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Thomas Mcmillan 4/23/20 Thomas Mcmillan 4/23/20

Here kitty kitty! Some of our favourite cat tattoos from the studio.

Hey all you cute cats and kittens!

If you have, or have had a cat before, you will understand how much we love our feline friends. If you haven’t had a cat before, you probably think cat people are kinda weird. Cats really are our Supreme Leaders, and unlike dogs, we don’t really own them. Apparently, they think of themselves as equal (or in many cases, better than) their human companions, and evidently were never truly domesticated. They just kind of began hanging out with us, because where we went, rodents went. It’s one of those beautiful symbiotic relationships you see occur in nature, like the birds who clean crocodiles teeth. Except, it seems like cats have it clocked. We feed them, we provide shelter for them, we clean up after them, we even create Instagram accounts for them so we can show the rest of the world how much we love them. What do they do? They’ll jump on our laps while we’re watching trashy TV, and maybe if we’re lucky, and throw up on our bed from time to time.

At our studio, we see plenty of people come through to get cat tattoos. Cat tattoos range from super cute to super bad ass, and literally transcend all styles. No matter what the artist specialises in, they can do you a cool cat tattoo. The world is your cats oyster!

Japanese cat tattoos:
Japanese tattoo style works purrfectly (see what I did there?) when considering getting a cat tattoo. Cats or “Neko” are a super popular subject matter in Japanese tattoos. From the good luck charm, the Maneki-neko, to Horitomo’s Monmon cats, to the Yokai (ghost/demon/spirit) Nekomata, these tattoos are commonly imprinted on peoples skin by Japanese artists. Also, big cats such as tigers make fabulous tattoos.

Traditional cat tattoos:
Traditional cat tattoos are awesome! This bold, timeless old school tattoo style works wonders for most subjects, cats included. Aside from the usual household kitties, a classic reference in American traditional tattooing are big cats such as panthers, tigers, leopards, cat ladies, etc. No matter if your cat is colourful tortie, or a slinky black cat, western traditional style will depict the cat you idolise beautifully.

Black work cat tattoos:
If you’re after a beautiful sketch like tattoo of your cat, look no further than blackwork for your cat tattoo. As you can see by our artist Magali Corpas’ tattoo of bad boy Bobby, she has done an incredible job of his portrait tattoo, capturing his features perfectly. Magali loves tattooing pets!

Throughout history, many cultures have worshipped cats. Dogs may be mans best friend but cats are our best frenemies. They might not give you the slightest indication that they give a crap about you, maybe they bite or attack your face while you’re trying to sleep, and leave dead rats on the front door step, but these neurotic creatures have us wrapped around their little paws. And that’s just the way we like it. Why not immortalise your beloved master on your body for life by getting a tattoo? We’d love pets, contact the studio for more information - and make sure to include plenty of photos of the your kitties!

By Capilli Tupou and his son (aged 6 years at the time).

Sunset Tattoo studio is the home of Auckland’s best tattoo artists, and we specialise in Japanese, Maori, traditional and black work tattoos. Our friendly team are incredibly versatile and would love to help you make your tattoo dreams a reality. For booking requests, enquiries and further information please get in touch!

CONTACT:
www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz

Thomas Mcmillan 4/21/20 Thomas Mcmillan 4/21/20

Get to know your Yokai! Kappa: a booty worshipping sex pest, or misunderstood cucumber eating village healer?

A super fun subject to get tattooed when considering a Japanese tattoo are Yokai. Yokai are supernatural beings from Japanese folklore, ranging from shapeshifting animals, inanimate household objects which spring to life upon their 100th birthday, to loyal guardians of temples and other sacred sites.. the list goes on! Yokai serve both as stories to educate children to be careful and respect nature, all the way to reminding us of the ugliness of our own mortal feelings such as jealousy.

Kappa from Toriyama’s “Gazu Hyakki Yagyō” (The Illustrated Night Parade of a Hundred Demons).

There are hundreds of Yokai to discover, along with beautiful reference imagery of these mythological phenomena, which are a favourite to tattoo amongst Japanese artists. We thought we’d do a wee article series on some of our favourite Yokai from Japanese stories, so you can learn more about what they are, weird things they do, as well as show you how they can make rad tattoos!

One of the most famous Yokai is the Kappa. The Kappa is a water dwelling, upright walking, scaly amphibian humanoid creature flossed up with a creepy beak, turtle shell, European monk like haircut and a dish of water on his head. He’s only as tall as a child or smallish monkey, but he packs a serious punch as long as his dish of water he carries on his head is full. Remember this important fact regarding the water dish, there is a chance it could save your life if you ever have to pull a fast one on a Kappa in your life. More to come on that soon!

