Fern Ngatai; Tā moko apprentice

August 25, 2020 Thomas Mcmillan

It seems like only yesterday we got the announcement that Auckland would be moving back into Level 3 Lockdown, and now here we are, less than a week (fingers crossed) until we safely move into Level 2! Its been a busy couple of days for our Shop Manager Jack to reschedule everyones missed appointments but now that thats all done, it’s time to relax before we reopen on Tuesday the 2nd of September and start slinging some fresh tatts! I know that I can’t wait to get a new piece, or 3 haha!

Our artists have been keeping busy during lockdown so lets take a look at what they have been up to…

Tā moko apprentice Fern Ngatai created this beautiful A2 painting; MAMAKU. Inspired by her recent Moko Wananga Trio in Rotorua where she learnt about the Mamaku which is is the tallest and fastest growing New Zealand native tree fern. This piece is her interpretation of the fern leaves.

The second piece Fern created is this A2 drawing called MARANGA MAI, which translates to Wake up in English!

Fern created this piece as a drive to get out of bed in the morning to create something and do something positive with her day. Lockdown has been a hard and confusing time for everyone, so channelling her energy into something creative gave her purpose and a sense of productivity!

Fern is an incredible multimedia artist and currently apprenticing under Manawa Tapu at Sunset Tattoo. She is still charging apprentice rates and has time at the the end of September to tattoo you. Please get in touch with us via email or through the contact page on our website to inquire about a booking with Fern, and contact her directly through instagram; @flows_by_rau to inquire about a commission piece of artwork.

Sunset Tattoo is the home of some of New Zealand’s most celebrated tattooists, and located on Cross Street of Central Auckland, just behind iconic Karangahape Road (K Road). We specialise in timeless, professional tattoo styles such as Japanese, Maori, America/western traditional and black work. With a friendly team, a gorgeous studio and decades of knowledge we would love to help you with your next tattoo project. For more information, get in touch with us.

CONTACT:
www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz
(+649)3763423

TATTOO MAGIC BY MILKY

July 25, 2020 Thomas Mcmillan

Milky has been creating some pretty epic wizard scenes lately! Check them out…

Staying true to his American-traditional style of tattooing with solid black lines and use of bright, eye-catching colours, he is creating these magical scenes full of mystery.

To enquire about collecting your own epic piece from Milky, send an enquiry to info@sunsettattoo.co.nz!

CONTACT:
www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz
(+649)3763423

TATTOO OF THE WEEK

July 17, 2020 Thomas Mcmillan

This week we wanted to showcase the incredible work of Capilli Tupou!

While the rest of us were baking bread and picking up new hobbies during lockdown, Capilli was busy painting this incredible mind bending flash!

And now its being rolled out onto skin so take a look…

Make sure you follow Capilli on Instagram; @capillitupou to keep up to date with his current work and available flash!

We think his work is pretty incredible. If you want to collect your own piece from Capilli, please contact him directly through http://www.capillitupou.com

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CONTACT:

www.sunsettattoo.co.nz

info@sunsettattoo.co.nz

(+649)3763423

Booking in your tattoo; Custom vs Flash designs

July 4, 2020 Thomas Mcmillan

Another week has flown by in studio and boy oh boy do we LOVE our clients. This week on the blog we wanted to talk about the process of getting tattoo and the different ways you can book in.

Let’s talk about custom tattoos…

All of our artists love to work closely with their clients to create tattoos that incorporate what the client wants, in their signature style. This can be from one hit bangers to large scale on-going work that takes multiple sessions to finish.

The first step in this process is to do your research! Think subject matter and style. The beauty of modern day tattooing is the endless options of styles available without having to travel far. We have experienced experts across all styles including Maori Ta Moko, Traditional Japanese, Fine line, Western traditional, Blackwork, dot work and geometric work. Have a browse through our artist profiles to get a better idea of what our artists offer. Its really good to do your research so you know what you like.

