Flash Your Tattoo » realism

Mike DeVries Latest Book

Tattoosue — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:09:00 +0000

Mike DeVries is one of my favorite artists. He’s most well known for his realistic color tattoos. He doesn’t seem to be on any type of ego trip even though he’s tattooed some celebrities and has won over 100 awards over the years.

Macaw by Mike DeVries

He also has a good head on his shoulders for related businesses. He sells his art work, videos, and books. He has tutorial books as well as art books he’s put together. He collects and publishes tattoos done by many talented tattoo artists for you to drool over. One of the books explores tattoos of skulls. This latest book of his focuses on the topic of wildlife. Wild animals are a popular tattoo choice so there is no shortage of outstanding body art in this category. DeVries has put it all together in this attractive full color book.

The tattoo artists who are featured in this wildlife tattoo book are very impressive. The list include: Bob Tyrrell, Roman Abrego, Sweet Laraine, Larry Brogan, Brandon Bond, Eva Huber, and Myke Chambers.

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Artist Alex Vidaud

Tattoosue — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:49:27 +0000

I spotted a piece done by this artist in one of my favorite tattoo magazines. No story just a name and a shop but it was one of my favorite pieces out of the whole magazine. Found that the quality was typical for artist Alex Vidaud who tattoos like someone that has been at it for a couple of decades.

He is exceptional at realism even making a simple tattoo like the fish hook in the leg tattoo leave you in awe. Such a simple piece but so well done. I find his work impressive and the young lad from Connecticut is only 27 years old.

Based on his myspace page I’d say he has a great sense of humor. He works out of Nautilus tattoo – here is a link to his portfolio. This aquatic piece is the one shown in International Tattoo Art.

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Pepa Heller Tattoo Artist

Tattoosue — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 23:51:46 +0000

Papa Heller is not a new comer to tattoos but he is not very well known in the United States. He hails from the Czech Republic but has been a tattoo artist practicing his trade in New Zealand for over ten years now. He’s also lived in the UK and has traveled to Australia and the Middle East. There was an extensive and thorough interview with him in my latest issue of International Tattoo Art. He studied under an American who owned a shop in Prague. He says he’s been shooting for more realism and says he’s relying more on references to help with achieving this. He’s also been trying to incorporate more color into his work. He has a way of using his backgrounds – whether it’s a drop shadow or a blue sky to cause his artwork to jump off the skin. I really like the way the tail end of this shark looks like it’s coming around the corner of the guy’s torso. You can see much more of his work by visiting his Myspace page.

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Angel Art

Tattoosue — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:45:54 +0000

Body art can be used to describe tattoos as well as many other types of body art. Temporary but elaborate paintings are very popular and are often part of art shows here and in other countries. It’s becoming more respected as an art form. It’s just sad to think they are basically temporary art that will washed (more likely scrubbed) off the skin of these models. Similar to sandcastle art that is admired for such a short time and then lost forever when the tide comes in. It makes you appreciate the effort even more. At least we can appreciate the photos to remind us. I love the planning involved with adding the cherubs to the knee area.

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So Good It Fooled Me

Tattoosue — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 01:08:10 +0000

Recently I’ve had an itch to take some type of sculpting class – learn how to throw some clay – or bake a statue. What’s perked my interest in this art medium recently is the detailed work that some artists are able to achieve. It looks like it would be fun to take a stab at it – make you appreciate their skill and the realism they are able to reach can make you doubt what you are seeing.

Lisa Lichtenfels creates realistic soft sculptures. They range from less than 5 inches to life-sized figures. Her sculptures have been sold to collectors from all over the world.

The sculpture she has on her landing page is so real, I first thought it was the artist and she had a great sense of humor. I thought that even though I KNEW she was an artist that created life like sculptures. I just refused to believe it could be anything but an old lady dressed up for a funny photo shoot. (Yeah, I’m on the gullible side in case you’re wondering) Once venturing further into the site, I realized it was one of her many realistic sculptures. In addition to creating these life like aliens, fairies, humans, and gnomes, she photographs her creations with interesting backdrops and sells the prints.

