Wedge

My Mariachi back piece that Kore Flatmo is doing. @David Bruehl did the bottom guy in color and Kore is knocking out the rest. Kore and I are both pretty pumped with how his black and gray work makes David's color work really pop. I'm pretty excited to finish this and hoping we can finish in February.

Love all the work
Here's my thigh piece. Done by my friend and mentor Angel Villanueva (Dringenberg & Co/ LA InkSpot). Hope I'm doing this right...

@slayer9019 Brad Stevens is doing an eagle and cobra fighting on my chest.

Dagger through neck, Valerie Vargas

@ProvidenceTattoo...just thought I'd chime in and say welcome and I'm a big fan of your work. I look forward to seeing more pictures and posts from you.

My latest....

@ProvidenceTattoo...just thought I'd chime in and say welcome and I'm a big fan of your work. I look forward to seeing more pictures and posts from you.

Here's something (sorry for the length) taken from the blog of a fairly well known and well respected tattoo artist. I think I'll omit his name for now.

"I've always found anti-social imagery compelling. It challenges ones common sense; a persons sense of decency and their idea of "Good & Evil".
It also can adversely reaffirm ones core instinctual concept of right and wrong and, if you are so inclined, bolster a persons "Fuck You" attitude about the world around them. So in this regard such "taboo" subjects prove to be different masters for different servants.
I find the hazy margin of ambiguousness an image commonly held as offensive exists in fascinating. How is it that one image is acceptable to one person while it causes another to shrink in terror or sneer in disgust? Inside this line in the sand so to speak are the real questions.A question that cuts to the core of the subject matter itself. What is right and what is wrong? If there is such a thing why can't everyone agree what it is in the first place? And more over an even deeper question arises from that as well. If we are merely animals then wouldn't the horrendous nature of such a dark symbology just be an extension of our core instinct to annihilate what ever gets in out way?
Finally where do you fall INSIDE the line of demarcation ? This taboo no mans land?
While I obviously Cringe at the idea of romanticizing Nazism in any form and just so I'm clear I don't feel the manner in which this painting was conceived does that by the way, what is it about this painting that identify with and even like? Why would I chose to spend my time painting such negativity into the world?
Perhaps it's my desire to be left alone by most people? Nothing in the world could possibly top this as a way of letting people know to stay the hell away from you. Still I feel the composition grasps on to a certain charm as rotten as the core may be.
My painting is drawn in a style indicative of 80's tattooing A period of time I view as more cut and dry compared to today's blurred line of reality and fantasy. Of real and unreal. Of scripted reality Vs. cold harsh brutal reality.Of black and white (no pun intended).
Happiness and "feeling good" is what our society is based upon here in the West after all. This belief sprung from the 1960's, flourished in the 70's, matured in the 80's and 90's. And now at the start of a new decade in a new millennium the cracks have begun to form at the base of this structure from the shear weight of all of its moral and social entitlements. And of its own grotesque vices as well....I'm Left to ponder: what are the consequence of this way of life both good and bad going to be for us all?
I feel I made this painting because I just felt like adding a few more needles to Joe camel's back so to speak. Not for some kind of pro-nationalist statement or an affirmation of some kind of bloated illogical racial idea but because I felt like saying fuck this easygoing softness in us. I want the viewer to reaffirm their commitments. I want them to think past the fleeting pathetic pre-programmed plastic knee jerk television has drummed into them. I want the viewer to connect to the painting in a manner that causes either anger and resentment or praise and adoration. And ultimately I want the viewer to emerge from the moral no man's land that so many in today's world apathetically wonder through recommitted. I want battle lines to be draw so we can bring last centuries tired arguments and the beginning of this centuries short comings and false promises to a close.
In essence I want the house of cards to fall."

If you've looked at previous work or flash or paintings of theirs, maybe let them know why youre excited about that particular person- which is the reason youre comfortable giving control.
"I saw X tattoo in your portfolio and X and X and I really liked those! Im open to whatever youre into right now, I trust you etc" and typically they can feel you out from there and start firing off some ideas.
im sure a quick consult will get the person going in the right direction.

Well, what the hell...this month is in the bag already, but might as well toss one in just to keep in practice.
Tattooed by Nick Colella @ CTC this past summer, a little family action.

This is just the sketch that I gave my artist, shes turning it into a full chest piece that will flow into my arms and what I already have coming off my shoulders. Starting it on the 17th!

No rush buddy, invest that time into finding a good artist that'll do a good job tattooing what you're looking for :D

Had the last major session on my backpiece this past Saturday.
8 sessions over 6 months, 25.5 hours and 2 tubs of Aquaphor later, it's basically done. Have to go back next week to get a few touch-ups and darken the blue up a bit, but basically done. I'll get some better pictures soon.

Bam

Bonten Taro Gekiga works -
- - - Updated - - -
It's Christmas so i'll indulge myself in some bike action

My latest, another torch. Done by Xam at The Family Business in London, last Monday. Healing up pretty good. Pic is fresh, as you can tell from the bloody paper towels!

I got this amazing torch this weekend from Ron Wells at Congress Street Tattoo in Portsmouth. It was part of a really great weekend trip that we took to celebrate a bunch of stuff, and in addition to getting tattooed, we hung out a bunch with our dog, gorged ourselves on seafood, and enjoyed the awesomeness of New England. Boy my thigh is sore as hell but I love love love this tattoo.

I just got this today for Christmas, it's my first carry knife. So far I like it although I'll probably get a mini-griptillian with a straight blade to add to this one.
Sorry for big pictures:

Here is a wolf head that Ron Wells did for me last night at Congress St Tattoo, in Portsmouth, NH. Not sure if you can tell by the pics, but it's on my right forearm, up close to the elbow. LOVE IT! Great experience, Ron is an awesome dude.
Also had the pleasure of meeting @Graeme, and @Pugilist, who drove down from Canada for an appt with Ron as well. Pugilist got something amazing, but i won't divulge as I haven't seen her post a pic here yet.. but I did see it on instagram and it is completely and totally sick.
rob
true to iphone form, the pics are pointing the wrong way, which is annoying as can be.

Yesterday finished my piece with Alex De Pase.
Its a take on Eve and apple with nails going through the apple and Alex added the drip of blood from it, which i really like :)
Onwards to Silvano Fiato now :)

@Russ...all I can say is wow. Congrats to you and to Valerie for executing such a flawless tattoo.

Got this off Valerie Vargas at Frith Street on Tuesday, I love it! I posted it in the latest tattoo thread and someone recomended I put it in here, Cheers.

P.S. That Head Eagle on the last page is bad ass :cool:

That's a pretty funny coincidence. I'm proud of my lady head Ron did last year at Three Kings.

Nice, clean tattoo.

fun little walk-in with mark cross yesterday. been wanting this dude for a while.