Got to hand it to you.

I don't do hands too much anymore. It's not that people aren't asking, it's just I'm having a hard time justifying people with no, or very little tattoos getting very visible ones. I'm not here to judge if people are ready for that, I can only warn them or straight refuse. That's all I can do. I know society is changing, it's just a big decision. Think about it.

That has nothing to do with this tattoo. Just a mini-rant.

This person was finishing a solid sleeve. That makes sense. He's also a Tattoo Artist.
In a few days we are going to add more blue to the right.

Average Tuesday.

Here's what this Tuesday looked like here at Tattoo Union.

Cohen outlined an arm all day.

You can see more of his work on his website: cohenfloch.com

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And this is the piece I was working on. (2nd session)

Just another average Tuesday.

More photos from The Goods Artshow.

The show is up until January 15th, so you might as well go and check it out in person! We all worked hard on the art, there are prints still available for some, and there is plenty of original art as well. After Christmas, if you find yourself with extra money from Santa, go get something that lasts longer than a hangover. Here's a couple of closer shots.

Eben Bender

Ronan Boyle

Kaput

Print wall

There's plenty of other great art, I just didn't have time to get them all, so be sure to go check it out in person. This show ends mid-January.

ArtShow Opening @ The Goods

These are some pictures courtesy of Andy from Andy Social Photography.

http://www.andysocialphoto.daportfolio.com/

www.thegoodsapparel.com

The Goods first art show!

Our friends at The Goods let us take over the walls for a month, and it kicked off on Friday with the opening. Fun was had by all, and the beer was gone before 1 am! The place was packed! If you saw something you liked, or haven't been by yet to see it, do because it's only up for a while, and these artists really brought some good stuff to the table. There is a full range of pricing, depending on what you are looking for. I'll post some pictures of the art as soon as i find some!

 

Here's a sample of what I am working on for the show.

cutest damn thing ever.

At least I think so.

Homework!

The month after my daughter was born, I started re-painting old Tattoo Flash, as have many Tattooers before me. I chose some of my favorite designs and some of the most inspirational old-timers that paved the way for kids like me. I tried to do a sheet for each decade from 1900 on. I did a lot of different styles of tattooers, but all of it flash that was on a wall at some point. This stuff should all be in museums by now, and I wanted that feel of the old sheets on the wall. Not a laser copy, or some bullshit digital file that you will find here, something tangible. It was very challenging, and I have learnt a lot along the way. I have finished 11 sheets in all, and I think I'll just keep doing this every once in a while. It's fun, and a great way to keep myself challenged.

 

 

 

Top to bottom:
Feature wall,
Owen Jensen compilation sheet 1,
Owen Jensen replica sheet 2,
Sailor Jerry Collins compilation sheet 1,
Sailor Jerry replica sheet 2.

Watercolor on paper, all roughly 11 X 14.
Lined with India Ink and calligraphy pen, painted with various inks and watercolors.
All painted by Jeremy Riley, Tattoo Union, 2010.

Bender, Eben.

These are a couple of really fun tattoos. Eben Bender is a multi-talented man, and this all started with the idea of doing a "Tug Life" tattoo. In the end, we left out the lettering, and we opted for the straight design. He got a train to fill out the stomach shortly after.
Thanks Eben, that ruled.
Even if it doesn't say it, these tattoos ARE tug life. That is one Gangsta stomach.

Jeremy Riley vs. Ronan Boyle

Here's a painting I did for Ronan Boyle in February. He got the panel prepared for me, and I ruined it. It was up for the ArtWalk around the Olympics here, and hosted by Grace Gallery.
The paintings are 6 feet by 4 feet.

Here's the process, from the blank to the finished product. It wasn't exactly fun, but it was done in three days, with a combined total of 40 hours. No sleep. Thanks Ronan,  I'm okay with it.
Next time Watercolor. I am not down with acrylic.

Belmont Barbershop featured in Vancouver Magazine.

Our neighbor and friend has been getting press for his store, and rightly so,
his Barbershop and Haberdashery are pretty amazing.

Vancouver Magazine Article
Issue on newstands now.

The Belmont Barbershop
Mr.Lee's General Store


We would like to say thanks for all the support to the boys at Belmont and Mr.Lee's,
and to Dustin himself.

Here's a couple of tattoos done on Dustin:

Two weeks and Five years later.

 

These photos are a bit better.
Two weeks, huh?

This customer of mine showed up out of the blue with an outline I had done almost six years ago. He wanted to finish it in two weeks. Only problem was it was his entire front of his torso, and I think I outlined it with a 7 mag. (what was i thinking???) It was a struggle to get it completed, and in two hour sessions, it made it even harder. Thanks to my patient customers who didn't mind the musical chairs, (I'm still working that out), and the feeling of completion feels good in this job, which sometimes I never feel satisfied.
That being said, there's another three hours minimum I would have liked to have done, but see ya in five years I told him. You might also notice the varying levels of healing. That wasn't ideal, but I wait on him to e-mail me some photos later.

Welcome To T-U

This was just a blog I started for myself, but I'm not so much into that, so I'll just start over if it's all the same to you.

Welcome to the Tattoo Union blog. 

Tattoo Union is located in the Lee Building, at the corner of Main and Broadway, in the Uptown/ Mt.Pleasant area of East Vancouver. We opened in April 2008, and have had an amazing time building it to where it is now. Thank you to everyone, who has come by.

We are open 6 days a week, and take care of customers as efficiently as possible in the most researched of ways. We spend hours on drawings at no charge.

As I am not too good with technology, and I am trying to get better, will probably just focus on what I need to, which is tattooing, drawing, painting, and being an awesome dad and good friend. I'll let the others at the shop post, and we’ll all try to keep you posted on the daily life in the shop. It’s fun here, in this growing mini-metropolis of Vancouver, and we have a nice little corner of the city. 

We happen to be home to the nicest customers in the city. Our customers bring very great ideas to the table, and mixed with our blend of creativity makes for a pretty crazy combination.

Feel free to come by the shop if you have any ideas for tattoos, from the smallest letters to complete coverage, we do it all. You can also send e-mails to the artists if you have any questions regarding hours, or directions.

Thanks for reading to here.