My Final Tattoo Designs 

Its taken me so long to finally get to the end! 

As you can see iv continued with the idea of framing the main image with the more decorative aspects of my clients ideas. Using the Lilly's Apple Blossom, Swallows, Roses all in a combination with shading and textures.

What do you think ? 

Here is some of the feedback from Leo ( my client) 

" Wowsers ( his words not mine)  i think its perfect! .. "

" now i need to decide where i want it. with this design it looks like a certain point so i would have to have one in two certain points. Like me Back ! it would fit perfectly on each shoulder blade."

" The both look like they are meant to be a pair, even though they both are different. My family will love this! I am so happy Lauren chose to use the sacredheart as the main imagery! the theory behind it and the actual imagery is so perfect for what i want. This will be my most important tattoo amongst them all ! .. They are sacred to me!'

Lauren has done such a good job at keeping me informed in ideas and showing me visual ideas instead of me trying to imagine them. Although Lauren has put colour in there after i said i didn't want colour, it has slightly changed my mind. i like the slight glow of the yellow Lilly's and the light blue in Marys head dress. So i might have to re think the colour situation !!!'

I am happy with the result. But happy isn't good enough for me. I think i  can do a lot better ! 

But i think I'm lacking in editing ability on photoshop.Which is holding me back from my final visual idea to come alive. 

It has been a long process but i have enjoyed every set of the way.

And i wish to get a project like this again soon.

The Sacred Heart 

Being the artists behind Leo's tattoo i know it is important to stick to his brief. But i am going to abuse the fact that hes told me to use my own artistic direction.

Iv come across several Religious imagery and iv fallen in love with the sacred heart !

The Sacred Heart (also known as Sacred Heart of Jesus) is one of the most famous religious devotions to Jesus' physical heart as the representation of His divine love for Humanity

I thought this as a theme would tie in perfectly! He told me how close he is to his family and wanted symbols incorporated to be devoted to them. well doing that and using the sacred heart imagery he is celebrating jesus' divine love for humanity. without Humanity Leo and his family wouldn't exist.

Here are just some of the paintings and illustrations of this amazing theme.

Both Jesus and Mary have been painted adoring their sacred heart. I believe everyone should be doing the same! 

Here is just a few stages of my own development into the sacred heart.

 With this sketch I'm concentrating on the beams of light that can bee seen coming of the sacred heart. 

just a quick sketch putting everything together.

Not so happy about this one. It doesn't to be a whole, looks a bit jagged.

But what i do like is the gesture of the figure with his hands out and the swallows flying away. it gives the impressions that he is signaling them away. Creates a Connection between the figure and the birds., which is missing from the other design aspects.

And at this point i have chosen not to show Leo as i am taking an artist judgement into thinking he will Love it ! and keeping it away from him to give him a little surprise at the end.

New inspiration for my Client.

Whilst watching a programme called LA ink. I came across an amazing tattoo that i thought my client could really appreciate. These portraits were done by the famous Kat Von D. shes well known for her outstanding black and grey portraits like the ones above. thought the design process for my client iv found it hard to settle down on a specific theme for the tattoo. Leo my client was able to give me tones of images to work with and ideas to spring off. but putting them together in a way that they will gel, has been hard. I've tied putting everything into one sketch but then looking at it and being confused at what the design is trying to say. Everything just looked bundled on top of each other. This tattoo needs a story and a meaning, but still needs to link with my clients brief. 

i showed Leo these tattoos above as a test to see what he may think of them. He had really positive feedback from them, saying he likes the shading detail and the realistic qualities it had. but he mainly liked the idea of having a frame around the sketch like the first one above. he said he liked how it has framed the main aspect of the tattoo but the frame itself still had so many decorative qualities to it. the one at the bottom he particularly likes the way the roses have been positions to form a stopping point of the portraits and adds that different contrast against the smooth skin shading. 

This might be a way of moving forward with the design to help gel my design aspects together. 

we soon shall see. 

keep a look out for the results.

After The recent changes in ideas here are just a few of the sketches iv done so far.

These first two, i concentrated on the idea of a frame. Something that would frame my main piece and hold it in together. They are both Slightly curved upwards to create the cupping effect of the frame. so something would easily sit on top of it.

I am very happy with how just these two sketches have come out like, that i am planning to use these element in my final sketch.

Client feedback: I love the progression from just ideas, i specifically like the direction lauren is taking this, and i particually like the content. i know i told lauren tones of ideas but lauren's has selected them well! its not too much, but its still decorative without being barbie like.

This ne above ive incorporated both of the previous designs just because i loved them that much ! 

i like the tonal differences but as a tattoo it would look unfinished and boring! 

so looks good on paper but im not too sure what leo would think of it.

Extending ideas. Connecting the elements together

Just a quick painted version just to flare things up a bit.