Tag Archives: Bristol

Freedom is just around the corner

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Hey everyone, another fairly pointless update to try and push my website up the google rankings lol! Not much to report since the last one!

As the world slowly decides the systems we have built have lead to nothing but our own suffering it feels like we are in now in a kind of death rattle for capitalism and the illusion of democracy! It is, a funny old time.

Tattooing has certainly become more quiet in the last few months, and I’m not surprised- it is a luxury. The first things to take a downturn when the recession hits!

I’ve seen some tattooists online doing videos, saying why getting tattooed is important and even videos which imply that you should be spending money on tattoos over other things. I think this is kinda bollocks tbh. It is not a necessity and although we would all LOVE to be getting tattooed left right and centre -it’s just not a priority for most people who are struggling right now. Including myself.

A few years ago I decided to take a step back from tattooing full time to build some skills which i felt could be of benefit to humanity and nature, I am still trying to build that skill base, whilst at the same time continue to tattoo as much as I feasibly can.. Earning less money would have been a problem in Bristol but luckily i got a van and decided to live in that to avoid having to pay astronomical rent “for a year” whilst i did these other things. After 1 year I didn’t like the thought of going back- the rest is history!

Trying to live as cheaply as possible is actually pretty great but this has meant that getting tattooed, unless its for swaps right now is out of the window. Which is unfortunate as I have a lot ( a LOT) of unfinished work!

Because of this, I was thinking of doing pay what you can afford tattoo days a couple of days a month for people who need to get work finished but are in a similar situation. If you are maybe the one human who ever sees this blog and you need stuff finishing and you think it’s worth a shot email me!

hannahcalavera@hotmail.co.uk

Oh also as usual I split my time

at least once a month in Bristol, and once a month in Bicester, Oxfordshire.

Lots more travel dates and places on my travel page though!

Tattoos and nature

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Hello

long time no blog!

I spent January with a friend doing art at an artist retreat at glorious Mud and Wool in Wales, and since then have been marooned in Bicester whilst Dick Van-Dyke awaits a needed (but very spenny) repair! Luckily the lovely ladies at Allyours tattoo have welcomed me with open arms into their lovely tattoo studio to get back to the craft! It’s been really lovely to chill and not travel for a little bit though!

I have added more dates, locations and tattoo studios to my travel page and all are available to book in at now. Thankyou to all my clients who have been super patient with me over the last few years since I have been pursuing my bushcraft dream but I shall definitely be knuckling down and making it a priority to finish off everybody’s tattoos!

I have also decided to spend some time making some tattoo flash of my special interests in the esoteric, nature, welsh folklore, aliens and psychedelica!

I’m just going to type out some of the places I will be guesting for SEO purposes lol

Daventry, Leicester, Bicester, Oxford, Wales, Ceredigion, Aberystwyth, Wiltshire,

Prints fah sale

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Hey everyone! I managed to do a really exciting thing and made a bigcartel shop

IT CAN BE FOUND HERE

I am selling all my cat prints, and to get around bigcartel fees I have uploaded a bunch of smaller photos. I’ll post bigger versions here now so you can inspect them properly!

If you would like to buy some but pay with paypal email me with the prints you want hannahcalavera@hotmail.co.uk and I can sort it out that way too! Also all prints will be available at the studio in Bristol if you’d rather see and buy them IRL

I also have this A3 leggy boi print for sale

And this tiger

and these two as well!

Anyway! I hope your lockdowns aren’t going too badly. I hope we will be allowed to work again soon but I’m not holding out! Therefore everyone who was rescheduled will only be rebooked once we get a definite date to go back to work!

Hannah x

Legacy

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Hey again, I’m really trying my best to update more often on this blog to document things for myself more than anything. I sometimes forget how much I do so it’ll be great to be able to look back at all the cool stuff that happens.

So this blog is about my guest spot at Legacy Ink in Haverhill!

I never get many healed photos as I tend to start more than I finish here. This spot was the exception though! I got to start and finish this Audrey II tattoo on Chris, an old friend. He too is a massive fan of little shop of horrors and new school tattoos! I rarely get to do New school esque things because not many people know I do this style but it is a favourite of mine 🙂

Chris sat amazingly well for his back of thigh. I’m gonna draw up more stuff from my own brain I think as he snapped this up straight away. Here is the process that goes into a tattoo like this.

Fascinating I am sure you will agree ( Sarcasm does not come over well on the internet I suppose)

The incredible Josh Hurrell wanted to get a WITCH TATTOO off me whilst I was up there. He let me go wild on it! This is the drawing.

We got to line her too but no shading because he hates me now and I ruined his day. I’ll get a picture of that later!

Also here is a rum ham tattoo I did on Ed, so bloody and swole. Hopefully it’ll heal up nice and I’ll get a better one.

Oh last but not least I forgot this picture of David’s Hare (don’t call it a bunny, don’t call it a bunny) He is getting a half sleeve studded with imagery and subjects that are all related to family. It doesn’t all have to be about names and dates if you are weirdos like us!

I’d be surprised if anyone reads these but if you do, ta! You’re the best!

 

 

Daventry

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Hey everyone, So I got back from my time away at Nevermore. Had the BEST time, obviously! I never get as many finished/ healed photos as I do at Nevermore (in Daventry). Not sure why this is, but it’s always great. This post is all about Daventry: for some reason, people from the Midlands don’t half love colourful tattoos!

I started this robin and squirrel half sleeve on the wonderful Lynzi, who I’ve tattooed a bunch of times. So good when she’s in and also this is one awesome tattoo idea for me to get stuck into!

