Ink Sessions Tattoo: November 2008

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Alice In Wonderland Piece...

This is a collaboration piece done by Abel and I
a few years back.
Below is the first sketch we made..I have a few more I will try to dig up and post.
Some of you might recognize the mural....it was featured in the movie "Pineapple Express"...right before the hilarious cop car chase.
-CL

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Comic Art Tattoo

Client brought in a picture of a comic character he liked, we thought she was pretty cool as well.

Friday, November 28, 2008

For Nana...

Today's piece was for a client to memorialize his Nana, who
passed away not so long ago. He liked the idea of the sugar skull and what it represents.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving..

Happy Thanksgiving!
Today is a day to be grateful, so let me start by saying thanks to all of you. We appreciate the time you take to visit our blog and our shop. We are very blessed to have all the great clients and friends we have, and we look forward to knowing all of you for many more years to come. Have a great day enjoy you're turkeys and we hope to see you soon. :)

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Harley Quinn Tattoo...

It's not that often I get to tattoo an animation piece,

and on top of that a Bruce Timm design!!If you're not familiar with his work..Google him and take a look at what you've been missing.

C.L

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Van Gogh Depression...

Vincent Van Gogh's deepest piece was this clients latest request. For some when receiving a tattoo there is no meaning behind the piece, and for others there is much more of an expression of feelings. It is when I do pieces like these that I am reminded of how therapeutic tattoos are for so many people. Each one has it's own story, it's own deep meaning, that words could not describe. Feelings that only ink could express.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Abel Rocha Tattoos...

For those of you that have been living under a rock for the last fifteen years
and don't know who Abel Rocha is..
Let us tell you that words cannot describe this guy's talent you gotta see it to believe it....
He is an award winning artist who's talents range from Tattooing to Air brushing, to amazing Digital art. Although Abel Rocha is great at whatever style of work he does, he clearly reigns supreme at custom "Black & Grey" style tattooing. He has an awe-inspiring ability to capture a persons likeness when he takes on a portrait like no one else. As for his custom tattoos, just take a look at some of his work above. He began by drawing directly on the skin with a pen and followed that up with his tattoo machine, resulting in a marvelous tattoo that has all the qualities of realistic nature. Abel Rocha's tattoos have life to them, they are never flat or boring he brings so much detail to them, that anyone looking long enough will be captured themselves only in pure amazement. It is our great pleasure to work with Abel Rocha we look forward to many more of his masterpieces and will post more of his work as it is available.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Till Death Do Us Part...

Here is a larger back piece we did for a client very much in love with his fiance. Two skulls (a male and female) along with a note that reads "Til Death Do us part".This piece is a symbol of his commitment to her...we wish you both nothing, but the best :)

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Thornz..

Arm piece in progress...

Friday, November 21, 2008

Just call him King Rollins...

Today's client wanted to show his pride in his family name, by having it displayed across his back. The king represents the high level of respect he has for himself as well as others. We went with a neater style of font for him & used a different shading technique. He was very happy with the results and so were we :)

Thursday, November 20, 2008

This Just In...

We are very happy to announce we have been voted top 3 tattoo shop in all of Los Angeles County. We were honored having just been nominated, and are now even more humbled by winning. It's been such a blessing for us to be able to work in a field where we get to do exactly what we truly love, which is art. To be able to create so many different works of art for so many different people, from all walks of life is very fulfilling. We are extremely proud of our shop, and do our very best to maintain a clean, and sterile environment for our clients. We have a great respect and understanding of our clients needs, and the importance of expressing them.Whether celebrating or commiserating over events we feel all pieces deserve the same level of attention and creativity. Having said that, we are pleased to be a part of this great industry, and look forward to many more years in it. We have the very best clients around, and we appreciateall of your support and business so much...many many thanks : )

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Inked To The Bone...

Today's client had an interesting idea for his piece.
He wanted to portray his bones visible beneath his skin surrounded by torn flesh.
He truly loved the idea of being inked to the bone.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Edward Scissorhands Tattoo

Crafty piece by Chris Lowk

Client requested an Edward Scissorhands portrait,

to go opposite a Nightmare Before Christmas piece she previously had him do. Both came out pretty sweet, we will be posting the other tattoo pics up soon.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Carolyn's Tattoo

"Hanna" in Arabic

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Buddhist Prayer Beads

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Tattoo of the day...

