On the left is the image I was given for a tattoo. On the right is a color study on vellum with prisma color pencils. I wanted the image to be a little brighter, than the original.

Here is the tattooed version I did today. I would like some critiquing on this piece. So please feel free to message below. Thank you.

Here is a project I've been working on for months. I'm not done with the background. It's entitled "Daughter of the Moon" and is what I think of when I think of my dear friend Nikki. Doesn't look like her at all because it's no portrait, but it "feels" like her to me.

Whatcha think so far?

And some details close up...

Street shop magic!

I made this today. The body position of the eagle globe and anchor is based on Bullseye flash (forgot who drew the original) but every element I drew custom to be more neo-traditional.

This piece I did yesterday. The client found a drawing he liked on the internet. I kept the layout, added antlers that wrapped onto the chest/back, changed the diamond in the owl head to a shamrock, changed all the interior designs/skull art in the sugar skull, changed the eye sockets to enhance aggression but All other elements we kept from the artwork (no signature -no idea who drew it). I wish I got to do things like this more.

Here we have a hunting/fishing and fall/summer add on. This client has very small arms - about 12 inches in circumference so this will wrap on both sides. The old existing piece is a 30 year old Hanna Barbara cartoon of a redneck bear; looks like it was lined with a 14 round. I wanted to cover it but he wanted to keep it even though it's kind of off center. I am incorporating a very minor cover up of old initials on his shoulder blade which I will draw in more tree front and back to cover the initials and balance the tree canopy. Dunno if he will like this. Left side is deer hunting and autumn transitioning to trout fishing and summer on the right side. We shall see.

 

Client decided after seeing the art, that I could cover the old tattoo....yes! I will use the scales of the bass to create visual confusion in order to disguise and cover up the old tattoo. I'm VERY happy he changed his opinion.

Last but not least I started this sleeve of water and flowers. Here is the initial art.

I'm doing a flower sleeve on a customer, these are some of the flowers she wants. I did color studies to help me know what to do before, instead of in the skin. The hibiscus I borrowed from Teresa Sharpe, I changed the color but, I really liked her design. The orchid and sunflower are pics I got from google.

Now, she also wants a rose, a tulip, a cherry blossom (not a branch, just the blossom) and a butterfly. My question, is how to put it together?

1. Put the flowers on, with space in between for some connective vine work and the blossoms floating, instead of stationary.
2. Collage them going up her arm, that way they can be big enough and to make the color easier to pack in.

I used prisma color pencils on vellum, love vellum. I am open to criticism, so if you see something wrong or anything that might help with my blending, please comment on this post. Thank you

Creative or competitive?

Creative spirit and competitive mind can not coexist. We only thrive as creators when we let go of our desire to compete. Our true voice will not flow freely as we seek to topple and destroy fellow creatives.

Stink Masters....

I am proud to say I have NEVER watched an episode of inkmasters. I did however just watch the artist intros video for the upcoming season. With all due respect and good fortune to the artists participating, that is one embarrassing piece of video. The shits as we say. Making all of you look foolish and competitive. I blame the producers. I know the casting call had already gone out for the next season, and I'm sure there will be more, but know that the powers that be are making you the "Duck Dynasty" of the art world. Take the fame and possible fortune and turn it into something worthwhile. Feed your families, not the beast. Peace and Love. ~K

Monday Madness!

These tattoos aren't recent, but they are some of my favorites. You can comment publically or privately if you prefer (my direct email is tattoo.studio(at)yahoo.com). I'm here to grow not to be spared the truth by my peers - whatever it might be - but I do appreciate constructiveness and civil discourse ;)

 

And some art. The inked panels are from Batman and Wonder Woman respectively on 11 x 17 velum with a rapidograph pen. The bottom is just a model study on cold pressed Bristol board with graphite.

 

 

Have a creative day.

Cat

Intro

Hey guys, my name is Larry and I have been tattooing for 5 years now. I own a studio in Kentucky with my wife. I am really hoping to gain as much as I can from everyone involved! Please feel free to add me on facebook.com/larryyoungtattoos and inbox me any suggestions on my work you may have. Sorry to be so short but looking forward to speaking to everyone again soon. I've included a couple of pics to give you an idea of the type of work I have been doing lately.  Thanks guys!

