Tattoosday (A Tattoo Blog)

Virginia's Flowers Forecast Spring

This is a quick one for Monday morning, on the last day of February, with spring looming just around the corner. Here's one of Virginia's tattoos:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cK7-qhZP06A98Q9yYTmToDWU37lsp-rN3YAS_SavfFe7iqsEwz-7YtR-PzHqYcxh7CcyYB67gtxx1gXYq830zijSzT9QoZdeDN5WsU_Jzzc6kE7TXdnj3X8QHYPHUcN7oYnzyEu_hrk/s1600/Gingers+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cK7-qhZP06A98Q9yYTmToDWU37lsp-rN3YAS_SavfFe7iqsEwz-7YtR-PzHqYcxh7CcyYB67gtxx1gXYq830zijSzT9QoZdeDN5WsU_Jzzc6kE7TXdnj3X8QHYPHUcN7oYnzyEu_hrk/s640/Gingers+flowers.jpg" width="412" /></a></div><br />Virginia is a long-time reader and fan of Tattoosday who I have met on anumber of occasions. This is the first piece she has shared with us.<br /><br />This floral tattoo is at the top of her right shoulder and was done by <a href="http://www.handofglorytattoo.com/pages/craig.html">Craig Rodriguez</a> at <a href="http://www.handofglorytattoo.com/">Hand of Glory</a> in Brooklyn.<br /><br />She explains further, "We are all hoping for an early spring. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissus_%28plant%29">Daffodils</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forget-me-not">forget-me-nots</a>. It is a memorial tattoo. I always bring yellow flowers to the cemetery when I honor my family members."<br /><br />Work from Hand of Glory has appeared previously <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Hand%20of%20Glory%20Tattoo">here</a> on Tattoosday. A piece of Craig's was featured <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/06/marks-gypsy-tattoo-pays-tribute-to.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Amen to the early spring! Thanks to Virginia for sharing this lovely tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Virginia's Flowers Forecast Spring

This is a quick one for Monday morning, on the last day of February, with spring looming just around the corner. Here's one of Virginia...

3:18 AM

Mark's Tattoo is Bound by Faith

I met Mark in Penn Station on Friday, as I was passing through the New Jersey Transit waiting area. It was a rainy, unseasonably warm day, so I spotted his tattoos easily, as he sat in a short sleeve shirt waiting for his train.<br /><br />Mark has six tattoos in all, and he shared this one on his left forearm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEmsb9bHV17GHy8VWFnXdTtcP9hQ-L4SNRKaF9o9u8gBncYHBLvpzYzjeVjWrJ-piJCaRT5BbBSRBaOGAenvrLVEiC6j68xrPzV-O28fZ55Ufz4jt14EFbM-SQHytK5CB89ZF_-19YRQ/s1600/Sinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEmsb9bHV17GHy8VWFnXdTtcP9hQ-L4SNRKaF9o9u8gBncYHBLvpzYzjeVjWrJ-piJCaRT5BbBSRBaOGAenvrLVEiC6j68xrPzV-O28fZ55Ufz4jt14EFbM-SQHytK5CB89ZF_-19YRQ/s640/Sinner.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><br />There's a lot going on here, in this tattoo which was completed in two sittings.<br /><br />In essence, this is a religious tattoo, which Mark considers an expression of his Christian faith.<br /><br />The base of the tattoo may look familiar, as it resembles the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus">caduceus</a>, which is now a symbol of the medical profession.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2Rs6vyvXEo_oFpaFj7JpSVqElts0FyDlMf9BgtX-T-G7nHq0GN1zOI6-UmGTPAQHdw-Bk4aa4VZakdZV80J5Yvs1om8iXZEsZ0qkea_SXAO66JOigRNo4VFWWZL4V0fFFZaB4sstK30/s1600/299px-Caduceus.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2Rs6vyvXEo_oFpaFj7JpSVqElts0FyDlMf9BgtX-T-G7nHq0GN1zOI6-UmGTPAQHdw-Bk4aa4VZakdZV80J5Yvs1om8iXZEsZ0qkea_SXAO66JOigRNo4VFWWZL4V0fFFZaB4sstK30/s320/299px-Caduceus.svg.png" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However, Mark explained that this symbol was originally attributed to the cult of Mithraism that existed in Rome in the first to fourth centuries, before the city became the center of Christianity. The caduceus was originally attributed to the Roman god Mercury, and the symbol also important to the god Mithras. The Vatican in Rome is built over the remnants of Mithraism and Mark bears this symbol that represents that which Christianity replaced.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the base of the tattoo are the letters "XIVI". This is the Roman numeral for "17". Again, there is more to this than meets the eye. Many may think that the number 17 in Roman numerals is written differently, as XVII. However, Mark explained that this reversal of letters is intentional. According to wikipedia, "In <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_culture" title="Italian culture">Italian culture</a>,  the number 17 is considered unlucky. When viewed as the Roman numeral,  XVII, it is then changed anagramatically to VIXI, which in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_language" title="Latin language">Latin language</a> it translates to "I have lived", the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_%28grammar%29" title="Perfect (grammar)">perfect</a> implying "My life is over." (c.f. "<i>Vixerunt</i>", <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicero">Cicero</a>'s famous announcement of an execution.)". It is this "I have lived" phrase that resonates most with Mark, who told me that the "XIVI" number is often seen on gravestones. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And finally, the word "SINNER," which runs vertically down the caduceus, is the belief that "we are all sinners". Again, this ties in deeply to Mark's faith.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The piece was tattooed by Matt Pope at <a href="http://anothertattooshoponline.com/">Another Tat2 Shop</a> in South Amboy, New Jersey.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks to Mark for sharing this cool tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!</div>

Mark's Tattoo is Bound by Faith

I met Mark in Penn Station on Friday, as I was passing through the New Jersey Transit waiting area. It was a rainy, unseasonably warm day, s...

