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David Allen

@davidallen

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Chicago tattooer

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I’ll be opening my books for 24 hours on Sunday, Sept 6th at 10am CST. I always love tattooing flowers, recreating fine art pieces, and birds/insects. by @davidallen

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a month ago

A couple of weeks ago, my mom was hunkered down in her home while a derecho decimated the area around her in Indiana. Multiple giant trees fell on and destroyed the house. It was a nightmare. Yet somehow she walked out shaken but unscathed.

My sweet momma. She’s sweet but she’s also a tough-as-nails survivor.

Like elephants forming an “alert circle” to keep the most vulnerable protected, I’ve watched a community surround my family. So many people have helped with time, labor, resources, and care. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. by @davidallen

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a month ago

A little tattoo photo dump… ferns and birds and fruit and flowers. by @davidallen

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a month ago

Flowers and grasses lately. by @davidallen

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a month ago

Some additions for Amanda. Many years ago we completed a mastectomy tattoo, now we’ve been branching off and extending with more. 🌾 by @davidallen

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a month ago

When I started tattooing over 20 years ago, the hardest part wasn’t learning the craft, it was getting the chance to. Too often, access depended on who you knew instead of how curious or dedicated you were. Gatekeeping was often mistaken for education.

This class is a way for me to contribute a little.

Not to turn you into a tattoo artist in a weekend, but to let you experience tattooing as an art form.

Maybe you’ll pursue tattooing professionally.

Maybe you’ll use a tattoo machine on leather, silicone, textiles, sculpture, or in your own creative practice.

Maybe you’ll decide it’s not for you. All of those are meaningful!

I believe tattooing is one of the most unique mark-making tools an artist can pick up. Everyone deserves the opportunity to explore it.

If you’re curious and tattooing is new to you… come learn and tattoo with me for two days in Pilsen (Chicago) with @malinalligardens - August 15/16 (link in bio) by @davidallen

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2 months ago

A prairie grass scene for Luka. 🌾🐝🪶 by @davidallen

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2 months ago

intro to tattooing w/ @davidallen

learn mark making on fake skin • work a tattoo machine • how drawings become tattoos • the technical skills before style

🔗🔗🔗🔗

[original tattoo art by David, filtered w/ @monolabapp] taken in Pilsen, Chicago by @davidallen

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3 months ago

Something delicate and bold for Caleb: a peony, monstera, and bird of paradise. by @davidallen

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3 months ago

Aphrodite with a Greek vase painting, thank you Melanie!🏺 by @davidallen

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4 months ago

I’ve been tattooing 20 years and find myself having to listen to my body more. In addition to working out, I’ve invested in some gear that’s really helping and I wanted to share with other people that sit and do meticulous work.

For my back, perineal nerve, and neck, I’ve been using this @salliusa_ split saddle chair (often used by dentists and surgeons)

By far the best addition has been this electric, adjustable @atakearth massage table by Adrian Lee - it goes low enough to hop on easily, and tall enough for me stand and tattoo (I’m 6’ 3”)

I love my @ghosttattooco armrest. It’s the absolute best.

Last… I’m on my computer a lot, the @kinesisergo keyboard has helped me heal through carpal tunnel flare ups. by @davidallen

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4 months ago

Been hard at work on a new imaging app: @signallossapp Signal_Loss is a tool to turn photos into depth maps and 3D point clouds. Experiment and save images, point clouds, transparent videos and spatial export for Apple Vision Pro.

I’ve spent years wrapping my head around volumetric systems. From early photogrammetry (scanning bodies for tattoos) to Lidar capturing. It’s been a heavy lift. I wanted to create an easy entry point for anyone to play within an estimated 3D space and create beautiful visuals. by @davidallen

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4 months ago