Kappa generally hang out in bodies of water, such as rivers. The name Kappa translates roughly to “River Child” or “Water Sprite”. They are said to smell heavily of fish, possess incredible strength and enjoy dragging people, horses, cows and other animals much larger than them down under water and holding them there until they drown. Nice. They also have a penchant for eggplants, melons, squash, but mostly cucumbers and.. anuses. Yep, anuses. Kappa are MAJORLY into the butt. So not only are these water dwelling creatures strange and dangerous, they’re also a bit freakaaaaay. It’s said that they like to drown people, because the butthole apparently loosens up while you’re drowning, so it makes it easier for them to suck a small ball called a “shirikodama”(thought to be the human soul) said to be located in the anus that the Kappa has an acquired taste for. They drown you, to suck your soul out of your butt. Take a minute for that to absorb if you need to!

If you ever needed a reason to keep out of an unfamiliar body of water, fear of a Kappa assault is a pretty good one. Maybe next time you’re going to a lake for a swim, bring a cucumber to chuck in the water as an offering, just in case.

Although once feared, in modern times Kappa are generally beloved and used to warn people about dangerous bodies of water, and to also educate people about keeping rivers, lakes, ponds and the ocean free of pollution.

Another kink of the Kappa is to loiter deep inside of toilet water. If you remain on the toilet for too long, they may try and stroke your butt or even suck your soul out while you’re taking your time on the toilet. If you’re a woman, there is also a chance they will try and impregnate you with a creepy Kappa/human hybrid baby. Perhaps this is a reminder to include a good amount of fibre in your diet? Definitely a good reason to avoid the old “shit and scroll” if I ever heard one.

Aside from it’s sex-pest tendencies, Kappa do have some admirable qualities. A Kappa is extremely strong, both in the water and on land, but he isn’t a thug. He’s actually incredibly well mannered! Remember the dish of water he carries on his head? This also his Kryptonite. He loves to be challenged to a wrestle, and before wrestling, you must always offer a deep bow to your opponent. When he bows, the water spills from the dish, and the drier the dish the less powerful he becomes. The deeper your bow, the deeper he will bow in return, rendering him pretty much powerless. It is said that once you have outwitted a Kappa, he will be your friend and fierce protector for life. Which can come in handy, as he is said to hold great mastery in medicine, helping his friends recover from health ailments and broken bones. So it pays to be vigilant around water, and remember your manners in case you ever encounter one of these mysterious Yokai. Who knows, you might make a friend for life.

Sunset Tattoo is the home of Japanese tattooing in Auckland, New Zealand. We are obsessed with Japanese tattoos! If you’re considering getting a Yokai tattoo, or any other Japanese subject, get in touch with the studio to turn your tattoo dreams into an reality. We have multiple artists who specialise in this revered style, each with their own personal flair. For more details, contact us!

CONTACT:
www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz

Thomas Mcmillan 4/18/20 Thomas Mcmillan 4/18/20

How to support tattoo artists during quarantine

COVID-19 has thrown a gremlin in the works in many industries in New Zealand and around the world. As getting tattooed is a fairly intimate experience (aka: artists and clients are in close proximity to one another) it’s definitely hard to maintain the two metres of distance as recommended during the Coronavirus pandemic. Tattoo shops in Auckland, along with other service establishments like as barbers and hair salons have had to shut up shop to help do their bit and keep their communities safe from the devastating virus spreading further. So what can we do as clients, friends and art enthusiasts to help cushion the blow that our favourite creatives are feeling right now? Here are a few, easy ways in which you can show your favourite artists love right now:

SHARING IS CARING!
We know social media can be a bit of a groan or a major time waster sometimes, however it can be used for good, too. If you like so many others out there are glued to your screen right now, mindlessly scrolling, how about use that time to help show the world your favourite artists? Many tattoo artists are drawing, painting and creating so much cool art during self- isolation, and you can show your appreciation by engaging with them online, such as sharing a post to show your friends, family, and anyone who follows you. This is super easy, it takes hardly anytime at all and is free promotion for artists who may really be feeling uneasy about the current economic climate. Make sure you tag the artist if you repost, so people who see it on your feed or story knows where to check them out!

WIP: Healed front and shoulder project by Magali Corpas.

SHARE PHOTOS OF YOUR HEALED TATTOOS!
Tattoo artists LOVE seeing photos of their healed work. As well as showing your online bubble their creative isolation endeavours, you can also show off your healed tattoos from a pre-corona virus era.. Ahh, the good old days. Not only is it super helpful for artists to see how their work is settling in post healing, or how banging it looks a few years down the track, it can also give them content to share to their pages to help them pop up in peoples feeds or explore sections. Instagram is a really important tool for tattoo artists nowadays, as it’s essentially a virtual portfolio to show future clients their work. Much like line-drawing books, an instagram page is a way for people to scroll through and get inspiration for their next tattoo.

