One Year

       The next week will mark the one year  anniversary of when I officially completed my tattooing apprenticeship with Jake in Oakland and I can't help but look back with a sense of overwhelming gratitude for all the people and experiences that has made 2011 a rich and memorable time. These are just a few of the highlights that will remain treasured memories as I move into this new year.

       Leaving my friends and the crews at Industrial Tattoo and Five and Dime Tattoo to move down to San Diego had a very bittersweet feeling to it, especially since I had been calling the Bay Area my home for the past six years, but my new family at Masters have more than made me feel welcomed into my new home. After completing my BFA and tattoo apprenticeship, I felt I had finished everything I started up in Northern California and I was more than ready for a fresh start and change of scenery. I am eternally appreciative of everyone who made opportunities for me and gave me my start. Todd, Lysa, Frank, Pato, Jake, Perk, Gil... 

       Ink and Iron in Long Beach was awesome this year! I got to hang out with friends, old and new, and even had time to get tattooed by Hata (Inkrat), whose work I have been following since even before I was even legally allowed get tattooed. 

       I had two decks out from TNS Industries, run by Tahiti Gil who I have the honor of calling my boss and friend. Please check out www.tnsindustries.com for an amazing roster of tattoo artists who have contributed artwork for skate decks throughout the years including Derek Noble, Phil Kyle, Joe Capobianco, Hata and Rei of Inkrat, Kore Flatmo, Hiro, Fip Buchanan, Craig Driscoll, Rob Benevides, Jackie Dunn-Smith and many many others. 

       This was very much the year of group art shows here in San Diego and I was very fortunate to be invited to participate an many of them. The summer kicked off with a huge art auction benefitting the Tsunami victims in Japan with contributions from much of the North American tattoo community. I was lucky enough to snag me a few original works from Derek Noble and Jim Sylvia as well as a Dave Gibson pencil sketch. There was the Star War themed "Electric Tattooine" show that I contributed poster art for, Flying Panther's Fart Show and of course, the annual Dia de los Muertos art show, also put on by F/P. I look forward to many more projects this coming year. 

       One of my goals for 2012 is to travel more and do more guest spots and conventions. I had a blast with all the shops I guested at this year; Tahiti Felix's Master Tattoo (now my home shop), the historic Picture Machine in SF (it was great working with my mentor again) and the incomparable Gastown Tattoo Parlour in Vancouver, BC (I hope to go back again next year). 

       This years Paradise Tattoo Gathering was also a rejuvenating experience. A weekend of invaluable seminars, seeing my good buddy Jason and hanging out with some of my long time tattoo heros was incredible. To cap it all off, I got seated next to Greg "Craola" Simpkins on my flight home and found him to be one of the most genuinely friendly and positive people I have ever encountered. True PMA. 

         A special thank you to my parents for always backing me up 100%, Jake Diamond for not giving up in me, Cian and James over at www.swallowsndaggers.net for the internet presence, Henry Gae for being a good friend and inspiration, everyone who has pushed me to produce better work my, everyone I've ever had the pleasure to work with or for, everyone who has ever trusted me to tattoo them and last but certainly not least, the love of my life, Ryan, without whose six years of love and eternal understanding I would not be the man I am today. I love you all and all the best wishes for 2012!

-PHY

Oh, Canada

The past week and a half in Vancouver, BC has been one of the more invigorating experiences in recent memory. After a couple days spent exploring Rain City with my fiancee and family, attending a Canucks hockey game and splurging on a kick-ass pair of ostrich cowboy boots, I tattooed a steady stream of stellar clients and friends at Gastown Tattoo Parlor. Nearly everyday was non-stop from open to past close and there was still enough group energy for a paint night, art show and casino trip. Thank you, Mitch, Garret, Chris, Arlin and Ashley for making my trip a memorable one (Matt, I hope to meet you soon!).

First tattooed made when I arrived as well as my client's first tattoo ever! 

Fun bangers all day everyday

A good start for Ashley's leg and a reason to visit me in SD ;)

-PHY

Full Steam Ahead

       Since the Gathering, it seems I have been working non-stop so I have fallen behind on the blog. amongst other projects. My apologies.

