Hiding from the sun (continued)

It's a crazy place, this Hawaii,

especially for tattooed weirdies trying to avoid the sun (like me).

Yesterday we got driven around Maui in the back of an old bio-diesel Mercedes by the Cucch and Rebecca, and it was so amazing.

We hit black sand beaches, red sand beaches, a billion waterfalls,

caves, spring fed pools, and other other-worldly views.

All of this on a 12 hour, too-close-for-comfort,

driving-on-the-side-of-some-cliffs kind of adventure.

Highway to Hana.

It's even better when someone else is driving,

and you can hang out the sunroof.

On vacation.

Hawaii, kids.

It's a love/hate relationship.

I love the ocean, but hate the beach.

I love islands, but hate the people that flock to them.

Meryl has family living down here for a year,

and she had never been before.

And she's also moving out to Oregon just for me,

so......Hawaii for the holidays!

You know I don't even own a pair of shorts,

but so far we're doing well.

Day two and I already have two different lighthouse visits.

This first photo is at the top of a mountain Meryl and I climbed to get to Makapuu Point Light the really hard way.

There's a two mile paved path winding around to the lighthouse,

or an unmarked, not-at-all-legitimate super steep climb up to the top and then over.

It got dark before we even hit the top,

it was scary windy,

and some Hawaiian dude kinda told us we were screwed.

But we did it,

and it was so rad.

Here's a view of of the Makapu Point Light from partially up our hike.

At our destination we met this couple who were both biologists working in Hawaii.

We bonded over our shared love of dead birds

(i was wearing a 'dead birds are sexy' shirt)

and they brought us out to dinner and drove us home.

And since their jobs include working with sick and dying birds,

we're about to have some amazing additions to the I love dead birds blog.

So awesome.

This morning I woke up early

(which isn't hard to do with a four hour time difference)

and took a bike ride with Meryl's mom, Colleen,

out to Diamond Head Lighthouse.

Then a few hours later,

Meryl, her sisters, and I hiked the Diamond Head crater,

and got to see the lighthouse from above.

We then ate lunch at the top in a coastal artillery bunker built in 1908.

Tomorrow we fly to Maui,

and get to see some stuff out there for a while.

Rebecca and the Cucch are living on that island these days,

so we'll have some hang out time with them.

And New Years happens while we're there.

Luckily, I was prepared,

and shipped those 30 Japanese floating lanterns to myself.

I don't know who else will be there,

but I will be saying my goodbyes to 2011 in style,

and making sure 2012 gets kicked off right.

MANUEL "MASTER" SERVIN - GODOY MACHINES

Master... using the Godoy Machines - V3 Model

Manuel Isaias Aceves Servin - known officially as: xmasterx, was born in Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico May 27, 1983. Since he was a kid, he'd always shown great aptitude in drawing... as an adolescent, this art went hand in hand with his playing in a hardcore band and being exposed to heavily tattooed people and the inspiration to learn technique and involve himself in the art.

Through friends, Master met Richi Michel, who at 11 years of tattooing had gained international recognition for his world class tattooing ability. Master bought his first machine right then and there and took a self taught approach for the following 6 months before having job offers and an official apprenticeship from Richi Michel.

In the Richi Tattoo studio he was exposed to the work of Javier Kuatom & Martin Zapo, whose influence helped to direct and to shape Master's career and ability. After 4 years, he operates Blackline Tattoo and travels to national and international conventions entering contests and winning.

REALISM... A TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF TECHNIQUE...

A REAL UNDERSTANDING OF COLOR, BALANCE AND COMPOSITION...

DYNAMIC LINE THICKNESS, COMBINED WITH SMOOTH EVEN GREYS...

COMBINED WITH CONTRASTING DARKS... MAKE FOR PERFECT TATTOOS.

We proudly sponsored Master for machines at The Guadalajara tattoo convention where he tied for first place for tattoo of the day. He followed up this win with a few more first places in Mexico City 2 months later! This is a track record that can't be beat...



GODOY MACHINES -SUPPORTING THE ARTS, SUPPORTING THE ARTISTS WHO EXCEL IN THE ARTS, SUPPORTING EDUCATION AND CONTINUING INNOVATION.

