Dolphin

Well folks I have probably mentioned the slow time is upon us tattoo artists so it seems my posts are getting sparser. I did get to do a dolphin the other day which made it a less than boring stretch of time, the young lady had gotten several tattoos from our shop and brought me in a photo of her with her family and this little guy jumping behind them. I think I might visit Florida this winter for a guest spot just so I can do a million dolphins. Yeah kids I liked it that much, maybe that's a sign I need more excitement in my life or maybe dolphins just rock your socks off!

Holy Drawings Batman!

well folks its been a little slow at work and so to fill some time the last few days I've done a couple drawings. All can be tattooed or they can just be enjoyed! Go a head and take peak and if you have anything you would like drawn or tattooed on you just email me at mrkylemack@gmail.com

 pumpkin with witches house....minus witch

 rabbit chasing a carrot...we can relate

Shark...yeah they are awesome

Faith and Flowers

I did this a little while ago on one of my favorites miss Tina. We did the faith then did a cross/flower rosary kind thing. It was super fun and Tina let me just kinda play around with her idea which is always the best. I look forward to doing more work on her and continuing to work towards a complete forearm piece! Thanks for checking out the blog! This is to all my supporters out there, I haven't stopped appreciating you. Until next time!

Cartoon leg sleeve

Started Despearaux on my friend Sara. We didn't get to the back round  but once we do it will wrap around to Remy on the other side. Sara has some of my favorite tattoos I've done in awhile. don't get me wrong I love all the tattoos I do from script to an original drawing I do but I do think these pieces challenge me and are incredibly fun! Thanks Sara!

Cardinal Progress

Well folks here is the cardinal tree I did earlier in the month with a little more progress to it. We got to color the lovely cardinal which symbolizes her mother and all the bleeding hearts; which symbolize her and her brothers and sisters. It's a really fun tattoo and Jacque is quite the card....inal. Bad jokes in typing format are the best. We have some back round to add in the coming months which entails a moon and sun eclipse. Everyone wish her luck if you see her because her beloved lynx lost in the WNBA playoffs and she will need all the high fives she can get.

Totoro The Regal

One of my favorite people Laura (of the tag team Bryan and Laura) came and got this sweet outline of Totoro! Laura has such classics as Bub and Bob, and Penguin Henchmen. We started this just before I went out of town. Super excited to finish it and give it some color! If you don't know who Totoro is look it up! He is a cool little spirit who lives in trees and helps some girls after the loss of there mother. We gave Totoro a regal image with an antique picture frame made of trees, a top hat, and sexy moustache!

Animals Continued!

What kinda of a week have I had folks? a hectic one. I got to do some fun tattoos all while preparing to go rub elbows with the big wigs of the tattoo community. I'm at Paradise Tattoo Gathering as we speak even though I writing in future tense. I'm hopefully going to pick up a few tricks while I'm out here. My week got going with Collin being a doll and letting me do a tattoo that's semi inspired by Albie Rock. If you don't know he's a vegan ice cream eating, woodsy, barbarian, warrior poet. Shits crazy right? So I drew a squirrel/goat infused with ice cream and bearded excellence! Dig IT!

Finished my week with a late night last minute Hello Kitty. She wanted a fat out line and some black and grey. Hated building up the lines to be fat but......damn if big lines aren't sexy!

Also keep an eye out for a regal Totoro tattoo, if you don't know who or what that is then for shame!

Animals!

Animal bonanza this week! Got to start an awesome half sleeve with a big fat cardinal and bleeding heart flowers. The cardinal is her mom and the flowers are for her brothers and sisters. I never get to do trees but I really love doing them! So don't forget to see me for some nature goodness. Still got a little ways to go to finish this but what fun!

This was done today and it was the day after his honeymoon. He is an avid out doors men and loves rabbit hunting. This was just a black rabbit originally but we added some dimension and had a little fun. I would love to do these kinds of tattoos all day. He sat like a champ and I look forward to seeing him back here in the future.

Well the animal parade continues with a fun sparrow silhouette with a twist. Well its actually not much of a silhouette but this tiny twins fan came in and I couldn't let her get the blobby black, squished head, no beak bird tattoo picture she brought in. She gave me a little freedom and we settled on this fun little design. Can my week get any better?

Intercontinental

My Friday was awesome, which would be most of the masses Monday. I got to do the second tattoo on miss Michelle and her first one is a personal favorite of mine. Its harry potter glasses with a lightning bolt on her foot which is awesome if you love harry potter like I do. She wants to be the hero of her own story and if its in writing it must be true! Some small writing to keep her reminded of that fact.