8:37 AM

Tattoosday Weekend Recap

I just wanted to share some interesting tidbits that have come my way over the last few weeks:<br /><br />First, someone has been sharing links in the comments section anonymously on several recent posts. As is my custom, I only approve comments if they are related to the post in question. Nonetheless, the links point to a YouTube channel for Sullen TV. I thought I'd share one here, which features the artist <a href="http://www.nikkohurtado.com/index.php">Nikko Hurtado</a>, and interested parties can explore their YouTube channel <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/SullenTv">here</a>.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HQUb1BbyKbU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The other day I came across a cool site called <a href="http://freshtrends.com/">FreshTrends.com</a> that has a really nice collection of <a href="http://www.freshtrends.com/">body jewelry</a>, a lot of which would look great with a new tattoo. It's definitely worth a look!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last June, I featured <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/06/lisas-guardian-angel.html">this tattoo</a> by artist <a href="http://www.scottcampbelltattoo.com/">Scott Campbell</a>. I was recently told about <a href="http://www.nowness.com/day/2011/2/11">this short film</a> on the site <a href="http://www.nowness.com/">Nowness</a>.Be sure to check it out!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~</div><div style="text-align: left;">And finally, we're about a month away from April, and our third annual installment of the <a href="http://tattooedpoets.blogspot.com/2010/03/index-of-tattooed-poets.html">Tattooed Poets Project</a>. I wanted to give a shout-out to one of last year's poets, <a href="http://www.maneaterbook.com/contact.htm">Erica Rivera</a>, whose tattoo was featured <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/04/tattooed-poets-project-erica-rivera.html">here</a>. Her new book <a href="http://www.maneaterbook.com/">Maneater</a> is available on Amazon:<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=bill03-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&asins=B004N626EK" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div></div><br />Visit the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Man-Eater-Book/144775237080?ref=ts">Man Eater Facebook page</a> for a taste of Erica Rivera's writing.

Tattoosday Weekend Recap

I just wanted to share some interesting tidbits that have come my way over the last few weeks: First, someone has been sharing links in the ...

11:07 AM

Repost: The World is Full of Kings and Queens

<i>In lieu of something new, something borrowed, or something blue, I am offering up <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/01/world-is-full-of-kings-and-queens.html">a post from three years ago</a>, in Tattoosday's infancy, from January 2008: </i><br /><br />I've been relying heavily on <span style="font-style: italic;">Tattoos I Know</span> since the end of summer, but today, in the chill of January, I spotted a cool tattoo on a stranger and added him to the Tattoosday gallery:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ab61sshLy5xBSFAr528wI89zKNsqjD-i_ITS6Im5KvXlW6j4IcCxVtci6-Z6vGvPjGtDUMmRthBdp8wGXaz5v6GNuslKbAjyjABMZ6e2JBaJPUs4UqqKkFN9KAPGJIK8uCcTRVJS9EVs/s1600-h/100_6250.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157421225683495986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ab61sshLy5xBSFAr528wI89zKNsqjD-i_ITS6Im5KvXlW6j4IcCxVtci6-Z6vGvPjGtDUMmRthBdp8wGXaz5v6GNuslKbAjyjABMZ6e2JBaJPUs4UqqKkFN9KAPGJIK8uCcTRVJS9EVs/s400/100_6250.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />It was in the mid-30's when I asked Frank about his tattoo.  He gladly offered up his newest piece, this playing card queen.<br /><br />Frank is heavily-inked. He briefly flashed a leg and an arm covered with tattoos. But we stuck with this one. This particular piece, his newest, was done by Mike Profetto at <a href="http://www.nyc.com/Yellow_Pages/Designs_by_Michael_Angelo.190614/editorial.aspx">Designs by Michael Angelo</a> in Brooklyn.<br /><br />When I asked him why he had this queen of hearts, he said it only made sense to complement the king of diamonds on the right side of his neck:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSgy90GSiyY8KIiVuddDvJwLZ_n1osS32q770MleQrKuz5US_rbqFu1Qqy59gOBKOXPJmqEzLn7R-ICF3ke9p6lu8WhN1eN_IhWyrPijoazQcHDNSBjWLVMd28moJF4wS7C7Jd0h-piD0/s1600-h/100_6252.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157422771871722562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSgy90GSiyY8KIiVuddDvJwLZ_n1osS32q770MleQrKuz5US_rbqFu1Qqy59gOBKOXPJmqEzLn7R-ICF3ke9p6lu8WhN1eN_IhWyrPijoazQcHDNSBjWLVMd28moJF4wS7C7Jd0h-piD0/s400/100_6252.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />Incidentally, that's a spider on the back of his neck, between the two royal tattoos.<br /><br />The queen, being the newer piece, is much brighter and crisper.<br /><br />Frank is the first Tattoosday subject to offer up side neck pieces. He gave me his contact information, so I hope to feature Frank's work again in the future, with more detail about his tattoos, and the stories behind them.<br /><br />Thanks again Frank!<br /><br />*******<br /><br /><i>February 26, 2011: Alas, we never heard from Frank again....</i>

Repost: The World is Full of Kings and Queens

In lieu of something new, something borrowed, or something blue, I am offering up a post from three years ago , in Tattoosday's infancy,...

