Archive of Evolution of a Tattoo
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
So, I posted this tattoo *LIVE* on Facebook as it evolved in real time on May 4.
This was a lot of fun, so be sure to check out the studio Facebook page for more live tattoos in real time.
Something fun to check in on during the work day, eh?
- 8:10 am: Remember this?… Today we add the Koi and big, bodacious COLOR! Stay tuned for pics…
- 11:31 am: Here we go… Koi evolving in real time…
12:02 pm: Koi stencil... Outline to come...
12:53 pm: Koi... The outline!
1:11 pm: Koi... Color BOMB! Almost there...
2:27 pm: Koi in (almost) real time... Complete!
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010
Fresh Ink… and more to come soon! A half sleeve transitioning into a full sleeve… the splash and lotus soon to be joined by a Koi fish with more Splash and Bling!
Friday, March 19th, 2010
There’s nothin better than a new tattoo! (… Except your next new tattoo…)
Here’s one going on right now! (in progress… stay tuned for the color)
sent from my iPhone
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
Yes, it’s the week of Shamrock Shakes, green beer, kilt lifting and (for the rest of us) a nice pint of Guinness and music that is off the hook! Pre-dating St. Pat is the indigenous tradition of Celtic tattooing, so what better time than now to peruse some Celtic art and history?
The ancient pre-Celtic people are referred to as Picts, whose name was a derogatory reference meaning “Painted” used by the Romans for their tattooed enemies. The Gaelic Celts used the term “Curithnii”, meaning “the People of the Designs”… and hey now – I’d say that’s more like it. The Picts were not simply painted but indeed tattooed, using sharp iron tools and a natural plant-based blue ink called Woad.
While not much is definitively known about the Picts (who began to merge with the Gaelic people by the 10th Century), there are Roman accounts of fierce warriors with “wild hair” (apparently lime paste was used to stand hair straight on end) who were “painted blue”. So, for some of us not much has changed I guess.
Here are a few images of how the Picts may have appeared, and a piece of Pictish stone art that I recently had the opportunity to render!
Saturday, March 13th, 2010
Joe’s cover up is complete!
I posted this two weeks ago. From concept to outline… and then…
The completion of the piece! Here it is:
Thursday, February 25th, 2010
Hey Hey Hey… this is going to be one sweet cover up! Joe wanted to keep his moon design while covering the existing bicep band. The plan was an extensive tribal piece. I sketched a basic concept on paper, and then we spent the first hour of his appointment customizing the design to tailor fit his arm. What you see here is phase one… the outline of the new piece. Stay tuned for phase two: super sweet solid tribal fill… coming up in a couple of weeks!
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
Contemporary spin on Old School… from concept to complete.
Thursday, February 18th, 2010
New art done in 17 minutes! Just kidding. (Got your attention, though, huh?.) Okay, here we have the most recent addition to Nate’s Celtic back piece. You will experience a Where’s Waldo moment if you look closely… Check it out: three of the challenges facing us with this piece were: 1) Tying in the existing tribal piece on the left, 2) Connecting the two existing open strands from the lower left and right sides to the new work, and 3) Lining up the new knot work to fit in a symmetrical way with the existing knot work. Stay tuned for photos of the completed work in a couple of weeks. (A photo of Nate’s right shoulder addition were posted on the Art With a Point FB page back on 1/2/10.)
Friday, February 5th, 2010
Evolution of a tattoo, from concept sketch to completed half sleeve. Sunflowers were the central theme, one for each of his daughters with a glowing star for his wife. But there were a few other considerations as well because he really wanted a half sleeve and wanted to avoid something “too” floral while having a piece flowed naturally with his arm. I sketched the concept art (see left), using movement, flow and color to set off the sunflowers. A few sessions later this sweet half sleeve was complete.
Friday, January 8th, 2010
Yes, it’s that time of year. Whales are beginning to migrate as you read this… okay, not here in Minnesota where it’s currently -1º and we have no ocean shores, but in far off balmy climates where the ocean waves are rolling and the sun feels hot to your skin. (Let’s pause a minute and enjoy that thought…………) Wait! Here’s a photo of this week’s tattoo to help transport you there:
If I could edit time like LA Ink edits their footage, this back piece could be completed in one one hour show… I bet Michael would appreciate that. Oh well, one more reminder that life is not reality tv. This is the most recent installation of this work in progress. While the whale and her watery digs are the focal point, I’m working with the existing Newgrange spirals above and Celtic knot work below in order to create a smoothly flowing piece.
