Freak's Koi

[freak]

I really dig seeing japanese design tattoos. When they are done by someone who is really good at it. I've seen some really bad one. Anyway, I've wanted to tool one for sometime now and i also thought what a great chance to test the different colors of the eco-flo dye. Now i'm not sure i want to dye it.

I know i need to start doing some tooling or i'll never get any better. So i was doing this just for practice but, figured i'de go ahead and post it. My drawings i did of a koi fish tattoo design where coming up short, very. I need to start drawing more again also. After finding something i really liked and getting permission from the artist, i'll post what i have so far.

This is by far the most carving and tooling i've done on one project.

It's on a piece that's 10"X 8"

Edited August 29, 2007 by freak

[ClayB]

Hey Freak,

That's really nice! I think it's the best carving you have done yet, at least that I have seen. You've got good shading and it looks like you've got good depth. I think it really helps when your design is something that you really like.

I know what you mean about coloring too. When I carve a project that turns out pretty good, it's always scary to think about messing it up with color, but it's something you have to do if you want to get good at it.

Clay

[CitizenKate]

Love the design. Can't wait to see it finished...

Kate

[shirleyz]

Lovely job Freak,

I love it the way it is now, but I think color would look really good on this particular piece. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Can't wait to see it finished.

ShirleyZ

[dsenette]

i too am a big fan of japanese style prints (like the koi etc)...that one's really nice...speaking from an art standard...not a leather standard as i've got no basis for critiquing such things

as far as a japanese koi goes you've got the lines and the proportions right....i tend to like the big fat head koi that look best as tattoos...and that one's got a "gert noggin on im"..i like it

also nice work on the waves....sometimes the japanese waves can get some pretty funky lines and things in them...and can look really wonky when you draw them incorrectly...you got the proportions right on those as well

[Dan Hammons]

Freak!!

Awesome! You may want to retract your statement a few days ago about having done nothing worthy of entering the show in Oct, Great Piece Dan

[The Major]

Great job Freak. Can't wait to see it colored.

[JohnD]

Wow, great work. I like it, I like it a lot.

I'm the same way with the carving, I think about it a lot but don't do it very often. very nice work though, I just may be inspired.

John

[ETW Grumpy]

Dude, you nailed it. Can't wait to see it colored.

[freak]

Thank you all very much. Got home late and whooped tonite. I'll start adding some color when i get a chance. Not sure what colors i want to do it in yet.

Just to make sure this is clear. This was not my design. I tried about 10 time to draw a nice koi and design to go with it but nothing i did was even close to as nice as this one. I looked for about a month and compared 30 something pictures , tattoos, art and tattoo design that i liked. Then picked this one and messaged the designer for permission. She said cool and i said thanks.

I wish i had an airbrush to dye this with. I'll use a brush and a lite hand and hope for the best. Either way i'm gonna be doing more of this style. I really like it and i enjoyed doing this one ,,,,so far.