Maptastic

Thanks to Chloe for modeling this guest spot shirt for me.
I'm not sure if that's her dead bird face or her sexy face,
but she's always awesome;
and other than Star Wars,
we have a lot in common.






















In fact, the whole shop has been so great,
and it'll be a bummer to leave.
(it's also 20 colder in Minnesota than here)

I spent a bunch of hours tattooing this today.
That's a upright bass scroll that the branch is turning into.
The idea is to finish the tree-bass below the lizard, eventually.
Sometime when I'm back in town....






















I still have one more day at Off the Map before I head back home,
and two exciting pieces left to tattoo,
but here's (almost) everything I've done so far.

Losing Track

I keep getting surprised by how late in the day/month/year it is.
My bedtime keeps getting pushed later and later,
but I keep waking up at the same time.
And it keeps getting colder.
6 degrees Fahrenheit right now.
It makes you want to not leave the house.
(tomorrow will be an exception,
since Dark Dark Dark is back in town to play a show)

The dead bird painting is finished, dry, and photographed.
I've been working on a few other dead bird paintings lately,
but more still-lifey,
and not just floating deadness.






















I had a ton of fun working on this tattoo today.
"A pickle in a wheelchair. Hot rod flames."
There wasn't any big story to go along with it,
other than the client is friends with Chef Ryan.
The pickle is it's own story, I guess.

Holidays are for Eating.

Louderhorn Inn hosted a smallish vegan thanksgiving this year,

and as always, Meryl made so much great food.

(that is one sexy vegan blueberry pie)

There was five of us sitting at the dining room table,

but enough mashed potatoes to feed 20.

(i made the potatoes)

The next day was back to work,

and we celebrated Black (Tie) Friday.

We didn't buy anything,

we just wore ties.

Adam M also has been wearing normal pants all week

(in lieu of his super tight sexy man jeans)

in order to help heal the first sit of his alligator tattoo we did on Tuesday.

Looking forward to working on this again soon.

(and yeah, that's a thigh. not a wrist, not a forearm. a thigh.
the tattoo is 11 inches tall.)

Hyenas and hand puppets.

I finished the boar skull painting the other day,
and immediately started a few new ones.

There's going to be a big to do come March,

and I need to get a move on if I'm going to be ready in time.

Adam W is leaving tomorrow morning for a NYC trip,

and he wanted to get a new tattoo before he left.

I drew up this hyena head for him,

which he didn't see until he got to the shop tonight,

and once he saw the angry face,

he wanted it a little "toned down".

(like adding the teddy bear to ryan's elephant)

So we ran through a few ideas, and settled on hand puppets,

which I then markered on.

We didn't get too far, since we only got started at 8pm,

but I'm super excited about it,

and wanted to post the progress photos.

We'll work on it again some time after Thanksgiving.

Back at it.

Hannah came to me with a 10 line poem she wanted tattooed on her,
and wanted some images to go with it.
Somehow, we started an entire half-back-onto-butt piece,
and still didn't even put the words in there.
We're going to have to do it in a bunch of sittings,
but I'm really excited about it.
I wanted to show the beginnings,
and I'll post some progress shots along the way.
(it's a statue with morning glories climbing up it)




It's nice being back at Identity Tattoo,
with things like arm rests, and lights,
and a photocopier that has sizing options.
Conventions are fun and terrible at the same time.
I'll be in the shop all of November,
and have plenty of openings.
Just let me know.

Lightning bugs.

The only way Amy and Jaime could be any more awesome
would be if their names didn't rhyme.
But oh well.
Thanks tons to them and Maynard House
for the overwhelming hospitality.
I've stayed there 4 times now,
and every time there's new house members.
But every time I'm treated like a king.



This time around,
we started working on Amy's chest piece.
We didn't finish, but after 4 hours we needed to wrap up the session.
A mason jar full of fireflies.
We need to do a lot of detail work,
and some line sculpting,
but it's a good start.



Thanks again to Off the Map Tattoo and Maynard House
for all they did for me this past week.
I look forward to coming back again soon(ish).

Some of the week's work.