5:14 AM

Lost and Found: Toni's Cameo

<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I'm calling this a "lost and found" post because it features a tattoo that was a buried treasure in my e-mail archives. I was sitting on my living room couch when the existence of the photo surfaced in my head. "Whatever happened to that e-mail?" I asked myself and, after a brief search I found it. So, let me explain....</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">At the end of November, my wife Melanie received an e-mail from someone she met through her job. She often encounters people with tattoos and, if the work is interesting, and the subject arises, she will act as an ambassador to Tattoosday.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Toni is one such person who checked out the site, took pictures of her tattoo, and sent them to Melanie. She showed me the photos and promptly forwarded me the e-mail, which then sat for a spell in my in box before I inadvertently filed it away until I recalled it two months later.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">So, without further ado, here is Toni's tattoo:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWuYDNN81IzbJNdXJlursnvNdGTQeuYczMGRqmIZ64cyA76Hzrrs50Dgj3rEnijOF0SRmvAB0Gx2WTF9qgWLFU2t8XswN_Zo0SJBRCiKV2T5iurURpTBCuhBDe3lLKNIy7lR0e9UPo_8/s1600/Cameo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWuYDNN81IzbJNdXJlursnvNdGTQeuYczMGRqmIZ64cyA76Hzrrs50Dgj3rEnijOF0SRmvAB0Gx2WTF9qgWLFU2t8XswN_Zo0SJBRCiKV2T5iurURpTBCuhBDe3lLKNIy7lR0e9UPo_8/s400/Cameo.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Not only did Toni send along this picture of the small cameo tattoo on her wrist, she sent along a healthy story to accompany the piece. We'll let her tell us about it in her own words:</span></span></div></span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></div></span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">My  mother passed away six years ago on 11/17/2004. For a long time I  wanted to get a tattoo in memory of her without doing the RIP MOM thing  I’ve seen so many times before. I think it’s nice, but it is not my  style. A little over two years ago my sister and I were going out with  some friends for dinner and my sister was wearing this very Victorian-style blouse. Pinned to the front collar of the blouse was a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameo_%28carving%29">cameo</a> that  has been in my family for many years. It was passed down from my  Grandmother to my mother and now to my sister. As soon as I glanced at  it, it hit me! I will get a tattoo of this Cameo and then realized it  would not only be for my mom. My mother, my sister, and I are obsessed  with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_era">Victorian era</a>! We love everything Victorian. My grandmother  loved the Victorian times as well. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">So I decided to bring the cameo with  me to <a href="http://www.twinmoontattoo.com/">Twin Moon Tattoo</a> shop [in Floral Park, Long Island] and had the artist Cindy sketch the cameo ... I love this tattoo so much, not only because it  represents an era that I love but it also represents the three most  important women in my life: my Grandmother, my Mother, & my sister!  [Cindy] thought it was a little strange that I wanted it just  below the inside wrist of my right arm and suggested I put it on the back  of my neck or make it really big and put it in the middle of my back. I  had explained the meaning behind the tattoo and how important it was for  me that I see it everyday....That being said, she agreed and sketched  it the actual size of the cameo and tattooed it on the inside of my arm  right below the wrist. </span></span></div></span></blockquote><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">    <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Thanks to Toni for sending along the photo and the story behind it to Melanie, and for consenting to share her lovely cameo tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!</span></span></div></span>

Lost and Found: Toni's Cameo

I'm calling this a "lost and found" post because it features a tattoo that was a buried treasure in my e-mail archives. I was ...

3:06 AM

Cat's Hands-ome Tattoos

I met Cat earlier this week at <a href="http://www.borders.com/online/store/StoreDetailView_582">Borders</a>, which has been the go-to locale for inkspotting during a very sparse winter.<br /><br />He has fifteen tattoos, but we discussed the two I noticed, on the tops of his hands:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERfTn-l31WvxfQSHB7IdslN0-QkGtGOCedf3vSvD7Rg7iUDhAM5qYm0pEs7DfM0qiAWoLxGZhAUhRmTD65BuuMTqctwRiFBPiPFhTEe3cZEVWt2riUq9ODdCrQA9L_ooQf_c-80Ld6oQ/s1600/Cats+hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERfTn-l31WvxfQSHB7IdslN0-QkGtGOCedf3vSvD7Rg7iUDhAM5qYm0pEs7DfM0qiAWoLxGZhAUhRmTD65BuuMTqctwRiFBPiPFhTEe3cZEVWt2riUq9ODdCrQA9L_ooQf_c-80Ld6oQ/s400/Cats+hands.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The tattoos are variations on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_mythology">Celtic</a> pagan designs that he modified to make his own.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipH44X2rpeVdWJ8yQoNKNByNfyR4ZuzlB8lTdjgUMWsyQwjhGvuYB2zNmaNPinTRLsAVCvmizNY7A_bFC584OoUscDQ-j68bX6FltWXiotkWohCTd1j_7ZDTuCUvSKVFH7ZA-26kFAFb0/s1600/Cats+right+hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipH44X2rpeVdWJ8yQoNKNByNfyR4ZuzlB8lTdjgUMWsyQwjhGvuYB2zNmaNPinTRLsAVCvmizNY7A_bFC584OoUscDQ-j68bX6FltWXiotkWohCTd1j_7ZDTuCUvSKVFH7ZA-26kFAFb0/s400/Cats+right+hand.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />The right hand represents the chalice of the goddess, who represents  expressiveness and creativity. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca">Wiccan</a> principles acknowledge that the  goddess is the source of all expression.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EHh0meCPyrgWEQ7y_NJWZrTuDOtIl3e3rS3LEaJ2fNg8VCO9XWKXwP-Q_8V-7Jjtv-QYouGuC9fmL8VfjnSoe9z8jOrl4tF5VHDAsMtnZiCT7-NYJaVZLNbeuvrFfOZvZB3VN1N7dw4/s1600/Cats+left+hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EHh0meCPyrgWEQ7y_NJWZrTuDOtIl3e3rS3LEaJ2fNg8VCO9XWKXwP-Q_8V-7Jjtv-QYouGuC9fmL8VfjnSoe9z8jOrl4tF5VHDAsMtnZiCT7-NYJaVZLNbeuvrFfOZvZB3VN1N7dw4/s400/Cats+left+hand.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><br />Cat's other hand is decorated with a Celtic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triquetra">triquetra</a>. The three  markings around the design are letters drawn in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theban_alphabet">Theban</a> script, each  corresponding to the first initials of his three children.<br /><br />Cat says that these, as well as his other tattoos, were inked by <a href="http://villagemoontattoos.com/section/147434_Neo.html">Neo</a> at  <a href="http://villagemoontattoos.com/home.html">Village Moon Tattoos</a> in Jackson Heights, in the borough of Queens.<br /><br />Readers interested in these tattoos may also be interested in checking out our old friend Livia Indica's site <a href="http://neopaganink.blogspot.com/">NeoPagan Ink</a>.<br /><br />Thanks kindly to Cat for sharing his tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Cat's Hands-ome Tattoos

I met Cat earlier this week at Borders , which has been the go-to locale for inkspotting during a very sparse winter. He has fifteen tattoos...

