Dragons Don’t Do Cute Poses | Patrick O’Neil Technique Talk | EP 300
Dragons Don’t Do Cute Poses | Patrick O’Neil Technique Talk | EP 300
We’ve got another Inside Fireside Tattoo Club sneak preview for you today! This time it’s with a real friend of the podcast Patrick Paul O’Neil. The group has been holding these Technique Talks that go beyond surface-level conversation about tattoo work. Patrick discusses how over the years that understanding your own process matters—like how he approaches color by building up layers rather than trying to nail everything in one pass. When working with clients, he’s found that what they don't like actually tells me more than what they do like. It gives clearer boundaries for the creative field we're working in.
Patrick also goes over the healing process and how thick skin can desaturate colors, or those strange brown spots that appear in lighter pigments that eventually fade away after a couple years. These are the real challenges we face daily. As artists, we need to pay attention to what our tendencies are, recognize our own limits with composition, and understand that everything has a budget—whether it's detail, color, or negative space. That's the kind of honest conversation about tattooing that actually helps people grow.
We hope you get something from this episode, and consider joining the Inside Fireside Community so you can come along for more of these conversations.
This episode was made possible thanks to:
Get 10% off your Tattoo Trunk order with the code FIRESIDE at checkout
This episode ALSO was made possible thanks to:
Interview by By Jake Meeks —
Writing By
Topics: Technique Talks, Inside Fireside Tattoo Club, Working Processes, Materials, Artistic Approaches, Community Engagement, Client Feedback, Creative Processes, Client Consultations, Tattoo Techniques, Composition, Line Work, Color Application, Layering Process, Color Transitions, Saturation, Value, Artistic Integrity, Visual Language, Ink Choices, Focal Points, Session Length, Dynamic Simplicity, Personal Style, Transparency, Color Management, Skin Healing, Negative Space, Skin Color Variations, Unique Tattoo Style, Pain Management, Conventions, Japanese-Inspired Tattooing, Tattoo Pigments, Brown Spots, Ink Viscosity, Machine Preferences, Client Interaction, Client Anxiety, Client Trust, Simplified Setup, Thumbnails, Daily Practice, Nature Inspiration, Visual Design, Creativity, Community
“Open yourself up, stay curious, and just remember to follow your heart and follow your interests.”
— Patrick Paul O’Neil
Patrick Paul O'Neil (@the_burning_jewel) has a unique and distinguished approach to tattooing that focuses on Japanese mythology, history, and representations of the natural world. His style is a harmonious blend of illustrative realism and various traditional Japanese painting styles such as Meiji-era, Nihonga, Rinpa, and Japanese Pottery.
Patrick's artistic background includes a painting degree from OCAD University, where he honed his skills in realism. He spent eight years at Chronic Ink Tattoos, with five of those years working under the mentorship of Tony Hu. Under Hu's guidance, Patrick expanded his artistic repertoire and developed a Neo-Traditional Asian style that combines Japanese and Chinese subjects with a modern western realism sensibility.
Patrick is dedicated to providing his clients with meaningful and enduring tattoos that reflect their unique identity and story, whether it's paying tribute to a loved one, celebrating their heritage, or creating an illustration of their ideal self.
Patrick Paul O’Neil is based in Toronto, ON, Canada and tattoos currently at Seven Eight Tattoo.
Please enjoy!
INTERVIEW LINKS, MENTIONS, AND SHOW NOTES BELOW…
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
Connect with Patrick Paul O’Neil:
Seven Eight Tattoo | IG | Email
SHOW NOTES
[00:00] Intro and Inside Fireside Tattoo Club Info
[01:40] Starting off with Q&A
[09:55] The Importance of Client Feedback in Creative Processes
[10:40] Structuring Client Consultations
[19:40] Tattoo Techniques and Considerations
[21:00] Composition and Line Work
[28:32] Color Application and Layering Process
[32:20] Understanding Saturation and Value in Art
[37:40] Depth and Client Interaction in Artistic Process
[40:10] Cohesive Color Theory in Tattoo Design
[50:14] Compositional Elements in Art
[51:07] Designing the Grim Reaper
[56:42] Adjusting Values and Line Weights
[01:01:10] Engaging Visual Language
[01:02:19] Mixing Techniques and Ink Choices
[01:03:59] Placement and Focal Points in Tattoo Design
[01:05:34] Session Length and Effort in Tattooing
[01:10:18] Dynamic Simplicity in Tattoo Art
[01:10:50] Personal Style and Preferences in Tattooing
[01:11:42] The Process of Achieving Transparency in Tattoos
[01:12:53] Composition Challenges in Tattoo Design
[01:15:06] Color and Detail Management in Tattooing
[01:20:10] Tattooing Approaches to Skin Healing
[01:27:30] Developing a Unique Tattoo Style
[01:33:56] Pain Management Techniques During Tattoo Sessions
[01:39:16] Importance of Conventions in Tattooing
[01:41:06] Respect in Japanese-Inspired Tattooing
[01:42:39] Insights on Tattoo Pigments and Healing
[01:48:44] Brown Spots in Tattooing and Skin Reactions
[01:58:59] Understanding Voltage and Ink Viscosity
[02:00:51] Exploring Additional Techniques for Ink Application
[02:02:22] Machine Preferences
[02:05:56] Understanding Client Requirements and Boundaries
[02:08:35] Managing Client Anxiety and Tattoo Challenges
[02:09:20] Client Trust and the Tattoo Process
[02:11:50] Simplicity in Tattooing Technique
[02:15:08] The Importance of Thumbnails and Daily Practice
[02:16:21] Finding Inspiration in Nature
[02:18:53] Understanding Visual Design Through Shapes
[02:21:00] Broader Creativity and Influences
[02:23:44] Embracing Passion and Community
MORE Patrick QUOTES FROM THIS INTERVIEW
The Importance of Client Feedback in Creative Processes
[09:55] “What they don't like is actually way more important to my creative process..”
— Patrick Paul O’Neil
Depth and Client Interaction in Artistic Process
[37:40] “I think if the entirety of your process is honest and sincere, they're going to tell that you're not trying to put in this extra detail to squeeze a buck out of them.”
— Patrick Paul O’Neil
Compositional Elements in Art
[50:14] “I'm going to put that crane head on a diagonal so that you can see more of it from one particular plane, in other words, you're giving more context as to what they're supposed to be looking at.”
— Patrick Paul O’Neil
Personal Style and Preferences in Tattooing
[01:10:50] “There's not a right or a wrong, but you have to pay attention to what your tendencies are.”
— Patrick Paul O’Neil
The Importance of Thumbnails and Daily Practice
[02:15:08] “Spend 15 minutes every day drawing, not because you're trying to get the good ones, but because you're trying to get the bad ones out of the way.”
— Patrick Paul O’Neil
Gallery Of Patrick Paul O’Neil
This episode was made possible thanks to:
Get 10% off your Tattoo Trunk order with the code FIRESIDE at checkout
This episode ALSO was made possible thanks to:
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The Fireside Tattoo Network is home to the Fireside podcast, Fireside Technique video series and our Fireside Weekly blog.
The Fireside Tattoo podcast is hosted by veteran tattooer Jake Meeks, check out our episodes where we discuss, argue and wax philosophical, from tips for all levels of artists to trends in the tattoo world. Many guest artists have sat down for interviews and in-depth conversations and many more are planned…check back often!
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