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Rory Somerville

Portfolio

The work

Black-and-grey realism, gothic form, horror, lettering, and freehand blackwork built around placement and scale. Healed work is labelled where it is shown.

14 pieces — Freehand

  • Negative-space blackwork spreading from the shoulder across the chest, with heavy black shapes, red shading and torn organic edges.
    Negative-space blackwork shoulder and chestShoulder and chestSan Diego
  • Freehand blackwork running up the side of the neck and out across the shoulder in long tapered strokes, photographed outdoors on a New York street.
    Neck and shoulder blackworkNeck and shoulderNew York City
  • Organic freehand blackwork covering the forearm in sweeping tapered strokes and scattered dots, wrapping with the muscle.
    Organic blackwork forearmForearmSan Diego
  • Large gothic script lettering laid across the stomach in bold tapered black strokes that follow the curve of the torso.
    Gothic lettering stomach pieceStomachNew York City
  • Freehand gothic lettering wrapping the shoulder and upper arm in heavy black strokes with fine hairline flourishes.
    Freehand gothic lettering shoulderShoulder and upper armNew York City
  • Dense gothic lettering and thorn-like blackwork covering the upper back and shoulder, shot in low light.
    Gothic lettering back and shoulderUpper back and shoulderSan Diego
  • Heavy freehand blackwork blasted over an existing full sleeve, with solid black masses breaking around the older tattoos underneath.
    Blackwork blastover sleeveFull sleeveSan Diego
  • First session of a gothic blackwork sleeve continuing across the back of the hand and fingers in branching black strokes.
    Gothic blackwork sleeve and handsForearm and handSan Diego
  • Matching gothic blackwork finger sleeves across both hands, with tapered black claws and soft dotted shading over each finger.
    Gothic finger sleevesHands and fingersSan Diego

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  • Two views of an organic blackwork quarter sleeve made of segmented shapes and thin whipped lines running onto the hand.
    Organic blackwork forearm and handForearm and handSan Diego
  • Negative-space blackwork on the forearm where solid black shapes leave bare skin reading as the design, shot in low light.
    Negative-space blackwork forearmForearmSan Diego
  • Gothic script lettering tattooed across both upper legs in long tapered strokes that follow the shape of each thigh.
    Gothic lettering, both legsThighsSan Diego
  • Gothic blackwork blastover on the forearm, with a solid black field and flowing outlines laid over faded older tattoos.
    Gothic blackwork blastover forearmForearmSan Diego
  • Repeating typewriter-style lettering on the thigh with a single bold red gothic mark slashed across it.
    Limited red over typed letteringThighSan Diego

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