Ink Hammer Tattoos

Upington Random Tattoos 6

2013-08-01T12:00:00.000+02:00

Welcome back,

this week there is a large piece as well as a few smaller ones.

This is session 2 of 3 and now just awaiting him for the guts for the final session. Each session so far has been roughly 3 hours, but on a skinny guy with hardly any skin on his back his reluctance does make sense.

A small fairy with a very light shade of pink.

'Remember who you are' a quote from lion king with a 'tribal drawing' of Simba. A little bit of brown shading just to bring it to life.

Fine calligraphy on the inner bicep.

Celtic knot / cross, this is still a very very fresh shot, so the ink still has to settle but something that is bound to look awesome once fully healed.

Random Upington Tattoos 5

2013-07-25T13:18:00.000+02:00

Welcome back,

4 Fresh tattoos and 1 Cover up, not bad for a week's work.

A tribute to an ex boyfriend who died in a motorcycle accident. Just a few initials with a simple tribal.

She loves black tattoos and use to be a gymnast, over a few drinks and ideas we decided what we are gonna go for, this is what we ended up with.

Butterflies! Simple pretty butterflies!

I never liked Maori styled tattoos until I ended up with this piece, the entire design changed my mind, all I had to work with was a photo of a similar piece and had to redraw most of it by hand. This piece took about 5 hours to complete.

A 4 hour cover up on a chest, this man has some cojones he sat for it all in a single session,
with these two koi tattoos covering the prior lettering,
which was hell to work on.

Random Upington Tattoos 4

2013-07-18T00:00:00.000+02:00

Welcome back,

a week of fresh ink and fine ink.

An abstract fairy missing a few lines, basic, but pretty.

A second matching in style tattoo to follow the prior fairy around.

'I saw you wearing a crown', that phrase is the tribute to her grandfather.

The initials of her daughter, with some simple lines running around the design.

Stars, but there is something different about that one... Ooooh colors!

Random Upington Tattoos 3

2013-07-11T12:00:00.000+02:00

Welcome back,

This week has pretty much all fresh ink, besides one cover up.

Plain and simple, fine lines with delicate stars, yet the potential for expansion is there.

A good friend had a crappy old spider and decided to bring new life to it, we decided on a tarantula cover up, since he started keeping spiders a while back. Bright colors and fine lines make any spider stand out.

Calligraphy is one of those things that seem to be in style, 'Ti Amo' might be something foreign to most of us from Africa, but it seems the Italians get it.

A Yin Yang gone different with a few lizards, this is the kind of tattoos you do not do often enough. The creative one ;)

The popular stars once again ready to for any occasion.

Random Upington Tattoos 2

2013-07-04T12:00:00.000+02:00

The one thing I enjoy about this area is the diversity of people you get around here with all their tastes. Here are a few of those.

Probably one of the most painful areas, but someone who can sit for that level of pain with that amount of colors can really make me smile ;)

I am not too much of religious zealot but I have to admit I love some of the art you can do with a religious tone, this though was only a fix up.

A very fresh bit of ink, on the inner and outer bicep running around the arm. Solid black work with some shaded calligraphy, an original fun piece.

For the corporate souls there is always the option of heading the UV route, round here it is not visible the moment you traverse the scene with black lights and shady corners that is when this tattoo will peek out.

A good friend of mine decided he wanted a little something to compliment his one arm already with a bit of "space" theme on it, and we decided to go for a colorful rocket on his inner bicep.

The one thing you can learn from the amount of fix up tattoos is simple, do your research before you get tattooed. A crappy tattoo will sit with you until you find someone who can actually fix it.

Random Upington Tattoos

2013-06-05T12:00:00.000+02:00

After being away for a while, I returned to Upington to find the masses craving some ink.

This design has been shaded and coloured just to give it a tad more modern feel.

If anyone loves tattoos this much, and their skin is that difficult it becomes a challenge. Taking about 90 minutes to get this ink in.

A Joburg cover up that was spiced up, and modified, this is why you always ask to see some of your tattooists prior work.

A few badly drawn stars that I had to just fill and try to fix up.

This was just a tad of a fix up but after 45 minutes good as new.

So it was fix up and cover up haven the past few tattoos.

See you next week.

More Umhlanga

2013-05-29T12:00:00.000+02:00

After a while, I realized some people are open for something else, but if they are set on text, nothing will sway them.

A few letters that symbolizes each of her toddlers.

The most popular Bible verse, inked again.

A crucifix with a slight twist to it.

Presenting... Andy Cap!

Inking his son's name.