3:07 AM

Frank's Laserbeak Tattoo Transforms His Flesh

I met Frank in the Penn Plaza Borders yesterday and stopped to ask him about his tattoos.<br /><br />"How many do you have?" I asked and he responded vaguely "a lot". That  generally means at least a dozen, if not more, and he offered up this  two-part tattoo, from his right arm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsv6LFOBUtfSiYDTKm-aI6GNT_QlQ7-RGFX-WMrZ_XQ1FD11-mwLxHrgfqVT2WZDyYk-zeYveCBld0H6ol7yh6MXOxIUxhfracc0zuZlnS93FLxAzAanKqhyphenhyphenyYQqiU_ohGtg5kfDLaSQ/s1600/transformer+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsv6LFOBUtfSiYDTKm-aI6GNT_QlQ7-RGFX-WMrZ_XQ1FD11-mwLxHrgfqVT2WZDyYk-zeYveCBld0H6ol7yh6MXOxIUxhfracc0zuZlnS93FLxAzAanKqhyphenhyphenyYQqiU_ohGtg5kfDLaSQ/s400/transformer+1.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJDX16RmM9np4gKv7IOLfXY2Sd7xa8wwjQ3Cdsce3M8mAe8Q6xCL9Ru8pdPCGpGIUlK6Idfj5KA7Xk0Vo2kgLAWl-jInes3iRLZWeY_UAArhJPNzbW1dk1Wiy1DFdfM-bHUMpsM9Li_Y/s1600/transformer+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJDX16RmM9np4gKv7IOLfXY2Sd7xa8wwjQ3Cdsce3M8mAe8Q6xCL9Ru8pdPCGpGIUlK6Idfj5KA7Xk0Vo2kgLAWl-jInes3iRLZWeY_UAArhJPNzbW1dk1Wiy1DFdfM-bHUMpsM9Li_Y/s400/transformer+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers">Transformer</a>. More specifically, "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laserbeak">Laserbeak</a>," a Transformer that does reconnaissance.<br /><br />This is one of the first tattoos that Frank got and, as one would expect, he had this done because he likes Transformers.<br /><br />He credited the tattoo to <a href="http://www.cortsroyalink.com/artist_cort_profile.asp">Cort Bengston</a> at <a href="http://www.cortsroyalink.com/premiumflashart.asp">Cort's Royal Ink Tattoo Studio</a> in Patchogue, New York.<br /><br />Thanks to Frank for sharing these cool tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Frank's Laserbeak Tattoo Transforms His Flesh

I met Frank in the Penn Plaza Borders yesterday and stopped to ask him about his tattoos. "How many do you have?" I asked and he r...

3:51 AM

Sal's Tattoo Takes Wing

Today's tattoo comes to us courtesy of Sal, who is making his third  appearance on Tattoosday. We first met him in 2008 when he shared <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/09/sal-shares-his-illusion-ary-tattoo.html">this Guns N  Roses tattoo</a>, and then again, in 2009 with <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/11/return-of-sals-ink-teachers-inspiring.html">this quote</a>, inked on his forearm.<br /><br />Both times I ran into Sal at the video store where he works in Brooklyn  Heights. He alerted me to the fact that he had new ink, so I just had to  stop by and see in person:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUeZRzDHLNErqTcdtwlQLYS3-pD0zbqqfHqJyT1MU4JLnvEmqa87-34F64R0MWwqCLqHxQs-gevnMHzS36F3hWUWKXNwQE_rrSpTAM57qYuXDnA8_IusDKO-_Q0qZr_vk9UE-V7RA3nw/s1600/robin+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUeZRzDHLNErqTcdtwlQLYS3-pD0zbqqfHqJyT1MU4JLnvEmqa87-34F64R0MWwqCLqHxQs-gevnMHzS36F3hWUWKXNwQE_rrSpTAM57qYuXDnA8_IusDKO-_Q0qZr_vk9UE-V7RA3nw/s400/robin+collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The collage might not bring out the finer details as seen in a closer view:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpULwCubzN5hAEBnPkEn7DyFRHnL5P0E7yGUS6z-hV-_xcoH3h63o0gFbHReokIa3_3hhvIUxk0cHfbgxlu12ApPYLOzF4SbNblNRnR5Fvq-PV3LAUqT5eMfCtVmhH9R79WkBrRIGEhw/s1600/robin+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpULwCubzN5hAEBnPkEn7DyFRHnL5P0E7yGUS6z-hV-_xcoH3h63o0gFbHReokIa3_3hhvIUxk0cHfbgxlu12ApPYLOzF4SbNblNRnR5Fvq-PV3LAUqT5eMfCtVmhH9R79WkBrRIGEhw/s400/robin+detail.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><br />The bird is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Robin">American Robin</a>. Why this particular bird? Sal explains:  "Robins mean a lot to me - not just for their beauty, but for their  meaning of hope and new beginnings".<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusnCMFCWXzmiW2xUGavdhUU0bEbopy7kn12G4WY9ppH19-CBD2lIJB0r_Iw9lmixenBP5ZqUzb9nGzMJoCrz5AqZjwuoyJ_sDSzeoL6eWpqdbFTFn269BTnwtT_CsQxcjPF-juKmO6kg/s1600/791px-Turdus-migratorius-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusnCMFCWXzmiW2xUGavdhUU0bEbopy7kn12G4WY9ppH19-CBD2lIJB0r_Iw9lmixenBP5ZqUzb9nGzMJoCrz5AqZjwuoyJ_sDSzeoL6eWpqdbFTFn269BTnwtT_CsQxcjPF-juKmO6kg/s320/791px-Turdus-migratorius-002.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <a class="extiw" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Robin" title="en:American Robin">American Robin</a> -- Humber Bay Park (East) (<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Toronto">Toronto</a>, <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Canada">Canada</a>) -- 2005, by <a class="extiw" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Mdf">en:User:Mdf</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The tattoo artist is the phenomenal <a href="http://markharada.com/">Mark Harada</a> at <a href="http://www.eastsideinktattoo.com/">East Side Ink</a> in Manhattan.  Work from Mark and other East Side Ink artists has appeared previously  on our site <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/East%20Side%20Ink">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks again to Sal for sharing his awesome new tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Sal's Tattoo Takes Wing

Today's tattoo comes to us courtesy of Sal, who is making his third appearance on Tattoosday. We first met him in 2008 when he shared t...

3:52 AM

Bonafide Bags Winners and Special Discount for Tattoosday Readers!

