Perfect Sunday
•March 13, 2012 • Leave a CommentI spent last Sunday at Godfrey’s Pond with a couple of my friends from High School (okay, Junior High School really) and yes, they actually still like me : )
That’s what friends are all about. People who know you, warts and all, and love you anyhow.
I’ll limit the commentary and let you just enjoy the photos:
Still Here
•March 10, 2012 • Leave a CommentGot some wonderful surprises in the mail recently. Some of them I don’t have photos of yet, but this cute little guy came snugly wrapped in bubble wrap the other day: 
Still here. Still making stuff. Here is some of that stuff from this week:
This one is still in progress. 
Was able to take some decent healed photos of Starr’s dead bird. 
The Lovely Lady Justice (nice tattoo, horrible photography) 
Worked on this painting for about a half and hour the other morning. I might eventually get it to a place where I like it. Right now I am not at all happy with the character. 
Worked on Sarah’s woodland nymph a little bit more 
Today I am working on some odds and ends around the shop since my appointment cancelled last minute. Was able to put the sign panels in. WooHoo!!! This project has been far too long in the making, but they did come out beautifully. 
Going to go make some more stuff. Catch you soon.
Back From the Carolinas
•March 6, 2012 • Leave a CommentI decided not to bore you with all of the trip photos. Some family pictures and way too many pictures of their cats.
So here is a mini Progression of a design.
Here is the image that Walter brought me to have done for his 18th birthday. A friend of his drew it and I forgot to get his name. If I find out what it is I will give him credit here. 
Made some modifications to make it easier to tattoo and to fit the calf a bit better. Here is the cat once again helping me with my drawing. 
The drawing finished. 
On Walter’s leg. 
Worked on Jim’s back a bit more. It seems like it might be finished… but after so long of putting a little bit more here and there it doesn’t seem possible. He has talked about working on the arms next – but I just can’t shake the feeling that there will be more to come on this as well. 
Finished reworking the piece on Brad’s leg that was damaged by severe burns. Last session’s photos are here 
This one is also a second session. Still pretty worried about this little green guy and rather he is going to try to head in there or not. Stay strong little green guy. Those girls aren’t very nice. 
Of course I once again apologize for the horrible photography. The little green guy was based on artwork off of a Savoy Brown album. I do not know the artists name.
Over the weekend I had some time to paint but wasn’t feeling very inspired. I decided that instead of working on something new I would work on some stalled paintings and bring them to a point where I might be willing to work on them again. It worked. Both of these are “better” but not at all finished. 
A sneak peak of an upcoming tattoo for this week. Client hasn’t even seen this yet. Pretty excited. Will be black and grey. She’s going to be awesome! 
Monday I was able to return to figure drawing class. I know I only missed two weeks but it seemed like forever (okay, not forever, but too long anyhow). I’m still experimenting with drawing media and so these are done in a variety of pencil, charcoal and sepia. 
Today I worked at the doctor’s office. They have asked me to hand in attendance sheets. Just a note to remind them what days I was there. Decided to decorate them from now on. This is the one from today done in between patients. 
On the way back to the shop a car went by who’s bumper said “I park like a douche bag.” Somehow I don’t think he knows that sticker is on his car (you can’t read it in the photo… don’t tell anyone I was driving and taking photos!) 
Besides the Justice piece there are several fun projects coming around so hopefully there will be more photos coming soon.
Till then have a great week or so : )
Not the Naughty Photos
•February 25, 2012 • 1 CommentI’ve done a lot of medical work lately and am not going to be sharing those photos with you. So here are some of the recent tattoos that I can share. (obviously some of these are still in progress)
Sock monkey has joined the crew at the Greece shop. Thinking that I might need to give him a tattoo if he is going to stick around as a shop mascot. Hmm. Might even be able to embroider sleeves on him. Nah, scratch that. I would get bored way before that was finished! (Would look amazing though!)
That’s all I got for you today. Hopefully some fun photos next week of my travels.
More Chops (Stamps and Marks on Currency)
•February 21, 2012 • 10 CommentsA couple of years ago I had started actively collecting and asking people about the funny little stamps that I was finding on currency. I still find very few people who have ever noticed them.
The original post and many subsequent marks was posted here: Stamps and Marks on Money
I have found a few other people talking about them online: Stamps on Paper Money , A Study in Modern Chop Marks , Chop Marks on Hundreds
I still can’t say with any kind of authority who is stamping these bills or why – but I still find them interesting, so here are some for your possible amusement:
Not a chop, but stamped on currency 
_______
Couple more from the same $100 bill found in March 2012
Still in March 2012
April of 2012 and one client brought me three marked bills.
Two with the same mark:
and one Hundred that looks like it has been places:
I haven’t updated this in a while. I know I have a file of them on my computer – but today I received one via email from Florida (April 2016)
The Heart as a Symbol
•February 14, 2012 • Leave a CommentThe heart as a symbol isn’t really thought about too much. It represents love. It represents the heart center of the body. But why? The symbol that we use to represent a heart doesn’t actually LOOK like a heart… so why do we use it.
I will attempt to explain.
First there is one. The solitary.
