Peacock swoop

Here's a quick post. On Monday I started a large peacock on Virginia, a local bartender. It was a marathon session - 5 hours just on the outline! But she's tough. Definitely one of the more patient clients out there. It was a really fun drawing, a bit of a challenge in terms of placement, but that's fun for me too. Of course, it's going to be vivid and colorful in true peacock fashion.

And she's got a lllooot of work lined up! Not only is she getting the peacock, but she's also getting her other shoulder/back redone by Chris Black, who used I used to work with in Kenner, but who now works at Eyecandy Tattoos. He and a few others left Electric Expressions in the beginning of January, and Chris settled there. It's good to see him (almost) as often, since he's right up the street from us. Chris has a blog as well - http://chrisblacktattoo.com/ - check it out!

 Ok - So here's them:

New Orleans Noah's Ark

I just realized I never posted this photo of Jeremy's arm - it's a  New Orleans themed Noah's Ark tattoo! The ark is made from an upside down umbrella, with the dove holding the olive branch as the handle. A shotgun house (typical New Orleans style home) is the center structure of the ark, and in the background is the flooded city. You can kind of see a hint of the city in the last rotation, but there's a little more there that isn't shown. Also,  Noah is the name of his newborn son. 

This was a ton of fun to draw and execute. Jeremy came to me with just the idea of the Noah's ark, and then gave me a bunch of freedom with the design and all the elements. People often ask me if I have a favorite tattoo that I've done. I really don't have one favorite, but many of the pieces I am most proud of are the ones where I'm given a basic idea or theme and a ton of freedom to design and develop concepts. So this 'NOLAs Ark' tattoo definitely fits in that category.

Try the wine?

My good friend Seth came to New Orleans from Baltimore, MD, to get this tattoo finished. We'd started it at the Baltimore Tattoo Museum in September, when I was doing my east coast guest spots. It's an epic piece... A dinner scene...

Seth's an illustrator, and also an excellent cook. His request was for something dark and evil, but also whimsical, and maybe incorporate animals too. Those were his only stipulations. I was free to draw from my own hallucinogenic muses and it was awesome. I'm extremely pleased with this tattoo! It's bats crazy. And a lot of fun to draw, tattoo, and look at.

I'd never seen Clockwork Orange (I know). But Seth showed me this clip, and I'm still laughing every time I look at that crazy zombie cat.

Time Ravel

o0k. February is just about here, and it's been a while since I've posted... So let's just pick up where I left off, yes?

The month was December, the year: 2011. It was a crazy year. Lot's of crazy. And it was dirtier... the past is always dirtier... BUT! It was a good year, full of many cool projects and clients. I'm fortunate for that and appreciative.

Let's just start with a big one. First up is Norman. We finally finished the two humongous roses that take up half of his arm!

The idea was to make the roses so large that they became abstracted, and to push it a little further it's a progression from pristine on the upper shoulder to decaying on the lower. I really enjoyed the challenges presented in this piece. We completed it over several sessions, probably around 5 or 6, and finished it just in time for the new year.

The next one up is smaller, but waaay cool, I think. It's Angelique's magnolia seed pod! I've never really seen one of these tattooed, and had a ton of fun tattooing it. Lots of folk are getting magnolia flowers tattooed on them. The flowers have become something of an icon of the south. This particular tattoo is about life-size, a 1:1 ratio approximately, the bulb of which is slightly larger than, I don't know, two eggs next to each other, let's say. It took something like 2 hours to complete.

Here's Craig making another appearance. Continuing with his soon-to-be bodysuit! We have an angelic figure, hands outstretched, sending off a crucifix being carried by birds towards his heart in the center of his chest piece. The cross we borrowed from a Dali painting.

car- rayzie tatz

Got a couple of funzies here for this here post here.
And of course, why not begin with a customized dedication to the Wu?

The lines for the squid are a drawing by Jeremy Fish. Great artist, check him out. I rarely ever use another artist's drawing for a tattoo, but the client contacted Mr. Fish for permission. The client also has some Ashley Wood imagery on his leg.

