Tattooing
by Matthew D. Wittmer
Last updated November 2020
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Healed one year Dec 2019
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Refresh. Dec 2018
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Healing…
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Couple days after…
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Dog memorial for Maggie. Dec 2018
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Detail.
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Three days after Saniderm
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And the color! Nov 26, 2017
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Finished the black, Nov 26, 2017
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Day after. Nov 2017
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Finished!
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Adding a spider…Nov 2017
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1 day into heal
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Black eyed Susan on side
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Leg shot
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Can’t wait for color!
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Tattoo day! Oct 8, 2017
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Oct 4, 2017
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Oct 1, 2017
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Detail 9 weeks in. Sep 2017
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Four days into heal.
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Aug 13, 2017 after saniderm
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Detail
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Lines done! Aug 12, 2017
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Chad adjusts petals by skull
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Lots of petals
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She sits still…bloom…
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Starting
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Ready!
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Big discussion on skull
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Stencil
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Discussing approach on tattoo day
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Chad Woody’s floral design for Heather
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4 days after quick second pass Aug 14, 2017
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6 weeks into heal
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Second pass July 2017
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Second pass July 2017
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June 4, 2017. Institutional green Matisse!
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Sister to the 25 year old Matisse tattoo…
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She wanted an institutional green…
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Matisse shape…
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June 3, 2017
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May 30, 2017
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Week into heal. Stay tuned for a bit more…
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Detail
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Second pass. April 2017
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March 10, 2017
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Bag of marking flags sketch
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Feb 26, 2017
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Session one; not finished so stay tuned for next session!
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First pass, Feb 26, 2017
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Detail of stencil. Feb 2017
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Added a stick…Feb 21, 2017
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Three months after pic. Used Dynamic ink for softer finish. Stoked to see the warmer heal!
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4 weeks into heal
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Five days into heal. Intenze lining and true black ink used.
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Road signs tattoo! Oct 23, 2017
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Starting out….
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Utah…
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The image
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Added color to this 20 year old tattoo but left line work to maintain provenance
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Oct 9, 2017. Refreshed a 20 year old tattoo
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27 days after tattoo
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For scale. Aug 12, 2016
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Night of tattoo
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Aug 12, 2016
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Starting…
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Stencil on Aug 12, 2016
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Healed, with stretching
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Healed, regular
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Day tattoo of photo. Dec 30, 2015
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Placement
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Dec 30, 2015. Scale
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Drawing
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Refreshed color. Oct 30, 2015
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23 year old & refreshed
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Tattooing the foot. Oct 30, 2015
My process
There are many methods of tattooing.
Each method, reason, tool, and process in tattooing has a unique utility.
In the last 25 years male and female tattoo artists have blessed me with many tattoos, and I always learn something new with each piece. Bishop Rotary machines are my preference for applying and receiving a tattoo (homage to Franco at Vatican for making them). Intenze Inks and Eternal Inks are the brands I use for colors. I use Dynamic Triple Black for black work. Disposable tubes & needles set up in multiple machines is my preference vs. using a single machine with cartridges.
Every person who entrusts me with their skin for a tattoo inspires me to see the world in a new light. Some of the tattoo artists that are my continual influence include London Reese (The Black Lantern, CA), Marc Durrant (Charnel House, Los Angeles, CA), Mattia Mambo Meda (Italy), L’Oiseau (Collioure, France), Kamilmokot (Berlin Germany). Latisha Wood (Vatican Studios, CA), Aniela Dahlgren (Sweden), Franco Vescovi (Vatican Studios, CA), Nick Whybrow (UK),
References
Aitchison, Guy. Reinventing The Tattoo, 2nd Ed. Proton Press. 2009. Print.
van Dinter, Maarten Hesselt. The World of Tattoo: An illustrated history. Amsterdam: KIT Publishers. 2005. Print
Perseverance: Japanese Tattoo Tradition in a Modern World. Los Angeles: Japanese American National Museum. 2013. Print.
Schwartz, Eric, dir. Tattoo Nation: The true story of the ink revolution. Visions Verite. 2014. DVD.