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Thomas Mcmillan 3/10/20 Thomas Mcmillan 3/10/20

Weekly roundup: recent completed work from Sunset Tattoo.

We’ve had a busy last few weeks at our central Auckland studio, with lots of large scale projects and brilliant one point tattoos finished up! Here is a selection of some of our favourite sleeves from the last fortnight.

This fantastic tukutuku pattern sleeve took our artist Manawa Tapu around 3 full day sessions to complete - awesome dedication from both artist and wearer on this intricate piece! Manawa Tapu has been doing astounding work with his tukutuku patterns, and loves doing both large scale bodysuits and sleeves, as well as smaller ornamental pieces. Specialising in Ta Moko and traditional Maori tattoos, Tristan would love to help you out! Get in touch with the studio for bookings, consultations and information.

3/4 sleeve snake and kiku sleeve by Tom Tom!

From the big boss man himself, here is an awesome completed 3/4 snake and kiku sleeve! Full day sessions are hard work, but the results speak for themselves. This photo was taken directly after the last session, we can’t wait to see the healed result after a few weeks of settling in. Tom Tom specialises in large scale, Irezumi inspired Japanese tattooing. He would love to tattoo some more bodysuits! If you’re interested in getting a Japanese tattoo, please don’t hesitate to send your ideas through to the studio. One of our talented artists would love to work with you to achieve an incredible tattoo that will stand the test of time.

Full Japanese dragon sleeve by tebori artist Horimatsu Bunshin.

Phenomenal work by our tebori artist Horimatsu Bunshin! Check out that colour! Tebori is a Japanese tattooing practice where all shading is completed by hand using traditional methods using a wooden stick called “Nomi”. Tebori causes less trauma to the skin, due to this is often found to be a lot less painful. Colour continues to develop with age, and the lucky wearer of this dragon sleeve is going to come back in six months for healed photos - keep your eyes peeled! For all your traditional Japanese tattoo needs, Horimatsu Bunshin is ya boy!

Japanese Fu Dog and Peony 3/4 sleeve by Horiyama.

Our shop apprentice Horiyama has recently finished this incredible Japanese Fu Dog sleeve! We love her solid, bright and bold style! Horiyama is tattooing at an apprentice rate for a limited time, and is super keen to take on some more sleeve projects. If you’re interested in getting tattooed by Horiyama, Tom Toms apprentice, please contact the shop with your ideas. She has some beautiful concepts painted up ready for the taking, too!

If 2020 is the year for you to start that sleeve, back piece or bodysuit you’ve always dreamed about, we are here to help. With 10 fabulous resident artists and 2 incredible apprentices of varying styles, we have all your major styles covered. Check out our artist portfolio section to get an idea of what we do here, and drop us a line with your ideas!

CONTACT:

www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz
(+649)3763423

Thomas Mcmillan 3/4/20 Thomas Mcmillan 3/4/20

Return of the Mags! Magali Corpas is coming back!

We at Sunset are thrilled to announce the return of the wonderful Magali Corpas! Magali and her partner Miles welcomed their son earth side in February of this year. After being on Maternity leave since December 2019, we’re happy to say she’ll becoming back to the studio in April. The Sunset Whanau and her clients have missed her dearly!

Pattern work by Magali Corpas - left side fresh, right side healed.

Magali is an incredible tattooer, and is always up for a good challenge. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she both proud of and inspired by her Hispanic heritage. She loves tattooing a broad range of tribal blackwork and ornamental pattern work, beautiful flora and fauna inspired pieces, and detailed birds and animals.

Magali was educated as a fine artist, and understands how to work with the body beautifully. She has a hugely loyal clientele, and would love to take on more large scale ornamental work upon her return. We are expecting her books to fill up incredibly quickly, so for booking enquiries, don’t hesitate to contact the studio.

Frida Kahlo’s The Wounded Deer, tattooed by Magali Corpas.

CONTACT:
www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz
(+649)3763423

Thomas Mcmillan 2/27/20 Thomas Mcmillan 2/27/20

What is a flash tattoo?

If you’re familiar with tattoo shops, you’re probably pretty clued up on what flash is. To those who are new to the tattoo world, terminology and procedures can be a little confusing. Add to that the noise of tattoo machines, the smell of disinfectant and the often rowdy (yet charming!) vibe of tattoo shops, information can often just go way over a new clients head. In this article, we’re going to attempt to make sense of this both historic and current tattoo buzz (err, pun unintended) word by getting into a short history of one of our favourite styles of tattooing - American Traditional!

Although there is evidence of western sailors having tattoos for hundreds of years, often due to bringing home markings from foreign lands in Asia and the Pacific they visited while at sea as mementos, the style that we know as American Traditional is said to have started in the 19th century. A man called Martin Hildebrandt opened what is through to be the first tattoo shop in New York City in 1846, where a lot of his clientele were soldiers, from both sides of the American Civil War. Soldiers would adorn themselves with tattoos as a form of both identification (if their lives were lost during battle) and self preservation; reminders of loved ones, loyalty to their cause, and symbols of protection.

