MODUS OPERANDI

Hipster jackalope?

2012-01-29T20:03:00.000-08:00

Don't ask me,but it was super fun to tattoo though!

-Murray

Hyperdimensional entities

2012-01-29T20:00:00.000-08:00

Angels...Only a select few get to see them.

-Murray

So I got a kidney stone this week....

2012-01-29T19:55:00.000-08:00

First of all, Kidney stones SUCK. I wouldn't wish one on Count Dracula.Second of all, I had to cancel these two fun tattoos I drew for my friend Nick and his buddy from Mass.Its OK, we'll get to them.

-Murray

Mickey and Mini

2012-01-29T19:51:00.000-08:00

I painted this to show how absurd, hateful and self destructive the world is right now.Please look at your loved ones and children and try to do whats right.The world already has enough manipulative assholes for us to deal with.Respect one another.

-Murray

Phillidelphia Tattoo convention!

2012-01-29T19:48:00.000-08:00

Once Again I will be at the Philly tattoo convention with my friends at Old City Tattoo.

If you'd like to set up an Appointment email me at: murrayftw@gmail.com

Thanks!

SXE bird of pray tattoo

2012-01-13T12:30:00.000-08:00

Finished this giant eagle up today on Gage.

-Murray

Owl chest peice and chinese zodiac tattoo

2012-01-12T10:08:00.000-08:00

I finally got to finish that coverup on the chest I started a few months back....Got to tattoo this chinese zodiac tattoo the same day. Lucky me!

-Murray

Clipper Ship

2011-12-30T15:00:00.000-08:00

Did this one today on a gal from the military. Fun!

-Murray

Christmas tattoos!

2011-12-27T13:59:00.000-08:00

I got to do the Bob Shaw beatnik santa on christmas eve. The owl I did today. Merry Christmas!

-Murray

Barbarian chick

2011-12-03T13:26:00.000-08:00

Finally got to finish this one up on Tim today.

-Murray

FLASH SET AVAILABLE!

2011-11-18T09:17:00.001-08:00

I just finished up this set this week. 5 full color high resolution sheets on heavy card stock shipped to you with care. I'll throw in an extra surprise sheet of flash on top of these 5.You'll love it. Per usual I've hidden all sorts of whacky shit in these sheets for your entertainment. Price is a measly 100 bucks and includes shipping. 100% be sure to include your mailing address,shop number and email when you pay pal me.

Thank you! Murrayftw@gmail.com

Japanese Masks

2011-11-17T14:10:00.000-08:00

I'm very happy with the way this turned out.This is sheet number five in the set.

-Murray

King of the jungle

2011-11-17T14:08:00.000-08:00

Sheet number four of the set....Kind of a crummy picture but its still pretty.

-Murray

Black Light!

2011-11-10T15:04:00.001-08:00

I just got an idea!

Love it or leave it!

2011-11-10T14:59:00.000-08:00

Another ode to America sheet.

-Murray

Narco civil war sheet

2011-11-10T14:53:00.000-08:00

Cocaine is a hell of a drug.

-Murray

Ship tattoo

2011-11-10T14:27:00.000-08:00

Did this tattoo before the big snow storm last week.

-Murray

I'm on a boat.

2011-10-21T09:49:00.000-07:00

Did this on Sam. He's going on a 6 month sub cruise in a few weeks. Thanks buddy!

-Murray

Dawn Cooke put me in one of her blog postings

2011-10-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

Dawn is a great tattooer and a super nice person to boot.I got tattooed by her while in Rochester a few months ago. She put on one of the coolest most tough tattoos on my body.She works at Depot town tattoo in Michigan. Dawn writes a Blog for tattoo artist magazine and was nice enough to put me in her lastest write up.Click the hyper link below to read it.

Thanks Dawn!

-Murray

TATTOO ARTIST MAGAZINE

Hard times

2011-10-15T08:49:00.000-07:00

I painted this the other day as a sort of dedication to all my friends feeling the economy lately..Some of us are lucky, Others are not so Lucky.

-Murray

Rose of death

2011-10-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

I tattooed this on someone studying under his father to be a mortician.Awesome!

-Murray

Panther drawing & tattoo

2011-09-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

*UPDATED* Tattooed this on friday.Going to put the color in in a few weeks.

-Murray

Fall is in the Air....

2011-09-20T12:22:00.001-07:00

Made a quick weekend trip down to Baltimore over the weekend to visit my buddies at the tattoo museum and to see my friend Derek Martinez who just moved there to work at the shop. Had a real good time like always.

-Murray

Zardoz Tattoo!

2011-09-06T14:31:00.000-07:00

Zardoz came out in 1974 and stared Sean Connery. I LOVED THIS MOVIE!!!!!! I can't belive I get to do this kind of stuff on people for a living!

