CicadaInk

Hello yall!
I have to find a different relationship with social media so it stays sustainable for me, and with the current rhythm that I have, it’s just not possible.

For all my friends artists, I know a lot of you just hate it here and feel trapped that you have to “play the rules and the game” and it makes the whole process miserable.
Don’t get me wrong, social media is evil, but I think it’s a good reminder that if none of us post or leave, those platforms are useless. We often thinks that we are the one dependent on the apps, but actually it’s quite the opposite and I think that, this shift of perspective may help to be more creative or trying different things from what we have been told to do (which often doesn’t work anyway).

I want to take my time to create. I genuinely like doing post or silly videos, (I loved making PowerPoint as a kid lol) but I want to do it at my own pace. And I think this shift of perspective may help you too (again, especially if you are not really in a situation where you can leave)

For anyone who’s tired of scrolling, you are not the only one, and if you are in a place where you can totally leave the apps, please do it, this is also the reason why I wanted to do a fun newsletter, so it’s easier for anyone to leave without feeling they cutting contact with the people they like.

I will be forever grateful for all the people I connected here. I love you guys and see you whenever I see you and hopefully, in your emails! You can find the link in my profile.

Take care of yourself!

Briana flew from California and if I remember correctly it was her first time out of the States! (Or maybe the second!)

We did a 3 sessions tattoo: Thursday, Friday and Monday. I wouldn’t recommend having a two days gap in between the process, but sometimes you have to weight what is best for you and for the client. We both agreed that we would probably be tired after 2 days straight and sitting for the third day would be harder to go through the session (so far from optimal) so we plan a break before the last session and I plan the tattoo logistics in consequences; basically, not tattoo again on the work we did previously.

The first day I took forever to make the stencil. This is probably one of my biggest design yet and I’ve learned so much in the process too! So next full back design should take less time to stencil (hopefully ahaha). I ghosted line everything (which means, very diluted ink and quick stroke to have a fade line that you can build up later on if needed) and I took care of the thicker line work too.

Second day we did as much as shading as possible! We started with the butt because it’s more painful and we didn’t want to keep that for the last day. I decide the second skin that part just so Briana is more comfortable to explore the city, which I’m not sure I would do again. I only considered because we had 2 days off in between and fresh butt tattoos are not the most comfortable. She did had a slight reaction, which I bactine a lot on the third day!

The third day we just nailed all the rest which was mostly the upper back. I had to say, Briana was MADE for tats. Back tends to become very red for a long time. Her’s was having some redness but was calming down super quick and no puffiness! Which made the process way easier for me. Also she sat like a brick. She was a very good sheet of paper.

Thank you so much for this amazing experience Bri! It means a lot that you and your partner flew all the way here! And say thank you for him too for all the support he offered!

HARPY EAGLE 🦅 ⚔️

Interrupting your bug content for this bad ass harpy eagle that I did at the beginning of the year! WE DID IT IN ONE SESSION (I do not recommend lol) I’ve been tattooing Alex for a few years now and we both know what we can handle in one session. She sit like an absolute rock, but with any other situation, I would have probably split the app in 2 (for everyone’s sanity ahhaa)

I often wonder if I go to light, but the hare on the left side is also done by me! And it settle so well and I was wondering the same thing too when Ive done it. Either way, eveyone is always welcome to come for a touch up, but I was glad to see how well the ink settle. Also absolutely love how the front of both tattoos looks like!

I also add the two iconic cat skeleton which are both a few years healed too.

Thank you Alex, you are an absolute trooper!

Magpies x damselflies x berries
A little twist from a previous flash that I drew! So happy I could do another version of it!