Bad Idea

second sheet for the barber shop. watercolor, she don't play.

20-1-1

WELL IT BEING THE 2011 AND ALL I FIGURED WE SHOULD START THE NEW YEAROFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT WITH A FEW PICTURES OF WHATS BEEN GOIN ON AROUND THE SHOP LATELY.
HERE ARE A COUPLE LITTLE NEWBIES FROM NICK VARG-ASS.

NO NEW TAT PHOTOS FROM MIKI BUT HE DID MAKE THIS AWESOME CLOCK A WHILE BACK AND... YUP. PEEP IT.

OH YEAH, WE WENT UP TO THE BROOKDALE LODGE RIGHT BEFORE THE NEW YEAR TO SEE HIGH ON FIRE FOR THE MILLIONTH TIME. PERMA-RAD.

Finding Direction

Missy had a small Celtic trinity knot on her thigh that she wanted to expand upon. An incorporation of flowers for inner beauty, and an antique compass representing her always being able to find her way. The trinity knot became a 3-pointed gauge on the compass, and the rest flowed around. Here it is:



The first sketch, before design changes:


The revised sketch, with final color:

one of two paintings done for the Belmont barbershop on Main street. 11" by 14"

Process: Coleman Painting

Thought I post how I do one of those tribute sheets. 

I start with penciling out the outlines on a light table. I used to just use tracing paper and flip it over and then trace out the same drawing. Leaving a graphite residue, or transfer on the paper.
Only problem is I had a tendency to press too hard.

 
Same reason I don't use too hard a pencil, because it leaves grooves, and you know what happens when you change your mind in the inking part? You get grooves where you want your fades.
Looks bad. You end up just blacking out the grooves. From what I've found there is a lot of black in these paintings, but it's very important where it is.

Then I get my lining on. Start by dropping all pens. No sharpie in my humble opinion.

 

 I find Speedball to be a very good product for lining.

(Feel free to send me some free bottles anytime)

I learned to use a nib that doesn't waver too much.
Pointy tips = Calligraphy. I want the lines to be even. 

I screwed up when I erased it and got a smudge. I'll see if I can fix it with shading.

Use good brushes. It's a lot harder to paint with crappy brushes.
I use the Windsor & Newton Series 7.

So sometimes I do the black first, and other times I do it last.

Here I will do it first to show the process.

 

Sometimes at the end I go clean up the lines due to thick colors covering over,

but I usuallly leave them.

Now if I repeat every week, in ten years my stuff might be alright.

Maurice Richard

Maurice Richard, originally uploaded by Tattoo Union Vancouver.

Mes Glorieux.