Works in progress

 Here is a couple of pieces in progress, I enjoy posting in- progress pieces so everyone can see them change and grow as they are worked on.

Please Read!

          Hello everyone! I'm finally back on my feet and on track with our very busy spring. I wanted to write a little about our wonderful and talented reception staff. I find it baffling that not only do some customers not want to speak to the front desk receptionist about what they are looking for, but are actually rude to them! So, I would like to explain the role of reception and our shop manager.
          Mandrake Tattoo Firstly has a shop Manager, Laura who is literally my "right hand woman". She is in charge of all the functions of the front of the shop. This includes a lions share of work including ordering all supplies, cleanliness, sales, retail, and reception staff. But most importantly she manages ALL of the artists schedules. She and the reception staff will take the time to work with you on your design, find images for you, and point you in the direction of the right artist for you if you don't already have one.
The rest of the reception staff is also trained to manage and book appointments, work with the client, clean and do data entry.
           Guess what would happen if we didn't have people to work at the front desk....that's right, not a whole lot of tattooing because our time would get eaten by all these tasks. Your appointment would be constantly interrupted and we would be consistently be running late for appointments. Artwork would come to a standstill as the artists would have no extra time to do it, because even though the machine may not be running this doesn't mean we are not busy in back working on drawings. We are truly fortunate to be a very busy shop and really need the time to focus on tattoo and the best custom art possible!
          To make a long story short, please treat our reception staff with respect...Make them smile....bring them a coffee......They are truly trying to make your experience here at Mandrake the best one possible!

Its been a long time

 

 For those who haven't been in recently I have been gimping around since my knee surgery in February. I have been able to keep up with my work schedule but I have been a little slowed down with the extras like the blog. to the left you can see the awesome photoshop job rob did for me as this is what I pretty much look like these days! I am thankful that the shop has been super busy, all of us have been pretty booked up! I love all the business! I just decided to include a couple of pieces Ive done recently just to start the ball rolling again...Ill be back soon!

Backpiece

This is the finished work for an ongoing project started last year. The piece took 11 hours total and was done in two sittings. This is a tribute to the clients Father who is the portrait in the upper center of his back.

Artwork

Those who know me know that I am a workaholic who is constantly pressed for time. So that being said I have been trying to take one day a week to create some artwork. I have truly missed the freedom to be creative on my own terms. Hopefully this year I will have some spectacular artwork to show off to you all.

Loooove it!

Working our way to finishing this back piece. It has no lines and absolutely no black. Just an array of bright colors which gives it a watercolor effect.
The colors in the center are about three years old and as you can see they have remained bright and beautiful.
This can be attributed to the excellent care the client puts into her skin (she is an esthetician), as well as no tanning which will fade your color.

The continuing saga

 This client has been working on a body suit for the past few years. He comes in for long stretches of time over the winter months and takes the summers off. This is the smartest way to go about getting tattooed. During the summer months, you must keep the tattoo out of the sun and water while its healing which puts a damper on the usual summer activities. Also its nice to have your tattoos healed and ready to go once the warmer months hit!

Daydreamer

What can I say, Im posting a bright beautiful summer flower on this nasty snowy winters day. Just daydreaming of better weather!

Unfinished projects

Tis the season for finishing up those unfinished projects. We proudly were able to finish up this beautiful cherry blossom piece which will now lead into a second piece connecting to it. People sometimes will get a little down if they have unfinished work  BUT collecting tattoo art is a lifelong process and should not be seen as a piece by piece process but rather how the artwork interacts with the body over time as you add new additions.

Pinups

I believe I could write an entire dissertation on pinup tattoo art. For those who do not know I absolutely love doing pinups, especially when they are bold and unique! This one was a husband who wanted the pinup to resemble his wife. He came in with this awesome 80's retro pic of her when she was in high school to use. Seriously what a compliment to have her turned into a hottie pinup! He also chose the outfit and machinery and I chose the pose (as it had to fit the area we were doing).

New Mandrake gear!

 Finally here, you asked for them and now you got 'em! My new hoodie design. Feel free to come on down and buy some for all your friends and relatives!

Long awaited

Thank you all our awesome clients who have been patiently waiting for pictures of the new shop renovations. I am so happy with the new look I could cry! Finally Mandrake Tattoo has a look all of its own after  years of scrimping and saving. Again thank you all for your support through the years. 

Here is a cute little cherub I did recently. I used the lineless technique on this one so it is all soft shading.I am going to try to move in this direction with more of my newer work.

Stevie Ray

Here is a version of the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan's guitar.
Not many people know that guitars are difficult to render as a tattoo because there is so much tiny detail that the guitar tattoo would have to be huge in order to render all the detail. So, an artist must "edit" the piece in order to capture as much detail as possible while keeping in mind how the tattoo will age so that it will stand up over time.

Not Absent!

I really have not meant to be absent, the finishing of our shop renovations and end of the year taxes, w2's, 1099's and the like have kept me pretty busy! Its hard balancing the business side and the artistic side of my work. Sometime I truly feel like I need to have a split personality to run this business....But that being said I wouldn't change it for the world.  So, in light of this, I feel that this Alice in wonderland piece was a good way to kick off the new year with the appropriate quote "we are all mad in here" on the top of the piece. I love that the client decided to take a unique "Gothic" view of the classic tale.

Phew!

As you all know today is our re-opening after our renovations have been done. Last week sure was a crazy week, The blizzard held up a few items we had ordered for the store, and we are still waiting for them to arrive BUT despite that I'd say we are 95% done with all the renovations! And, if I do say myself the shop looks amazing! If you are in the area come in and check it out.
My concentration for the day is to get the shop back in working order and settle back into Mandrakes normal routine. Our hours go back to normal which is 7 days a week from noon until 8pm.
I hope everybody out there had an AMAZING holiday and I wish that 2011 brings luck to us all!