underground

A Collaboration Piece by Connor and Rich

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 09:28:24 GMT

A Collaboration Piece by Connor and Rich.

The Cheetah.

Combining the two styles of realism and dotwork/geometric, this piece was done for our wonderful client Ellie Mason over 2 back-to-back day sessions.

The cheetah symbolises strength, confidence and power of speed and movement. Ellie, the wearer of the cheetah collaboration piece, is in fact a dancer.

The design captures the essence of speed, agility and a wild spirit with unwavering focus on one's goals.

The cheetah pattern symbolises flexibility, adaptability attracting attention - much the characteristics of a dancer, don't you think?

The cheetah is a wonderful animal, the fastest land mammal that can reach speeds of 80 - 130km/h, and makes an interesting concept for many styles of tattoos.

Ideas for different styles:

Full colour realism cheetah tattoo

Micro-realism cheetah tattoo

Neo-traditional cheetah tattoo

Illustration cheetah tattoo

Traditional cheetah tattoo

Charactur cheetah tattoo

Black and grey realism cheetah tattoo

Geometric elements to the above styles can be added to many designs.

Other unique characteristics of the cheetah include having an enlarged heart and lungs, designed to take in more oxygen to help them sprint to catch prey. This is one of the many ways the species has evolved to ensure survival.

A cheetah design could perhaps be a self discovery tattoo or maybe symbolise a protective meaning.

Other cheetah pattern tattoo ideas could include floral cheetah print, cheetah butterfly, cheetah heart, cheetah claw print, cheetah ribbon - the list is endless.

This particular piece designed by our artists Connor and Rich used ideas such as realism and blackwork, as well as geometric elements and pointillism. Connor added the twist of the green eyes of envy to bring the design to life.

We are looking for many more collaboration projects to bring different styles together to create a unique tattoo.

Halloween Blog

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 10:19:36 GMT

HALLOWEEN blog

Us and Halloween ��

Halloween is a time dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed. In popular culture, the day has become a celebration of horror, being associated with the macabre and supernatural, evolving from Celtic celebrations such as samhain.

Halloween celebrations as we know it today.........

From Halloween Flash, get what you get tattoos, to fancy dress and games - we go all out on Halloween in this industry! We dress up the entire studio for the spooky season ��

Some of our favourites over the last few years:

- Brave The Box

- Escape Vans

- Fancy Dress

Our studio is overrun by creativity and dark souls.

Halloween tattoos are more than just body art; they showcase your love for all things spooky and a year-round reminder of your Halloween spirit.

They have a deep meaning of self-expression and can be extremely personal, carrying an abundance of meanings for the wearer. Here's why people love to get Halloween-themed tattoos.

For the love of the Dark Side: Halloween tattoos frequently feature iconic spooky creatures such witches, skeletons, ghosts and ghoulish characters. These images tap into the supernatural and the mysteries of unknown content.

Design Ideas for Halloween Tattoos

Pumpkins: These classic Halloween symbols are a simple but fun choice for a spooky tattoo.

Witches: Witches are a popular choice for Halloween tattoos, often depicted riding broomsticks, casting spells, brewing potions or running a mock.

Black Cat: believed to bring good or bad luck, depending on your perspective. A black cat tattoo is both enchanting and can bring a touch of elegance.

Skulls and Skeletons: these can be an illustrative style and abit story like with the design elements.

Ghost figures: maybe a mushroom ghost or cheery ghosts? Well, these can be anything you like. Let the mind wander deep into the depths of creativity - dive into an endless ocean of possibilities and twisted thoughts ... or just leave that entirely to us ��

Horror Movie Icons: For the ultimate horror movie fan, tattoos of Halloween icons like Jason Voorhees can be a thrilling selection. A deeply rooted evil can emerge onto the skin with tattoos like these.

Cherry Pumpkin, Pumpkins

mashup style of a cherry and a pumpkin.

Broomsticks and witches ��‍♀️ I much prefer the use of the broom idea in flight rather than a cleaning prop.

Black cats Good or bad luck?

Mushroom ghost illustrative style

Mashup style of a mushroom and a ghost maybe a Goom!

Black and grey realistic horror tattoo of of Jason Voorhees.

The character has primarily been an antagonist in the films, whether by stalking and killing the other characters, or acting as a psychological threat to the protagonist, as in the case of Friday the 13th:

Jack Skellington The pumpkin king.

Film nightmare before Christmas by Tim Burton.

Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king of Halloween Town, is bored with doing the same thing every year for Halloween. One day he stumbles into Christmas Town, and is so taken with the idea of Christmas that he tries to get the resident bats, ghouls, and goblins of Halloween Town to help him put on Christmas instead of Halloween -- but alas, they can't get it quite right.

Ready for next Halloween?

What will we get upto this time?

Will you get a Halloween tattoo? are you brave enough?

Horror Realism/Movie Style Blog

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 09:18:01 GMT

Horro Realism/Movie Style Blog

October is slowly creeping up, and we have landed ourselves an award winning tattoo artist, specialising in horror realism style tattoos.

No time like the present to lay the bait for some terrifying horror style tattoos.

The introduction of Luke

We are looking for some gruesome characters! We are hoping to capture the imagination of clients, I mean, what could be better than being the wearer of a gruesome character from a film or book?

This is the stuff of nightmares. Who wants to bring them to life?

Take the bait, we will make it worth your while with a significant discount.

Now that I have your attention, attached is a tattoo by Luke of Alien.

First released in 1979, the science fiction horror film starring Sigourney Weaver depicts the struggles of the crew of a deep-space commercial spacecraft to survive an encounter with a terrifying Alien creature.

"In Space no one can hear you scream"

Or what about Frankenstein?

This is the tattoo Luke won his award for.

