a simple anniversary

Our anniversary was on November 3, and it's the 4th :) we don't bother making invitations because this year we want it simple and silent. 'Four years' is a short time, compared to the so many other tattooists and established tattoo studios in our town, but we're still standing now, supporting each other and is willing to make art to the fullest every single day.

So many up and downs, positive and negative comments, and we can't say anything more than thank you, because it's all bring the best out of us. For all collectors, supporting friends, and most of all - family.

back in 2009 at Kimochi Fest, Duta Wacana Christian University, Yogyakarta.
in between henna tattoo sessions, these children from the next booth asked lots of things about tattoos.

in 2010, Dimas Praja got a chance to do tattoo at Fourspeed Metalwerks, Bandung.
Anyway, today is their anniversary. happy anniversary, Fourspeed Metalwerks! :)

in summer 2011 Dimas Praja got a chance to do some guest spots in some tattoo studios in Bali.

also in 2011, Dimas Praja got 2nd place for oriental category in Modern Tattoo Culture's tattoo war.
the event was held in Semarang. Here's a link about the event.

our simple celebration at the waiting room. Beer for the guys and orange juice for Lois and Bebe.
Lois made a pile of chocolate doughnuts. The guy in hat is mas Bejo (he was featured once here) which is now helping us a lot at the studio, and next to him is Rory, one of our avid collectors (his favorite is Japanese tattoos, which is one of Dimas' natural talent to design). Here is one of Rory's collections, tattooed by Dimas Praja

Now that we have two tattooists working, we need spare machines :)

and a lot of colors to keep the tattooists' creativity flowin'

Thank you collectors for trusting your skin to us, spreading the good words n everything.
Thank you CarpeDiem TattooStudio family to keep up the good work, pushing the art boundaries, n to keep up the standard :)
cheers!

Philosophy of Semar

Semar is a character in Javanese mythology who frequently appears in wayang shadow plays. He is one of the punakawan (wayang clowns), but is in fact divine and very wise. He is the dhanyang (guardian spirit) of Java, and is regarded by some as the most sacred figure of the kotak (wayang set). He is said to be the god Sang Hyang Ismaya in human form.

The name Semar is said to derive from the Javanese word samar ('dim, obscure, mysterious'). He is often referred to with the honorific, "Kyai Lurah Semar" (the venerable chief).

The philosophy of Semar calligraphy

Philosophy of Semar:

"Bojo sira arsa Mardi kamardikan, aja samar sumingkiring dur-kamurkan Mardika, ora kebanda ing kadonyan, ora samar marang bisane sirna durka murkamu"

which means the freedom of soul; a condition unconquered by lust and mortal life desire, to remain perfectly 'innocent' til death, to restrain temptation and convert it into a power towards perfection in life.

Legong dancer tattoo

Legong is a form of Balinese dance; a refined dance form characterized by intricate finger movements, complicated footwork, and expressive gestures and facial expressions.

At first, the client came to us, bringing a magazine with a pair of Legong dancer paintings on it. They are beautiful paintings, indeed, but in the picture, they're hanging on the wall decorating a cozy living room (yes, it's an interior design magazine). Imagine how small it is! To get more details on the dancer's flower crown and facial expression, we browsed through the web and find this beautiful photograph by Mr. Pius Lee

Eyeing (Legong Dance II), taken on May 30, 2009 by Mr Pius Lee, www.dailytravelphotos.com

Mr Pius Lee began his quest to backpack around the world in 2003. Travel and photography is two of his greatest passions. His website, www.dailytravelphotos.com contains his photography works during traveling, hopefully to relate the beauty and uniqueness of far-away countries that most viewers won't experience first hand.

We can support his cause this way (quoting from his website): "Daily Travel Photos is supported primarily by advertisements. To help ensure the site's survival, I request that you occasionally glance at the ads and clickonly on an advertisement that genuinely interests you. Clicking haphazardly on ads helps nobody in the long run. "

the Legong dancer tattoo, done by Dimas Praja

thanks Mr Pius Lee for the beautiful photograph as a great reference, and for visiting Indonesia, too! :)

a tribal Jesus and a cover up

One day, this guy, Adip came to CarpeDiem TattooStudio to get a tribal Jesus tattoo on his left arm, with a “Luke 19:10″ lettering. At first we consider to put the verse too but he decided only to put the “Luke 19:10″.   This tattoo was done by Lois.

Luke 19:10 ("...For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”), done by Lois

After this tattoo was finished, he showed his other tattoo on his right arm. It’s a cross with a kinda bad 3D perspective and he wanted it covered up. Dimas then did the sketch to start the cover-up, turning it into a black lotus with skull.

the cross which wanted to be covered up, and the preliminary sketch by Dimas Praja

the final result of the cover up: a black lotus with skull, done by Dimas Praja

so, on the same day, Adip got two fresh tattoos, done by both tattooists we have at CarpeDiem TattooStudio. Hope to see him soon again!  :)

The Lion of Judah tattoo

One day on June, we got Mr Marthin,  a guest from Jakarta, who already booked the slot to be tattooed by Dimas Praja a week before he came to Jogjakarta. He wanted a red lion, inside his ‘torn’ flesh. He also mentioned some letterings to be added, but hadn’t send the design until the day. It was Hebrew lettering, completed the Lion of Judah.

The Lion of Judah, done by Dimas Praja on Marthin Lumingkewas

The Hebrew lettering below the lion is ”yehochanan”, which means god’s grace or god’s favor (god’s supplication). After this was finished on his right arm, he wanted to add another lettering on his left arm as a pair for “yehochanan”. The other one is in Latin.

Semper Fidelis, the Latin for "Always Faithful", often shortened to 'Semper Fi'

Tibetan Skull tattoo

Tibetan skulls are getting more attention on tattoo designs, either for its macabre (yet beautiful) look in black-and-grey and color works, and for the meaning itself. 


It's also known as kapala (Sanskrit for "skull") or skullcup, it is made from a human skull used as a ritual implement (bowl) in both Hindu Tantra and Buddhist Tantra (Vajrayana). Especially in Tibet, these skulls often carved or elaborately mounted with precious metals and jewels. The heavily embossed cup is usually made of silver-gilt bronze with lid shaped like a skull and with a handle made in the form of a thunderbolt.

a Tibetan skull for rituals

And the design development from the idea of Tibetan skull is vary, including on Dimas Praja's tattoo work:

a Tibetan skull tattoo by Dimas Praja, done in 2009

Celtic cross tattoo

A celtic cross tattoo, done by Dimas Praja on April 2009