The next step is to get in touch! We recommend clients sending through a brief description including size, placement and style they are after to our email, as well as any reference images they have. From here, we can book you in for a free consultation to come in and chat more in depth in person with the artist about what you’re after. This is a good time to ask any questions you have. Our artists are professionals and always happy to help.

After your consultation, we can book you in and then the waiting game begins.

Flash Tatts…

Back in the day, there wasn’t much choice when it came to getting tattooed. You walked in to the shop, picked from a book, or several hundred paintings hanging on the walls and that was it. The beauty of flash tattoos.

Several of our artists have ready-to-go flash hanging on the walls of our studio (or in our instagram highlights) that make the decision making process a whole lot easier. It also makes it easier if you know you want to get tattooed but unsure of what to get.

To book these in, either come in, pick it off the wall and we can find a time that suits you (or get it on the spot if the artist has time), or email us with a screenshot of something you’ve seen from our instagram profile and book in. Super fun and easy!

The wall is constantly getting updated so don’t be a stranger, pop by and check it out.

And finally, those after something Sweet and Simple?

We know that sometimes you just want something little and we are able to help! A permanent reminder of a special memory or the ‘i’ve always wanted a tattoo but just something little’ type of tattoos are always fun, plus they don’t take long so usually we can find time on the day, or during the same week to book you in.

Whatever your tattoo needs are, we are here to help. Give us an call, email or come in and book your next tattoo in.

CONTACT:

www.sunsettattoo.co.nz

info@sunsettattoo.co.nz

(+649)3763423

The New Kids on the Block

June 30, 2020 Thomas Mcmillan

You may have noticed the iconic yellow shop front of Sunset Tattoo has expanded to welcome our new neighbours…

The Mercury Plaza Refreshment Room and shared office space.

Image by Ross Liew; @mroscarlow
Shop Front painted by Dagar; @dagarmedia

This dual venue welcomes coffee and pie lovers into its cosy space to sit back, enjoy the lush offerings and have a good old fashioned chin wag with the lovely staff as well as providing rentable shared office space for those looking to find a new work spot.

Let’s talk about what we have to offer…

Chef Ryan; @ryanap1988, offers decadent cheese scones, gourmet pies, sandwiches, wraps and salads that change on the daily. My personal favourite so far has been the Vegan Lentil and Kumera pie with vegan cheese. Yup, thats right, we have something for everyone, including our vegan and gluten free friends.

Baker Claudia; @sweetcheeks_nz, has been tearing up the sweet scene in Auckland for a couple of years paving a new way for sweet treats to be enjoyed. More complex flavour pairings and a twist on your favourite classics, there’s something for everyone. If you’re after something decedent or something tart, we have you covered.

AND what is a cake without coffee right? Or maybe you need that afternoon pick-me-up? We have our old mates from down the road providing the gorgeous coffee that is Miller’s Coffee.

If you’ve been in you would have noticed a familiar face serving you, our old shop manager Rosie has jumped ship, or should I say, jumped downstairs and back behind the coffee machine. Fun fact if you didn’t know, Rosie worked in the Auckland hospo scene for 10 years before joining the Sunset Crew. We are so lucky to have her.

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Now lets talk business;

For anyone searching for a new office space, look no further. We have a shared office space in the back of the venue. The $100 per week rent includes a desk, Wifi, access to a photocopier, meeting room and more. To enquire about renting a desk, contact themercuryplaza@gmail.com. We will have more information on this space soon!

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After a busy first week, with so many familiar faces stopping by, we want to thank everyone who has been apart of the journey and to our customers new and old. Tom, Tristan, Tanja and everyone else involved in the space have worked so hard to bring this idea to life, so we can’t wait to see it full of your beautiful faces. This place wouldn’t be what it is without you guys!

The Mercury Plaza Refreshment Room is open Monday- Saturday 6:30am - 4pm