https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/tattoos/my-least-favorite-part-of-getting-tattooed-is-the-break~6e873972-3351-4ab2-9a70-4683a1f5737b https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/07/75b38be2-4c22-4f14-b294-cba4e7f2cf0c.jpg My least favorite part of getting tattooed is the break… My least favorite part of getting tattooed is the break from physical activities, makes me so grumpy😂😭. So I’ve been putting it off, but earlier this week I finally did a second session on my self tattoo (based off of one of my paintin… https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/how-it-started-vs-how-its-going~a63d379b-b4cc-40e9-920b-71bcf26207d7 https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/07/eabcbccd-b1b6-435e-8bcd-0b89309e4f9a.jpg How it started vs how it’s going How it started vs how it’s going. Painting from imagination—from abstract to representational. Embracing inefficiency. Less thinking, more feeling, more listening https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/im-presenting-and-teaching-at-the-upcoming-paradise-artist~b4062408-5802-4926-a1c7-8c50fe49b5d0 https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/07/482232a8-60c7-4808-9422-e4fabddecdbd.jpg I’m presenting and teaching at the upcoming Paradise Artist… I’m presenting and teaching at the upcoming Paradise Artist Retreat at Jiminy Peak MA this October 6-8! I put the registration info in my profile. This recent painting (currently on view at @gallery1261 is one example of me using this me… https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/hoarder-of-dreams-oil-on-aluminum-panel~352d584c-3218-470f-8dff-0cf776b5578a https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/06/87c5557d-ef2e-49ad-9221-8242bc4713c4.jpg Hoarder of Dreams, oil on aluminum panel “Hoarder of Dreams” (18x14in oil on aluminum panel, 2026) on view starting this Saturday for the Summer Show at @gallery1261 in Denver. See slides for framed pics and to see how it started. Fully abstract, then composed and painted from … https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/surreal-dark-skull-and-raven-oil-painting~6faced46-d119-4d15-bc67-c9103266e1ce https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/06/f1328b29-4f3e-4903-8b90-455093194433.jpg Surreal dark skull and raven oil painting Got a chance this morning to get back to work on this painting for the upcoming summer show at @gallery1261 🔥 https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/tattoos/black-and-grey-biomechanical-full-sleeve-tattoo~30cc3561-ceb9-43c2-91e5-170af6c0e70f https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/06/a1b23d75-3013-4716-995f-cfa9381f1908.jpg Black-and-grey biomechanical full sleeve tattoo Another awesome trip to Wisconsin to continue my tattoo apprenticeship under @fineartfirst at his shop @timelesstattoos and factory @empireinks 🔥🙏🔥 What a week!! ❤️ This compilation also features @car.o.lyn_82 @icanbedanny @smokenouve… https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/surreal-skull-and-fire-oil-painting-with-color~0d3f5d26-8530-4702-aa5d-675f76017533 https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/06/5d0c25a2-fc65-4924-84a6-ed8602f1d642.jpg Surreal skull and fire oil painting with color Started a new painting https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/tattoos/ornamental-teapot-and-pomegranate-shoulder-tattoo~81d495ca-f66e-4359-862f-cf811ec30a6f https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/06/d446aa54-d0a7-4595-a32d-e70b8d3a1e1d.jpg Ornamental teapot and pomegranate shoulder tattoo Finished 🔥 Honored to create this tattoo for @elkhafeliphant 🙏🙌💕. It’s been an awesome journey. Used @empireinks Tattoo Apprentice of https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/elysium-colorful-skull-oil-painting-on-panel~3bc11471-7b46-4970-8af3-789ccb9d92da https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/06/ac56f4ef-ce5c-4dd3-b06f-09e409963406.jpg Elysium: colorful skull oil painting on panel “Elysium” 9x12in oil on panel 2026 https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/abstract-and-representational-oil-paintings-in-color~59b19587-5f76-478e-8df3-94cd302b8731 https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/06/c3919f19-ebe9-4d29-967c-9381f30a8a60.jpg Abstract and representational oil paintings in color Purely abstract composition above (with no preconceived ideas), representational interpretation from imagination below (no references allowed). This was my live demonstration from this past weekend during my workshop at @seattleprize . A… https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/portrait-with-insect-surreal-oil-painting~8c833b7a-c9ed-4bbf-86c7-de80bc081238 https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/06/c8fd924a-3ba6-4ed7-ac88-a73892d5406f.jpg