems like quite a long time we made a little progress on the dragon. She's a bit of a jet setter and doesn't seem to be in town at the same time as her appointments quite a bit...

But, she sits amazingly well, and seems very motivated and comfortable with the idea of getting a lot more tattoo work in the coming months and next year.

We've still got to shade the head black, then the rest gets color. Then on to a large phoenix on the other shoulder...

Toshi Hide

2011-06-29T23:25:00.000-07:00

Our very good friend Hide from Japan is back!

He was here for a few weeks last February and has returned to finish up projects from last visit and do new work (in what is shaping up to be semi regular guest spot).

If you missed it the first go round, Hide is a member of the Horitoshi Family in Tokyo (a link to some of their work is to the right) and does traditional Japanese hand poke tattooing (tebori).

It is a fairly unique experience to be able to get this style of work outside of Japan, especially from a member of such a famous and amazing tattoo family.

He's been pretty booked up from word of mouth already, but there are still a few appointments available over the next few weeks...

If interested, feel free to email through this page or call the studio at (707) 826-0456.

Body Suit

2011-06-24T09:40:00.000-07:00

We're back from hiatus on project body suit. It's been well over a month or two since we had our last appointment and it was nice to get reacquainted with the tattoo.

After such a long break from very regular appointments the worry is that the rhythm could get broken up, but he got right back in the zone and it was like old times.

When you tattoo someone so regularly, you develop a definite relationship and the meetings have a ritual type quality to them. It's like you're in this shared alternate reality for a few hours together...

Rocks and Water

2011-06-24T09:33:00.000-07:00

Been busy lately and a bit neglecting of any updates...

More shading done this time. Almost there with the background (probably only like 30 minutes left, but sometimes at the end of a session that extra half hour just seems like too much).

I'm sure he's excited to get on to the color. When I do pieces in this style I always do the background first, and although my clients are generally patient and open to my process, I know they all secretly want the color now. I always get people asking things like "Hey, so any color today"? or "How many more sessions until the color. I mean don't get me wrong I love the shading but I'm really excited to see the color".

It's good to save the dessert until the end. All good things to those who wait...

Sirens

2011-06-15T22:58:00.000-07:00

Just about done with the background. Definitely one more full session to get it all dialed in.

All those nooks and crannies between the hair should be fun...

Sometimes while I'm in the middle of shading something I'm questioning myself as to why I draw stuff with so much line work sometimes. I realized at a certain point that I guess I just really like a drawing to look complete on its own as lines, and all the shading and color is just icing on the cake...
Also, I'm really happy with how the cascading of the water is fitting the shapes of his arm. He's stokes and I'm having fun, and it's all working out.
Color very soon...

Tengu Sleeve

2011-06-15T22:49:00.000-07:00

Well, we basically got all the background shaded (except the top of the shoulder) as was the plan.

He gets tattooed a lot and wanted to take the summer off the enjoy the great outdoors. A lot of folks around here who get tattooed regularly opt to go on tattoo hiatus for the summer as well and pick back up in the fall (like reverse hibernation).

If you're not familiar with Humboldt, it can be very wet and grey for a large portion of the year. When summertime rolls around, it's as nice here as anywhere in the world, and everyone wants to hang out at the river or the beach as much as possible (not ideal tattoo healing activities).

Looking forward to finishing in the fall once his amateur wake boarding carer is over for the season...

Shoki Body Suit Day 15-18

2011-06-09T08:32:00.000-07:00

I have to admit it...I am really impressed with this guy's fortitude. To keep getting tattooed for several days in a row is no easy task (and to get in 8 sessions within three weeks). We're not doing super epically long appointments every time, but the regularity and consistency could really grind on a person, especially the inner thigh and butt sections (which have been some of the more intense sections on my own body).

He always communicates his willingness to sit for as long as I feel like working. I think there has been only one session ever that he felt like finishing before I did. I'm happy to be getting so much done, but also I'm in no rush. This style of work is very rich and dense, and just takes some time to ensure it's super solid.

We are taking the next couple months of so the healing doesn't interfere with summer activities, and then full steam ahead in the fall...