Last day of Fall (and Maple Grove).

Oh man.

I'm done with Identity Tattoo for a little while.

Don't expect to see me back there till April.

It's been an awesome 4.5 years,

and I look forward to more fun when I get back.

But for the next few months,

I'm very excited to be working out at Jeff Gogue's shop in Oregon.

My last day there was spent working on Manda's strange animal sleeve.

We colored in a lot of poppies around an antlered squirrel,

did some background,

and tried to tie everything together.

Up top is the (antlered) blue footed booby,

and the sheepgoat under that,

and then some squirrels playing in a poppy field.

(i didn't do the blue armband thing)

It was also Handsome Adam's last day,

and he's leaving for the west coast, too.

So after packing and cleaning up,

we smashed our coffee mugs and released a couple floating lanterns.

Adam's such a good dude,

and it's been a pleasure working with him for the past year.

So it's just Todd and Ben at the shop for a few months.

Do me a favor, and check up on them every once in a while.

Stop in and be loud for a minute,

just so they don't forget about me.

I'm afraid they might get soft while I'm away.

(i can almost hear Maple Grove collectively breathing a sigh of relief)

SCRAPPY UNO! GODOY MACHINES PROFESSIONAL.

TRYING TO BRING SCRAPPY TO FUNHOUSE!

Scrappy Uno is DAVID GARCIA, Mexico's premier portrait / black n grey tattoo artist. We have been going to Mexico for conventions for the last 10 years and at most of these conventions, one name keeps winning repeatedly in the black and grey and realism competitions - "Scrappy".

We award a machine to the winner of the best realism events at the conventions we attend and as Scrappy kept on winning year after year, convention after convention, so we decided one day to just hand him the machine because he "would have won anyway".. and he did. Since then he has been sponsored by Godoy Machines.

We are proud to manufacture and promote the "Scrappy" model machine.

FOR LEFT OR RIGHT HANDED TATTOO ARTISTS, THE SCRAPPY MODEL FEATURES:

STAINLESS STEEL DUAL TOP AND MILD STEEL BOTTOM SUBFRAMES ARE SUPPORTED BY HIGH SENSITIVITY EASY SATURATION SQUARE SUPPORT COILS. (Patent pending). THIS MACHINE'S COILS, SPRING GAUGES AND COMPONENTS COMBINE TO PRODUCE INCREMENTALLY SENSITIVE RESPONSE. THE SCRAPPY UNO IS A TRULY VERSATILE MACHINE, UNIVERSALLY TUNED TO HANDLE THE REQUIREMENTS OF ANY TECHNIQUE.

Scrappy has appeared in several magazines and television programs world wide.

These are only a few of the awards he has won.

Below is a gallery of some of his work. Perfectly even and smooth subtle grey washes require skill and understanding of technique as well as a well tuned machine. The understanding of machine components and function will facilitate this type of trajectory.

HOW DO YOU COMPARE? DO YOU WANT TO REFINE YOUR SKILL? DO YOU WANT UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY HOW TO REACH THIS LEVEL, IN TATTOOING AND IN MACHINE UNDERSTANDING? OR WOULD YOU RATHER RECOGNIZE YOURSELF AS MEDIOCRE... YOU GET BACK WHAT YOU PUT IN.

BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION.

This tattoo is garbage.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

It's a real thing.

And now it's not just polluting the Pacific Ocean,

but also taking up space on Adam W's forearm.

It was a lot of fun, so I hope he collects them all.

I guess every ocean has one,

due to ocean currents,

and filthy, wasteful human beings.

One week till xmas.

Which means one week till we board a plane and fly to Hawaii.

I'm gonna fly right over that big, floating garbage patch,

and spend the holidays somewhere a little less....seasonal.

I mean, you probably won't find me on a beach,

but you won't find me shoveling snow, either.

But if you're super into the holidays,

and need some new xmas jams,

head over to the Suckapants blog,

and get this years (and all the previous ones, too) mix.

It's free, and Dark Dark Dark has a track on it.

Get caroling.

JUAN IS NO LONGER AT THE SHOP... THIS IS THE LATEST.

