Shannon Larratt is Zentastic

Not that I will be making a habit of writing about mods but I have to admit even after all these years I do still miss writing for ModBlog, as admirable an effort as Rob is making. Anyway, I just took the bandage off my latest tattooing, which was done yesterday, so let me break the rules and post a quick unhealed and unfinished photo of where we’re at with it.

You can click to zoom, although I’m afraid I didn’t take very clear pictures. The new stuff in the picture are the two space stormtroopers wearing oxygen masks (since they have just hopped out of UFOs invading from the Nazi base on the dark side of the moon, duh), the one just outlined and the other one having its first session of shading. The other stuff was done previously. Of course when it is all done I will take suitably clear photos so you can see how awesome it really is.

I assume I don’t have to clarify that this is not a neonazi tattoo. It’s a pulp sci-fi tattoo with Nazi zombies and Vril Society UFOs and so on being the central theme. Those of you into these subjects may catch some of the references such as the main zombie, who is from the movie Dead Snow, and the space stormstroopers, who are from Iron Sky, and the screaming robot is based on the main charcter of the comic Fused (which is not strictly speaking in the same theme, but has a handicapped character trapped inside this steel body, so it feels appropriate). On the next session we’re starting to do the background, which will have Wewelsburg Castle on the highest ground (real world site of the Indiana Jones-esque SS occult rituals), and behind the zombie’s head a large moon from which an immense swarm of Haunebu-type UFOs are flying, based on more artwork from Iron Sky (the amazing movie poster that says “In 1945 the Nazis went to the moon… in 2018 they are coming back”). I’m very happy with how it’s going, although there’s still a long way to go.

I should mention that as with other edgy tattoos that Shane Faulker has done on me — my facial tattoo and my S&M chestpiece — that even though he knows me extremely well (since the mid-90s), in each of the cases he talked to me about the implications and we spent a lot of time going over the design to make sure they were exactly what I wanted and I was really, really sure about it. As was part of his role as an ethical tattoo artist! I have nothing but good things to say about him both as an artist technically, and as a reputable member of this industry. Plus his tattoos heal faster and better than any I’ve gotten from anyone else… dunno what the magic trick is there. To be fair most of my tattoos are by him, and those that aren’t, half of them have either been touched up or covered up by his work! As far as I know he has space in his calendar for a change (historically it’s been difficult to get appointments) so if you’re in the Toronto area the best way right now to get in touch with him and see more of his work is via his facebook page at this link. He wholeheartedly has my recommendation.