Get to know Grymjack's work.

I figured that I might as well lay down a bit of back story on myself so that you will know where I am coming from when I say a geek's adventure into tattooing.

I have a ton of influences, starting when I was young and full of Marvel Comic madness, to today where I can list of artists like Diego Rivera, Frank Frazetta, Joe Capobianco, Udon crew, Fritzz(aka Basiltoons), Raul Fernandez, Hayao Miyazaki, Ralph McQuarrie, Doug Chiang, and many many more, Wayne Reynolds, Steven Prescott, Tony Diterlizzi, Shirow Masamune, Production I.G..

So with that being said here is a selection of some of my traditional work.

Sorry I don't have a bigger image of this one.  Its was a self portrait of myself that got stolen. 

Magic the Gathering Commissioned Playmat.  22" x14" Copics.

Magic the Gathering Commissioned Playmat.  22" x14" Copics.

Oekaki BSS applet.  Full digital with small bit map graphics

Tattoo Design, Pen, ink, colored in adobe photoshop

Oekaki BSS applet.  Full digital with small bit map graphics

Oekaki BSS applet.  Full digital with small bit map graphics

Pencil work.

The "Flash" Randomizer! 25 drawings of Accidental "Flash". Round 2

Round 2 "Flash" Randomizer! 25 drawings of Accidental "Flash". is of the following:

11. Lion 26. Barbwire




Seeking to combine the two was a bit odd, but then I started to think about the expression of my desire to be a tattoo artist.  And the situations that I have already had to deal with in my journey.  All of the sudden this came out.  I hope you all like it.

Tattoo Artists to study: Joe Capobianco

Everyone has a favorite local tattoo artist, and we all can search the internet for the "greatest" tattoo artists but ultimately its our own sense of appeal that allows the individual to select his/her influences.

Joe Capobianco is one of those influences for me. Coined "The Godfather of Pin Up" by BIZARRE mag Jan. 2011, Mr. Capobianco is a great artist. I mean come on, the man has his own tattoo machine the "Brickhouse", and even published illustration books.  A talented artist, Joe, has a style that makes a man all fuzzy in his no-no spots, in respects to his art of course.

His line work is completely awesome. The stroke, and even the line weight is flawless. While his style is not for some, I can assure you that it matters not to both him and his fans(me included)! Joe Capobianco's body of work show an understanding of both composition and knack for what a sexy rock pin-up girl is. Color or black and white he can handle it.

I could keep on going on and on, but you can check it out for yourself.

Joe Capobianco's Gallery

If you want to contact Mr. Capobianco, and you know you want too! You can at the following:
Hope Gallery Tattoo
835 Woodward Ave. New Haven, CT 06512
203-467-1622

Close up of needle work

The "Flash" Randomizer! 25 drawings of Accidental "Flash". Round 1

So the first "Flash" Randomizer! 25 drawings of Accidental "Flash". is of the following:
7. Dragon 40. Fish


I used an online randomizer to get the numbers to focus on and this is what I have come up with.  Its a Dragon Koi.  Done in a pseudo-Japanese style which is very popular right now.  I even added in a "wave" theme behind it.  Let me know what you all think.

Prologue: The "Flash" Randomizer! 25 drawings of Accidental "Flash".

 Main Entry:     random
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition:     haphazard, chance
Synonyms:     accidental, adventitious, aimless, arbitrary, casual, contingent, designless, desultory, driftless, fluky, fortuitous, hit-or-miss, incidental, indiscriminate, irregular, objectless, odd, promiscuous, purposeless, slapdash, spot, stray, unaimed, unconsidered, unplanned, unpremeditated

Key onto hit-or-miss, unplanned, unpremeditated. we will talk about it later.

To start off lets talk about Flash.  Flash is usually several designs that are placed on a sheet. These sheets are displayed in tattoo studios on the walls, on racks or in books. Customers can browse through these pictures to choose a tattoo or to get ideas as to what they want.  It is also one of the reasons why certain styles of tattoos are more common then others.  Flash is apart of every tattoo studio, its "whats on the menu" if you will.  Every tattoo artist has done straight flash work on someone.  While the don't like they understand that some times its whats people want.  To me selecting flash without modification is akin to going into a McDonald's and ordering a #1 as the last meal you will ever eat!  Sure it will feed you, but do you really want McDonald's as your last meal?  Its the same way with unmodified Flash.  Sure someone drew it, so its art, but think about how many times some else has; seen, bought, re-printed, re-used, recycled, and tattooed it.  Its going on your skin and its going to be apart of you...make it worth while!

This brings us up to the topic at hand.   The "Flash" Randomizer! 25 drawings of Accidental "Flash"!  Remember how I told you to key on to the words above will here is where is comes into play.  In my research into tattoos I found a common theme to tattoos in general.  A listing of 50 to be exact, each one in order of "commonness"

What I am going to do is try to take 2 entries at random and combine them to make something that is both recognizable as both entries and at the same time something different.  Something that appeals to the person looking for something creative but with the same theme.  I am going to be blogging this as the line work is done, then updating as I color them.