Congratulations to the following readers who were among the winners selected among the 51 commenters on the original <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2011/02/tattoosdays-bonafide-bags-giveaway.html">Bonafide Bags post</a>.<br /><br />American Pride winners:<br /><br /><b>Theresa Senato Edwards</b><br /><b>Beverly Cornell</b><br /><b>Thumper</b><br /><br /><br />Day of the Dead winners:<br /><br /><b>Kristina V.</b><br /><b>Jason</b><br /><b>Alex</b><br /><br /><br />Koi Winners:<br /><br /><b>Alicia</b><br /><b>Crackle</b><br /><b>Sammie K</b><br /><br /><br />American Traditional Winners:<br /><br /><b>Virginia</b><br /><b>Sarah</b><br /><b>KC</b><br /><br /><br />I will be emailing winners by Monday. If you are a winner and don't hear from me, please follow up with me at tattoosday@gmail.com.<br /><br />For those of you who didn't win, I thank you for participating and suggest you check out this amazing offer from the folks at Bonafide Bags:<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We also thought we would like to reward your  readers for participating and give them some incentive as well to get some bags  whether they win or not. We created a discount code specifically  for the readers of Tattoosday to receive an additional 10% off any order of  at least $20.  They can get the savings by entering the following code in  the voucher section of the checkout page, the code  is "<b>tattoosday</b>".  This code is good through March...if we want to create new designs and keep pumping them out from  lots of different artists, we have to sell these to make that  happen.</span></blockquote><br />Please take advantage of this great offer and head over to Bonafide Bags and get some!<br /><br />Thanks to all of our readers who made this giveaway so much fun for all! And thanks to the good folks at Bonafide Bags.

Bonafide Bags Winners and Special Discount for Tattoosday Readers!

Congratulations to the following readers who were among the winners selected among the 51 commenters on the original Bonafide Bags post . Am...

8:42 PM

A Reaper for a Saturday

A Reaper for a Saturday

A couple weeks ago, I ran into Vinny at a Duane Reade on 86th Street in Brooklyn. He had several tattoos and shared this one, on his left fo...

1:16 PM

Ashley's Ink: On Her Own Two Feet

I met Ashley in the <a href="http://www.njtransit.com/hp/hp_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=HomePageTo">New Jersey Transit</a> section of Penn Station last week after I spotted this tattoo on her right foot:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3SeM4hzZ35UzWrw2eGOlql0209x9ASUk96xznpWEuBKImI0IDGoELsGocRJ7nlLB9Yy1gYfJI-ohROOnzUGnYIvYR-_i1R2iWK-qbPsJnPcj413QTzUZihrINhyNkbQKv_qggJlgVCk/s1600/patronus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3SeM4hzZ35UzWrw2eGOlql0209x9ASUk96xznpWEuBKImI0IDGoELsGocRJ7nlLB9Yy1gYfJI-ohROOnzUGnYIvYR-_i1R2iWK-qbPsJnPcj413QTzUZihrINhyNkbQKv_qggJlgVCk/s640/patronus.jpg" width="334" /></a></div><br />Now, if you've not read the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter">Harry Potter</a> series, perhaps it is best to  skip the rest of the post, because it might not make a lot of sense.<br /><br />Those in the know will understand what I mean when I explain that the  ghostly creature on the top of Ashley's foot is the <a href="http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Patronus_Charm">patronus</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severus_Snape">Severus  Snape</a>, as described in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_and_the_Deathly_Hallows">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</a>, the final  installment of the seven-part series by <a href="http://www.jkrowling.com/">J.K. Rowling</a>. The patronus takes the shape of a doe.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://harrypotter.wikia.com/index.php?title=Patronus_Charm&image=Silverdoe-jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="313" src="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080605175252/harrypotter/images/thumb/1/1d/Silverdoe.jpg/253px-Silverdoe.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><br /><br />The quote above the doe is "It's real for us..." as remembered by Snape when speaking with <a href="http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Lily_Evans">Lily Evans</a>, the girl at <a href="http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Hogwarts_School_of_Witchcraft_and_Wizardry">Hogwarts</a> who became Harry's mother. Identical creatures appear when they cast the patronus charm.<br /><br />Ashley's friend drew it up and she had the piece done at <a href="http://www.tattoonationonline.com/">Tattoo Nation</a> in Wayne, New Jersey by <a href="http://tattoonationonline.com/montleon.html">Matt "Monty" Montleon</a>.<br /><br />This is one of two tattoos that Ashley has. The other resides on her left foot:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxOMUnkg47AE7lt-xBZTlEP5EbLEivv8v-DlMn0qdvmbFaiNjBfWsOIh3pk8HrtqBsKqOvmbR77aXUDp8DEx1bbTyb0U9Xemgku-7nr3o-jTRiZKRoQyi53GXyY_s7Wfa-IqtMpSCQaI/s1600/snowflake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxOMUnkg47AE7lt-xBZTlEP5EbLEivv8v-DlMn0qdvmbFaiNjBfWsOIh3pk8HrtqBsKqOvmbR77aXUDp8DEx1bbTyb0U9Xemgku-7nr3o-jTRiZKRoQyi53GXyY_s7Wfa-IqtMpSCQaI/s320/snowflake.jpg" width="186" /></a></div><br />The snowflake was also inked by Monty and is a memorial to Ashley's grandmother, whose last name was Snow.<br /><br />Thanks to Ashley for sharing her two tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Ashley's Ink: On Her Own Two Feet

I met Ashley in the New Jersey Transit section of Penn Station last week after I spotted this tattoo on her right foot: Now, if you've ...

3:05 AM

Melanie's Marilyn

A trip to the laundromat on Saturday yielded a meeting with a young lady who had a couple visible tattoos on one of her feet and an ankle. Fortunately, my curiosity got the better of me because, when I asked her about them, she revealed much better work, namely this phenomenal Marilyn Monroe portrait on her inner right forearm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3Gnam7xv68ujyE3eGw7T8sUuvh5mtpUWGJqhAzoobrXTVNOIWFgbCOLB6UU2tOBfaOwH-gAPlcGyHcTviN6J9lZ0OzcK5ihNejt_GBnU0kP3beI4vibepxfw1KTtFaA53qzftWt9J18/s1600/Marilyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3Gnam7xv68ujyE3eGw7T8sUuvh5mtpUWGJqhAzoobrXTVNOIWFgbCOLB6UU2tOBfaOwH-gAPlcGyHcTviN6J9lZ0OzcK5ihNejt_GBnU0kP3beI4vibepxfw1KTtFaA53qzftWt9J18/s640/Marilyn.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><br /><br />This stunning work was created by the incomparable Virginia Elwood at New York Adorned. I have been fortunate to encounter Ms. Elwood's work previously <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/08/kristinas-rooster-crows-in-honor-of-her.html">here</a> and <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/03/stevies-tattoo-calms-and-inspires.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Melanie is a huge fan of Marilyn Monroe and she is proud to wear this icon on her sleeve. Clicking on the tag for Marilyn Monrow below will reveal other Marilyn tattoos that have appeared previously on Tattoosday.<br /><br />Thanks to Melanie for sharing this phenomenal portrait with us here on Tattoosday!

