Month of the Warrior

Every few months I try to return to my nature form...to get closer to God and remove myself from the material world...I leave hustle mode and go into artist mode...I become distant from
my love ones... Only focusing on the things God helped me create (my children & art) and money, business, fashion, and rumors leave my mind...I don't shave, I don't cut or even brush my hair... I just wash it and let it be free, not caring what outsiders think.... Returning to my "dreadlock" state of mind.. Where the outside world do not bother me... My shell is up and I sleep and wake up a WARRIOR...this month as been one of the hardest months in my life..my career grows daily and my personal life is having growing pains....hair covering my face, dreams of paintings fill my thoughts... My daughters dancing around in happiness holding their lil brothers hands... My wife smiling at me again... All my boys pockets full of money to blow enjoying life with no struggles, beating a recession....my mother walking like a queen in a big fur coat & diamonds...My dreams the positive side of life right now....tattooing to relax my thoughts... Tattooing for the love and not the money... These are my dreams that keep me happy....no struggle, no drama, free of all negative thoughts... A warrior with no fears, no cares of the outside world... Just art, love, lust, passion, family, peace and no struggle....naked to the world, nothing else needed but to hear laughter and seeing smiles again...I have started some of my best art this month...I channeled all my energy into new pieces for my book...so when you see me in the streets with no haircut, beard long... You know the "artist" has woke up and he is closer to God this month... Money and the world is not on his mind... Art in it's purest form is being created by a warrior....I will jump back to "fresh" mode once the art is done.... I'm doing ok, God is with me... And peace is fueling my mind


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Old Friends....

I got a message on facebook this morning from an old friend I haven't spoke to in a long time...I was just thinking to myself the other day damn "big Sis" don't even check up on me anymore, she must have found a man or moved away" she is always traveling....when I read the message, she expressed the samething I was thinking about her....she said I don't call her to check up on her and she don't feel I would be there for her the same way she was there for me...it really didn't bother me because I know I suck at calling people but I know who I love and care for even when I'm not heard from....I never said I was the best friend in the world, I'm not going to call every single person I love when I'm SURE they have more free time than I do...if I did something for another person based off LOVE & friendship I would never throw that back in your face....and how would you know I wouldn't be there for you if you never asked me...I'm man enough to ask advice from another woman on issues dealing with relationships and women, and if you need advice on men Im always here to help you... But I don't want anything in return...no matter what think or your opinion about me.... I love you like a sister, I don't care if we don't speak for years I'm always here for you.. Not because you were there for me but because it's my nature to be there if you need me... But don't take me not calling you as a sign of me "not caring about you" we all have problems.. Every single person I know is going through some type of issues... From the recession, relationship, children, baby mama drama, business, etc....I would never call anyone to spread more negative energy when I'm sure we all going through different struggles in our lives... Why add more problems to another persons world... Advice is different, venting out is different, but I never want my problems to be your problems....when I'm hurting I blog the pain, express it let it all out and I feel better...yes I'm distant these days because some days I feel even my friends don't even care... I'm sure they also feel I don't care... The cycle of bullshit...you knew me since 1994.... You kept me out of trouble, you listened to me... And helped me grow as a man, now I'm out the nest I'm 34 years old and your right, I don't call... I don't call anyone because what do I have to really say? Business is good but my personal life is messed up right now....then you will give me advice, I won't talk to you for another 9 months then you are pissed at me because I haven't called you... Why because my life is the same as the last time we spoke...I don't want to call my friend to talk about my art career or businss and I don't want to spread negative energy by telling you all the bad things happening in my life...but that don't mean I don't love you Sis...I figured you are ok because if you needed me i'm right there in the shop tattooing, you can drop by anytime and see me there working... I'm the easiest person in the world to find....but you get mad at me for not stopping my life to look for you and reach out... I'm not the one who disappeared I'm right here at City of Ink almost everyday....I'm still the wild kid you met in 94 but my soul is more calm, less advice is needed now.... But if you need ME I'm here for you always...I'm not always a "good" friend but I'm always there when I'm needed... If you feel I forgot you... Then step into my shoes and see how I feel when I don't hear for you either.... Let's break this cycle, it's not about who call who... It's about if you reach out will I be there for you.... And that answer is YES old friend


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Meet me half way...