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Art Too Good to Eat

Tattoosue — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:43:54 +0000

It’s sad to think that the work behind these confectionary works of art will eventually be destroyed and eaten. I was never a big fan of “cake decorating” and can’t say I ever saw a cake that just knocked my socks off – until now. This creation as well as other stunning edible works of art were created by artist Karen Portaleo from Atlanta Georgia. Karen had experience in clay sculpturing and she took her talent to a new level with creative cake decorations where she currently works. Once you reach the bakery site, visit this page and click on a link on the right side (or just click here to go right to Flickr)– and visit the Cake Gallery – and see these amazing sweet sculptures. It’s not just the shape of the cake, it’s the color and shading that is used to accent the shape. Karen doesn’t own the shop but is listed as their “sugar artist”.

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Gruesome and Yummy

Tattoosue — Sat, 22 May 2010 18:58:22 +0000

I like to pride myself on having a strong stomach. Talk about gross ugly stuff during dinner – I can handle most of that and still enjoy my grub. But this – I’m thinking this would psychologically override my huge love of homemade bread. Thai artist, Kittiwat Unarrom is the “mad” baker who combined his experience working in the family bakery with his artistic talent. He went from painting portraits to creating 3 dimensional works of art out of dough. His art got some attention when he was still a fine arts masters degree student. I haven’t been able to find more recent stories about Kittiwat so I cannot say for sure he is still practicing this art form. The stories found about his art range in the 2007 era – if anyone knows of what he is doing now – or of other macabre artists you think are worth a post – let me know.

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Realistic Bowie

Tattoosue — Sat, 15 May 2010 23:29:03 +0000

Adam Beane must have been born with this outstanding talent. He was meant to sculpt realistic characters. Besides taking some classes in his high school and college years, he had only attempted sculpting the human figure 4 times when he was offered the opportunity to work as a freelance artist with McFarlane Toys. According to Beane he was one of their top freelance sculptors in just a year’s time. His gallery of artwork includes realistic miniature sculptures of characters that can be found in movies and comic books. He recently rendered a likeness of our president that definitely catches our leader’s likeness. In addition to his talented pieces which can be found both on his site and this site called Asylum, the plastic compound he uses in his art was created by him. He said he was frustrated with the materials available to artists and he created CX5 after substantial experimentation. He’s offering a chance to sign up for a mailing list that will enable him to notify everyone in July – when his product is expected to be sold to the masses – I know I’m curious – and I signed up. You’ll also find out when his sculpting video and other products are released.

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Body Art in Oil

Tattoosue — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 22:13:14 +0000

I’m in love with the photo realism artwork of Janice Umsteen Weissman. I discovered one of her paintings last July. I didn’t realize at the time that she had painted a series of tattoo themed works of art. This is another oil painting included in the series – called “The Three Graces”. It almost seems like her compositions are frozen or mannequin like in some respects. The eyes are staring off in the distance. It reminds me of a book I read where the artist would kill his models pose them, and paint them. The settings are always similar. Some type of stage with a curtain in the background as if they are posed on some type of stage. Check out the one featured in my other post in July of 2009. I have yet to see her work in poster form – as that is probably the only possible way I could own a piece of her work. You can find the rest of the series by clicking here to get to the Brooklyn Museum web site.

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Oddboy – Tattoo Artist

Tattoosue — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 11:53:37 +0000

Oddboy – an award winning artist from the UK. The name catches your attention first but as soon as you start checking out the man’s tattoo work, you realize there is more here than a funky, memorable name. From color to black and gray – horror to baby pictures – Oddboy’s work is exceptional on all counts. Oddboy has been tattooing since 1985 and currently is working out of Real Art Tattoo shop in Leicester. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to have a shop site but you can check out many examples of Oddboy’s work on the shop’s myspace page – here. I thought this religious piece was a good example of his work although his animal portraits and even old school are very good. Oddboy does the convention circuit so you may be able to find him if you attend the big ones.

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