Also tattooed her friend Samantha who is an english teacher in South Korea! Which was an honor because it was my first tattoo on someone who lived on another continent! I'm pretty sure its the first little seed of me becoming and intercontinental tattoo artist. I forgot to take pics so they have bandages on them which is lame I know but hey what a fun Friday!

And if my Friday wasn't already awesome enough seeing some of my favorite customers a group of camp counselors came in to get there first tattoos. Shawn tattooed one of them and I got to tattoo Amanda who is from England. Yup folks my second intercontinental tattoo of the day. Amanda sat like a champ for this little feather and sand me lion king songs while her friend from Ireland held her hand. She was unbelievably hilarious despite only understanding every other world! These campers where the most entertaining people I've ever had the pleasure of tattooing and being a showman/entertainer of people myself it was rad to end my day with this tattoo.

Skull Drawing

So folks, I haven't got a tattoo for you but I do have this sweet little treat I drew the other day. I would like to tattoo this on somebody, in color, and a decent size. I will work with you on price and the location/details. Get at me via email and give this drawing a home! email me at mrkylemack@gmail.com

Uptown Art Fair

It's Finally over! The uptown art fair was here and Brass Knuckle Tattoo is right in the middle of it! We        had so many people stop in the shop, it was pandemonium! It was all very exciting and exhausting but played right into my never shut up constantly talking strengths. I did some tattooing during all the chaos. Our new neighbors next door are wonderful and sell Indian style dresses and cloths. The daughter of our neighbor came by with her boyfriend who got these boxing gloves from me on his forearm. He is originally a kick boxer but switched to strictly boxing a few years back. he was a cool guy who had lots of knowledge on the current boxing world, so I picked his brain and we did a fun tattooing on him.

Later on Saturday of the art fair it got really busy despite the early rain. I got to meet a lot of cool people  as usual but the best were a group of girls and there mom from Manitoba Canada! Yup our neighbors to the north. I gave them a hard time about there accents and they gave me a hard time about mine. I got to see how different there culture is even though they are still very similar and close to the U.S. Well I tattooed this little phrase and bird silhouette for Karli and did a small clover on her friend Kimberly (pic didn't turn out). These were there first tattoos and I loved getting to do them, It also makes me an international tattoo artist I believe because these tattoos reside in Canada! Super RAD!

Well My Sunday Finished up in more out of state action and first tattoos. This is a unicorn silhouette on a girls butt for her first tattoo. Loved doing this because its hilarious and not because its on a butt! get your minds out of the gutter. Her and her friends are from Iowa and were visiting for the weekend. I also did some fireworks on her friend and another one of the girls got bird silhouettes. Crazy weekend with the art fair and a lot of fun!

Thanks to everyone who stopped in and checked out the shop and said hi! Met some cool people and a few tattoo artists from around the metro and got to talk till I didn't have anything else to say, which has never happened. All in all it was a great weekend! Look forward to next years art fair and seeing all the amazing art people are doing!

A Rat and A Bird

Hey folks here is a super secret sneak peak at some cheesy goodness happening on a patron of mine. She has got such memorable tattoos from me as Dory from finding Nemo and Grrr from Invader Zim. Sarah was back in the other day to do this little mouse and keep the wheels rolling on her leg sleeve. She heals like a champ and sits like a tree in the forest. 

Also on a side note for the day I did some super cute lightning bugs with big lightbulb butts. No pic for now on those but keep the peepers pealed and find some time to check back. The big news of the day wasn't the fresh mouse magic or even the upcoming tidbit about the bird in hand. The news of the day is I met one of the greatest wrestlers of all time! The one and only ANIMAL from the Legion of Doom. If u don't now about the spiked shoulder pad wearing, greatest tag team Champion of all time I suggest getting a clue! I admit I went crazy fan a little but held back my big smile as long as I could. What a fantastic day! 

Now to the bottom story or last one of the day. The beautiful lashes or sam as she is known to some found this helpless baby bird and went full on mother nature. She is determined to keep it safe and love it and feed it. I wish her the best of luck and hope she gets this little feathered dude back in the tree tops flying high and eating worms soon!

