Dios de los Muertos Lady and Roses

Got a couple hour session in today.  The roses will lighten up quite a bit in the next few weeks.

She has great skin to tattoo and sits like a rock.

Looking to finish it up in a couple weeks...

Inspiration

shinya kimura @ chabott engineering from Henrik Hansen on Vimeo.

Once in a while I come across something that I really connect with on an aesthetic and philosophical level...

Hagoromo Tennyo

Did a bit of color in the wings today.  She had to leave early for an appointment but still managed a decent chunk and had fun with it.

Still working on the whole photo thing.  All I could manage for today is one horribly flash burned photo and a totally underexposed one.  Enjoy.

(We have an appointment every other Wednesday for the next several months...)

Totoro

Nothing overly epic here, but I really like Totoro so here it is.

The other day a very great old client of mine stopped in on her way through town and asked if I could stay late to put on a very small tattoo.   When I heard what she wanted I relented and did it...

It really does make me happy to know that she will smile every time she looks at her wrist.

Technically this is the Studio Ghibli logo.  If you haven't seen Totoro and have a child (or not)...do it.

Body Suit

We're back to a regular schedule on this one after a couple months.  It probably is healthy to take a little time off from getting tattooed so much to recharge the mind and body once in a while.

Did the whole section around the nipple and he sat like a champ.  Full steam ahead through the winter...

Chrysanthemum

Started coloring on this piece.  Still haven't outlined the background, but I just really felt like coloring the flower this time, so that was that.  Didn't quite have enough time, but got all the greens and white in.  Just a bit more blue to go and probably a different colored bud.  Then the snake, then the background, then the top of the arm...basically a long way to go (but a very good start).

Suikoden Leg

I know it's a bit of crappy picture overload, but we did a short session on this the other day and I got excited when I realized we are pretty damn close to finishing.

Still have a few details on a few of the dudes to sort out, but we're definitely in the home stretch.

Another session or two is all we really need...

When it is done, I'll do my best to get some proper pictures (see if we can get him to shave the whole leg, and try to get some good close ups of the warriors as most have pretty cool single needle body suits)...

Dios de los Muertos Lady and Roses

Started the outline on this one.  Still might add those extra roses next session.  Moved the crucifix for the final version and think it looks a bit better there.

Black and grey piece for now, and maybe layer in some color in the future...

Hagoromo Tennyo

It's been a while, but we're finally getting back into this one.  Did the head dress to cover more of that old tattoo, the jewelry, and started the sash and the wings.

The blue and white so far in the wings represent 2 of the five imperial, or auspicious colors.  The others are yellow, red and black.  In doing research into this type of feathered rode, it is stated that the wings are adorned with these five colors, and I have every intention of finishing them out according to tradition and give it that extra symbolic oomph...

I will give a more detailed explanation as to the meaning of each color in another post...

Water Woman

Did a bit more on this one the other day.  I was almost a little worried about too much blue before, but I think it works and really like it.  Still more to go to wrap it around the back of the arm, and next time we'll fix up that rose at the bottom (that I didn't do)...

Cherry Blossom Branch

Did the color on this one the other day (the outline was done exactly one week ago).  It was a pretty great session.  We started at the bottom and worked our way up and it took about 3 1/2 or 4 hours.

The catch is that there were no breaks whatsoever.  Not for the bathroom or water or anything.  We just started and the next thing you know, we were done.  

I think we were both just really zoned in on it and the time really flew by.  She was totally relaxed the whole time and I felt great afterwards.  Usually after a session like that, both the client and myself are feeling pretty run down, but this was one of those times where everything seemed to click and flow well.

Kudos to her for being such a great client...

Shoki

Drew on and started the background today.  Exciting and daunting at the same time, but I'm very happy with the direction the piece is taking.

I've decide to focus on the background down to the back of the knees for now.  3/4 sleeves and chest to follow.

More clouds and rocks down the other side next time, or possibly outline more oni on the butt cheeks and thighs...
Usually the night before our sessions I stay up really late and do a loose sketch and try to formulate a game plan for the next day.  For this one it seems to work better than tripping out weeks beforehand.  Working on trying to capture whatever comes to me at the moment.

Graffiti

Fun graffiti-esque piece I finished today.  From a pen drawing his friend did.  Super nice guy with a very cool artistic appreciation side.  

Blossom Branch

Outlined this one the other day.  Went extremely fast and smooth.  She sat perfectly and everything flowed very well.  Did it all in one shot with no breaks and felt very much "in the zone" the whole time.  Very nice client and piece.

Color is being installed this Saturday...

Samurai and Clouds

Got back in on this one after a few month lapse.  It's been an enjoyable trip so far and his enthusiasm level is extremely high, which is fun and motivating for me.

We'll be adding a castle on the back side of his arm and a few more clouds next time...

Also need to do a serious enhancement on some of the shading.  The night after he got a pretty major session of all the inner arm shading he was wrestling with his pit bull and it scratched the shit out of the tattoo.
The shading that is in there is pretty smooth, but there are definitely some chunks that got removed.  Hopefully won't be too much of an issue to fix up...