Cool Inc Expo 2012

2013-05-22T12:00:00.000+02:00

Well being from the middle of nowhere, few things appeal as much as going somewhere to find like minded people who also love their art and ink, so I went off to Cool Inc expo a.k.a Johannesburg Tattoo convention.

Personally I feel that the best artists in South Africa is found in Cape Town, but seeing a few of the newer studios that opened up in Gauteng was also something quite interesting.

There were a few studios from the Capetonian scene as well, Moog Mushrooms was there, Mr Lucky ( Milo ) and a few others.

From Gauteng the majority of studios showed up here are a pics of it, hope you enjoy.

The awards were made by a local sculptor from Pretoria and looked amazing with the bullets and ape like skull motif.

What would a convention be without a proper suspension? This was the first 4 person suspension done in SA, it lasted about 30 minutes. It is something I would still love to do.

Some of the fellow ink & art addicts, with a flow of constant music, exposure to a plethora of tattooists and a great people to mingle with overall.

Need I say more?

One of the many bands to enjoy, they had a wide variety of musicians and definitely not all in my rock solid taste though I did end up liking a few bands more than I should have.

Johann van der Walt after being let loose on an innocent bystander.

I hope you enjoyed a few of these photos.

Umhlanga

2013-05-15T12:00:00.000+02:00

When I arrived in Umhlanga it was a new experience, every last things was different, the abundance of humidity, the people, the architecture and even the culture. I can now see why so many people refer to it as the 2nd Indian capital.

The one thing that does seem to stay consistent is the general love some people have for calligraphy.

Yep, I was right...

Ask no questions, here no lies.

Still not sure what it says...

Finally something else, a few nautical stars!

See you guys next week.

2013-05-08T12:00:00.000+02:00

When I got down in Durban, Umhlanga to be precise we started getting the studio up and running, this is what it looked like painted, with some flash art and paintings up.

I loved the colour scheme and the view!

This chair came from 1940ish... It is a small sturdy chair with a lovely hydraulic foot pedal.
Interesting airbrushing that was done one it and moving it required the hulk in a bad mood! That little thing weighs more than I do.

Definitely something that gives any studio that extra flair.

This is the one thing I will not forget about Durban, their garden they have is one of the greenest gardens with a diversity in plants that I have never seen before...

The architecture they use in their gardens are as English as pretty much everything else there.

I love the way everything is mixed with a flair of all the green!

A pretty little hidden bridge completely under the foliage.

A little stream in one of the exhibits I can definitely see me crafting my own little place with a bit of this in it.

A little bit of everything squeezed onto a single image.

Pretoria Travels 2013 4th Quarter

2013-05-01T12:00:00.000+02:00

Spending some time in Pretoria I decided to do a few tattoos before I headed down to Durban.

While in Pretoria I encounter a ink loving family, this was one piece I did on him, with a few cards and some detailing.

A friend came by with his girlfriend for a very simplistic swallow, but still a pretty one.

Why do I love doing spiders? The fact that for some reason I do one palm sized in about an hour. Gotta love pieces like this.

Inked family #1 Mom, came around for a bit of a colourful moon piece.

Schedule

Tattoo adventure and a mentor!

2012-12-26T12:00:00.000+02:00

After a bunch of very turbulent months I finally ended up in Umhlanga, I started to work here at Kevin's Kustom Tattoos for the legendary Kevin Brown, with more than 40 years of experience, experience in all styles and having traveled the globe.

So for now the shop has just been pretty much finished up, and I will upload quite a few photos of the shop and some of the work that has happened here.

Pretoria / Johannesburg visit#

2012-08-14T23:25:00.001+02:00

I am currently in Johannesburg and Pretoria, if you are up for some custom tattoo work drop me a call or email at either 084 2501 073 or inkhammer@gmail.com.

Hope to see you guys soon.

A bit of an update.

2012-07-18T12:00:00.000+02:00

It seems the majority of my clientèle is from outside of Upington, but then who am I to complain ;)

Work is work. Here is a bit of an update.

It seems some people are really addicted, a week ago something on the inner arm now something on the back of the foot.

Well addiction it is, this was the same Capetonian with an addiction, back again, and it seems with her small stature she might be running out of space sooner then later.

It seems tattoos are therapy to some, this is in memory of her son.

If I ever tell you, do not put a name of a spouse, girlfriend or anything that you can sleep with on you please listen! This is what has to happen if you have to lose some of those huge Gothic characters.

Thankfully the ship seemed to have sunk the remainder of that relationship.

Always popular, and with so many possibilities on placements.

A little butterfly will from this day on carry one foot a tad lighter.

Until next week!

The Travelling Trio

2012-07-11T12:00:00.000+02:00

A trio of 3 marketing gypsies showed up... All 3 of them from the Cape and surrounding area,

but they all showed up for their 1st tattoos, here is what they came up with.