And finally, a peak at a really crazy Rampage arcade leg piece! It's a phone photo so bear with me though.

Ryan came to me with an existing outline that he was unhappy with (for good reason) of a rampage theme on the front of his leg, and let me run with it. After many hours of rework and new work he's now the owner of a really awesome and intense leg piece! 

There will be better, more detailed photos of his leg in future updates. Just wanted to share! Next I'll be posting some drawings I think. Lots of fun tattoos in the werkss.ss.s.ss. .   

Ink n Needles art show

I'm going to try and stay on top of this blog, see if I can keep it up with some of the interesting things n such. Sooooo where to begin??
Last month, right after I got back from my tattoo residencies in Baltimore, MD and Doylestown, PA I began my transition from Electric Expressions where I'd been for 5 breathless years to working at Hell or High Water Tattoos on Magazine St - still in New Orleans, or it's actually in New Orleans, just uptown instead of by the airport where EE is located.

And THEN - the second week of October, also right when I got back, there was the opening of Ink N Needles, A Tattoo Exhibition at SLU (Southeastern University). I was asked to participate in the show and submitted a plethora of things, all different, so I was intrigued to see what Dale, the curator, chose to display.

I forgot my camera. So we will have to make do with our imaginiation for now, so like let's pretend like when we were kids and I'm telling a storytime. I may be able to get some photos from Dale or the university at a later point, but right now lettuce make believe... so of my stuff he mostly hung my process drawings and sketches, leading into the final drawing and then a photo of the finished tattoo work. There were also two of the finished drawings of some sleeves I have finished or begun - the shark/plane/squid/minisub and the superhero/cityscape. It was different from most of what everyone else presented. A majority of the work was hand-painted tattoo flash imagery, some enlarged photos of executed tattoos, and then some illustrative paintings by tattooers too. The contributing artists were from all across the country. Locally, Tattooagogo and Electric Ladyland had several artists showing work. It was a fun show - made me want to go home and draw!

Here's some of the promo material - the poster for the show (a tattoo by Donn Davis of Tattooagogo), and the catalogue, also flipped to the page featuring my work (the Nola's Ark halfsleeve).

Changes

Dear Friends and Clients,

I am writing to thank all the clients and friends I've made over the years for your faith in my abilities, and for allowing me to tattoo each of you. I've been very fortunate and lucky to have such trusting clients! If I have not tattooed you, you received this email because I've recently gotten a message from you with an inquiry about a tattoo. 

I have had a blast working with my dad and everyone at Electric Expressions, however after much consideration I have decided to move my work Uptown. The reason for my move is simply one of timing, in the continued pursuit of progress in my artwork. Beginning in November I will be starting work exclusively at Hell or High Water Tattoo in New Orleans, at 2038 Magazine Street.

Hell or High Water Tattoo is in a safe area in the Lower Garden District near the Magazine St/Sophie Wright St split. It's directly across from Juan's Flying Burrito. There is free, easy parking in the neighborhood, or metered street parking on Magazine. It's easy to get to from I-10, by simply exiting at the St. Charles Exit before the Westbank bridge. Please come by, say Hi and check out the shop! My daily hours aren't set yet, but they will be regular. I will notify you in another email and on my Facebook page when they've been worked out. There's a lot to look at in Hell or High Water even if I'm not there, and Magazine is fun in itself!

I will also be putting together a packet of material related to the move. It will include some new cards, flyers, original artwork and more! They should be available near the end of the month. Once they become available I'll send out a message and you'll be able to stop by the shop and pick one up, or I can snail mail it - if you'd like me to mail it simply respond to this email with your address. 

I hope many of you will follow me in this move, but also continue to get artwork from the great artists at Electric Expressions. It's a great shop with a good reputation and a lot to offer. Again, thank you to everyone for your generosity! I literally could not do my work without you. 

Philadelphia and Doylestown, PA