Artistic Process: Haida Tattooing

After reading Lars Krutak's new book on Tattooing of Native North Americans I began reflecting on my own work and inspirations from the last couple of months in the Haida style. "Haida" is the common term given by tattooists to the Native American Tribes of Canada's North West Coast which also include the Tsimshian, Tlingit and Kwagiutl, amongst others. 

Traditionally these designs would be rendered in solid black (which I can do) but I've been enjoying working on them with solid lines and dot shading using only hand tools. I tend to work all of the shading off of a line which disperses into dots sometimes to be gathered again at another solid area. While most Haida has a "form line" which connects and encloses the entire design, my forms don't always connect but are rather placed together like the Polynesian styles...  my friend Jean Michel Manutea put it quite eloquently saying that, " your (my) form line is the negative space" :-) 

ENJOY!

Unfortunately Lars sold out of all of his books at his lecture so I had to wait until we were at the Florence Convention before I could get one. Lars' work has been instumental in inspiring several tattoo revivals going on at the moment. The power of these books cannot be underestimated as Lars has not only reintroduced us to the tattoo traditions of these cultures but has also used his influence to promote some of the new artists working in these styles. Since knowing Lars I've had many more people wanting Haida designs and Inuit sewing from me which intern has inspired more people after seeing the results

 A couple pages from the North West Coast chapter showing a water colour of a Haida tattoo cerimony painted by Swan. On the following page are a set of Haida tattooing tools discovered at the Smithsonian Institute by Lars Krutak and originally gathered by Swan.

The thing I love about these tools are that they are almost identical to the type of tools I work with even though they were first discovered in the Smithsonian archieves years after I was hand tattooing

 A gift sent from my friend and guest artist Jean Michel Manutea. An excellent book which breaks down the North West Coast style into the primary forms used to create the designs as well as the symbolism in the depiction of the creatures 

Jean Michel specializes in  Polynesian and Haida designs and I've even had him tattoo my ribs with a Haida raven

Dmitry Babakhin is a frequent guest at Skin&Bone. Although Dmitry specializes in Polynesian/Marquasian designs he also has a love of the North West Coast and Arctic styles. Dmitry is an avid collector of Polynesian art and books and often runs across other items which he shares with me. Dmitry resently bought a collection of Polynesian carvings in France and amongst these was a Tlingit necklace depicting a whale. It is carved out of whale tooth with mother of pearl eyes and was given to me as a gift when last he visited :-)

Haida Thunderbird piece continues on René, a Danish fireman... just the eyes and shoulder joints left.

 Start of Sisiutl on Peter. A mythical sea serpent with two heads which will wrap around the arm and end in an identical head.

Haida frog I did a few years back and finally got a healed photo of

I wasn't planning on attending the Berlin Convention this year... however when I was contacted by a German client about getting a Haida piece over his shoulder blades I couldn't say No. We booked him in for all three days . Dozens of hours spent e-mailing, drawing, measuring and making stencils just so that everything went smoothly in the convention setting. 

HE NEVER SHOWED UP!!! and doesn't answer his mails.

Now I have this beautiful Eagle design looking for a home 

Lars Krutak: Tattoo Traditions of Native North America

I just wanted to give a belated thanks to Dr. Lars Krutak for taking time out of his busy schedule to visit us at Skin&Bone the other week. We've been so busy with Conventions, Guest Artists, Exhibitions and Lectures that I haven't had an opportunity to update the blog. Lars was giving a University lecture in Stockholm and graciously accepted to swing past Copenhagen on his way home for a few days. It was great to finally meet his wife and daughter and to receive a copy of his new book on Native North American tattooing. 

