End of the Road

Ok, here's a little pile of photos from my last day at Off the Map.
I didn't get a chance to post them that night,
because we had a big dinner out with my Northampton peoples,
OTM crew, and Megan and Joan (who came up from Brooklyn to get tattooed).
There was supposed to be some CT folks there, too,
but 2 inches of snow scared them off.
(Ohhhhhhhhhh... no I DIDN'T!!!)

Megan got the black squirrel tattoo,
(sorry for the terribly wonky photo)
and then when I thought we were done,
surprised me with the rabbit request.
It was a torn off piece of China Pan's paper menu of the zodiac.
2011, Year of the Rabbit.
She wanted it on her hand,
but that would probably just f up her whole year,
so we compromised,
and settled for elbow ditch.
Not something I normally do,
but it's China Pan and Megan.
How could I say "no"?

Joan sat so well,
(even though she was nervous)
and got this conch shell on her foot.
She's a science nerd,
which means we get along splendidly,
and I got to hear a bunch of rad facts about conches.

And finally, I left Off the Map with a little parting gift.
A framed photo of me in the frame.
And since I knew it'd be a difficult explanation,
I took a photo of me holding the framed photo of me in the frame.

I had a super successful trip,
and enjoyed it greatly.
Thanks tons to Maynard House and Off the Map,
I couldn't possibly have been treated any better.

Maptastic

Thanks to Chloe for modeling this guest spot shirt for me.
I'm not sure if that's her dead bird face or her sexy face,
but she's always awesome;
and other than Star Wars,
we have a lot in common.






















In fact, the whole shop has been so great,
and it'll be a bummer to leave.
(it's also 20 colder in Minnesota than here)

I spent a bunch of hours tattooing this today.
That's a upright bass scroll that the branch is turning into.
The idea is to finish the tree-bass below the lizard, eventually.
Sometime when I'm back in town....






















I still have one more day at Off the Map before I head back home,
and two exciting pieces left to tattoo,
but here's (almost) everything I've done so far.

Over-Mapped

Having this much fun is hard work.
I want to get a tattoo or two from the day up on the blog every night,
but it's working till late, then dinner with friends.
Then once Maynard House settles in for bed,
I'm doing drawings for the next day and responding to emails,
and before you know it, it's 2 am.
Thanks to Tyrant for driving up to Northampton tonight;
he, Amy and I went out for dinner
after I got done putting the finishing touches on her chest piece.
I started my day off doing this ferns tattoo,
so it was black and grey all day.






















I also made shirts for this guest spot,
but haven't taken any photos of them yet.
I'll get off my lazy butt tomorrow and get that done.
But 2 am is here again,
so I'm off to get six hours of sleep before another full day.

Outside the Box,

and Off the Map.
Day Three.

Amber cracks me up,
she's the best kind of kookie.
And she always has rad tattoo projects for me.
A squirrel and a spool of thread on a 5 cent stamp,
done under her (super skinny) arm.






















I'm enjoying this guest spot more than any of the previous ones.
It's split half and half with old clients and new ones,
and it's really working well out that way for me.
I feel really fortunate to have such a dedicated clientele who are willing to wait around till the next time I'm in town,
and even more flattered whenever someone new decides I'm the one they want to get tattooed by.
(especially when looking through the extensive OTM guest artist list!)
It's been an inspiring few days here already,
cause there's always some big ideas being tossed around in this shop,
and someone painting,
or drawing up a sleeve for the next day.
And Mr Riegle always has a new hard drive of music to tell me about.

I am making plans while I'm here.
New year, new ideas.

Still Off the Map

Day two at my Off the Map Guest Spot was a good one.
I tattooed my two favorite kinds of clients,
librarians, and the colorblind.
(someday I'll meet a colorblind librarian,
and we'll be best friends)

This was Carolyn's first tattoo.
The photo is super dark,
I'm hoping to get a better one soon.























Next, Mr Bruton came up from CT to get a ram (goat?) skull tattoo,
and I used only subtle variations of earth tones that he can't even see.
And after I beat his arm into submission,
I went and did a touch up on his foot.
Nice.
(i bet that was a fun hour drive home)























Tomorrow switches gears from birds to squirrels.
Lots of drawing and tattooing going on,
and I'm hoping to get in a little painting, too.
I only have 6 days every 6 months or so out here,
so you have to pack in as much as possible.

Mapping it Out.

Maynard F'n House.

Back in it.

Warm vegan cookies when you walk in the door.

(starting the year off right)

Today was the first day of my Off the Map guest spot.

So good to see everyone again,

and to get to work after some holiday time off.

My two clients today were both badasses,

and both are celebrating birthdays this week!

Happy Birthday, kids!

Started the day with Mr Hart.

He got some hurricane side-stomach action,

and sat like a champ.

Here's a red and hurty looking photo:

Then Virginia drove up from the Bronx,

got this bird tattooed on her ribs,

and then drove all the way back home.

Day one down, five to go.

I have a few more bird tattoos to do,

a couple squirrels,

some ferns,

and a skull or two.

And that'll pretty much wrap it up.

If everyone sits like these two,

it'll be an awesome week.

Wrapping up the year.

Only 3 more work days before I head East,
and after a bunch of family visiting,
I'll end up at Off the Map Tattoo the first week of January.
I'm booked to do so many awesome tattoo ideas while I'm there,
and I couldn't be more excited.

I colored in Adam M's alligator tattoo yesterday,
and luckily the shop was closing right as we were wrapping that part up,
so I didn't have to figure out what to do with the background/waves yet.
(phew)
I mashed two photos together to show off the whole thing
(and it also helps look more like a thigh now)
since it wraps around quite a bit.

Juniper berries.

Nice and cute for some ribs.
Her first color tattoo, even,
after quite a lot of black and grey work.
I think I could do animal and plant tattoos exclusively,
and never want for anything else.