Melanie's Marilyn

A trip to the laundromat on Saturday yielded a meeting with a young lady who had a couple visible tattoos on one of her feet and an ankle. F...

3:02 AM

Tattoosday's Bonafide Bags Giveaway!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUP4KdHcKVlAv1Dqs3jSF2TdABQci5d8FXeBB0mF1jPqQrfLeDIirgIYpaHpLQeJNHEws1eSRjoAhx93QF3EzaSmMhRtVLVgOn3r3PQ4HdCCaO760Ug2rFO1A4qD88jX0WY-CcLOTSNg/s1600/day_of_dead_large.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUP4KdHcKVlAv1Dqs3jSF2TdABQci5d8FXeBB0mF1jPqQrfLeDIirgIYpaHpLQeJNHEws1eSRjoAhx93QF3EzaSmMhRtVLVgOn3r3PQ4HdCCaO760Ug2rFO1A4qD88jX0WY-CcLOTSNg/s320/day_of_dead_large.JPG" width="199" /></a></div><br />Last month I enviously watched as the good folks over at <a href="http://tattoosnob.com/">TattooSnob</a> had a contest in which they gave away some really cool items from <a href="http://bonafidebags.com/">Bonafide Bags</a>. I reached out to the good people at Bonafide and asked if they'd like to do something with our readers, and they were very receptive to the idea.<br /><br />So check these out:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEWwvHGjDUNbfRXPMkDCCnmImx36eCdxnV5Xi4Dj2A2kJFXhnMcIXdXML4yicGgRG8o0yZEWcf3-LmntobAiumfTPlcrD2A6FVYtyr1yNXRCLe2poU1KbtEtm_2RvkI_A8UxHkk3pg2w/s1600/108_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEWwvHGjDUNbfRXPMkDCCnmImx36eCdxnV5Xi4Dj2A2kJFXhnMcIXdXML4yicGgRG8o0yZEWcf3-LmntobAiumfTPlcrD2A6FVYtyr1yNXRCLe2poU1KbtEtm_2RvkI_A8UxHkk3pg2w/s400/108_0806.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonafide's Japanese Koi (left) and Traditional (right) Designs</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3JAVdgYEo-U5GyvygZ7ezFuxTKf4MZWDbVzgDk8KjecjYq-iVAM_Eh6TW4UTXLho_8sH9wl7Fe6jzL0vCpUV0NpAzT_6Hl5HfR7m4qCu9XPQ8KA1AQkMaOppqLmPUxNJeMMmqPER7Ok/s1600/108_0805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3JAVdgYEo-U5GyvygZ7ezFuxTKf4MZWDbVzgDk8KjecjYq-iVAM_Eh6TW4UTXLho_8sH9wl7Fe6jzL0vCpUV0NpAzT_6Hl5HfR7m4qCu9XPQ8KA1AQkMaOppqLmPUxNJeMMmqPER7Ok/s400/108_0805.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonafide's American Pride (left) and Day of the Dead (right) Designs</td></tr></tbody></table><br />They're very sturdy and look really cool - perfect for a trip to the supermarket or the beach. They're made from recycled plastic and my lovely bride is already rocking her Japanese Koi bag. There are two sizes of each design. Check out Bonafide's website <a href="http://bonafidebags.com/bonafide_bags.html">here</a> for more product specifics, including close-up views, as well.<br /><br />How do you win a set? Leave a comment on the post below and winners will be randomly selected and receive a matching set of these Bonafide Bags. That's one large all purpose bag and its matching lunch/gift bag counterpart, or a $15.00 value. I have three sets of each of the four designs, so that's twelve winners in all.<br /><br />Now, let's see if we can outdo the readers at TattooSnob. They garnered 63 comments/entries in their giveaway, so our goal is <u>70</u> reader comments by Saturday, February 19, at 11:59 PM, EST. Tell us which one is your favorite design, or any other related comment, and you'll be eligible to win!<br /><br />Note: I have a filter on comments so if you don't see it right away, it's because I need to approve each submission to make sure it's not spam.

Tattoosday's Bonafide Bags Giveaway!

Last month I enviously watched as the good folks over at TattooSnob had a contest in which they gave away some really cool items from Bonaf...

8:39 AM

Jenise's Tattoo is Decorative and Practical

Normally I would have prefaced this as a "Tattoos I Know" post, since the contributor, Jenise, has been a friend of mine since 1984. However, since we haven't actually seen each other in person in over twenty-five years, I've never actually met her tattooed self in the flesh.<br /><br />Nonetheless, Jenise has been a fan and supporter of Tattoosday since its inception and has, from early on, told me that "one of these days" she'd send me shots of the tattoo circling her right wrist. Imagine my surprise when, out of the blue, the pictures finally arrived this week. So here it is:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkyOR_6K0zNjO9-VLmMLpJ4CoFNoz1vQMHQSm2hfWfgq6SANOT1I0sehTs9HnzlXqeTk8oAosc-kmXIt-iMGoLrNzvGbqI4oJYMqD4XvmWs6B2Tk91I8VKzotvbbMTXT7Vcho1KlJ_GI/s1600/Jenise+Outer+Wrist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkyOR_6K0zNjO9-VLmMLpJ4CoFNoz1vQMHQSm2hfWfgq6SANOT1I0sehTs9HnzlXqeTk8oAosc-kmXIt-iMGoLrNzvGbqI4oJYMqD4XvmWs6B2Tk91I8VKzotvbbMTXT7Vcho1KlJ_GI/s400/Jenise+Outer+Wrist.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoaNYKcSrF9L8xJRz0dAioYZFwgzg3le4yV2WGXm6k9Ky3mDdynk2Nu44HzELIXhJpIgYDfn5HuPgRW7TRUncd5CvPbay3WoRK0ZDSZwchEvXI1RtIiwTp0qh3OeeVm2CAkBoilOucto/s1600/Jenise+Inner+Wrist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoaNYKcSrF9L8xJRz0dAioYZFwgzg3le4yV2WGXm6k9Ky3mDdynk2Nu44HzELIXhJpIgYDfn5HuPgRW7TRUncd5CvPbay3WoRK0ZDSZwchEvXI1RtIiwTp0qh3OeeVm2CAkBoilOucto/s400/Jenise+Inner+Wrist.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Jenise credits <a href="http://www.tropicaltattoo.com/clay.html">Clay</a> at <a href="http://www.tropicaltattoo.com/">Willie's Tropical Tattoo</a> in Daytona Beach, who inked these in February 2008. The piece was "designed to reflect [her] Hawaiian bracelet and it took [the artist] 2  hours to get it just the way he wanted it before he put the stencil on...".  As for the words "Peanut" and "Shellfish," the tattoo also acts as a quasi medic alert bracelet, indicating two foods which make her seriously ill. So there's a practical aspect to the piece, as well.<br /><br />On a humorous note, she added "NO... these are NOT the nicknames of my  children, I have been asked that more times than I can count".<br /><br />Thanks to Jenise for sharing her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Jenise's Tattoo is Decorative and Practical

