Hagoromo Tennyo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...