-Murray

Rochester tattoo convention 2011

2011-08-30T13:20:00.000-07:00

Had a real good time this year in Rochester. Got to tattoo my friend and local Rochester tattooer Sara purr (Look her up, shes awesome!),Hung out with some old friends, and ate my face off at the Dinosaur BBQ 4 days in a row. That for me was the eating highlight of the trip.If you're ever in town you MUST eat there. I recomend the fried green tomatoes.

Over all I had a real good time and got to do to fun tattoos as well. Can't wait until next year!

-Murray

Did some fun walk ins today

2011-08-11T09:09:00.000-07:00

Got to do a couple of fun walkins today. Fun!

-Murray

Big ol' eagle

2011-08-10T09:33:00.000-07:00

lined this today. FUN!

-Murray

Finished up this koi today

2011-08-06T10:57:00.000-07:00

stoked on this one.

-Murray

Another fu dog

2011-07-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

Did this on one of my good clients.The upper arm and chest are all finished as well but I'll wait to post it all when the project is completed.

-Murray

Snake and spider mums tattoo

2011-07-27T12:36:00.001-07:00

I LOVE tattooing Japanese subject matter.So this was super fun to do.

-Murray

Death wish tattoo

2011-07-27T12:32:00.000-07:00

Kanji tattoo I turned into a tomb stone.

-Murray

Owl chest peice tattoo

2011-07-27T12:31:00.001-07:00

Here is that drawing I posted a few weeks ago all lined and ready to be finished.

Cant wait to knock this one out.As you can see theres a slight cover up involved but I'm confident it will never be seen again once I'm finished.

-Murray

winged skull tattoo

2011-07-27T12:30:00.000-07:00

fun walk in tattoo.

-Murray

Folk style fu dog

2011-07-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

Lined this shishi on one of the kids from the neighborhood. Lucky me!

-Murray

Zombie Mario tattoo

2011-07-27T12:24:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't like video games?!

-Murray

Koi Fish

2011-07-08T16:29:00.001-07:00

Did this today...

-Murray

Night Stalker

2011-07-05T15:31:00.000-07:00

Im a big fan of putting really creapy images on the back of the neck.Walking away from people gives you the unique opportunity to leave someone with a creepy uneasy feeling.haha

-Murray

Tattooed Luis Campos from New Life tattoo today.

2011-07-01T17:08:00.000-07:00

Luis Campos is a FANTASTIC tattooer and painter working out of New life tattoos in Champaign Illinois.He does totally awesome Folk style Japanese and traditional American style tattoos.We'd been talking back and forth for some time on Line and I was honored for him to want a tattoo from me and to finally get to meet him in person. I ended up getting a little tattoo from him as well.It is BAD ASS! I am so stoked to have met such a swell dude.He wanted me to tattoo My version of a classic bent back girl from a painting that he liked.I'm very pleased with how it came out.
Thank Luis!

Chest peice-

2011-06-28T15:13:00.000-07:00

A super nice gal came in and brought me a bunch of free passes to a water park today. She made an appointment with me to do a chest peice next week a few days before and wanted to go over some ideas about what she wanted done. What a nice person! So rare around these parts to have someone come in and do something so nice for me and my kids! So I really tried to make her something special to show my appreciation. Here 'tis...

-Murray

Lion

2011-06-25T16:20:00.001-07:00

Tattooed this today on Nick from Boston.

-Murray

Fine line Black and gray Medusa

2011-06-22T18:40:00.000-07:00

Did this Medusa today using the single needle fine line technique. Learned it from watching my old Boss tattoo for a few years. It really is fun to tattoo like this albeit EXTREMELY hard. Fine line focusses more on drawing skills rather then boldness, saturation and technical trickery.

-Murray

New Flash set!

2011-06-19T15:26:00.000-07:00

This is page one of a new post apocalypse heavy metal flash set I'm starting. I'm going to insert a little story into it and Play around with trying to use metal song lyrics that are commonly known to try and put almost a mental "sound track" to it.Basically I want a song to jump into the viewers head when they see the lyric. I added a black sabbath line into sheet number two. Hopefully I'll be successful!Once again I'm using One of my favorite mediums, Coquille board as a platform.Just feels more "metal" done that way.

-Murray

Some stuff I finished this week-

2011-06-18T14:59:00.000-07:00

Got to line out this sleeve today.Pretty fun!Can't wait to finish it.
Also got to Finish chris' sword of liberty NYC pride tattoo (I didn't do that lettering however).haha Thanks again my friend!

-Murray

Made a drawing the other night

2011-06-14T13:01:00.000-07:00

I like to make art outside of the tattoo genre from time to time.Typically with no planning or thought.Just like to draw what comes out and go from there.Here's an example.

