Something for the weekend 15

This week has really had me thinking about how I share my work on the internet and how others treat the images.
You will all be aware that I use instagram and facebook amongst others as sharing platforms. Over the last few months all free to use services have slowly changed their terms of use. Whilst I'm ok with them using an image for advertising I'm not so happy with them selling an image to a third party. As it turns out this was the result of a badly written paragraph in the tos, but it could happen so I'm future proofing somewhat.

After considering my position on how best to move forward I've decided to mark my images.
Watermarking photos is something I've avoided, because I prefer the honour system of life, and except that although some people will rip you off, most are genuine and can be trusted.
I find myself adding them in an attempt to protect my work from misuse by individuals re-posting the work without any credit to myself, which I'd say is at least as bad (if not worse) as the free sites changing the terms so they can sell an image to a third party.
I hope that this wont detract too much from the enjoyment of looking at my artwork, but I'm getting really fed up with seeing my images on different sites without getting any credit for the hours of effort I put into my tattoos, drawings etc.

Whilst thinking about all the discussion/hype around the issue on instagram's new terms of service it dawned on me that I and others have become lazy and far too relient on free services for promoting our work. I suspect alongside the ease of use the allure of hits, likes and positive comments help fuel the ego and the whole thing becomes slightly addictive.
Although it's a pleasurable experience I've found that updating several social networks eats into my time and the subsequent follow up further adds to the time 'needed'. All this means less focus on projects that could be done quicker, or having actual free time for sitting around thinking or writing for this blog.

In the short term I'm going to carry on posting on Instagram, Facebook etc. However over time I would love this blog/website to be the only source for my images online. Weather that will become the case largely depends on feedback from customers and how the other sites intend on using the images I post on their services.

On to the last seven days work. Only a couple are watermarked this time and I'd be interested in hearing any feedback about the watermarks.

Cheers and Happy Christmas to those of you that celebrate it.

Something for the weekend 9

This week has seen me mostly getting ready for a well deserved break.
On the subject of holiday I wont be doing another post for a couple of weeks as I need time to recharge the batteries, but expect normal service to return mid November.

Whilst on instagram I did come across some videos that I think are a great representation of how a tattoo program can be made, when done with respect for the tradition.
http://gypsygentleman.com/#/episode5


I tried to share the videos here (but failed) I strongly urge everyone to give them a shot as they show great tattoosit's doing what they do best, without all the bloody drama, etc etc.

I also managed to get some drawing and tattooing done this last week. I did this chest plate in one sitting (about three and a half hours tattooing)

I also moved this along, one more session will see this finished.

Something for the weekend 8

Sometimes I really find it hard to believe how quickly the weeks pass by, and this one felt especially quick!
Keeping on top of work and other projects has left me struggling slightly to find anything to share this week. With that in mind I'm posting some pictures from my instagram account, it's worth checking it out if you have never given it a look. I find it a pretty nice way of searching for inspiration.

I was also 'digging' around in my photos and found a few more pictures from Japan, hope you like them.

Something for the weekend 7

First of this week, I am going to share my schedule for the first half of next year:

Milano Tattoo Convention
8, 9, 10 of February

Brighton Tattoo Convention
16, 17 of February

In the second half of June I will be guesting at a shop in Germany (details will come nearer the time)

I of course will be in the shop working hard and continuing to work on new projects.
This week has seen me progress with the skateboard and start a new sleeve of Shishi.

I'm also trying to do quick drawings before tattooing most are around the 10/15 minute mark. They are an excellent way to sharpen my mind before I begin work and they give me the chance to try ideas without any pressure. The paper is approximately 8cm square (the snakes are wider) and I use a good old Biro, no pencil underneath just straight in with pen.

Something for the weekend 6

This week has seen me start a few new drawing projects (because I'm a glutton for punishment)
alongside the aceos, I have the Fudo Myo print on the go, I've started thinking about a couple of book ideas. Finally the skateboard that has sat in my work space for ages, possibly 4/5 years has received promotion and is now in the process of getting some attention.

This week also saw one sleeve finished

and another one move closer to completion.

Something for the weekend 5

I've had this week off of work and like most times my body decided that I was due a head cold, which combined with the bad weather we've had in Brighton, means I got some drawing done.

I have a tricky cover-up to do next month and it was the perfect time to try and get my head around some ideas for it. The client has requested Shishi (Temple dog/Foo dogs) a male, female and a cub.
Below is sleeve I've done before but due to the cover-up and the client request, I wont be able to use as much colour in the new work.

The plan is to have the male at the top of the arm (his mouth is open) and the female and cub on the forearm.
These are rough sketch's that I will either stencil on and refine as I tattoo, or use as a reference and draw them straight on to the skin.

Finally with the rest of my time off I decided to do a smallish (A3) coloured image. I haven't drawn any snakes for a while so I went with that and peony. The initial sketch was drawn out with a 3h pencil and gone over with a fine line pen. It was then traced on to Bristol paper and coloured using copic markers.

The first doodle, the red pen is used to make additions and corrections.

Part way through colouring

The finished article, if I receive enough interest I may do prints of this.

Dragon sleeve with Flames

This is just over half way through, this arm will is flames and the left arm will be a dragon in water.

We kept the scorpion (a tattoo I did many years ago) because A: it would have made the new work very heavy and B: it was easy to re-work the old tattoo and 'freshen it up'. The plan is to colour the scorpion so it blends in better with the new design.