It’s been a beautiful month of tattooing here in Barcelona and I just came back from a fun guest spot in Berlin.
Barcelona feels like my slow, steady, grounded, nourishing long-term relationship.
And Berlin... it feels like a sexy re-encounter with an ex who is now my lover.
If this sounds strange, it's probably because you don't feel super comfy with non-monogamy. No worries, and no judgements here.
Let’s get into what I want to share with you today - 3 gorgeous and unique tattoos from this past month (one of them is on me )
1. Lux’s chest + arm piece - poetry, laughter and queer soul connection
Lux is a beautiful non-binary human whom I clicked with instantly, and this piece was one of those sessions that reminds me why I do this work.
The tattoo was inspired by a stunning poem I hadn’t read before - Hold Your Own by Kae Tempest (I’m now fully obsessed).
We worked together over two and a half days to bring their vision to life - a curled figure in a fetal position, blending my signature linework with a photo of Lux themselves.
The result is DEEP, RAW, POETIC.
(Seriously - listen to the poem [here on Spotify] to feel just how powerful this project really is… and maybe grab some tissues first.)
We spent extra time making sure every line flowed with their body - perfectly placed to honor both the visual and the meaning behind it.
Lux's reaction every time they looked at the tattoo in the mirror was priceless -
Pure joy. Giggling, dancing, glowing.
2. Lux’s chest + arm piece - poetry, laughter and queer soul connection
This one was a challenge in the best way - Robert’s very first tattoo, and a super abstract version of a polar bear.
The polar bear holds deep personal meaning for him... it’s been a symbol threading through different phases of his life. But he didn’t want it to be obvious at first glance. He wanted something subtle, symbolic, and felt.
I’m not usually one to abstract things to this extent, so this stretched me.
And I’m so glad it did.
I’ve always told myself I’m “not creative enough” for abstraction.
But this tattoo cracked that story open.
It made me realize that I have developed the ability to take something concrete and realistic… and break it down, dissect it, simplify it, transform it - while keeping it powerful. Maybe even making it more powerful.
The result is edgy, minimal, elegant - fluid with the movement of his arm.
And completely unique. A piece that feels personal, striking, and creatively liberating.
3. The tattoo I got - and the reminder it gave me
Yes, I got tattooed too.
By Misha, here in Barcelona - a brilliant artist with a background in sculpture, who’s now a master of symbols and ornamental structures, inspired by both life and the random shapes he encounters in his everyday world.
He spent almost two hours drawing directly on my back - building a geometric grid by hand and then sketching the design over it, completely freehand.
We then did two sessions over two consecutive days, and I’m proud to say I made it through 2 hours, then 5 hours of tattooing.
It was quiet. Meditative. Intimate.
And it brought me even closer to the experience you have when you sit in my chair - the surrender, the presence, the quiet transformation that happens when ink meets skin, and time disappears.
These are the moments I live for.
Not just the art... but the aliveness, the connection, the unexpected transformations that unfold in the vulnerable moments of art being permanently made on living breathing bodies..
Thank you, always, for following this journey - whether you’re a past client, future client, art lover, or just someone who just gets it
With love,
Jio