Seem like most marriages & relationships are one sided in my opinion...someone in the relationship will have to give up more of themself than the other person to make them happy and secure.... Why can't we just meet half way and try not to lose who we are to make the other person happy? You can't have a one sides convo... One person talking while the other listen... And can't force a person to talk when they don't want to... And you can NEVER blame everything on one person... ALL problems start from not addressing the issues at the beginning... These issues grow like trees... And the best way to kill a tree is by the roots...egos will kill any relationship...if your the talker then humble yourself and be the listener... You might hear what YOUR problem is...meet the person half way


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Carla-Aaron Lopez...bright future

I wrote about the photography work of Carla-Aaron Lopez before. I'm a biggggggg fan of her work...City of Ink hosted her show "My Black America" earlier this year...it broke ALL African American stereotypes... No jazz or hiphop scenes... No model shaped naked women & men Just a reflection of her lifestyle and the culture of MOST creative rebels of black America and other beautiful races. I was walking down to Tilt coffee shop checking my Twitter messages when Corey Davis twitted a photo from his Mach 5 LP dropping in Dec. When I first saw it I KNEW it was Carla's work...the way she captures the spirit and personality of the subject reminds of the older works of Marc Baptiste...I feel Carla is focused and will have a bright future...one of the reasons I own 3 pieces of her work...I bought 2 pieces from the "My Black America" show.... One was a photo of Corey Davis and the other was of Tim Friday ( 2 young artists I feel will inspire the people once wisdom and age kick in) at the anniversary City of Ink show I bought a dark shadowy oral sex piece from her... Most people can't even tell what the subject is doing in the photo because of the deep shadows so I hang it up in front of my tattoo chair in the shop..it's a beautiful piece, one of my favs... Tuki lucked up and bought Carla's self portrait before I did.... He lucky I didn't see it first...keep your eyes & ears open for this amazing talent, this young lady has a genius mind, a humble soul, and an amazing eye of talent "Carla-Aaron Lopez"


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Framed....

I gave one of Melvin Todd's tattoo appointments one of my limited edition fairy screen prints and a few days later she posted a picture on twitter of it framed and hangin up in her living room...I'm honored she framed it and put it up... I only did 150 of them so I saved about 50 of them for any of my clients who ask me about them.... The same way I do the FREE "dripping star" tattoo.... You have to ask me for it and I will give you one...if you have any of my artwork framed please take a picture of it and email them to: miyasart@yahoo.com

Thanks for that love....


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Thankful....

Some days I rather be alone, listening to John Coltrane or Coldplay painting my soul out...but it don't work that way.. I have 2 MAJOR tattoo artists today... Each tattoo session will be 4-5 hours each so I won't be painting today....that thought of me having to work allnight use to get me down...but the more I talk to other people in this industry the more thankful I get for the appointments & clientele I do have... I remember when I had to do "walk-ins" waiting and hoping I was the artist they picked to let me do their tattoo....almost 17 years later I have a waiting list...I still don't see the big deal about what I do, but I'm thankful that the people do...they fly in from London, Paris, NY, LA, Chicago, Germany, DC, NC, San Fran, etc just for my work....I'm still humbled and amazed by the distance they will come to get my art work on their body...I'm honored and thankful for them all for supporting my dreams, keeping me out the streets, and for helping me provide for my family.... I'm thankful.. And happy I have you all... I hope it felt in every tattoo I do...


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The Other Posters for the "Art Battle"

Hell up in Hotlanta Nov.21 Posters!


















Drop by City of Ink TONIGHT 7pm-10pm we are celebrating the life & times of Jean-Michel Basquait.... Art done by John Hairston Jr. "Hollywood Africans"
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