The book tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a Swiss student who creates an artificial man from pieces of corspes and brings him to life. Though it initially seeks affection, the monster inspires loathing in everyone who meets it.

We are hoping to inspire readers of this blog who are interested in horror style tattoos.

Here are some on our list:

Freddie

Pennywise

Saw

Captain spalding

Valak

Art the clown

Wednesday Addams

Little shop of horrors

Jason Voorhees

Please note black and grey style only by Luke.

Neo-traditional Chest Piece by Lauren DeLarge

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 09:24:19 GMT

Neo-traditional chest piece by Lauren Delarge

The Story Behind The Tattoo.

This client James came to Lauren after recommendation due to the specific style he had his heart set on. Neo-traditional styles blend the boldness of the lines with a vibrant unconventional pallete.

James is a DD Teacher, previously a product designer so the design concept of the tattoo was to represent this. Lauren deleved into finding out the background and the meaning behind the tattoo, finding out James's interests, likes and dislikes - all the time building a rapport ready to ensure a smooth design process. By finding out key information and ideas, Lauren can create a unique piece with her spin using her own imaginative creativity.

The Neo-traditional chest piece tattoo was done over 3 day sessions. The first session involved the linework, followed by the second session of darker shades and blackwork. The final session added the bold bright colours.

James and Lauren together created the piece to include the life of nature, tools and wood. Neo-traditional tattoos are always pushing the boundaries to capture imaginative creations on the skin, in many cases honouring the stories from the past to embrace the future.

Abstract Blog

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 13:54:47 GMT

ABSTRACT tattoo blog

The Meaning Behind Abstract

The meaning behind Abstract is described as existing in a thought or idea but doesn't have a substantial solid existence.

Associating or denoting art that doesn't try to represent external reality but instead seeks to accomplish its effect using shapes texture and colours.

The word abstract is from the Latin word meaning "pulled away" or "detached from physical reality."

Abstract art has a cemented its place in history but has relatively only over the recent years made its name in the tattoo industry. Abstract is an umbrella that relates to a vast variety of tattoos it can take realism and distort forms and shapes to create exquisite artwork. Get out of your comfort zone with Abstract and they are often described as futuristic, new, fresh unique ideas that can express emotions and feelings.

Abstract tattoos designs can take a desired shape or infact any image and use the background colours or patterns leaving blank spaces to compose the image - this works well with less complex designs so shapes can be conveyed clearly.

Portraits can also work exquisitely with Abstract - the concepts are used to highlight specific features within the design.

Abstract tattoos have inspired the wearer to express themselves and personalities through shapes and the intensity of colours

At the very core, Abstract tattoos are departed from traditional realism, instead of aiming to capture a lifelike image they depend on imaginative interpretation and this is how they become extraordinarily powerful.

Abstract designs can come in multiple styles, for example watercolour splashes can compliment geometrical patterns to create a masterpiece. Minimalistic lines with watercolour also can achieve fantastic results.

For clients considering an Abstract tattoo this involves trusting the artist to create an exceptional design and sometimes by allowing free rein to express creative ability, self expression and experimentation can unleash fascinating results. Abstract tattoos at first may seem superficial at a glance but often possess deep-rooted meaning.

When considering the best placement or position for Abstract tattoos on the body, I don't believe a specific placement is best but I do think the design should flow with the natural curves of the body like a puzzle piece fitting perfectly into place.

Here are some ideas for Abstract tattoos

Minimalistic Abstract - small simple outlines with geometrical features.

Floral Abstract - This style can be utilised with flowers or objects that can provide as a centre piece. The abstractness of the flower can vary from extreme abstract to reality.

Abstract arts - this particular style of abstract attempts to captivate an emotion more so than an idea from the expressionist movement. Abstract arts may not try to depict an object at the centre.

Abstract Geometry - designs that feature geometrical shapes.

Abstract nature - let the imagination run wild, maybe with a bird as the centre piece complimented with shapes and shadows. The lack of solid outline can achieve a more natural flow.

Illustrative Blog

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 12:44:18 GMT

Illustrative blog

What is an illustrative tattoo?

Let's begin by saying illustrative is one of the most versatile and multi-thematic tattoo styles out there.

Illustrative tattoos use cross hatching, finelines, etching, sketch-like design work and abstract expressionism. Stippling is most often used for the shading, embellished by the charisma and style of the artist themself.

Tattoos of this style borrow their forms and techniques from traditional realism (not to be confused with photo realism or realistic tattoos) and apply numerous techniques such as dotwork, linework, blackwork and more to be mentioned later. Often illustrative tattoos look like they come from a story book or art gallery instinctively recognisable.

Many artist were inspired by engraving and etching and can be categorised as blackwork or dark art and understandably so, in the past many artists have been influenced by these works. Alongside the fascination with darker themed artwork many illustrative artists share an interest in esoteric philosophies, alchemy, magic, demons and mythical creatures, and such their art is constructed with all of this in mind. Artists such as Cristian Casas were stimulated by the same concepts to support a few different styles, one of these is merging dark black work and neo traditional.

Japanese and Chinese arts have most certainly had a huge effect on illustrative work for a long time. This category alone houses multiple styles, irezumi is hugely influential within illustrative tattooing, these Japanese tattoos most often gather appreciation of art from ukiyo-e prints of the Edo period.

When looking at irezumi you can definitely see how neo traditional was influenced by it and was another take of illustrative tattooing, again inspired by ukiyo-e prints of irezumi but also art nouveau. Art nouveau was a concept of nature as well as curving lines and botanicals, which tends to offer finer linework than most Japanese tattoo styles. The wonderful uses of filigree, patterns and ornamentals are now replicated in the work of many illustrative tattooists.