Today's tattoo was a very personal piece for a client. It's a portrait of her mother in law who recently passed away due to cancer. Our aim was to not only capture her beauty, but to also symbolize her passing with a Dia de los muertos feel.

Friday, November 14, 2008

The People's Champ-

Paul Wall after his Ink Session

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Our First Post!

Hello and Welcome to our Blogspot!

About US

Voted BEST place in LA to get Inked and Pierced 2013 and 2011

COME IN OR CALL

(818)MAD-TATU

(818)623-8288

We are a Professional Tattoo and Piercing shop-

We pride ourselves on being customer friendly, so when you walk into our shop you never get any "rockstar tattoo" attitudes. We have thousands of designs and tons of reference materials. Our requirement for our artists is that they must be able to do excellent custom work. We Specialize in Portraits, Custom Tattoos, Japanese-art and Traditional design tattoos. Come in and check us out Monday thru Saturday we are open from 12PM to 10 PM and Sundays from 12Pm tp 8 Pm and let us bring your tattoo ideas to life....


	CLEANING SOLUTIONS
	An alcohol-free antimicrobial or antibacterial mouth rinse should be used according to package instructions. Two examples are Tech 2000 and Biotene. These may be available in the oral medications section of your local drugstores. Check with your piercing studio; many studios sell these products for your convenience. Also: Mild sea salt water rinses. Dissolve a pinch (1/4 teaspoon) non-iodized (iodine-free) sea salt to one cup (8 oz.) warm to hot distilled or bottled water. (Avoid hot water for the first few days.) If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, you will need to eliminate the sea salt, and use only plain warm water rinses. Rinse mouth for 30-60 seconds with solution (see Cleaning Solutions above) after meals during the entire minimum initial healing time. Do not use more than 4-5 times daily and use it over intervals spaced throughout the entire day. Rinse mouth briefly (10-15 seconds) with the mild sea salt mixture (see recipe above) no more than twice a day. If you are cleaning too often, the top of your tongue will start to turn a white to yellowish color. Continue to clean your piercing, but reduce the number of times you are cleaning it per day. A new soft bristled toothbrush should be used, to help minimize the introduction of bacteria into your mouth.
	CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS
	Rinse mouth for 30-60 seconds with solution (see Cleaning Solutions above) after meals during the entire minimum initial healing time. Do not use more than 4-5 times daily and use it over intervals spaced throughout the entire day. Rinse mouth briefly (10-15 seconds) with the mild sea salt mixture (see recipe above) no more than twice a day. If you are cleaning too often, the top of your tongue will start to turn a white to yellowish color. Continue to clean your piercing, but reduce the number of times you are cleaning it per day. A new soft bristled toothbrush should be purchased, to help reduce the bacteria that is introduced into your mouth.
	WHAT IS NORMAL
	Swelling of the area is perfectly normal during the first part of healing an oral piercing. It can be greatly reduced by gently sucking (rather than chewing) on clean ice. Chipped or shaved ice, or small cubes are best. The majority of the swelling usually lasts for only 3-5 days. Any new piercing can bleed off and on for a few days. There can also be some bleeding under the surface resulting in temporary bruising or discoloration. This is perfectly normal and not indicative of any complication. Some tenderness or discomfort in the area of a new piercing is not unusual. You may feel aching, pinching, tightness or other unpleasant sensations off and on for several days or longer. Don't be alarmed if you see a fairly liquid, yellowish secretion coming from the piercing. This is blood plasma, lymph and dead cells which is perfectly normal. All healing piercings secrete, it just looks different inside the mouth as it doesn't have a chance to dry and form a crust as it does on ear or body piercings. This is not pus, but indicates a healing piercing. Plaque may form on tongue jewelry, commonly on the bottom ball and/or post. Scrub your barbell with a soft bristled toothbrush (gently during healing). If you are diligent with oral hygiene the jewelry will not need to be removed for cleaning, and it can usually be left in even for routine visits to the dentist. Piercings may have a tendency to have a series of ups and downs during healing by seeming healed and then regressing. Try to be patient, and do keep cleaning during the entire initial healing time, even if the piercing seems healed sooner. Each body is unique, and healing times can vary considerably. If you have any questions, please contact your piercer. Once initial swelling is down, having your piercer replace the post portion of bar style jewelry with a shorter post may be wise. Jewelry which fits more closely is less likely to irritate your mouth or get between your teeth and be bitten. If you like your piercing, leave jewelry in at all times. Even healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years! This varies from person to person, and even if your ear lobe piercings stay open without jewelry your oral piercing may not! Keep following the care procedures during the entire minimum initial healing time, even if the piercing seems healed sooner.
