Paradise Tattoo Gathering, III

I flew out to Colorado last week to work at Tribal Rites with Curtis Burgess and Ben Merrell in Fort Collins, 

and then we drove together up to Keystone, CO for the third Paradise Tattoo Gathering

(but only the second time it's been in Colorado).

I'm super jealous of the working relationship those two guys have, 

they really feed off of each other, 

and push each other further, 

while still keeping their unique style. 

I was really inspired being at that shop, 

and I got to do some fun tattoos, 

and also got a tattoo from Curtis as well. 

It's not done, yet, 

so it looks like I'll have to visit again soon. 

The convention was pretty great.

I was super busy and did 4 tattoos in the three days.

Here's two of them, 

I haven't even unpacked or found all the photos I took, 

but I am hoping there are more. 

Thanks to Tribal Rites for having me, 

for Curtis and Ben, and their families for hosting me, 

and to all the people who put on the Paradise show, 

I appreciate all your support tons and tons. 

Any friend of Pamala's...

I had the best possible day of tattooing
as my last day of tattooing in 2012.
Pamala and her friend Kristin came in,
and some plant and animal action happened.
But not just any animal action, kids.
The best kind.
The kind when they dress up in human clothing.
Anthropomorphism.
I love it.
But animals wearing clothes isn't enough?
How about also playing music?
A badger in a handbell choir.
(but no shoes, of course)

Pamala got lots of dye plants tattooed on her arm.
Some people knit,
but Pamala spins her own yarn, first,
and then dyes it with local plants.
We didn't take any photos of her poor, hurty looking arm,
but she'll send some healed ones soon.

I hope that if you go to some kind of church this holiday,
they have a handbell choir,
and that you can't stop thinking of badgers.
Yup.
You're welcome.
Happy Holidays.
See you in 2013.

Buzz, Buzz, Buzz, Meow.

I love doing tattoos of animals wearing clothes,
but one of the things that might slightly top that
is animals wearing animal costumes.
(like the wolf in the penguin suit)
I'm not sure if this bee costume gave the kitten magical flying powers,
or where she hid her tail,
but it was super fun to do today.
Carrie did the initial sketch herself,
and everyone at Identity Tattoo agreed it was the best customer drawing we've ever seen.
(normally we get hairball lookalike drawings,
and it's no help what-so-ever)
I revamped it a little,
and her husband (?) came up with the idea of the dotted flight line.
Nice!

Saturday is my Friday, kids,
which makes this tattoo the end of my work week,
and the beginning of another nonstop painting weekend.
Aside from a little babysitting Meryl and I will be doing tomorrow,
you can find me avoiding the negative temperatures
with the heat turned way up and sitting in front of an easel.