The 90's....

This month I Reached further into the rugged and wild proto-new school style. I sure had a lot of fun doing all of these paintings and sending them all over creation to their new owners. Well not really the sending part. I HATE the Fed Ex store. It's almost like they intentionally give away jobs to people who don't want to help you. As if that it was part of their hiring criteria. Employees that just sit around, deferring their responsibilities, scratching their ass and wiping the dribble from their mouths like apes...I hate laziness in people and the Fed Ex store represents a culmination of all that sharp pointed hot in the face rage. There is nothing I detest more then to send off a painting knowing there's only an 85% - 98% chance it'll reach its destination.I am not a gambling man so the amount of risk as small as it is causes me to turn in my sleep at times. Especially if its a package that's leaving the country. I'd rather sit all day at the DMV.
It's gotten better since switching to UPS though I confess.

For my next round of paintings and tattoos I will retract most of my vague emotional gestures and instead apply a more rigorous and methodical artistic style. Exploring some even darker new found imagery and ideas. It's going to be nuts y'all.
So on with the show!

-Murray

Marcus Mancini keeps me moving whenever I'm not producing. Seems like every time I turn around he's working on something really awesome. It always make me inclined to pick up my brushes. Marcus Loves the folksy simplified tattoo style. Bold and bright yet unassuming. always dripping with character.I love it.
I'm lucky to have him along all my friends at my side. Here's what he did this month!

-Murray

NEW STUFF!

We've been heard at work this month. Lots of new paintings and some great tattoos from everyone.
First up Jae Audette!

I wasn't planning on posting anything none painting or tattoo related but I've changed my mind. This is too good not to show you.
It's a short film by French Director Jean Painleve. Stunning. I suggest putting it on full screen and do not skip any of it either.
Enjoy.

I did this last night. I have to stop spit shading though. I Felt sick all day from the chemicals. But damn it sure looks cool when its finished. Maybe I should risk the kidney failure? Still need to sign it though.....

-Murray

Growing up

I got into a lot of trouble as a kid. This painting was sort of an exploration of a few themes that ran through my youth. Some good, some terribly bad but all a part of the growing process. Growing up in the south SURROUNDED by criminal minds does weird things to a kid. My parents defiantly had their hands full for sure. Now looking back I don't wish to glorify or up lift the more nefarious elements of my "kidhood" But to see it for what is was. Ugly, violent traumatic and of my own doing.
The "prisioner of conscience" represents the excusses some of those people made for their actions. The tiny eyes behind the bars represent the truth.
The rose with the sun wheel and the skinhead girl represents the romantic symbolism of the of the sub-culture I was involved with in my early teens while the cop being punched and the skull with the bats represents the ugly truth.
For me this painting is about looking at crude rugged truth in the face, having an honest realization and then learning from it. It took me two weeks to do this painting. And It's going to a friend In DC.

-Murray

Here are some of my trip Highlights from when I traveled down to DC for the Jinx proof 13 year anniversary party. Starting with some pictures of my Daughters and I right before I left town and ending with Two pictures of PHENOMENAL paintings from Teddy Safarian's girl friend Hayden who is the apprentice at tattoo paradise. She's only been painting flash now for less then a year and Let me be the first one to come out and say it, she is going to CRUSH tattooing one day. By the way, Tattoo Paradise is stocked with some of the nicest gentlemen I've ever had the pleasure of spending 10 hours sitting around with other then the fellah's I go to work with each day here in Connecticut *wink*. Matt Knopp, the owner was super hospitable and gave me a little tour of all the art work all over the shop. Their piercer George is rumored to be able to eat 100+ hot wings in one sitting. Nuff said. Carlos Truan was also in town from Perfection Tattoo in Austin Texas and I'd like to note that he is one bad ass tattooer and a very funny and nice guy. It was awesome meeting him.
Anyway, It was a lot of fun. People where nuts at the jinx proof welcome party. I wish I could have actually spent more time with everyone. Karl is an excellent host and all the guys at the shop who I haven't seen since the Philly tattoo convention where in top form. Now that I'm home I can renew my painting and tattooing with a new sense of purpose. I saw some real TREASURES in DC. OG sailor Jerry Sheets behind stations, OG Ed Hardy's..Malone all over. It was amazing. I'd highly recommend stopping at both tattoo paradise in Adams Morgan and Jinx Proof in George town. These places are like Museums. There are Literally little artistic diamonds and rubies hidden and scattered all over both of these tattoo shops. I'd go as far to say that any tattooer or tattoo enthusiast should go out of their way to check these places out and get tattooed there. I'd just like to thank everyone I met down south and I look foreword to coming back again real soon.

-Murray

New this week-

Well I painted two sheets of flash this week But I'm not ready to let them out yet because I still have about 6 more sheets to do to complete the set. And depending on how they turn out I might rip them all up if I don't feel good when I see them all together.
So, for now, here are some fun tattoos I got to do. Again, in a loose, almost new school fashion. But not in the sense of the kinds of stuff you'd typically think of when you think new school. More, Proto-new school if you will. With a good PROPER amount of black and tons of contrast. Seriously these tattoos are probably more black then color. The way it should be. Hope y'all like 'em. I sure had fun tattooing them.

-Murray

I've been feeling black and gray lately...The pork chop sheet is our first collaboration as a shop. There will be more of these in the future.The heads...I just wanted to do something that had an old Spaulding and or Dave lum feel to it. Coquille board and colored pencil.
-Murray

THE SWASTIKA.

The crooked cross. Most hated, cherished and misunderstood symbol ever designed by... blah blah blah!!

Actually I'm just a fan of dysfunctional and anti-social imagery. Reminds me of the late 60's. Bikers, acid freaks, filthy hippies, Mansonites...All of der führer chosen. Micky loading a shot gun because he can't take the pressure..Fuck the cops etc. I feel like its the last thing that even registers as shocking anymore thanks to popular culture, the media....Zee Germans...haha
Anyway I painted this for Karl Hadgepath at Jinx proof as a gift for making such a great tattoo machine...It's the least I could do.

-Murray