Then the solitary meets another. Boy meets Girl. Girl meets Boys. There are lots of stories.
There is an attraction and the two are drawn to one another.
Their lives come together.
Their lives become intwined. Interestingly at this point the symbol resembles the linked wedding bands that are often used as a depiction or symbol of marriage.
The two now joined as one come together in their thinking and their lives and move into the future.
In some things becoming one in thought and action.
Fill that in and you get your basic heart shape.
Make it more defined and prettier and you have the common heart.
Color of blood and life.
Tada.
Happy Valentine’s Day everybody!!!
Tattoos, Church and Figure Drawing
•February 14, 2012 • 4 CommentsCouple of tattoos that I worked on this week:
The rumor mill is really having a fun time with me cutting back on the tattoo projects that I am taking on. For the record, I have not been fired, quit tattooing or suffered any kind of major illness/injury. But if you want to tell people that those things are true, feel free. It will make it easier to get an appointment for the people “in the know”.
On Sunday a group of us had planned to go on a tour of St Michaels church. Unfortunately the tour was cancelled due to the weather. I am hoping that we can go back and try again next month.
Monday I was able to make it to figure drawing class. Our class is now temporarily being facilitated by Kevin Freary – a very talented local artist and a super nice guy. If you aren’t familiar with his work you can check some of it out here.
Our model this week was brand new again. It actually is really great having the new models as Steve is posing them and I am learning a ton about lighting and positioning by watching how he moves and instructs the models. Unfortunately the last pose that Steve positioned our model into was too strenuous to hold for very long. So these two sketches show where this poor guy started out and approximately where he ended up. He was a GREAT sport about it and didn’t complain at all. I wouldn’t be able to do it. So grateful that these folks are willing to come out and do this for us. 
Saturday, Sunday and Monday (or Too Many Pictures)
•February 7, 2012 • Leave a CommentSaturday I started reconstructing a tattoo for a client who was injured in a fire. We made the tattoo originally many years ago and on Saturday we started to put it back together. We will need one more sitting to finish it entirely.
Sunday was Super Bowl Sunday. It is one of my favorite days to be out and about because there are so many less people. I started out on a walk around the neighborhood and eventually wound up at the zoo. Here is where the too many pictures part comes in.
Fat Tree 
For Holly: 
I think that I took a photo that looked just like this last time we went to the zoo. 
A very sad looking bird. 
This little guy kept chattering away until I took his photo – then he sat perfectly still and posed for me. 
Gnome Sweet Home 
I’m thinking these stones were glued or somehow affixed to the tree roots.I didn’t pull on them – but they looked attached. 
And of course then on Monday we have the figure drawing stuff. This week we had a model who had never posed before so there was much confusion. One of the other students let me borrow a Derwent charcoal pencil for one of the poses and I liked it. I’ll have to see if I can find them. (Gretchen if you are out there today – you might like them also. Much better control and if you sharpen it to a chisel point you can get some neat effects)
and of course one of the cats had to help me photograph – which has no bearing on so many of these photos being out of focus. That was all me.
Steve Carpenter is having a big studio drawing/painting day on Saturday the 25th. I thought it would be on their website – but doesn’t appear to be. If you are interested you could always call them. It’s a potluck thing with people working in all sorts of media – I think they will have two different models and it sounds like a lot of fun (if you don’t work on Saturdays).
It does look like they will have the painting class on Mondays again next semester though, so I will definitely be signing up for that again. I had a lot of fun and learned a ton!
—– update —–
Steve Carpenter Studio sent me a flyer via email :
The End of an Era
•February 4, 2012 • 3 CommentsWhen I was looking for something different to post on my blog besides photos of tattoos and documenting my figure drawing class – this was not what I had in mind.
Of course we don’t always know what the Universe has in mind for us.
I’m not going to explain fully the whys of this decision. My family and those close to me understand and will be here to support me.
I am not booking any more appointments with anyone that I do not have an ongoing relationship with. I will be finishing up projects and will have a very select group of people that I will continue to make tattoos for. I will also continue with my medical work.
Try to think of this as my going into retirement and only making tattoos as a hobby for friends.
If you want to get tattooed at White Tiger – there is an AMAZING array of super talented artists who can take good care of you.
I have tried repeatedly the limit the number of clients that I take on. I have tried to limit the scope and size of projects that I take on. The unfortunate reality is that some people will then not make that cut. By and large most people have been really understanding. Some people have not.
That minority are making my life difficult.
I understand that everyone will react differently to disappointment.
I choose to no longer deal with those people who wish to coerce me into to making their tattoo for them and/or attempt to heap guilt or hostility on me for turning them away.
This decision will affect people. There are people on either side of this cut off who will not be happy with this decision. Including me. There are going to be great projects that I won’t be able to work on and wonderful people who I will not be given the opportunity to work with.
I wish that I could have sorted out some other way to handle this.
White Tiger has an amazing roster of talented artists in two separate locations. We have the best of the best here to pick from.
Look through the portfolios.
Meet with them in person when possible.
Go forth and get tattooed.
If you really need a TeeJay original – you can still buy one of my paintings.
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