-Murray

Got an email from VBS informing me of a cool documentry on tattooing.

2011-06-14T12:51:00.000-07:00

VBS is awesome.Some of the best journalism there is right now. It's awesome to see them putting some focus on tattooing:

For 'Folk Art in the 50th State' our team ventured to Hawaii for some awesome interviews with the tattoo artists Mike Brown and Sulu'ape Steve Looney, as well as Erich Weiss, the director of the new Sailor Jerry doc Hari Smoku.

In Part One, we chat with the legendary Mike Brown about his role as a pioneer of tattoos and the legacy of Sailor Jerry and talk the tradition and intricate patterns of Samoan tattoos with Steve Looney in Part Two.

Check them out below:

Part One: http://www.vbs.tv/watch/art-talk/art-talk-mike-brown
Part Two: http://www.vbs.tv/watch/art-talk/art-talk-steve-looney

The Steve Looney polynesian episode is a must watch.Hell both of them are awesome!

Draw Draw Draw.

2011-06-07T13:35:00.000-07:00

This is a first draft I'm doing for a tattoo on Nick up in Mass...I still have some bugs I need to work out of it, but this is the basic skeleton I'm going with.

Skull and Cobra, Sword of Liberty

2011-06-04T13:56:00.000-07:00

Finished up this skull and cobra today on Nick from Massachusetts.I also worked on this statue of liberty saber on Chris from New York.

-Murray

Barbarian chick

2011-06-03T16:41:00.001-07:00

Started this today on Tim.

-Murray

Incredible Hokusai animation by tony white

2011-06-02T19:24:00.000-07:00

THE VIDEO

Man-o-man is this little animated short about the life of the renowned ukiyo-e master Katsushika Hokusai AMAZING.
Please show others this video. If everyone in this age were as devoted to their passion as he was, the world would be a MUCH richer and and more elegant place.

-Murray

Fine line and black and gray tattoos

2011-06-02T18:21:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, I'm not typically asked to tattoo in this style. So when asked to do so periodically, I jump at the chance!
The reaper was done while I was in Baltimore last weekend at Bill Waverly's shop.The guy said he wanted something "metal". He was in town to go to the Maryland Death Fest. Awesome!
I did the bisected heart on a cardiologist client of mine. And the tiger was done today on a heavy duty runner. I used some AWESOME Eric Doyle flash as a reference.
Good times!

-Murray

more neck tattoos

2011-05-28T09:27:00.000-07:00

Man I do a lot of necks.haha

-Murray

GREAT tattoo related movies you should watch!

2011-05-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

Heres my list of essential tattoo videos to watch on you tube. These are some real gems.

Acid Rain Panther

2011-05-24T16:02:00.000-07:00

Finished this up today on Kelly.

Happy birthday sister!

-Murray

My girlfriend is amazing...

2011-05-22T20:38:00.001-07:00

My girlfriend Melissa Kolentus is SUCH an awesome photographer. She took most of these photos with her iphone. I'm trying to get her to create a photo blog because I love looking at all the great pictures she takes and I really think other people might too.I'll keep y'all posted on that as things develop.In the mean time, Enjoy!

-Murray

2011-05-17T18:17:00.001-07:00

Finished this up today on Matt.

-Murray

2011-05-15T09:01:00.000-07:00

Did these roses on a nice gal from Mass recently. The red one is healed.

-Murray

2011-05-13T15:27:00.001-07:00

Finished this folk style hanya mask today on Rob.

-Murray

Visit from Teddy Safarian

2011-05-12T12:58:00.000-07:00

One of my all time tattooers and also one of my favorite people in the world came and spent the week tattooing with us here at Flying Tiger. Here are some pictures of what went down, including drawing time with my daughter Olive, and a dog attack.

-Murray

Half Sleeve on Joe

2011-05-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

Just finished this half sleeveup on Joe from upstate NY.

-Murray

Fun one

2011-04-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

Neck after Neck after Neck! haha! Super hard area to tattoo but typically always a fun idea to put in.

-Murray

2011-04-02T11:40:00.000-07:00

Did some fun stuff this week.Here are some highlights.

-Murray

Dragon on Nick

2011-03-27T18:23:00.000-07:00

I just finished this one up last week on Nick. Took 3 sittings. I'm going to go back into it for some really minor touch ups in about two weeks. Everything is healed except the flames. I'm very happy with how this one turned out.Super fun to tattoo.
Thanks Nick!

-Murray

Tengu

2011-03-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

Did this fun one today.I love Doing Japanese style tattoos!