Drawings made of tape

Yup a Drawing made of tape or more commonly referred to as a sticker. It has been a long time coming and eventually u have to jump in and stop checking if the water feels right. So sink or swim I'm treading water till I really start covering some ground. Hope u like the fun and sassy designs and all you need to do is stop in the shop to get one! Or get tattooed by me and get yourself a take home bag of goodies. Also send me picks of u holding them or sticking them in random places and I just might post it up on the blog!

Ancient Fun!

Well after a slow monday my day almost ended in that same fashion....a slow boring death. Lucky for me there is a few fun time customers out there in the world who come to me with awesome ideas. I did an Eye of Horus on my friend Joel awhile back and today a friends of his came and let me draw this organic bio-mech type eye. I never do things in the bio-mech or organic style but always loved it. Getting to take this tentative step out into the water was a blast and I look forward to exploring more of this type of work in my free time.

After doing this ancient tattoo we got ancient at the shop. Frog, Shawn, And Myself all at a cheddar flavored cricket to get in touch with the old ancient Egyptian ways and become next level food connoisseur like all those shows you see on the travel channel. We went next door to the coffee shop to see if we could get one of the lovely barista to eat one and guess what? she mowed down the other five that were left! Some people are just in tune with nature and some people are picky.

The proof of my manly open minded taste buds are in the photographic proof! Well Let me tell u it was like eating the most stale piece of semi popped popcorn imaginable!

Video Game Dinosaurs

After a lengthy break I'm back with a blog update. This time I come bearing video game awesomeness and cute dinosaurs! My long time friend Laura (now married with a new last name) came in to finish up a tattoo we started some months back. These cute dinosaurs have appeared in several video games but most famously Bub and Bob Bubble Bobble. This was Laura's first ankle area tattoo and even though I did a penguin on her when I was an apprentice and even though she has lots of tattoos she still didn't love me after these two tattoos. I love doing fun tattoos like this and am always so grateful for the friends I have who come in with these radical ideas!

Whats The Time?

I had a young lady come in and wanted a pocket watch. We drew this up and added some roses for spice. She already had the writing from years ago but we worked around it. The clock is also set to an ultra special time that she specified and which she will have to tell you about sometime. I loved doing this pocket watch but didn't realize how simple yet intricate a pocket watch can be. Hopefully she loves her new tattoo and look forward to more fun tattoos in the coming weeks.

Later in the week two up-beat young ladies came in and asked about best friend tattoos. I asked if they had any idea what they wanted and one of them pulls out a keychain with two peas in a pod! Can u imagine a cutter keychain containing vegetables? I can't! They mentioned a family they had to go find in uptown and said they would be back, I drew up this little adorable pea pod. They came back with mom, dad, and little brother in tow. Sarah did the one friend and I did the other, so it was a simultaneous tattoo friendshipathon. After the tattoos finished I stenciled a hug design on her little brothers back in a temporary tattoo fashion. Great family and a fun day. Also a fun fact.....these two young ladies have worked at three jobs together! How does that even happen?!

Koi Fish

I got to do this koi fish the other day. I didn't do the om symbol, it was already existing. Dude sat like a champ and we knocked out this rocky looking tough koi fish. Never get to do koi but I love doing them and I'm excited to see this one healed. Look for more rad tattoos coming up and some more rants. Summer sun has me short on the zazzy speeches this week.

Al Jolson Owl

Al Jolson was spoofed by Disney in a cartoon called "I love to singa" which stars a folky jazz singing owl who won't conform to his parents wishes to sing classic music. This little owl has a song in his heart and won't change for anyone. I got to do this tattoo on a young lady late one night. We watched the video of the cartoon and after that I was hooked and had to make this tattoo happen! One fun tattoo and hopefully it will always remind her about this awesome cartoon owl and his intrepid spirit!

Check out the video and fall in love with this little owl. This owl was so rad that he makes you wanna be you and never back down or change what you believe based off of what people say you should do.

P.Sherman Sydney Australia

Sarah came back in to work some more on her cartoon leg and we rocked out this adorable fish named Dory. She is the lovable forgetful fish who helps Nemo's dad find him in the movie Finding Nemo. It's a classic Disney flick and I recommend seeing it like yesterday. Dory is healed and we touched her up a bit and finished the coral.

Eventually the bubbles will be colored in and we will add a few more characters. I also got to meet Sarah's man Stephan. He was as nice as described and had a sense of humor similar to my own. All in all a fantastic day! Look forward to more fun tattoos and friends coming in to see me at Brass Knuckle Tattoo.

