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NAILED!

Thought I would just stick to some line work for tonight practice session, I also thought I would try nailing the swine to some wood to stop it contracting/drying out while I worked. I started with the Koi and then ventured to doodling. Not all my work, I gave Jonny a go and even Lorna had a try.

Tough as old boots!

A worthwhile Sunday of inking, about midday I started this piece with the intention of going a few hours then leaving it and go back to it throughout the day, the only problem was as the day went on the skin started to dry out and toughen up, to the point that the needles could barely pierce it. you can see the difference in the two swallows, the right one was coloured a few hours before the left one and by the time I got to the scroll it was almost impossible. Over all a good attempt, first real attempt at blending colours and mixing inks, pretty chuffed with the result, I'll know next time to wrap it up and fridge it between sessions.

First actual tattoo!

This I suppose I can say is my first actual tattoo, first time I've used a carbon transfer and with the exception of the spider its the first time I've took a full design from the beginning to the end. Pretty please with the overall result, was quite nervous when I started but soon got in the flow, some shaky parts here and there that I had to go back and touch up once it was complete.

Adding some colour.

After setting everything up I unwrapped the pig skin and realised it was off, it didn't smell too good. but I had no other skin defrosted and was already to go.  So I cracked on and started to colour the design. Overall I was pretty pleased with it, especially the colouring around the eye, as you can see in the middle picture I experimented with some striping of 2 colours. However It didn't end well, the stench was starting to turn my stomach, and Billy had arrived and was willing to let me practice on him (see next post), so I called it a day with the swine, quickly took some photos and promptly binned the skin.

Supplies have arrived!

Supplies have arrived from Powerline Tattoo supplies should be able to step up a gear with some proper prep and cleaning stuff.

1st attempt on pigskin!

This proved to be the biggest learning curve yet. Friday night, I opened my first pig skin and rolled it onto a chopping board.  At first I thought I was biting off more than I could chew, but what the hell its not human and its all good practice, I freehand drew the design on first, then I did the outline followed by the black fill areas, I left the skin on the chopping board wrapped in cling film to colour it in my next session. over all pretty pleased with the results, some shaky areas but good for a first attempt and anything of reasonable size.

Unfortunately a pig was harmed in the making of this post!

Received the pig skin today all nicely vacuum packed to freeze so I can defrost as I need them!

Potential?

A simple Line Design Ken has been admiring, I don't think this is beyond me, will hopefully be one of my early full pieces........after I practice it on pig skin. I'll keep you posted!

Rose

The rose design I plan to try on my first pig skin!

Second attempt

My friend, Mr Morrisman has had his sleeve done for some time now, and has been meaning to get some tidying up done for some time now, so he kindly, in the name of practice, let me fill in some of the faint areas where it had originally scabbed.

Like my last guinea pig, ken has a fair amount of ink, the perfect practice subject as they know how it should feel, they can tell me there and then if I'm not deep enough, for fear of going too deep I have a habit of tickling the surface.

Hitting the skin.

I said I was going to wait until I attacked someoen's skin, but luckily I have some pretty brave/stupid* mates so I  made my first offical tattoo today:

*Delete as appropriate

The Ultimate practice pad!

The next step.... To practice on some real flesh, pig skin, after a 2 minute discussion with a family friend, who happens to be a butcher, I should have my practice skin by the end of the week, and an unlimited supply there after..... watch this space.

Getting fruity

Not many non-tattoo people know this, but a common and cheap practice canvas for tattooing is a grapefruit or an orange. The skin has a similar feel and texture to human skin. After a quick trip to the supermarket, here's my first attempt:

Here goes.............

First attempt on practice pad! The subject represents how effective I thought the rubber practice skin was. need to find something that retains the ink better.

And so it begins.....

I'm a big boy now. I turned 30. As a gift, one of my best mates bought me a tattoo gun.

I'm a graphic designer to trade and have been an enthusiastic and talented free-hand drawer my entire life. Since I got my first tattoo almost 10 years ago I've wanted to see if I could cut it as a tattoo artist.

As (I hope) most people know, you can't just buy a tattoo gun and start drawing on your mates, there is a significant learning process before you can translate drawing skill to tattooing skill. That's what this blog is about. I hope to keep an online diary of my progress and ups and downs on the way to hopefully starting to create some skin art.