"A Whale's Tale"

India Ink & Skin

This piece was completed over three sessions and tells a story rooted in a time long past. Both my client and I were born on Cape Cod, a place rich with history of whaling and seafaring folklore. Drawing from that heritage, we wove together several tales and ideas to create a triptych. The work is rendered through a mark-making approach that echoes the tradition of scrimshaw - an art once etched into whale bone and tusk - paying homage to the visual language of that era.

This piece was created in collaboration between artist and client. Placed on the client's chest, it is the outcome of many hours of brainstorming, sketching and refining the design before bringing it to life as a tattoo.