Normally I would have prefaced this as a "Tattoos I Know" post, since the contributor, Jenise, has been a friend of mine since 198...

3:00 AM

Miguel's Vision Reveals What Lies Within

A few weeks back, I popped in at my wife's workplace, and she introduced me to Miguel, the husband of one of her colleagues. In warmer weather, she had seen that Miguel had a tattoo, and she thought I would be interested in talking to him about it. Unfortunately, at the moment, it was in the high 20's outside and Miguel had on layers of clothing, which covered the artwork on his upper right arm. I did, however, ask him to send me a photo when he got the chance. <br /><br />Miguel was good to his word and e-mailed me the following photo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiez81IgJOi2cEAXEuV1y-HguPUXThg1viNPamz5jiSqOTjQ1QbUQp5h-3wM0Wvlt6EkqZFpWazRGJruvkfogq6gnCP-MzDsTwCgMf1R0DV-dJfQIUGtUUBrQhqqKiiVD7gkZ49eWsUnSs/s1600/Miguel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiez81IgJOi2cEAXEuV1y-HguPUXThg1viNPamz5jiSqOTjQ1QbUQp5h-3wM0Wvlt6EkqZFpWazRGJruvkfogq6gnCP-MzDsTwCgMf1R0DV-dJfQIUGtUUBrQhqqKiiVD7gkZ49eWsUnSs/s320/Miguel.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><br />Miguel told me that, one night, a couple of years ago, during a difficult time in his life, he had a dream about the tattoo and, when he awoke, he drew up the image he had seen in his mind. The vision, to him, "represents the evil that people  have inside". He took the idea to <a href="http://sunsettattoo.com/AboutUs/aboutus.html">Sunset Tattoo</a> in Brooklyn, and one of the artists  created the piece.<br /><br />Thanks to Miguel for sharing his tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Miguel's Vision Reveals What Lies Within

A few weeks back, I popped in at my wife's workplace, and she introduced me to Miguel, the husband of one of her colleagues. In warmer w...

3:08 AM

Jenny's Skeleton Key

January was a bleak month here in New York City. The second snowiest  month ever did not bode well for inkspotting, but on the last day of the  month, I met Jenny, a graphic designer, at my local bookstore.<br /><br />Jenny had two tattoos visible, but has nine others as well. She offered  up this cool skeleton key tattoo on her inner left forearm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7p2b9zUBbMoFwktckgbPJonzSx2ba8TdYm49L5aOxU2l2ZxwN6Sjjg_IOIrC1uWVbx0-8s_U8K6ukJBYbHGecz_pNuNjoUkV-BjNsM6QVweo7l8SqcOrUTm064yXw7DxpxTXTTnQvCxw/s1600/Skeleton+Key.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7p2b9zUBbMoFwktckgbPJonzSx2ba8TdYm49L5aOxU2l2ZxwN6Sjjg_IOIrC1uWVbx0-8s_U8K6ukJBYbHGecz_pNuNjoUkV-BjNsM6QVweo7l8SqcOrUTm064yXw7DxpxTXTTnQvCxw/s640/Skeleton+Key.jpg" width="342" /></a></div><br />She told me that the tattoo's orientation on her arm is, if you'll  pardon the pun, key. It points toward her heart and represents the fact  that she makes her own decisions in her life, or in her own words, "I  open my own doors".<br /><br />She had this done by Mumia at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/omega-tattoos-and-body-piercing-jackson-heights">Omega Tattoos</a> in Queens. She added that  all her tattoos are in black and gray, saying it is a matter of personal  preference and that colors don't translate well on her skin.<br /><br />Check out Jenny's website <a href="http://www.leminxxx.com/">here</a> to see some of her design work. I especially like <a href="http://www.leminxxx.com/portfolio/home/album/print?p=1">this example</a> of her design for a tattoo shop.<br /><br />Thanks to Jenny for sharing this special key with us here on Tattoosday!

Jenny's Skeleton Key

January was a bleak month here in New York City. The second snowiest month ever did not bode well for inkspotting, but on the last day of t...

