Shane Tan, known for his triumph in Japanese-style tattooing, spent seven years developing his self-titled book. Tan’s passion for woodblock print masters is evident in the 448 pages of hand-drawn line drawings, paintings, and tattooing of characters ranging from Tenjiku Tokubei to Nango Rikimaru. Although woodblock imagery has a long history, it flourished as a […]
Category: Character Design
Ilya Kuznetsov’s Stippling Tattoo Creations
Born in Russia in 1989, Ilya Kuznetsov worked at an Italian fabric store after earning a degree in costume design from Smolensk State University. A tattoo artist friend urged him to use his drawing skills in the tattoo industry as he barely made ends meet. Self-taught in this new discipline, Kuznetsov began taking tattooing more […]
Cyber Future: Tattooed Synthetic Humans by Dangiuz
Known as Dangiuz — real name is Leopoldo D’Angelo — this Italian digital illustrator has envisioned a cyber-world inspired by “Blade Runner”(1982) and “Ghost in the Shell” (1995), where bio-engineered humans live in a dystopian society. Defiant characters (“Freerunners”) seek justice of this oppressed nation controlled by large corporations, and yes, there are hints here […]
Pizza Pirate’s Classic Cartoons with Modern Sensibilities
Nelson Calderara better known Pizza Pirate is inspired by Western cartoons of the 1930s—his artwork feels like a direct descendant of that of animators like Walt Disney and Max Fleischer, from the trademark white gloves, to the use of skulls and skeletons, to the almost punk rock style of transgression. That transgression typically manifests in […]
10 Erotic Animated Films from Around the World
Animation is a medium of fewer restraints than film. While some may primarily associate it with media aimed at children, it is so much more than that. It can take a concept that, if it were attempted using film, would not work. Look at Disney or Warner Bros., two studios filled with anthropomorphic character designs […]
Sinister Medieval Tattoo Art by Christopher Jade
Feast your eyes on the sinister medieval-themed tattoos of Christopher Jade. Lovers of Dark Souls will be intrigued, as will anyone with a penchant for only the darkest of blackwork subjects; demonic knights, necromancers, rotting phantoms, and mutant beasts stalk through his portfolio like the cursed escapees from an ancient, hellish dimension. His intricate linework […]
Hypnotic Digital Sculptures by Maxim Shkret
Maxim Shkret is a Moscow-based artist creating digital sculptures of animals and people. The tools he uses include Autodesk 3ds Max, Vray, Corona Renderer, Pixologic Zbrush, and Wacom Intuos. His unique 3D modeling, reminiscent of paper art, captures the essence of flowing fur, ridged scales, and contoured bone. From foxes to dragons to fierce heroines, […]
From Graffiti to Tattooing: The Body Art of Ninne Oat
He has been a graffiti artist since 1999 under the name of “Ninne.” Nineteen years later he is still using a similar name but now as a tattooist, having started working in the tattoo industry in 2015. “I decided to become a tattooist because I believe it is a form of art that is more […]
Raw and Empowering Queer Feminist Tattoos by Charline Bataille
Charline Bataille is a queer femme tattoo artist based in Montreal. She taught herself tattooing at home as a “DIY punk goal” and now works full-time at Minuit Dix. Her Instagram, which is gaining an enthusiastic following, immediately conveys Bataille’s style and politics; bright colours and mischievous characters—sporty goddesses, flaming banana ladies, and tiger-riding warriors […]
Liminality and Bizarre Beauty: Doll Sculptures by Virginie Ropars
Virginie Ropars is an artist from Brittany, France. A degree in graphic arts led her to the video game industry, and afterwards she knew she wanted to make things with her hands. Her magical, feminine characters, made of fabric and polymer clay, hover in the liminal space between doll art, sculpture, and clothing design. While […]