Here is the list.

1. Tribal	2. Star / Nautical Star	3. Cross	4. Angel	5. Wings
6. Maori	7. Dragon	8. Phoenix	9. Butterfly	10. Fairy
11. Lion	12. Celtic Knot	13. Kanji	14. Tiger	15. Rose
16. Heart	17. Zodiac	18. Skull	19. Flowers	20. Pin-up Girl
21. Eagle	22. Crown	23. Sun	24. Anchor	25. Ankh
26. Barbwire	27. Om	28. Bat	29. Swallow	30. Spider
31. Compass	32. Cupid	33. Cherubs	34. Snake	35. Fleur de Lis
36. Haida	37. Sword	38. Dolphins	39. Dragonfly	40. Fish
41. Flames / Fire	42. Gun / Pistol	43. Harley Davidson / Motorcycle	44. Lotus	45. Luck / Clover
46. Musical Notes	47. Scorpion	48. Yin-Yang	49. Dagger	50. Love / Pierced Heart

Grymjack's Manifest Destiny into Tattooing

What makes someone want to become a tattoo artist? One would say it's a drive to do something counter-culture, some would say just to be able to do something "kewl", while others would say to get "chics/dudes".  My drive stands alone from these pursuits, and no I am not going to deny the benefits of the previous drives.  I see my pursuit into tattooing as a progression as an artist.  It is a Manifest Destiny of sorts, an expansion that is not only wise but that it is readily apparent (manifest) and inexorable (destiny). Grymjack's Manifest Destiny.

My goal as a tattoo artist is to be able to draw, paint, and use my gifts as a way to express both my feelings, and the feelings of the person who I tattoo.  I realize that not all tats have a deep meaning but that does not mean that the person in question does not want/deserve good workmanship.  I don't want to get into the industry to become rich, but it would be nice.  I just want to draw!  To create!

My readers, if your pursuit is pure then you will find your drive.  The road ahead is not an easy one as I am finding out, but my drive.....my end goal moves me forward.  If your trying, like I am, to find someone to apprentice you then you will need that drive when your sitting in a tattoo shop like the odd man/woman out, trying to find a way to break the ice so you can get other people to open up and talk to you.  Spending your evening drawing "flash".   Drive, intent, forward progress....they will be my friends.


 

The Back Story.... Welcome to the Ride.

Welcome would be tattoo artist, fledgling apprentices, and tattoo artists' bitches.  Welcome to my journey into the wonderful world to tattooing.  My path will be blogged so that those on the unique path such as my own can learn a few things about the wonderful culture of Tattoo Artists.  And learn something about themselves in the process.

Now, mind you my perspective is wholly my own, subject to the mental issues that I have about being who I am.  So please understand that while my journey is being shown to those that would wish to gain some insight it might not go the same way for everyone else.

So on with the story:

My name is Anthony Gay, (yea fuck you.....I'm one of few people that can marry a woman and turn her gay.....legally.  Now that, that is out of the way) I am a father to two great children, a 14 yr old, and 7 year old.   I went to school at the Joe Kurbert School for Graphic Illustration, in Dover, N.J.  I have been drawing, painting, and even doing metal work for the past 15 years.  I have a common, every weekday, wage slave kind of job.  You know the white collar 8-5 kind of life.  I have a professional career, only that affords me a comfortable lifestyle and which has gotten to a point that I am now able to start pursuing the things that I truly love.  I have a great friend / lover that has pushed me back into that things that truly make me happy, and for that I will never forget her, Cathelene Dominguez.


With her prodding and support I have allowed myself to embrace the things that have always been the core of who I am.  Look people, I am a Geek.  A Starwars loving, Magic the Gathering playing, Comic book collecting, art creating, D&D Dungeon Master with an style.  Its taken a great woman to help me realize that I should never be ashamed of who I am.  To not make excuses for who I am.  


All of this brings me to the topic of this Blog.   Grym Ink:  A Geek Trying to Become A Tattoo Artist.  I have always loved tattoos, the culture behind it, the commitment to art, the punk-metal-counter culture flare that makes the tattoo community what it is.  From mags like "Inked", "Tattoo", "Prick", and even "Low-rider" a culture of art springs from the pages.....a dark often misunderstood art.  Like all artist, some tattoo artist are also subject of misunderstanding due to there choice of profession.  Especially in like this where shows like L.A. Ink almost make it "movie star" to be a tattoo artist, which I am sure many scratchers (self trained tattoo artist, the names arrives from the amount of people that they have scarred teaching themselves) have come from just watching the show instead of take the better path.  So this is me....... a artist that is ready to stake his claim in the tattoo world.  Cataloging his progress as a means to have a 1st person perspective of how to become a tattoo artist, and how hard/easy it is to break into it.


So sit back in the chair while I mix up your ink, and get your transfer ready......