Big Dean doesn't mess around,
especially when it comes to inside jokes.
Getting your friend's portrait tattooed on you?
That's pretty hardcore.
Implying that your friend is a dummy...
being manipulated by an actual dummy?
That seems like some line crossing action to me.
(and of course I was glad to help)



Camille came all the way out from Texas to get this tattoo,
which is beyond flattering.
It was her first ever, and she sat like a rock.
Her and her husband entertained me with stories,
instead of it being the other way around.



The week was kind of a blur.
I did work on Todd's sleeve (below) and Megan's chestpiece,
got to meet some awesome new people,
and hang out with a bunch of old friends.
Kelly Doty is kicking so much ass out here in MA,
it's inspiring and humbling at the same time.
Keep an eye on her, for sure.
(she apprenticed at Turnpike while I was there)



I'm less sick right today,
which is great,
but I leave MA behind tomorrow.
Only two days of visiting in CT,
and then we fly back to MPLS.
These visits/working vacations are nuts.
Never enough time,
and too many people/tattoos to fit in.
Anyone I miss will just have to come visit me in Minneapolis.

Summers are cuckoo.

Adam M is the new weekend front help at Identity Tattoo.
He tossed me a few ideas for a tattoo a couple weeks ago,
and I did up a few drawings.
I think, unfortunately, that I left out most of what he wanted,
and put in things he didn't ask for at all.
Actually, this had almost nothing to do with the original idea,
but he still liked it,
so we squeezed in this outline between appointments today.





Meryl and I turned 4 yesterday.
We were married that many years ago
next to a very sexy Connecticut lighthouse.
Meryl also just graduated from her MFA program last week,
and we have a bunch of art/home/garden projects and travel plans lined up for the summer.
It's already busy,
and it's about to get busier.

the almost 30

I turned 29 today.
I know some people like to take their special day off of work,
and do something fun.
I just get pretty picky on what (and who) I'll tattoo on my birthday.
Last year, I didn't tattoo much at all,
and just handed out cupcakes all day.
But this year,
I had two different rad tattoos to do,
and I even ended up working late.

I also took over as DJ at Identity Tattoo,
and played lots of Dark Dark Dark, the Black Keys, and Lady Gaga.
Thanks to Todd and Ben for being so accommodating!

No cupcakes this year,
but Meryl made some banging vegan cookies
that I brought into share with Ben (and everyone).
haha.

First, I did this Obi-Wan Kenobi portrait.
It's butted up against the Boba Fett I did way back in September,
and it looks like we'll be adding in a couple more Star Wars portraits soon.
I used a new greywash ink, and my new rotary tattoo machine,
and had a blast.



Then, Mr Mikey Shoes came in to get a
(slightly more my style) chest birdhouse.
Meryl came to pick me up and got a few photos of the in-progress action,
and I was able to put two of them together in a really simple GIF animation,
but I don't know how to post it anywhere other than my Tumblr site.



Anyway, thanks to all the birthday wishes,
and to everyone who sang along or shared a cookie today.
And a big thank you to Todd for having such a fun place to work.

If it looks like a duck...

Kyle Mack is a character.
He came up with the basic idea of a duck with weird legs,
illustrating that on the surface everything would look normal,
but underneath would be a different story.
I think it's another version of his wolf in penguin clothes idea.
(he can't help it)
But this time we didn't tattoo it on Kyle,
Mike Shoemaker took it.
(and he's a character, too)

Thanks Kyle,
your absurdist mutterings inspire me greatly.

And thanks to Mike,
for always being up for something fun on you forever.

Whiter than White

White Christmases.
It looks like we're getting enough snow to last till next December.
We've received 7 inches so far,
and they're promising another 7 today and tomorrow.
Adam made it to Louderhorn Inn just in time to get snowed in again.

But good thing the snow didn't start till last night,
because I packed an entire week of tattooing into just two days.


Almost every time Adam comes to town,
he gets another tattoo.
This year alone I think we've done 5.
An octopus, a narwal, an aircraft exit diagram, and Kissena.
He got a puffin tattoo this trip,
and right before the close of the year.



