Rack and Ruin

Here's a little example of the process of the first sailor tattoo painting. I am painting this one on artist board, something I've never done before. I think it's really nice to work on and very straight forward: pre primed and nice and slim. I plan to mount and frame this painting then see how I feel, I will probably do a mixture of canvas and artist board in the end..

For some intersting facts on the history of nautical tattooing go to the National Maritime Museum website and check out the 'Skin Deep' exhibition from 2002, an indepth look at the journey tattoos have made around the world and through the ages!