Illustrative tattooing styles are vast, from Japanese manga to more western comics and graphic novels. Marvel and superheroes have been a consistent trend since the 80s, and more styles also. Toomami was an afternoon on cartoon network that exhibited Dragon ball z and outlaw star, which contributed to the outbreak of Japanese illustration in the west. This was also In appreciation of the materialisation of animation studios like studio ghibli. Anime, manga, comics and pixar are extremely popular nowadays and tattoo artists are often asked to replicate characters within tattooing. Disney tattoos are another favourite, illustrative designs can help represent and express what we love within these popular themes in an intricate and personal way. Due to the illustrative nature of many pop culture iconography, the illustrative style is perfect for anyone looking for a tattoo that represents the shows and comics that they know and love.

Here are some examples by our artists.

Neo Traditional Blog

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 12:56:08 GMT

Neo traditional blog

What are Neo traditional tattoos then?

Neo-traditional tattoos are a refreshing classic tattoo style with a stylish twist of the present day; through this style you see the evolution of beloved techniques like bold outlines and a colourful palette.

In the early 1900s, traditional or 'old school' tattoos were extremely popular: bold, simple, and to the point. But as the decades rolled on, artists and tattoo enthusiasts soon developed a thirst something more. They wanted the boldness of traditional tattoos... with a vibrant, more unconventional palette. And so, neo-traditional was born.

The dense aesthetic often pictures flowers, animals and women. More recently this style is often enthused with gems or crystals, lace and metalwork.

Neo-traditional tattoo refreshing classic tattoo styles with a stylish twist of the present day, the evolution of beloved techniques like bold outlines and a colourful palette.

This new style held on to the bold lines and solid colors that defined traditional tattooing, but went all out daring to push the boundaries. Artists began experimenting with more complex designs, detailed shading, and a wider color palette.

Neo traditional tattoos use a muted colour palette, you'll want to draw from American trad like red, gold, green and black then expand outward with more earthy tones, for example why not opt for a mustard rather than using a bright yellow or opt for a olive green rather than a lime green.

Types of neo traditional tattoos examples

Geometric - Geometric neo traditional tattoos might include sharp striking shapes, somewhat creating a mathematical tattoo.

Abstract - abstract neo traditional tattoo keep the bold line and the bight colours but with additional brush stroke techniques and water colour finishes.

THE IDEA

A theme is the key, Neo-traditional is known for its creativity and imaginative and fantastical themes if the design tells a story or features mythology, fantasy or personal symbolism it has neo traditional at its core.

Think outside the box maybe a fantasy world, mythical themes or creatures, unicorns deep in fantasy forests, shrooms, pixies or elf cretins, maybe even a dragon plunge into your own never-ending story.

Sci-fi and fantasy these could hold forts, castles or crypts or delve into the universe featuring planets or ufos and aliens.

Portraits neo traditional styles draws between realistic and cartoonish concepts.

Floral designs definitely a popular style with neo traditional, roses, chrysanthemums, lillies and many more, birds and nature are another popular choice and with the extensive vibrant colour ranges available to artists produces some spectacular results.

Neo traditional is definitely pushing the boundaries bringing exciting and imaginative creations to the skin honoring the past and embracing the future.

I've attached some images of some of our Neo Traditional tattoos all done by Lauren :

Blue Chrysanthemums

Bearded Dragon Portrait

Moth

Hamster Portrait.

Black and Grey Realism Tattoo Blog

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 08:49:52 GMT

Black and Grey Realism Blog

The aspect of black and grey realism tattoos lies in their incorporation of a line-up of grey ink shades, resulting in a design that radiates realism and complex detailing. Tattoo artists utilise a diverse craft, shading and linework to attain the desired requirement of life-like portrayal.

Shading is a vital craft employed in black and grey realism tattoos. A accomplished application of varying concentrations of grey ink creating an optical illusion of depth and balance. Tattoo artists use a shading needle composed of a cluster of needles that are binded together and this achieves wider softer lines, gradually building layers of shading for an end result producing an eye-catching three dimensional realistic effect.

Black and grey realism tattoos are extremely popular all over the world. One of the reasons they are still such a popular choice is that the black and grey tattoos can achieve such a life-like effect.

A high advantage of black and grey ink over colour ink in realism is the fact the level of detail that can be achieved with black and grey because the artist can create subtle variations in the shading to give the tattoo a more realistic look.

The texture of the skin and the shadows on lifeforms are easier to achieve than with colour ink, as colours may be limited and may not blend together as well. Another point to touch on is the use of negative space. This is a hugely important factor for black and grey realism tattoos. By leaving certain areas of the design blank the artist can create an extra sense of depth.

Popular choices for black and grey realism

Portraits, maybe animals, for example tigers or wolves are hugely popular and look extremely life-like. Religious symbols or figures are also extremely popular, including rosary beads or biblical scenes. Since black and grey realism is so versatile the limitations are endless.

Here are some black and grey realism tattoos by our artists. You can see the level of detail that has gone into these particular pieces of art. Realism takes time to achieve the highest level of life-like portrayal requested from most clients, and realism sleeves are built over multiple sessions.

Here are some images of Black and Grey Realism style tattoos.

Patchwork Blog

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 08:42:00 GMT

Patchwork Tattoo Blog

A patchwork tattoo is creative different style of body art that fuses various tattoo foundations, designs or subjects into a close knit fascinating composition.

Originally, these style of tattoos were inspired by patchwork quilts - where different garments were sewn together from patterns.

What are patchwork tattoos?

These tattoos are composed of multiple smallish to medium size tattoos closely fitted together; however these do not touch. They are perfect for people full of ideas and plenty of space to fill on their body.

Patchwork tattoos can be in various styles, and are on-trend with many celebrities such as some huge names like Miley Cyrus and Ariana Grande. Some popular choices include traditional patchwork sleeves or illustration patchwork sleeves.

