Taco Bals

Painter. Tattoo artist. Birdwatcher. Taco notices what most people walk past.

That habit of looking closely sits inside his tattoos. A feather is never merely a row of lines. A shell, insect, bone or weathered object has structure, rhythm and a history of its own. Taco translates those details into illustrative blackwork with confident outlines, tactile texture and carefully measured negative space.

The work feels drawn rather than processed. Graphic enough to read clearly on skin, but never stripped of curiosity. Birds and natural forms are an obvious habitat, though fossils, artefacts and other peculiar subjects are equally welcome. No colour is needed. The variation lives inside the black.

When Taco is not whistling his way through the shop, he is likely watching birds behave like birds in their natural habitat, writing music for his band or moving paint around a canvas. He is also a father, which makes time the rarest material in his studio and attention the one he spends most generously.

Taco is very much vegan. Tips are never expected, but a vegan brownie has been known to migrate towards his workstation with remarkable accuracy.

Bring Taco something worth observing

A species. An object. A fragment, memory or strange little fascination. A clear photograph can help, but a finished concept is not required. Taco is a strong match for birds, flora and fauna, fossils, antiquities and custom blackwork with an organic edge.

Send the subject, placement, approximate size and references that reveal what fascinates you about it. He will look closely before asking the ink to do the same.