Isotope

My entire back itches like a lied down in a hammock over a cloud of mosquitos. It is the most itchy I have ever been during my healing of a tattoo.

BAM

More progress... this session was at the Austin Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival Convention. It was my first time being tattooed at a convention with so many people going through, I was nervous at first, but once the rubber hit the road, it was a lot of fun, and the distraction of all the people was a huge help.

I love this thread.

Thank you everyone here for sharing your journey so far. So much incredible work. This truly is a crucible, and it has really been sinking in more and more just how special it still is.

My Grandfathers' WWII service serial numbers on each tricep after my first grandfather passed. They each pretty much raised me. 

So I wasn't expecting another large scale piece. But Steve Byrne loved my basic idea, and I DID specifically tell him, apparently, quote "go nuts". 
I am a wreck this morning kids.

Link to video: 
 
 

Progress with Chelsea Kotzur... color next. 

Started this little fella: 
 

Texas style devil sparrow, Charley Marquez at True Blue, ATX.

Little filler to pass the time between back sessions.

Chelsea Kotzur at True Blue in ATX.

So this got started today. Kelly Edwards.

Three words for getting all that line work in one sitting: Fuck. That. Shit.
Worth every second of pain though!

Goddamn Dirty Charley Marquez again. Sorry for the glare!

This was done by Charley at True Blue in ATX. This is absolutely the cleanest linework I have on myself and I am so stoked/humbled/honored by this tattoo. I apologize for the glare. Great Grandpa and Great Great Uncle were Azorean whalers that settled in New England shortly before the whaling bust. Great Grandpa turned to working in a rubber factory until he could start his own floral business in bristol RI, Great great uncle went from whaling to building fishing schooners and racing yachts with Hereshoff.

Nguzunguzu.
I did my PhD dissertation on the paleoclimate and oceanography of the Solomon Islands. They are smack dab in the West Pacific Warm Pool, one of the "heat engines" of the Earth's climate. They also sit under the largest perennial rainfall feature on earth, the South Pacific Convergence Zone. I spent a lot of time out there caving, sampling fossil corals, and hanging out in villages listening to villagers and elders tell amazing stories of the past, and depressing stories of the present; logging and overfishing are becoming epidemic.
In the Western Province, tribal warfare and headhunting raids were often conducted between the small islands, with warriors transporting themselves in large Tomoko war canoes. One of the iconic images of the Western Solomons is the figurehead that adorns the prows of these canoes: the Nguzunguzu. A guardian God carved of ebony wood and painted black, with v or z shaped shell inlay. The eyes are always open, on alert. They are mostly either depicted holding a head or a frigate bird. Frigate birds are merciless, hardy, seagoing predators that will not spend the night at sea. They hold a place of reverence in the West Pacific. When I got my diploma, I got this piece on my chest. The flowers are Dendrobium laevifolium, an orchid species native to the remaining Western Solomons primary rainforests.
The artist was Chelsea Kotzur at True Blue on Red River in Austin.

Settled close to a year I think? Neither of us could remember off the top of our heads.

Settled close to a year I think? Neither of us could remember off the top of our heads.

Settled close to a year I think? Neither of us could remember off the top of our heads.

Settled close to a year I think? Neither of us could remember off the top of our heads.

Settled close to a year I think? Neither of us could remember off the top of our heads.

Settled close to a year I think? Neither of us could remember off the top of our heads.

Settled close to a year I think? Neither of us could remember off the top of our heads.

My Grandfathers' WWII service serial numbers on each tricep after my first grandfather passed. They each pretty much raised me. 

One tiny little touch up/detail session left next month!

My Grandfathers' WWII service serial numbers on each tricep after my first grandfather passed. They each pretty much raised me. 

I have a lot of hours under VERY "heavy handed" tattooing (I hate that phrase), including one full rib panel (in progress) and a full back piece (finished). All I can say is that it's temporary, the stoke will carry you through, and it's worth it. You know you earned that shit. Don't let it scare you off. Tattoos are supposed to hurt!