Cat's reaper pin up

Today's effort: a client asked for a sexy grim reaper riding a sports bike for her thigh. She won't get the color (she's dark skinned) . I was slightly perplexed as to how to make it work but I'm happy with the bike detail of the hour glass, the skeleton printed on her costume and the green smoke. I though about strapping the scythe to her back but I decided against it. 

Saying Hello

Hi everyone, my name is Doug and I am a tattooist here in Fort Lauderdale. I am excited to be part of the Tattoo Mentor program and look forward to working with all of you. I have experienced an all day seminar with Keith a couple of years ago and can attest that he is an amazing teacher and no doubt will be an amazing mentor. If anyone is interested I invite them to look at my work at www.dragonlilytattoo.com

And here we go. My first 2014 art. Weeeeeeee! Feel free to comment publicly. Let's do this!

Konnichiwa

Hi people, my name is Joe.

I'm from Edgewood, MD. I've been tattooing for 5 years now. I'm really happy I was able to get into tattooing. Being able to improve on an actual skill (rather than flipping burgers for people) and meeting new people along the way. I feel I have found a family and a real sense of community.

I want to be a well rounded artist and dable in a little bit of everything. For the most part, I like cartoony kinds of tattoos. Being surrounded by superheroes, beautiful pin ups and lots of anime growing up really influenced the style I would like. I like doing funny things that poke fun at cliche tattoo. Example, I used the "This too shall pass...." pharse and drew a rock in a puddle of pee under the words. It's suppose to be a kidney stone. Color is more of my friend.

I'm here to improve on my understanding of art, to improve my tattoos. Bettering my black and gray skills is definitely on that list. I would really like to be able to do the soft tones that follow in the style. Also, I have had a lot of people stick there neck out for me along the way so, improving for their sake is also part of my goal.

I have a friend who has been teaching to build machines (a lot of math). So I can better understand what I'm working with. I like using different method to color like whipping the darker color over the lighter or whipping in the shadows last. It works but, I am still developing it. I like working with dermaglo, eternal, fusion and a couple of starbrite colors too.

My mentor really grounded into me a sense of humbleness and not to become a rock star. While I hold myself back on the ego, tattooing has given me a certain attitude to be able to handle the world, on a day to day level. I hope we can learn more together than apart. Let have fun with this and not look at it as a constant final exam!!

Introductions -I'm Cat

Hello folks. My name is Cat and I am  an artist from northern Virginia. I am 43, graduated from the University at Albany (NY), and work in a variety of mediums. My favorite things to draw as a fine artist are birds, bones and ladies; I believe my strong point is my versatility of style. My favorite things to tattoo are flora and fauna. I believe my best strength as a Tattooer is my black and grey but generally I consider my tattoos to pale in comparison to my fine art and have been trying hard to rectify that deficit.

I own and operate Dark Horse Tattoos and Body Piercing, founded in 2008, where I am blessed to work with my best friends Steve, our piercer, and Jon our other Tattooer. I have been tattooing professionally since 2003 when I was 33. I wanted to join this program to help develop my work and in improve in every way possible. Although I served a formal apprenticeship it was under a Hell's Angels style "prove your loyalty" structure and really didn't cover anything about tattooing so in that sense I'm generally self-taught.

I have not been fortunate in the past to have anyone ever share anything with me in terms of improvement so I have lots of DVDs, read a lot, follow many artists I admire, draw regularly, get tattooed regularly by someone I admire (Chris Garver) and generally keep my ear to the ground for any advantage I can acquire.

I currently use Cheyenne rotaries which I switched to last year after attending the Brussels, Belguim tattoo convention as a spectator. I use a variety of pigments: eternal, starbrite, intenze, and a dash of Fantasia, Dynamic, Waverly. For inks I like One and dynamic.

Something you should know about me is I suffer from social anxiety and rarely if ever attend tattoo events in the USA. I am working on this, but it's always a struggle. I was bullied pretty regularly and rather viciously through my career prior to opening my own studio and still have some issues with social interaction with other artists. As an introvert, you never really feel at home in groups.

My Instagram is @darkhorsetattoos and my website is darkhorsetattoos.com and I try to update them weekly. I've been lax lately, as I am recovering from surgery and home for one more week. Other things I do besides tattoo are study green and sustainable living, I'm a professional Haunter and I love cosplay.

Hope everyone has a blessed NewYear.
Cat