JasonTO

By Franz Stefanik, Okey Doke Tattoo, Toronto.

Something big on my leg, ankle to waist. Snake vs. dragon? Snake vs eagle? Snake vs. two eagles? So many possibilities. Tattoos are hard. Also need a tiger in my life. Big fuck off one. Blue and white bengal would do. A black cat would be nice, too. I already have one. But, like, another one. Really looking to break the mould in so far as designs are concerned. Really push the medium forward into uncharted territory, you know? - - - Updated - - - Whoa. Who did that panther?

Franz Stefanik, Okey Doke Tattoo Shop, Toronto, Ontario

Wasn't sure where to put this question, but since it pertains to a theoretical future tattoo I figure it won't look out of place here. This is going to sound ridiculous. But here goes. Does a border, or filler if you want to call it that, need to be logically consistent with the image it surrounds? Like, tattoos of eagles are often bordered by bubble clouds. That makes sense because eagles are often found in the sky. Same with waves and koi fish. The connection is apparent. But what if I got, say, a reaper tattoo, and it was surrounded by drops of blood? The obvious question would be: where's the blood coming from? Is the reaper wounded? Do the dead even bleed? Does that stuff matter, or is it enough that it looks cool?

By Nikki Balls. Done at the Pearl Harbor Gift Shop, Toronto, Ontario. Apologies for the crappy pic.

What is it that you disagree with? That there's no artistic interpretation involved, or that the process is pointless without it?

This right here. I followed Hurtado on Instagram some time back, and like you was originally blown away by the technical application. But after a while -- you nailed it -- I just thought, if I wanted to see an ultra realistic depiction of Darth Vader, then why not just look at a photo of Darth Vader? Why even bother with a tattoo if there's zero artistic interpretation to it?

Kind of tough to make out what goes where from this picture. It's the ball and chain. To give you reference, the girl head is above my elbow ditch.

It's the weather. It's too cold do anything other than drink and get cool tattoos.

Still 50/50 on this, but I've long had the idea rattling around my head of doing a twist on the traditional battle royale, where instead of wild beasts warring with each other, it would be kewpie dolls dressed as the respective animals: so one dressed as an eagle, another a tiger, another maybe a snake, and they'd be clawing at each other and rolling around, pulling each other's hair and what not. All very light hearted. Still on fence about whether this is worth pursuing or if this is one of those ideas that sounds better on paper. Thought I'd air the idea out here and see what you lot think. It would be a smaller piece, possibly on my leg. Not quite sure. But it wouldn't be a back piece or something large-scale like that, as many battle royales are. I love quirky, funny tattoos, but I still hold the idea that large pieces (back, sleeves, etc), while obviously not required to be "serious" or "deep", should at least avoid being comical or super, super frivolous.

Franz Stefanik, The Okey Doke, Toronto, Ontario

Franz Stefanik from the Okey Doke in Toronto.

Flash by Cap Coleman; tattoo by Franz Stefanik

Here's another one by Franz at the Okey Doke.