       I contributed artwork for a benefit show for the Ronnie James Dio Foundation earlier this month. It was all 1980's metal themed work an I chose Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" as my starting point. As of late, I have been looking at a lot of images from the early 1900's and Art Nouveau movement. I wanted to use some elements of that as a point of reference but not necessarily directly emulate the style. I was fairly pleased with results (posted below). I also finished my half of a painting trade with my good friend, Henry Gae, from Full Circle tattoo (also below). I am trying to diversify my material use beyond strictly ink and traditional watercolor by adding acrylics, gouache and chinese watercolor into my work. I am currently working on a new body of work that departs even a bit further from my usual style.

       Just returned back to work in San Diego from my home away from home in the Bay. I guested briefly on wednesday and thursday at the world famous Picture Machine in SF. It was fantastic to work once again with my mentor, Jake Diamond and do some awesome tattoos on friends and clients. On friday, I got my back piece worked on by Luke Stewart at Seventh Son then rushed off to check out this year's offerings at the SFO Convention. This is one of my favorite conventions and it did not disappoint with a large roster of world class tattooers. It was lovely to see many familiar faces as well as meet many new ones. Woke up early on saturday to attend Horitomo's seminar on back piece design and pick up his new book, Immovable. Afterwards, I picked up some schwag and said my goodbyes to San Francisco. 

"Eye of the Tiger"

 "Rumors"

A fun interpretation of a couple of zodiac on a marine before I headed off to SF.

Nudie boot on the lovely Libby Vela and Chinese lion dancer head of Picture Machine shop girl Gena. Thank you both, ladies! 

Until next time, 

-PHY

       

Left to Right

       So in about 45 minutes or so I will be leaving my home in San Diego for a the week to attend the Paradise Tattoo Gathering in the East Coast with my buddy from the Bay, Jason. I have signed up for some amazing seminars including ones lead by Robert Ryan, BJ Betts and my high school hero, Jeff Gogue. No idea what this trip will entail or who I will meet but I am open to the universe. I also thought I would post a few snapshots before I took off.

 Another fun addition to the rapidly growing collection on Strickland, who I mentioned in my last post. This was done a couple days before he was deployed to the Middle East for the next month. Stay safe buddy and I look forward to tattooing you when you come home.

 I have always been a fan of traditional Hamsa designs but have never had the opportunity to tattoo one until this morning. With a bit collaborative effort, I think we got it to a nice place. It is always refreshing to do something outside of my normal style. 

 In progress shot of a painting I am working on for a trade... finished product to come.

This is my terra cotta ram, who I have named Eugene 2. He lives in my home studio by my desk and keeps me company while I paint. Eugene 1 is a taxidermy moose who still lives in Canada but will hopefully make his way down to San Diego sometime soon. 

That about wraps it up for my packing procrastination. I will try to get some good shots of my trip and will check in next week! 

-PHY

New Chapter

       So I have never really been a journal keeping type of person and am certainly no writer but I do want documentation of some of my experiences. I starting tattooing in the later half of 2010 after finishing my apprenticeship with Jake Diamond in the Bay Area during which time I was also completing my BFA. It seems things have progressed at a rapid pace since the new years and opportunities have lead me down to San Diego at Tahiti Felix's Master Tattoo, Est. 1949. 

       I have been fortunate enough to have a consistent flow of the most accommodating clients without who's trust and patience I could not possibly have progressed as much,  technically and artistically, in such a short period of time. Thank you all. I will leave you with a few images of recent tattoos on such customers...

This is the latest addition to Dan Strickland's collection of tattoos by me. He has gotten six tattoos within the span of two weeks and sat like a rock for every single on of them! 

Dan's Legs

And finally... An incredibly fun diver helmet piece I had the privilege of putting on tattooer Mitch Kirilo from Vancouver, Canada. Check out his shop at http://www.facebook.com/ga

stowntattoo

That's all for now! I will try to update frequently.

-PHY