Loki... Bird Box Challenge

Lightened restrictions and a new interest in metal detecting in Denmark has resulted in many new finds in the last several years. Not only is this a great source of historical information it also provides inspiration for traditional craftsmen... woodworkers, embroiderers, silversmiths and even tattooists.

Nano gigantum humeris insidentes

However transcribing any designs into another medium requires a bit of knowledge regarding the craft. Although I really enjoy working with historical designs it is not a matter of just copying the images... it often requires that I change the design in order to make it suitable for a tattoo, while still trying to maintain the aestetics which make the piece recognizable for what it is. 

A lot of details of a three dimensional design cannot be seen when drawn on a flat surface due to foreshortening of the design and rounding of the surface. Similarily, many smaller details will not hold in the skin as they spread and fade over the years.

I try to break the image down into it's basic form using alot of negative space and strong graphics so that it will survive the test of time.

This Fibula/Brooch was found in Denmark last week depicting a bird's body with a human face. People began by calling it Odin, probably due to the All Knowing/Owl like face. However Owls were not always known as keepers of wisdom. In ancient times there were connected to the spiritual world and messengers of the dead. If I were to guess, I would say my preference is more toward Loki. The image could be one of Loki taken from the saga Þrymskviða where Loki steals/borrows Freya's falcon cloak Valshamr to turn himself into a bird. 

Loki is also depicted in other Viking artifacts as having horns as well

The Kirkby Stephen stone from the 8th Century depicting a horned Loki chained until the time of Ragnarok

 I contacted the Detectorist (Geoffrey De Visscher) responcible for the find about if he wanted it as a tattoo... however he said that he wasn't really a tattoo person. However I still really wanted to do this design, so I did up a drawing and offered a cut rate to the first person to receive it.

So within a week... Find to Flash to Finished Tattoo

(of course this was all done using tools and techniques which could have been used at the time)

We had to change the design abit from the original as most of the small patterns have been removed... leaving just a simple double negative border. The design was also done as a mirror image as in tattooing figures are usually placed facing forward... this had the added benifit of flowing better with the forearm, as the center of elbow is never in line with the center if the wrist. 

Thanks to May Britt for sacrificing her right arm for this tattoo

Skin Deep #292 "Copenhagen's Finest" Interview

Just a quick thanks to Beccy at Skin Deep Magazine for once again featuring my work.

Although I am just a small part of a much larger article it is still humbling to be included as one of the 12 best tattooists to visit in Copenhagen. 

However as the article states this is just an overview of many different styles and not a "Top 10" list. As such I'm very proud to represent Neo Nordic handpoking in Copenhagen among so many other talented artists. 

Enjoy!

Cover photo

 View of Nyhavn, home of Tattoo Ole... the oldest still functioning studio in the world at Nyhavn 17 

Some of my more recent hand tattooing along with some ramblings... and my muse, Nanna

Ancient Ink: The Archaeology of Tattooing

It's funny how sometime in ones life all the stars align and what might to others seem a random series of events can suddenly merge into something more profound. Such it was with Lars Krutak and Aaron Deter-Wolf's new book "Ancient Ink"... collecting a series of archaological finds from around the world all related to tattooing and then having the researchers write about the finds. However this isn't just a dry book about the past, as Lars and Aaron are also well known in the tribal tattoo community, they wanted to add some more "modern" examples of the living cultures as well as those which have had a revival in recent years.
Likewise with myself... how does my study of ancient art, experimental archaeology, traditional tattooing merge together with my life in Canada and Denmark combine with my travels to Russia?
Well there is a thin red line which connects all of these events and people together. I just wanted to thank Lars and Aaron for letting me be a small part of this endeavour and the modern revival of a lost tradition.
I am also so pleased to see the new Pazyryk tattoos found by Svetlana Pankova and Sarmatian tools discover by Leonid Yablonsky (RIP) finally receive publication... but to discover those you'll have to buy the book :-)

Burn&Pillage Tour 2017: Moesgaard

Finally the end of our Viking Tour and vacation we land on the beach at Moesgaard
This year we were placed in No Man's Land... a little clearing amid the rose bushes situated between the large warrior camp on the beach and the actual market place. Nanna (as always) tidied up all the under growth and planted a little garden of herbs and flowers to make it more inviting to the public, as they filed past down the main road.
On the final day of the weekend a storm hit hard at the start of the first battle... thunder and lighting lit the skys as torrentual rain soaked the warriors. Because of mud the second battle had to be cancelled... but I'm sure the public got more than they expected with the elements adding to the rumble of the battle.

See you all next year 

Michael, an incredible potter by trade, had a God awful Kanji & Sun design on his shoulder. It had been attempted to fix at one point with less than favorable results :-( So I was actually quite flattered that he would risk another attempt to make something good out of it... especially when I explained that I would have to go much bigger. Thanks for the confidence Michael :-)

I don't usually do coverups... but when I do...

Love this piece and am looking forward to doing a similar cover-up on his other shoulder next year

The Brakteat from Naglum depicting Tyr losing his hand to the Fenris Wolf

Whenever I'm approached about doing an historical piece I am challenged to find a way to translate the design to the medium of tattoo.I'm not trying to do a photo realistic version of these designs but I have to extract the basic elements of the design and then make it into a workable tattoo design.

Strong graphics, which can be recognized at a distance, as well as a good balance of positive and negative space, which will hold over time. I also wanted to keep this one more traditional, working only with black and no dotwork shading techniques.

Vejviser, to keep this Viking on the right path.

A Nordic Wolf on Steve from England

Kept the design simple so that we could complete it in one shot... may add another wolf on the right side at a later date.

"The Lovers"

A Family tattoo combining the lovers petroglyph with twins hanging from their knees. The sunwheel binds them together with a flower of life pattern in the background

Life is a Beach

Loki... King of "Loki's Freemen"

Bifrost the Rainbow Bridge

Burn & Pillage

The King and his Old Man

The Midgaard's Serpent bites his own tail around Mjølner.

Did this piece many years ago... good to get some photos to show how well they age.

A little petroglyph Mother for Annik (Nick)... 

given to her by her sons, Janjesper and Kjartan, on her birthday

Sarah wanted a Nordic Fox tattoo and allowed me to decide how big I could make it and still have it look good. Went for a full sleeve :-)

Not specifically Nordic, but more inspired by the even older Pictish standing stones. The Picts were also tattooed and named so by the Romans using the Latin root as used in "Picture"

I really enjoy working with these designs as the spirals and S curves have a strong natural flow on the body and the simplicity allows me to cover a lot of area in minimal time.

Look forward to finishing this one soon 

Burn&Pillage Tour 2017: Trelleborg

After Lejre we made the quick trip to Trelleborg

Started the market with a Moesgaards Mask on Frederik, who is becoming a regular client with his family on the markets the last several seasons.

The Aegirs Hjelm and Vejviser on the chest are from last year

and placed a Sun Wheel petroglyph on the inside of the arm as well

A quick walk in to end the day

Odal Rune

A Vejviser for Aubane to protect her on her journey back to Switzerland

Another Moesgaards Mask... this time just with dots

Rune Magic

Steven flew in from Canada  for a long session... we're hoping he can return to finish next year

Rune Dragon with the names of his 3 children in the body... they fell asleep in the car while waiting

A stylized Borre Bear Head for fellow tattooist Trine Glue

A little freehand Sun Ship on Fabien, who drove up from Germany for the day

and barely had time to start on Benjamin who drove over from Holland... but he'll be back in the country after New Year for a little more filling on this blacksmith petroglyph