Geometric and mandala patchwork combine geometrical shapes with complex mandala patterns to achieve a spectacular patchwork tattoo. The variation between structured lines and subtle circular motifs can result in a mesmerising design.

Nature patchwork tattoos

Creating a patchwork tattoo inspired by natural world blending fundamentals connecting the outdoors and the natural world like trees mountains oceans and animals.

Water colour and realism patchwork tattoos are a soft combination of the flowing look of water colour with realistic images to create a dreamy or life-like patchwork effect.

Floral patchwork tattoos; these can merge various floral elements such as lilies, roses and cherry blossoms into vibrant patchwork masterpieces.

iterary patchwork tattoos this one is aimed at lovers of words. For all you bookworms out there, these could feature quotes or images from your favourite books or authors.

Abstract prosperity

The imagination could run wild with abstract using the blends of various shapes and lines to produce a respected art treasure.

Here are some images of patchwork style tattoos created by our artist Lauren.

Pet Portrait Blog

Thu, 09 May 2024 15:23:22 GMT

Pet Portrait Blog

Covering styles:

- Neo traditional

- Black and Grey Realism

- Illustrative Linework

- Micro-Realism

- Colour Linear Cartoon Neo Traditional

- Watercolour

Unleashing eternal love: capturing your pets

spirit and personality - immortalising them with pet portrait tattoos.

As pet lovers ourselves we understand the connection you all share with your furry/scaly friends. Pets become part of our daily lives and routines, instantly making thier mark and establishing themselves as part of the family. Pet portraits are a marvellous way to honour your beloved companion.

Customisation and style for pet portraits have absolutely endless possibilities. For example, realistic pet memorial portraits are a photo-like image in full colour or black and grey to constantly see them as you once did. We can also merge styles - for example watercolour splashes around the portrait. Another style to capture the pet in an illustrative story portrait.

Neo traditional pet portraits to maybe liven up the vibe of the portrait with vibrant colours and bold linework - maybe this could be inspired by the pet's personality.

Micro-realism is another style of portrait done on a much smaller scale but also keeping as many details as possible.

Pet portraits are very personal to the wearer and many people are indeed wearing them. You may recognise some of the below famous people with pet portraits:

Miley cirus - tattoo of her late dog Floyd.

Pink - tattoo of her bulldog Elvis.

Final thoughts

Our artists will add expression and skills to produce a unique charm of your pet using your ideas from a collaboration.

We do a lot of pet stuff (pretty much any animal) - varying from full colour, black and grey and merging styles too. We are always up for making these things happen, they mean a great deal to us and we love making people happy with something so special ...whether it's a memorial piece or just immortalising your best non-human bud.

Neo traditional tattoo pet portrait to immortalise mustard the bearded dragon

Beautiful Neo traditional doggo pet portrait

Black and grey realism pet cat portrait

illustrative cat memorial pet portrait

micro-realism dog pet portrait

realism watercolour dog portrait

Colour linear cartoon neo traditional guinea pig portrait

black and grey realism dog portraits.

Please send us an enquiry if these are of any interest, any of these will be discounted, size and placement to be discussed.

Japanese Blog

Thu, 02 May 2024 16:14:20 GMT

Japanese Blog

Traditional Japanese tattoos are deeply rooted in Japanese culture and history. This is extremely important to recognise as they usually hold significant meaning for most people. The symbols and structure used in Japanese mythology, folklore and art follow themes such as protection, bravery and good fortune. Traditional Japanese tattoos tell a story and are normally large scale.

Origins of the Japanese tattoo.

Ainu tattoo

The first tattooed people in the archipelago were the women of the tribe: an aboriginal tribe of fishermen and warriors. Tattoo were used for social rank and for the women were also a sign of beauty.

Traditional Japanese tattoo

Chinese explorers described the rites of the Ainu tribe as barbaric when the first discovered the Ainu on the Japanese islands. Japanese prisoners up until 1870 were tattoo branded with red iron on the forehead and symbols on thier arms, this was considered a punishment. Also, during the edo era prostitutes tattooed thier bodies for creative purposes - these are possibly the reasons why negativity remains today.

Japan practiced an isolationist policy during the edo era called Sakoku. This policy did not permit any foreign entry into Japan, but during the Meiji period Japan opened its borders to build relations with westerners. The emperor then banned tattooing in 1872 so a tattooist had to the hide the nature of their profession.

After World War 2 during the American occupation, tattooing was legalised again but Japanese tattoo artist were associated with Yakuza gangsters. It is only recently since 6th October 2020 that Japan's supreme Court ruled tattoo artists do not need a medical licence to practice.

Popular Japanese tattoos

Japanese koi carp - meaning 'perseverance and luck'.

The koi fish legend in Japanese mythology. During the 3rd month of every year thousands of carp travel along the upper reaches of the yellow river, swimming against the current in order to get to the aquatic garden pond. They gather at the longmen waterfall. Myth states that if the koi, with the help of its fins, manages to get up the waterfall it turns into a Japanese dragon.

Japanese Dragon - meaning 'courage and protection'.

This popular tattoo comes from the edo period, the workers who were called tobis who worked on roofs of houses and climbed upon the roofs using their bare hands. The dragon is a sign of courage.

Samurai tattoos - meaning 'warrior'.

Samurai were the hereditary military nobility of medieval to early-modern Japan from the late 12th century until their abolition in the late 1870s during the Meiji era.

What does a samurai Symbolise?

It is also deeply rooted in the mind of Japanese society. The basis of samurai conduct is bushido, "the way of the warrior".

This distinctive philosophy holds in high regard honour, reckless bravery and selflessness, as well as commitment to the warrior's master with the purpose of giving up one's life and embracing death.

Japanese tiger tattoo - meaning 'longevity and strength'.

The tiger is considered to be the highest ranking of all land animals - representing strength, courage and long life. Tigers are also said to be able to ward off bad luck, disease and demons.