Koi Sleeve

2011-06-07T07:40:00.000-07:00

She made it back the next day, and we were able to finish in really good time. Had a stencil ready for the bottom koi, and drew on the rest. It was one of those where the first pass of the pen seemed to really be working. Sometimes you sit there drawing and redrawing over and over, trying to get it just right. This one must have really wanted to go on because it felt like it really clicked, and there wasn't hardly any mental anguish to get there.

Now we just have to figure out when we can get together to start getting some color in there...

Hagoromo Tennyo

2011-06-07T07:23:00.000-07:00

Been on hiatus for a little while on this one, but she's got appointments for the next few months and we'll be making a push for the finish line.

Sometimes scheduling back ups or life circumstances can put the brakes on a piece for a little while. In the grand scheme of things though, I think it's almost for the best on these big ones to take a break every few months. After getting tattooed every couple of weeks for months on end it's good to give your body and mind a little break. It's actually nice for me as well. Sometimes you get so mentally wrapped up in these things (and almost start to overthink them), it's good to step away for a bit and come back with a fresh perspective and renewed inspiration...

Still have a couple surprises up my sleeve for this one, and I'm very much looking forward to completion.

Koi Sleeve

2011-06-02T23:06:00.000-07:00

This one has been a while in the making. I think we've been discussing doing a koi sleeve on her for almost a couple years, and today we finally took the first step.

She came up from around the Yosemite area for three days to get things going (she's got 1/2 day appointments tomorrow and Saturday as well).

All went smooth and we sailed right through the first portion of outline. Got a lot done for the amount of time we had and she's happy, so I'm happy.

The goal for tomorrow is to try and draw on and outline the rest down to the wrist (or at least the bulk of it...). It will be another koi and more water and blossoms, and possibly some rocks. She really loves vibrant colors and wants the water bright blue, so I made the koi a bit larger so all those blues wouldn't overwhelm them...

Here's the rough concept sketch I'm working from...

P.S. It's a super fun tattoo for me...

John the Butcher

2011-06-02T22:44:00.000-07:00

Part art piece and part cheat sheet...

This was a really fun small one I did on a super nice local butcher. A cow broken down into all of its various delicious cuts. I'm really happy with how it came out and love that it looks fairly classy but also has this total sense of humor to it. Making "art" is always great, but just doing something for the fun of it also has its merits...

Chrysanthemum Cover-Up

2011-06-01T09:39:00.000-07:00

Here's the last couple sessions of this one.

It's actually coming together and starting to get rid of the old tattoo. This cover up was pretty daunting, but I find it best to not over think it and get doubts in my head, just proceed forward knowing it will work out.

The shading is really more of just a base coat for the color that's getting started tomorrow. We had to put it in to start defining the shapes of the flower and really eat up the old tattoo. When we start putting the color in, having that undercoat of shading will make it look much richer and deeper than it ever could with just straight color. It's something I like to do once in a while, even if it's not a cover up. Not every tattoo needs to be super bright and popping off the skin. Lately I've been leaning towards more muted and subdued colors and really digging it. Feels a little classier and mature or something like that...

Not the best for everything, but it really suits certain pieces and personalities.

Suikoden Back Piece

2011-06-01T09:30:00.000-07:00

We both agreed on doing a mellow session this time.

Got a bunch more little detailing stuff and the skin tones done (which really started bringing it to life).

Part of the detail work was these hundreds of super fine brown lines in the ochre sections on his bottom half. You can't see them too well in the photos, but it adds some very cool texture, almost like straw or something. Very excited that we will be finishing this up next time, then it's on to doing his sleeves to keep us going the rest of the year and beyond...

Maple and Sparrows

2011-05-26T23:23:00.000-07:00

Just a short little session squeezed in this morning to make up for some lost time.

Started the shading in the branch (and almost finished).

Went with grey shading as I felt like it went way better with the color of the leaves in terms of contrast. Also, if you really look at a lot of maple bark, it almost has a grey/silver look to it...

One or two more of these shorties and we're good.

Shoki Body Suit Day 11-14

2011-05-26T23:12:00.000-07:00

He's back in action...