I got to do more on Emma, the sweetest, loveliest gal everrrrr. True labyrinth fan! Her kids even call Jareth “the juggling king” which is who we will hopefully do next time! Bulge and all. This time was the cute cute woim though. He’s gotta be everyone’s favourite bit part though right? All of the others are by me apart from Sir Didimus who is by Emily Dawson:Holyghost Tattooer

Then I got to finish Charlotte’s Chameleon and cala lily thigh piece. Oh my god how much fun I had with this. I got to pack in as much colour and detail as I wanted!

I got to make this excellent pun tattoo for Sarah. Some rose-hips….GEDDIT?!? It took me a while because I’m dumb. But I really do love tattooing roses. Anyone else wants any, hit me up. I love em. They’re the best.

We also had a hot tub/sausage party.These guys know how to live.

Thanks Dan, Danielle, Brodie, Sophie mooncup and Hannah for bringing me joy and solace in these stressful and crazy times!

xx

 

 

 

Singapore

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So I ran away from Bristol for a month. Singapore is an amazing city, but I also went to Hoi An in Vietnam which was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen….

Here are some holiday photos

Whilst I was there I guested at Bada Bink Tattoo Firm! I had a great time tattooing outside of Europe for the first time!

I got to make this little bee on lavender gap filler on the wonderful Reggie, who gave me a book and lots of cool facts about life in SG

I also got to make this lilac breasted roller on Gee, who was absolutely lovely! Sat like a champ even though it was a painful one! I did

I got to make this tiiiiny Audrey II gap filler on the brilliant Fletcher Taco-Sandwich, who it turns out has EXACTLY the same music taste as me ( For those of you who know my taste, that is a feat.)

Here is a photo of me with all the guys, you can find their work on the Bada-Bink website!

They made me feel so welcome and I had a lovely time. I wish I’d had longer!

I’m back in Bristol now, and although I have plenty of guest spots planned I’m really happy to be home.

 

xx

 

 

Bristol Summer!

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Hey everyone!

Long time since the last post. This is because I’ve been moving house a million times, travelling and working too much I guess. Although this time I have also been trying to get a social life now I’m all settled in Bristol, and I’ve almost managed it so I thought it was about time for an update.

I’ve been working at Southmead Tattoo in Bristol and have worked on some lovely people and fun tattoos since last August.

I’ve done several super fun guest spots at Legacy Ink, Nevermore, Death’s door AND Bada Bink Tattoo Firm in Singapore.

At Legacy I got tattooed by Mike and Josh

How lush is my moth palm by Josh Hurrell? It caned but he was super gentle about it!

Also on the same day Mike tattooed me a pisshead toucan! Only linework and black got done but colour in two weeks at my next guest spot there! I still have spaces there too if anyone from Haverhill wants a tattoo 😀

Congratulations to Mike and Emily too who recently got married!

I visited my pal Lou at Death’s door tattoo in Brighton and I’ll hopefully be going back later in the year once my diary clears up a bit.

Whilst I was there I finished Shaun’s phoenix. Hopefully healed photos soon!

 

I had my stomach carried on by the wonderful Hayley JJ at Southmead in Bristol. Still more to go but I couldn’t be happier with it! She’s got a real gentle touch, definitely check her work out!

I recently did this rose tattoo in Bristol on the lovely Laura at the weekend!It is a tribal cover up. It only took an hour and a half. I’d love to do more cover ups with a bit of artistic freedom!

I’m currently having phone trouble so I can’t upload any of the older Bristol photos but expect those in a separate blog post as well as My Singapore photos if you’re interested!

Thanks guys xx

Tattoo photos again

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Hey guys! So I haven’t been updating my social media enough because I’ve developed a bit of anxiety about my shitty photos of good tattoos….Now I know that everyone says their photos are terrible but mine have really taken the cake.

One such example of this- I only remembered to take a photo of Ash’s back tattoo AFTER I’d applied the Dermalize dressing. However, his Geisha tattoo is coming along nicely!

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So I also got an in progress shot of Nef’s Foxy sleeve tattoo. Blood and all, in fluorescent lighting! I’ll just pretend it’s “arty”

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Here is a photo of Moses the cat on his lovely owner Vicky. Half in direct sunlight and half not!

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Here is a photo of an owl tattoo I was super pleased with, of course the photo is out of photo and taken in lighting that makes the purple look all grey!

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There are some glorious examples of my derpy photo skills, and if any of my lovely clients want to send me some healed shots I would be eternally grateful!

Still booking for November/ December at Southmead tattoo studio in Bristol. Email hannahcalavera@hotmail.co.uk if you’d like to book in!

xx

Available tattoo designs

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So I now have some free space coming up in November/December time. I’d really like to do a few of these and would offer a good price.

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If you are interested in any of these email hannahcalavera@hotmail.co.uk

 

 

Bristol Tattoo

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So last week I got to do a guest spot at Legacy Ink in Haverhill. It’s home to some of the best Tattoo artists in the UK and therefore pretty intimidating to a worry-pig like me. I needn’t have worried though, everyone there was super hard working, humble and generally lovely. They made me feel really at home and took me on some GHOST HUNTS (those of you who know me know how much I love shitting myself up with ghost stories!)

I got to make some lovely tattoos whilst I was up in Suffolk, and got booked up really fast! So it means I will be going back in the new year!

I made this cockatoo tattoo on the talented apprentice/jr artist Jess Ashby, she wanted a tattoo to remind her to have fun and not get so stressed out about tattooing!

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And I got to make this palindromic TacocaT tattoo for Ed

He loves the weird ones! And so do I

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I’d love to tattoo more animal/food style tattoos!

I did a few more bud sadly did not get a decent photo of ANYTHING because I am a monster.

Anyway, I enjoyed my guest spot immensely but it is good to be home in Bristol again. I have tonsillitis at the moment (hense the crazy blog updatathon) but can’t wait to be tattooing full pelt again.

x