Portrait with insect, surreal oil painting 💘 My muse https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/goddess-of-mercy-oil-painting-surreal-fantasy-figure~3d3648d3-bf76-4b83-9544-3656d201ed84 https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/06/d62472e5-0f4f-4873-8e45-db5a2870fa56.jpg Goddess of Mercy oil painting, surreal fantasy figure One of several paintings that I recently removed from the market because in my advanced age I’m realizing how much my family appreciates them, and I’d like my wife and kids to be able to have those pieces of me when I’m gone. While I alw… https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/tattoos/black-and-grey-organic-wing-tattoo-shoulder~df328339-3532-439a-821e-5c50c02a5260 https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/06/ba7cb38d-3208-477d-ad3b-700f9db999dc.jpg Black-and-grey organic wing tattoo, shoulder In between our GREAT meandering conversations about art, my friend and mentor extraordinaire Colt @fineartfirst continued working on my tattoo last week during our @empireinks trip to visit @jacobsheffieldart in Colorado. So pleased to h… https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/still-life-with-apple-bottles-and-spheres-in-vibrant-color~b86d6905-bc6d-4f5a-948c-f7f24f44be2d https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/06/2bb82434-b55c-476f-9b93-0a2730e584db.jpg Still life with apple, bottles, and spheres in vibrant color On the final day of this @empireinks trip we got some painting in. It was awesome. We did some sightseeing as well (thank you @jacobsheffieldart !). My mentor @fineartfirst brought me out to Grand Junction Colorado to learn tattoo skills… https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/tattoos/fenrir-and-gleipnir-mythology-back-tattoo~83c74675-4780-443e-8072-644534abb3af https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/06/ff53e71b-2b7a-4d1c-8309-32fcfd4c81ce.jpg Fenrir and Gleipnir mythology back tattoo Yesterday and today worked on @nowrobert Fenrir & Gleipnir. Still more left to do but made a lot of progress and I’m loving seeing this come to life. We’d discussed and brainstormed Robert’s tattoo plans years before I was even intereste… https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/setup-above-finished-painting-below~c54610eb-55d8-4b95-91d4-2b984e9288f4 https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/07/fb5ccd10-9bfe-4ca3-9e95-17d95fc6f152.jpg Setup above, finished painting below Setup above, finished painting below. Notice the shift in focus. In the physical setup, the light is most powerful on the leftmost orange, because that's what's closest to the light source. In the painting, the light is where I want it--… https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/throughout-my-years-of-painting-2007-now-i-named-my-image~3e4eeb69-d72d-4d03-8dd2-7e01d6316cc8 https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/07/9cd25a5b-79dc-4103-ad4e-efc515bb1e37.jpg Throughout my years of painting (2007-now) I named my image… Throughout my years of painting (2007-now) I named my image files genre_number, which makes it easy to look back and see my journey. These still life paintings are 200 complete still life paintings apart. Here is still life # 82 from 201… https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/over-my-years-of-painting-2007-now-i-named-my-image-files~5d1331a6-385e-4fe8-b21b-9a181db3793d https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/07/85ffb0b2-d854-4a58-8981-013fb9d84dd3.jpg Over my years of painting (2007-now) I named my image files… Over my years of painting (2007-now) I named my image files genre_number which makes it easy go back and look at my evolution. Here is portrait # 22 from 2008 and portrait # 96 from 2023. https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/i-began-learning-how-to-paint-in-2007-and-when-i-started~8f4daf0b-7f45-473b-b300-2d2c90458b62 https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/07/da314271-3626-4dff-ae28-ebfd1cb351bf.jpg I began learning how to paint in 2007 and when I started… I began learning how to paint in 2007 and when I started taking pictures of my oil paintings (that I deemed worth photographing) I organized my image files like this: genre_number. Which makes it easy to go back and look at progress over… https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/setup-on-top-finished-painting-on-bottom~b16dd798-f954-418b-b5eb-0782ac74b3e9 https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/07/7f0d3aaa-0167-4b4c-92b1-7142e1b252ef.jpg Setup on top, finished painting on bottom Setup on top, finished painting on bottom. This is "Kettle & Hue" from 2013, 11x14in oil on panel. While I don't make paintings that look like this anymore, still life offers