Rocks and Water

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...