In many old prints you will see a tiger fighting demons (Oni) at the side of "Shoki" - the demon queller. Tigers are one of the four sacred animals, symbols of the North and represent the season of Autumn and control of the winds.

Japanese oni meaning - 'Japanese demons'

Like hannya, they symbolise revenge. Oni are also called yokai demon.

Japanese phoenix - meaning 'immortality and glory'

The phoenix reprents the symbol of good fortune and divine wisdom. The phoenix is said to appear only in times of peace and prosperity, bringing a message of hope and rebirth. In Japanese culture this also represents the goddess Amaterasu - a sun deity whose presence evokes the vital energy of the sun itself.

Sakura tattoo - the cherry blossom symbolising the ephemeral beauty of life.

The snake represents good health and power. In traditional Japanese tattoos, the snake holds a vast range of meanings and performs numerous important functions. Among its many attributes are protection from illness, disaster, and bad fortune.

Snake tattoos also represent wisdom and protection, particularly from the results of bad decisions. The snake can also embody regeneration, healing, and medicine as it was revered in Japanese culture in association with medicinal rites and remedies. As a symbol of good luck, it was also though to bring good health.

Here are some examples of Japanese tattoos with the koi carp, and demons - some of which are work still in progress from our artists Lauren and Connor.

Please send us an enquiry if these are of any interest, any of these will be discounted, size and placement to be discussed.

Portrait blog

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 08:15:23 GMT

What is a portrait tattoo?

A portrait tattoo is a representation of a person or character; these can be loved ones or pop culture icon/idol, movie stars or characters. A portrait tattoo can represent a hobby or interest, for example some people have portrait tattoos of their favourite musician or athlete.

When you are researching a tattoo artist, you need to be looking for a portrait artist with experience with photorealism. Always ask the studio to send you the artist portfolio or their social media profiles.

Realistic tattooing is the most demanding style and is the one that better tests the artist's skills.

Achieving exact copies of people, animals, or objects is one of the most complex challenges that any visual artist can aim for.

Expressions, dimensions, volumes, light and shadow, it's all in the line when dealing with this tattooing style.

Gaz is our portrait artist specialising in all portraits, he is particularly interested in colour realism, famous icons and marvel characters. Gaz has multiple awards for his portrait work and years of experience under his belt.

The images in this blog are all portraits done by Gaz the latest one being the famous icon Bob Marley done on the wonderful Dervina Henry

Bob is her inspiration, her idol, he is her therapist.

Dervinas dad is from Jamaica �� Childhood roots reggae is what started her deep passion and love for music. It brings people of all races and differences together as one. One love!

Bob Marley

Socials

https://www.facebook.com/dervina.henry

https://www.instagram.com/dervina_3rdi_divine

Jamaican reggae singer, guitarist and song writer - considered to be one of the originals of the genre. He mixed up the elements of reggae ska and rock in his music and was renowned for his unique vocals and song writing style. He was rastafarian icon and symbol of Jamaican music and culture. Also known for his controversial outspoken support for democratic social reforms and the legalisation of cannabis.

Most famous quote: Don't bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality.

Audrey Hepburn

American actress, the American film institute has her as the 3rd greatest female star of all times.

Amy Winehouse

Singer, songwriter

We have another Amy Winehouse portrait tattoo booked in May.

Marylin Monroe

American actress born Norma Jeane Mortenson. Most famous for her blonde bombshell characters. She was the most popular sex symbol of the 1950s and 1960s.

Salvador Dali

Surrealism Artist

Bill Murray

As Peter Venkman in the film Ghost busters 1984 directed by Ivan Reitman

Robert Deniro

As Travis Bickle in the film

Taxi Driver

The Jokers

Jack Nicholson

1989 film Batman directed by Tim Burton.

Infamous quote:

Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?

Joaquin Phoenix

The Joker 2019

B.I.G

The notorious B.I.G better known as Biggie Smalls or just Biggie, American rapper rooted in East Coast hip hop and gangster rap. He is widely considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, he was murdered in 1997.

Eazy E

Born and raised in Compton, California, he had several legal troubles before founding Ruthless in 1987. After a short solo career with frequent collaboration with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, they joined, forming N.W.A, later that year. N.W.A's debut studio album, Straight Outta Compton, was released in 1988. Controversial upon release, it is now ranked among the greatest and most influential albums ever. The group released its second and final studio album, N*ggaz4Life, in 1991, and soon after disbanded. Eazy-E died from AIDS-induced pneumonia, one month after his diagnosis. He was 30 years old

Keith Flint

Progidy.

The last image is characters or famous people that Gaz wants to tattoo:

We are offering Special prices on any of these tattoos, they must be full colour, no cover-ups under any circumstances

So from top Austin Powers, Iron Man, Mike Tyson, Dan Aykroyd, Rick Mayall, Art The Clown, Spider-Man and Leon the Professional.

Please send us an enquiry if these are of any interest, any of these will be discounted, size and placement to be discussed.

Dot Work Blog

Sat, 13 Apr 2024 17:13:52 GMT

What are dotwork tattoos and the history behind them?

Dotwork tattoos are a style that uses dots and patterns of dots to create an image. This technique has roots in pointillism, a style popularised in the 1800s. Some of pointillism's signature artists were George's Seurat and Paul Signac. Later, similar styles were adopted by Vincent Van Gogh, Camille Pissarro and others. Van Gogh took the style in a more vibrant direction and his palette became much more luminous, a stark contrast to the typical black and grey style dotwork we see in modern day tattoos.

Dotwork tattoos can be tailored back to ancient times - various cultures worldwide used the skill to create complex body art. Ancient Egypt was one of the first - Egyptian female mummies and also the Iceman are classic examples of body art throughout history. Dots were used to decorate and emphasise the overall design of the tattoos and were often seen as a symbol of status.

