Last Painting of 2011...

Just a companion piece to go along with the Tibetan tiger flash sheet from earlier this year.

Chomsky speaks about Human Destiny

Panther Party

Panther Power, 4''x6'' ink, gold leaf, and pearlescent paint on board.

(Cover-up)

 Both pieces were completed separately but based on the same drawing conceived earlier this month.

Double Feature Galley Soft Opening!

 Last weekend my friend Rachel Hunt along with her cohorts Jared Frankel, Mike Marine, and Mickey Munroe opened Double Feature Gallery. The newest edition to The Gordon Arts District on Cleveland's west side. 

I really liked these ones by Andy Hunt!

Tom waits inspired?

The night was alive with jubilant energy and the location is simply amazing, next door to the historical Capitol Theatre. Making the area a great place to see premiere works of art!  

Ed Hardy Teaser

Isaiah Icon

Recently completed a three-quarter sleeve of The Holy Prophet Isaiah. This piece was exceptionally interesting and enjoyable, as I had the opportunity to blend a variety of styles I utilize throughout my work. Icons, byzantine, wood block, and more were referenced while constructing the design for this tattoo. A big thanks goes out to its wearer Jeremy, for being such an awesome sport for getting this!    

Thunder and Lighting...

Vajra  

-in Sanskrit is equivalent of the Tibetan word dorje. which carries many meanings: Indra's thunderbolt, the lamas' sceptre, and the diamond, the most resilient substance in nature. This was a lot of fun, the dot work within the pattern was especially enjoyable! Thanks again Danny!

Raijin

-the Shinto God of Lighting

Dranther

4''x6'' Ink on watercolor paper.

For an upcoming collaborative book project next year.

Fall Preview

The Wheel Of Fortune. (or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb.) 

5'x3' oil on canvas. 

Do the Right Thing

Shachihoko Sleeve (In Progress)

Tiger Tattoo, plus a visit from John Wayne!

Done earlier this week at Good Life.

My client was fairly insistent on wanting a reproduction of the original drawing, however I'm really happy how the tattoo turned out. I was forced to take an usual approach, leading me to utilize skills I forgot I even had!

 

I'm probably going to end up adopting one of these guys some day..

Recent (paintings) Studies cont. - Illuminati Rose of Death.

"Illuminati Rose Of Death"

8'.x10". Pen and ink on watercolor paper. 

 Enlightenment through Death.

Recent (Painting) Studies:

Recently I've been exploring different techniques and materials. This was done with bamboo brush and pen with ink on paper (16in.x20in.). 

I tired to take as little of time on the piece, in order to sustain a constant flow of energy throughout the piece. It was a lot of fun and I learned a great deal, I hope to do more like this in the future, perhaps on an even larger scale!

Hannya Mask.

Hannya mask (Based off of a Don Ed Hardy design) done on Rosa, at F/X Tattoos in Ashtabula, OH. last weekend, Sept. 10th.

Black Rose Of Death

Last week I recieved the opportunity to tattoo a Black Rose Of Death on my friend Luke from Wales. It was an honor, seeing how he is an avid collector of tattoos and has great taste to boot. With pieces from the likes of Steve Boltz, Valerie Vargas, Eli Quinters, and my colleague Jesse Strother (elbow). It was my pleasure to tact this piece on him during his travels.

Santa Sangre!

Santa Sangre and Alejandro Jodorowsky remain an inspiration to me to this day.

...A Look Back, At The War.

The War Within Our Hearts 2010 72''x48''- oil on wood.

The title piece of last years solo effort in March 2010, presented at The Doubting Thomas Gallery in Cleveland, OH. The war refers to the conflict between logic and desire, inside the mind of a person. Based off of the early religious works of Christian Ethiopian followers. The war is in a sense profiteered by the jealous king in order to fill the needs of his desire, his greed, while not being able to gaze at the actual horror its caused. Each solider not only represents a motivation but also a choice made within each combatant. logic is represented by the cube in direct opposition of the heart, or desire. In the middle lies the Alchemical symbol for gold, which in this case not only represents the element but to some degree the internal virtue of prosperity and enlightenment..As the war rages on the infinite force of god is watching....

