After giving Lily the Lion a little while to really settle in and heal we went back in and added a second pass of color to make her a tawny gold. We’ll be adding color to her crown in our next sitting. I am leaning towards a fiery crown of Carnelian, Amethyst, Garnet, Citrine & Ruby.
More will be revealed as we progress!

There are some tattoos we out grow. Some that didn’t really fit us even in the first place. Maybe we had good intentions and an idea we liked when we first thought of it, but somehow the execution just fell short of the ideal. Wearing a mark that no longer serves us, or perhaps never did, creates a kind of dissonance with our self image and sometimes even a disruption to the flow and/or energy of our bodies. At the very least these kinds of tattoos can cause mental irritation and a nagging sense that something is not as it could or should be. Sometimes a wrong tattoo can be far worse in the ways it influences our self esteem and even significantly distorts other people’s perceptions of us. Tattoo cover-ups can be an effective means for bringing these issues to rightness and balance. Not only does a satisfying cover-up restore beauty where there has been discord, it can transform negative messages into validating affirmation.


The process of designing a cover-up involves not only choosing subject matter that supports our best intentions, but that also visually integrates the previous design in a way that disguises it as components of the new image’s texture, form, contrast, color and positive and negative space. To transform a tattoo is to solve a fascinating puzzle. It is deeply satisfying to see beyond the constraints of the prior image and envision the new possibilities built on the bones of the old.


This solar lion tattoo is the completed work in the first of two sittings. Today we focused on design, outline and the shading which shall mask the previous image as a part of this new one. Next time we will add new layers of color and texture to make this a great golden cat of the sun. At this point, we’ll be giving this tattoo a few months to heal and let the old pigment truly merge with the new. Then in October we’ll be going back in for round two. I’ll be sure to keep y’all posted!

I’ve been having a delightful week and sharing and enjoying the mutual love of honeybees. The most awesome Robin was back to visit Maine during her annual summer break from teaching in Argentina and as the daughter of a seasoned beekeeper we added a honeybee (& dragonfly) to this ongoing representation of all that is precious and important in her life. The honeybee signifies home and the sweetness of family and the continuity of the hive as the place we always return to. The dragonfly is for her next chapter and as such its mysteries are yet to be revealed.

As one who completely and passionately adores bees myself, I have been distilling my honeybee design, each one changes slightly while certain elements remain constant. I have been especially inspired by the idea of a bee made of five hearts and a circle: the head is one heart, each set of wings another pair and the abdomen also a heart all radiating out of the central cirlcle that is the thorax which has a heart in its center. It was such a pleasure to create this tattoo and spend time with Robin, it was also truly special to be able to create a bee to honor her Dad not only on Robin’s behalf but also from me as a novice beekeeper giving some props to one who has gone before me.

So with Robin’s blessing I took the bee graphic that I had created for her tattoo and I adapted it into a t-shirt design. I have one on order for myself in lavender with violet ink. I’ll post pix when I receive it. Coincidentally a friend recently turned me on to the most amazing AND local soda that is only sweetened with honey by a new company from Brunswick Maine called Green Bee SodaSo to give a nod to the best soda EVAR I made a green bee version too.

The gloriousness of Mother Nature’s summer in Maine has been outdoing herself these last few weeks and when I have not been making art I’ve been hanging out with the bees. The girls, their mom and their few brothers appear to be thriving, zooming in and out of the hive loaded with the bounty of this good green earth. Here are some photos of my dear ones.

I’ve been all about the self adornment lately. Having tried other one-up shirt printers without much satisfaction, I was very delighted to discover that Zazzle’s products don’t suck. I just uploaded these new designs and slowly but surely I’ll be adding more and more.
buy my bling or make your own custom gifts at Zazzle

I walk in Beauty.
I behold Beauty before me.
I behold Beauty behind me.
I behold Beauty below me.
I behold Beauty above me.
I behold Beauty beside me.
I behold Beauty within me.
I walk in Beauty every day!

With Independence Day just around the bend, we’ve been busy getting stuff done during our annual Summer Staycation. Now that the Sanctuary Website has been updated to reflect our big changes including a link to Chris’s new private one man studio in the State Theatre Building, all my 2010 tax numbers have been crunched AND all the winter sand and copious amounts of mouse poop have been cleaned out of our now immaculate garage… I have a few glorious days to relax and soak in the gloriousness that is Maine in July!
One thing I have definitely discovered about myself over the years, is that as an artist and magical being, my down time is just as crucial for me as my doing time. Just as a good French press of coffee needs time to steep, so does the creative heart and mind. It is in these moments of reflection and grace that my artist’s soul absorbs and deepens before I might pour off the next seasoned batch of creative expression. Ever hungry for glimpses of beauty, inspiration and wonder I cherish these times of relaxation to refresh, renew and recharge for the next period of tattoo medicine & healing art. IMHO beauty shared is even more precious than beauty hidden, so I offer these images for your pleasure that you may behold the beauty in your world too!
Bee Blissed
XOXOX
–Jen


self-seeded snapdragons from last year’s crop.


Violas nestled in by the front steps


Shirley Poppies in bloom and old heirloom poppies about to burst forth, blue borage amidst the poppies = bee heaven!


Sweet William masses of fragrant blooms ranging from white to darkest burgundy and bright magenta.


clusters of Mallow, Feverfew and a lone Poppy.

