A Political Party Of One.

Yes I am not afraid to stand up alone! I am a political party of one.

Hey If You Happen To Be In Manila On November 11, 2017. Come visit my one man show at the Boston Gallery, Cubao Q.C.

OPENS NOVEMBER 11, 2017 - 6PM / SHOW RUNS UP TO NOVEMBER 30, 2017

72 BOSTON, CUBAO, QUEZON CITY, 1112 METRO MANILA, PHILIPPINES 1109 / 63-2-722-9205

I Locked Derek's Padlock! :-)

Derek asked me if I am happy with this cover up I did. I can see in his eyes when he asked me he was happy so I told him I am happy when he is happy. Actually... I am happy with it. :-)

I had to adjust the stencil though because it was too tight and I noticed his skin absorbs ink a lot. I gave more space in between the letters so that it won't blob in time. I used a 3 round tight needles to make sure the outlines don't blot much in time.

Small World

Chay was a Facebook friend who saw my tattoo posts. She asked me to design a tattoo on her leg.

We thought of different kinds of flowers but the Blue Lotus is what suits her best so we decided to use it.

The funny thing is that while doing the tattoo, she told me she was one of my best friend's niece from waaaay back in P.I.

Tito Leps Suzara is her uncle. Wow small world indeed. :-)

I also did one for her husband but that's reserved for another post.

Derek's Cover Up

He asked me 2 years ago to design this but we got side tracked. I totally forgot I did this design for him but came across it when I was backing up my files.

Perfect timing because he (Derek) was following up on his tattoo asking when I could do it.

I told him this Saturday at 1pm so we have a date this Saturday.

He had an existing pad lock tat that he wants covered. I have no idea why and I'm just happy to oblige.

I told him the freshness and darkness of the new ink should cover up the faded pad lock. I'm planning to put in some shadows on the names to compensate on the existing tattoo.

Here is the design to cover it up.

I'll post the finished product next week.

Arnold's Koi Fish

Arnold Plew is one of my first clients.

I already inked him a lot of times. He has a tough skin so I had to increase the power level on my tattoo gun to get it done.

I didn't realize before that people have different kinds of skin and it takes stroke adjustments to put the ink properly depending on the thickness of the skin.

There are skins that are so easy to tattoo just like drawing on paper but there are kinds of skin that's tough and it takes more effort to put the ink inside. Arnold is one of them.

This is one of the reasons why some tattoo artists don't like inking the tough parts like the elbow.

Oliver's Koi Coverup

He needs to cover the winged heart on top.

I did a couple of designs. I suggested we make it a koi fish with the heart becoming it's tail.

He agreed and here are the outlines.

This is actually finished but I haven't found the picture yet.

I will post soon.

BTW... I also did the Ram.

Noel's Sword With Chain Piercing Watch

They're all connected I guess.

I don't totally get the meaning but he asked me to design this.

He loved it so much so I inked it.

Outlines For Ken Buell's Pirate Tattoo

I love custom designs because I have control of what I want. He told me his idea and I did the design.

He's a  Coast Guard so he wanted a mean skeleton pirate with all the works... an old galleon, treasure chest and canon.

Here it is...

Patience

It took me 50 years to learn this. :-)

Jessica Ricafort is my friend's cousin. I did a tat on her loooong time ago when I was starting. She was one of my first clients.

Thanks for the trust Jessica.

My Man Isaac's Mexican Inspired Tat

He's my co-worker and friend.

He wanted an Aztec inspired design. He chose this.

 It's like a symbolism of awakening... at least that's how I interpret it.

Eleonor's Thorny Rose

Eleonor is my brother's friend and she wanted this rose.

Alfie Deehan's Tattoo

My brother's co-worker Alfie. He's Irish and I can feel he's nice.

You know we Filipinos have a lot in common with the Irish because they were oppressed in Europe just like the Pinoys in Asia.

One thing we have in common is that we all drink a lot!

I guess that's a kind of 'self cure' for all the oppression we experience. :-D

I have an Irish co-worker who told me that the adults in her family asks their children to buy alcohol and cigarettes for them. Ha-ha.

Sound familiar!

Tarciana

I forgot the reason for 'Tarciana'. I think it's his last name.

