Process: Phoenix.

Started off drawing some parts and REAL rough shapes.

I was using 19th century Hokusai paintings for inspiration.

Then when I had a layout I liked,

I enlarged it and made some rough stencils.

I drew everything else on with a pen.

CLINT

January 2011 In Progress.

On the way...2 sets of designs for late spring...
12 sheets total.

RACHI - VAMPIRE & LADY

Byron's Right Thigh

Vampire getting a feed on some lady bitch.

Thoroughly enjoyed the exposed nip, thanks mate!

CLINT

Some new stuff.

STEVE BYRNE

We have Steve Byrne from Rock of Ages Tattoo in Austin,Texas (www.rockofagestattoo.com) doing a guest spot at the shop from Feb 8-12. Email stevebyrnetattoo@hotmail.com for appointments.

RACHI - GIRL, PEACOCK, FEATHER & CRANE

Sarah's left thigh.

I tattooed the girl's head with rose at Surf 'N' Ink 2010. Sarah wanted to fill the rest of the front of her thigh, so we added the peacock head, feather, roses and origami crane.

Thanks Sarah!

RACHI - POPE & CROWS

Dusty's Right Shin, completed late last year.

This one was a lot of fun, thanks mate!

Eagle vs. Snake study #3

Bad Idea

second sheet for the barber shop. watercolor, she don't play.

20-1-1

WELL IT BEING THE 2011 AND ALL I FIGURED WE SHOULD START THE NEW YEAROFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT WITH A FEW PICTURES OF WHATS BEEN GOIN ON AROUND THE SHOP LATELY.
HERE ARE A COUPLE LITTLE NEWBIES FROM NICK VARG-ASS.

NO NEW TAT PHOTOS FROM MIKI BUT HE DID MAKE THIS AWESOME CLOCK A WHILE BACK AND... YUP. PEEP IT.

OH YEAH, WE WENT UP TO THE BROOKDALE LODGE RIGHT BEFORE THE NEW YEAR TO SEE HIGH ON FIRE FOR THE MILLIONTH TIME. PERMA-RAD.

Finding Direction

Missy had a small Celtic trinity knot on her thigh that she wanted to expand upon. An incorporation of flowers for inner beauty, and an antique compass representing her always being able to find her way. The trinity knot became a 3-pointed gauge on the compass, and the rest flowed around. Here it is:



The first sketch, before design changes:


The revised sketch, with final color:

one of two paintings done for the Belmont barbershop on Main street. 11" by 14"

Process: Coleman Painting

Thought I post how I do one of those tribute sheets. 

I start with penciling out the outlines on a light table. I used to just use tracing paper and flip it over and then trace out the same drawing. Leaving a graphite residue, or transfer on the paper.
Only problem is I had a tendency to press too hard.

 
Same reason I don't use too hard a pencil, because it leaves grooves, and you know what happens when you change your mind in the inking part? You get grooves where you want your fades.
Looks bad. You end up just blacking out the grooves. From what I've found there is a lot of black in these paintings, but it's very important where it is.

Then I get my lining on. Start by dropping all pens. No sharpie in my humble opinion.

 

 I find Speedball to be a very good product for lining.

(Feel free to send me some free bottles anytime)

I learned to use a nib that doesn't waver too much.
Pointy tips = Calligraphy. I want the lines to be even. 

I screwed up when I erased it and got a smudge. I'll see if I can fix it with shading.

Use good brushes. It's a lot harder to paint with crappy brushes.
I use the Windsor & Newton Series 7.

So sometimes I do the black first, and other times I do it last.

Here I will do it first to show the process.

 

Sometimes at the end I go clean up the lines due to thick colors covering over,

but I usuallly leave them.

Now if I repeat every week, in ten years my stuff might be alright.

Maurice Richard

Maurice Richard, originally uploaded by Tattoo Union Vancouver.

Mes Glorieux.

More paintings from 2010

These are originally designed by other people, but I painted these versions. 

There were very little changes, usually just layout, or changing the flags.

All done with various watercolor types on paper, and outlined with a dip pen and India Ink.

Roughly 11 X 14.

Best of 2010 Sketchbook

This a few of the drawings from my last sketchbook.