Healed collaboration from Manawa Tapu and Tom Tom.

MAKE FUTURE APPOINTMENTS!
Due to borders and regions potentially being closed for the foreseeable future, there’s a good chance you’re going to be stuck in Auckland or New Zealand for a little while. After a month no Uber eats, partying and online shopping, you could even be finding yourself better off financially than you were before the lockdown, especially if you’re fortunate enough to be in an industry that can easily operate from home. Been wondering when is a good time to start that back piece? Do it now! Love that piece of flash that’s still available? Book it in! When tattoo shops open back up when things are getting back to normal, there are going to be a whole bunch of people stuck in the area wanting to get tattooed, so skip the line and start making enquiries now.

BUY VOUCHERS!
We sell tattoo gift vouchers through our web-store. They make great gifts, either for yourself or somebody else. If someone you know loves getting tattooed and has a birthday coming up, vouchers are a great gift, as people can book in in their own time, with the artist of their choice. You can also buy yourself a voucher as a way to support the studio which is unable to operate, and help ease the burden of zero cash flow. A win win, as you get tattooed, and studios get to stay open! Consider it a pre-payment towards your next tattoo.

BUY APPAREL!
Keep your eye out for Corona-drip, in other words new apparel from your favourite tattoo artists! For announcements, be sure to be checking our facebook, instagram and website for up to date information.

Painting by Capilli Tupou, prints rumoured to be coming soon!

BE KIND!
The easiest and most important way you can show support is by being kind to one another. Make your interactions with artists positive, this weird time has got people feeling shaken up, and might be expressing themselves quite vulnerably right now. Feeling supported in a time of almost zero face to face social interaction can help people feel like they’re not alone in their uncertainty. A like, a share, a smile and a kind comment goes a long way right now. Treat yourselves and each other with kindness and respect, because at the end of it all, we are really all in this together.

Back piece concept painted by Horimatsu Bunshin, contact the studio for more information.

Sunset Tattoo is a friendly central Auckland tattoo studio, specialising in Japanese, Maori, western traditional
and black work tattooing. All welcome! To create a booking with an artist, an enquiry about a custom or flash design, or for any other guidance please contact the studio. We look forward to seeing you all again soon, stay safe and take care.

CONTACT:
www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz

Thomas Mcmillan 4/16/20 Thomas Mcmillan 4/16/20

Let's talk about tatts, baby! Lockdown interview with Tebori artist Horimatsu Bunshin.

At Sunset Tattoo in Auckland, we are striving to be the official home of Japanese tattooing in New Zealand. We have a handful of super talented artists who have chosen to specialise in this widely revered style of tattooing. Today we’re talking to Horimatsu Bunshin, who was born in Osaka, Japan, and specialises in Tebori tattooing. Tebori is a traditional Japanese method of hand poke tattooing, using an instrument called a “Nomi”. A Nomi is a hand held, long instrument usually made from wood with needles at the tip which insert ink into the skin. “Tebori” translates to “hand carving” which sounds a little frightening, but most clients find this traditional process to be a lot less painful and traumatic on the skin. Horimatsu uses modern machinery when outlining his tattoos, as this is method is far superior when it comes to pulling clean lines, especially when the subject matter being tattooed has a lot of curve to it. All shading is done by Tebori. Horimatsu has travelled many places around the world to travel and tattoo, and when not tattooing at Sunset, you can generally find Horimatsu on Cross Street dining at his favourite lunch spot, the much celebrated dumpling spot Top Cafe (shout out to Frank!) or having a relaxed cold one in the sun post work day. Horimatsu Bunshin, Let’s talk about tatts, baby!

Ryu (dragon) Irezumi back piece by Horimatsu Bunshin - all shading done by hand using traditional Japanese method called “Tebori”.

Sunset: Hi Horimatsu, would you mind if I asked you a couple of questions over lockdown?
Horimatsu: Of course, let’s do it! We have plenty of time haha!

What is your name, where are you from and how old are you?
I am Horimatsu Bunshin, I’m from Osaka, Japan and I’m 37 years old.

Have you always tattooed using Tebori, or have you tattooed using modern machinery too? If so, what made you decided to exclusively use tebori?
Yes I have tried both. I couldn’t make tattoos as solid as I can with Tebori by using a tattoo gun. Tebori tattoo is my taste, what I want my tattoos to look like. All my work is shaded by Tebori, also some thick lines too. Normal outlining is done by machine.

What is tebori like? Does it hurt more, does it take a lot longer to tattoo?
Most of my customers said, Tebori hurts less than gun. I think so too.

What have you been up to during lockdown?
Watching Netflix, painting, playing with Tom’s kids* and little bit studying English.. just a little, haha!

Kitsune (fox) masks by Horimatsu Bunshin.