Sheep goat hybrids are real.
And real dope.
(and real sterile, like mules)
Amanda is sleeving her arm with my weird little animals.
(that's her booby's blue foot right above it)



And Chef Ryan came in to work on his kitchen themed sleeve.
Antique wood stoves are so sexy.





Adam has been insanely helpful with this japan trip coming up.
He's the best ever personal travel agent, for sure.
He's been to Japan three times,
and uses the Google like no one else I've ever seen.

Adam gave us the insider tips,
Meryl found our passports and atm cards,
and Casey's staying at Louderhorn Inn with Shamira while we're gone.
So we're pretty much ready to leave on the 30th,
we just need to pack now.

Thanksgiving Eve

Among other things,
I'm super thankful that I didn't get punched in the face today.

Hannah got her first ever tattoo,
and it took 5 f'n hours.
Around hour 4, I sensed that I might be in danger.

Luckily,
we made it to the finish line with only one of us bleeding.
She has big plans for it to continue some day, with background,
and wrapping around the arm, etc.
But for now, that's a serious first tattoo.

(the picture doesn't really show how high up it goes)




Who's ready for Thanksgiving tomorrow?
Not me.
I'll take the day off, you don't need to ask me twice.
And Meryl and I will certainly take first and second place (respectively, even)
in Total Food Intake,
whether or not anyone else is keeping score.

Speaking of food,
Megan and Joan weren't kidding when they said they'd
overnight us some Brooklyn bagels once they got back.
There was a big box on the porch this morning,
with a dozen doughy delights inside.
I ate up a marbled one immediately,
and we're bringing the rest to dinner tomorrow.
Those two are awesome.

dribbling poison and blood...

Jordan wanted to have a full sleeve, and keep it Nordic themed.
So we're completing his arm with the story of Thor's fishing trip.
Sea serpents, giants, ox heads as bait.
Here's Jörmungandr, Thor's enemy.
It wraps around his forearm,
and yes, there's a severed ox head on the end of a fish hook in there, too.
That's officially badass.
One more session, and we'll have it finished,
and I'll post fully healed photos soon.

Under the Water and Off the Map.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my good buddy Amy B in Northampton today!!!
I hope the Maynard House is full of birthday cards and presents and vegan cupcakes that someone else made you.
Meryl and I send you lots of well wishes for this next year of your life.




I don't know what kind of jellyfish this is.
I wanted to use color reference, but I forgot to get some nice pictures ahead of time, and the shop computer only prints in black and white.

It's a colorful addition to Chef Jeff's otherwise muted water creature sleeve.


Also,
It's time for booking my next visit at Off the Map Tattoo.
I won't be working there until November, but now's the time to pick your day and get your deposits in.

Here's how I'm doing it this time.
I'm working seven days straight, Monday through Sunday,
November 2nd - November 8th.
I'm splitting each day into 2 four hour sessions.
The first one is 12 noon to 4 pm, and the second is 5pm to 9pm.
Clients filling up a 4 hour session have priority over those seeking shorter time slots.
Of course, longer sessions are possible as well.

Please email me for availability, and once we have set a date, you will be required to call the shop and leave a deposit within a week.

There will be new shirts, of course.
New stickers, new art cards.

It's only an hour from Wallingford CT, so come visit even if you're not getting tattooed.

A First-Class Relic here in MPLS.

It's time to pack up and take a pilgrimage out to Identity Tattoo.
You can get a tattoo while you're here,
but the real reason would be to see the Holy Preserved Under-Chest Skin of Saint Camden of Minneapolis.
It's done, mounted, and displayed in this shadow box in my tattoo station.


Thanks to Camden for not only donating it for all to admire, but for being the best sport ever.
And thanks to M.A.R.T. for their collective advice on preserving it.

Following the Mississippi South of Here

It was a jam-packed week.

Meryl and I celebrated our 3 year wedding anniversary on Wednesday,
we did dinner out and had a nice walk around the mill ruins.

I did tons of tattooing even though I had two sleeve cancellations.
I filled the time with mostly little things.
Flowers and words were the big players this week.