New Tattoos And A Visit With Bill Hughes @ 252 Tattoo Clv.

Miranda's Blue Jay, I completed, all healed up

Detail shot

Also got to hangout with my old friend Bill Hughes at 252.

After examining the shop and various curiosities over the weekend, I then turned to myself. And  because of the looming OVI case I'm faced with, naturally I started with the cold and dark beer I drink during these hot summer days.

 

Such an honor and a pleasure to look down at this. Chris O'Donnell sleeve circa 2010

 

Cheers!

How I spent my weekend.

.Tsukioka Yoshitoshi inspired Hannya Mask.

 

I reproduced a Yoshitoshi Hannya mask design on my pal Anthony. *Note: the nearly vintage Frank William girl-head to Hannya juxtaposition.  

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

Support Real Tattooing!

 

Personally I think all "tattoo tv" should go, but now "The Learning Channel" has finally crossed the line with its latest program, "Tattoo School" join the fight and support real tattooing, do your research on what real tattooing is all about, and boycott TLC and their mockery of an honest industry. 

Follow the link below to sign an online petition to put an end to Tattoo School!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/boycotttattooschool/

Tattoo Age

This looks promising! Series premieres July 13th!

The Fiery Ascension Of the Prophet Elijah (Decoded)

Below is image of a painting I created known as "The Fiery Ascension of the Prophet Elijah" modeled after the Christian Orthodox glass paintings of the Circle of Savu Moga (Romania) during the late 19th century.  The Prophet Elijah, is one of the most revered patron saints of work amongst Orthodox Romanians.
He is believed to protect crops from conflagration, drought and general catastrophe. The Prophet is mostly depicted during his Fiery Ascension, indicating his mastery and domination of fire. Elijah rides a regal chariot of fire,  lead by powerful horses of fire. Below is my recreation of the prophet, in process. Here, I wanted to make general depiction of the event as a template, made out of piety and devotion for the basis of later disturbing or rearranging that very harmony and beauty of the piece.          

 

Below is the re-imagining, or deconstruction of the Prophet Elijah. Here, new and personal ideals are introduced to the visual narrative. Adding too, or in many ways changing the narrative completely. Elijah is taken in as myself, and depicted holding a fiery sword of ignorance, powered by logic. Jesus is replaced by animal, the sky is littered with eyes, the fiery horses not only pursue the heavens but also the philosophers stone. Above, the eye of god still looms with respect to universal consciousness. Above the all seeing eye, the major arcana number 7 appears, indicating the spiritual guidance and presence of The Chariot card. On the ground, what would be Elijah's pupil Elisha is now a veiled figure implicating the absence or denial of a pupil, or in some respects symbolizing that the pupil is in fact also the teacher. That although the heavens or Elijah's path to enlightenment, may have separated the two in one form, they are also brought closer together by this in realizing their commonality in the universe.       

"The Fiery Ascension.." - Gabaret Salgian

 

 Early Christian painting of the Virgin Mother and child. Most likely influenced by even earlier works by Ethiopian artists, who traded their goods among neighboring communities and settlements. Goods like the one below. 

Madonna wood icon, made in Ethiopia, the oldest continuous christian state, tracing its history back as far as 4th century A.D.

 

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14 The Exhibit

14 artist bring to life Ra Washington's new novelette of the same name.

I was lucky enough to be one of them. My chapter is below. 

Six.
went to work.
came home for lunch, she was not home.
came home and made dinner, she was there but upstairs talking on the phone with her mother.
went upstairs, we made love.
woke to her not in bed.
she came back to bed and we talked.
woke up and she was not in bed.
found her dead.

   MORE PHOTOS AT: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nowlind/