 Book review in Z-Tattoo Magazine on Lar's new book

 In Swedish

 Lars' daughter Neena

 New Zealand documentary film maker Damon Hope and South African documentary film maker Maellyn Mac talking to Kai

 Standing room only

Kai's niece Ronja up from Germany

 Nanna's daughter Pernilla and ven 

 Aside from the Danes, I was actually surprised with how many different nationalities attended the lecture... Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, USA, Germany, Kroatia, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Poland were all represented :-)

 Kai & Ronja behind the scenes

 Zsa Zsa, editor & chief of Z-Tattoo and Damon Hope as Lars introduces the book and lecture

Thanks again to Kevin for the loan of the flat screen for Lars' presentation

 Behind the scenes

 Lars signing book for Phil Cummings, the organizer of the former Traditional Tattoo Festival in Ireland

 Phil, Johanna and Kevin

More behind the scenes

South African documentary film maker Maellyn Mac flew in from Dubai just for the lecture

 Phil reading some propaganda

Book signing que.

Unfortunately Lars sold out of the copies he had with him... however I received some more autographed copies from Lars in Firenze the following week of which I still have a couple left. 

Artistic Process: Hand Tattooing

Well... here is our "Machine-Free" poster child again :-)

There has been a debate in the papers recently about some polititians wanting to refuse unemployment benifits to people with facial tattoos (Much like the British tried in the 80s with all the Punk Rockers). There was an interview with some dumb ass covered with aggressive shit on his face saying that if he didn't get his welfare checks he would be forced into a life of crime. Please don't blame your bad life decisions on our art... it makes tattooing look bad and does no good defending a human rights issue. However Loki spoke up to defend this guy saying that facial tattoos are pretty (he hadn't seen the photo) and that he wanted one!!! When we asked him what he wanted, he said said, "something like Brent" :-)

Good answer... but you're still gonna have to wait until you're 18 :-)  

Some new tools I have to give a try...a gift from Brent McCown and a new "tapping stick" from Wayne McGee from Stones and Bones.

Try to guess what it is from? :-)

And while on the subject of Loki...

 From the "Blood Gods" series... bound until Ragnarok with a serpent poised above dripping poison onto his face.

Just need to add the dots 

A Valkyrie... another of the "Blood Gods"

 Based on a historical piece

and the original.

It is not always an easy matter transforming a historical piece into a workable tattoo. My background is graphic art and tribal tattooing, so I like to break up my designs into positive and negative spaces. This makes the design more easily readable and will age better than if I had shaded the whole design.

It's a balancing act :-)

 

The Older Futhark down the back of an arm. We skipped over the elbow, but with the two lines framing in the runes it still retains its flow up the arm. I went a little deeper on the frame lines which made them thicker than the rune lines and a little stronger graphicly.

 

I finished this dragon on the same client at the London Convention and finally got this healed photo.

The outline was done with machine, while the runes and dotwork are all done by hand tools

Back to Black... a little Colinesian.

I did Marius' right arm shortly after his daughter Sif was born in 2010... little sister Sigyn had to wait a few years for hers. Same form but slightly different patterns... complimentary but not a mirror image.

A memorial tattoo for a recent loss of Inge Mette.

I've tattooed this woman on many occasions in many style and techniques. We were able to squeeze this Pictish design into the pit of her elbow between a Celtic Eagle, a hand poked Pazaryk design and a Haida Thunderbird which was sewn in using an Inuit technique.

Start of a Nordic half sleeve around a much older armband. Outline completed... just have to fill in the negative spaces with solid black and bring the pieces together-

Yggdrasil the World Tree

Nine branches with nine runes in nine leaves. We marked this up with machine then went back in and outlined and shaded by hand.

Start of a double dragon calf. Took most of the day to draw it on freehand. We then marked it up with dots and started the outline.

 

Anniversary tattoo for Jonathan... one line sewn into his wrist. We might continue by adding a pattern in subsiquent years.

Had to add a few dots to a Haida frog I tattooed a few years back on a client from Sweden... good opportunity to get a healed photo.

"By MUTTI": Exhibition and grand opening

Sat. 15. November from 14:00 - ?

Skin&Bone is proud to be the first Danish distributor of By Mutti porcelain which will be available along with our regular supply of books and hand crafts for the holiday season

So come by and have a look. 

By MUTTI is a new Swedish porcelain brand that wants to combine the best of hand craft and industrial production.

The porcelain brand by MUTTI was founded 2011 by the ceramist and visual artist Eva Gernandt who has designed and independently produced the collection FAITHHOPE&LOVE , dedicated to all seafarers of the world.

By MUTTI