Goldfish/Peonies/Water

Did a bit more shading around the wrist today.  This is a fun one and I think we're both enjoying the work (although I think the inner wrist wasn't very enjoyable for her today, but she was very relaxed and sat great).

Still have a few more shading sessions up the arm before we get to color.  None of the shading is actually black.  Even the darkest portions are a watered down black that becomes a very deep rich grey.  It gives it the look, but without the total heaviness of an arm full of black.  I feel like it adds a little softness to a piece that is very dense with very little skin showing...

Cock Fight

Finally got to another session on this one.  We kept missing each other the past few months, but looks like we're back on track now.  Started almost a couple of years ago.

Finished up the bottom rooster this time.

Still need to finish the top bird and add some more background elements but it's not too far off...

She sits great and has a keen interest in tattooing and art in general.

Cherry Blossom Branch

Got this outline on today.  Made a few modifications to the drawing, but we're liking how it fits.  

Pretty difficult one though...the stencil rubbed off in a bunch of places so I had to wing it a bit, but she sat like a rock and it all worked out. Also did a session on the blue phoenix back piece earlier, but forgot to get pics...

Cherry Blossom Branches

The top picture is a piece I'm starting tomorrow on the ribs of a female client.  This one has her four kid's names inside the branch.

The one on the bottom is a rough sketch for another girl this Saturday I believe.They are both super nice and have been waiting a long time...

I'm looking forward to these fun pieces on some new clients (finally starting to work a few new people into the rotation...)

Hannya

Basically done with this part for now.

We're still discussing the possibilities for the rest of his back/body. He'll be back up in a few months and we'll have at it again...

Hagoromo Tennyo

Very short session after a long while. Colored in the hair to get the cover up started for now, and hopefully back on our regular schedule from here on out...

(Still working on the crappy pictures)

Vacation

Been gone the last week hiding out in the Sierras. Nice to step out of daily life for a bit and have a totally different reality with no phones, tv, computer or many people.

Feeling relaxed and recharged...ready to get back to work with more energy and focus...

Going out of town again next week to get my back piece finished, then hopefully no more traveling for a while.

Hannya

Got back to this one after a year or so. He was in town from San Francisco to get some work. The first day here was a shorter one and we built up most of the line work to give it a bit more pop.

The next day we added some color here and there...pics coming soon. As usual, he sat great and it was fun to get things all dialed in.

Kingyo

Colored in this little guy on the Koi/Skull/Chrysanthemum leg. Kind of nice doing a shorter session after some marathon ones we've had in the past. Couple more sessions and we're about done, and then maybe time to move on up to the thigh...

It's definitely been a pretty smooth and fun ride.

Body Suit

Finished up the shading at the top of the back. Still need to finish the collar bone on one side and the border will be even all the way around. Back to the ribs or connecting around the armpits next time. Not too much fun for him either way I guess...

Shoki/Oni

Still a have a few little details to complete on Shoki, but we started more outlining this time. An Oni getting vanquished (his ass kicked) falling down the thigh.

There will be one more demon on the back of the thigh and two more on the other thigh, four total. In Japanese, the word for four is "shi", which is also the word for death. Usually the number four can be considered unlucky, and I usually try to avoid any number of four in a Japanese composition...but on this one it is being purposely used to add the sinister effect of the Oni (they're trying to bring the death). His goal is a complete body suit, and we are both interested in including as much symbolism into every aspect of it that we can.

The wife "borrowed" my camera, so apologies for the crappy iPhone photos...

Tiger

Colored in the tiger today. I seriously need to work on the photography though. It looks a bit washed out in the photos, and I'm much happier with how it looks in person.

We've been making really good time on this one and just one more session left to color in the flower and he's got a sleeve. This piece has been a continuation of a half sleeve/chest panel I did a couple years ago to drop it down to the wrist.

I'll try to get some decent full arm shots upon completion in a couple weeks.

Then starting the other arm in November...

Snake and Chrysanthemeum

Started adding some patterning to the snake today...

Kenryu

Finished this backpiece about a year ago (arms not by me)...still need to do clouds in the background, but the main image is complete. Did a session on his leg the other day and forgot to get pics, just photographed this one.

Still trying to figure out how to take better pictures and get rid of flash burn and what not...

In any case, this is what a big tattoo looks like after a year or so of wear (and he is a surfer, so there is lots of time in the sun for this one)...

He's pretty motivated to finish off the rest of his body and we'll be seeing a lot of each other in the coming months.

Goldfish/Peonies/Water

Outlined this sleeve about a year ago.

First session in on the shading since then. Looking forward to getting back in the swing of things. She sits amazingly well and we're both having a good time with it...

Chrysanthemum

Came in on the day off to whip this one up for a good friend.

Some pretty bad hand problems that have developed for me recently limited us to just the outline today.

It's a little scary, but started physical therapy, and hoping to stay on top of things...

Shoki

Just a few little spots here and there and the big guy is done!

Then on to the butt and thighs with some vanquished oni (Japanese demons...Shoki is the "Demon Queller" after all) and the background from the shoulders to above the knees. Then sleeves and chest at some point down the road, but one step at a time.

P.S. This is his first tattoo...

Old Virgin

Did this one a while ago, but never really got any decent pictures.

Saw him today and despite not shaving his leg, finally got some usable pics.

All single needle outline and lots of single shading. Did this one after visiting friends at Tattooland in LA. Got home and was full of fine line fever and inspiration...

Chrysanthemums

Super short freehand one to add the bud onto this flower. Will finish the snake outline on the upper arm soon and turn this into a real sleeve...

Blue Phoenix

Finally got to the cover up portion of this one and it worked out pretty well.

A few more sessions and some smoothing out here and there and we've got it...

It will be her only tattoo now.

Water Woman

Surprise request from a very good regular client. Wanted a very bright water woman on the spot. Drew it on and this is what happened.

Still have a couple more sessions to finish out the whole forearm...

Vacation

Just got back to work after a week and a half off of tattooing (hence the no posts).

Mostly stayed home and hung out with the family and did a few short day trips. The Trees of Mystery were a particular hit (home of the world's largest Paul Bunyan statue and a very anatomically correct Babe the Blue Ox). No drawing or even looking at art books for over a week.

Sometimes you have to empty the cup to fill it back up...