-Murray

Hudson Valley RR

2011-03-21T17:03:00.001-07:00

Well I went to NY State to see some friends and tattoo them over the weekend. Had a good time and did some fun tattoos even got to play around with some guns (of which I am a huge fan) on Sunday afternoon...It's nice to get outside the shop every few weeks to see friends. I'd like to actually just hit the road at some point for a few weeks and drive around tattooing with whoever will have me and selling flash.THAT would be great. With any Luck my next trip will be back down to DC to tattoo over at Jinx Proof.However, right now the shop is slammed...

In other news, anyone trying to find me on face book can just email the Flying Tiger Tattoo profile and your message will get to me. I have deleted my personal account.

Thanks for looking!

Fun one I finished up this week

2011-02-26T17:45:00.000-08:00

On a US Navy wife.

2011 PHILADELPHIA TATTOO CONVENTION

2011-02-09T10:01:00.000-08:00

This year at the Philly convention I was lucky enough to split a booth with my friends at Jinx Proof and Olde City tattoo along with their good friend Scott Sylvia from Black Heart Tattoo in San Fransisco. This year was PACKED with people. Probably the busiest I've seen it so far.
I got tattooed by Scott who is one of the best tattooers EVER. Working around one of my favorite tattooers was very inspiring. Hanging with my friends all weekend was also way fun.Some seriously CRAZY shenanigans went down all over the hotel and surrounding city.Good times!
I think I have more buddies in the DC and Philly and Baltimore area then anywhere else. Its was super good seeing everyone again.
Anyway, here are some high light pictures along with a couple tattoos I did.

Dooms day

2011-01-19T21:29:00.000-08:00

I did this 22x15 Coquille and colored pencil drawing for an up coming art show in February at Jason Goldberg of olde city tattoo's gallery.
"Death will never end" is actually a line off one of my daughter Olive's tattoo flash drawings that I asked if I could borrow. The "Atomic Rubix" was also my oldest daughter June's idea. She reminded me one day that there are over forty thousand ways to configure a Rubix cube, and only a few ways to solve one.I felt this illustrated the precariousness of life, or at least the paranoia felt by some in this new age of Post super power America when placed inside a radio active blast cloud.I wanted to kind of document this melancholy on a black and white, easily to read platform....Something that was more obvious in its message. Plus I really just LOVE working on coquille!

From time to time I Like to add my daughters ideas into my art. I feel that as an artist, a persons children can provide a unique perspective on life.One that is in many cases, over looked by adults. I am lucky that my two girls just so happen to profoundly creative and blessed with rich imaginations that I can tap into!

-Murray

East Vs. West

2011-01-19T21:25:00.000-08:00

Finally got a healed picture...Skins is still pretty fresh.

-Murray

New art-

2011-01-09T10:34:00.000-08:00

Here are a few things I've been working on over the last 3 weeks along with a cool tattoo I got to do.

-Murray

2010-12-25T11:42:00.001-08:00

Here are some tattoos highlighting what I've done this month. Surprisingly This being the slow season, I've been RIDICULOUSLY busy lately. Mainly working on my regulars and out of towners. In between work and preparing for Christmas, I've been working on some projects for a split set of flash with Mr. Josh Howard, An INCREDIBLE tattooer who works at the Chicago tattoo company, Chicago's oldest and most respected tattoo shop.If you live in or around Chitown I highly recommend seeing Josh for a tattoo. He's has been an inspiration to me.
Hope to see you all soon!

*Link To Josh Howard's Face book page*

Election day.

2010-11-02T11:13:00.000-07:00

Anti-establishment "Paranoia porn" flash, just in time for election day...

Those of you "in the know" will find dozens of nods and tips of the hat to topics that consume the minds of many people considered by the establishment to be on the "fringe" of politics and philosophical thinking. From Satanic bloodlines, The Illuminati, Reptilians, FEMA camps, bio-terror, nightmare eugenicists, the military industrial complex, tyrannical police oppression, Radical revolutionary figures and freedom fighters, anti fascism and populism, It's ALL in there. I made sure that almost everything relates to something else in some manner. I really researched my ass off for this project.Like, weeks and weeks of reading and watching movies and thinking....Some of the sheets can be flipped over on a light table so you can see both an explanation as well as the image together. I will be printing sets shortly.
Enjoy!

-Murray

I keep making them and they keep coming back.

2010-10-25T15:58:00.000-07:00

I'm real lucky to have such loyal clients. I really try and take care of them as much as I can.This tattoo is on a client named Chris. I think he's FINALLY out of neck space, so now we can concentrate on the possible back piece that he wants to do. A neck sleeve was a good warm up for that I think.haha! I wanted to sort of underscore the anger of the girl with this addition. So I added some extra roses with with daggers placed in them over his shoulders and ever so slightly onto his back to give it that "stabbed in the back over and over" feel. Ultimately the tattoo shouldn't need any explanation. Good tattoos explain themselves I feel. But I drank coffee and now I'm feeling long winded.ha!

