More Hipponess

I started this hippo painting around the same time I did the hippo tattoo, and used the same head reference, of course. I just finished it today, so it took me a while to take a picture of it without the glare from the wet paint. I may or may not be completely done, we'll see what I think after it's dry.
It's 8x10, oil on board.

I won't be in the shop on Wednesday. I'm doing my part to save the world, and getting a vasectomy. I'll be sitting on bags of frozen peas the rest of the day, but will be back in the shop on Thursday.

Have you checked out Albie Rock's Blog yet? It's better than yours. It's also a permanent link over on the right of this post.

Mask N Tribal

Just some random tattoo done...

What a week!

Albie Rock came out to MPLS and did a guest spot at Identity Tattoo with Todd and I. It was an awesome week: tattooing, making shirts, making stickers, celebrating some holidays, a full moon, and the 3rd birthday of Identity Tattoo! Since none of us drink, we killed a bottle of sparkling cider and a few extra Dr. Peppers.
Albie did some amazing tattooing, including a piece on Todd, and finishing my left arm sleeve! He still has all of his art and dolls on the walls of Identity, come in and check it all out, and remember that it's all for sale. He also just started up a blog, since his website is 4 years old, you can check it out here. It should be updated from this week of insanity once he returns to New Hampshire.
Here's a few pictures of the shirts, front and back. The Latin on the front says "Never Quiet, Never Soft". The colors are muddy brown ink on earthy tan shirts. The flash made these pictures a little washed out.





Here's a close up of one of Albie's amazing dolls:


Also, just in case I didn't have enough on my plate, I am now the Web Consultant for International Tattoo Art magazine.
Once I help bring the website up to speed, I'll post it here.

Mandala Tattoo

My long time customer who is in progress of completing her blackwork sleeve, came in today to do another potion. I was given the green light to do what I feel like and that is every tattoo artist's dream come true.

Most times, its the customers who want to have certain kind of design on them, but on rare occasions, the tattoo artist gets to choose and do something they feel which is right for that individual.

I decided to mix 2 flavours into one - Polynesian and a Mandala to signify "wholeness" and used for ritual purposes.

Even though their beginnings may be linked to specific religious purposes, mandalas are popular with tattoo connoiseurs of all faiths.

I modified the Dharma Wheel: the eight hubs are a symbol of the Eightfold Path*, leading to perfection -

1. Right Belief

2. Right Resolution

3. Right Speech

4. Right Action

5. Right Living

6. Right Effort

7. Right Thinking

8. Peace of Mind through Meditation

Mandalas are particularly popular in henna tattoos. By definition, a mandala is any one of a variety of geometric designs that symobilize the universe. These designs are ritualistically used by Hindi and Buddist during to aid in meditation.

The Hippo.

Here's the Hippo that I did on Bex today. It was some of the most fun I've had tattooing in a while. Thanks to her for putting so much trust in me to do and color it however I wanted, and then sitting amazingly well for 3+ hours. I also got to take a picture of the vampire bunny, which sits right in the ditch of the elbow. Not a fun area to get tattooed, nor heal up, but she rocked it out.
I love doing this kind of "illustrative realism" stuff, so if you're looking for something along these lines, let me know!

Also, there's now the button at the end of each post so you can email the blog posting to someone. Thanks to a few people for requesting that, and then showing me how to accomplish it.

Old friends, New birds.

I did these birds over the weekend on a friend from my days living in Seattle. She lives in Wisconsin now, and drove 10+ hours in two days just to get tattooed.
Also, just so you have an idea of how long she's known me, here's a picture she took from Seattle, circa summer 2002. Man, look at those bare arms and legs (and some of those dreds weren't even mine)!



Also, this month's International Tattoo Art magazine has a photo of both Todd and I's work again. My tattoo published is the Storm Trooper on Big Dean Whipple of CT. When I called to tell him he was in the magazine, he was attending the infamous New Haven St. Patty's Day Parade, and had just been molested by a pack of parading storm troopers who wanted pictures with this very tattoo. I shit you not.

The rest of my weekend is being devoted to painting and dreaming of hippos.

Pig Head Painting

I found some crazy pig face pictures on someone's travel blog, and used one of them as reference for this oil painting. 5x7 inches. Maybe my 4th attempt with oils?
I'll probably go back in for some tiny texture/details when it dries. (which, with oils might be never)

I don't usually post things on here other than art, but if you live in Minnesota, go check out the Minnehaha Falls, since they are all frozen, and you can (not legally) climb behind them! But be careful! I got super scared climbing down, and almost ended up just staying up there making the waterfall cave my home.