Jin Kazama Tattoo

Lead singer in a local metal band wanted a tribal style Tekken tattoo that features on one of the game's characters.
To make sure he didn't regret this decision later on in life I asked him if he knew how to pull off Jin Kazama's 10-string combo. Dude answered with a "hell yeah!" so I drew up the design and went to work. Session took just over 90 minutes.
Machines used were all Micky Sharpz (2x Microdials, 1x T-Dial Shader).

Wolfpack.

Client wanted wolf paw prints going over his shoulder and down his upper arm- because a wolf is his animal spirit guide.
 I enjoy sketching nature and I believe in the power of the American Native so this piece was a blast to do. Wolvie sat like a rock (sometimes ;))- props going out to him as afterall this was his first ever inking session.

This tatt took 3 hours to complete + wolfman was stoked so  another mission accomplished.

Lining was done with a Swiss Zeiss,  finished up with an Aaron Cain Shader.

Ned Kelly Half-Sleeve

 

Anthony 'Tony' Soprano Sr.: I called you here, 'cause I got something to tell you. From now on, I'm gonna rely on you more and more, 'cause you're the only one I can fully trust. Syl and Paulie... they're old friends, but you're one thing they're not.
 Christopher Moltisanti: What's that, T?
 Anthony 'Tony' Soprano Sr.: Blood.

Normally I only ever do flash up for myself to tattoo on my own clients but since D is family and interstate I could not refuse his request for a B&G gangsta stylin' Ned Kelly sleeve (that and his Momma would kick my a$$ if I ever tattooed one of her boyz haha).

Nu Skool Octopussy

Client wants a traditional full sleeve with a nautical theme, so naturally to start with we sat down and I sketched a few designs and we ended up with an anchor-riding octopus catching some waves.
The aim is to work our way down to the wrist over the next couple of months, I like to start sleeves from the top so this piece is on the upper arm.
Today's session took just over 4 hours from start to finish. Ms.Pirate sat like a rock and only needed a couple of breaks- which made packing those colours so much easier. Props going out to you grrl and I look forward to our next adventure on the high seas.
Machines used were 2x Custom Micky Sharpz Micro Dial Liners & 1x old skool Paul Rogers Shader.

Nu Skool Feather

This feather was drawn freehand onto the skin with a red marker and then tattooed in one session. Client brought in an "old school" sketch of a feather and I said to her that if I could kick it nu skool stylin' we could make things work out better. She had no problem with nu skool but wanted the feather to still be black and grey- so i guess she cramped my style colour theory wise lol.
She is stoked with the end result tho' and thats what counts :)
Machines used were all micky sharpz (micro dial for lining,T-Dial for shading).

Spook House!

Jake wanted a hand tattoo composed of a clouded moon, a coffin and a bat.
I drew up the design the way he wanted it and then did another piece of flash but with a haunted house instead of the coffin, as I thought that it would bring the piece together and make a better tatt. I always provide a second option for the client if I think I can improve on the original idea/design (if I have the time).
We only managed a 2 and a half hour session the other day before Goth Boy tapped out, can't say I blame him as hand tatts hurt like hell and he was hungover! Only another 1 hour session to go on this one, looking forward to packing in that blue/grey sky and finishing this tattoo.
Machines used were 2x micky sharpz microdial rebuilds (lining and outlining) and an old National Jonesy rebuild  for the shading.

Unsinkable

This nautical piece was great fun and was finished around the 3 hour mark.  A few of my Micky Sharpz rebuilds (microdial liner/microdial outliner/t-dial shader) were used for this session....they always come out of the drawer for old school artwork.

Mexican Sugar Skull Rose

This custom colour piece was finished after a 3 hour session.   Only Micky Sharpz machines were used in the making of this tattoo (custom microdial + custom T-Dial)

Tribal Scorpion

This Scorpion Tribal piece took around 4 hours and still needs one more 1-2 hour session to pound the black in, especially around the elbow (i took it easy and said to the scorpio dude- next time brah! as he was starting to fade towards the 4 hour mark). Only used two machines for this one - a custom Paolini for the shading and a custom Biomech power liner to lay down the outline nice and smooth. Suluape Black Samoan Tribal ink is the only ink I use for tribal - goes in easily and has fast healing time.