Dotwork tattoos continue to grow and often can push the boundaries from mandalas to sacred geometry. Geometric tattoo designs are designs that utilise various shapes. The dotwork is then used to add depth and shade to the shape. Some geometric tattoos are solely created by Dots.

Mandalas can also look great cut into segments and because of the symmetry you can place them in interesting ways to fill a space. Mandalas can grab attention in an instant the geometric patten always draws the eye.

Mandala tattoos can be used to represent internal balance, your soul and eternity, or sometimes just something completely unique. I sometimes see mandalas that mimic the shape of a flower, a simplistic translation of nature into geometry.

The process is to create and showcase the artistic skillset and attention to detail is imperative to produce a mesmerising design, using meticulous and intricate patterns created by dots to represent a story. This could be a personal journey, spiritual belief or cultural heritage. The story is the wearer.

One of our dotwork tattoos using the idea behind the flower of life represents the cycle of creation and the interconnectedness of all life. Spiritually, some say the symbol can be used as a focus for attaining a sense of enlightenment and the awareness.

Dotwork Tattoos

Dotwork Design Ideas

Traditional Tattoo Blog

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 18:08:06 GMT

Traditional tattoos are often characterised by the usage of bold, thick black outlines and there are many iconic classics among this style of tattooing.

The traditional style of tattooing is definitely all about the boldness and colourful palette inspired from classic American tattoo art.

Traditional tattoos often striking a wide range of colours and techniques can bring traditional designs to life and are versatile for placements on the body.

History in the traditional style of tattooing harks back to the early days and was heavily influenced by saliors who travelled the lands of far, and returned with tattoos they had collected on their travels from local artists. Anchors or animals were a popular one amongst the saliors.

Styles of American Traditional also known as Old school - this was probably the most iconic of styles, featuring patriotic symbols and sometimes animals with black outlines in a limited colour palette.

Sailor Jerry, a tattoo artist based in Hawaii in the 1930's is known for making the style as popular as it is today.

Nowadays, traditional has definitely evolved and American trad appears in multiple styles from neo traditional to black and grey realism.

Japanese traditional (also known as irezumi) was hugely popular too: fascinating designs often including intricate, mythical creatures such as dragons and phoenixes - often in a bright coloured palette.

Nowadays, this style is still hugely popular but indeed with a modern take - a whole new world has opened up from abstract water colour to hyper-realistic Portraits.

Traditional design ideas

Traditional Shark Tattoo - a traditional shark tattoo is a popular choice because of its bold, edgy characteristics and is often associated with courage protection and determination. The shark is known for its fearlessness in the full front of danger, and its predatory skill sector reflects its full force power.

Traditional Panther Tattoo - usually depicted in black ink and can often include spectacular patterns and geometric shapes. The panther stands for ferocity, protection and resilience.

Traditional Cat Tattoo - A particularly popular choice for those looking for something different and pretty, the trad cat is very versatile and can found in multiple styles from Japanese, Chinese, Arabic and Indian. The cat symbolises luck, prosperity, protection and love.

Traditional Wolf Tattoo - Wolves are seen as fierce warriors and these designs can involve the lone wolf howling in front of a moon, or maybe a full pack of wolves hunting or running. These pieces can have mesmerising scenery such as the mountain peaks or forests, showcasing nature's finest wonders.

Traditional Tiger Tattoo - representing strength and power, with bold colours often showcasing detailed, realistic claws and stripes. These designs can be incorporated with floral elements or colourful patterns around the tiger.

Traditional Eagle Tattoo - Home to the native American culture, Traditional Eagle tattoos bold black lines and striking colours - these can often be elements surrounding the Eagle such as flames. The Eagles' wings can be spread or closed, maybe to suggest a fierce or more calm approach.

Traditional Dragon Tattoo - a timeless classic in American Traditional to symbolise strength, power and courage. Dragons were used to ward off evil spirits and back luck but also portray bravery and resilience.

Traditional Snake Tattoo - The serpent can represent positive or negative aspects as both are associated with the creature. A green or rainbow coloured snake that has multiple heads represents intelligence and wisdom. But a coiled snake wrapping around the arm or the leg can symbolise power and protection.

Traditional Lion tattoo - a powerful, regal lion with a full flowing mane blowing in the winds to represent strength and leadership.

Traditional Rose Tattoo - a iconic, timeless and sometimes realistic choice. These can often have thorns with patterns running throughout the design.

Traditional Ship Tattoo - These designs signify a voyage or a journey - maybe one for the lover of the ocean. Designs sometimes include other objects such as an hourglass or a compass - maybe focussing on a certain direction or time.

Traditional Bear Tattoo - The bear is a protective shield from negative energies and danger, representing protection and strength.

Traditional Skull Tattoo - a common tattoo seen as a symbol of mortality, but this can also represent protection. These tattoos will often have a dagger or snake encorporated in the design.

Traditional Compass Tattoo - pointing to all directions representing the idea that life is a journey with multiple paths of choice. It can remind us we have the power to control our own destiny.

Traditional Swallow Tattoo - various meanings often seen carrying an olive branch - a symbol of peace.

Traditional Butterfly Tattoo - the use of a bold, bright colour palette can create some superb designs and can be combined with various ideas such as a vine or stunning floral piece. The butterfly is to represent freedom or transformation and can have extraordinary eye catching results.

Many traditional tattoos have extensive meaning behind them and can be balanced to that of the wearer.

Discounted Traditional Tattoo Designs

Film/Gaming Tattoo

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 13:05:07 GMT

When thinking of a new tattoo, people use things they love for inspiration. Movies or games are high on the favourite list. Film/game tattoos are passionate for many of us; key components are used such as key characters or the plot line of a move or game, for instance Disney Maui, Moana.

