Czech artist Ondrej Konupcik imitates watercolour paintings in tattoos

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Ondrej Konupcik's vibrant tattoos feature brush strokes and ink splatters
The 31-year-old sees one client a day so he has 'enough time' for them
Impressive past work features a colourful elephant, flowers and a lion

Published: 05:14 EST, 20 September 2015 | Updated: 09:55 EST, 20 September 2015

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Forget dodgy Chinese symbols and the names of ex-lovers - a tattooist is making inkings cool again with an unusual technique.

Czech artist Ondrej Konupcik - who goes by the name of Ondrash - imitates the freehand style of watercolour paintings with brush strokes and ink splatters to create the awe-inspiring markings.

The 31-year-old, from Znojmo, sees only one client a day due to the care he takes over his work.

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Ondrash fan Neja had a giant phoenix emblazoned on her back, she said: 'My phoenix represents the energy connection between me, life, universe and everything'

Czech artist Ondrej Konupcik - who goes by the name of Ondrash - imitates the freehand style of watercolour painting with brush strokes and ink splatters to make awe-inspiring markings

Fans travel from as far as America, Columbia and Berlin to get one of Ondrash's tattoos and there is already a two-year waiting list.

After gaining a degree in shoe and garment design, Ondrash turned his attention to conceptual art. He then began using skin as his canvas while working at Znojmo Tattoo in the Czech Republic.

In his studio he has 'no catalogues', preferring customers to write down what kind of design they'd like. He then draws the tattoo directly onto the skin.

Ondrej said: 'They are tailor-made. I see it very personally — often as a legacy of experiences and feelings of my client. Almost every tattoo I've done, I could tell you the story behind it.'

One customer spoke out about his experience of Ondrash's parlour: 'He wasn't satisfied with my response to his "What's the meaning of this tattoo" question because that didn't give him anything to work with.

'He needed the story behind it, by asking me to tell him more about myself, he was able to pick something that inspired him.

A rainbow of colour: The 31-year-old, from Znojmo in the Czech Republic, sees only one client a day due to the care he takes over his work

Fans travel from as far as America, Columbia and Berlin to get one of Ondrash's tattoos and there is already a two-year waiting list

'It was so different from my original idea yet, he presented me with something even better. How awesome is it that he was able to create something that I couldn't even imagine from the words that I spoke to him?'

Ondrash sees it as his 'task' to 'illustrate exactly what the client has long desired' for their original tattoo.

His work has been described as 'amazing' by tattoo lovers - and is even admired by those who don't usually like body art.

One supporter of his work wrote on his Facebook page: 'I have to say, I'm not the biggest tattoo fan in general and then I discovered you! Your work is just amazing!!! The colours and the design! It's so vibrant! I just love it and had to say it!!'

After gaining a degree in shoe and garment design, Ondrash turned his attention to conceptual art. He then began using skin as his canvas while working at Znojmo Tattoo in the Czech Republic

In his studio he has 'no catalogues', preferring customers to write down what kind of design they'd like. He then draws the tattoo directly onto the skin

Ondrash said: 'They are tailor-made. I see it very personally — often as a legacy of experiences and feelings of my client'

American tattoo addict Virginia said you 'can't get work like this anywhere else'. She had a whimsical, feather pattern tattooed etched onto her left shoulder and arm.

She said: 'After five years of following Ondrej's work, I finally made my way from the USA to the Czech Republic. Upon meeting him he asked me about myself, hobbies, aspirations.

'I told him my goal was once to climb Yosemite and base jump off, but had been put on hold after a skydive malfunction. During the jump, I realised my primary goal in life was to fall in love and get married. He did the perfect job of combining both goals, and my personality, into my tattoo.'

Another Ondrash devotee, Neja, had a giant phoenix emblazoned on her back.

'My phoenix represents the energy connection between me, life, universe and everything and energy cannot be destroyed, it is only constantly being transformed,' she said.

American tattoo addict Virginia said you 'can't get work like this anywhere else'. She had a whimsical, feather pattern tattooed onto her left shoulder and arm

For those who are afraid of going under the needle, Ondrash also paints his breathtaking designs on canvas

Ondrash is so popular that fans are happy to wait a long time for an appointment with him.

'Hi, any idea how long you usually have to wait before getting an appointment for a tattoo?' wrote one on his Facebook page. 'I've been on your waiting list for more than two years, so I'm just wondering... how much longer?'

For those who are afraid of going under the needle, Ondrash also paints on canvas.

He added: 'I started to do more paintings. I also started to find new ways of expression which are reflected in my tattoos I do.'