Few things show as much as family dedication as a family crest. Excruciating amount of details but well worth the wait.

The second of the trio was the more devout one, the one who decided he will go for a crucifix on one of the more sensitive spots.

Lastly their little female companion decided for a Bible quote on the inner bicep, but took it like few men can!

This is why I enjoy doing what I do the variety of people you meet!

See you next week!

Upington

2012-07-04T12:00:00.000+02:00

A touch up done to give this dragon the black soul it needed. A few gruelling hours of hammering in that black but this is what turned out in the end.

Originally she had the gecko on the one foot, now she has 2 extra phrases... What they mean is not actually something I can remember, so guess you will have to ask the lady in question.

A little devil done about 15 to 18 years ago, well this devil went through some severe steps of evolution and transformed into a classic Sailor Jerry traditional panther.

A pair of lips, are they a hint of what is to come or what is expected?

Facebook Competition!

2012-06-28T16:14:00.002+02:00

This competition is open to everyone, like the page and the like the related comment to be eligible.

Please not this tattoo will be done in Upington, NC and surrounding area.

Best of luck to everyone.

Olifantshoek ERROR

2012-06-27T12:00:00.000+02:00

Well it seems somewhere a gear was stuck, here is a post that should have been uploaded months ago, it was done in Olifantshoek, a single large piece.

Well worth the sit, but sure took time to complete, and one of the strongest and smallest women I have ever seen!

A quick road trip update...

2012-06-20T23:27:00.000+02:00

Travelled from Upington, NC to Kathu, NC for a while crashed at Binx & Harry, from there went to Danielskuil on the charity run... After a brief time there I headed to Kuruman, NC and spent the night there. Next day back in Kathu for some of the larger pieces, so I will be uploading again real soon, very far behind at the moment!

A little of what I have been up to ;)

2012-06-11T23:52:00.001+02:00

This was a weekend tattoo and I wanted to show off the new format, what are your suggestions regarding the new format?

Kathu Bookings

2012-06-11T19:24:00.001+02:00

I still have a few booking before the charity run on the weekend if you are interested in a booking call me on 084 2501 073.

Visual Restructure!

2012-06-04T00:16:00.002+02:00

Boredom begets creativity... Okay maybe not so much boredom as urge. I decided that it needs a cleaner slimmer look, with a bit of a restructure. This is what I decided on.

Photos will be uploaded soon again, as I am very far behind once again! So the focus on updates is still there, it is just the every now and then crave for something more spicy.

Hope to be seeing you again soon, and the next few days I will be off to another random road trip! So seems Kathu is on the list again.

Kathu Update #4

2012-05-02T12:00:00.000+02:00

The last few photos of the Kathu Trip update.

Fortunately the photo quality is much better than the previous post.

A great way to remember a birthday, a terrible way to forget it!

This was just one of those fun tattoos to do, some colour some blackwork. Overall really enjoyable.

Solid blackbwork is always something that enjoy in certain cases... This is one of them. Something you can immediately identify yet keep on looking at some of the finer details.

Again a little semi blackwork... Still interesting designs these 3, small and effective.

On the last day just as I am about to leave he came in for a quick dragon, and unfortunately I underestimated the detail, in the end it was well worth it though.

Kathu Update #3

2012-04-25T12:00:00.000+02:00

In advance, Blackberry phones, even the 9700 Bold has a crappy camera, this is the best photo I could do without my camera. So apologies from me.

Part model, part canvas, this is what happens when you ride a CBR...

Although quite a pleasant chap for someone who had to sit down so long without moving too much.

This is Big Mamma, this is her one arm... Those 2 mushrooms are hers!

This is why you fear Big Mamma, after getting her 2 shrooms, she wanted her eagle with the American flag. One after the other! Amazing woman.

Adding to someone with so many awesome tattoos is quite intimidating, though his taste in art makes it impossible to say no to.

The brother of T.C Coetzee this is his way to remember his brother. He had a devout love for Playboy, in his memory his brother got a playboy logo to remember him by.

Getting anyone's name on your body is usually referred to as a 'Kiss of Death', for good reason. Though being together for more than 5 years and married for another 5? Well let's hope for the best.

Simple yet effective, this is why I love tattooing the variety of everything out there.

This will probably be one of the more memorable sessions, not the design but her nerves! Never have I had someone so shy and so nervous. Though she sat through her session with remarkable ease.

Gauteng Visit

2012-04-24T16:46:00.001+02:00

I will be in Gauteng for a while, in fact I will be there from Friday until Tuesday, if you want to make an Appointment contact me via email or give me a call.

See you there soon ;)