Guest Artist: Jean Michel Manutea

Jean Michel Manutea was born in France, raised in Tahiti, learned tattooing in Laos and is now living in Montreal, Canada. Jean Michel lives and breaths the images around him... sucking in the culture and then expelling original art work in the same style. Specializing in Polynesian of his roots he has in recent years also taken on the use of the Haida style of the Pacific cousins of his adopted homeland.
The only difference between Jean Michels art and the historical references is that you won't find his work documented in books on anthropology... they are original works true to the style.

Enjoy!

A Haida Eagle which Jean Michel painted on a 100 year old plank which was used for stretching and tanning small animal skins.

This was given to us as a present upon his arrival :-)

Day one

A bit of freehand Maori, add on to a half sleeve done at Copenhagen Ink Fest last year

Day 2
A Haida half sleeve with Whale and Raven done on a client from Italy

Day 3

Some more freehand Polynesian in the Samoan style

He will continue the other side of the calf at a future visit

A Tahitian war club on Mike from Quintosol Ink in Switzerland to finish up his back piece

Jean Michel's "sketch" for my rib piece which he gave to me :-)

Drawn and coloured by hand this is as sharp and clean as most prints 

I wanted a Haida piece for a long time and have been inspired by their tattoos for ages. Because of this I opted for no colour and a simpler style rather than the printmaking style which has taken over Haida tattooing in resent years.
I plan to have a second raven i another style on my right ribs at some time in the future...
But that is all for now :-)