Kazuaki Horitomo is a tattoo artist in San Jose, California. His two passions -tattoos and cats- are combined in a series of images called Monmon Cats. These are cats inked in traditional Japanese motifs, and cats who are themselves tattoo artists for other cats. They are depicted employing the traditional Japanese art of tebori, or tattooing by hand. Long ago, Horitomo was inspired by his first cat, a stray his wife brought home, named Ginnan. Illustrating cats is his way of unlocking their spirituality. Each cat has its own personality and attitude, but all are genuinely serene, even while getting inked.
Horimoto is one of the many tattoo artists at State of Grace tattoo parlor. But you don't have to get a tattoo to have your own Horitomo art! He also sells these images in art prints, tattoo flash sheets, t-shirts and accessories, skateboards, and pins. See a collection of Horimoto's art at Spoon and Tamago. -via Nag on the Lake