a challenge that continues to hold my interest: How to compose… https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/tattoos/continued-this-freehand-tattoo-yesterday-3rd-session-at~080e29c9-deef-4379-8794-7ca5755595ed https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/07/38883d00-cd8c-4687-84d8-8983723fe09a.jpg Continued this freehand tattoo yesterday (3rd session) at Continued this freehand tattoo yesterday (3rd session) at @turningshadowtattoo . The process of building up a tattoo over multiple sessions is…awesome!!! Exciting and rewarding. Through a mixture of preparation and spontaneity we get to … https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/tattoos/progress-yesterday~72072c28-3b41-48fa-b780-8b8cd1a2c302 https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/07/22bdd462-7abc-40f4-8a50-7eee44e37d04.jpg Progress yesterday Progress yesterday. So satisfying to see this coming together, getting better every session. The tea pot portion is nearly done. We’ll get into the pomegranate next. @elkhafeliphant is such a badass! So patient and sits so good. Thank yo… https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/not-much-painting-these-days-especially-with-opening-up-my~5f8c3e61-bf98-4701-984a-6015da8e185e https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/07/f18c5a94-f4fa-47f9-842d-c6cdce431b39.jpg Not much painting these days, especially with opening up my… Not much painting these days, especially with opening up my new tattoo studio, but I did manage to squeeze in this little commission for @fridaysmosaics ☺️🙌🍎 it’s a 5x5in mini, felt so good to paint! This is from imagination. Eventuall… https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/heart-of-red~9f0894f7-14ff-48fa-b249-51bf9328f7b8 https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/07/4cd36811-f5c3-4ed9-b1e8-5303612c7ec3.jpg Heart of Red Heart of Red 2013, oil on 18x24in panel I liked this old oil can so much that a dragged it on the plane from upstate NY to California where we lived at the time. Always on the lookout for things that will be interesting in a still life p… https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/tattoos/finished-for-thank-you-mike-for-your-absolute-trust-and~03c7780f-898a-47d6-b4a3-ac20f63144d7 https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/07/48b07835-12d7-4a1b-a1ae-b37534f3ef68.jpg Finished for 🙏 Thank you Mike for your absolute trust and… Finished for @callahan8746 🙏 Thank you Mike for your absolute trust and patience! My second finished [custom designed] tattoo. I learned so much and had a lot of fun with this. For my reference for the skull portion I used my oil painti… https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/my-new-painting-herald-of-change-debuts-at-show~cbe4c5ee-4acf-4ffa-8df7-c9a55540a4b4 https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/07/918991eb-f7a2-49d9-9bfb-049f9b5401e0.jpg My new painting “Herald of Change” debuts at show… My new painting “Herald of Change” debuts at @jawbone_gallery show “Ornithology” opening Saturday October 25th 6-9pm. 9x12in oil on cradled panel, Masterworks frame. Honored to be invited by @victorgrasso 🙏. It’s a killer lineup 🔥. I l… https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/tattoos/yesterday-and-todays-progress-on-the-color-for-s-new~120a4622-1018-466f-aea2-e087bd7c64d4 https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/07/5462fd96-c9f1-4fa4-9935-42a6cdc75390.jpg Yesterday and today’s progress on the color for ‘s new… Yesterday and today’s progress on the color for @callahan8746 ‘s new tattoo. Not quite finished but we’ll get the bottom portion done soon. Having a great time with this, and continuing to learn what works for me. I keep thinking that cu… https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/time-flew-by-this-week-while-teaching-a-workshop~2424b244-c60e-4f8a-bb72-a8427a810cfb https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/07/4b4dab65-fce2-4c95-b991-6b6eab501207.jpg Time flew by this week while teaching a workshop Time flew by this week while teaching a workshop @scottsdaleartschool . Super cool group of artists. So creative, talented, worked hard. Here are the two main demonstration paintings I did. Two complimentary approaches to composition. De… https://david-cheifetz.tattoonow.com/gallery/art/ill-be-teaching-a-workshop-next-week-m-f~a2d17d8a-5beb-4a01-81ed-b4e2500f6835 https://images.tattoonow.com/tenants/david-cheifetz/images/2026/07/5b8facbd-3b8d-4d21-9097-057d172a7e80.jpg I’ll be teaching a workshop next week M-F 🔥 I’ll be teaching a workshop next week M-F @scottsdaleartschool 🔥 5-day STILL LIFE COMPOSITION INTENSIVE: PAINTING FROM LIFE & IMAGINATION. There is still time to register and gather your supplies 💨 “Carrion” (16 x 16 in oil on panel, 2…