Geometric Dotwork Mandala Tattoos - Victoria BC, Vancouver Island
Specializing in certain styles has been a slow and somewhat meandering path.
Initially I was drawn to tattooing by the bold, large-scale beauty of Japanese work. Having a background in woodblock printmaking, the aesthetic had pulled me in years before taking on tattooing as a career path. I always knew this would be a major piece of my tattoo puzzle (it continues to be a major passion of mine). Having said that, the dot work, geometric, mandala inspired work was a later addition to my skillset.
I never quite know what to call this style. Is it geometric, is it ornamental, dot work, blackwork, mandala (?) … so many variations on a similar core. A few years into tattooing I was awestruck by the work of Thomas Hooper. There were others, but his work was/is something else. With zero knowledge as to how to create a “dot work” piece, aligned with a close friend who trusted me, we set out on the path and figured it out dot by dot. There are many routes to similar destinations … time in is a main component of most any skill. Since that initial piece, I’ve put my fair share of symmetical/straight line/dot dot dot, hours into tattooing. Figuring out a thing or two along the way I’ve ended up here. A main focal point in my work, the precision and persistence these pieces take is always rewarding once that final wipe down is complete.
At this point I don’t stray too far from the Japanese or Geometric styles, sometimes combining the two, sometimes incorporating other aspects, but overall these have become my two main passions within tattooing. Perhaps the years will take me down different paths or different avenues of stylistic exploration. For now I’m continuously challenged and inspired to refine, revamp, and hone in on better and better expressions of these two styles.
As always I appreciate the interest in my work. Victoria has become my home over the past five years. I can’t foresee a future in which Vancouver Island isn’t my home. Many years of tattooing lie ahead!
