January 25, 2016
The Return to my Ol' Kentucky Home
Hello friends! It’s been almost four years since I made the pilgrimage to New England to work with Off the Map Tattoo . Since that time I’ve made amazing friendships, created some of the m...
Read More →January 7, 2016
Geometric Head Tattoo
Got some great healed photos of this mandala inspired head tattoo! These pieces are definitely a headache (HA!) but so much fun to do. I love the challenge of making such a bold placement feel natural...
Read More →December 8, 2015
Nature Tattoos
I had a great time working on this piece. Nature themes are one of my favorite subject matter to tattoo. There is always a timelessness to the imagery that really appeals to me on a lot of levels. Thi...
Read More →December 2, 2015
Tattoo Process Webinar
I've updated the ABOUT section of the site and it know features an extensive layout of what to expect when getting tattooed by me. I've also been pecking away at new originals and recruiting new artis...
Read More →November 8, 2015
The Autumnal Mask of the Forest Spirit
I've got some new original Ink and Marker illustrations up in the store !
Read More →October 13, 2015
NEW TATTOO PHOTOS!
Hey everybody! If you havn't checked out the tattoo gallery in a while take a moment to check out the new additions.
Read More →October 3, 2015
Mandala with a Gear Center
I got started on a new ongoing large geometric tattoo the other day. This piece is tying into a preexisting rib piece and will trail down the hip and leg as we add more elements. I love how stage one ...
Read More →September 19, 2015
New Art Print in the Store
Check out this art print titled "Cross My Heart" now available in the webstore ! I really loved working on this design. At the time a close friend was dealing with some very heavy heart break, loss, a...
Read More →September 15, 2015
mandala head tattoo
Here's a little tattoo process video for all you people that are curious of what a head tattoo would be like
Read More →September 12, 2015
A Dog Named Jewel
I was apparently incapable of taking a picture that wasn't blurry the day I did this pet tribute tattoo, but it was soooo much fun that I wanted to share anyway. I love the colors and composition on t...
Read More →September 11, 2015
NEW WEBSTORE IS LIVE!!!
Hey there everybody! I've put in some serious hours on a new webstore and I'm so pleased with the result. Head over to FORTDOOM.COM to purchase original art, Limited and rare prints, and soon many oth...
Read More →September 10, 2015
for the love of shapes
I love the front view of this geometric tattoo I did while traveling through Lexington Kentucky. Large black work tattoo styles like this one are my favorite!
Read More →April 17, 2015
New Hand Tattoo
Hey everybody! Check out this sweet Cthulhu hand tattoo I got to do when I was visiting Nashville a while back. Dave's an old friend and a long time client so he let me run wild with how to lay it out...
Read More →January 18, 2015
So many things...
The last six months have been a whirlwind of activity! So much so that I found it necessary to downsize my workload, cutting back the webstore, blog, and prints just to stay mentally sharp and focused...
Read More →June 2, 2014
Floral Tattoos Usher in the Summer
Now that New England is finally immersed in sunshine and warmer weather my appointments have been filled with flowers and the colors of summer. Here are a couple pieces I've worked on this week. At th...
Read More →June 1, 2014
More Dots Between the Lines
Couple small tattoos from last week. On the left is a Tibetan Infinity knot on an inner arm and to the right, a cross section of a Nautilus shell. I had a great time working on these! Simple, clean, a...
Read More →May 22, 2014
Dots, Lines, and In Between
For awhile now I've been exploring various illustration styles that you would normally see in pen and ink work in my tattooing and I'm loving the look and feel of this new approach. Above are a few sm...
Read More →May 8, 2014
the quest of the seeker
Archetype : the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies : a perfect example currently I am the seeker... The world needs heros, leaders, protectors...
Read More →May 2, 2014
tattooing nature
timeless - an adjective meaning to be unaffected by the passage of time or changes in fashion. As a tattooer, creating imagery that is considered timeless is of the utmost importance to me. Both in th...
Read More →April 28, 2014
new tattoos and NYC
I've got a handful of new tattoo photos in the gallery and more on the way! The newer work is definitely a solid representation of what direction I've been trying to head so it thrills me to share the...
Read More →April 26, 2014
The King is Back!
The silence has ended! Here is the final draft of the artwork for the Luthier's Co-Op. I'm really happy with how this piece came out and even happier with the payment , this beautiful 1890's banjo! Th...
Read More →April 17, 2014
...in the silence, something stirs...
meta·mor·pho·sis : a major change in the appearance or character of someone or something biology : a major change in the form or structure of some animals or insects that happens ...
Read More →April 10, 2014
studio time lapse
In this video I'm seen adding a unifying background to my two pen and ink illustrations "ABOVE" and "BELOW". From here these two will get a final pass of fine tuning and then sent off to the framer fo...
Read More →March 31, 2014
visiting graceland
This just in ladies and gents! It looks like I'll be adding yet another travel date to the roster for this august when I'll be revisiting New York at my friend Adam Lauricella's shop; Graceland Tattoo...
Read More →March 29, 2014
Aaron Della Vedova
I just watched this very consciously aware interview with Aaron Della Vedova of Guru Tattoo and had to share. Aaron is a huge inspiration for me artistically so listening to this chat with Off the Map...
