Geisha Art:Sakura Geisha Painting No1

At some point last year I featured a picture in my blog of some cherry blossom flowers I was making from modelling clay - they looked more like 'Skips' than cherry blossom at that point...

Well, here they are now 'in situ' as it were... ...on the frame of the Sakura Geisha painting I have been trying to finish for the longest time. And now she's done!

Now all I need to do is sand, prime and paint the wooden frames I've cut for some of my smaller pieces, and they can all be framed and hung on the studio wall too...

Seriously wish I had more time to spend on my painting, It's a great way to relax from tattooing...

But then being busy is THE best kind of complaint to have I guess!

Sakura Geisha tattoo design in monochrome

Today was a day for red and grey tattoos - using sumi (charcoal) grey Japanese ink which settles down over time to become a beautiful silvery grey...

First up was a phoenix design - running from waist down to thigh. The softer plumage and the tail feathers are monchrome - the wings and body deep red.

Then came a Japanese style koi design - a pale speckled fish against a traditional looking dark background of water/wind - this time the red was in the form of mottled red maple (momiji) leaves overhanging and floating on the water.

As much as I love working in colour, I'll never get tired of working in monochrome too - I especially love the way these tattoos age and actually improve with time...

Back at last!

Vast amounts of business (read busy-ness) outside work (mainly involving painting and decorating!) have taken over my life and kept me from doing any of this lovely internet stuff for ages.

Finally back to it though - got myself a new 'business' facebook page (see the 'Like' box and button on this blog) called (appropriately enough) 'Venus Flytrap Tattoo'.

Am now back to redesigning my poor ancient website, tattooing with a vengeance (!) and drawing up some beautiful new customer designs as well.

Also got my lovely Sakura geisha painting finished too - as you can see...

So prepare for a renewed internet presence on all levels - which will make for an interesting read because I've got loads of exciting Japanese and floral tattoo work on the go these days...

Art Deco Floral Hip Tattoo

I did this tattoo a while back for a Welsh customer who works in the theatre and shares my love of stylised Art Deco flowers.
This was her first tattoo so she was slightly terrified on the day but all turned out great as you can see...
She was up in Edinburgh for the Festival so came by to say hello and let me take a photo of it all healed up and lovely!

Art Deco Cherry Blossom Geisha Tattoo in Teal and Pink

Saturday morning was spent putting the finishing touches to the cherry blossom geisha tattoo pictured here. This is what you might call one of my 'signature geisha'. All of the geisha tattoos I do have an Art Deco stylised look to them - some more than others, this one very much so - which is enhanced even more by the teal/pink/black colour.

Be Bop a Lula Photos

Here are a couple of photos that were taken by one of the cast of Be Bop a Lula, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe show my rockabilly husband is playing live guitar in.The photographer is an American actor called Ron Geren - he plays Buddy Holly/Satan in the show (we're suspecting he's more naturally Satan than Buddy Holly.... Thanks Ron!)The photo of me makes me look like I'm part of the painting behind me - it was taken at the 'meet and greet' party last Friday - Paul and Dan were in mid acoustic jam at the time.

And this is my lovely husband tuning up his Gretsch before the show - (he did great!). In this photo he would appear to be in Grande Quiffe Setzer Stylie!!

Japanese Dragon,Cobra Geisha and Jigsaw...

Last few days have been spent slaving over a combination of hot drawing board and overheating tattoo machines... ...last night had takeout Japanese food (life is hell) and worked on LATE in the studio.
So - stopping earlier tonight to meet my friend Ev (or Aussie Cookie as we know her - pictured above with the cherry blossom/sakura/peony tattoo I did for her) cos she wants to see Quiffy (my hubby - Paul Paterson - www.paulpaterson.com ) playing his geetar in 'Be Bop a Lula' so he got us comps for tonight.

Been neglecting my photo duties a bit too- yesterday I took a snap of the chrysanthemum tattoo above -it's part of a piece that stretches from left knee to right shoulder and incorporates some old tattoo work into the design as well.

This is the Japanese dragon thigh piece I started a couple of weeks back - today I tidied up the upper lines, added black background and some sumi grey shading work.

The beautiful and talented young lady pictured here is Kirsteen A.K.A. Boobie Trap Corsets. (http://www.boobietrapcorsets.com/) The first tattoo I did on Kirsteen was a geisha pinup on her calf - then she travelled up from Norwich a few times to get the green cobra geisha and skull roses you see in the pic.

We're now working on turning the cobra geisha arm into a full sleeve - so while she was up in Edinburgh today we did some planning and measuring - and I'm going to come up with something suitably bright yet Japanese influenced featuring flowers and fans - with possibly the odd skull thrown in for good measure!

Have ordered a jigsaw to start cutting out frames for some of my bigger paintings - ha - should be suitably dangerous!

Am also currently drawing up a large design with a chrysanthemum on a fan, a samurai sword and LOTS of cherry blossom. For a change. Gorgeous.

Anyway - gotta look a bit less 'work-like' for Pauls show - so Bye!!