Just TeeJay's Blog

Too Much Thinking, not enough Making Stuff

•March 11, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Have a few projects in the works and am doing much better at staying diligent on working on almost all of them (the basement project is just going to have to wait). I have figure drawing session tonight and am looking forward to it since I missed it last week.

So barring any disasters there will be figure drawing photos tomorrow – but in the meantime here are a few tattoos for your enjoyment.

Tuesday,Wednesday and Friday were spent making medical tattoos which I won’t post here.

Natasha added on to her birds – brought them some new friends and some more decor to their home on her arm.

Frank came in for a second session on his Pandora piece. I’m really excited about this one and hoping to start adding some color next session.

I think this was probably the last session on John’s left arm and his family tree. We are going to add a bit more to his right arm now though, so that will give me an opportunity to either get healed photos and/or determine if it needs anything else.

I put the poem back together in photoshop so that you could read it better. Unfortunately it still looks “off” in a few places, but you get the gist.

and lastly a rework that I made for Rick when I was in Detroit. I have not posted the rest of the tattoos that I made while I was there, but I wanted to make sure to post this one because Rick and his wife Kelly are such great people. Thanks for the shirt Rick!

Posted in tattoo, TeeJay, White Tiger Tattoo
Tags: chinese birds tattoo, family tree tattoo, Panodora tattoo, two roads diverged poem tattoo, whale tattoo

The Empire, Mara and an Owl

•March 3, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Unfortunately I won’t be able to go to figure drawing class tomorrow – so to make it up to you all (because I know you just have to be at least as disappointed as I am), here are some tattoos a day earlier than normal.

(Someone REALLY needs to come up with a sarcasm font so you can “read” when I’m kidding)

Marshall was able to fill a cancel day that I had with a request for the Imperial Shuttle. He told me I could do whatever I wanted for back ground. He sits great (and has always for the many many years that we have been working together).

and while he was in the shop I was able to get some photos of his arm healed:

Eric and I had a session on his left sleeve – moving along and should be finished with the arm portion pretty soon (then onto the torso!)

Bill has plans for this tattoo to run from his side onto his arm. He decided to do the more difficult section first and sat amazingly well for this first session! Hope that he has forgiven me by the time we get together again next.

This week is going to be lots of medical stuff again so I don’t expect to be back here soon with pretty pictures for you again for a little while. Until then, enjoy life and try to be a blessing in one another’s lives.

Posted in tattoo, TeeJay
Tags: 13th hour, clock tattoo, death star tattoo, dorje tattoo, imperial shuttle tattoo, kapala tattoo, koi and skulls tattoo, Mara tattoo, owl tattoo, Rochester NY, silverback ink, star wars tattoo, White Tiger Tattoo

Some travel photos, a healed Crow and Figure Drawing Stuff

•February 26, 2013 • Leave a Comment

As I’m sure that you figured out from my last post I did indeed make it to Detroit. It was a great trip and I am glad that I went.

On the way to Detroit I got hung up at the Border for quite a while trying to get into Canada. Something must have been going on because they had every lane open and I was still in line for an over hour before I could get up to the inspection station. I don’t know if I have ever seen things that backed up.

Rick had me re work a piece on his chest and I was able to get some healed photos of the crow tattoo that I made for him the last time he was in Rochester. I really love this tattoo and he did a great job healing it up. Maybe next time we get together we can add some background to it.

The drive back to Rochester was uneventful (and both Border crossings were much easier). Went through an area that must have had some ice the night before. It was still clinging to the trees on one side and was really beautiful. Hard to capture in photos ~~while driving~~.

Fortunately (for me) I was back in Rochester in time to make it to Figure Drawing. As a result of a conversation with one of my friends in Detroit I am going to push myself harder in figure drawing and try to work directly in paint. Here are the results from my first night…

This last one was done in just under 20 minutes – I hadn’t realized how little time was left when I set up the second canvas.

I am looking forward to progressing with these and learning to lay down the paint more confidently.

Lastly here is a photo of a cat because I need to not have the nude paintings show up on as the thumbnail places where it will get me reported and/or suspended. (and because I am a crazy cat lady)

Hope your day is filled with blessings and love.

Posted in Art, Oil painting, painting, Sketchbook, tattoo, TeeJay, Travel
Tags: cat, crow tattoo, figure, figure drawing, figure painting, ice trees, oil painting, painting, Steve Carpenter Studio

an iPod view of Detroit

•February 25, 2013 • Leave a Comment

I’m not feeling very verbose at the moment. So here are some photos from my weekend in Detroit. You can either guess, make up your own stories or ask me about them if you like.

I did have a great time – saw some friends I hadn’t seen in a while – met some new ones – made some art and some tattoos – and generally enjoyed the heck out of life.

Posted in Art, tattoo, Travel
Tags: Detroit, Motor City Tattoo Expo

Figure Drawing February 18th, 2013

•February 19, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Been in a contemplative mood the last few days. Much running around in the head. Some of it thinks that it would like to be a blog post, but hasn’t quite solidified yet. In the meantime, here is some photos of my sketches from figure drawing class last night.

And some snap shots of some of the other participants work:

Posted in Art, drawing, Sketchbook, TeeJay
Tags: figure, figure drawing, gesture drawing, male, Rochester NY, Steve Carpenter Studio

Couple of Tattoos and some photos of the Cold

•February 17, 2013 • 1 Comment

It’s cold here. It’s cold here every winter. It doesn’t stop us. We still go to work every day. In my case I make tattoos… and on the days off we go and play in the cold. It really is beautiful.

