40% off on "Ryushin"!! Only 5 more days to go!!

Kofuu-Senju Publications classic book of Irezumi master Horiyoshi III's fantastic dragon painitngs is still obtainable for merely 119 Euro plus shipping. The offer ends on January 26th, so be on your toes for this one!
Find more info in the upper right of this blog.

Horiyoshi III of Yokohama.
photo by Alex reinke

Ryu to botan Irezumi backpiece in the works.Today I colored the

Today I colored the big pink botan (peony) and the details of the dragons head. The yellow is still a bit bloddy in the photo, but usually rotary machine  works stops bleeding within the minute.

This traditional japanese tattoo has been in the works for a few years now. Odd how time slips away. Another appointment is scheduled for thursday next week and I plan to get a lot done during those three hours.

Don't miss out on the great offer of 40% off on the classic horiyoshi III book "Ryushin".

Horiyoshi III tattooing in Yokohama september 2009.

As mentioned earlier, Kofuu-Senju Publications are celebrating the upcoming release of their new book, "Dentowaza" by lowering the price of "Ryushin" until the 26th of january!
This is a strictly limited edition of 1000 copies of which two thirds are already sold, so this is Your opportunity to walk away with a book that is a must for anyone into irezumi, the traditional Japanese tattoo.

Here's the Kofuu-Senju Publications blog.

Horiyoshi III book of dragon paintings, Ryushin, 40% off for a limited time!

 Coinciding with the release of our new Irezumi book, Dentowaza,  we are offering our classic first book Ryushin at a reduced price. Perhaps the best book to date featuring the ink paintings of master Horiyoshi III of Yokohama. Orginally priced at 199 Euro plus shipping it is now available for 119 Euro plus shipping. Shipping worldwide is 35 Euro.
 Easiest way to order is to pay directly to our PayPal account senju@kofuusenjupublications.com. Write "Ryushin 40% off", so we know what you are ordering.
The offer is valid until the 26th of January 2012.

Fudo Myoo cover-up continued.(by Horimatsu)

Antti visted me this past weekend in order to continue work on his Fudo Myoo cover-up sleeve. We did approximately 4 hours a day for three days in a row. I am very pleased the way we ended up this time. Now just one more visit remains until the piece is completed. hopefully it will be relatively soon.

Here's a link to the older blogpost showing our humble beginnings on this cover-up.

Ryu in the Works (by Horimatsu)

A full Irezumi backpiece depicting a Ryu (dragon) that I am creating. It features some cover up elements and that's usually tricky but never difficult really. I have found hiding (actually I am not to found of the term "cover up") has more to do with being creative rather than actually blasting old work over.

As usual, I am working from a partial stencil (the xalligraphy on the skull in the Ryu's claws required this) and then I draw the rest on the skin with markers. Hopefully we'll get some more sessions in on this one soon.

Ryukannon continued. (Horimatsu)

Day 1

Day 1

day 2

day 2

day 3

day 4

day 4

day 4

Sebastian came back from Germany and had some more work done on his Ryukannon backpiece. He held out for four days and a total of 15 1/2 hours. Great stamina and great tenacy in this client! He will be back in December this year for a futher quartet of sessions. Maybe we'll get really close to finnishing  then. we'll see.

Ryukannon in the works. (Horimatsu)

Sebastian came up from germany to start his full Irezumi body suit. We had been discussing it for quite some time, and it was finally the right time for everyone involved. He stayed for three days, made a tremendous effort in the face of pain and we achieved more than I initially thought possible.

the Buddhist imagery holds a special place in the Horimatsu heart and I am thrilled and exited that Sebastian has chosen Ryukannon for his back.

He will return this fall.

beginning of Fudo Myoo no Ryu cover-up on Antti from Finland. (Horimatsu)

Akaryu gets some colour in the Kiku.

In progress

Rickard and Ryu.

A few weeks ago I visited Örnsköldsvik and made this photograph of one of my clients. I had set up a makeshift photostudio in my friend Magnus's hallway using one Elinchrome D-lite 2 flashhead with a large softbox, some black (too wrinkly) fabric and a large handheld reflector.
The sword is a Iato that I bought in Kyoto on my first trip to Japan and the Hakama pants are my first pair of Kendo hakama I got some eight years ago.

I'll give this set up anpther try later on at my proper photostudio at the Horimatsu studios.

Linda and the Akaryu (Red Dragon).

Linda started her Irezumi backpiece about 5 years ago. At first we were going at breakneck speed, almost completing the whole piece in under a year. Then came two succesful pregnancies (congratulations!) and all the things that comes with being a new parent. A few weeks ago she appeared again and I am pleased to be able to work on this piece again.

Still Life of Irezumi Client and Tube of Vaseline.

New Ryu.

I started this Irezumi piece on Mattias almost immediately after returning from my visit to Horiyoshi III in Yokohama. Instantly, I realized that something had changed within me. A different flow and a different view of things. I choose not to analyze or question these changes as they occur. I try to accept and use what is given.

This piece is special, as it represents all that came before and all that will follow. We will soon be completing this one, but I don't think I have seen the last of Mattias.

Scales and Other Things in Black.

I was able to put some more sumi in to Deshi Oscar's torso piece the other day. It's a wonderful feeling when the empty skin is transformed into a complex pattern of blacks, grays and colors. Like som many other of the pieces I am working on right now, I wish that I could just keep going until it is completed.

I never tire of the classic designs! Ryu, Koi, Tora, Shishi, Ho-o, all the flowers......practice makes practice (makes perfection, I hope not?), because what mirror should I polish when this one is clear?
Bring It On!

Oskar's Irezumi Donburi Soushinbori.

Mondays and tuesdays is when my deshi Oskar drives down from the town of Lycksele to be with me in the studio. His days are spent watching, listening and drawing and sometimes we even get the opportunity to work on his Donburi Soushinbori (full body tattoo without the opening, Munewari, on the chest). Oskar has absolutely fantastic skin for Irezumi and I enjoy simply getting the black and greys in there. Unfortunately he already had a bigger non-Irezumi piece on his back as well as some other stuff on his body when we started discussing his desire to get a Donburi Soushinbori. However, in imperfection lies some of the challenge and I intend to do my damndest with the rest of his skin.

Ryu and Botan.

This Irezumi piece just got completed last weekend in Örnsköldsvik. Kristoffer decided on a Ryu for his left arm and we matched with Botan (peonies). My suggestion for his other arm is simply another Ryu and more Botan.
We have yet to decide what to make of the Jewel the Ryu is clenching in his claws.