A bit of traditional tattooing

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Dreadhead

Bushcrafter through and through
I've always loved my tattoos as much as my leatherwork, so decided to have a go at working live skin for a change rather than dead skin.

My brother is a renowned tattoo artist and runs his own shop in Dundee, so he schooled me in the most important aspect first; hygeine (before anyone asks). The rest I have just made up as I go along as I usually do.

What interests me most about tattoos are ancient styles and methods, so I've gone down the route of hand poking. I see the subject of 'bushcraft tattoos' come up a lot, and I guess that depends on what bushcraft means to each person. To me it's a way of connecting with the past both historically and culturally. Tattoos are another way for me to do that so I find the two overlap a little.

Here's a few I've been doing recently.

My first two tattoos I ever done were the Pictish bow and broken arrow symbols above the knees, and third is the snake with broken arrow and ogham script from the bransbutt stone in Inverurie where I grew up. Some could do with another wee touch up here and there but overall I'm just having fun with an hour or two each week.

I should note: I have no intention of tattooing other people or making any money from it, I just enjoy being able to play with my own skin, and I know just how rough and gnarly my first tattoos are. But hey, they suit me just fine
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The otter and pictish spirals over my feet were both done by my brother (otter was the first tattoo he done on another person years back) and the Pictish Stag was hand poked by a friend whilst in Norway this year.


Hamish Odinson Pictish Tattoos 1 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

Hamish Odinson Pictish Tattoos 2 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

Hamish Odinson Pictish Tattoos 3 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

Hamish Odinson Pictish Tattoos 4 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

Hamish Odinson Pictish Tattoos 5 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr

Hamish Odinson Pictish Tattoos 6 by Hamish Odinson, on Flickr


Thanks for looking at my skinny goaty legs....
 

Leshy

Full Member
Jun 14, 2016
2,389
57
Wiltshire
The otter is really cool, but all of those are great.
The meaning and traditional significance of these designs lend themselves to who you are and your amazing craft.
It's a great tribute.
Thanks for sharing Hamish!👍👍
 
Dec 6, 2013
417
5
N.E.Lincs.
So, doing your own tattoos, when you wake up in the morning and start to sober up are you still surprised and wonder what the h*** happened last night?

Only joking, not something I have ever been interested in but I can appreciate them and admire the skill.

D.B.
 

scarfell

Forager
Oct 4, 2016
224
2
south east
Nice work! I've wanted to do some tats for years, but i cant sit in a chair for hours while some else does it lol any links to info on the method you used? They look much better than most self done tats i've seen by people who arent full time artists!
 

Dreadhead

Bushcrafter through and through
thanks folks. Feet certainly did hurt, but then it hurts most places so you just get in the zone. Re technique, I'm using proper sterilised medical grade tattooing needles, just no machines. It's just hand poking dot by dot, nothing to it really :)
 

Gaudette

Full Member
Aug 24, 2012
872
17
Cambs
This is weird I saw the legs on the front of the post and immediately knew it was Hamish, Is that odd? I showed my wife and she said if it was a picture of my legs would you know it was me? I said probably not!
 
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Dreadhead

Bushcrafter through and through
This is weird I saw the legs on the front of the post and immediately knew it was Hamish 🤔 Is that odd? I showed my wife and she said if it was a picture of my legs would you know it was me? I said probably not😳
Haha that's braw ;)

Been adding some more lately. More pictish designs from another stone in inverurie
b4e0df4f48d89238245fd217f0c8c191.jpg


Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk
 
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