Mexican / global tattooist Juan "Super" Arreguin is one of our crew, no matter where he is. He has left to open his own shop in Leon, Guanajuato Mexico. We're all proud of his achievents and contributions and are grateful for the time he spent with us.

He is recognized for his artistic and loyal contribution to the progression of the art wherever he may tattoo, and now, right here, with his own model machines by Godoy Machines. Pictured above are a pair of his "Fly" and "Super Fly" model machines.

The Juan Arreguin "Fly" Model. A pair of 6 layer high saturation coils. Unequaled in incremental sensitivity, no other round coil assembly can compare. The magnetic field generated by specific wire layers and gauges are sequentially integrated in this coil assembly to combine with distinct spring gauges and tensions plus armature bar mass and weight to produce the highest variety of incrementally sensitive variations in force. A true masterpiece.

The Juan Arreguin - "Super Fly" model. A steel frame with our patented square coil assembly. Our patented square electromagnetic coil assembly boosts magnetic field mils by invoking an exact combination of material and a specially designed coil core mass. Spring material, gauges and tension combined with frame specifications to dictate fluid movement, variable velocity and incrementally sensitive force There are several special NEW and innovative features on this machine, NOT found on any other machine in the industry which enable maximum sensitivity at lower voltage. From a light and sensitive feel to punchy and more forceful, all under 4V.

Juan's work is easily identifiable and un mistakable. All the elements of light, shade and contrast can be seen. As well as fine lines...

The SUPER FLY MACHINE is able to subtly blend and fade as well as solidly line and evenly color with just a slight turn of the potentiometer.

This is proof that good work does not just happen by chance or luck or just on the artist's ability. A well tuned professional machine, built by professionals that understand these techniques (because they apply them themselves on a daily basis, just like you do) , can make any artistic goals a stress free reality.

Cover ups...

1..

2...

3...

To full chests...

CHRISTMAS IS COMING... GIFT CERTIFICATES ARE GOING FAST!!!

Stealing Shiny Shit

Liz got her magpie and pendant tattoo yesterday.

It looked all red and hurty when we were done,

so I asked her to stop back in today so I could grab another photo.

Unfortunately, the best one I took came out blurry.

Nice.

So, here's them both,

and you get the idea.

I also tattoo her brother-in-law on Saturday,

so I'll try for a third time, then,

if it's not too peely and gross.

One more week left at Identity Tattoo (for a while).

It doesn't quite feel real yet...

but I'm about to send out a big deposit for our "vacation home" rental,

and that is certainly helping it all seem less pretend.

We're a bunch of stressed out weirdies at Louderhorn Inn these days.

We've got multiple to-do lists,

but there's not enough coffee or hours in the day to get it all done.

It'll be less sleep and more yelling then normal.

My apologies to the last few people getting tattooed by me before I leave.

It's a Rocky Horror sing-a-long from here on out,

(no matter WHAT is playing on the stereo)

happy holidays.

Dead Rabbit, healed.

Alleeshia came in yesterday for a quick touch up to her 11s dead rabbit tattoo, and I grabbed a few photos before I went back into it.

Black and grey healed looks so brutally different than fresh,

so I try and get healed photos whenever possible.

I'm pretty much trying to do anything right now

other than pack up and clean the house.

If you also need some beautiful distractions on a sunday,

nothing beats old Sinéad O'Connor videos.

Herbs and Tea.

I had a four hour cancelation for today,

so Handsome Adam called in Chef Ryan.

And he showed up, of course.

We have a chef sleeve to finish up, after all.

(including this, this, and this)

We got some rosemary, basil and sage done,

along with some smokey background action.

This is the sage part:

Also, a while back I did a shirt design for a store called Juniper,

but haven't posted any photos yet.

Here they are;

a close up of the printed shirt,

and also Rahma modeling one for me.

I personally don't have any for sale,

but if you want to get one for yourself

(or some special lady on your holiday gift list),

just head to Maple Grove.

If you're out of state,

you might be able to order it over the phone.

(just ask for Liz and tell her I sent you)

If you're usually a 'bad at gift-giving dude',

I just handed this one to you.

Updated.

I spent tonight gathering photos together for my new portfolio,

and also uploaded a bunch to my website.