I think this is my second tat on him. I did three tattoos on him total so far.

Noel's Dragon

Noel is a friend of a friend. I don't really advertise myself because I am just too busy so I just rely on word of mouth to spread my art.

This is a simple existing dragon flash we picked up from google.

I like the Chinese dragon more than the western dragon because the Chinese dragon is revered  and respected whereas the western dragon have to be slayed.

But I understand too that the western dragon represents the primal instinct which has to be tamed while the Chinese one represents strength and benevolence which needs to be used for the good of all.

I was born in the year of the dragon so I totally understand it's power.

What I learned was that Dragons have an excess of energy that needs to be harnessed so it can be directed in a useful manner.

I directed mine through art.

Tattooing is a perfect path for dragons because the process has all the grit and glamour that we live for.

Responsibility and ability combined.

No Matter How Small

I always make it a point to give all I got every time I tattoo no matter how small or big it is. My niece Michelle (from my wife) don't like big inks. She wanted a series of small ones.

I was kind of rattled because she's my wife's niece so I had to be super sharp. :-)

Filipino Cross Tribute

Pinoy pride with a twist because it's a tribute to his sister who passed away.

Flash art is always my thing because I did this for 2 years before I started inking. I always enjoy designing because I love Composition. It's one of my favorite subjects in college plus I worked 9 years in an Ad agency as art director and I'm currently a Graphic Designer so I it's part of my life.

Tattooing is more challenging because there's no undos and the drawing is permanently etched on someone's skin.

I have to have laser focus every time I do tattoos and I live for these kinds of moments becauseI need the adrenaline rush!

I'll get crazy without it. :-)

Louella' Butterfly And Flower In Front Of Her Ankle

This is kind of challenging because there are areas on the creases of the foot that's hard to ink. I had to come back and add more colors.

I just Googled a flower and butterfly the she liked and put it all together.

Eugene Raymundo's Tree Of Life

Eugene is a chef based in Manila and my friend recommended me to ink him.

I was inspired doing this because I love the symbolism of trees. It's about patience and selflessness which I try my very best to do in my own life. The tree always reminds me of my own life because I'm a slow learner and a late bloomer. I liked working on the roots, trunk and branches because the randomness of their direction dictates the actual composition.

Chiara's set of tattoos

Chiara is my wife's best friend. They used to work together in Manila but went separate ways... my wife went with me here in the US and Chiara went to China to marry her boyfriend.

Chiara knows I do tattoos so when she and the family visited 2 years ago. She gave me the honor of inking her.

These are symbols that matter to her.

The feather below is a coverup on a scar.

My Cousin Ima's Feathers

She asked me a year ago if I could fly to Connecticut to do this. She'll pay for my stay and air fare but she visited California before that happened. I asked if she's up for it and said yes so here's the outcome.

This is a coverup on a huge scar on her back. She showed me a photo of the feather tat and I copied the picture directly on her back. I had the spine of the feather align on her spine where the scar was.

Seven hours of work.

Work In Progress

I've been doing this sleeve for artist extraordinaire Lexy Calip for some time now.

Before I started the tat, he told me he was going in a pilgrimage. I asked where?

'YOU!' he said.

Ha-ha. Okay I get it. He's on a pilgrimage for me to ink his whole sleeve.

What an honor I told him. I always take pride in tattooing because the trust they give me in having their mark for life is so rad that the act of inking alone I have to respect with ALL my he(art) and soul.

This sleeve is basically a collaboration between me and Lexy because he's the one designing the whole thing and it's very interesting because the idea comes as we go.

He draws from where we finished. Just like an experimental painting that we never really know where it is going.

Watch for the development guys. :-)

Ana's Rose

My sis in law Ana's rose.

Tribal Sleeve

I used to work with Mark at W.L. Gore and Associates. We used to wind stents for angioplasty.

I finished this after I left that job.

I freehand this on his arm. First was just the tribal but I saw a similar tat with shadows. I liked it so I incorporated the shadows on this tattoo.

Three 6 hour sessions.

Aries the spark slaying it's shadow.

He's an Aries of course. It's important for them to be in control of their natural fire (impulse). Custom design by yours truly. :-)