Even if an unfortunate construction mishap put my tattoo shop out of operation for a couple of days, at least I got to spend it doing some sketchbook therapy. I go through these phases of colors - very rarely do I pull more than three tubes of gouache for a painting, but this new coral red is totally electric!
It’s also been quite a while since I did a self portrait, too bad this one looks so damn smug.
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I think that’s a pretty good sampling: food, Godzilla, painting, natural oddities (also a subcatagory of food).
Thanks!
At The Art Institute of Chicago I had taken a couple of painting classes with Caroline Moody, who had been tattooing for a year or two at the time. I was interested in her tattoos and her work, and quickly befriended her (in that way where all my closest friends think I hated them at first, I think it might be my permanent bitch-face, but I’m working on it…). The studio she started at had an apprenticeship opening and she encouraged me to apply, which I did, after a lot of thinking and a spontaneous, but very persuasive tarot reading (seriously). It was a huge commitment, risk, and a great divergence from everything that the Art Institute had directed me toward, but I’m very thankful I took the opportunity, and couldn’t have done it without her guidance and tough love. I had gone after an apprenticeship my first year in college when I was still in Arizona, but I was far too young to even understand what I was getting into, or what it takes to truly do this work. I’m very lucky to get to do it now.
All tattoo requests are personal in one way or another, I do mostly work that I draw myself, or at least put my own hand in. I think what I post gives a good idea of what I love to do, as does my other art work. If you have ideas, I always love to hear them! Throw me an email at stephanie@blueskycomplex.com
Last tattoo of the week before state hopping, once again. Off to New York for the week!
Made it back from Arizona. Got a little lost, took a vision quest, ended up in a town made famous by an Eagles song. Subsequently took it easy.
Third session on this leg piece, some parts of this are still healing, but the wolf is all fresh! It’s a good note to end on, since I’m going home for the holidays for a very very welcome break. Christmas is always stressful in it’s own way but I’m happy to get my feet on some desert ground and my head out of the city.
Until then…
Drawing the crap out of a bald eagle today at work - doing tricolor sketches is super satisfying. Tombow brush markers have been getting a lot of mileage recently and this particular color combination really vibrates. I want to use them for something other than sketching but my snotty art school conscience keeps telling me that markers are non-archival. The Prismacolors I used in my highschool sketchbooks have since bled into the paper, if anyone has any experience with this, please chime in!
Special appearance by a bottom-heavy pin up girl, and my field notes book that is filled with doodles of pies. Seriously.
It seems as if that drawing bug is persistent…painting like this gets me so worked up that I want to throw out my phone, and lock myself in my house for a week or two. I would love to, but I think my work, friends, and roommate might protest. I can’t wait to clear my head over the holiday!
This also marks the first appearance of my alter ego (or Adventure Time character), the Ice Cream Witch. The limit to her powers is still unknown but she gains energy from McFlurries, and sucks all the fun out of a room instantaneously.
I’m finally feeling like I’ve got my drawin’ bug back, where sketching flows and relaxes me - but every time I try to draw a saucy pin up girl, she ends up looking like Megan Fox. I must put a stop to this, for all our sakes.
Expect more from the drafting table, and since I’ve finally joined the future with a fancy new iphone it’s so much easier to share! I like it just a little too much but this is the first time I have the newest, fanciest electronic device since maybe getting a Tamagotchi in 5th grade. Ironically the iPhone, much like the Tamagotchi, needs constant attention, never leaves my sight, and makes all sorts of maddening noises. I will let you know when I start feeding it digital cakes to keep its mood happy.
Trying to not get too ambitious, but damn this is exciting. Another piece that’s in it for the long run - first session.
