Some clients will cross the sea for the right artist. This client flew from Dublin to London to be tattooed by Sasha O’Kharin, one of the top 10 colour realism artists in the world. His first tattoo was a Native American chief. He loved it so much that, a couple of months ago, he came back to O’Kharin for something even more personal: a colour realism portrait of his mother. This is the story of both tattoos, and why we are the best tattoo studio in London for colour realism.
From Dublin to London for One Artist
With talented tattoo artists in Ireland, flying to London was a choice, not a necessity. The client wanted one artist for his colour realism tattoo, and that artist was O’Kharin, who tattoos in Los Angeles, St Petersburg and here with us at Straight Lines Tattoo.
The First Tattoo: A Native American Chief in Colour Realism
The first piece, on the inner upper arm, is a Native American chief portrait that shows what world class colour realism looks like on the skin:
- Vivid War Paint: Deep, saturated red across the face that stays bold against the skin.
- Photographic Skin: Every wrinkle and highlight rendered like a high resolution photo.
- Headdress and Sky: Soft blues and greens around the feathers that frame the face.
- Bone Choker: Clean, sharp beadwork that finishes the design at the base.
The Second Tattoo: A Colour Portrait of His Mother
After the chief, there was only one artist he trusted with the most important face of all. He came back to O’Kharin for a colour realism portrait of his mother:
- True Likeness: Her expression, blue eyes and silver hair, recognisable at a glance.
- Lifelike Skin Tones: Warm, natural colour that gives her face real depth.
- Personal Details: Her earrings, white roll neck and pendant necklace make the portrait unmistakably hers.
Why He Came Back to O’Kharin
- Top 10 in the World: Regarded as one of the top 10 colour realism artists in the world.
- Recognised Worldwide: His colour realism is recognised by clients and artists around the world.
- His Own Colour Set: His new colour set with World Famous Tattoo Ink.
- Three Cities: Tattooing in Los Angeles, St Petersburg and London.
See more of his work on O’Kharin’s artist page, and more colour work on our Colour Realism Tattoo UK and Portrait Tattoo UK pages.
Planning Your Colour Realism Portrait Tattoo
- Choose Your Reference: Sharp, well lit photos give the best result for any portrait.
- Consultation: Plan bigger ideas in person at our Loughton studio first.
- Full Day Sessions: One artist, one client, a full day of about 6 to 7 hours.
- Aftercare: Follow our aftercare guide to keep your colours bright.
Book Your Colour Realism Tattoo in London Today
Whether you are travelling from Dublin, across the UK or from abroad, our artists can bring your portrait to life in full colour. Browse every portfolio on our Tattoo Artists page, or book your tattoo today.