Maui was the first Disney character to be heavily tattooed. The tattoos represent Polynesian culture and their meaning is explained in the film. This shows a different side to tattoos - portraying someone with tattoos as a hero, and not that of a villain.

The connatitive meaning of a Maui character tattoo is to convey the true character of Maui using tattoo symbols in Polynesian culture. Maui character tattoos create a myth in a form of a message that tells a story to the public about the positive value of the demi-god Maui mythology.

Here are some well loved film and gaming favourites.

Another popular film inspiring some creative tattoo pieces is Labyrinth, starring David Bowie, directed by Jim Henson, release in November of 1986.

Frustrated with babysitting, teenager Sarah's active imagination summons the goblins to take her baby brother away. When the baby disappears, Sarah follows him into the fantastical world of twisted mazes, deception and characters of unknown dangers.

In her journey through endless corridors, Sarah is addressed by the worm. This fantastical creature tattooed in full colour realism style by Lauren best known for the infamous words: "Things are not always what they seem."

Alice in wonderland by Lauren - Now, here's a fine story, and it captured the imagination of the world.

Stubborn, precocious and curious, the character of Alice was based on a real little girl named Alice Liddell. Alice Liddell was no ordinary muse: she nagged, bossed and bullied Dodgson into writing down her story.

The story was originally told by Carroll to Lorina, Alice, and Edith Liddell on a picnic in July 1862.

A young girl sits bored by a riverbank and spots a White Rabbit with a pocket watch and waistcoat lamenting that he is late. Surprised, Alice follows him down a rabbit hole. This leads to a world of topsy-turvy discoveries including food and drink that can turn Alice into a giant, or shrink her to the size of a pea.

Later, Alice meets a Caterpillar seated on a mushroom and smoking a hookah. During the Caterpillar's questioning, Alice begins to admit to her current identity crisis, compounded by her inability to remember a poem.

Continuing on her travels, Alice arrives at the home of a Duchess, who owns a perpetually grinning Cheshire cat. The Cheshire Cat appears to Alice and directs her toward the Hatter and March Hare before disappearing, leaving his grin behind. Alice finds the Hatter, March Hare, and a sleepy Dormouse in the midst of a tea party.

Upon leaving and noticing a door on a tree, Alice passes through and finds herself back in the room from the beginning of her journey. She takes the key and uses it to open the door to the garden, which turns out to be the croquet court of the Queen of Hearts, whose guard consists of living playing cards. The Queen is short-tempered and constantly orders beheadings.

Alice then meets a Gryphon and a Mock Turtle. who drag her away for a trial, in which the Knave of Hearts stands accused of stealing the Queen's tarts. Alice gradually grows in size and confidence, allowing herself increasingly frequent remarks on the irrationality of the proceedings. The Queen eventually commands Alice's beheading, but Alice scoffs that the Queen's guard is only a pack of cards.

Although Alice holds her own for a time, the guards soon gang up and start to swarm all over her. Alice's sister wakes her up from a dream, brushing what turns out to be leaves from Alice's face. Alice leaves her sister on the bank to imagine all the curious happenings for herself.

As you can see, Alice's journey involved some weird and wonderful characters and events, many of which feature in some fantastic artwork concepts.

We would love to more disney character tattoos and the Cheshire cat sounds appealing.

Pokémon tattoos are another popular style.

Pokémon is a series of video games developed by game freak and publishers Nintendo and the Pokémon company.

The gaming industry is hugely popular and can influence some fascinating tattoo ideas depending on the imagination of the client. Characters are the heart of most clients but as artists we could let our imagination run wild.

We have tattooed multiple pokemon tattoos even a Harry Potter-style Pokémon.

What are your ideas for a Pokémon tattoo? with games a new creative prospect can be achieved a new world of Pokémon?

New powers infact enlighten us with your vision and who knows what will be created - Connor created a Harry Potter Pikachu!

As a child I used to play the legend of Zelda - it was genius at the time with magic waterfalls and potions, I often imagined of my own world of Zelda. And oh my word, the new games are now way over my head, they make me wish I was a kid again.

Dragonballz by Lauren full colour and Anime by Connor, hugely popular and we love tattooing this particular character.

Dragon Ball Z" follows the adventures of Goku who, along with the Z Warriors, defends the Earth against evil. The action adventures are entertaining and reinforce the concept of good versus evil. "Dragon Ball Z" teaches valuable character virtues such as teamwork, loyalty, and trustworthiness.

When it comes to gaming or film tattoos, what's your story? Vision?

We offer free consultations to discuss in depth your thoughts and ideas.

Gaming Tattoo Designs for Loz

These can be customised to your own ideas! For examples favourite a Pokemon tarot card mashup. All £200 each.

Colour Realism

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 15:39:25 GMT

A colour realism tattoo is a lifelike image that uses shading, highlights and a variety of colours to formulate a three dimensional effect.

A really good example of this are realistic floral tattoos. Flowers often have easily translated highlights and contrasts that give the design depth and texture, and when used with the correct colour combinations and blending techniques will produce a highly photo realistic tattoo.

A high quality reference is imperative to capture the essence of the flower, attention to detail is crucial when it comes to the more delicate parts of the tattoo such as the petal edges and leaves. The colours must blend seamlessly, avoiding harsh lines to grant a smoother flow, in addition to this highlighting elements of the flower emphasises the subject matter on the skin.

An understanding of colour theory, anatomy and composition is essential to deliver the lifelike outcome of the tattoo. Colour theory is the study of colours and their relationships toward each other. It is part of the core toolbox used by artists and creators. By using colour theory, mixing guides and taking into consideration how colour comes into play with the human psyche, the communication among colours and how this is executed onto skin is much clearer.

