Making Space for Exploration
Where I'll Be This Summer, tattoo availability, some things I've been working on
Hello hello!
It has been a while since my last update here, I’ve missed you :,) I have been busy finishing out the last few months at Gift Shop studio before we close our doors and move on to new adventures.
I’ve done a LOT of really cool tattoos recently (I’m so grateful for you all and your fabulous ideas). I’m so excited with the projects I’ve been doing and can’t wait to do more, but oooooh am I ready for a bit of a break.
It seems serendipitous that this three month period of time where I am tattoo-home-base-less was imposed upon me at the exact right moment. Sometimes I need a bit of a nudge (shove) to get me to slow down and prioritize rest, and June, July, and August will be just that.
I will be tattooing a lot less than usual this summer, and giving myself time to travel and focus on other project (plus scheme on some fun things to share with you all in the fall). I’ll be working for about half of June, more regularly in July, and taking August off minus a possibly guest trip to Philly!
Now for the good stuff:
I FINALLY have some solid NYC dates available to share with you! That means my books are OPEN!
I will be with my pals at Obsessed collective through June, and I’m so stoked to be working at Junk Mail tattoo studio as a guest through July - their space is incredible and I’m gonna get to work alongside some awesome artists:)
Here is my availability in NYC for the next 3 months:
Space is limited, so get your request in soon to snag a summer spot!
I don’t have new flash for you this month, and honestly can’t say when I’ll get my next sheet out. But that just gives you an opportunity to look through all the flash I’ve put out so far before I do a bit of house-cleaning and maybe get rid of some designs in the fall :)
Now if you want to hear a bit of a rant about the non-tattoo stuff I’ve been up to- read on!
Although I’ve been very busy recently with tattoos, I’ve also been really enjoying spending time on other projects. I’ve been knitting (as usual), but also getting back in to painting - relearning watercolor and learning gouache for the first time! I’ve been having a lot of fun experimenting and I can feel my creative mind coming alive like it hasn’t in a long time.
Here are some of my works in progress and recent paintings:
I’m currently working on the Frankie sweater from petite knit - This is my second sweater everrrrr and my first sweater knit for myself! It’s honestly a lot easier than I thought and i can’t wait to wear it during some chilly summer nights :)
I have always struggled to make art just for myself for two reasons- first, I am a life long sufferer of perfectionism, and it has always been hard for me to be ok with creating something that I don’t end up liking (annoying, I know). Second, after jumping right into tattooing for work it has become hard to separate making art from potential financial opportunity. As a tattooer I have to be constantly thinking about how my art can make me money, which is one of my least favorite things about the job, funny enough.
I think taking time to experiment, and forcing myself not to think about how what I’m creating could benefit me financially before I’ve even created it has really helped me expand my style and learn more about myself as an artist.
And now that I’ve created things for myself, I may even choose to eventually use some of them as prints or inspiration for flash. Win-win!
Here are some of the paintings and styles I’ve been trying out recently:
I’m currently taking an online watercolor course from an artist who has a very loose style - chosen intentionally to challenge what I think I know about painting and creating art, and it’s working! After following some demos from the course (bottom right sketchbook spread) I started to paint these abstract floral pieces that really surprised me in the best way.
Looking at these together on the page now, I’m even starting to see a little bit of a through-line in my work, even though they feel so different to me when I make them.
Working this way started as an experiment to see if I could gain some confidence in my art skills, and has quickly turned into a way to help me evolve and hone my style not only as a visual artist but also a tattooer. I’m excited to keep playing and finding new ways to share and integrate my work into my tattoo practice!
I have sooo many trips planned this summer, including two of my childhood friends’ weddings (eeeek), some camping and national parks, a trip to help my family finish a cabin we’ve been building for the past year in Ontario, and some beach time. I’m excited to share my adventures and the inevitable new art that is inspired by them with you here.
I also have some really cool projects in the works- I’m currently building a website with the help of Elliott Rosenberg - https://www.perennial.design - that is going to be a central hub for all of my information, links, etc.
I’ve been cooking up some ideas for longer-form art/writing projects as well. I haven’t written an anthropological paper in over 3 years, but I’ve been finding recently that my lived experience as an artist in new york at this particular moment in time is bringing up a lot of ideas. Hopefully this summer I’ll be able to produce a few of these ideas more fully and see what comes of them.
That’s all for now - feeling very grateful and full of excitement for the times to come.
Much love,
Pax