Irezumi Archives - Carl Hallowell (Horisho)

What is an Irezumi (Japanese) Tattoo?

Posted by CHallowell
On December 1, 2021

Irezumi is a traditional style of Japanese tattoo art that has a rich history and cultural significance. The term “irezumi” translates to “inserting ink” and it refers to the traditional Japanese tattooing style that has been practiced for centuries. The Japanese have many names such as Horimono and Wabori. When Did Irezumi Start? The practice […]

Traditional Tattooing is the Rock of Ages

Posted by Carl Hallowell
On March 11, 2019

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is nice to have the opportunity to speak with you again! I have been away from the typewriter as I have been quite busy behind the tattoo machine. The Japanese Tattoo Work, or Irezumi, has been in heavy focus this week in my studio. I had the honor of starting a […]

Japanese Tattoo is an Art for All Seasons of Life

Posted by Carl Hallowell
On December 29, 2017

Brad wears the tattoo of the month this time around; a Japanese half sleeve tattoo that depicts a single Peony and its bud blowing in the wind and being tossed about by a wave. The Peony is one of the main flowers used in the Japanese tattoo, also known as Irezumi, or Horimono. The Peony […]

The Flower Priest

Posted by Carl Hallowell
On October 16, 2015

What to say of this, a piece I worked on for years, on a great friend and a great artist, who’s strength is equal to his talent… Over and over what impresses me is the ability of my customers to stand up to the intense physical pain of tattooing… This pain is especially excruciating when […]

Peacock works for a cover up

Posted by Carl Hallowell
On October 8, 2015

Sitting up late working, maybe its not tattooing, not painting… Strangely, its writing, one of the first art forms I ran to, after I had read the lyric sheets for everyone from 7 Seconds to The Smiths, even as I recoiled from the reading assignments in english class… school sucked. I had my friend draw […]

Autumn Mix Irezumi

Posted by Carl Hallowell
On September 21, 2015

Every customer is just as important as the next one. “You are only as good as your last tattoo.” And yet, there is an added pressure when you know the tattoo will be seen more than others, or, when you know that you will see the tattoo more than others. But it is a pressure […]

Tenka Gomen; Kabuki Kumadori

Posted by Carl Hallowell
On August 10, 2015

Rememberin’ back when i knew every tattoo shop in town… Next came the era when I actually knew most of the tattooers… Of course i started tattooing in Amarillo, and spent the bulk of my career tattooing in Ft. Worth, and am now tattooing in Dallas, the big city, the Big D… But then again […]

Sumi Botan

Posted by Carl Hallowell
On July 28, 2015

This will be my last shared post from Carlhallowell.com to Facebook, for a while at least. I want to keep all content exclusive from site to site, including my instagram feed @featherhand and the shop feed @elmstreettattoo. The purpose of all of these accounts is primarily to showcase my traditional tattooing and traditional japanese tattooing, […]

Peony sketches for HR

Posted by Carl Hallowell
On July 15, 2015

The old way is tired. The new way is fresh. The old attitude is jaded, the new, exuberant. Clinging to old ways, old habits prohibits renewal. Renewal is natural, renewal is springtime, renewal is vital. Renewal is not stopping the mind. Not stopping the mind allows it to be everywhere at once. This is the […]

Tenka Gomen

Posted by Carl Hallowell
On July 7, 2015

Ohayo gozaimasu! Sujibori irezumi today. I am practicing the japanese language now, in addition to studying it’s great images, which I have been pursuing for over twenty years. I am also studying Yamato’s written languages, and the calligraphy practice of shodo to write them. It is a slow journey, but it is a passion that […]

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