Skip forward a few decades and the first electric tattoo machine was created by a man called Sam O’Reilly which revolutionised the tattoo industry. Due to this new ease and speed provided by the tattoo machine, business steadily increased for tattooers of the late 19th century and early 20th century. To streamline business, and to combat the increasing pressure of having to come up with new designs, the concept of Flash was organically created. What started as tattooists of the time trading ideas and drawings with one another via post, soon turned into the first ever commercial Flash Sheet sold by a tattooist Lew Alberts (aka Lew the Jew) in 1905.

These early American Traditionalists are to thank for what often springs to mind when westerners picture tattoos - think time honoured, big, bold outlines, iconic subject matter like eagles, patriotism, girls heads and pin ups (hugely popularised by sailors), simple & classic designs in a limited colour palette which are still seen gracing the walls of tattoo shops around the world today.

Another important subject to touch upon, the illicit nature of tattooing back in the day. Artists were constantly on the move, temporarily popping up in bars, barber shops and establishments frequented by a mostly male clientele. These underground artists would display their pre drawn designs in portfolios, and on the walls of these crude, fly by night set ups in such a way that they could be “gone in a flash” if the authorities were alerted.

Fast forward to 2020, and flash is still just as prominent as it was when it first originated. It’s also no longer limited to the classic line drawings of traditional imagery of days gone by. A way for tattooists of all styles to let their creativity run wild, instead of adhering to clients requests and typical imagery, drawing flash allows them to break up the monotony of custom, large scale tattooing. Not unlike a clothing brand holds a flash sale, tattoo studios will hold flash events where artists will only tattoo their pre-drawn line drawings on a first in, first serve basis. Although this doesn’t always equal a greater income for the shop or artist, they’re super fun events which create a sense of community in the establishment, introduce new clients to the industry, and allow tattoo collectors to get tattooed by artists (often international guests) who have long waiting lists, booked out months or even years in advance.

Don’t hold back - Tom Tom switching his style up with this epic Wild Flower!

At Sunset Tattoo, we have fantastic traditional artists available. Capilli Tupou, Milky, Bernard Kwok and Lucky Felix are all heavy hitters who would love to tattoo you, your idea or theirs! This timeless style will never go out of fashion, so for a classic western traditional tattoo, pop into the studio and take a look at our flash wall, or contact us for custom requests.

CONTACT:
www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz
(+649)3763423

Thomas Mcmillan 2/21/20 Thomas Mcmillan 2/21/20

Introducing Bernard Kwok! The newest member of the Sunset Family.

We here at Sunset Tattoo are super super excited to welcome Bernard Kwok to the team as a resident artist. Bernard was born in Hong Kong, and moved to New Zealand as a teenager. He did his apprenticeship under Mike Wilson, who mentored some of the best tattooers of our time, Luke W, Greggletron and our very own Milky!

Incredible dragon tattoo by Bernard Kwok!

After the spending the last four years in Hong Kong, Bernard and his partner have moved back to Auckland, and we couldn’t be luckier. With his tattoo roots held firmly in American traditional tattooing, we love his wild Hong Kong spin on things.

If you’re keen on a truly unique piece by one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets, be sure to contact the studio with your ideas. Or better yet, come have a chat to him about his ideas! Nothing is too much of a challenge for Bernard. Don’t sleep on the dragon lord, the words out!

CONTACT:

www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz
(+649)3763423

Thomas Mcmillan 2/20/20 Thomas Mcmillan 2/20/20

Traditional Ta Moko and contemporary Maori tattoos.

We’re privileged to have such incredible Maori artists applying their practising their craft at Sunset. Manawa Tapu, Thomas Clark and apprentice Fern Ngatai are not only honouring their culture and heritage through craft, they are also changing the game of Maori tattooing from super traditional Ta Moko (and Kirituhi) through to contemporary and personal takes on Maori pattern work.

Manawa Tapu is constantly pushing boundaries and looking for new and exciting ways to interpret his work. He has been doing some incredible work with Tukutuku and Tāniko patterns, and has recently started some bodysuits using these designs. These are a great commitment for both the artist and the wearer, and we can’t wait to see the finished results.

Ta Moko is a beautiful way for Maori to visually represent their Whakapapa, Kaitiaki, Whanau and milestones in their lives, as well as connecting with their culture and community. The term Kirituhi is often used when applying Maori patterns to non-Maori people, as a way for Maori artists to share their expertise and culture without the issue of appropriation. As long as the wearer is respectful of the Mana and meaning held in these important patterns, Maori artists are usually very happy to tattoo non-Maori people, as they are showing Manaakitanga (love and support) to both the artist and culture through such a bold and permanent act by getting tattooed.

If you’re interested getting tattooed, or to learn more about Ta Moko and contemporary Maori tattooing, please contact the studio! Whether it be to connect with your culture, to commemorate an important journey, or to honour Aotearoa (New Zealand) in a truly authentic way, our artists would love to help you out.

CONTACT: