one challenge at a time

 Remember this one? I did this in NJ a month ago and he stopped back in the other day to have a few lines added to it and to thicken up the swirls.

BEFORE


AFTER - really like this one now. really weird tattoo to do because of the area but happy with it.













I was working over on 4th street last week and this girl came in. I met her and her friend the day before when I was working sales at No Ka Oi. This was her first tattoo and she did so well! She brought this image to me and we basically kept it the same for the exception of the light in the lampost... we added a little bit of shading and white highlights to make it look like it was lit up. Her friend is going to come in to get the same thing sometime soon.



Just for fun... of course her friend had to snap a photo of it happening. They were really nice, hope to see them again.









Was working in NJ on Saturday and this was the only thing I did all weekend. It's been very slow at the shops lately. Probably with July 4th weekend upon us everyone is heading to the shore and away from the tattoo shops.

This was also the dude's first tattoo, it went smoothly for the bottom half of the letters, the top half I was really sweating it out over stretching the skin right in the armpit there. After this one I have a better idea of how to get up in that area.







Last week on South Street Tony came in for some more work on his thigh. Super excited about this one. We only got to the ship, but as big as it is I worked on it for about 2.5-3 hrs. Can't wait to get a healed photo of this and work on the background.









so I worked at No Ka Oi yesterday and this was the only walk in. This guy was really nice and this tattoo was really challenging. If I could redo this one I would have approached it differently. He wants to extend the bars up to his elbow the next time and add something else to it so when I get a good look at it all healed up we will take it from there.

More to come.

fun at No Ka Oi yesterday

I figured I'd post a few more things I've done before heading into work today. It's looking rather cloudy today but hopefully the rain will hold off til I get there.

I worked the night shift at No Ka Oi last night, which was nice considering it's busier in there and i get to work with the people that I don't usually. I got a few cool walkins last night, this one being the biggest.

I had alot of fun with this one, and it was his first tattoo. I got to play around with drop shadows and thanks to some tips after this was finished I have more ideas as to how to deal with that for the next one. This is one of the things I would really like to get good at - lettering. My linework could be better here but I took my time and I hope he comes back in a month so I can see how it healed. I get really pumped over larger pieces so I can experiement and sort of push the limits a little bit since I'm restricted with what I can and cannot do right now.... so any chance to do something like this I'm jumping on it.



This was my first walkin for my shift. It was a father and son, super nice guys. This one in particular was put on the son, Trevor. He also is a very talented photographer and was kind enough to take some photos of me while I was working, including my new blog header! They each got this D on their wrists. I used this as an opportunity to use the drop shadow again and beveled the lettering a bit. Still need to perfect my linework....again.... but I figured I'd put one of them up so you can see. This whole not using an armrest thing is killing me. I feel like my lines could have come out much cleaner had I used one. I'm trying to stick with my guidelines that I have been given and not use it at all, but in some cases I use it anyway. This should have been one of those times. For most people I don't need the armrest at all, but for those with skin so damn stretchy like this wrist.... definitely could have used it.



I'm kinda bummed about the quality of this photo, but it's all I have for now until we get final photos of this finished. This is on my friend Tichina who is leaving town pretty soon. She had the idea to do a cartoon/caricature of a hipster kid with some traditional roses. Ideally I'd like to throw a frame around this one day, but for now this was SO much fun! I got to try out greywash on a face which I'd eventually like to get really good at. The best part about this is the face I drew it completely made up... no real error here when shading. I stuck with mostly lighter tones so I can darken them later, and when it heals we're going to add a bit of color to the roses and the cap.  Kudos to Tichina for contributing to my cause! YOU RULE


 I threw this one in there because I forgot to the last time I posted. I did this one in NJ on a world traveler from Ireland. Really nice guy, him and his wife were at the very beginning of a 3 month USA tour. Philly being the first stop. I'm not really sure why he got the cards, but the date was pretty self explanatory and he let me do whatever I wanted with the shading. I wanted to try and make them look old/faded/torn. Sorta got away with it but I know how to deal with it better for next time. The banner looks kinda dark, but I stuck with mid-tone greys so that should lighten up. Good luck to this guy on his travels, and thanks for stopping in for this!


 TEENY TINY one. done in nj


Another done in NJ from a photo she brought in. She let me modify the original slightly, and sat great. I kinda like this style, heavy outline with soft shadows within. I need to get drawing and painting more. I've fallen off the wagon!


Until next time....