Koski's Tattoo Machines

An apprentice who is serving his time under an associate asked me about my machines, luckily for him it was time for a stocktake. So here is a brief rundown:

Clockwise from top left: Stealth Rotary, Firefly, Jackhammer, Davan, Blitz, Stealth Rotary Outliner

                                       Paulo fernando Micky Sharpz MicroDial Liner Copy

Paulo Fernando Bulldog Copy Shader/Colour Packer

This Brass liner was a gift from a friend in the industry, as to who made it??

Micky Sharpz Hornet Custom Shader from the early nineties.

Micky Sharpz Iron MicroDial Liner no#107 Custom Cutback Single Coil

Black Widow Black & Grey Shader (Hot rodded c/ Micky Sharpz parts- contact screw,springs,A-bar)

TedTed King of the Dead "The Godfather" Shader/Colour Packer

Tedted King of the Dead Walker B&G Shader

Lauro Paolini "Iban" Shader Customised for Black Tribal

Hot Rodded Micky Sharpz Iron T-Dial Shader no.#378 (@1996?)

Juan Puente Liner (made especially for ya boy Koski B :) )

Micky Sharpz Brass Liner maxed out with Aaron Cain parts(A-bar/springs)

Pimped Out cheap Chinesey Micro Dial Copy with real Micky Sharpz parts, real coils etc..

My favourite machine for lining is the Micky Sharpz Microdials and for shading the two Tedted machines and the Micky Sharpz T-Dial are the best by far. The rotaries are strictly for the ladies.

A friend of mine in germany sent me this Micky Sharpz MicroDial for repairs and this is how it turned out- complete with manta ray skin coils and Aaron Cain hardware!

This National Jonesy Swing gate may be out of fashion and way heavy but i like it, specially rebuilt for pushing 13-14 mags THUMP THUMP

This Micky Sharpz MicroDial rebuild has been censored for younger viewing audiences ;) 

 

The vintage machines above cost a bit but now that I've Hot Rodded them they are worth every cent!

 

Sakura Cherry Blossom Tree

Client requested an Oriental style cherry blossom tree in flower. Her left calf is
tattooed with several koi leaping in waves. Taking this into account when I
drew the flash, I did my best to keep things looking dynamic, active and in keeping with
her other tatts. The background was drawn in freehand on the day in red texta, along with all of the sakura.
Creating the stencils this way enables the artist to customise the piece to suit that particular client's
musculature so every tattoo becomes truly unique (and someone mentioned that it also
happens to make her calves look thinner ;))

After five hours we had done enough for one sitting. Only another one hour session
is needed to apply a few more highlights.

Machines used on this piece: Micky Sharpz Micro Dial Liner (Rebuild) Juan Puente
Liner and a Micky Sharpz T-Dial Shader (Rebuild)

Blessings Going out to all my Homies

This Virgin of Guadalupe B&G lower leg piece has taken 9 hours so far- there is an hour or so worth of shading + white highlights to go. Ya Catholic boy did well to hang in there that
last 4 hour session on Tuesday, just could not do the extra hour or so that was needed to make
this tattoo finito...no shame in that mang.

My artistic aim was to have the Virgin look like a white marble statue and to stand out as much as possible as she is the focus of the piece. The "Blessings" script plus the three stone roses (at the bottom) helped make things pop with their different tones and added more perspective. I like how the different elements have come together to make this religious icon a somewhat unique tattoo.

Only rotaries were used for this piece- Stealth, Bishop and Blitz machines.

BANG!

This pop art style pistol tatt was done in just over 2 hours. The client wanted the piece on his right inner bicep so if he came across the boss in town he could fold up his arms and keep his new gangsta tatt on the down low.  The gun barrel is alot straighter than it looks in the pic, ya boy Josh is just making out that he be in tha gym lol

As I really dig Andy Worhol's art this was a fun piece to ink- the fat black outline gives the tatt a rubber stamp/sticker look and deep red got packed into the flames so they popped out from the gunmetal grey.

The three tattoo machines that starred in the making of this tattoo were: Paolini liner, Juan Puente Liner & a Dragonfly rotary to finish up with the shading.