I get to do some really rad tattoo artwork for a varietal mix of clientele from time to time. As a lover of ink both on paper and on skin it seemed proper to document the process of going from concept to body art. Usually when I’m hired to design tattoo pieces for the millennial culture I get to do crazy stylization and Beery twists on even zanier ideas. I recently illustrated a tattoo for fellow Skinny Buddha crew member and rapper of The N.O.C. K Sos. K Sos and I work hand in hand to create visually stunning album covers for his musical entourage and South Florida crew. He spits the fantastical concepts and I work the pen to produce the visual offspring.
K Sos and I began the discussion of subject matter and how the artwork would reflect his musical endeavors as well as his personal history. As someone who tours and does shows across the nation it seemed fitting to produce a kind of ‘traveler’s tattoo’. He decided it would be appropriate to reference a few great festivals that inspired Sos and his movement with The N.O.C. I believe his initial description was something like a Voodoo Doll riding an alligator on the Golden Gate Bridge. This was to become a symbology of three capital states, the festivals, and icons of the regions. The Voodoo doll represents the dirty Southern state of Louisiana and Voodoo Fest. The alligator obviously represents the South and even more specifically Florida with regards to Langerado. The trickier part of the design was including Golden Gate Bridge with indelibly speaks San Francisco and the California festival Outside Lands.
The line work as basis for the tattoo had to be created to utilize the curve of the calf muscle and placement on the leg. Hence Golden Gate bridge at a sweeping ‘fish-eye’ lens perspective. I didn’t hold back on the details with the actual tribal mask face from Louisiana to the singular ‘shroom element on the voodoo doll’s chest. These are small but specific elements relative to the treasured place and times of K Sos’s traveling.
It is a real pleasure working on the artwork for the N.O.C. albums and collaborating with such a positive group of energy-pushers. The creative momentum seems to be a cyclical feed that allows both visual and audio artists to gain drive and the end result is nothing short of amazing. All our collaborative projects bleed bad ass dedication always. The tattoo may be just line work at the moment, but I know once K Sos gets back on the leather table it is going to be epic. Below is just the beginning phase.
Here’s the badass color…
I’m always available for tattoo art commissions so hit me up if you need great ink!
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