Disengagement via Shaping Light

A rose from my garden, Hasselblad 500cm Ilford sfx 200 Thomas Hooper Tattooing

A rose from my garden, Hasselblad 500cm Ilford sfx 200.

The beginning of this year has been one of creativity introspection, I made a rash decision on the 1st of January to not post any tattoos on my main Instagram ( I may have started a new one that’s private for now as I attempt to do one abstract painting a day for the whole year…… more on that later) and try my best to disengage from any interaction on the platform for a while, instead turning that time into drawing and reading.

Creativity is the Key to surviving 2020!

The Secret Life of a Rock, Hasselblad 500cm Ilford sfx 200 Thomas Hooper 2020

The Secret Life of a Rock, Hasselblad 500cm Ilford sfx 200.

My good friend David Hines recommended this book towards the end of last year and it is providing a wonderful insight into the way I look at pictures, wether it is something I am photographing or a drawing/painting I am creating.

I now find myself wanting to capture more of my tattooing on film, below are some images from the last few months, thank you for reading through and taking a look at the photographs.

A portrait of Carl Brunson, an inspiring and talented painter I am very fortunate to tattoo.

Carl Brunson Koni Omega Rapid M Fuji POrtra 800-1

Carl Brunson Koni Omega Rapid M Fuji POrtra 800-1

A visit from an old friend and client.

Emmanuel Hasselblad 500cm January 2020

Emmanuel, tattooed at Saved Brooklyn 2009-2012. Hassleblad 500cm on Fuji Portra 800 pushes one stop.

Stepped back into the ring with an old friend.

Kyle Hasselblad 500cm january 2019 sfx 200 Thomas hooper

Progress on Kyle’s back. Hassleblad 500cm on Ilford sfx 200

Getting close to the finish line with a wonderful client.

hasselblad tattoo pics dec 19 Thomas Hooper

hasselblad tattoo pics dec 19 Thomas Hooper

Hasselblad 500cm with Fuji Portra pushed 1 stop.

Joel Miller has been a client since 2005 and I’m honored we get to continue this journey here in ATX as he now lives local!

Joel 35mm in 120mm tattoo pics dec 2019 Thomas Hooper

Joel 35mm with 120mm spool adapters in Hasselblad Super Wide C on Ilford Delta 400 pushed 2 stops, shot full Negative to cover sprockets holes.

Joel 35mm in 120mm tattoo pics dec 2019 Thomas Hooper

Joel 35mm with 120mm spool adapters in Hasselblad Super Wide C on Ilford Delta 400 pushed 2 stops, shot full Negative to cover sprockets holes.

A recurring favorite Michael waters with the start of his legs.

Michael Waters Hasselblad super wide c Thomas Hooper

Starting Michael Waters legs, Hasselblad Super Wide C on Ilford 3200.

Michael Waters Hasselblad Super Wide C Thomas Hooper

Michae’s healed back, Hasselblad Super Wide C on Ilford 3200.

Daniel 4 x 5 large format photo Thomas Hooper Tattooing

Daniel, the day after we finished his back.

 

Justin Timid Steps Thomas Hooper Tattooing

Justin, Crown Graphic 4×5 Ilford 100 Delta.

 

And as a little foot note, today my good friend Dennis Mcnett AKA @Wolfbat dropped by the studio today and gifted me this set of woodblock printing tools and materials as he will be teaching me some of his amazing craft, more info on that as it progresses!

IMG_9173

Thank you Dennis and thank YOU for taking the time to look at my work.

X Thomas.

JBXTH I II III IV

The first print in the JBXTH Series is available via the Burlesque of North America website.

https://burlesquedesign.com/collections/jacob-bannon-x-thomas-hooper

Last month I had the honor of collaborating again with my old friend and peer Jacob Bannon on a new print series called JBXTH.

Each print was made live at Full Bleed Exhibition last month in the Netherlands. A total of 100 hand painted were created alongside 80 mono printed backgrounds.

Embellished and mono printed 15×22” & 16×20″ prints, silkscreened and mono printed live at @fullbleedexhibition by @gemma_monostereo & @benbrlsq, each print in the series is an edition of 25/15 respectively.

These were available at the exhibition all weekend in April, and now the prints we set aside for online sales will be placed available consecutively in the coming weeks on the @brlsq website, starting this Tuesday with JBXTH I.

Thank you for your support and to everyone who came by the exhibition, said hi and/or picked up a print.

-Thomas.⠀

Turning of the wheels.

Been a busy few weeks, lots of new work and painting a lot of new stuff for some upcoming exhibitions and projects, more on that later this week.

Here are some highlights from the past few weeks, thanks!!

And these last two images are from the top window section of my Mandrake Hotel installation.

Thank you – Thomas.

The Sweeney

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of finishing Ema Sweeney’s sleeve of Bath Street Tattoo Collective.

This piece was a lot of fun, a great mix of both my early and current styles, simple and bold areas with detail and intricate elements. Ema and I have a lot of work ahead of us as we embark on larger projects, and I cannot wait.

Always a pleasure and honor to tattoo a fellow tattooist.