My first child portrait....

This is the second portrait I've done and my first child tattooing.  Always heard that child portraits are the most difficult and I am going to have to agree.  But, overall I am truly proud of the way this turned out....especially due to the fact that the father(my customer) wanted this piture but with different hair.  Overall a challenge, but I believe I did well...

My first portrait...

It tastes like Sugar ...

Drawing on skin....

Here's a video of me practicing skin drawing.  I've learned that skin drawings compared to tattoo stencils truly give the piece life.  No longer is it just a tattoo, but art with movement and flow brought to reality.  Yes, I was a little bored today but tried to turn it into something positive.  No, I didn't tattoo this piece on myself.  Too, admit I was a little scared to, but this drawing made for an ill video. 

It tastes like Sugar ...

Fellow tattoo artist/co-worker Chris Phillips gave me the challenge of getting this tatted on him....

After about 4 hours...here's what we created.  Overall I love the piece.  It was my first time starting a piece like this with shading.  Then I came in with a liner to tighten it up and came back with a little more shading.  Can't wait till I get another piece like this...

VIDEO COMING SOON :)

Eve by Cake 2011

If you seen my previous post, "My First Video," you saw this tattoo in progress.  But, let me tell the story behind it.  Of course, Leah wanted a dope piece and knew I was the one who could help give her that.  Originally, she told me she had wanted an Eve and the garden of Eden theme, but was hesitant because I did a piece similar to that the previous year.  Plus, it was on one of my favorite customers.

2 Session piece done on customer and friend Saidah.  This was my first attempt at an eve piece.  Definitely spoke a true message.  And, set the bar for those to come.

I saw it differently though.  As a tattoo artist, daily people come to us to duplicate others' tattoo ideas.  It is our job as an artist to manipulate the inspiration and make our own.  And, too the most crucial detail; making it unique to our client.

So with this challenge I took a different approach.  For one, I drew right on the skin from mind.  No visuals involved.  I wanted my style to emerge.  I decided that I wanted to take a different angle on the piece also.  Usually, I'd add the snake to symbolize sin but instead I used Eve's hair to do so.  How does one ask? No, I didn't turn her hair into snakes but rather hid her mouth with it.  When Eve chose to bite into the "Forbidden Fruit," she had no mind nor say.  With my interpretation I then used flow, and transition from Leah's previous back piece of the tree of life which I too tattooed in order to create unity.  Hope you enjoy the visuals. 

"Tree of Life"

Leah's previous back piece tattooed by me.

  

                                                   Drawing on skin

 

                                               Lining and Shade work

 

 

 

                                               First session of color work

My first Video

Just directed and produced my first tattoo video.  Decided I wanted to being to document some of memorable tattoo sessions, life, ect.  This first video entitled "Cake's Threesome" is of my first session on garden of eden piece for my best friend, Leah.  The piece was DOPE.  The video was DOPE.  Can't wait for more to come.  Also if interested in filming your tattoo session with me (Cake) hit me at 585-794-8447.  Only requirement it must be a dope piece.

Fishing...

Being an emergining artist and my current location leads to me having to fish for dope tattoo endevors.  Luckily, a little late night work lead to yet another dope tattoo.  Customer came in with the idea that he just wanted a tattoo.  Was unsure of what though.  That was helpful.  Sarcasim? 

With a little game of '21 Questions' we came to the conclusion that since he was a pisces, we'd tat some dope koi fish in my style.  At 11 pm, I began drawing on his skin.  Once I laid out my basic lines, I put on my small black Gorilla gloves and got to business.  Mid tat I came into a 'little bump' I haven't yet experienced; tattooing over exema.  But, I overcame the sight and left him with a dope piece.  He loved it and I have to say I'm loving tattoos with movement. 

Weaving...

This week I was feeling really frustrated about life.  Enough said.  Everybody deals with the troubles and stresses of day to day life.  But, when an artist experiences stress; it shows. 

Posted on my facebook, that I wanted to attempt different pieces and basically would do them for a lower cost.  One of my customers hit me minutes later and told me that she wanted a piece to commemorate her child which had unfortunately passed.  Of course, I wanted to help her.  She said she wanted butterflies and in one, to incorporate her son's prints. 

I decided to attempt drawing on the skin (thanks COI.)  Instead of just having butterflies sitting on her, I thought it be interesting to take a flow pattern and weave it.



Experimentation is beautiful to promote growth.  Customer left satisfied and loved the tat.  Looking back is not an option because I can't change the past but would definitely say weaving a flow pattern is dope and with a little more execution I know I will definitely nail this in the future.  Tattooing is so much reminiscent of life because like this weaving pattern, one goes in and out of living not always knowing the outcome.  But, like life, tattooing with the 'unknown' leads to beautiful discoveries. 

Life's like a box of chocolates...

Forest's mother looked to him on her death bed and said "Forest, life is like a box of chocolates.  You never know what you gone get."  Very prevalent in life, but truly, present when one opens their mind.  Both pictures are inspired by 'Venus of Willendorf.'  The picture on the left was done before the one on the right.  Both, in my eyes are dope, similar and yet so very different.  When reaching into my inner thoughts, and challenging my first ideals, I see progression and a open door to different avenues of thinking and art.

Meaning goes a long way...

At first glance one may just see "See Believed" in script written by me (Cake.)  But, those who look out a different door see "She Believed He Lied."  Can't see it still...you will expand your mind.  For awhile now I've learned that knowledge is key and learning is necessary to evolve not only as a person but an artist.  And, a piece, no matter how simplistic, should make you think and questiong...

All about going green, but had to kill these flowers....

Customer came in yesterday and plainly stated her tattoo idea like this; "I want something for $80."  First, off I could've gave her a smiley face for that, but I decided to just showcase my skills and hopefully change her mindset on what a tattoo really was. 

It was towards the end of my day and I hadn't done a tattoo yet, so decided I would go above and beyond to give her more than her money's worth.  I took simple flowers and a dope flow pattern.  Then decided that a full color piece would be interesting to attempt.  I loved the way this piece turned out and can't wait to better execute a future piece of this similar nature.

So did I change her mind?  Truthfully, probably not...she really liked the piece but I believe she saw it just as that a tattoo and not art...Maybe I'll have better luck next time...