Octo heaven

Its been a couple of days of OCtopus tattooing. I say this because, thats pretty much what it was. The day that Greg, and Adrian were out back painting the wall at Hope. I was tattooing a very nice young Lady from Canada.
Shantelle came if for the Paradise tattoo Gathering, and ran into me there Friday evening, after my Seminar. I started a rather large thigh piece on her last June, and explained that I had a few hours free if she were interested in driving the 2,1/2 hours back down to Hope. She figured it beat the Hell outta a 8 Hour drive from Canada, so...

Funny how some things just work out.
p.s. Why IM titling this blog "Octo Heaven is because the following day I finished tattooing a fellers chest panel with my Octo Head piece. Actually its only loosely based on the painting. But i didn't photograph it just yet. Waiting on healed shots in a few weeks. So keep an eye peeled.

Sunday, was a good day

Well, we returned from the Paradise late Saturday evening (Sunday morning) to a chilly home. But with a very special guest in tow. Greg Simkins came back to CT from the show, after his work shop at Paradise. He agreed to do a bit of painting on Hope Galleries back yard wall. All I can say is that I was pretty blown away.



Than to add even more excitement to our day. Adrian Domenic from AZ/CA showed up for his week long guest spot, and jumped right in!

All in all it was one Hell of a day for all of us at Hope. Thanks so much fellers.

Lining, Cheatin, Stealin. This Friday At Paradise

Hey All so IM gonna do our Lining, Cheatin, Stealin. Seminar Solo this Friday At the Paradise Tattoo Gathering.

As with when I do this seminar with Jime, I'll be touching on my drawing techniques, and how I cheat, and have tried to create a somewhat original, and recognizable drawing, and tattooing style.


I'll also be touching on Tattooing techniques, and what I see to be the differences between Rotary, and Coil machines. Seminar will run between 2-3 hours, cost $150. and one can get tickets at door. Look for me in the Main room at Paradise, Friday afternoon. Course includes booklets, a DVD, and a lot of knowledge. So bring your thinking caps, sketch books, and portfolios. Questions, and audience interaction is a must. So be prepared.
See ya in Paradise!

IM back Baby

Well, hello there! Yup IM back at Hope, and have already put in my first full day. But firstly, I'd like to say thanks for all your patience. And when I say your. I mean all the clients who were forced to wait several months for appointments that we were forced to reschedule due to my Hollywood excursion.
Well, I'll start by posting a lil piece I did on one Latisha Wood.
A super talented artist, and cool gal.

She was looking for an LA gal, and what she got was a Capo Gal, as an LA gal. Sorry Latisha.
But now that IM back my very first tattoo was finishing off this Statue of Liberty piece I stated just before leaving for the west coast. And also one of the first clients that had to be double rescheduled.


the Fact that we finished this on 9/11 is a total coincidence. Sorry for the delay man. Thanks for being so Patient.
And lastly, while out in CA. I stopped by and visited mr Franco Vescovi, of Bishop Rotary. Got me a whole bunch for sale. So if yer interested, drop me a line.

Well thats all for now, Short and sweet today. More in the coming days.

Friends Like these, huh...

Well, IM still out here in LA,La land, And LOVING IT, NOT! Im bored, IM tired, and I wanna go back to tattooing on a daily Basis. But I digress...
Firstly like some may know, I was supposed to be in Austria, and Germany Last, and this week. Of course this trip trumped that one, so here I sit, it my North Hollywood hotel room, bored outta my skull, waiting on yet another late start to a day of what I hope will be low drama, and just good ole fashioned tattooing, and shit talkin (Wishful thinking).

The Above photo was sent to me by friends (I use the term Loosely) while attending the Austrian show, that I sadly missed. the following sketch was doodled by friend Jime Litwalk, in retaliation to my trip out west. Nice guy huh...

Now while I am a bit upset about spending time with friends abroad, I have whole heartedly embraced this part. And I've been trying to deal with my day to day life out here as best I can. I've been drawing, and trying to line up work (difficult as my time on set seems to change from time to time, and lining a shop, and client up last minute, is not all that easy). But I've been spending a bit of time drawing, when I can, heres a few.



I wanna thank Shawn Warcot, Johnny Arias For giving me a place to work, and crash while down in Riverside. A lot of fun working down there, and good folks out there at Empire Tattoo.

IM gonna stop writing now before I write something truly hateful, or something that may get my ass in a whole lotta trouble. Just know i am still out here, Missing My Gal, our Dog, The crew at Hope, and especially my Clients back east. Please forgive me. You'll have plenty of time to give me shit should all this filming see the light of day, on the TV.

signed
Cracked in the Head
North Hollywood....

Hello Hollywood

Well, what can I say so far? Not a whole lot, according to my contract. I can say that the days are long, and I've been trying to keep myself busy, while not on set.

Its been unfortunate that i've really not been able to tattoo nearly as much as I had hoped. IM sort of grounded when I do have a day off set, and its been difficult to get down to Ontario, and SpeakEasy tattoo. But I've managed a couple of days so far.
I suppose its not so bad to actually have a few days off. But It drives me a bit crazy. I wanna tattoo some!
The days on set have been long, and a bit tiring. IM really not sure how the crew, and producers deal with it. Its crazy, but they've been incredibly professional, and cool.
Theres not a ton I can share as far as pictures, and such. But I will say they did a killer job, and IM syked to see what others think when they see it.

Know that IM dealing in my own way, and trying for the best on my end.

IM hoping my next post will be a bit more exciting.

Apologies, and stuff...

Well, Firstly I feel I need to start this particular post with an apology. Seems I was made an offer to come out to CA, and work on a new TV show that is being filmed this month. Now I know how a lot of tattooers are feeling bout TV shows today, but IM really thinking this is gonna be something special. And IM prepared to deal with all the fall out later when it aires (I hope).
But the apology is not for doing the show, but to all my clients at Home that have had to be rescheduled, and moved back a month.
I also need to say sorry to all the folks out in Europe, who had hopes of getting worked on the last 10 days of August. Seems that originally this show was supposed to start shooting Mid July, thru mid August. And like many things it was delayed. So I needed to cancel my time to Germany, and Austria. Terribly sorry to everyone out there, especially my friends that I was really looking forward to seeing.
But I feel most of all the biggest apology needs to be made to both Jime Litwalk, and Obie Hughes. Seems that the trip to Europe was my Idea, and I kinda talked them into it. Well now they'll be on a plane with out there 3rd Rat Pack member. And this really bothers me most.
Sorry guys.

But enough with that. Have I mentioned how freakin beautiful its been out here?!?! Truly. When I left CT it was hotter, and muggier than Hell on a bad day. Here its been wonderful.
IM also getting to do a bunch of tattooing, heres a couple of sketches I worked up for my first days work.

Really looking forward to doing more tattoos. So if yer interested, drop me a line.