Freedom is just around the corner

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

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,

Purple Rose Bristol

Hey everyone!

I’ve added some more “wannados” to the art section,

Here are the tattoos I’d like to make!

Also here is a work in progress from last week I tattooed on my friend Leigh!

It’s a concept piece based on her personality and life experience. I’m hoping to tailor more of my tattoo designs in this way.

Also I got to tattoo Emily’s old Cat pal Lelu on her last week! Old kitties are so cute.

Thanks for looking!

xx

Purple Rose

Hey everyone! Some great news! After my guest spot at Purple Rose Tattoo Studio in Bristol I had such a good time I decided to go and work there permanently! Everyone there is so nice and the studio and atmosphere are amazing!

I also got to make some great tattoos last week!

A grey lop rabbit on Tara who sat like a champ for it!

And I also go to make Jess’ little pirate bear Alice the Shitzu so she has her forever now!

I got a healed photo of the start of Zoe’s horsey before I coloured it and made it all swollen again! One more session and it’ll be finished and I can show yall how fancy it’s looking!

I’m doing my best at keeping this blog updated. I feel pretty inspired again after the last couple of weeks so expect even more!!

 

 

Daventry

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

 

 

 

Travel light

Hey everyone, I’m finally back from my looong few months of guest spots. No more now until after I get back from Singapore in March! I will be fulltime at Black Rabbit in Newbury, Berkshire from now until further notice! That means I get to tattoo you Reading and Newbury folks again!

I tattooed the wonderful Kitty Kotori a few months back with a picture of her cute dog Boo! This was so fun to tattoo, and we got it done in 4 hours because she sat so well!

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And here are some pics of the Scottish fold Kitty I got to tattoo on Sidonie at my guest spot in Daventry at Nevermore

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Really enjoyed making the colour palette for this one, and would love to do more along these lines.

Here is a work in progress that I also really loved doing, can’t really go wrong with an arctic fox tattoo though right? This is very much a cute animal tattoo blog post!

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Nor can you go wrong with a wolf! Well…I don’t think you can anyway- I started this wolf sleeve up in my guest spot at Blue Cardinal in Manchester. I really did have a blast there with Beau!

I got to start this Wicked tattoo as well!

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Here is a lady I got to do at my guest spot in Birmingham at Sweet Life Gallery

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This really was a special guest spot, I loved working with Leah and Craven and hopefully will be heading back up there after my holiday in March!

So a little info- I’m currently booking for January, February and March up until my holiday, if you’d like a spot please email hannahcalavera@hotmail.co.uk

Thankyou!

 

Hannah

x

 

Bookings for the New Year!

Here is the brief lowdown!

I am currently splitting my time between Black Rabbit Tattoo Collective in Newbury, Arkham Tattoo in Kidlington (Oxford) and O’ Happy Dagger in Amersham. Due to the odd working hours, and the crazy but lovely response to my recent work I’m totally booked up until the new year

I will probably be moving house in january so I have closed my books temporarily to avoid having to disappoint/rearrange anyone

Sorry guys

I will be putting on my facebook page when I’m opening up my books again this will most likely be on the 20th November. Ongoing work and prepaid deposits will get first priority, but I will be taking on new work too.

If you want a new piece and don’t mind waiting until January/February for it please email back in a couple of months including

Subject matter- and how specific or open you are for me to go crazy on your design

Style ( just say my style if you like all my other stuff 😀 )

Size- in inches or cm OR “full sleeve” “full leg” and “full back”

Placement

Whether you want it in Colour or black and grey

Length of time you can feasibly sit

any reference material you have amassed-these could include things like olour schemes, poses of birds or happy little pet faces.

If it is a cover up, a photo of your existing tattoo next to a ruler or an easily recognised object such as a DELICIOUS BISCUIT (everyone knows how big a custard cream is)

Where you are based, which studio would be more convenient for you and whether you are willing to travel.

What days suit you best, weekends tend to get booked up super fast so if you can do weekdays you will probably get in faster.

If you include all this information it will be super easy to get you in as soon as possible 🙂

My prices for new work will be- £50 minimum charge, £90 per hour or £400 for a full day. To book a day I require a £100 deposit, anything less will be a £50 deposit. These are payable by paypal or bank transfer- you can get the details on request

 

If you are an existing customer, please include a photo of what you already have (so i can remember how far we’ve gotten!) and how long you want to sit for, as well as how much you currently have on deposit. Existing work does have priority and will be charged at old pricing rates!

In the meantime you can follow me on fb or instagram for any news!

Thankyou for your continued patience 🙂

 

Hannah

xxxx

Books Open September 9th!

Hey everyone,

I am still waiting on travel plans so they will most likely be postponed until the new year now. This means I am going to open my books for October-January again! Woo!

