Got to hand it to you.

I don't do hands too much anymore. It's not that people aren't asking, it's just I'm having a hard time justifying people with no, or very little tattoos getting very visible ones. I'm not here to judge if people are ready for that, I can only warn them or straight refuse. That's all I can do. I know society is changing, it's just a big decision. Think about it.

That has nothing to do with this tattoo. Just a mini-rant.

This person was finishing a solid sleeve. That makes sense. He's also a Tattoo Artist.
In a few days we are going to add more blue to the right.

Average Tuesday.

Here's what this Tuesday looked like here at Tattoo Union.

Cohen outlined an arm all day.

You can see more of his work on his website: cohenfloch.com

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And this is the piece I was working on. (2nd session)

Just another average Tuesday.

More photos from The Goods Artshow.

The show is up until January 15th, so you might as well go and check it out in person! We all worked hard on the art, there are prints still available for some, and there is plenty of original art as well. After Christmas, if you find yourself with extra money from Santa, go get something that lasts longer than a hangover. Here's a couple of closer shots.

Eben Bender

Ronan Boyle

Kaput

Print wall

There's plenty of other great art, I just didn't have time to get them all, so be sure to go check it out in person. This show ends mid-January.

ArtShow Opening @ The Goods

These are some pictures courtesy of Andy from Andy Social Photography.

http://www.andysocialphoto.daportfolio.com/

www.thegoodsapparel.com

By the way...

Its been gorgeous.

Hudge... Whatever.

Being the big boss man, Hudge apparently feels that he can disappear for days on end, riding footloose and fancy free on his super sickle motorized glitter bike. Heres some recent stuff from that bag of dirt. I know, only one tatty photo. Youre tellin me.

Young Manders. Handling.

Breakin records, hearts and wind. Killin it.

THE FULL RON-TY

Here are some new products from the crippled mind of Ron Hendrix. Eat it up kitties.

BACK TO BUSINESS!

Well its been only been a quarter of year since we last posted on here, so its probably time to get back to it. Despite it being Winter time, the shop has been doing just fine. Tats gettin tatted and flash gettin painted. Boom. Thats whats up. Heres some newer stuff from our resident wierdo, painting maker, baby haver and all around bad ass, Nick Vargas. DIG IT.

The Goods first art show!

Our friends at The Goods let us take over the walls for a month, and it kicked off on Friday with the opening. Fun was had by all, and the beer was gone before 1 am! The place was packed! If you saw something you liked, or haven't been by yet to see it, do because it's only up for a while, and these artists really brought some good stuff to the table. There is a full range of pricing, depending on what you are looking for. I'll post some pictures of the art as soon as i find some!

 

Here's a sample of what I am working on for the show.

cutest damn thing ever.

At least I think so.

Jill's Birds and Flowers - Part Two

Jill sent me some imagery of old Japanese woodcut prints and Chinese bird and flower paintings. Here's some description of what she wanted from our initial correspondence: "Flowers - I love them. I'm a gardener. I like how perennials "die" in the winter and come back in the spring. I like cycles of life/death/rebirth. renewal. I like the idea of birds as symbols of freedom and their ability to take off and rise into the sky to see things from a completely different perspective than a human's very limited one." "Part Two" of this blog post is the second section, which flows down her arm. One more short session to tighten everything up, clean up lines, and adjust values.

The Final Sketch:


The transition to her birds:

WE ARE 1 YEAR OLD TODAY!

Kathryn's Family Tribute + Rework

Kathryn came to me looking to cover up some small, but sprawling work on her left arm. A nautical star with radiating lines, cat paws, and 4 crooked numbers. In her words:

"My family inspired the ideas. I already have a tattoo with a star and lines and the paw prints and the 14, 15, 16, and 20 but I just am not happy with it and I'm hoping it's not too difficult to cover. The flowers represent the women in my life being my two grandmas and my mother and my 1 month old niece is named Violet so the violet obviously represents her. The bluebird is the bird of happiness which is something I need more of in my life, the numbers are the years my grandparents were born (1914, 1915, 1916, and 1920) and the paw prints belong to my cat who passed away who as crazy as it sounds was my best friend."

The nautical star became a large daisy, the paw prints became weird new flowers, and the numbers were covered and redone into new dew drops on the leaves. The finished piece:






Kathryn's arm, before:


The final rework sketch:

Rite Of Passage Festival

We will no longer be attending the Rites of Passage Tattoo convention in Melbourne late January.

Homework!

The month after my daughter was born, I started re-painting old Tattoo Flash, as have many Tattooers before me. I chose some of my favorite designs and some of the most inspirational old-timers that paved the way for kids like me. I tried to do a sheet for each decade from 1900 on. I did a lot of different styles of tattooers, but all of it flash that was on a wall at some point. This stuff should all be in museums by now, and I wanted that feel of the old sheets on the wall. Not a laser copy, or some bullshit digital file that you will find here, something tangible. It was very challenging, and I have learnt a lot along the way. I have finished 11 sheets in all, and I think I'll just keep doing this every once in a while. It's fun, and a great way to keep myself challenged.

 

 

 

Top to bottom:
Feature wall,
Owen Jensen compilation sheet 1,
Owen Jensen replica sheet 2,
Sailor Jerry Collins compilation sheet 1,
Sailor Jerry replica sheet 2.

Watercolor on paper, all roughly 11 X 14.
Lined with India Ink and calligraphy pen, painted with various inks and watercolors.
All painted by Jeremy Riley, Tattoo Union, 2010.