Silena Ann —The 4 Designs

As I started to design for this new collaboration, I was inspired to use classic tattooing styles and techniques for layouts to maximize the flow and dynamics of the sleeves. 

With a tattoo sleeve, I’m designing for a particular arm, but with fabric, I needed to account for the different sizes that would be available, from small to extra large, without losing anything. 

Arms are also not symmetrical, so I had to be careful where seams met. Would it look okay for the design not to match up exactly? Or, conversely, how to design it so it can, without making sewing too complex for Emma to do efficiently. I hope I succeeded!

Fish Flow 1 & 2 (2 Coming soon, Emma didn't order it, haha. It is in the post, haha)

The first layout that came to mind was a classic Japanese style seen for decades in the North American tattooing community. It was important to me to retain the Japanese style's superior flow and the strength and balance of its elements (finger waves, wind bars, flowers, and fish). 

I am not a specialist in this style, however, and while I wanted to pay homage to it, I also wanted to play with both the differences in mediums and the character of Untamed Fernie’s work.

Unlike tattooing, designing for a fabric print doesn’t have limitations for details and aging so that I could put my digital painting style to good use.

While I love the classic imagery of koi fish and lotus flowers, I wanted to lean into the local vibe, so I brought in some fish and water plants seen here in the Rockies, including Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Rocky Mountain Cow-Lily, and the (invasive but ubiquitous) Yellow Perch.

Lovely Landscape 1&2:

I love doing landscape tattoos, but it’s rare for a client to want a full sleeve or a lot of colour, so I seized the opportunity to lean into those elements. I’m obsessed with the beauty of the mountains that I’m so fortunate to enjoy daily, along with the way the colours change seasonally and with the changing light. 

I decided to explore a scene in the full colour of autumn at sunset, contrasted with the same scene in the dark under the drama of the northern lights. I also wanted to include local animals that would be seen in the evening but that are also a bit underrated or more rarely seen here in the Columbia Valley—a gorgeous moose and the often heard (but sometimes hard to see) Common Nighthawk.

What the Actual 1&2:
Designing these sleeves amid the craziness of the larger world in 2025, I felt that acknowledging the current social and political challenges, tempered with humour, might expand Untamed Fernie’s current offerings. 

Those who know Emma will understand that she is both a strongly conscious citizen and a super fun person, which would pair well with the tongue-in-cheek nature of many American Traditional tattooing. 

The “This is Fine” piece about a dumpster fire in a flood is inspired by a meme that circulated several years ago but felt pertinent for most of us struggling with the increasing cost of living. What else can you do but laugh? 

I wanted, however, to remind us all that in a world that is ever more divided, the most radical act is community and kindness—which translated for me into a common tattoo image of a “Don’t be a Prick” cactus. 

Learn More about the design process on my other blog Read Now. Let me know what you think of our collaboration Shop Now

My work can be found on Instagram @silenaann, along with contact details if you’re interested in a tattoo or commission.

Silena Ann, Invermere, BC