3:08 AM

A Quartet of Tattoos from Greg

I met Greg outside of Madison Square Garden last fall, and he happily shared several of his tattoos, inspired by magic and mythology. On his upper left arm is this wizard:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOGDgFl4-09xqV0lmAZ1fkUtJ8aArDLpzFiTStDDUvNuyZ1S6eKSGIzUw4C35VrgdjkbVLR4lR15dyBQFNQlOPHwAJhqXVGvjL5E3ASPfSnpEMZyN8W_n74qi9-nFLxbNjXAw-lzkrUA/s1600/Greg+Wizard_picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOGDgFl4-09xqV0lmAZ1fkUtJ8aArDLpzFiTStDDUvNuyZ1S6eKSGIzUw4C35VrgdjkbVLR4lR15dyBQFNQlOPHwAJhqXVGvjL5E3ASPfSnpEMZyN8W_n74qi9-nFLxbNjXAw-lzkrUA/s640/Greg+Wizard_picnik.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><br />On his upper right arm, he shared this dragon:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3_ldlAoGrjOpIktznbOU805C2DyPZwrozlC-sg6KIXB6SHRMt3vt9pPKpV9d4uq2fWg4NhTZM1kpxqT5-3bEA8ect6Z-j_yz33eLfA6pND_yjvu_UIKrgZNmeHCaZaERJvc_VCqyxNU/s1600/Greg+Dragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3_ldlAoGrjOpIktznbOU805C2DyPZwrozlC-sg6KIXB6SHRMt3vt9pPKpV9d4uq2fWg4NhTZM1kpxqT5-3bEA8ect6Z-j_yz33eLfA6pND_yjvu_UIKrgZNmeHCaZaERJvc_VCqyxNU/s640/Greg+Dragon.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><br />Below that, on his forearm, is this fiery skull:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamnCg7_c-Eki3MAoyW270qQUUJvPr9n77shfbZkBagh8uOtJPWL454C-82XOIfTb-ity4QRcniQiCuULYL1WTHrCpLJQVVzkaNWtJeTrN96GXEOnw5_B7Xq7Lry2MYauUXYJU1BuJLXs/s1600/Greg+Skull+Fire_picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamnCg7_c-Eki3MAoyW270qQUUJvPr9n77shfbZkBagh8uOtJPWL454C-82XOIfTb-ity4QRcniQiCuULYL1WTHrCpLJQVVzkaNWtJeTrN96GXEOnw5_B7Xq7Lry2MYauUXYJU1BuJLXs/s640/Greg+Skull+Fire_picnik.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />And, in a tribute to his Irish heritage, is this coat of arms, with the Irish colors:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMKUTHqFKA8UY_EhoEQcoe8AwWFCMyUohIBZNW4g6eIcPUdrmme33QGFmTqIrlK_9KzHVDf8vGaw0QrnWF58yVEyj2OFEoaX-5Es6_wMcSWkoHUSA5DX5OIX3OqKKF_JUARFmQ65irbk/s1600/Greg+Irish+Coat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMKUTHqFKA8UY_EhoEQcoe8AwWFCMyUohIBZNW4g6eIcPUdrmme33QGFmTqIrlK_9KzHVDf8vGaw0QrnWF58yVEyj2OFEoaX-5Es6_wMcSWkoHUSA5DX5OIX3OqKKF_JUARFmQ65irbk/s400/Greg+Irish+Coat.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />Greg credited Eddie and Ray, at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/luckyheartstattoo">Lucky Hearts Tattoo</a> in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the artists responsible for his work.<br /><br />Thanks to Greg for sharing his tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

A Quartet of Tattoos from Greg

I met Greg outside of Madison Square Garden last fall, and he happily shared several of his tattoos, inspired by magic and mythology. On his...

3:06 AM

Rilke On the Flesh

It's February 1, which means we are only two months away from the start of a new edition of <a href="http://tattooedpoets.blogspot.com/2010/03/index-of-tattooed-poets.html">The Tattooed Poets Project,</a> and I have begun assembling the first posts for this annual extravaganza.<br /><br />What better way to acknowledge this looming event, but to post a poetic tattoo?<br /><br />The following piece is one that I spotted at the end of last summer on Penn  Plaza. Belonging to a young lady named Rosa, it has been one of my few remaining 2010 leftovers:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiz7kzyPsBcGq_BZeH4GcMgwui7oefN_DxfAotPXOB3o1Vs3UH5hKKpNvLftUXulLmGvAbN_vB9doLbtS9YlEbEFxXknmL_TyiYTHBW1bWQ6c42o1Hv5TOA2O6c52JsC6OJZ-2Uhhecw/s1600/rilke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiz7kzyPsBcGq_BZeH4GcMgwui7oefN_DxfAotPXOB3o1Vs3UH5hKKpNvLftUXulLmGvAbN_vB9doLbtS9YlEbEFxXknmL_TyiYTHBW1bWQ6c42o1Hv5TOA2O6c52JsC6OJZ-2Uhhecw/s400/rilke.jpg" width="343" /></a></div><br /><br />What I noticed first was not that this was a line of verse, but that it  was placed on the body in an unusual way. Most lines of poetry, when  manifested on flesh, are on the arms and wrist, or the lower legs and  occasionally a back. This tattoo runs from the front of to her back,  vertically climbing and descending from her shoulder.<br /><br />The line is in German, and represents a piece from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainer_Maria_Rilke">Rainier Maria Rilke's</a> <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duino_Elegies">Duino Elegies</a></i>.<br /><br /><blockquote><b>Ein jeder Engel ist schrecklich</b></blockquote><br />Or, in context: <br /><blockquote><i>Who, if I cried out, would hear me among the angels’<br />Hierarchies? and even if one of them pressed me<br />suddenly against his heart: I would be consumed<br />in that overwhelming existence. For beauty is nothing<br />but the beginning of terror, which we still are just able to endure,<br />and we are so awed because it serenely disdains<br />to annihilate us. Every angel is terrifying.</i> <i><br /></i></blockquote> Those are the opening lines of the first elegy, translated by <a href="http://www.stephenmitchellbooks.com/transAdapt/poetryRilkeExcerpt03.html">Stephen Mitchell</a>.<br /><br />Rosa didn't give me much insight as to why she had the line tattooed, but it is quite a powerful statement.<br /><br />When I asked her who the artists was, she replied only that it was someone in Brooklyn that went under the name "The Milk Maid". This sounded familiar at the time, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Of course, I came to be reminded that The Milk Maid is the moniker of Joy Rumore, at <a href="http://www.1228tattoo.com/">Twelve 28 Tattoo</a>, quite a wonderful artist, whose work has appeared previously on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Twelve%2028%20Tattoo">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Rosa for sharing this lovely line of verse with us here on Tattoosday!

Rilke On the Flesh

It's February 1, which means we are only two months away from the start of a new edition of The Tattooed Poets Project, and I have begu...

3:16 AM

Tattoosday (A Tattoo Blog)

About Me

Virginia's Flowers Forecast Spring

Mark's Tattoo is Bound by Faith

Tattoosday Weekend Recap

Repost: The World is Full of Kings and Queens

Lost and Found: Toni's Cameo

Cat's Hands-ome Tattoos

Frank's Laserbeak Tattoo Transforms His Flesh

Sal's Tattoo Takes Wing

Bonafide Bags Winners and Special Discount for Tattoosday Readers!

A Reaper for a Saturday

Ashley's Ink: On Her Own Two Feet

Melanie's Marilyn

Tattoosday's Bonafide Bags Giveaway!

Jenise's Tattoo is Decorative and Practical

Miguel's Vision Reveals What Lies Within

Jenny's Skeleton Key

A Quartet of Tattoos from Greg

Rilke On the Flesh

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