Over the years, we've featured dozens of art shows at the Image Factory, but we've never encountered an artist who can adeptly produce art that hangs on the walls as well as the kind that can only be seen on the human body.
That's the "body of work" compiled by tattoo artist Steve Mossiah for whom the human body is his canvas. Monica Bodden went into his studio today to see his technical mastery and the magic that comes out of it:..
Monica Bodden reporting
It is said that to become a tattoo artist, a person must first have a passion for art and for drawing.
That can be said about Steve Mossiah - a 41 year old tattoo artist who has been in the profession for 17 years.
Before creating those phenomenal works of art on skin - Mossiah first began his work on canvas.
Steve Mossiah - Artist
"I love colors. I love playing with colors, I love experimenting with colors. If you see in my artwork I have different styles; fantasy, abstract, some stuff that I enjoy getting into is like the Polynesian stuff, these ones here is like bio-mechanic mixing with some Japanese flavor to it - so it's a whole fusion to different style. A lot of these stuff is very requested in the tattooing art. So I bring that tattoo flavor into my paintings as well and just mixing it up."
Mossiah began drawing and painting at a young age. Today he goes by the name Scorpio - the tattoo artist and is known by many for his artistic creation with the ink on skin.
Steve Mossiah - Artist
"Pretty much what I am using here is a lot of skin tone rather than do a tattoo that have like outline and looks cartoonish we will try to more for a realistic appearance of the design, so I am not using any lines. I am going straight into shading and bringing up the shape."
Monica Bodden
"A tattoo like this, how long does it take to accomplish?"
Steve Mossiah - Artist
"For the size it can take within an hour or little bit more."
Steve Mossiah - Artist
"I've been painting as far as I could remember - as a little kid drawing, growing up getting into painting. Painting is what draw me into tattooing and I've been tattooing for 17 years now professionally, actually tattooing helps me better off my paintings. It gave me like a broader prospect of mingling with my painting and the different style."
He was encouraged by friends to put his artwork on display - something he hadn't done in 20 years.
The exhibit is called Expression of art Fusion Body + Art, a mixture of paintings and tattoos.
Steve Mossiah - Artist
"This is not my first exhibition. This is actually my third, my last exhibition was 20 years ago. I did my first exhibition at the Bliss then I did one in Cayo for Chamber of Commerce. I got into the tattooing and then I just painted just for the hobby and keep the flame burning and recently a lot of friends come around and ask why don't I do an exhibition, these looks good, put them up for exhibition. Then one of my friends hooks me up with Yasser and he went in and told me that they look really nice and we step on it and here it is today."
The Exhibit opens tonight at the Image Factory - and while checking out his exhibit - feel free to get a tattoo - since he will be ready with his ink and needles.
Steve Mossiah - Artist
"The initial idea is to show tattooing and so my whole tattoo gear will be out here and I already heard some request and so I am ready to laying it down."
Monica Bodden
"It's a 7 o' clock tonight. Any last words?"
Steve Mossiah - Artist
"I just want to say come out and enjoy. you are going to enjoy it."
Body + Art opened at 7 at the Image Factory. The exhibit will be on display for the entire Month of November.