Recently over the last month or two since I completed My Japanese biker paintings, I've thrown myself none stop into a 10 sheet flash set which has taken up a lot of my free time when I'm not at the shop tattooing. There are two more sheets to go and I will post them here after they are all completed. After this I have a few more paintings to do then hopefully I'll take December off from painting to let my head relax and spend more time with the family etc. I try really hard not to stagnate and I've gotten myself to the point that if I'm not tattooing or haven't painted in a few weeks I have anxiety. I guess I really just enjoy making things. It is very satisfying that's for sure.

Painting is the virtue of an effective tattooer.

-Murray

Finished Neck.

2010-09-30T06:51:00.000-07:00

I just finished this candle up on a client from New York named Chris. Along with the candle, the eye, wolf , and rose with angry girl head where done by me. The SPECTACULAR chest piece was tattooed by an artist named Orrin Hurley. I feel super lucky to have been able to have my tattoos next to his.Seriously look him up if you live in New York. The dude does bulletproof tattoos.

-Murray

Some tattoos and a painting I did recently.

2010-09-25T08:17:00.000-07:00

The black and gray skull and roses is from a flash set project that I'm working on right now. Lucky me!Someone dig's my stuff! The split dragon sheet was done with Eric Doyle at Jinx Proof tattoo in DC on of the most talented people I've ever made art with. Such an inspiration to me.
Thanks for looking guys!

-Murray

2010-08-31T20:13:00.000-07:00

Finished this one up a couple of weeks ago while on a trip to New york state to tattoo some friends.It's based off something I painted.
Good times.

-Murray

Chris Clark Interveiw in local paper

2010-08-17T07:16:00.000-07:00

The middle town Press came down to the shop and filmed me tattooing one of my clients and friend Chris Clark a few weeks ago. Pretty cool little write up went along with it....He's been tattooed all over the place by some of the best tattooers in the craft. Some of the comments left by the civilians will have you in an uproar of laughter.

Enjoy!

-Murray

Tattoo Video

New flash set now available-

2010-08-11T14:33:00.000-07:00

5 Japanese biker half sleeves and chest panel sheets. Plus 1 bonus sheet that Derek Martinez and I made. 11x14, all on heavy card stock.
60 bucks. includes shipping.
Paypal is murrayftw@gmail.com
Please include your mailing info and contact address. I'm only making 30 of these so act now.

Thank you for your on going support!

Newburgh NY guest spot.

2010-08-10T05:24:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a guest spot in NY at millennium tattoo.
Shop was awesome. The people were awesome the tattooers were awesome.Best of all the CUSTOMERS were awesome! I had such a good time with those guys I can't wait to go back.
Here are a few tattoos I did.

-Murray

Split flash sheet with and tattoo by my good friend Derek Martinez of Electric 13 tattoo in Austin TX

2010-08-03T08:52:00.000-07:00

I haven't seen Derek in a few years but he is one of my best most trusted friends. It was really awesome having him at the shop this past few days. We got to together last night and kicked out a flash sheet for old times. Derek doing the bottom half of the sheet and myself doing the top half.

If you are smart you will get tattooed by Derek. He is one skilled tattooer.

I've also included a tattoo that Derek did on me as part of my grim reaper/death torso project that I'm having all my friends tattoo on me.yes!!!

-Murray

2010-07-29T07:52:00.000-07:00

I made this for Xam over in England as part of a trade we're doing.One more to go on this set.

Designs by June Kolentus.

2010-07-25T04:54:00.000-07:00

My little girls love to draw.So I thought I'd make a flash sheet for the wall of the shop based on my daughter June's marker drawing. She was excited to hear that I was repainting one of her very own creations.
The pricing stickers where her idea. Such an Industrious little girl.
Being a dad is awesome!

Japanese Biker Tattoos

2010-07-09T07:02:00.000-07:00

I've been fascinated with the Japanese folk tattooing style for a long time. Bold simple tough. I just have a special place in my heart reserved for it over the classic Japanese and the new school Japanese genres. These were essentially my own Americanized version of style.
They were very fun to do. I mixed colored pencil and paint to give it that 80's edge.

-Murray

Blacklight ready

2010-06-21T17:24:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to infuse and graft some new influences into some of my paintings. My love of classic black light posters, 70's and 80's tattoo art and album covers from the same period has pushed me in this direction.I can no longer suppress the urge to adapt elements from the "far out" areas of that period. The high contrast imagry and wild brain numbing colors is just so pleasing to the eye and aids in conveying ideas to viewers with modern sensibilities....Kind of a bad picture unfortunately but you get the idea.

-Murray

New this week...

2010-06-10T18:32:00.000-07:00

tattin' my days away...

