I think I hinted at the fact that the warm weather brings in more work, and I have not been disappointed so far.  Pieces like this give me a hint into how I like to design, tattoo, and do work that I love that the client also loves.  It’s true of any client-based work, learning how to balance your work as something you truly love, versus something that is paying your rent, while keeping your soul intact by any means possible.

Regardless, I’m looking forward to more projects like this.  Linework as texture and contour is something I’m always working with.

*Sorry for the duplicate post, I’m busy wrestling with CSS on this rainy day!  

Very rarely in the tattooing business do I get to revisit any of my pieces since most of my work walks out the door, never to be seen again.   I don’t know where these one-shot tattoos go, how they heal, or who they see - so they must be done efficiently and thoroughly since usually there’s no second chance.  And who knows?  It’s out there in the world with your name on it.

Multiple sessions are a blessing.  Granted wrap around pieces like this have to be done in steps, but as someone who is pretty green to tattooing, having the experience of learning from your piece every time it comes back to see you is totally invaluable.  It gives you the opportunity to see how your work heals
(incredibly important!), and gives you the chance to layer color and revisit areas that may have reached their limit before.  That’s the thing with tattooing, there are limits to how much work you can put into skin - much like watercolor paper, with too much work your surface will start to deteriorate.    

It doesn’t hurt that my client Heidi is nothing short of wonderful, so spending a few hours on with her is no chore (also doesn’t hurt that she’s a chef, and brings me snacks…).  She essentially gave me her calf and let me do my thing, which it would seem that following my instincts is serving me well.   It’s completely my drawing, with the same figures and duality that would serve me in my artwork, and doesn’t ignore the 3rd dimension.   I couldn’t be happier with how it came together, but I can enjoy this for a minute and take what I learned and move on.   Being trusted some no-strings-attached skin doesn’t happen often!  But hopefully I can get some more projects like this in the future.  Things have been picking up at the shop after the seasonal winter slump and things are moving & happening.  Hopefully this momentum will be an indication of the coming spring…

Process shots: one, two.

Last tattoo of the week before state hopping, once again.  Off to New York for the week!

Trying to not get too ambitious, but damn this is exciting.  Another piece that’s in it for the long run - first session.

Sunday afternoon sepia-toned barn swallows.

If you give me enough time, I will roll an idea around in my head for weeks, kneading out lumps and smoothing rough edges until I’m absolutely confident in it’s execution.  I’m used to work that’s built with watercolor, with just as much construction as there is excavating - tattoos require planning and deliberation - there’s no going back once it’s committed to skin and a decisions you make early in the process can completely derail you.

I have been bouncing this idea back and forth for some time now, and good ole Matthew Woodson graciously donated a large swath of skin for the cause.  For such a large piece, it’s such a relief to have someone who is willing to work with you, and is willing to commit to finishing it, which can be several sessions and many many hours of work.  The photos don’t really illustrate how huge this is, almost hip to knee.  So far, it’s only line work and to me, just feels like a wire frame for what this tattoo will turn into.  I can’t wait to get lost in the textures and whiskers and dust and details of this - five hours in, many more to come.

Agkistrodon contortix

You know you’ve done something right when the photos you take of a tattoo do it no justice to the way it moves on the body.   Snakes have been coming up a lot lately in my life, so it’s oddly appropriate that I finish this piece now.  2 sessions, almost 6 hours.