Coming soon! Fall 2024-Spring 2025
Universal Rules:
Composition and Flow from a Biomech Perspective
by Markus Lenhard & Kaija Heitland
A collaborative weekend workshop
Aimed at tattooers from all backgrounds and genres, reinventing the traditional idea of a seminar. Kaija and Markus will be providing a fresh approach to the way of designing tattoos by using natural laws, anatomy and biomechanical theory, even as it applies to different schools of tattooing.
Its not all about Biomech, but it starts there. All seminars are intended to build on each other and will provide a solid route through the torrent of input, pressure and chaos provided by social media and our quickly growing tattoo community. Helping the participants to form a recognizable signature style or simply getting out of a rut, by defining clear priorities in contrast, composition and reference gathering.
The interactive talks will be based in flow, fit and anatomy, fundamentals of design and execution as well as collecting and photographing reference from nature outside the classroom. The weekend will also include work-shopping the concepts covered and a live, hands-on approach on understanding a well-tailored tattoo. Changing the traditional take on the seminar, there will be an emphasis on group discussion and interaction between presenters and participants on eye level.
““Watching the presenters techniques while having them intricately explain what they were doing in realtime was super educational.”
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All participants will walk away from this course with an appreciation of how the biomechanical perspective can inspire, diversify and expand their current approach and knowledge of tattooing and design. They will be provided with extensive source material, worksheets, and information pamphlets on all the topics covered in the course. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
The seminars, workshop and guided nature walk are intended to build on each other and therefore we suggest booking the whole weekend as an immersive communal learning experience, almost like a mini summer camp.
Talk to us about group pricing!
About the Presenters
Kaija Heitland began tattooing in the Pacific Northwest, surrounded by nature and raised by a solid core of tattooers in a traditional apprenticeship. 16 years of tattoo experience, graphic design and working as a professional digital artist has given her a unique approach to how tattoos should fit the body. Her use of negative space and art-nouveau sensibilities lend themselves to her truly unique bio-nouveau style of sloping, graceful lines and elegant subject matter.
In tattooing she focuses on biomech, Nordic inspired work and illustrative realism. Her natural artistic expression takes hold across her wide range of disciplines like silversmithing, traditional Metis beadwork and quillwork, painting and wildcrafting. She currently tattoos on Vancouver Island, with her husband Markus at Lucky Toad Tattoo, and as a freelance graphic designer and professional Indigenous consultant.
@kaija.heitland.tattoos, @indigenousnouveau
www.indigenousnouveau.com
Markus Lenhard is a dedicated biomech tattooer having developed his signature style using a intimate knowledge of physics and natural forms. His belief in universal truths in science and art inform the unique way he lays-out and executes his work.
He began tattooing informally and is primarily self taught, through nearly 20 years of self-study and development. He has been teaching design and creativity seminars for tattooers and non tattooers since 2013, living and working on Vancouver Island with his wife Kaija, at Lucky Toad Tattoo.