Cover-Up

Goodbye old henna armband and hello flowers and mist.  The magnolia and trilliums are very light flowers and should pop out of that darkness nicely.  Also, the butterly will lighten up quite a bit.  

Next time we'll dial in the shading on this side, then to the other arm to cover the matching armband...

T-Shirt

So I have been pretty resistant to doing any merch for a while, but I relented and did a small batch of shirts.  Initially I just wanted to make a few special ones to bring with me to Las Vegas as gifts for my friends, but the screen printer had a minimum order I had to fill so I have a few extra (only a couple dozen total, and the girl shirts are already gone).

I didn't want it to look to "computery" (i.e. a soulless logo), so everything is hand drawn and the lettering is my attempt to make an old work wear label or fruit crate sticker and give it a psychedelic/Japanese twist...

They are American Apparel shirts and a bit of a richer grey in real life.  At the shop now for $20, or I'd be willing to mail one out for $30 anywhere in the US.

Not sure if I'll be making any more shirts in the foreseeable future...

Nouveau Wild Ginger

Client: I want a simple wild ginger plant on my arm from the elbow to the shoulder but with a sort of art nouveau look to it.

Me: Sure, how about this?

Blue Phoenix

Basically finished this time...

Still a few spots to dial in here and there, and we need to decide how we'll finish the eye, but this is pretty much it.  

There's been a little time off here and there, but she's been getting tattooed once or twice a month for about a year.  Congratulations to her for her achievement.  Getting a tattoo this big is not easy, but she did it and should be very proud.

Body Suit

Another Tuesday, another couple hours of tattooing.  This has become quite the ritual for both of us.  I think it's good to maintain this relaxed but steady pace.  We're not over doing ourselves or rushing, but always moving forward and staying with it.

Getting pretty close to outlining the dragon on the other side...

Chrysanthemum/Koi Leg

Nice two hour or so session on this one.  Everything went in very smooth considering the areas we were working on...

As always, he sat eerily well and showed no signs of discomfort.  It definitely helps me knowing the client is relaxed and calm.  I totally understand that is not always possible and admire folks that show such fortitude.

Really looking forward to finishing this flower then moving on up to finish the leg.  He's had some great ideas and all his color and design choices have been spot on.  Definitely a serious tattoo collector with a great understanding of the art and process...

Owl

This was on a client that I haven't tattooed for a few years.  Had a nice time and the tattoo went fairly smooth.  I also always enjoy doing birds so this was a fun one (and this has a very small old fashioned key and lock in the talons if you didn't notice...)

Sounds like maybe filling in the rest of this arm next...

Dios de los Muertos Lady and Roses

Finished up the shading.  Still have to add another rose at the top and maybe another down below?

Will also try to get a good picture after everything is healed and lightens up...

Koi and Water

 Started this one the other day.  Got the outline on in about 2 hours I think.

Wanted to go for a bit bolder on the water and outer edges of the fish, and a bit more delicate in the scales and fins.  I think the contrast reads pretty well (strong yet graceful was the idea).

Still have to add a little more water to line then we'll shade all of it grey and bright warmer colors for the koi.

The sketch at the top is what we actually worked off of.  Been trying to tattoo off of sketchs as opposed to 100% inked in line drawing sometimes...

Swirls and Flowers

Colored in the peony on the arm this session.  Thought we were just about finished but it looks like we'll be going further down the arm with more.

Sounds like maybe a passion flower with more swirls and blossoms.  

Always have a lot of fun during these sessions, so I'm happy to keep going with it as long as she wants...

Hagoromo Tennyo

Finished the wing and the sash.  If we keep up this every other week schedule, we should be able to chip away at a pretty healthy pace and finish up before the end of the year...

Karashishi

Eight hour session this time.  I usually don't work that long on one person, but he was driving from Mammoth to get tattooed, about nine hours away, so we didn't really have the luxury of time and multiple sessions.

Last time I saw him we outlined everything and colored the chest and a little background on the inner arm.  Everything else this day, and he sat like a champ.  Never took a food break, and I don't think even ever asked for a bathroom break.  I was pretty happy that we were able to finish everything in one last session and maintain a high level of moral and quality.

Definitely a fun one on a great client...

Blue Phoenix

Did a bit more (you guessed it) blue.  Added some more pattern and texture here and there, although you can't really see the spotting in the neck, it should pop out after it's healed.  

Also got to some highlights of purple, green and ochre.  Blue phoenix is the concept, but I'm incorporating just a few contrasting colors.  Keeping it in the peacock colorway though.

One more session ought to complete it...

(Ok, maybe two to really dial it).