Read More →March 28, 2014
tattooing flowers with an abstract twist
Excitement rolls through me as day after day I watch the last of the snow on Mt. Tom retreat to the radiance of spring. Soon the flowers will make their triumphant return to the streets and yards and ...
Read More →March 27, 2014
WORD
“If you go to a master to study and learn the techniques, you diligently follow all the instructions the master puts upon you. But then comes the time for using the rules in your own way and not...
Read More →March 26, 2014
the Ritual Crew and New Illustration Work
After what has seemed like ages of talks, plans, hand shakes, and old fashioned elbow grease the expansion of Ritual Art/ARTofJOEKING.com is nearly complete! I have a couple tasks to finish before I d...
Read More →March 14, 2014
the benefits of thumbnail sketches
Today marks the beginning of a transformation. Wilson has come to me to receive a full backpiece of a Japanese inspired dragon with maple leaves. Aside from the obvious reason to be excited about this...
Read More →March 13, 2014
The Struggle to Achieve...
I've spent the last two days in the studio trying to finish the newest commissioned illustration piece , listening to records, and trying to stay productive. Two days is a lot of time to spend on a dr...
Read More →March 10, 2014
A first tattoo is born....
At long last, its NEW TIME LAPSE VIDEO DAY! This newest installment of Tattoo Tempo features Lindsey and chronicles her very first tattoo: a mandala on her stomach just under the sternum. Lindsey prov...
Read More →March 8, 2014
The Order of the Ritual Arts
My world is in transition . I'm getting about two steps away from finishing sooo much work then, BOOM! New things/projects/obstacles keep knocking me back. I am feeling pretty confident however that e...
Read More →March 6, 2014
Tribute Tattoos... with a twist!
Today I'll be starting a Princess Mononoke thigh tattoo. Normally I'm a little hesitant when taking on reproductions of other artwork because there tends to be very little wiggle room for creative sug...
Read More →March 3, 2014
What Makes a Hero?
In recent weeks I've heard a lot of friends and/or colleagues express awe toward a hand full of particular artists for their dedication that seems to be above and beyond that of everyone else in their...
Read More →March 2, 2014
The Road
This just in, I've added one more stop to the 2014 travel list! June 20th-22nd I'll be tattooing at the Empire State Tattoo Expo presented by Inked Magazine in New York! All three days you will find m...
Read More →February 28, 2014
UPDATES
I've returned from Detroit! The Expo was of course a whirlwind of energy and it's attendees were once again too kind: keeping me busy the entire show with exciting tattoos and engaging conversations. ...
Read More →February 15, 2014
The Nature of Sleeves
So I have shirked most responsibilities for nearly a week now and aside from shoveling all the snow we've had in Western Mass I'm feeling light and rested. I say most responsibilities because I'm slig...
Read More →February 7, 2014
decisions for the long term
...And there it is! Exhaustion has set in. I've been riding the wave of creativity and the raw energetic high that comes with it for a couple months now and as a result I've managed to be tremendously...
Read More →February 3, 2014
foot mandala
Well, this newest video is certainly the best so far! I intended to jump in to learning Premier to increase production quality but as it got later into the night I had to tap out and use IMovie howeve...
Read More →February 2, 2014
Dot Work for Days!
Today I'll be doing a mandala design on a foot for Kaleigh and recording another time lapse of the process. I'm excited to document this one, I use a pretty basic stencil for these tattoos so on film ...
Read More →February 1, 2014
a splash of yellow lotus flowers
In this edition of the video blog I got the privilege of doing an abstract, watercolor inspired tattoo of water lilies. Since the client was fond of yellow and orange tones we decided to make the flow...
Read More →January 30, 2014
WORD
"... That’s what art is after all, it’s an emotional connection with people’s hearts, it’s not intellectual, it’s not poetry or music or other things, it’s its own ...
Read More →January 29, 2014
UPDATES
I've once again made myself way to busy.... Oh well, I'll keep updates brief. Here is a list of the current happenings and goings on. 1) I'm in production of some large mandala prints! These are looki...
Read More →January 26, 2014
The Answers
For those that don't know Off the Map North East is home to six resident artists, including myself, and is setup in two parts. The front, or business side of the shop houses our guest booth, Tim Senec...
Read More →January 25, 2014
PARTY
Looking for something to do on a cold sunday night? The OTM crew and I will be gathered at my favorite bar Luthier"s co-op in Easthampton, MA. for a night of drawing, drinking, and artistic inspiratio...
Read More →January 24, 2014
UPDATES
Just finished up the "ABOVE" illustration! I should have time to get that and "BELOW" scanned today and then it's finally PRINTING TIME! I love finishing projects and being able to instantly distribut...
Read More →January 22, 2014
sleeve progress
This video chronicles the final session of two large tattoo projects. First is Patricia's lower leg half sleeve of two Japanese inspired koi fish with stylized water lilies. Done in several sittings o...
Read More →January 19, 2014
Tattoo Tempo
Check out this sweet time lapse video I made with my phone! The tattoo is a very interesting sleeve I started a month or so ago. One of this client's top requests was that her sleeve should have a sor...
Read More →