-Murray

unholy warriors

2010-05-29T07:08:00.000-07:00

More and more time spent alone painting....
20"x 30".
-Murray

Practice...

2010-05-20T18:24:00.000-07:00

I made this the other night while trying to "learn the language" of Bob Roberts one of my favorite tattooers. These designs are from his acetate book. Excellent examples of 80's punk rock tattoos.

Faster then a cat can blink his eye my boy!

2010-05-15T06:29:00.000-07:00

I made a quick trip to New York City this week with Chris Smith and Mr. Bill Waverly. First up we went over to the Japan society to see a VAST exhibit of original Kuniyoshi ukiyo-e prints. The exhibit was extraordinary to see. The kuniyoshi exhibit mainly covered more of the mythological subjects of Japanese folk lore. So seeing room upon room of monsters ghosts and warriors fighting Korean tigers really blew our minds. It was AWESOME.

Next we went over to Brooklyn to get tattooed by Mr. Bert Krak.We hung out and had lunch with the gang. All of whom were extremely welcoming and hospitable. While I was getting tattooed local tattooer Steve Delgado stopped by and regaled us with some hilarious anecdotes. Seriously I had to stop and laugh a few times. Bert's tattoo was fast, virtually painless and clean as a whistle. and I mean CLEAN guys. It's one of my favorite tattoos.

Most of the paintings on the wall are original and had painted so the shop almost doubles as a mini folk art museum however all of the imagery is still in service being tattooed every day.Ironically The bathroom has some of the coolest hand painted flash sheets I've ever seen. If you are ever in the neighborhood, stopping by the shop is a must! And everyone interested in tattooing or who is themselves a tattooer should definitely stop by and get something tattooed. In my opinion, It's probably one of the best tattoo shops in the country and the amount of knowledge and experience as well as sheer talent there is astounding. I highly recommend them.

After Bert finished up my my tattoo Steve Delgado invited us over to The shop of the oldest tattooer still working in NYC's Mr. Tony Polito. Tony has been tattooing for a total of 52 years and 30 years at the location we visited. He comes from a time in tattooing TOTALLY alien to the one most of us are familiar with now. The shop is the oldest of old school to its core. We sat and talked and watched Tony and Steve belt out walk-in after walk-in after walk-in. Two old dudes just blasting out tattoos non-stop. Let me tell you it was WILD to watch. I have never seen anything like it. Tony told us stories while he drew on designs and even showed us some of his old flash in between tattoos including an old doc king flash sheet that was just amazing to hold.

All in all this was one of the best trips I've ever had. Every stop on it more wild and cool then the last.It changed a lot of how I view things and I feel a renewed sense of determination now regarding my own work.

-Murray

2010-05-09T07:05:00.000-07:00

I just finished this up for Karl at Jinx proof. They are for a sticker and T-shirt design. I never get tired of drawing grim reapers. F W acrylic paint on coquille board with black colored pencil.

-Murray

Shawn McDonald's book is out!

2010-04-29T17:45:00.000-07:00

My friend Shawn McDonald put together this amazing book over the last few months. Let me tell you folks, it is amazing too.
It's available through Blurb.com. If you like tattoo inspired art this book is DEFINITELY for you.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a248/Murrwolf/shawn2.jpg

This thing is going to be a super rare collectors item so get it while you can y'all!

'Mericans

2010-04-21T07:35:00.000-07:00

I made this after saturating my brain with non-stop news for the last few weeks to see what would happen to my mind. NPR in the morning, AM radio on the way home from the shop.CRAZY AM radio late at night when I Paint. A couple of hours cable news in between. It's enough to turn you into a real hyper-aware animal thats for sure.

-Murray

2010-04-18T14:15:00.000-07:00

I got too tattoo and finish up some fun stuff over the last couple of weeks including this big ass snow tiger that I couldn't wait to have come back.I love doing big stuff and not too many people are strong enough to complete tattoos on that scale.This gal sat like a champ.

I decided to change the heading picture this week too.
The photo is of my girl friend Melissa Kolentus and was taken by respected Local photographer mark swerdloff.Seriously, Look him up. He's amazing. The tattoos on Melissa are by Rick Brown, Gunner, Myself and Nate drew of Lost art tattoo in Salt Lake City UT.

Thanks for stopping by!

-Murray

2010-03-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

I've always found anti-social imagery compelling. It challenges ones common sense; a persons sense of decency and their idea of "Good & Evil".
It also can adversely reaffirm ones core instinctual concept of right and wrong and, if you are so inclined, bolster a persons "Fuck You" attitude about the world around them. So in this regard such "taboo" subjects prove to be different masters for different servants.

