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paul wiley

@paulwileystudio

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tattooist and designer based in barcelona.
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i use this primarily for my professional work. for my personal feed: @paulwiley

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timo wanted to balance the left calf piece we did last year, which was a visual metaphor for the love that endures despite the loss of memory due to encroaching dementia—and this was the result.
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many thanks to him for making the trip down from berlin to do this work. by @paulwileystudio

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5 days ago

from last week, my last tattoo in troy NY.. nick and i added more chest and abdominal work to his bodysuit. next step: completing the remaining forearm.
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many thanks, as always, for his time and trust! taken in Troy, New York by @paulwileystudio

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a month ago

i had a cancellation and stephen was kind enough to jet in for a two-day session on his bodysuit. we added some fairly whimsical circles at the back shoulder as well as the lower central work, and tightened up some previous areas.
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i can’t wait to see him next month in barcelona to continue with flanks and shoulders. yay!
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thank you so much, stephen, for jumping at the opening and for your flexibility and trust. taken in Troy, New York by @paulwileystudio

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a month ago

for david, this nautilus and astrolabe, for growth and direction, respectively. this sits between the octopus we did in the session last spring, maintaining the aquatic theme on this arm.
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it’s always a pleasure to spend the day with david. many thanks for all the work we do together! taken in Troy, New York by @paulwileystudio

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a month ago

edward grew up in an extremely musical family. his dad was the director of a local barbershop chorus so he grew up listening to classic barbershop tunes and because of that developed a deep love for harmony. to him, harmony is the most beautiful sound in the Universe.
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this design reflects the idea that harmony starts at a home chord, goes away from home, but always works to get back home. in this case, a C chord, which is the initial of his family name. each other chords represent his siblings with their last names.
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the lines represent the notes not played. some of them are thicker, to represent that even when a note isn’t played sometimes they resonate when other notes are played. like an overtone in a barbershop quartet. similar to when someone passed away, they aren’t here but when we talk about them….their memory resonates.
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many thanks as always, edward, for your continued enthusiasm and trust. taken in Troy, New York by @paulwileystudio

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a month ago

janet gifted herself her very first tattoo for her seventieth birthday last year, a meditation labyrinth; this year she balances it on the other side with this lotus blossom.
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thank you so much, janet. it’s always a wonderful few hours to spend with you and oblo. taken in Troy, New York by @paulwileystudio

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a month ago

we continue with margaret’s arm, adding more bauhaus intuitive geometry. it’s always fun when we don’t know exactly what we’re doing until the session begins and the design reveals itself over a fairly short time.
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thank you for everything margaret, especially the fresh baked goods!! taken in Troy, New York by @paulwileystudio

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a month ago

when someone we love dies, they never really leave us. they remain close in our hearts and minds, and we feel them surround us.
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for patrice, this memorial for her brother and best friend, michael. two playful sibling stars, dancing in the sky.
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many thanks as always for her trust, especially for such a meaningful project. taken in Troy, New York by @paulwileystudio

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a month ago

my clients often tell me about the healing effect that getting tattooed has had on them. i’m always grateful to hear this, and take it not just as welcome byproduct of the business, but a focus as well.
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when i booked time with manu, i didn’t expect healing, i hadn’t thought about it at all. but in the shadow of recent tragedy, these rare moments are welcome.
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i saw manu’s work on IG recently and was immediately taken with his style, and he’s local! our collaboration was a visual back and forth via whatsapp, ultimately using his approach to geo-design as my inspiration, which will be a springboard for future projects, both on me and for upcoming clients.
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it’s only a few hours after the work was done. i feel a buoyancy and sort of optimism that seems foreign but appreciated. sure, much of that is the adrenaline and endorphins to deal with the pain, but if it’s more than that, i’ll take it.
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i’m looking forward to our next sessions this autumn, there is work to be done. thank you so much, @noumenius!
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.. by @paulwileystudio

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2 months ago

last week, @hans_joannes made the trip down from oslo to memorialize his late husband who died last december. they were together over thirty years.
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he called him “store bjørn”, which means ‘big bear’, so we used the bear skull. his name, arne, which comes from “ørn” means ‘eagle’, so i added eagle wings behind. below, we have the years they were together “30+”, with arne’s initials flanking the skull.
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many thanks to hans-joannes for making the trip down, and for trusting me with his very first tattoo! he was a pleasure to work with, and it was a wonderful day. by @paulwileystudio

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2 months ago

tldw [too long didn’t watch]: grief and the aftermath of my life companion’s sudden passing have urged me to reconsider my annual palm springs autumn tattoo tour. clients have been informed and are supportive.
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most will be moving into my spring 2027 slots. there is currently room in troyNY and chicago in spring next year, but PS for may/june is booked solid. full itinerary and availability below. you’re always welcome to get work done in barcelona.
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if you are dealing with stress or similar grief, give yourself all the time you need. every situation is different, but your intuition will never lie to you.
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carry on, and many thanks for your interest in my work .
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TRAVEL 2027
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troy NY, april 1-15, slots available
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chicago, april 15-30, slots available but filling fast.
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palm springs, may1-jun15[?], full, no slots available
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troy NY, sept 1 - 15, slots available
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palm springs, sept 15-nov 10, slots available by @paulwileystudio

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4 months ago

i like to ensure that every tattoo i do is unique and specific to the client. and of course for themes as familiar as bear paws, that goes double.
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timo came down from berlin to add this piece to his arm, and i wanted to use the tattoo we did on his calf (inspired by memory / loss of memory due to dementia) as visual inspiration.
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it is always a great pleasure to spend time with him and i look forward to our next session! by @paulwileystudio

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4 months ago