Hi everyone, what's the craic?!?  :)



I've been asked if prints of my collaboration with Ashley Love would be available some day... finally the answer is yes! -> http://www.etsy.com/shop/kimanh




Inkvaders is organizing an art show to take place on the 30th of June... the shop has been going through some important changes lately and this will be a good occasion to show people what there is to expect from this new cycle starting nowadays... yes, a Rebirth !!! ;-) 









And a little sneak peek of some of my stuff that will be hanging on the shop's walls for the expo :)


 









Flowery love anchors!  :)

















Calaveritas floreadas!! :)







Some random sketches I've been working on...












Loitering at the shop... :p  please don't tell my boss... hihi  :) 










A great week to everyone!! 
C ya!  :)


ps : For those of you who won't be able to make it for the expo I will be making some prints of my favorite paintings!

Everyday a new challenge

 So this is me playing super catch up, as well as filling you in on how things have been going with me. These past few weeks by far have been my most frustrating in the whole almost 4 years I have been apprenticing.

I don't know what my problem is, but for some reason I can't stop worrying and stressing out. I seem to always been frustrated about money and how I'm working my ass off and still can't seem to get ahead. I've become somewhat of a hermit and don't go out much at all anymore. Whatever happened to the social Tina? My good moods have gone out the window and I need to get it back and quick! It's starting to affect my morale at the shop and I'm moody all the time. I was working out in my garden a few mornings ago and I realized something..... why in the HELL am I so stressed all the time? I've spent the last almost 4 years of my life, well actually 5 if you count my previous apprenticeship, working towards this goal. What the hell do I have to complain about? I'm finally tattooing, the one thing that I've wanted to do for years. I love going to work and I love my coworkers and everyday is a new challenge both mentally and technically and physically. I had a super meltdown with my mentor the other day and I think that my way of unloading needs to change. I shouldn't freak out like I did, however it made me feel better to know that I can be vulnerable and not feel bad or worried about it. This method of unloading has leaked into my personal life as well.... something has to give.

Gardening has helped me with the stress, and am working harder to get out more and socialize and meet people, and to make more efforts in certain areas, and not expect other people to do things for me.

And now to the tattoos.....





I worked on South Street yesterday... kind of a slow day, but this walked in and was excited for the challenge. I rarely get to do something so technical and this tattoo in particular helped me SLOW down.



 Done at No Ka Oi friday... My coworker has some people in town so they decided to get little liberty bells to remember their trip. They're relatively small and they each got it on the same spot on their ankle. They were in town for bike polo which seems pretty fun. Maybe next time i'll be able to catch a match!


 This was done on a friend Simon who I was introduced to a few months ago, and then he came to me to do a version of a painting he had. I was really excited to do this one not only because it's kinda big, but I really want to put more traditional style stuff to build my portfolio and it was alot of fun to do. Kudos to Simon! I hope to do more on him soon!








 Wednesday night I was working on South Street and after we closed up my friend/coworker Jason stopped in to finally get his cupcake! I drew this up months ago and we just haven't had the chance to do this. Overall I'm pretty happy with this one, however I'm not too happy with the shading in the cherry part, I'm hoping it heals lighter than that so I can go back into it with a little more color.


 Lettering on an ankle done on South St


 South St again... this one was a challenge too. All those tiny points all have to be perfect.


 More done on South St. This was the day of lettering I think.


 This came in NJ last week. Also a challenge. I still have to perfect my linework, especially in an area like this. The swirls aren't as perfect as they should be, but she will be back in so I can take a look at it and touch up a few spots. She's also getting another one on her other foot with lettering complementing the design of this one so it will look like a set.

Im interested to see how light the drop shadow heals.


 This came in the same day as the foot over in NJ. This was also a challenge and had a fun time with the little feets. I should have gone a bit darker with these, but I hope to see them healed so I can get a better idea.


 Name done in NJ


 That same day in nj a group of three women came in, each of them got a version of this.


 in NJ again... hard area to work but was a good challenge.


 Done on South street a week or so ago, this girl came in with an image on her phone so we need a nicer version of that...


 Mini cupcake done on 4th St... one of my lines wasn't super straight but it was a fun little tattoo to do and was a bit of a warm up for Jason's cupcake.


 Done on 4th Street as well. I got to try out my friend Bobby's new bright pink he mixed up.... came out super bright and awesome I love it!


 Name on the arm done on 4th St as well.


 4th st again, she let me draw up her man's name all fancy like with color.


 done on 4th St as well, fun little one to do


 4th St.