Today, Ryan and Rebecca picked us up, and we headed down to Red Wing,
an historic town famous for shoes and stoneware.
We did some MANtiquing, of course.
We also did some dangerous archaeological digging (Meryl got injured) in this area where the rejected pottery ended up. We found ceramic pieces, antique bricks, a crazy red layered rock, and deer teeth.
Later on, while hiking, we traded a discarded bubble maker to some kid for the scoop on this really long cave.
Ryan and I have decided that we need some caving gear, or at least flashlights, on us at all times from now on. It's hard to be professional explorers when we use cell phones and cameras to light the way.

Ryan picking up garbage and making pretty bubbles


The cave kept going and going.


My silhouette from inside the cave, no flash


A different (man-made) cave entrance on a different mountain, but we didn't enter this one.


After all that, we came home, grilled up some tofu, mushrooms, and corn, had a fire, and enjoyed the late May evening.


This week is going to be at least as busy, if not more so.

I pick up the surgically removed tattooed skin on Wednesday.
I bought Krowtann 2000 for the ordeal, and will obviously post photos of the entire process.
Meryl bought me a shadow box (as an anniversary gift, how dope is that?!) for it to be displayed in.

Adam from Queens arrives Thursday. He's been to MN 4 times (or more) so far in 2009 alone, so anyone else competing for "Most Visits" will have to aim for a Silver Medal.
He's also winning for "Most Postcards", and the slightly less sought after "Shamira's Favorite Person Award".

Casey has a going away party Friday night at Java J's, and then leaves MPLS on Saturday for CT before her train ride to LA. Come by and wish her luck on her bike trip.

more like WHINE-flu.

There's nothing I heart more than the bird flu.
Except MAYBE this whole avian/swine flu mix that's going around.
Pigs and birds, mutating influenza viruses?
Pig farmers crying about people eating less pigs, Minnesota being sold out of those paper masks, everyone blaming Mexico.
That's my flavor of absurdity.

I've done a bunch of drawings now in this theme,
and had a couple hanging up in my station.
This one got claimed last week, and today was my first availability.



Tomorrow I won't be at the shop, since I'll be getting tattooed by Tim Biedron all day long.
I won't tell you where, so you won't stop in and see the tears flowing.

It's also the last day I have to work on the final touches of the Art-a-Whirl stuff.
Lots of pictures of that coming tomorrow.

The Final Day

I think I tattooed for 9.5 hours today.
Michelle and I threw down some color in those flowers, and she took it like a champ.
Then Kristen sat through this peony on her shoulder for a couple hours.



When it was Mary's turn, I found myself tattooing next to some very nice tattoos done in a no-outline painterly manner, of which I almost never do.
But when in Rome......
She didn't look until we were completely finished.
I only took a couple of peeks myself.
(kidding)
I didn't get a decent photo, since it was dark outside (and inside), but she promises a photo by email soon.
I think I earned a few points.
Her and her boyfriend are super good people, and I wish them the best with everything.
Off the Map and all of the guest artists are so fortunate to have her.


It's now midnight.
In four hours I'm headed to the bus station.
Then to the airport.
And finally home.
I will probably sleep the rest of the day away,
but will be back at Identity Tattoo bright and not so early Tuesday.

Progress Shot.

I was slow at the shop today.
Actually, so was Todd.

So we planned out how we're going to make bird houses out of books.
Amy from Northampton got that bird and book tattoo, and I've been sketching ideas for these ever since.
I will be posting pictures as soon as we make them.

Later on, I started this piece on Kyle Mack, Ben Rettke's apprentice. He's pretty rad.
He wanted a sheep getting literally brain-washed.



I look forward to finishing it. That brain is going to be so clean, it's going to shine!

And you can send me dead flowers every morning

October 7th I posted a sketch of dying flowers and mentioned how I wasn't exactly overwhelmed with dope projects lately.

Today, I did that very sketch on Camden as a tattoo, and I was almost overwhelmed by all the dope projects thrown at me.




We had some of Identity Tattoo's favorites walking through the door today, starting before we opened, and ending only well after we closed.
I did consultations and drawing-on sessions, tattoos and even a touch-up.

The timing was key.
I needed an influx of awesomeness today.
I was not in the mood for any awesome-sucking shit leeches.