Late Nights

The days have been excruciatingly long and hot recently which has been making folks flock to the beach here in uptown. With all the water sports fun people like to show up as the suns going down when its gets cooler for there weekly fix of permanent illustrations on the skin. Bryan came in and wanted to start a little chest piece for his grandma Rosemary. We drew this up and got the ball rolling. Eventually underneath we will add some elements like flowers and other things that remind him of her and how fantastic she was. 

First tattoos are a big deal and big event. Emily is a language arts teacher and thought about her first tattoo for a while and decided on a seashell. She came in and I had to have her wait till I finished Bryan's tattoo. Emily and her friend waited patiently and I told her I would  go above and beyond because I loved everything about her idea! Which is true of every tattoo I do folks, always strive for magic! We drew this up and a short time later she had her very first very cute little shell tattoo on her wrist. Hopefully a wrist tattoo won't get her fired or hurt her getting teaching jobs. If I ruined your career Emily I'm sorry but at least you have a super rad seashell!

To Infinity and Beyond

Everyone has seen them, they are state outline tattoos. There are a lot of people with lots of love for certain spots on the map and wanna show it off to the world. Emily had been to the shop and gotten a Simba from the lion king tattoo earlier in the week. I gave her a lesson in character names because I know way to much about Disney movies. Even after giving her a hard time and joking around she came back to get this outline from me. Guess which state? Yup its the upper half of Michigan! Who has ever seen one of these? We added an infinity loop around her home town to add that extra homie touch, on the opposing leg she has the lovely MN outline. After doing this I've decided to try an do an outline of all the 50 states! I'm on my way!

Another infinity loop? Thats right. This was a late entry as Kristin and her friends came in right before close. She was a Beam of light and had so much positive energy it was contagious. She was on her was to Moldova to take care of orphans. Yes folks she is that kind of caring person, I personally would just right a check but some people get up of the couch and make life happen. She is one of these people and   it was pretty incredible to get to meet her and her friends. We all shared our philosophies on life and spirituality, I made them laugh, they made me laugh, and we tattooed late into the night but what a fun time it was. The tattoo took three times as long as it should have because of all the conversations and joking happening. So here it is, the bible passage she wanted with the infinity loop, facing her so she can be reminded of it all the time. Safe travels Kristin.

Gay Pride and Wizards

Well folks Pride was this weekend and I suspect many of you are just now recovering from all the magic and love that was in the air, maybe a few spirited beverages in there as well. Although Pride might be over I still have a fantastic story for you from the weekend. Two lovely young ladies named Eva And Lynn came in and got the human rights project logo. Basically a plus sign for those of you who are unfamiliar with the project or movement. But if u turn it sideways it a pause button to freeze time in that perfect moment when they fell in love (yes I came up with that second one). They are madly in love and were as cute as a flying miniature elephant in a tree wearing a bow! We all had some laughs talked and I found out they were figure skaters who knew a fellow skater that I went to highschool with. It's a small world folks so hug and love everyone you meet!

Later in my day a few Pride visitors came in to the shop and wouldn't you know it they were super big Harry Potter fan's, as I'am one as well it seemed like destiny. Well Michelle was a Potter fan and her friend loved Snape from Slytherin (you can boo). Of course I couldn't bring myself to do the Snape tattoo so I did this awesome Harry Potter glasses and lightning bolt tattoo on Michelle. I didn't realize till later that it was her first tattoo, which she sat perfectly for. It was one of the funniest tattoos ever despite its simplistic nature. Also take note of others online and notice my Harry Potter scar goes the right way! Loved all the people I got to meet on this awesome Pride weekend!

Forget the Bull, Ride the Pig!

A long long time ago I knew a girl who was tough on me and helped keep me level headed and always gave me advice. Ten years later she is still doing these things for me as one of my favorite people and best friends. After all these years and adventures together she finally let me tattoo her. This is one of the first few pieces on a leg sleeve of cartoons she loves! Couldn't be more stoked about colorful cartoon tattoos! We started with Grr from Invader Zim and are doing Dory from finding Nemo soon. Many more to come and thanks Sarah for the opportunity to give you a sexier leg than you started with.

Reinventing A Classic!

Every now and then lightning strikes and you catch it in a bottle! I've never been a shameless self promoter but I think this one time I will have to do just that and toot my own horn. A young lady came in on a whim and she has always wanted a breast cancer ribbon for her first tattoo. After about three unsuccessful attempts I came up with this butterfly/heart/breast cancer ribbon. Now don't be a greedy ass an play this off as your own because it's my lightning in a bottle. I'm just so happy with this tattoo that it's hard to contain it!!!

