tarot tattoo series; reading your inner symbolism

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I’m currently doing three-card reading tarot tattoos. I pull cards and use related symbolism to do a spontaneous image tattoo on whoever signs up for it. these tattoos can’t be planned in advance, but can be booked ahead as a time slot.

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images are based on symbols/reminders/ideas that the deck suggests; are drawn by both of us together, on the spot; I want to make it a collaborative process. the colors and symbolic images that call to you and the design elements that carry a positive message to you- that’s what we’re reading for.

14 Temperance (Art)

I did tarot readings before I was a tattoo artist. I’ve always worked with the Thoth deck, and I consider tarot to be a way to access our subconscious mind and find ideas and solutions, rather than any kind of outside or spiritual communication. I am not theistic and I think that connecting to our inner selves is valuable, in its own right.

I’ve worked with tarot in this way for 25 years or more.

 

I see tarot as a way to access our inner selves through symbolism. the tattoo tarot work I’m doing, I’m reading the cards to see what imagery will best fit you in the present and give you a positive feeling into the future.

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with your input, I’ll pull three cards and we will examine them for their connection to you and your life, your goals. then we will use symbolism and color choices from those cards to create an image for the tattoo. these readings are to find the right tattoo, not for further life guidance. (they’re readings for a specific purpose instead of a general reading).

The reading we do is only about the tattoo you will get, and is to guide us to choose the right combination of items and symbols to give your subconscious self a boost, or reminder.

 

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As I said I approach it as a way to access the inner, higher self- a kind of Jungian approach. Spiritual content in these readings is fully your decision and what you bring with you to the cards, and isn’t my work. that is the content of your contribution- it’s your decision, your choice. I’m simply a conduit for this.

it’s up to you to decide what to take from it. for me, it’s a way to clarify and condense into an image, the things your full being wants or needs to see. I would not presume to call it “healing” work at all, I am not a therapist. I’m simply there to explain the cards, help you find symbols that resonate with you, and make a good tattoo from them. if there is healing, it has come from within you, because inside you is a whole, healthy being. this is not me, it is you, your own self. I’m honored if you let me be a tool you can use for this.

 

you can call the shop to book- simply decide the amount of time/money you’d like for a session, and we will draw to suit that. we’ll draw together after the reading, so the art is collaborative between us.

I’m leaving Sundays open for this through the winter, but any day is all right. they’ll note that it’s a tarot piece in the appointment notes when they take a deposit and set up the time. the shop is aware and ready to set up time for you, our counter staff is amazing and they handle all my scheduling for the shop. (509-426-4465) is the number here- you can also email me and I can have counter staff set up a time and date via email.

I know limited ASL but can likely find a fluent translator if text/writing isn’t enough. we are wheelchair accessible and I can put up screens if you need an enclosed space. you may bring a comfy pillow, headphones to wear during the tattoo itself, or a friend to talk to.

if you need anything else in the form of accommodation, let me know.

everyone here is amazing.

everyone here is amazing and helpful

I use proper and modern, clean and sanitary techniques to apply the tattoo. using a premium machine and a full setup, with all disposable, single use equipment.

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if I’m going to ask the muse (in any form) to assist me I feel I should carry out the work in the best possible way I can, do the very best tattoo I’m capable of, with the best tools and equipment available.

I feel that to use less than the optimal equipment and setting would be an insult to the process used to find the design.

I will not be doing these at conventions, as there’s too much distraction from the crowd for us to focus properly. if I am visiting a shop near you I will offer these there.

 

xox

15 books that will change the way you tattoo (for the better)

owlbooksThere are a lot of great books on art out there, and I’m bound to miss a lot in my list. These are just books I have found incredibly helpful in my work, and which I refer to often.

These are not books of reference images (although I did come up in the time before google images took over, and every shop had its own reference library on site…I still can’t part with all those books!)

These are, instead, books about art in general, about art techniques, or about being an artist that I think apply very well to tattooing. If you have favorites that I do not list, please add a comment and link me to them! I read voraciously and love to find new sources of knowledge.

At least a few of these are free on kindle/ebooks, most are cheap, one or two are pricey, all are available and not rare.

 

An artist is not paid for his labor but for his vision.
To say to the painter that Nature is to be taken as she is, is to say to the player that he may sit on the piano.
~J. M. Whistler

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art and craft day with the roseburg kids.

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Today we had arts and crafts day here in Roseburg. I made these three sets of weights! Jimmy made a split sheet of flash, and Zack made a painting, and Annee made a pair of earrings with beads. Here’s some photos of everyone crafting and drawing.

I grew up the oldest of a bunch of kids. Until my brother was born, I was the only kid in a house full of people, uncles and aunts and grandparents and cousins. I love when there are a bunch of other people around making art, crafting, doing things. The energy of a group really makes it easier for me to work somehow. Even just someone in the other room writing, feeds my energy and my ambition to see things through.

Today was great.

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Some of my favorite things.

I usually post all my own work here, and occasionally a review of an artist or a few artists.

Today is one of the days when I feel like showing what some of my friends make. I belong to a team on etsy which runs on chaos and confusion. It’s enchanting in a way. There’s none of the usual melodrama or arguing found on that site- it’s a strange and silly group of people. The only real rule is to help each other out- and to enjoy doing it.

Here’s a link to that team– if you use etsy, you’re welcome to join us (you don’t have to have a shop to join in the mayhem.)