	WHAT TO DO
	Try to sleep with your head propped up on pillows during the first few nights of healing; keeping your head above your heart will help to avoid much initial overnight swelling. An over-the-counter, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.) taken according to package instructions can reduce discomfort, and it can also help to diminish swelling the first few days. Check twice daily with clean hands to be sure the threaded ends on your jewelry are on tight. To clean hands, wash them carefully with liquid antibacterial soap. If your hands aren't freshly washed, don't touch yourself above the neck during the initial healing time. Replace your toothbrush and make sure to keep it clean so that everything that goes into your mouth is hygienic while you are healing. A sensitive type of toothpaste may be less irritating to your mouth during healing than a usual, stronger variety. Try to go slowly when you eat and to take small bites when you are getting used to your new jewelry. Cold foods and beverages feel great and can help diminish swelling. Drink plenty of liquids, especially bottled water. Get enough sleep and eat a nutritious diet. The healthier your lifestyle, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal.
	WHAT TO AVOID
	No oral sexual contact including French (wet) kissing or oral sex during the entire initial healing period, even if you are in a monogamous relationship. (If you had a large cut you would not allow anyone to spit into it! This is essentially the same thing.) Avoid chewing on gum, tobacco, fingernails, pencils, sunglasses, etc., during healing. Don't share plates, cups or eating utensils. Reducing smoking or quitting is highly advisable when healing an oral piercing. Smoking increases risks and can lengthen the healing time. Avoid undue stress and recreational drug usage. Stay away from aspirin, large amounts of caffeine, and alcoholic beverages for the first several days. Alcoholic beverages include all beer, wine and hard liquor. These can cause additional swelling, bleeding and discomfort. Refrain from eating spicy, salty, acidic, or hot temperature foods and beverages for a few days. Do not play with the piercing for the initial healing time beyond the necessary movement for speaking and eating. The mouth withstands a lot of trauma from normal speaking and eating. Try to avoid other disturbances such as excessive talking, actively playing with the jewelry, or clicking the jewelry against your teeth. Undue stress on the piercing can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration and other complications. Even after healing, excessive play with oral jewelry can result in permanent damage to teeth, gums, and oral structures. Metal is harder than the human body; be gentle. Do not use Lysterine or other mouthwash which contains alcohol. It can irritate the area and delay healing. Don't use too many different products; select and use only one cleaning solution (such as Tech 2000 or Biotene) plus sea salt.
	ORAL PIERCING HINTS AND TIPS
	Some piercees will carry a spare ball in their wallet or purse. This is particularly advisable if you wear non-metallic balls such as acrylic, which is more fragile. If you break or lose a ball, a small piece of clean pencil eraser can be press-fit onto the post as an emergency measure to keep the jewelry from coming out until a replacement can be obtained. On barbells/labret studs you may change the ball portion of the jewelry at any time, but the original post should remain until initial swelling is down. TONGUE: Try to focus on keeping your tongue level in your mouth to avoid biting on the jewelry as you eat. Your mouth is likely to feel uncoordinated at first, but this will pass. Try eating small bites of solid foods by placing food directly onto the molars with clean fingers or a fork. Food that is already in the back of the mouth doesn't have to get moved there by your tongue. Gently brush your tongue and jewelry when you are healing. Once healed brush tongue and jewelry thoroughly to keep plaque away. LIP / CHEEK: Be cautious about opening your mouth wide when you eat, as this can result in the backing of the jewelry catching on your teeth. Take small bites and go slowly at first. The outside of the piercing may become somewhat red or pink during healing and this is normal. Refer to the Aftercare Guidelines for Body and Facial Piercings sheet for instructions on how to care for the exterior surface of such a piercing.
	DISCLAIMER
	These guidelines are based on a combination of vast professional experience, common sense, research, and extensive clinical practice. This is not to be considered a substitute for medical advice from a doctor. Be aware, however, that many doctors have no specific training or experience regarding piercing and may not be educated on how to best assist you. Copyright © 2000, by the Association of Professional Piercers, any changes or deletions are strictly prohibited and must be approved in writing by the APP.