Hello Kitty!

Hello Kitty how you been? Oh just getting regal! I did this little cutie pie the other day on a wrist and let me tell u what a small wrist it was. Her sister got a minnie mouse from another artist at the shop so it seems to be a family thing to get adorable cartoon tattoos. Until next time folks.

Crowned Prince

You know the old saying, you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince! Well a customer of mine came in and got this to commemorate her finding the love of her life! she had planned a summer wedding and wanted this tattoo after only having one other tattoo twenty years ago. She and her finance came in and we shared stories and love of the renaissance fair. She sat like a champ and started to laugh hysterically at the end when it got a little painful for her. Loved meeting them and I'm honored to do this tattoo because she swore she wouldn't get anymore after this one.

Big Guy on a Cloud Proud

You've seen it before and chances are you will see it again. I 'd like to think we rocked out this one for all the peps sitting on clouds in heaven and especially the big guy with the beard! A young gentleman came in and wanted this classic design for his first tattoo. He had another version done poorly and I told him we'd take this up a notch or to. hopefully you agree but if not he loved and thats what matters. Keep coming back kids for more updates and thanks for looking! 

Ancient Eye

Welcome folks the leader in fresh ideas is Mr.Joel thus far who came in a while back and got a space shark from me. Now he weighs in with this really rocking Eye of Horus! we took the standard one and revamped it into a cool mixture of several variations. loved how it came out and hopefully Joel will have more ideas for me to ink up for the visual stimulation of your peepers! 

Knuckle Sandwich

The double knuckle sandwich is what monday or my friday which ever you prefer to say brought me. A gentlemen came in and said he was having a rough week and wanted a tattoo to get it back on the good foot! He didn't have any idea what he wanted but knew he wanted something. On his way out the door to get his I.D. and money he said what about a brass knuckle? I said I loved the idea and since the shop has the same moniker it really was a perfect fit! Drew it up and he came back shortly after and we rocked this fist sized knuckle out to finish off my week!

Old School Loves Graphite

In this digital medium age were kids know how to use photoshop but don't know cursive and have never had a pen pale it is refreshing to have someone come in and get a paper and pencil tattoo. He brought in his own design and I cleaned it up as well as made it slightly different while keeping his original idea intact. Just saying to all you young kids out there....see pencils and paper can be cool it doesn't always have to involve a computer. I encourage u to enjoy this tattoo and write someone a letter or better yet lets bring back wax stamped sealed letters like the olden days!

Space the Final Frontier

Space the final frontier for......sharks? I think so! Randomly I was wearing a shirt with a space shark on it. A customer was in watching his girlfriend getting tattooed and he was looking for some ideas for a tattoo. He says to me, "That shirt is awesome I should get that tattooed!" I told him lets do it and that he should come back tomorrow. Low and behold he shows up and we rock out this space shark! I'm not sure the artist of the original shirt design but I would love to give him his due for the rad design I got to tattoo. If any of you out there want some weird animals in crazy situations just get at me with an email! Until next time cats and kittens.

Moving On Up!!!!

Well folks it's about that time that to update you on my new working situation. The owner of the shop I previously worked at decided it was time I went to the big leagues and move to his other shop location. The shop is located in Uptown, yup thats right folks lots of fixed gears, nerd glasses, and sexy people! The shop is called Brass Knuckle Tattoo Studio so come down and check out my new digs and get something colorful and cute! My days off are tuesday and wednesday, otherwise I will be there 11am-9pm the rest of the week! Shop phone is 612-871-4249 and the addy is 2817 Hennepin Ave. Mpls, MN 55408 just north of old chicago in uptown. Look forward to seeing all my people!

A Family Of Radical!

Damion and Anna came in recently to the shop and with them they brought some super radicial ideas! Anna wanted a cute girly skull with with a bow and big eyes. This drawing came together pretty quick and was incredibly fun! Damion had a twins TC logo in mind and wanted to incorporate some paisley in one way or another. After a few ideas and drawing I came up with a big paisley with the logo and some other leafy stuff in the back round for that paisley effect. All in all I loved these tattoos and the people who got them! I will post healed pics eventually and post their next kick butt ideas!

 Cute girly skull on Anna!

(can't really see how Hot the bones are!)

Sweet paisley Twins logo on Damion!