The First Birthday

Ramon's collector came in for his first tattoo at 43, and he chose the photograph of his son's first birthday to mark that son turning 18. Ramon worked from the original snapshot, keeping the paper party hat, the high chair straps and the balloons crowding in behind. He shaded the balloons soft and let them fall back out of focus so the face carries the contrast, which is how a portrait keeps reading once it heals. The booking left placement to Ramon and he ran it down the outer forearm, where the piece sits at eye level in conversation. One full-day session, and it's the first panel of a right-arm sleeve. By Ramon Rodrigo.

By Ramon Rodrigo at Eden Body Art Studios.

Styles: Realism, First Tattoo, Melanated Skin.