Think of a place I would go...

Finished this hawk tattoo up yesterday.
It was a pretty big project,
and done in two sessions with only two weeks in between.
I had a lot of fun doing it,
and learned a few things, too.
(mainly, don't take photos of your tattoos
against a tie-dye shirt background)






















....I'm daydreaming.
If I'm not at home here in the Louderhorn Inn,
Maynard House in Northampton is the next best thing.
And I've never wanted to be there so much as I did last night.
A DarkDarkDark sleepover party?
Damn.
I am one jealous dude.
I know it went well,
because Amy is the best.
It's good to have rad friends.

Putting serious miles on the rental car

Just as predicted in the previous post,

the trip to Maynard House in MA,

and then the Folk Life and Liberty Fortress in NH,

were both super crucial stops on our East Coast non-stop visiting trip.

4 states, 5 friends, 6 vegan meals, and 9 hours of driving,

all in barely over 24 hours.

Here's a photo of Meryl, Jess, Albie and the Cucch

enjoying the nicest summer day.

We might have all forgotten to bring along our cameras,

but that doesn't mean there aren't any photos.

I figured out the secret to driving to Conway, NH.

Vermont.

Yup.

Drive up I-91,

then east on 302,

and it's the most beautiful roadtrip around.

Thanks to both houses for the hospitality and the good times.

We're back in CT now, but we'll try to keep our spirits up.

ha.

Mapping it Out.

Maynard F'n House.

Back in it.

Warm vegan cookies when you walk in the door.

(starting the year off right)

Today was the first day of my Off the Map guest spot.

So good to see everyone again,

and to get to work after some holiday time off.

My two clients today were both badasses,

and both are celebrating birthdays this week!

Happy Birthday, kids!

Started the day with Mr Hart.

He got some hurricane side-stomach action,

and sat like a champ.

Here's a red and hurty looking photo:

Then Virginia drove up from the Bronx,

got this bird tattooed on her ribs,

and then drove all the way back home.

Day one down, five to go.

I have a few more bird tattoos to do,

a couple squirrels,

some ferns,

and a skull or two.

And that'll pretty much wrap it up.

If everyone sits like these two,

it'll be an awesome week.

Lightning bugs.

The only way Amy and Jaime could be any more awesome
would be if their names didn't rhyme.
But oh well.
Thanks tons to them and Maynard House
for the overwhelming hospitality.
I've stayed there 4 times now,
and every time there's new house members.
But every time I'm treated like a king.



This time around,
we started working on Amy's chest piece.
We didn't finish, but after 4 hours we needed to wrap up the session.
A mason jar full of fireflies.
We need to do a lot of detail work,
and some line sculpting,
but it's a good start.



Thanks again to Off the Map Tattoo and Maynard House
for all they did for me this past week.
I look forward to coming back again soon(ish).

What a lovely way to burn

I am one sick dude.
There's no thermometer around for proof,
but I'm pretty sure I've got a fever.
(and I've been beating up the Maynard House's lavatory pretty bad as well)
But I'm booked solid at Off the Map Tattoo,
and I'm not one to call in sick.
Ever.
(what am I, an a-hole?)

Here's a couple of tattoos I've done out here so far.
The owl was photographed at a weird angle,
so the head looks a little warped,
but it's fine in real life.



And more black and grey book themes:



I'm four tattooing days down,
with only two more to go.
But I saved the longest days for last.
Wish me luck.
I could use it.
Luck, and a few more rolls of toilet paper.

Shake Your Rump

Dark Dark Dark rocks a house party at the drop of a hat.



Yeah, that's my living room.
That wasn't the original plan,
we had a big fire outside and everything set up around it.
But a few drops of rain later and we decided to make it a living room show.

What's the special occasion, you ask?
The Briggs' from the Maynard House of Northampton are in town for a couple days.
Amy and Jaime.
So I have to cram the two weeks of hospitality they've showed me into just four days here in MPLS.
Of course it's not possible, but that's not going to stop me from trying.
(and their first night here was off to a good start, no?)

Big tattoos are planned for today.
Summer is two days old, and it's already pretty rad.