Something else that is imperative to accomplishing a realistic tattoo is composition. The layout of the design on skin and in this specific case, the arrangement of florals, is vital in creating a coherent and visually appealing tattoo, every component of the design must be carefully considered and organised using several compositional frameworks such as the rule of thirds and dynamic symmetry. Tone and contrast also contribute massively to composing a readable and well presented realistic tattoo, executing these elements correctly with a good amount of visual memory and understanding creates depth, perspective and allows the artist to create texture, further elevating the final tattoo.

When applying the aforementioned techniques, the anatomy of the chosen body part is absolutely crucial, and should be kept at the forefront of the artist's mind at all times. A solid understanding of the human body, muscle flow and bone structure throughout different body parts, is one of the most important parts of tattooing, especially when conducting realistic tattoos. The design must align and run fluid with the clients selected area for the tattoo.

Coming Back to the floral tattoo itself, flowers and plants have attracted human interest for as far back as history allows us to see, with their dynamic and fascinating beauty and enormous variety of species throughout the world, they have evidently become a very popular choice for many tattoos over the years. There are many other reasons as to why floral tattoos are popular amongst tattoo enthusiasts, including the concept of specific flowers representing certain months of the year, allowing for a personal more meaningful touch to the flowers chosen for the tattoo. For example; Violets and Irises are usually representative of the month of february, these flowers sport rich and deep purples and greens which can be implemented beautifully into a realistic floral tattoo.

During further research into Violets and Irises we are able to learn that there are many deeper meanings often associated with these flowers, along with most other botanicals. Violets are usually associated with modesty, faithfulness, everlasting love and remembrance, whereas Irises can be associated with hope, wisdom, trust and valour, in turn this gives a potential tattoo client a wide variety of options and interpretations of the meaning behind their chosen tattoo, easily tying in with their personal values or lifestyle. The meanings listed are only a select few of an endless range of meanings and representations for flowers and plants throughout the world spanning across many different cultures and religions.

More recently, Our artist Lauren tattooed a Mother and Daughter, capturing the essence of eternal bonds between the two. These tattoos intertwine the delicate birth flowers of them both, a tribute that blooms forever on the skin as vibrant and meaningful as the memories it holds for love, for family, for maternal connection. Lauren has skillfully implemented all of the necessary tools for creating beautiful and impactful realistic tattoos, they are delicate, well saturated and have a high level of attention to detail.

Personally, Lauren loved tattooing these intricate flowers for Frances and Kate. This was France's first tattoo, and on a more informal note, we don't think she'd mind us saying she's in her 70's and not looking a day past 50! This serves as an important message on never being too old for some self care and getting a tattoo!

underground

A Collaboration Piece by Connor and Rich

A Collaboration Piece by Connor and Rich.

The Cheetah.

Ideas for different styles:

Halloween Blog

HALLOWEEN blog

Us and Halloween ��

Some of our favourites over the last few years:

- Brave The Box

- Escape Vans

- Fancy Dress

Design Ideas for Halloween Tattoos

Cherry Pumpkin, Pumpkins

mashup style of a cherry and a pumpkin.

Broomsticks and witches ��‍♀️ I much prefer the use of the broom idea in flight rather than a cleaning prop.

Black cats Good or bad luck?

Mushroom ghost illustrative style

Mashup style of a mushroom and a ghost maybe a Goom!

Black and grey realistic horror tattoo of of Jason Voorhees.

Jack Skellington The pumpkin king.

Film nightmare before Christmas by Tim Burton.

Ready for next Halloween?

What will we get upto this time?

Will you get a Halloween tattoo? are you brave enough?

Horror Realism/Movie Style Blog

Horro Realism/Movie Style Blog

"In Space no one can hear you scream"

Neo-traditional Chest Piece by Lauren DeLarge

Neo-traditional chest piece by Lauren Delarge

The Story Behind The Tattoo.

Abstract Blog

ABSTRACT tattoo blog

The Meaning Behind Abstract

Here are some ideas for Abstract tattoos

Illustrative Blog

Illustrative blog

What is an illustrative tattoo?

Here are some examples by our artists.

Neo Traditional Blog

Neo traditional blog

What are Neo traditional tattoos then?

Types of neo traditional tattoos examples

THE IDEA

I've attached some images of some of our Neo Traditional tattoos all done by Lauren :

Blue Chrysanthemums

Bearded Dragon Portrait

Moth

Hamster Portrait.

Black and Grey Realism Tattoo Blog

Black and Grey Realism Blog

Here are some images of Black and Grey Realism style tattoos.

Patchwork Blog

Patchwork Tattoo Blog

Here are some images of patchwork style tattoos created by our artist Lauren.

Pet Portrait Blog

Pet Portrait Blog

Neo traditional tattoo pet portrait to immortalise mustard the bearded dragon

Beautiful Neo traditional doggo pet portrait

Black and grey realism pet cat portrait

illustrative cat memorial pet portrait

micro-realism dog pet portrait

realism watercolour dog portrait

Colour linear cartoon neo traditional guinea pig portrait

black and grey realism dog portraits.

Please send us an enquiry if these are of any interest, any of these will be discounted, size and placement to be discussed.

Japanese Blog

Japanese Blog

Here are some examples of Japanese tattoos with the koi carp, and demons - some of which are work still in progress from our artists Lauren and Connor.

Please send us an enquiry if these are of any interest, any of these will be discounted, size and placement to be discussed.

Portrait blog

What is a portrait tattoo?

﻿ The Jokers

Please send us an enquiry if these are of any interest, any of these will be discounted, size and placement to be discussed.

Dot Work Blog

What are dotwork tattoos and the history behind them?

Dotwork Tattoos

﻿ Dotwork Design Ideas

Traditional Tattoo Blog

Traditional design ideas

The Jokers

Dotwork Design Ideas

Gaming Tattoo Designs for Loz