Took a little time to get him back in the rotation, but we're full steam ahead for the rest of the year.

We got 4 mellow (in terms of time) sessions in last week, and he's back next week for five days in a row.

His energy levels and enthusiasm for the piece are strong as ever, and I think we're both feeling very motivated to push forwards. This is a lot of tattoo work to be getting, which can be pretty intense on the body and mind, but he is doing exceedingly well in both departments.

Won't bore you with the day to day shots, but here is what we got done this time.

Framed out the front and side of the thigh and all around the demon. Also outlined the third oni with fire and background on the butt, and connected all the background up his side.

Rabbit

2011-05-26T23:01:00.000-07:00

Kind of an interesting one that I really enjoyed doing.

She was born in the year of the rabbit, and seeing as how 2011 is the year of the rabbit she requested a rabbit tattoo.

The reference material she brought was all black and fairly stylized rabbit images, like Chinese paper cut outs (which were also very cool). One picture she brought almost had a lithograph type feel, and after some discussion (Watership Down definitely came up) we decided to head in that direction. We didn't have a specific picture to go off of, just something that looked etched on and a nice pose for the side of the calf.

It was super fun to draw something in a totally different style than I'm used to. I'd be really into doing more stuff like this in the future...

Outlined everything with a single needle and it was a very smooth and enjoyable session.

Maple and Sparrows

2011-05-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

All the maple leaves are officially colored and I believe I see her tomorrow to start shading in the branch.

I'm sure I've said it before, but bird and flower compositions are my favorite to work with. I love old Chinese and Japanese bird and botanical drawings, and Audobon is my favorite in terms of color and patterning.

My ultimate inspiration in this genre is Hiroshige.

His book "Birds and Flowers" is one of the most important and special books I own. Not that it is rare or hard to find, but to me it is the pinnacle of stylized natural compositions. No matter how many times I go through it I am constantly amazed and seeing new things.

Check it out if you've got a chance. Just sitting quietly and taking your time to look at it is a very relaxing exercise...

Water Dragon

2011-05-19T23:45:00.000-07:00

Really fun piece. I did a half sleeve on him several years ago of a giant Japanese wave breaking toward some rocks with a cherry blossom branch and some stylized butterflies. I'm super happy with how it turned out and has aged.

He recently decided to go all the way down to the wrist with a sea serpent crashing through tumultuous waves and water (that will 100% tie into the original). He wanted to keep the Japanese motif and since dragons in Asia are associated with water and can have an aggressive/powerful look he was going for, it was a perfect fit.

Still have more of the body and some water to outline, but he's got gigantic arms and this thing is fairly large in real life (could be like a whole thigh piece on some people).

One of the remaining claws will be holding a pearl and it's all going to be black and grey. Very much looking forward to our next appointment...

Suikoden Back Piece

2011-05-19T22:27:00.001-07:00

Starting to get very close on finishing the main figure here.

I really admire his fortitude to sit through all this detail oriented work that's on his back where he can't ever really see it up close (and his appreciation of the work and process is a serious motivating factor for me as well).

We still have to discuss ideas for potential background, but lately he has mentioned getting started on some sleeves and I'm super curious to see what he has in mind...

Peonies, Rocks and Water

2011-05-19T21:49:00.000-07:00

This one's on a very cool friend and non-stop artist himself. One of those pieces that is as much about doing it as having it (if that makes any sense). Our ideas and views on most things art related are very similar, so it's been a cool experience to be doing this work.

Also, doing nature based compositions in a Japanese inspired style is something that I truly love and could do forever.
More shading this time all through the ditch and around the back of the forearm.

One of the rocks at the bottom was an unplanned last minute cover up, but it worked out pretty well...

Mermaid

2011-05-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

I've been too busy to keep up on the blog lately, so the next few are from the last couple weeks.

Got all of the hair colored in on this. It took a little longer than I expected but it's a pretty good sized tattoo.

She wanted a redhead, which we didn't want to look super orange, so we went with the more earthy, muted look. The vibe we are going for is mature and classy, using richer tones...not super bright or cartoony. Lately I've been leaning a lot towards a more subtle color palette and people seem to be digging it...