We choose to be tattooed for many reasons, perhaps one of the most enduring ones is to permanently signify our connection with loved ones. Here are a few examples…

Twin Sisters revealing their shared passions and their unique differences.


Each flower or symbol represents a significant woman in M’s life. We’ve been adding to the garden as significant events and dates arise.


A memorial in honor of the grandmother who painted these magnolias originally: this tattoo signifies childhood, family, ancestry & happy memories of times past.


Each flower was chosen for a family member. The colors are each ones’ favorite. Not only does this celebrate the bond of a close family, it also serves as a memorial for one of them.

After my friends Stephanie & Danielle both made chocolate zucchini cake/bread I’ve been inspired to create my own grain/gluten free version.

Ingredients:
2 medium/large Zucchini (or 1 monster one the size of your head!)1
1 bar dark organic chocolate (I used 1/2 Green & Blacks 85% & 1/2 Sirius 70% Icelandic Chocolate) or 1/3 C chocolate bits
4 eggs (if not using coconut flour you can reduce eggs to 2)
1-1/4 C yogurt (or applesauce for dairy free version)
3 T raw honey
2 droppers of liquid Stevia
1/2 C Organic ZERO (Erythritol or use other sweetner of your choice)
1/3 C Coconut Oil (liquified)
4 t ground cinnamon
1 t himalayan salt (or sea salt)
1-1/2 t Xanthan Gum
2-1/2 baking Power
1 C Organic Cocoa Powder
1 C Coconut Flour
1 C Almond Meal/Flour

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°
Shred zucchinis and put into big mixing bowl with finely chopped chocolate pieces.
In mixer or food processor, blend till smooth: Oil, Eggs, Yogurt, Honey, Erythritol & Stevia
Add & blend till fully mixed: Salt, Baking Powder, Cinnamon, Xanthan Gum, Cocoa, Almond & Coconut Flours (this batter will be rather thick)
Add batter to shredded zucchini & chocolate pieces and mix well with your hands till evenly blended.

Spoon into greased loaf pans (2+ depending on the size of your zucchinis) or a 12/large muffin/cupcake pan & 1 small loaf pan. Put into 350° oven check after 30 mins. I cooked mine for 65-70 mins as muffins and a small loaf pan.
The flavor & texture is better the next day after they’ve cooled and had a chance to bloom.

To All My Dear Creative People!

About a year ago another artist turned me on to Artist Trading Cards. What I adore about them is that because they are limited to 2.5″x3.5″ cards, they are so immediate and portable it is easy and satisfying to make art even in the midst of a hectic life.

I started to fantasize about having an exhibit at Sanctuary after I’d been making them for a few months. Well this dream is becoming a reality and I am curating my very first ever international ATC show called Please Mr Postman in August 2010.

Now here’s where you come in…
My BIG fat ATC dream is to have at least 1000 different cards from all over the world by all kinds of different people of all ages and levels of creative experience participating. All art will be gratefully welcomed and shown regardless of skill level.

I am asking you (perhaps begging is more accurate) to be part of my dream.
PLEASE MAKE ART for this Amazing Event!

This is the link to our Facebook Event please join us there if you are so inclined

This is the link to a handy dandy PDF for everything you would want to know about making this happen and being a part of it.

If you really want to be part of this, and you do not want to cut your own cards to size you can find precut ones on Amazon or in most art supply stores here’s a link.

ANDDDD if you just simply cant deal with addressing an envelope to us, printing your own submission form, and getting some ATC blanks for yourself. I’ve made some handy dandy kits to get you started. They contain everything to get you going, you just make the art and send it back to me. Please either pop on over to Sanctuary to pick one up or if you are not in Maine, just let me know if you need me to mail one to you.

You get to decide if you want to receive your own artwork back or if you want the extra fun of getting back another person’s art and either adding to your already existing ATC collection or launching a new way to spend your free time. I am sure this is going to be an amazing exhibit. I have already received my first submission and I’m in the process of making a card a day till we hang the show in August.

Thank you for being you.
Thank you for being creative!
Thank you for making the world a more beautiful place!
Thank you in advance for helping me to make this show a whopping success!

BTW PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD far and wide, Please Please Please repost this, tell your friends, tell your acquaintances, tell your high school rivals whom you haven’t spoken to in 15 years!

BIG BIG BIG love and creative wishes to you!
–Jen

Sanctuary Tattoo & Art Gallery invites you to create some art for our International ATC show. Opening Party on August 6, 2010 and running till September 1, 2010. US Mailing Dates by July 25th.

Artist Trading Cards are 2.5”x3.5” pieces of art produced on sturdy paper, cardstock or other (non flimsy) surface. Anything goes with ATCs. The only limitation is the size. You get to choose your own theme, choose your own medium and make some awesome art that will be show with lots and lots of other miniature pieces of awesome art!

Perhaps the best thing about ATCs is that they are really portable and easy to work with and because they are so small they don’t take a million years to create. AND best of all, if you wish, you can receive different art by other artists in return for your submissions.

We’re gonna make this real easy for you. Sanctuary will provide a handy dandy kit including ATC blanks for you. You just make some 2.5”x3.5” art, fill out the form, Stamp and address your SASE & Send it back to us! In exchange you get to be part of our first international ATC gallery exhibit & you can receive another artist’s work back swapped for your submissions!

If you are interested in participating in our August ATC show please reply with your mailing address and we’ll send you everything you need to be part of this exciting show!

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing what you create!

Sincerely

–Jennifer Moore (jen(at)tattoofairy.com)