I find the hazy margin of ambiguousness an image commonly held as offensive exists in fascinating. How is it that one image is acceptable to one person while it causes another to shrink in terror or sneer in disgust? Inside this line in the sand so to speak are the real questions.A question that cuts to the core of the subject matter itself. What is right and what is wrong? If there is such a thing why can't everyone agree what it is in the first place? And more over an even deeper question arises from that as well. If we are merely animals then wouldn't the horrendous nature of such a dark symbology just be an extension of our core instinct to annihilate what ever gets in out way?
Finally where do you fall INSIDE the line of demarcation ? This taboo no mans land?

While I obviously Cringe at the idea of romanticizing Nazism in any form and just so I'm clear I don't feel the manner in which this painting was conceived does that by the way, what is it about this painting that identify with and even like? Why would I chose to spend my time painting such negativity into the world?
Perhaps it's my desire to be left alone by most people? Nothing in the world could possibly top this as a way of letting people know to stay the hell away from you. Still I feel the composition grasps on to a certain charm as rotten as the core may be.

My painting is drawn in a style indicative of 80's tattooing A period of time I view as more cut and dry compared to today's blurred line of reality and fantasy. Of real and unreal. Of scripted reality Vs. cold harsh brutal reality.Of black and white (no pun intended).

Happiness and "feeling good" is what our society is based upon here in the West after all. This belief sprung from the 1960's, flourished in the 70's, matured in the 80's and 90's. And now at the start of a new decade in a new millennium the cracks have begun to form at the base of this structure from the shear weight of all of its moral and social entitlements. And of its own grotesque vices as well....I'm Left to ponder: what are the consequence of this way of life both good and bad going to be for us all?

I feel I made this painting because I just felt like adding a few more needles to Joe camel's back so to speak. Not for some kind of pro-nationalist statement or an affirmation of some kind of bloated illogical racial idea but because I felt like saying fuck this easygoing softness in us. I want the viewer to reaffirm their commitments. I want them to think past the fleeting pathetic pre-programmed plastic knee jerk television has drummed into them. I want the viewer to connect to the painting in a manner that causes either anger and resentment or praise and adoration. And ultimately I want the viewer to emerge from the moral no man's land that so many in today's world apathetically wonder through recommitted. I want battle lines to be draw so we can bring last centuries tired arguments and the beginning of this centuries short comings and false promises to a close.
In essence I want the house of cards to fall.

-Murray

Split sheet With Kyle Sajban

2010-03-23T09:13:00.000-07:00

They keep coming so I keep painting them.
Kyle Sajban did the the Beautiful pin up girl. When I saw it I figured a Nice Horny wolf would an appropriate compliment to her.
I really appreciate the over all rollo feel to this painting. This was Super fun to do.Kyle's a brilliant artist and tattooer. He works at Monster ink in stony point New York. Look him up!

-Murray

Philly convention

2010-03-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

I will be working at the Philadelphia tattoo convention this weekend with Jinx proof and olde city tattoo. I am honored to be able to tattoo along side of them.
If you'd like to get tattooed by me I'll be there. Or you can call my studio at 860-832-8411 or email me at murrayftw@gmail.com
Thank you.

-Murray

Finally finished.

2010-03-13T11:40:00.000-08:00

I've been working on this painting for tattooer Karl Hedgepath off and on for about 3 weeks in between the moving and unpacking I mentioned previously. I tried to attach some real meaning to this one. Each Animal represents the the Chinese zodiac animal for each member of his family including his own.

The "arm of doom" design in the center of the painting is a redux of a tattoo on Karl that Dan Higgs tattooed on him back in the days when he was still tattooing. I essentially called it back in to service for his family as a sort of new coat of arms for them.

The green background has a slight metal flake effect in it that I added to the paint I used. Basically I couldn't get the desired effect that I wanted on my test sheet so I resorted to mixing my own paint instead.In the end I feel it turned out to be a pretty effective maneuver. You can't really see it in the picture, but in person it manages to be subtle yet eye catching and adds to the whimsical nature of this painting. Karl expressed that he didn't want this painting to be scary or violent since it was for his family so I tried really hard to go for a more modest look.

Over all I'm very pleased with the outcome. Karl has been a huge supporter and collector of my work for a while now so it was an honor to do this for his family.

The skull and praying mantis tattoo is on a long time client and friend named Mary Heitzenrater.
I jumped at the chance to do this one. Super fun!

New stuff.

2010-03-03T11:47:00.000-08:00

So I recently moved my family to West Hartford and I haven't really been able to paint in the capacity that I'm used to because of having to move and unpack ect. But now that that's almost over I've started painting again surrounded by boxes and boxes and boxes of crap.
So here are a few tattoos and a collaborative drawing that my friends and I made during the great blizzard of 2010 down in Baltimore MD which incidentally ruined the convention that weekend. HA! The list of contributors on the drawing are as follows: Paulie B/S from Glenn's tattoo service in NC, Myself, Marcus Mancini from My shop, Teddy Safarian From Tattoo paradise in DC, Rick brown from Empire tattoo in NC, Jason Goldberg who owns Olde City tattoo in Philly PA and Tomas Garcia who is in between Spain and tattoo paradise. I drew the skull and dagger with the rain clouds and ribbon that reads 2010.

