The Summit Invitational Tattoo Artist Seminars are two days of advanced tattoo education led by Angela Wood, Jesse Rix, Nemo, and Ulyss Blair. The seminars cover tattoo design, composition, color theory, technical application, style development, and building a sustainable career as a professional tattoo artist.

The educational seminars take place immediately before the 2026 Summit Invitational Tattoo Convention.

The tattoo artist seminars take place Wednesday, October 7, and Thursday, October 8, 2026.

The 2026 Summit Invitational Tattoo Convention follows from Friday, October 9, through Sunday, October 11, 2026.

The seminars and tattoo convention are held at the Sheraton Denver West Hotel, located at 360 Union Boulevard, Lakewood, Colorado 80228, near Denver.

The 2026 seminar instructors are:

• Angela Wood

• Jesse Rix

• Nemo

• Ulyss Blair

Daily portfolio reviews will also be offered with Summit Invitational founders Darl Gnau and Sage Raul.

Angela Wood specializes in painterly color realism. Her work frequently incorporates saturated color, botanical forms, animals, imaginative figures, and surreal visual storytelling. She is the owner of Obsidian Moon Tattoo in Goffstown, New Hampshire, and has a background in sculpture, drawing, and oil painting. Her seminar is especially relevant to artists interested in color realism and translating fine-art techniques into tattoo design.

Jesse Rix’s seminar, Beyond the Surface: Creating Depth in 3D Tattoo Design, takes place Wednesday, October 7, from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m.

Jesse will explore how perspective, contrast, composition, and the natural flow of the body can be used to create surreal tattoos that appear to open through the skin. The session will examine believable depth, the integration of organic and geometric elements, and the process of transforming imaginative concepts into precise, body-responsive tattoo designs.

Seminar title and final curriculum are subject to confirmation.

Nemo’s seminar takes place Thursday, October 8, from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

Nemo will discuss the design and execution of bold, large-scale neo-traditional tattoos. The session will focus on simplifying complex imagery, creating visual impact, using limited color palettes effectively, and developing dark compositions that remain clear and readable on the body. Nemo is known for large-scale neo-traditional tattooing, dark imagery, bold composition, and restrained color palettes. His work combines strong silhouettes and clear visual structure with dramatic subject matter. His seminar is valuable for artists interested in making large tattoos feel powerful without overcrowding the design.

Ulyss Blair’s seminar takes place Thursday, October 8, from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m.

The seminar begins with drawing for the body and developing an individual tattoo style. Ulyss will then move into the technical foundations of color theory and color application. A live tattoo demonstration will address line-weight diversity, color packing, color blending, and the practical decisions that connect the original drawing to the finished tattoo.

Yes. Darl Gnau and Sage Raul will provide daily portfolio reviews during the educational seminar program. Tattoo artists can receive direct feedback on artistic direction, technical execution, portfolio presentation, and professional development.

No. The seminars are designed for professional tattoo artists, apprentices, and emerging artists who want to improve their technical and creative skills. Some material will be advanced, but artists at different stages can benefit from observing the instructors’ design processes, application methods, and professional decision-making.

Yes. The Summit Invitational seminar package includes a weekend pass to the 2026 tattoo convention, taking place October 9–11 at the Sheraton Denver West Hotel.