1st one of the new year a 3 hour heads down got the colour into most of this
below the previous sitting
Tag Archives: kuniyoshi
Bodysuit on the go
Working on this for around 3 years
Making good progress on Richards bodysuit ,joining up the leg and arm ,hard work and well earned …..
Backpiece progress
More on this previously posted backpiece , 2nd sitting since Marches Scottish Tattoo Convention ,digging away on this, blood sweat and tears all the way
Almost over the line here taking it down over the back of the thighs to give it the full scope of a proper back piece ,
Leg sleeve in progress……
This leg sleeve is based on a Kuniyoshi print depicting sea creatures from the sea kingdom attacking a pearl diver who has stolen a magical pearl .more photos to follow
This is in progress, I love doing worked based on these old prints , which all Japanese tattooing stems from .In Japanese mythology, the tide jewels– individually, the kanju (干珠?, lit. “(tide-)ebbing jewel”) and manju (満珠?, lit. “(tide-)flowing jewel”)– were magical gems that the Sea God used to control the tides. Classical Japanese history texts record an ancient myth that the ocean kami Watatsumi 海神 “sea god” or Ryūjin 龍神 “dragon god” presented the kanju and manju to his demigod son-in-law Hoori, and a later legend that Empress Jingū used the tide jewels to conquer Korea. Tide jewels interrelate Japanese dragons and wani sea-monsters, Indonesian mythology, the nyoi-ju 如意珠 “cintamani; wish-fulfilling jewel” in Japanese Buddhism.
More on this back piece
straight of a flight from Canada a quick shower and then another full day sitting on this ,hardcore dedication to the bodysuit tattoo
Enjoying this one , check previous post for full info on the theme here
The mental and financial strains of the body suit are a true measure of your dedication ,
these days with tattoos being more common and visible ,work on this scale is the next step in maintaining the mystique and awe that tattoos can possess.
Working on this foo dog
Been putting this foo dog on Duncan’s ribs ,large scale work here and tough sittings to lay in the colour , added this little turtle of longevity (minogame) on the lower with another to follow just above the knee ,
In Japan, the turtle has developed a more independent tradition than the other three prominent beasts of China. The minogame (蓑亀?), which is so old it has a train of seaweed growing on its back, is a symbol of longevity and felicity. A minogame has an important role in the well-known legend of Urashima Tarō.
According to traditional Japanese beliefs, the tortoise is a haven for immortals and the world mountain, and symbolizes longevity, good luck, and support. It is the symbol of Kumpira, the god of seafaring people.[7]
Samurai vs Squid
more progress on this back piece , making short work on this were about 5 appointments in this was the first full day sitting on it 👍
If you want a closer look at the tattoo in person I’ll be doing 3 hours on this at our booth on the Sunday at the Scottish Tattoo Convention , support your local tattoo show , the Edinburgh show has continued to be a show to look forward to
Octopus and ship chest piece
This one was done in no time , a full day sitting midway helped it along,
This was joining up two existing sleeves I made before the 1st one going back around four years
Black and grey dragon and shishi sleeves
These black and grey cover ups have been ongoing for around four years , in the last two we have picked up the pace and made the bulk of this work , now at near finished stage looking to move onto other areas of the body , a body suit in the making
Japanese style back piece
Below is Kuniyoshi’s Ariōmaru Kills a Giant Octopus, circa 1833-1835. In Japanese medieval military chronicles Ariō was a servant of Priest Shunkan who gave particularly loyal service during Shunkan’s banishment and death on Kikai island. The inscription in the top right of the picture tells how Ariō killed a giant octopus during his journey to Kikai island to join his master.
Here is the 2nd sitting on an ongoing back piece representing the woodblock
Roddy McLean Tattooer 