(*PSA: Tom and his family are of course in a bubble with Horimatsu, no social distancing rules being broken here!).

You’ve travelled a lot for work, have you lived in lots of different places?
I’ve lived in Melbourne and Barcelona, other times I was always on the road moving and travelling somewhere else.

Are there particular rules you have to pay attention to when doing Irezumi/traditional Japanese tattoos?
I really care about the correct combinations of subjects! To be honest I don’t care too much about meaning, I always love to tattoo good, orthodox, traditional Japanese subjects.

In 2020, what do you want to do more of tattoo wise?
Japanese background! I haven’t done a lot of big tattoos while I’ve been here, but big pieces with background are always good!

Are you enjoying living in Auckland?
I’ve been enjoying it here so far, I like it. It’s pretty different here!

When did you start tattooing? Did you do a typical apprenticeship?
No I didn’t. I learned tattooing by myself when I was 16 years old. In the beginning I was tattooing using only a machine. I started learning Tebori about eight years ago.

What do you like doing while you’re not tattooing?
I like having nothing to do, and to just chill.

I’ve never been to Japan, but I hear tattoos can be a bit of an issue. What do people think about tattoos in Japan?
Yes it is, that’s why tattoo are worth more in Japan, I think. Not many people have them, so it means you are quite different, it’s cool. That’s just my opinion though, most Japanese people wouldn’t think so. Most of Japanese people are scared of tattooed guys! So I wear long shirt and long pants in public places in Japan, even if it’s too boiling I do! Just our of respect for them. But for travellers, when you’re in Japan you don’t need to cover up your tatts, people wouldn’t be scared to you if you don’t look Japanese.

Where is the first place that you’re going to go and eat when you get out of lockdown?
Top Cafe. Is that the exact answer you wanted Rosie!?

How’s your kiwi slang going?
I don’t know.. just I like “Leshgooooo!!!”

Sunset: LESSSHHHGOOOOO!!
Horimatsu: LESSSSHHGOOOOOOO!!

Sunset: Thank you very much Horimatsu! Can’t wait to catch up with everyone once we’re out of lockdown!
Horimatsu: LESSSSSHGOOOO.

For requests and bookings with Horimatsu Bunshin, please contact the studio:
www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz

Thomas Mcmillan 4/14/20 Thomas Mcmillan 4/14/20

What you need to know about cover up tattoos

If you saw the 90s theres a chance you’ve got a tattoo you’re thinking about getting covered up. Perhaps an awkward Chinese character you thought mean into “fire” (because you’re an Aries!) actually translates closer to “BBQ lamb shoulder”. Although many of us wear these nostalgic mementos with pride, sometimes you just want to see them gone. So what are your options? Can tattoos be covered up? Can tattoos be removed? Do I have to cut my skin off? I don’t even eat lamb! Help!

The answer is yes.. sort of, mostly. We are lucky enough to live in a day and age that we do not have to keep the tattoos we can’t stand on our bodies forever. We have options now! One of these options is a cover up. However there are a few rules and guidelines when it comes to cover up tattoos that you should know.

Certain styles work really, really well as cover ups. Generally speaking, your best options are American/western traditional, Japanese and heavy blackwork. Tattoos have to bright, bold and solid in order for ink to cover up the existing tattoo underneath. Also, the tattoo will usually have to be quite a lot bigger than the original for full coverage. It’s important to consult with an artist to plan it out properly, to make sure you’re on the same page and it can physically be done. Our artists who specialise in these styles are super good at covering up tattoos, and are more than happy to talk to clients about what can work.

Certain tattoo styles such as realism, fine line and pattern work such as Ta Moko are a little trickier, as these styles usually require a lot of negative skin space to be effective. Due to this, our artists who specialise in these styles rarely do cover ups.

If something with more negative space such as Ta Moko is what you’re really wanting, and no other style will do, don’t give up hope! The best thing is to talk with an artist who specialises in your chosen style, and talk to them about the tattoo you want covered up. They may suggest laser lightening treatment for the tattoo, which will (over time) blast away and lighten the pigment in the skin. During the course of your treatment, keep in touch with your artist and when it’s lightened enough you can get the tattoo you have always wanted without any restrictions in terms of style. Laser, however, is not an instant and quick fix, it does take time. So patience is necessary!

So if you’re thinking about getting a cover up, do some research into styles that work really well, take some photos of the existing piece and get in touch to organise a consultation to make a plan with an artist. If the style you’re into is known to be a bit more tricky, get in touch with the artist anyway as they will advise you the best course of action. Don’t be discouraged, every tattoo is different and there is generally a solution for every tattoo mishap! Sunset Tattoo is here to help you get the tattoo of your dreams :)

Mermaid by Sunset Tattoo resident artist Milky - American traditional works really well to cover existing tattoos!

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