The Hand tattoo is on tattooer Kyle Slayban of Monster Ink in New York, The Rick Brown inspired Fudo Myo sword is obviously a work in progress on one of my best and most faithful Clients Tim Davis who I did the neck tattoos on a few blog entries back. The Folky style Namakubi (roughly meaning Severed head in Japanese) is on another one of my other favorite clients Arielle Zaczyk.

Thanks for looking and commenting! See y'all soon.

-Murray

2010-02-03T13:33:00.000-08:00

Did this for fun last night...

-Murray

Justin Lee/Murray Sell split painting

2010-02-03T03:04:00.000-08:00

Its done! Justin Lee does it again with his CRUSHING imagry and smart use of colors. What a good time I had doing this one with him. I think we're going to do another one now too. I live to do exciting stuff like this so why not?

Tims big photo shoot!

2010-01-22T06:29:00.000-08:00

Here are some tattoos I did on a buddy of mines throat recently and a picture from photo shoot that he did shortly after.

haha! Amazing. I wish I could take pictures this good! Tim is a really good guy with a good heart.One of the hardest working dudes that I know in this state. I'm really glad I get to tattoo people like him.

-Murray

2010-01-22T05:25:00.001-08:00

I've been very Busy this past few months. Painting after work as much as I can. I've really started to get myself into the habit of painting. It seems much less like "work" and more of a natural extension of myself now then it did when I really started to seriously paint a year ago.
I sleep maybe 6 hours a night now...which is a little less then normal for most folks but not much at all for a lot of tattooers. The days of sleeping 10 hours a days are a hazy, distant memory to me. ha!

Seems like the more driven one becomes about doing something you feel is important, or if you love something so much you require far less rest. I can only describe it as almost like being infatuated with someone. Or on days where you are tearing yourself down its almost like you've been dumped or divorced...You can't sleep, you can't think about anything else. Real pathological obsessional type stuff.
I feel like if people would just devote themselves to their passions they'd be far less caught up with the day to day grind of life.

Lately, tattooing has become easier, faster, more solid and more fun. I feel like I'm really starting to gain some clarity on things related to composition now too. Which is FUNDAMENTALLY the most important part of tattooing. The smoothness and the brightness and over all solidness is just an extension of that understanding and not the byproduct of the tools you use or the technical trickery you've been taught.

Anyway, all these paintings I'm putting up today have already been traded off or have already been promised to other tattooers. They took weeks of tireless work to do. The resin coating ensures that the owner will get at least a hundred years of work out of them. I added the glitter as a modern, eye catching sort of element as well. When you walk past them you can't help but want to look over and see whats up.My iphone pictures don't do them justice so my narration will have to do for now. It is awesome. Most of the designs are from older sources that I repainted and slightly updated. The eagle and skull is my own and the painting with the green glitter is of my own design as well. I plan on doing more of these resin coated flash sheets down the road but it is very expensive and time consuming and SUPER EASY to botch. I went through two other sheets and ruined them before I got to this point even. So preparing four at once was a nightmare. I don't think I even slept the night I let these guys cure.

I've had a few offers and some interest in my work recently and I was kind of flirting with the idea of selling my stuff, but honestly I only want tattooers to own originals of my stuff so I'm not in any hurry to start whoring my art out to the masses or anything...Not that it's a bad thing to desire money and the security it can bring necessarily, but I'll leave that to the more financially motivated of us in tattooing. For now trading art to fellow craftsman is more than adequate for me. And just going to work every day and tattooing provides all the security I need currently.

So Right now I'm enjoying the winter sluggish season and working on a split sheet of flash with Portland Oregon tattooer Justin lee which I will post in a week or so when its finished. Let me tell you folks, he is a bad ass tattooer and painter. And when he asked me if I wanted to split a painting with him I attacked it.
Until I put it up, here's a link to Justin's web page so you can see what I'm talking about.
adornbodyart.com/tattoo-portfolios/portland-artwork/art-by-justin/

Hope you dig what I've done so far this year. I have MANY more things planned for the months coming up.
Here's part of a poem by Bukowski that I think about sometimes at night when I'm painting...It's kind of sad, but in the end if you just keep pushing and pushing someone somewhere will pick up on it someday.

“and as my grey hands
drop a last desperate pen
in some cheap room
they will find me there
and never know
my name
my meaning
nor the treasure
of my escape.”