This sleeve began as a collection of themes — music, memory, identity — and grew into a fully realised story built through trust and creative collaboration. From the left-handed guitar and emotional face to the magpies, Capricorn, skull, violin scroll, and piano hands, every element was designed with purpose. This is a deep dive into how the entire sleeve came together, why each symbol was chosen, and how a meaningful, cohesive narrative can be written directly onto the skin.

Preparing properly for your first tattoo makes the entire process smoother and more comfortable. This guide explains exactly what to do before your appointment, what to avoid, and what you can expect on the day — based on real experience working with first-time clients in a professional realism studio.

This surreal black and grey sleeve explores the darker side of human nature through symbolic elements like the lifted mask, the rose-window crown, the snake, the kneeling woman, and the skeletal hand holding a rose. Created with full artistic freedom, the piece reflects identity, instinct, memory, and introspection, forming one of my most meaningful works to date.

Black and grey realism wasn’t a style I stumbled into — it was the natural language my hands had been learning long before I ever touched a tattoo machine. I started with graphite, obsessing over shadows, form, and the quiet discipline of working in monochrome. Over time, I realised that removing colour didn’t limit expression; it sharpened it.
In black and grey, every emotion becomes clearer, every contrast more honest, and every story more timeless. This is why the style became more than an artistic choice for me — it became my signature, the one place where my drawing roots and tattoo work meet with complete clarity.

A full Norse mythology sleeve built around Odin, his ravens, his wolves, Freya, and the Tree of Life.
This blog walks through the meaning behind each element — how the design was created, the symbolism behind every figure, and how all the pieces connect into one seamless saga. If you love mythology-inspired tattoos or want to start your own large project, this story will guide you through the entire journey.

Understanding how a tattoo heals is one of the most important — and most overlooked — parts of getting a tattoo. Fresh tattoos look bold, shiny, and intense, while healed tattoos reveal the true final result: softer, balanced, and built to last. In this post, I’ll walk you through what really happens beneath the skin, how healing changes the way a tattoo looks, and why focusing on healed results is essential when choosing the right artist.

A full black & grey realism leg sleeve inspired by Greek mythology — featuring Hades, Charon, Cerberus, and the ancient ritual of the obol coin. A journey through death, passage, and storytelling in tattoo form.

It all begins with an idea.