Tattoo Designs for Brosnan
Beauty and decay
POSITION: Left Shoulder
DESCRIPTION: Brosnan first came to me several years ago in Los Angeles, looking for a tattoo on his left upper arm and shoulder. He was inspired by some of the life-and-death themed pieces I had created in the past, but he made it very clear that he wanted me to have as much creative freedom as possible.
The central theme of his design revolves around an anatomical figure that is part alive, part skinless, part skeleton, drawing inspiration from old anatomical book illustrations. The idea was to show the juxtaposition of beauty and decay, or life emerging from death. To illustrate this, I intertwined the anatomical figure with flowers and other organic, alive elements. One of the flowers blooms upward to form almost a crown-like shape around the head / skull.
To bring softness and lightness into the piece, I incorporated a butterfly, reinforcing the theme of transformation and beauty. A halo around the head further draws the viewer’s attention to the face of the anatomical figure, emphasizing it as the focal point of the design. As I often do in my work, I framed the composition with geometric shapes, creating balance and cohesion between all the elements and tying the piece together seamlessly.
The intention behind this piece is not to dwell on what will be lost, but to celebrate the gift of simply being here. There’s no need to resist the passage of time. Aging, shifting, letting go — these are not things to fear but parts of the same dance that brings us into the world in the first place. Just as a leaf dies to nourish the soil, our own impermanence makes room for something new to rise. It reflects the truth that we are not the center of the universe, but a fleeting part of a much larger rhythm. And in that realization, there is peace.
Client Testimonial:
“Daniel not only explained his reasoning for everything he did, but he seemed passionate in doing so. He clearly put a ton of thought and effort into making my idea his own design, and was entirely receptive to my thoughts. The session went so smoothly, and Daniel made the entire experience as comfortable as possible."
-Brosnan Brook
In-progress picture, taken during Brosnan’s first tattoo session.
Abstract geometric eye
POSITION: Left outer forearm
DESCRIPTION: For Brosnan’s second tattoo, which he visited me in Hawaii for, he drew inspiration from two specific Alex Grey paintings that prominently feature eyes. Brosnan also wanted me to focus on incorporating fractals. Aside from that, he gave me complete creative freedom, just like with his first piece.
Alex Grey’s artwork is intricate, densely layered, and vibrantly colored. His work is defined by these aspects, but they don’t translate well into a tattoo, especially when working in black and gray, since color is such an integral part of Grey’s style. My challenge was to capture the essence of his art and the themes and general aesthetic he works with, while translating them into something that would work well as a tattoo. Instead of a literal reproduction, this piece became an interpretation of Grey’s art in my own style.
At the center of the tattoo is a single eye, a nod to the paintings that inspired Brosnan. Surrounding the eye, I incorporated layered, three-dimensional squares that create the impression of layers in the skin, an illusion of depth, as if the skin itself opens up to reveal the eye beneath. This effect brings dimension to the composition and creates an interesting 3D effect.
Flowing out from the central structure are Fibonacci-inspired geometries and botanical elements. These not only echo the fractal approach Brosnan wanted but also create a nice flow, and they mirror his existing tattoo on the upper arm, tying the two pieces together.
At the base of the design, a stylized hand rendered in a grid-like structure rises upward, as though presenting or supporting the eye and the geometric layers above it. I like to use hands in my work because of their elegance and symbolic weight.
For Inquiries, please feel free to reach out via contact@danielmeyertattoo.com
I look forward to work with you on your next story.
