Men Chirashi - scattering of masks (by Horimatsu)

Fred completed his Nagasode sleeve showing a Hannya mask and Yama Tengu mask together with Sakura in wind and water. Very pleased with this one.

Karajishi Botan Completed. (by Horimatsu)

Anders visited from the south of Sweden and stayed for two days to complete his shishibun piece portraying the classic Shishi with peony flowers. This piece took about 22 hours from start to final yellows.

Fudo Myoo (by Horimatsu)

Marius visited from Leipzig, Germany in order to start his Fudo Myoo Irezumi piece. The image above shows where we left it after about twelve hours of work.

When I mention how many hours each part takes it's mainly because I want the prospective new client to understand at which speed I work and how long something may take to create. The twelve hours mentioned includes making the stencil of Fudo Myoo, drawing on the skin in order to create the rest, setting up and breaking down the work area and equipment and the actual tattooing.

The image was captured using a Fujifilm X100 camera and is straight out of the camera with no post enhancement whatsoever.

New Movie on the Horimatsu Youtube Channel!

Ryukannon Continued (by Horimatsu)

Sebastian visited from Germany once again. 4 days and 13 1/2 hours really made a huge difference. We now have a total of 41 1/5 hours into this backpiece, including drawing, setting up machines etc. Next time we work is at the Milan Tattoo Convention in February next year.

Hatsuhana (by Horimatsu)

After a two year absence Viktor from Stockholm returned for in order to make progress on what  has to be one of my favourite pieces, depicting Hatsuhana doing pennance under the Tonowaza waterfall. During three days and the equal amount of four-hour sessions we touched up some of the shading on the back and started work on both gobu (5/10) sleeves.

 

This is the painting I did back in 2005 which forms the basic for this piece. Seven years is a long time when you constantly work to refine your work, and its interesting to see ones own development. This especially applies to the design of the background.

Above are two of the original woodblock prints (Ukiyo-e) that inspired me for this painting and they are still among my absolute favourites. Especially the lower one, designed by Utagawa Kuniyoshi.

The path of Irezumi - Introduction (by Horimatsu)

Bamboo Sumi-e painting by unknown Japanese painter.

As the winters first snow silently begins it attempts of blanketing the world in its white cold embrace, I finally sit down to begin writing the beginning of what is hopefully an ongoing essay on my path of Irezumi, the traditional Japanese tattoo.
In these writings I will try to share my personal experience of the phenomena, as well as my insights and personal views on the subject matter. Forgive me if my language at times may seem overly academic and unessecary embroidered. Over the years I have come to realize that this is the way I speak about these things, and trying to change that fact would be an act of futility.

I will not try to write about things in any specific order. They will be jotted down as they come to me. neither will there be a certain space and time inbetween the posting of these writings. If I do not have anything to say, I will remain silent. If you as a reader choose to comment, please bear in mind that I am a more than full time working artist with a wife and three children. Answers will come when I have time.

It is also very important to keep in mind that my views and thoughts on Irezumi do not offer any universal way of viewing the matter. Just like any art form or tradition, Irezumi is a living breathing entity which changes parts of its appearance as it chooses new hosts to dwell in.
 The principal reason I have for sharing and discussing my path of Irezumi, which involves many other aspects of culture and spirituality ( both Japanese and western), is that I feel that so far the great boom in traditional Japanese tattooing here in the west usually focuses overwhelmingly on the graphic language, and that a door into a deeper understanding needs to be inched open.

I am not saying that there's anything wrong with simply enjoying creating tattoos more or less influenced by Irezumi. Anyone is perfectly free to create his or hers personal art. I nevertheless want to try and share the deeper knowledge and insights that I share with some of the Japanese masters as well as some of the few european ones.
 Because if you as a person and an artist find yourself attracted to the aesthatics and visual shape of Irezumi, there is so much more enjoyment and growth to be had if you try and penetrate just a little deeper into it.
 Of course I can only speak for myself. I have intensly studied this artform and its traditions for over ten years by now. I have read more books on Japanese art, history, culture and religion than I can remember. I have the tendencies of somebody manic when I delve into things and Irezumi (japan) has proved to be the thing that I have stuck with the longest so far. All these words that has passed before my eyes would on the other hand have little or no meaning in reality if they were not paired up with the unchallenged power of personal experience of the phenomen

So please feel free to return to this blog in the near future in order to take what you want, need or care for in what I choose to share with the reader. Be sure that there are a few things I prefer to keep a secret until you have matured enough. When that happens, the things are no longer a secret to you, and I will not have to tell you. 

Kingyo to Sakura (by Madako)

Ida is getting her first Gobun sleeve by Madako.

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.

Noh Masks and Momiji (by Horimatsu)

Malin's gobu (5/10) sleeve of Noh masks and Momiji was completed a while back. I just recently found the photos. My wife and partner Madako is now working to turn this in to a nagasode (full sleeve). After that they will probably start her back. After more than 14 years together it's amazing how hers and my own work can blend into each other so smoothly. Madako is a natural and I wish I could possess her technical ease and grace.

Becoming Ryu (by Horimatsu)

Mick just visited me from Denmark. His first gobu (5/10) sleeve was finnished after three days of continous work. He was a true fighter and hero and I am very pleased with this piece. Maybe next year will see the other gobu in place?

Heron Girl (by Madako)

Madako (Ingela Sedholm) working on Björn's nagasode portraying the Heron girl. Almost finnished now!

New Movie at the Horimatsu Irezumi Family Youtube channel.

In order to view more of Micael Norbergs work please visit www.micaelnorberg.com.

Monju, Shishi and Kirin

This is the second Monju Bosatsu I did in jsut seven days. Such a coincidence that two clients, not related or aquainted, and both of asian decent, would pick this design within such a short space of time.
Kevin came up from Gothenburg to have this done in consecutive days. With this piece, and as my client wished so, I opted for a style more resembling buddhist esoteric paintings. Of course the concept went once or twice through my Irezumi heart. This is what we ended up with. Very happy with this.

I must point out the irregularity in myself deviating from my usual Irezumi style. This is something I will only try for Buddhist or perhaps Shinto content.

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.

Episode 2: Madako

A new episode from the Horimatsu Irezumi Family's YouTube channel. This time featuring Madako at work. Enjoy!

New! the Horimatsu Irezumi Family Youtube channel. Enjoy!

Peony and Butterflies (Madako)

Madako (Ingela Sedholm) working on Jenny at outdoor cultural expo in Umeå May 2011

Kirin, Shishi, Masks and Botan (Horimatsu)

These sleeves were completed just at the start of summer. Hopefully Alexander will return in order to start on his back soon so that he may become a completed whole.