With a lineup like the one here at at Tattoo Hollywood, there has been no shortage of tremendous tattoo work walking through the doors. One of the most impressive projects we’ve seen, however, belongs to David up there, who’s been steadily covering his entire body in portraiture over the last few years. Having been worked on exclusively by brothers Mikey (at Rubes Tattoo in Arcadia) and Tommy Montoya (at Inkslingers in Alhambra), the suit is as cohesive as one could hope for, even though the subject matter varies wildly from musicians to horror movie characters to comedians to inventors. When we were photographing him, some of his friends were making light fun of him for being a bit on the heavier side (“Make sure you get his nipples in there!”), but to hear David tell it, if he were smaller, he wouldn’t have room for all this excellent work. Hard to argue with that. Lots more, after the jump.
Photos by Phil Barbosa.
Comments
148 responses to “David’s Portrait Bodysuit”
insane.
insane.
awesome. pure awesomeness
awesome. pure awesomeness
thats y i think portraits are awesome but tbh how can that even be made into a body suit
bio mecha-japanese even shity tribel can be made into a body suit or large peices of work portairts are indivual thigns that should stay on paper plus its just copied from photo graphahs etc
thats y i think portraits are awesome but tbh how can that even be made into a body suit
bio mecha-japanese even shity tribel can be made into a body suit or large peices of work portairts are indivual thigns that should stay on paper plus its just copied from photo graphahs etc
Those are absolutely awesome. Love the Hannibal, Herman Munster, Freddy, and jason shots!
😀 Definitely cool.
Those are absolutely awesome. Love the Hannibal, Herman Munster, Freddy, and jason shots!
😀 Definitely cool.
body suit, here, = one theme, majority of body. and your view on portraits is flawed… puting a ‘copy of a photograph’ on someone’s skin takes TREMENDOUS skill if you expect it to be recognizeable, or, in this case, very pleasing to look at. to do it on paper is one thing… to do it on skin (no eraser) is quite another. this is good.
body suit, here, = one theme, majority of body. and your view on portraits is flawed… puting a ‘copy of a photograph’ on someone’s skin takes TREMENDOUS skill if you expect it to be recognizeable, or, in this case, very pleasing to look at. to do it on paper is one thing… to do it on skin (no eraser) is quite another. this is good.
Wow that is INSANE! I don’t really like portrait tattoos, but regardless, this is definitely impressive.
Wow that is INSANE! I don’t really like portrait tattoos, but regardless, this is definitely impressive.
@ 5- I agree completely. I work almost exclusively with 2d materials- pencils, pens, and the like. I am very good at realism, and portraits are the most difficult work to do. I challenge myself fairly frequently by just using pen when doing portrait work, and it is incredible challenge. To just denounce it by saying just copied from photos is completely misunderstanding the complexity of the human face and form.
And I think that being this committed with subject matter is impressive. No matter what it is, it will look cohesive
@ 5- I agree completely. I work almost exclusively with 2d materials- pencils, pens, and the like. I am very good at realism, and portraits are the most difficult work to do. I challenge myself fairly frequently by just using pen when doing portrait work, and it is incredible challenge. To just denounce it by saying just copied from photos is completely misunderstanding the complexity of the human face and form.
And I think that being this committed with subject matter is impressive. No matter what it is, it will look cohesive
awesome simply amazing….
awesome simply amazing….
I absolutely love the work, it’s well done. It takes a talented artist to create a recognizable portrait, and this guy is working with some brilliant people. Seriously, does anyone else think the poker playing dogs just make perfect sense?
I absolutely love the work, it’s well done. It takes a talented artist to create a recognizable portrait, and this guy is working with some brilliant people. Seriously, does anyone else think the poker playing dogs just make perfect sense?
Incredible!!! Very brilliant work here!
Incredible!!! Very brilliant work here!
Oh god… tits
Oh god… tits
this is really nice. I usually am not a fan of the portrait tattoo, but i’m am absolutely loving this body suit. Those artists have some serious skills
this is really nice. I usually am not a fan of the portrait tattoo, but i’m am absolutely loving this body suit. Those artists have some serious skills
iam not saying how hard it is 2 put it on skin
bio mecha-create from ur own mind -japanese-create from ur own mind
portraits just copied from photos etc etc etc
if i went to a guy who does portraits and i said iwant a white kid with freckles and glasses could he create a RANDOM person out of his mind?
iam not saying how hard it is 2 put it on skin
bio mecha-create from ur own mind -japanese-create from ur own mind
portraits just copied from photos etc etc etc
if i went to a guy who does portraits and i said iwant a white kid with freckles and glasses could he create a RANDOM person out of his mind?
there is so much amazing work in this, i can barely focus on any one thing, though i do adore the Hannibal portrait.
this is just such an impressive collection of work, so beautiful and well-executed – i can’t stop staring!
there is so much amazing work in this, i can barely focus on any one thing, though i do adore the Hannibal portrait.
this is just such an impressive collection of work, so beautiful and well-executed – i can’t stop staring!
incredible work. wow dean youre such an expert on everything! lol
incredible work. wow dean youre such an expert on everything! lol
Just the fact that he has a Mr. Bean portrait thrown in there makes me happy 🙂
Just the fact that he has a Mr. Bean portrait thrown in there makes me happy 🙂
the Mr. Bean tattoo is the shit.
the Mr. Bean tattoo is the shit.
is that cheech on the butt-cheek?!
is that cheech on the butt-cheek?!
Anyone who says portraits are just copying from photograph has obviously never tried it themselves. Give it a whirl and see if you can keep your Aunt Tilly from looking like Jabba the Hut.
Anyone who says portraits are just copying from photograph has obviously never tried it themselves. Give it a whirl and see if you can keep your Aunt Tilly from looking like Jabba the Hut.
cheech on a cheek. hahaha
i love the man boob. it would be remiss if i didn’t point it out. about a b cup maybe?
cheech on a cheek. hahaha
i love the man boob. it would be remiss if i didn’t point it out. about a b cup maybe?
His work is just phenomenal in person. There’s so much to look at and try to take in. There will definitely be more photos of David once I upload my convention shots and Phil posts them to BME.
His work is just phenomenal in person. There’s so much to look at and try to take in. There will definitely be more photos of David once I upload my convention shots and Phil posts them to BME.
Lame.
Lame.
Munster Family! ftw.
Munster Family! ftw.
you know you’ve made it when your face is on this guys body!
you know you’ve made it when your face is on this guys body!
AMAZING! i love all of it… even the moobs!
AMAZING! i love all of it… even the moobs!