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rich_hardy

@rich_hardy

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HARDY not Hadley
@firstandmaintattoo
@sombragrays
MY NEW BOOK ‘TATTAUGRAPHS’ AVAILABLE NOW⬇️

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Dedication is the word that comes to mind.
Back in September, Luis flew half way around the world, got tattooed for 12 days straight and flew out the day we finished. His mental fortitude is unparalleled.
I can’t wait to continue this project next year.
All tattoos are either fresh, recently peeled or healing.
Thank you!

@firstandmaintattoo
@sombragrays by @rich_hardy

A healed favourite of mine made last year.
I appreciate the dedication people have to come from the other side of the world to get tattooed by me.
Thank you!

@firstandmaintattoo
@sombragrays by @rich_hardy

“Traditional Icons by Rich Hardy” serves as a research tool in two ways. It traces everything we now call Traditional back to its origins, and it gathers the work of Rich Hardy, a key reference point for this style among many tattoo enthusiasts, collectors, and tattoo artists.

Across the hundreds of tattoos Rich Hardy has collected and drawn, readers will find many of the characters that appear again and again in Traditional tattooing. Hardy walks us through these classic icons, documents where they came from, and renders them in his own hand. Examples include the famous Battle Royale image, the Rock of Ages, and Pharaoh’s Horses.

Book by: @rich_hardy

Curated by: @mikivialetto

Find this book on @tattoolifemagazine by @rich_hardy

Some healed photos of a recently completed front inspired by the work of New York City’s Charlie Wagner.
The man who wore this work was also a well known tattooer named James E. Malcom who was tattooed around 1910. Malcom had a long career and even spent over a decade tattooing in Australia from 1914.
In an old newspaper article, Wagner states that he taught the best tattoo artist in Australia.

Swipe across to see Malcom and the original design hanging in the shop of Charlie Wagner and Lew Alberts.

Thank you!

@firstandmaintattoo
@sombragrays by @rich_hardy

Healed Rock of Ages and Third Station of the Cross thighs along with fresh Alpha and Omega Seraphim knees.

This is part of a large ongoing religious leg project.
The shins can be seen a few posts back showing portraits of Mary and Jesus.
Thank you!

@firstandmaintattoo
@sombragrays by @rich_hardy

I competed this one quite some time ago but never posted the finished result, only an in progress one.

Inspired by Charlie Wagner’s earlier work from c.1905 on tattooed boy, Harry Karsey (real name Henry Kiegel).
Karsey came from a family of showman. In addition to exhibiting as a tattooed attraction, he would go on to manage several sideshows over the years.

I have a new project that I will be announcing soon that tells the story of Karsey and many other tattooed attractions that were tattooed by Wagner and his cohorts. Watch this space!
Thank you!

@firstandmaintattoo
@sombragrays by @rich_hardy

I turn 30 today, thank you friends for getting me here!

A photo Rich took in his Brisbane studio last month by @rich_hardy

@rich_hardy is back!
#aachen #kaiserstadt_tattoo_expo_aachen #kaiserstadttattooexpo #tattooaachen #aachentattoo nrwtattoo tattoonrw tattooconvention tattoogermany germanytattoo
sponsored by @magicmoon_tattoo_supply by @rich_hardy

Fresh Mary and Jesus on the shins as part of an ongoing full leg project.
These designs were inspired by 16th and 17th century Italian Renaissance and Baroque artists, just like the tattooers that I look up to were in the early 1900s.
Thank you!

@firstandmaintattoo
@sombragrays by @rich_hardy

Healed and settled Pharaoh’s Horses made last year over a few trips to London. This will always be my favourite image!
Thank you!

@firstandmaintattoo
@sombragrays by @rich_hardy

In progress photos of one of my favourite projects I’ve been working on recently.

Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill were primarily responsible for bringing the Wild West to towns and cities all across America, Europe and beyond.
They also had an impact on tattooing as the sideshows attached to their main shows exhibited tattooed people like James Malcom who was tattooed by Charlie Wagner and Lew Alberts in the early 1910s.

I love tattooing and its history!
Thank you!

@firstandmaintattoo
@sombragrays by @rich_hardy

I recently made this diorama of Charlie Wagner’s 203 Worth Street shop, located a short distance from his well known Chatham Square location in NYC.

The model is just over 40cm wide and made from wood, foam board, and card. All signage is hand-painted, and the flash was sourced from original images where possible; missing pieces were replaced with close matches to keep it accurate.

Wagner worked from 203 Worth Street from October 1920 to March 1921. The reason for the short stay is unknown, though during this time he also ran his supply factory at 208 Bowery, tattooed inside the Chatham Barber Shop at 11 Chatham Square, and operated a mail-order office next door at No. 10.

With business booming after World War I, Wagner was supported by several notable tattooers at his Bowery locations, including Lew Alberts, Joe Van Hart, Adams Ogint, and a young Bob Wicks.

Thank you! by @rich_hardy