Mother Samurai.
This commissioned artwork was created as a deeply personal tribute to my client's mother, honoring her strength, resilience, and unwavering love. Designed to be tattooed across his back, the piece sought to symbolise the profound bond between mother and son, while reflecting the immense hardships she overcame. The client provided an old photograph of his mother in her younger years, and from this, I reimagined her as a fierce samurai warrior, dressed in traditional armor and ready for battle.
The samurai imagery was chosen to represent the hardships she endured while escaping the Vietnam War, as well as the courage it took to start over in a foreign country. Her battle-ready stance and intricately designed armour spoke to the strength and resilience that defined her life.
Surrounding her figure, I incorporated delicate cherry blossoms, which served as a symbol of her graceful and nurturing nature. In contrast to the warrior’s armour, the blossoms represent the softer, loving side of her and the compassion, warmth, and beauty she brought into the lives of those around her. The cherry blossoms add a layer of elegance to the design, and bring forth the idea of renewal and hope.
Together, the samurai warrior and cherry blossoms created a powerful visual narrative, one that balanced strength with tenderness, honouring the incredible woman who had both fought for her family’s survival and provided them with the care and love they needed to thrive. This artwork, forever etched in ink on his back, serves as a lasting reminder of her legacy, a symbol of both her battle and her nurturing spirit.
Progression.
The progression of this artwork was a journey of transformation—taking an old, soft-natured photograph of my client’s mother and reimagining her as a fierce samurai warrior, embodying both the tenderness and strength she carried throughout her life. The initial challenge was in translating the spirit of the photograph into a dynamic, battle-ready warrior. I started by redrawing her body and face countless times, adjusting her posture and expression until I felt it captured not just her likeness, but the inner strength and resilience she embodied. The process of getting her stance just right—strong yet graceful—was crucial, as I wanted to portray her not only as a mother but as a survivor, someone who had faced immense hardship with courage.
Choosing the armour she would wear was another thoughtful process. I spent time researching different samurai armour styles, carefully selecting elements that would reflect her background and the fierce resolve with which she raised her children. The final choice of armour combined both traditional samurai elements and more personal touches, creating a look that felt both timeless and unique to her story.
Finishing touches.
Once the structure was established, the real work began in the details. I meticulously added every line and texture to bring the warrior to life, carefully shading the armour to give it depth and making sure the facial expression conveyed the strength and determination that defined her. Surrounding her with cherry blossoms, I paid close attention to the flow and placement of each petal, making sure they complemented the warrior’s stance and symbolised her nurturing side.
The entire piece took about 35 hours to complete, each hour focused on refining the balance between softness and strength, vulnerability and power. The result was a powerful and moving representation of a woman who had not only survived. but thrived! A tribute to both the fierce warrior she was and the gentle, loving mother she remained.