Here's one of the ones I just added,

Katelyn's moth-eaten fan chestpiece all healed up.

I also changed my contact info,

and added my extended guest spot plans.

It's getting closer,

and starting to feel more real now.

I'm fully booked the rest of December here in Minnesota.

I'll be back in MN in April,

and will probably start booking a month before my return by email.

I'll drop the info here on the blog first,

then my website and facebook.

It's winter here now,

with snow on the ground.

And it'll probably stay there till I get back into town.

Nothing melts in Minnesota,

it just piles up.

(i'm pretty sure I should have raked the leaves before this snow fell,

this spring is going to be a mess)

It's also getting really cold,

but instead of hibernating,

I'm packing up and moving out.

Jumper.

Did this elephant hockey referee today on Clayton.

My last tattoo of November

(only one month left in MPLS, kids).

Then off to visit family for the holidays,

and out to Oregon for the next three months.

If you didn't book your appointment for before I leave,

you might be too late.

(though i hear that Handsome Adam might be taking bribes to fit you in)

I also tattooed Nona of Dark Dark Dark today.

She didn't sing any DDD for us,

but she did sing some Third Eye Blind as she filled out her paperwork.

no kidding.

I mean, it wasn't her fault,

Ben has it on the ipod for some reason,

and that shit is SO catchy.

(if you like her singing in DDD,

check out her side project with her choir)

Anyway, it's after 2am,

which means December is here,

and 2011 is almost over.

Hope your 11 months have been good so far.

If not, you've got 31 days to make it better.

Not Allowed in Hawaii

Oh man,

I forgot my memory [card] at work today,

so here's just a cellphone photo of the baby hedgehog tattoo I did.

It's probably better than any of the real camera shots I took, anyway.

{edit: nope, this real photo is WAY better, so i got rid of the cellphone one}

I did it on a day off because Rebecca leaves for Hawaii tomorrow.

But don't worry, she's planning on hanging out for a few months,

so I don't have to fret about her exposing it to the sand and sun while it heals.

She's moving out there to keep the Cucch company,

but we're all invited.

(except for your hedgehogs, they are illegal)

Meryl and I already have tickets (no kidding).

Christmas in Hawaii, kids.

Like pizza in Minnesota;

it exists, but it's weird and out of place.

I also got my foot tattoo finished,

so it's back to sexy gladiator sandals for the next few days.

(good thing it'll be a high of 34° tomorrow)

I have no idea what's on the books for tomorrow tattoo-wise,

but Handsome Adam is back at the shop,

so the day is starting with coffee,

and a grapefruit juice chaser.

Got to start the week off right....

A little bit of Portland.

After working/traveling/working 18 days in a row,

I was really looking forward to my first couple days off.

I was going to write this Portland blog post then,

but it was the worst weekend ever.

I should have just kept working.

No kidding, I even got into a minor car accident.

But don't worry,

I went back to work right away,

and pretended it didn't happen.

Anyway, Portland was awesome.

My people out there are the best.

I got to hang out with Elias and his housemates,

and it just so happened that everyone swung into town that week.

Optic Nerve Tattoo is a super great shop,

but almost everyone was on vacation or away while I was there.

(maybe they called my references)

A big thank you to them for hosting me.

Korel came down from Olympia to start her peahen/peacock tattoo.

We're sleeving her right arm,

and got the outline mostly taken care of the first day.

I had a few cancelations,
so when Summer came in Day 2 for her 41rst birthday tattoo,

I was happy to accommodate.

We drew on a big phoenix in sharpie,

changed the head,

and tattooed for a couple hours.

But, since I don't live nearby,

and a half-finished chest piece is hardly a way to celebrate,

Summer came back in the next day,

and we finished it up.

For reals, kids.

They don't make many this tough.

I did my best to incorporate all her other tattoos,

cleaned up parts, covered others.

Happy Birthday, Summer.

Portland is amazing,

once you see past some of the hipsterdom.

There's beautiful things and amazing people everywhere,

and a sign that says 'vegan' in every place you go.

I'm sure come January,

Meryl and I will be spending lots of time there,

and I know a little basement bedroom that's just perfect.

Thanks again to everyone that got tattooed,

showed me around,

gave me a ride,

and let me share their space.