Thank you to my clients who come to see me no matter the weather and thank you to my husband who plays in the snow with me.

swans101_2770

and back at the house the kitties were warm and comfy….

Posted in rochester, ny, tattoo, TeeJay
Tags: cardinal tattoo, cat tattoo, cold, cthulhu, cthulhu tattoo, NY, rochester, snow, winter

Any Detroit Lurkers Out There?

•February 13, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Today has been a reality check for a number of reasons. We all need these in our lives – questioning life and where things are heading is always a good thing. It leads to growth and making sure we are on the right path.

That being said, as of today…. my trip to Detroit next weekend is suddenly looking like a really bad idea. All but one of my scheduled appointments has now cancelled and there are some things going on here at home that may need my attention.

My blog stats show that a number of people have landed here on my blog over the last couple of weeks searching for me and the Detroit Convention in combination. So someone or several someones are looking for me to be there.

If you are one of those people and you were considering coming to see me at the Detroit show, please contact me. Unless I can confirm at least a couple of appointments, I may need to bail on this show. I don’t want to do that for a whole bunch of reasons.

I’m big on “everything happens for a reason” and right now I am trying to sort out what the reason is behind all these sudden developments – so any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks so much,

TeeJay

Posted in tattoo, TeeJay, Travel
Tags: Detroit, Motor City, Motor City Tattoo Expo, tattoo, Tattoo Expo, teejay

For no reason at all…. Rochester Crows

•February 12, 2013 • 1 Comment

A while back the City had an all out effort to try and get rid of the crows or at least break up the flock. I understand that they have their reasons and appreciate why they can be a nuisance – but for me personally, I like having them around.

Maybe we could start a trend where the people in the most affected areas start carrying “Crow Umbrellas”. I mean, the Victorians did it to block the sun and it became a fashion thing – maybe we could make Goth and Hipster umbrellas to protect people from Crow poop? Fashionable and Practical all at the same time.

I would carry a nice lacy black umbrella with very little provocation at all. Or maybe teal? Oh wait – A Bunny Ear Umbrella! Yes… anyhow. Here are some shots of some of the Rochester Crows for no reason at all (other than I like when I see them).

Posted in rochester, ny
Tags: crows, NY, ROC, roc city, rochester

Figure Drawing Class February 11th, 2013

•February 12, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Was able to attend figure drawing sessions again last night. I really do look forward to these – even on the days that I am not drawing well I enjoy being there working on it. Also it is a great and supportive environment.
You wouldn’t think that someone who gets paid to make art for a living would need other feedback – but I do. I don’t know if all artists are that way… but constructive criticism and the occasional compliment go a long way to getting me through my weeks.

Whatever the reasons, I love going and think that I have grown as an artist for it. I miss it on the weeks that I am unable to attend. I should be able to go again next week and the week following I will be in Detroit – but that should be enough of a distraction to not be too upset about it. Maybe I can talk some of the other tattooers in Detroit into posing for me (that could be fun!).

Anyhow. Enough commentary – here is what I made this week.

And some various shots of what the other folks where working on at various points during the evening:

Posted in Art, drawing, rochester, ny, Sketchbook
Tags: figure, figure drawing, local artists, NY, ROC, rochester, Steve Carpenter Studio

Think this might be my first NSFW Post

•February 9, 2013 • 2 Comments

I did get some time this week to work on a couple of paintings. Not much, but at least I got everything out and worked for a little while. It is frigid cold in my studio. I have a heater in there and once I have had it on for a while it is nice, but I have to tell you – it is NOT inviting before that this time of the year. Sunday and Monday are mostly tied up with other commitments this week, so I don’t think I will have time to paint again for a bit.

This cat painting has been floating around for a long time. I wasn’t happy with it and didn’t know why so I hadn’t picked it back up again. I finally decided that if I disliked it that much I had to do SOMETHING with it… so I think this is better, but still has more to go…

Wednesday I made a portrait for Beckie of her Dad. Did not manage to get a good photo – hoping to hunt her down (I owe her a Starbucks visit) and get some better photos once it is healed. And yes Gretchen, I know I am still whining about my photography skills and haven’t actually done anything about it.
I’ll get there eventually (maybe) (maybe someday) (yeah, probably not)…

Holly came to visit me as part of her Birthday Week celebration (yeah!!! I win!!!). We had much fun. I played hookey from the shop for most of the day. There was butterfly poo, pinball, mysteries, harps, climbing, cheesecake, grins and giggles and at the end of the day there was this:

I had dubbed it the cockled koi-a-lope, but Joey came up with MerCockalope the next day which I actually like better.

Friday we had the “Big Storm” and my client was unable to come in. Miss you Dina – big hugs and we will get together again soon.

Today John came in for another sit on his Family Tree. Looks like we should be able to finish this one up in one more session. On this one the photos aren’t that bad – but I didn’t do a very good job of getting all the excess ink off of his arm before I took the photos. You get the idea anyhow.

Posted in Art, Oil painting, painting, tattoo, TeeJay, White Tiger Tattoo
Tags: Dad, dead bird, family tree tattoo, mercockalope, portrait tattoo, silverback ink, sphinx cat