I ask that everyone wanting work email me on WEDNESDAY 9th SEPTEMBER, as I have the next day off and will be able to work through all the emails at one time. Existing customers  get top priority of course, with full day bookings being the first booked in. If you would like a slot please read the whole blog post!

I will be doing guest spots in

AMERSHAM

BIRMINGHAM

DAVENTRY

ROCHDALE

Dates and details are on the Travel page

And any weeks I am not guesting my availabilty will be as follows

Tuesday- Arkham in Kidlington

Wednesday and Thursday-Black Rabbit in  Newbury

Saturday- Arkham in Kidlington

EXISTING CUSTOMERS when emailing please include these things

*which studio/where your preference is to have your appointment. Newbury, Kidlington or guest spots

*which days and dates you would like to have- please bear in mind that Saturdays get booked up way in advance, and day sessions get priority

*How long a session you want

*How much deposit you have rolling over

*a photo of how far we have gotten on your piece (or a brief description if you cannot attach photo)

Thankyou!

I will also be taking on new work after my existing customers have been booked in

NEW CUSTOMERS PLEASE INCLUDE IN YOUR EMAIL

*Subject matter- what do you want your tattoo to be – and how specific or open you are for me to go crazy on your design

*Style ( just say my style if you like all my other stuff 😀 )

*Size- in inches or cm OR “full sleeve” “full leg” and “full back”

*Placement

*Whether you want it in Colour or black and grey

*Length of time you can feasibly sit

*any reference material you have amassed-these could include things like olour schemes, poses of birds or happy little pet faces.

*If it is a cover up, a photo of your existing tattoo next to a ruler or an easily recognised object such as a DELICIOUS BISCUIT (everyone knows how big a custard cream is)

*which studio/where your preference is to have your appointment. Newbury, Kidlington or guest spots

*which days and dates you would like to have- please bear in mind that Saturdays get booked up way in advance, and day sessions get priority

Bookings require a £50-£100 deposit

Once again my email address is hannahcalavera@hotmail.co.uk

I do not have facebook messenger, and will not take bookings on instagram

Hopefully this has all the relevant information!

Thankyou!

Hannah

 

 

 

 

Summer

Hey everyone, long time no update- I’ve been a wee bit busy with all the travelling from Oxford! First update is that I now have a Travel section on my site for guest spots and convention news. Second is that I have settled into the new routine and am having fun in Newbury at Black rabbit once again! As well as starting at Arkham in Kidlington, which is a lovely, chilled out little studio.

So since the last update I went on a portrait painting course in Cornwall. Here are some of the paintings I’ve done, the rest can be found in my gallery.

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Then a week later I travelled to Kerala for a well deserved break. I had an amazing time, by far one of the best places I’ve ever been. I came back uber relaxed after all the stress and incredibly inspired.

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So, even with the post holiday blues I got stuck straight back into work feeling better than ever! I finished off Jessie’s peacock finally.

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And did this cute little fella, covering up some old kanji. I’m loving pissed off looking owls at the moment!

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I made this WW2 bear for Alan, complete with trench knife

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and also made this goat on Norm

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I just bought a new camera too so hopefully I will be putting out much better photos of my work. After chatting to Jess I realised I need to put as much effort into taking photos as I do creating the tattoos otherwise the photographs won’t do them justice.

Thanks for looking guys

xx

Convention Funtime in Manchester

Hey my lovely little sunfish, How are you all doing? Not that you can answer that on this site! Me and Jen have had a busy but tremendously satisfying weekend away from Oxford. To be more precise we went to Tattoo Tea party in Manchester! We had a great time, met lots of really lovely people and generally worked our arses off!DSC_0020

Here is little Madame Silver at the booth before the doors opened, no photo of me as I was having a mini meltdown about my portfolio! And her display was amazing, had much more attention than the tattooing!

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Her jewellery is available on the madame silver website.

The first tattoo I got to do was this cute pug on the lovely Lauren, who sat like a champ.

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Had loads of fun on this tattoo <3. Then I did a shoulder rose on lovely Lauren 2! Did not get a decent photo so I’ll post a pic of that next blog. Then me and Jen pissed about for a bit and ate some food before heading back to the hotel.

Sunday was a bit more chilled out, I did this dia de los muertos gal on Ianvariaig3

Oh my gosh do I love being a tattooist! It was such fun to tattoo, this one got a bit of attention! Only took 3 hours as well! More of these please?

Then I got tattooed by one of the best tattoo artists everrrr, one of my long time faves. Mr Brian Thomas Wilson of scapegoat tattoo in Oregontattooig1 DSC_0115 DSC_0114

all lovely photos of be getting tattooed completely unprepared, wearing horrid pants (and right before a 4 hour drive home)!! Worth it though. Meet my new cheeky goat!goaty

such a beautiful tattoo, I’m so happy <33

So that was our weekend! Now we are safely back in sunny Oxford <3 can’t wait to get back to work tomorrow. So inspired!

laters bean-flakes

Hannah

x