Carl Hallowell Blog | Traditional Japanese Irezumi & Tebori Tattoos

“Are You Sure?!” Tattoo Requests That Have Made Artists Ask The Important Question

Posted by Carl Hallowell
On August 21, 2017

In a recent article by Jessie with Live Beauty Health, Jessie asks several tattoo artists what their most ill-advised requests have been. The responses come from around the globe, mine is as follows: As to your question- “What is the most … Are you sure!? tattoo I’ve ever been asked to do?” Let me see […]

Creating Strength, Love, and Family Through Traditional Tattoos

Posted by Carl Hallowell
On August 16, 2017

August’s Dallas tattoo of the month proudly goes to Mr. Andy, an aerospace engineer who also enjoys the down-to-earth style of a traditional tattoo. With that said, there are three things that I am most proud of concerning Andy’s tattoo. The first would have to be that Mister Bob Roberts liked it and commented “Kool […]

Posted by Carl Hallowell
On July 21, 2017

There is a triangle of interaction happening with Traditional American or Traditional Japanese tattooing, an alchemy that is greater than the sum of it’s parts, a music that dances with call and response, until a tattoo is born, like a reptile from an egg. Using the triangle and being part of it, we answer the […]

Creating A Classic American Tattoo Design

Posted by Carl Hallowell
On June 19, 2017

Brian came down to Dallas from Midland to get this traditional tattoo done in one sitting! We both made up our minds to throw ourselves wholeheartedly into this project, and knock it all out at once. By the end of the session, I felt I had created one of my favorite eagle tattoos I’ve ever […]

American Traditional Heart and Banner Tattoo

Posted by Carl Hallowell
On May 24, 2017

Alexis came to me knowing full well what she wanted, an American traditional tattoo that would pay homage to her family. Since the beginning of American tattooing, this is one of the main motivations for getting a tattoo. At first, we had the “Mom, Heart, and Banner.” Sometimes, you would also see Father, Brother, or […]

Posted by Carl Hallowell
On May 7, 2017

Please welcome my first guest article ever on my website, “Behind the Ink” by Lombardo Avila. Lombardo is a great young customer of mine, perhaps an old soul, maybe just a hard worker, above all a good person. Pictured is his sleeve which I helped to create. I handled the praying hands, La luna, Atlas, […]

Freak Show Traditional Tattoo Theme

Posted by Carl Hallowell
On April 29, 2017

Big Jim, “That Old Guy”, takes the tattoo cake this month with this outrageous forearm tattoo inspired by the sideshow banners of the old carnival days, and by the freaks, geeks, and oddities that were depicted on them. I was excited to turn this into a traditional pin up girl tattoo with traditional tattoo lettering, […]

American Traditional Tattoo In Dallas

Posted by Carl Hallowell
On March 20, 2017

Young Graylin’s traditional clipper ship tattoo would have to take the cake for the first tattoo of the month in this new section of my website. The choice was hard- the traditional tattoos I get to create are like children, you cannot have a favorite one. In choosing I scrolled through my photos of the […]

Flashed Out

Posted by Carl Hallowell
On February 2, 2017

This is a view from the Heart in Hand Gallery from the back door at the end of the night. Already there is a sentimental feeling, flipping off the lights after the last customer is gone, staring down the hallway at the Sailor Jerry, Ed Hardy, Bob Roberts, Horiyoshi 3 and Richard Stell flash, among […]

Heart in Hand Gallery

Posted by Carl Hallowell
On January 25, 2017

With my new website now online, I wanted to share a work picture from the still new Heart in Hand Gallery, right here on Elm Street. This is the all private, all appointment only tattoo studio for the thriving street shop Elm Street Tattoo. Located in Deep Ellum also, Heart in Hand attempts to bring […]