Odd Nerdrum has been a long time personal favorite and I’ve referred to him here and there, but never in detail.  With an underlying Kitsch motive to his direction in painting-I think the work and subjects itself is far from it. He’s definitely one of the few in today’s art world who works in the roots of old master paintings–and is hated for it. But regardless of what collectors argue may look pretty to decorate in the living room, Nerdrum’s ideas come from a long line of masters, and his work is leaving it’s mark in history. Take a look….

We are getting ready  for the next few months to pay a visit to our friends on the east coast, and our European friends in London and Spain-details coming soon. Right now I’m running through  the work  you’ve seen on this site for the past few months to bring the showcase up to date on clients that have been coming through the studio and some important things come to mind.

Looking back at each piece I can reflect and break apart areas where I can push the ideas further, and raise the standards that have pushed me to this point with tattooing. I’ve  made it a ritual in the way I work to acknowledge every single client as important as the next, and today that fact is even more important to sustain the level of quality that best represents Black n’ Grey, especially in an industry that is growing at an abnormal rate. The key is working toward totality,  aiming for the long term.

I share an equal passion for tattooing to painting, illustration and art in general, but whenever ‘tattooing talk’ comes up  I’ve ingrained the habit of mentioning the people that have influenced me and have spent alot of time into making opportunities a reality for people like myself to benefit. And in complete truth, the ability to learn-or the rate you learn isn’t the same as grounded experience. The success of work that I’ve been able to experience in the past short 4 years has alot to do with the 17 years, 20 years, and with some who’ve spent their entire lives working to sustain.

With that being said, regardless in what form, all successes is temporary and toxic. Series of actions that lead to an ideal result that have happened in the past may not be the same steps needed for the future. They are what they are-the past. Today brings new sets of challenges that need new solutions to make it work according to this moment. And because this anchors you here, the real ’success’ or the real juice comes from the process that’s needed–The hunt.

The terrain is always changing, like people’s skin-every surface varies from person to person, change is constant, so the way you hunt has to change with it. I point this out to you because all the support you’ve been giving is the drive, and the even more important doubts, is the fire that obligates us to work at the standard in which the art of tattooing belongs-right beside fine art, right beside design, right beside any other category of visual art. And this isn’t about a regional situation, or little shop drama fighting over scraps that really don’t matter-this is about breaking traditions into leading the culture to hold it’s respected weight in history–and maintain it.

So once again, burn it all. They got fat while we starved, it’s our turn, and it’s time to get real honest with ourselves on what the intentions are, and where this is going.

To all my fellow young tattooers, time to raise the bar above it all.

Tyler came through for the final lay in of his right inner bicep we started some time back….

All day, all night.

www.lowridertattoostudios.com

A look at the first block in stages of Don who came through from SF to begin his chest piece.

The piece begins with the classic Laocoön piece to set the foundation for the outer chest.

Still a long road to go with Don–stay sharp.

The homey Lalo came for a quick visit. We have several projects underway to come soon, for now here’s a look at his current collection done a while back….