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.

Thankasoldier.net is very happy to announce a new project called "Just Say Thanks"

I was approached online a few weeks ago by someone that was wondering what they could do more on Remembrance Day to say thank you to veterans and soldiers. One thing I've also seen in the past five years of running this website is that sometimes people want to say thank you but aren't sure how to or just not that comfortable with the situation.

That being said we are launching "Just Say Thanks" a series of cards online (FREE of charge) that can be printed off and given out to veterans and soldiers all year round. You can also save the files to your computer and email if you have friends or loved ones serving overseas.

Our only request is that if you do that please include the link to this blog Tasmonthly.blogspot.com so that people can share their stories via the comments section and see how many are sent.

We are encouraging people to print these off and if you're at a Remembrance Day Ceremony or Veterans Day in the States put one in an envelope and hand it to a soldier or veteran when you see them in public.

To Print the cards:

Step 1 : Click on the below photos

Step 2: right click and select Save Image As.... (Save the file to your desktop)

Step 3 : Open the file on your computer and print it

Step 4: Write a Message on the back and please include "Tasmonthly.blogspot.com" at the bottom

"Remembrance Day (Canada) & Veterans Day Card (USA) Card"

- Thanks to S. Blanch for designing the card you can see more of her work here

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"Thank A Soldier - Year round card" with space to write a note

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If you have a design that you would like to create and have featured on our webpage you can send to SUBMISSIONS@Thankasoldier.net

Hannya, Koi and Botan (Horimatsu)

Taira Tomomori completed (Horimatsu)

This is a piece that I finnished in the beginning of summer but for various reasons I haven't gotten around to posting it here yet. This piece required a lot of work because of all the detail, but was nevertheless completed within a single month. Ludwig was determined to have it done as fast as possible, so we aimed for long sessions, sometimes two days in a row.

The story of Taira Tomomori is an itriguing one, and a favourite theme for myself as well as the Ukiyo-e designers of Edo period (1600-1868) Japan. The image of general Tomomori himself is adapted from an early Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861). I have posted an image of here below.

Print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Phoenix Coyotes Goalie pays tribute to fallen hero

Phoenix Coyotes’ goaltender Jason LaBarbera chose to pay homage to stalwart Pat Tillman with his 2011-2012 goalie mask.



LaBarbera wanted a mask that honored both the U.S. and Canadian Armed Forces serving overseas. More specifically, he wanted one side of the mask to honor the late Pat Tillman; the defensive back for theArizona Cardinals who left the NFL to enlist in the U.S. Army with his brother after 9/11, and who was killed by friendly fire on April 22, 2004 in Afghanistan.



"With all circumstances leading up to the passing of Pat Tillman aside, I felt that he put a face to the everyday soldier," said Arrigo.


The mask depicts Tillman and his brother in military gear, along with an image of Pat Tillman as a member of the Cardinals, who like LaBarbera's Coyotes play in Glendale.










The opposite side of the mask features a single, faceless solider with helicopters above his head. Throughout the mask is a red-and-sand-colored camouflage that matches the Coyotes' team colors.

Part of the design: Multiples stars and maple leafs that serve as a tribute to "both Canadian and American forces serving in their respective theaters," said Arrigo.

On the front of the mask is a yellow ribbon, an acknowledgement that those serving overseas are in the thoughts of those back home.Arrigo said the mask was a perfect way to honor Tillman and the rest of the men and women still serving around the world.

"Personally, whether or not you agree with the actions overseas, I feel we need to support, to no end, our brave forces," he said.

For information about the Pat Tillman Foundation, visit its official site. Visit Arrigo on Facebook for more goalie designs.

Kintaro - not quite completed (Horimatsu)

This piece is in fact finnished, but I have not photographed it properly yet. Here some of the colours are still missing. I was really fun and interesting to work with a Kintaro design that did not depict him in water wrestling the koi. There are so much more to choose from when it comes to Kintaro designs. All one has to do is do proper research into Ukiyo-e.

I can not stress this enough - if you want to be able to create proper Irezumi there is no way you can get around studying. This means reading book upon book on japanese culture and history, until the lines of evidence converge in such a way that you can be shure of what you are doing in your Irezumi.

Irezumi demands total dedication. Always keep that in mind. For the westerner that do not have the opportunity to learn from a Japanese master, all that remains is study, study, study. And to never give up, of course.