I have always loved Science Fiction, as a genre in books, graphic novels, film, music and more specifically Art, when Lance asked me about a sleeve and showed me some drawings fo mine that leaned into a few textural patterns that where inspired by this I asked him if we could take it further, wonderfully he said yes and we got to do the tattoo below.

Thank you Lance, couldn’t be happier with how this one came together. Inspired by the French Cartoonist Philippe Druillet’s, Loane Sloane series, to quote Wikipedia – The “quasi-baroque style of Druillet’s artwork, which features Lovecraftian space nightmares mixed with Escherian mathematically-inspired worlds.” really does it for me.

I had the absolute pleasure and honor of doing this project for Ryan in Austin TX through 2020 and 2021 both pre, during and post pandemic…. above are photos of his back and legs healed, shot on digital format with a Canon Eos R (only just healed as you can still see some flakes, this is a week after the final session.)

Below are some photos shot on film of the process, getting tattooed on this large a scale is nothing short of awful for the client, it takes time and so much patience, it is very challenging to sit for these large sessions of lining and blackwork, not to mention the mental process of accepting such a large piece of art into your body and life, a illustration that becomes part of you for the rest of your own eternity.

I wanted to try and capture some of what it is like to undergo the process for both the client and myself, lots of double exposures (an excuse to play around and be “arty”) shot on 35mm, Hasselblad medium format and a Graflex 4×5 press camera.

Thank you for looking.

Thank you to Abby Mosseri and Torz Dallison for inviting me into their beautiful gallery and space to show my work, I couldn’t think of a nicer way for my family and I to be welcomed into our new adventure, living and working in Lewes, East Sussex UK. I have been hanging on to these paintings since I first started them at the beginning of the lock down last year, they where initially studies for larger paintings and a way to practice and refine my skills, some ended up as illustrations for bands or on t shirts and some I used to create larger works, I wanted to make things whilst we where stuck at home that had a positive and mediative focus. I hope they bring as much joy to their new homes as they did for me whilst I made them.

I also painted two new circular pieces and finished two older paper studies, my first paintings since arriving to the uk, below are some pictures of the work installed and the paintings themselves.

Thank you to everyone who came out to the opening and to all who purchased work from near and afar.

to see a pirce list of works still available please contact the gallery.

THE MAKERS GALLERY OF LEWES
71 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1XG

T: +44(0) 1273 487369
M: +44(0) 7921 228 174
E: info@abbymosseri.com

instagram @71lewes

OPENING HOURS 

THURSDAY-SATURDAY

11AM-5PM

OR BY APPOINTMENT

I find it quite difficult to put into words what living and working in Austin TX the last 8 years has meant to my family and I, add onto this, the amazing 6 years in NYC prior to TX makes it even harder, the opportunities for tattooing, painting, connection and inspiration whilst living in the USA have been far too many to count or even attempt to remember with any accuracy. I am so grateful fo the privilege of having such an amazing group of clients and friends the world over, like I said I cannot find the words to truly describe the gratitude. Thank you.

During the last year I have been working on quite a few projects that I decided to not share any pictures of, until they where finished. Ryan has been an amazing client, he first approached me 10 months ago with the idea of getting a large bold solid black work piece inspired by nepalese art and weaving / tapestries.

I will publish some of the process photos and various session stages in another post, but for now here is the finished tattoo, thank you Ryan, your patience and fortitude are amazing.

Thank you to the amazing crew at Rock of Ages, all the friends and community all over the world for all the support on this huge transition from ATX to East Sussex UK. 
I will be setting up my schedule and place of work in the next few weeks, in the meantime please feel free to use the contact form on this website via the link above to start the conversation about getting tattooed or commissioning a painting, I’ll be giving priority to larger full body torso tattoos that draw inspiration from my recent black and white and colorful paintings. 
Thank you for the support.

Thomas.