TAATS - Toronto Tattoo School!

Well the day has finally arrived! At exactly 6:30pm (EST), our tattoo school officially began with its first day of class. I simply observed and listened while my cousin and one of our hired artists went on to introduce to the class the principle basics of tattooing and safety methods. As well as giving the general course outline. Of course I had to take digital videos/pictures of this momentous day ;)

From what sounded like pipe dreams just over a couple of years ago, to now having a fully realized vision. I think we've come a long way considering what we've started out as. From doing temporary tattoos at the flea market, to providing custom airbrush art service, permanent tattoos, to an actual school/parlor shop in the downtown location... It's just sweet!

A major task I have to do is finish up those mural canvases to spice up the workshop space (the pics below is just the class room). I've started sketching out the ideas and I can't wait to do this one huge wall on our main lounge area. It's going to be one crazy gallery and I hope and my goal is for people, when they visit, to be inspired and have a good vibe about our place.



Well, here are the pics for you to enjoy! Sorry it's not much. Luckily one of our students managed to take some cool shots at the end of the lovely Taated grapefruits!, Haha. I've got several video clips as well but I'll post those up later on Youtube ;) Alllrights!

-Marv-

CNE 2007

What's summer without going to the CNE. I'll post some pics for now and update this blog later on.

Fan Expo 2007

Well the Fan Expo convention has come and gone and here we go for another blog. Just want to thank my friends and the people that came by the booth table to say what's up and pick up the books. Some of these people I haven't seen in years so thank you!

I had the chance again to sign books that I have helped worked on and do up some sketches/commissions for fans. I had fun but it wasn't as great as the US shows though, lol. Last years Chicago Wizard convention was wicked and interesting.



Wow summer feels like it's zooming by so fast. I never really get enjoy it as much as I used to a couple of years ago. Having the freedom to work from home, on the patio with the laptop on, going to the beaches and even downtown, I'm loving it. With todays weather I feel like doing a whole mural and battling some graffiti artists, hehe. Hmm...so bring it!

Ah sweet..looking forward to the long weekend. :)

More Summer Fun '07

So my family and I were at the beaches last Monday. Man, that was awesome. It was sunny, opened sky with a slight cool breeze.. we couldn't have asked for a perfect weather that day. I kinda felt like I was back in the Philippines again, the difference being that we're swimming on a freshwater lake and the heat was a lot more bearable. No nasty-sharp barnacle shells here. Although it would've been cool to see little crabs crawl in and out of the sand bank holes. Back home my siblings and I had so much fun trying to catching those little critters.

We brought along our portable BBQ grill and what's summer without one, haha. We had our iPod boombox playing in the background and my Dad really enjoyed being the BBQ chef for that day. Specially when most of the tracks playing were his collections, lol.

Well we'll definitely be going to this place again next year. Maybe I'll bring a pail bucket and sand sculpting tools.. :D








I've posted some pics from Canada's Wonderland as well so enjoy!

Best of both Worlds

Our Taats School is starting soon! Just last week we reached our 3 years anniversary at TAATS and man have we come a long way. Going from the temporary tattoos back in the summer of 2004, to airbrushing, to actual permanent tattoing..and now our very own location where we can teach and continue providing our tattooing services.

I love my job!,hehe. Not only I get to apply my art on people but fortunate enough to be working with companies such as Hasbro and Mattel. Best of both worlds. I'm proud to say I love working and running my business while working with the big boys. Besides it's a great feeling knowing that you're getting paid for what you've worked hard for.

Work hard but work smarter. Heck, I've learned my lessons, lol.

Summer 2007

Wow time is flying by fast. It's been a while since I've updated this blog. Sorry cousins and peeps. The last few months have been hectic, tough and fun busy. Summer is finally here and it's going to get even more nuts, lol.








I haven't posted any images here in a while so here's something fun and cool. Yep, I'm a big Transformer nerd!, hehe. Maybe someday I'll build and sculpt one of these guys. Ey why not it'll be fun.

Also here's just some of the airbrushing work I do and a teaser cover for one of the projects I have on hand. Enjoy!

Hooked on Facebook

I'm now totally addicted to the Facebook.com site! , lol. I say it's way better than Myspace or any type of networking sites out there right now. It's the fact that there are so many people I'm starting to reconnect with going back as far from my elementary years, high school, and so forth. It's great to see soo many familiar faces and find out what they're doing now. Most I've noticed have become parents now, hehe, started their own business or work at a big company, some are working with the government, lawyers, accountants, actors, pretty much all aspects of the entertainment biz, one even has become a Professional Investor and Philanthropist! Say wha?..lol, Way to go buddy.

Like I said, this is going to be one interesting, fun year. Things are about to get pimped out, organized and run properly. Woohoo!

*My tip for those about to venture on your own or thinking of starting their own business..-Keep records of your work, notes, emails and receipts, 'coz ya never know, lol.