Passenger Pigeon

Pseudo Audobon inspired extinct pigeon on the upper thigh.

1st session was outline and shading. Color this time around...

Dragon/Phoenix Suit

He's been getting a lot of work on the big dragon on his ribs lately (and taking it very well I might add), so it was time for a break from that and starting up some background on the back. Another session again next week...

Fighting Cocks

Little bit more color on this back piece. Actually getting close to finishing this one, and we have a few more long appointments coming up...

Should be fun.

Chrysanthemum

Colored this one in. We decided to go with white and "merlot"...

Just another day...

Some serious behind the scenes action...

Clouds, Rocks and Peonies Sleeve

Did this sleeve several years ago on a good friend (chest piece by Chris Trevino, and a couple of the peonies by Bill Salmon). Just touched up a few spots today. Fun to revisit something I haven't seen in so long. I still like this style very much and sometimes want to work backwards to do this type of background more...

Tadamasa Ueno

I really dig this stuff a lot. One of my favorite artists...

All these prints are scenes from kabuki plays.

Dragon Suit

Outlined some background and a little shading. Not a too much for this session, but it took a bit longer than I expected to figure it out and draw it on. Exciting to start seeing the munewari take shape (the negative space strip of skin, or river, down the front on a Japanese body suit is called "munewari").

He is going for a full body suit, and has an appointment every other week for as far into the future as we need...

An honor and a lot of fun to do this much cohesive work on one person.

Durga Back Piece

Back piece of the eight armed Hindu warrior goddess Durga riding a lion (she is also often pictured riding a tiger .) She is the Creator aspect of Devi, the Divine feminine energy, core of every Hindu goddess.

Started this a couple of years ago, and just about finished up. Added the halo and splash today. She is surrounded by Datura flowers, used by various cultures for centuries as a powerful hallucinogen.

Virgin of Guadalupe

My take on the iconic image. Mostly single needle, with a mag for some of the bigger areas. Don't get too many opportunities to do the fine line black and grey work, but I enjoy it very much and look forward to more of it in the future. Did this one last year, but just getting to the photos...

Bird

Fun little tattoo on the inner arm. Had a drawing of a different bird ready ahead of time that didn't work out, so drew this one up on the spot. Hiroshige meets Audobon was sort of the vibe. Took a while to do, but it worked out...

Roses

My friend Lucas came to visit from Oakland last weekend and got some traditionalish roses outlined. Fun one to draw on, little over an hour to tattoo.

New York Tattoo Convention

I'll be working at the New York Tattoo Convention at the Roseland Ballroom in mid town Manhattan May 14-16th. Haven't been out there in a few years, so I'm very much looking forward to it. This is definitely my favorite convention...

LA Trip

Another good memory from the LA road trip. Spending some quality time with tattoo legends Junii Salmon, Good Time Charlie Cartright, and Filip Leu. Still getting inspiration from the whole ride...

Skull

Shaded this in today on the "Koi/Skull/Chrysanthemum Leg". I don't do too many skulls, so I listened to heavier music than usual to try and get in the zone, and time flew right by. Finally on to color next time...

Dragon Scales

Finally finished the scales to complete this outline. Next time it's either start drawing and outlining the background, or start the dragon on the other side.

Oni

Colored in this bad little brown demon dude today. Almost finished with this almost 1/2 sleeve. I've done a lot of tattoos on him over the years, and it's always a good time...

Ying Yang Koi

Started this one last year as well. Just had a bit of blue to finish that we couldn't before because of a bad sunburn (Also, didn't do the kanji in the middle). He's back in a few months for some work on the ribs.

There is a Light...

Started this one last year. Just added the flames and some color in the banner to finish it up. It is the title of a Smiths song and it came on the radio at the very second we started tattooing...cosmic indeed.

Double Dread

I did the artwork for this seasonal ale from Mad River Brewery last year. It sold out pretty fast last time, and it should be coming out again any day...Not a very regular beer drinker myself, but I do enjoy Mad River's very much.

Hagoromo Tennyo

1st outline session. Took about 6 hours. My hand and back are a little sore, but not the end of the world. She was very focused and sat great, went as smooth as possible for such a large outline. Starting on the patterns in the robes in two weeks, then some time off for her to run a marathon in China...