First of all, there’s Debbi. Now, she does digital stuff, photographs. She works in NOLA, which means all her stuff has that creepy, southern vibe. But she has also given me tons of ideas for my own work, including the notion to do curated shadowboxes. She is a promotional wizard and she is also the queen of amokery, even.

Also, I love her work.

You

can check out more of her things here.

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I should also say that she is soooooooo fabulous.

Anyone who likes the dirty south should enjoy taking a peek at her stuff.

Then, there’s Francesca. I know two Frannies, this one is the dark one- her work is gothic, and sometimes strange. She does a lot of things with tiny bones, with feathers. She’s totally obsessed with day of the dead motifs.

Her stuff makes me smile. I know she also, like me, LOVES skulls.

You can see more from her here.

I’ve talked to her quite a bit, and her tastes are really similar to mine. She likes dead things, tattoos, and good music.

What I would call good, anyway.

People who like my stuff will probably like her stuff A LOT.

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And Brittany. She makes cute kid stuff- usually.

Which means that I don’t need it, given that I have no kids.

BUT! I got her book on bullying for my nieces and nephews.

AND! she also makes this scary guy!

Well, not scary. just goth. I think she’s going to make some more of these,

I really hope she does. This one sold right away.

She is like Mary Poppins, ever so polite, kind, and decent. It’s kind of funny that someone like that would be my friend. but she is! You can see more of her work here- and you should definitely check it out if you have/like/know any kids.

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daniblu makes cool things too.

AND

she is very sweet, and kind.

Of everything she does though-

I am in LOVE with these.

They’re just big enough for plugs. and just soft enough to keep things from breaking.

Holy crap.

You can find the rest of her work here. 

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I also like Shayne’s work a lot. He does chicks, hot chicks. More day of the dead stuff. Zombies. Vampires.

And

he’s goofy as hell.

I think he would like to be serious at times but he is just…not.

He lives near some friends of mine out in the desert, so I’m hoping on my next road trip I get to meet him and kick it a little.

You can find more of his stuff here.

He reminds everyone all the time that he’ll make prints in just about any size…so I’ll say that for him too. The man has drive.

I’ve got about ten more people I WANT to include, but I will wait until next time to write about them all. I’ll just leave you with a few pictures to click on, that go to more things made by each person.

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I’ll be posting some paintings later on today- I’m almost done with the sasquatch, so even if it fails I will put him up!

All these folks are awesome people. I mean it.


FORGED STEEL REDEMPTION

forged steel redemptionhttp://www.cafepress.com/resonanteye

help us out, pony needs a new set of shoes

working together with friends

collaborative backpiece Jazzy’s backpiece, finally complete. This was a collaboration done by me and Splat.

SO. MUCH. FUN.

The angler fish at the base are a bit washed out in this image. But you can get a good idea of the overall scope of the piece.

Collaboration is enjoyable like no other way of working. It’s motiavting to have someone to hang out with while working. It’s great to be able to ask someone what shade of brown they think you should use (even if you don’t follow their advice!) It’s great to have another set of eyes right there, and you can play off the other artist’s strengths and weaknesses, which makes each piece much better I think, in the end.

I am glad I work with people with whom collaborating is fun and challenging and helpful. Teamwork at the shop is such a valuable thing, maybe the best thing about a place.

Being helpful friends to co-artists is a good feeling.

spending a whole day listening to a co-worker sing
two workers, one rock

two workers, one rock

her first tattoo, and she sat still and did great!

her first tattoo, and she sat still and did great!

I love collaborations. I spent one whole day last week working solely on collabs with splat. We worked some more on the tree/phoenix backpiece we started a while back, and also began working on a peacock/lily half sleeve.

It’s hard to sit for two artists at once and both of these women were great, strong people. I’ve had collaborative work done on me and it’s no picnic. I’m always hoping that the people who come in and sit so well for me and my co-workers know that they should be really proud of themselves because it’s very hard to do that, and they do it with such aplomb.

It makes you feel good about yourself to be able to handle something like this; I know for me, sitting for two artists at once gave me a whole new idea about how strong I could be and made me a lot less afraid of physical pain than I had been before.

Kudos to the collab clients, you guys are the best. A few more pictures after the jump.

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squid vs whale, collaboration

tattoos hurtspent the night at work doing a collaborative piece with splat, hanging out with jason, our new artist, and making erok cry. A good time was had by all.

I have been doing collaborative work for a while now. As long as both artists are really communicative about the plans for the piece, things work out really well. You can use all your own strengths and ride on theirs, to compensate for your weaknesses.

For this tattoo, we each drew a side and then tattooed there mostly. But I’m sure once we get into the color we’ll start jumping back and forth.

He sat for two hours. Not a bad sitting for having two mean artists drill on you at once. Of course, this happens to one of my coworkers, too, so he knew what he was in for.

The hardest thing in a collaborative tattoo is getting a decent grip, enough to hold em still when your collaborator moves, stretches, lets go. That can be a pain in the ass. Sometimes you can have  just one person do the outline on their own then both jump in for color, but with this tattoo we both worked the whole time.

More pictures after the jump.

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collaborative
tiger tattoo

tiger tattoo

I really, really enjoy doing collaborative work. I like the cameraderie, I like seeing how other people do stuff, I like having someone to ask about color choices, I like the way it makes everything go faster, and I like sharing the load. It’s fun to draw with someone else, see what comes out of their mind, it’s awesome.

that said, I hate it when their wiping disturbs my stretching. and vice versa. If only skin could wipe itself without moving, collaborative work would be the easiest thing ever.

yeltsin

made by jordanglenn

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVcvdSvxbeE]

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