A Dog on Adam's Arm

We're still posting tattoos from last summer's NYC Poetry Festival, like this one from Adam:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5y5hGyO7_DXl8o0h1J3pCydpNiyipKWVHcYcgK9b-XKmnkVoLZ-JICzED1GyBlxrhJQZcnvFuUfCP5YUWExcOESlKsQ0mqnux2Ij6dfupYoJQbNQ_VKbp3X_oq_wLIKV8islTX2o2qAo/s1600/Neurosis+Dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5y5hGyO7_DXl8o0h1J3pCydpNiyipKWVHcYcgK9b-XKmnkVoLZ-JICzED1GyBlxrhJQZcnvFuUfCP5YUWExcOESlKsQ0mqnux2Ij6dfupYoJQbNQ_VKbp3X_oq_wLIKV8islTX2o2qAo/s1600/Neurosis+Dog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Adam explained that this tattoo on his forearm is based on a woodcut that served as the cover art from <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_of_Grace_(album)">Times of Grace</a> </i>by <a href="http://www.neurosis.com/">Neurosis</a>:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/eb/TimesOfGrace.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/eb/TimesOfGrace.jpeg" /></a></div><br />Adam credited the piece itself to <a href="http://scottsantee.com/home.html">Scott Santee</a> at <a href="http://www.mementotattooandgallery.com/">Memento Tattoo & Gallery</a> in Columbus, Ohio.<br /><br />Thanks to Adam for sharing this cool tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2014 Tattoosday.</span></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-39bf6e68-afd5-19c3-d5cf-4032b820e4de"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are seeing this on another website other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit</span><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></span></div>

A Dog on Adam's Arm

We're still posting tattoos from last summer's NYC Poetry Festival, like this one from Adam: Adam explained that this tattoo on his ...

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Amy Honors Her Grandmother with a Brandon Maldonado Design (via Zac Brown)

Last month, Tattoosday reader Amy was the lucky winner in our <a href="http://www.brooklyntattoo.com/">Brooklyn Tattoo</a> <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2013/05/im-just-bill-yes-im-only-bill.html">t-shirt giveaway</a>.<br /><br />We struck up a transcontinental conversation, and she offered to share some of her work with us, in what we  call a little "tattoorism."<br /><br />Let's take a look:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJztqIovnBrnWHRwlZyFgrkfDc9qvzR2ihL515ZyhMMyW-WeTBlP6R-h0OxatPMZKvx2yduD2jWCcYsAheOVa5VwBzrJ4xvg4RmbEr1KVfQuqtE4Az0j3Zms0xzEpqZqOYApVaKOYVAAY/w340-h659-no/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJztqIovnBrnWHRwlZyFgrkfDc9qvzR2ihL515ZyhMMyW-WeTBlP6R-h0OxatPMZKvx2yduD2jWCcYsAheOVa5VwBzrJ4xvg4RmbEr1KVfQuqtE4Az0j3Zms0xzEpqZqOYApVaKOYVAAY/w340-h659-no/image.jpg" width="330" /></a></div><br />She credited the work to Tony Carey at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hold-Fast-Tattoo/148380601877573">Hold Fast Tattoo</a> in Prescott, Arizona.<br /><br />Amy explained, "it's based on the original artwork of <a href="http://www.brandonmaldonado.com/index.shtml">Brandon Maldonado's</a> "Our Lady of Merciful Fate" which was featured on the <a href="http://www.zacbrownband.com/">Zac Brown Band's</a> album <a href="http://www.nashvillegab.com/2012/06/the-zac-brown-bands-uncaged-album-artwork-is-a-real-work-of-art.html">Uncaged</a>."<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="http://www.brandonmaldonado.com/images/Our-Lady-of-the-Merciful-Fa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.brandonmaldonado.com/images/Our-Lady-of-the-Merciful-Fa.jpg" width="440" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via brandonmaldonado.com</td></tr></tbody></table>She added, "I was looking for something to honor my grandmother and I had been wanting a day of the dead tattoo ... when I saw this album cover I fell in love with Brandon's art."<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kXOFYo8Kjdg/Ua8qOj4SImI/AAAAAAAAY48/Gby_8u6QXoQ/w492-h659-no/image+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kXOFYo8Kjdg/Ua8qOj4SImI/AAAAAAAAY48/Gby_8u6QXoQ/w492-h659-no/image+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="476" /></a></div><br />Thanks to Amy for being a top-notch Tattoosday reader and generously sharing her ink with us here on the site!<br /><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2013 Tattoosday.</span></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-388b3fbd-1457-224c-2f77-2ec2e392c0ce"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are seeing this on another website other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit</span><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></span></div>

Amy Honors Her Grandmother with a Brandon Maldonado Design (via Zac Brown)

Last month, Tattoosday reader Amy was the lucky winner in our Brooklyn Tattoo t-shirt giveaway . We struck up a transcontinental conversati...

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Tattoosday Goes to L.A. - Javie's Sublime Tattoo

On my recent trip to Los Angeles, I popped in and talked to a few of the artists in San Pedro's <a href="http://www.aceofheartstattoo.com/index.html">Ace of Hearts Tattoo</a>.<br /><br />Fortunately for me, they were also in the sharing mood. Check out this piece on the upper right arm of artist <a href="http://www.aceofheartstattoo.com/Javie_gallery.html">Javie Dev</a>:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLH7lX1tERTrlZqzRN6ev1f6msUjStOFgqZ8MQg57se7Rr3gothM0MbvnlrFMRSiQuD3HqsG3QmBF_JpSXgkfvJDVaZXDgapOuyk5cPI9-bJ-EevsHhwr5ey1OskUaUQPnVUO3o1mKeQs/s572/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLH7lX1tERTrlZqzRN6ev1f6msUjStOFgqZ8MQg57se7Rr3gothM0MbvnlrFMRSiQuD3HqsG3QmBF_JpSXgkfvJDVaZXDgapOuyk5cPI9-bJ-EevsHhwr5ey1OskUaUQPnVUO3o1mKeQs/s640/photo.jpg" width="420" /></a></div><br />This awesome tattoo was an appropriate one to feature, as Southern Californians would attest. The work refers to the ska/punk band <a href="http://sublimelbc.com/">Sublime</a>, who hail from neighboring Long Beach.<br /><br />Their debut album, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/40oz._to_Freedom">40 Oz. to Freedom</a>, featured this cover art:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://groundctrl.s3.amazonaws.com/clients/groundctrl/media/12/05/large.3vgh54x7l4z4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="http://groundctrl.s3.amazonaws.com/clients/groundctrl/media/12/05/large.3vgh54x7l4z4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />What makes this tattoo particularly special is that Javie got it from <a href="http://www.opieortiz.com/">Opie Ortiz</a>, the artist who designed the album cover. Opie was one of Javie's mentors and did the tattoo at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanBeautyTattoo">American Beauty Tattoo Parlor</a> in Sunset Beach.<br /><br />Thanks to Javie for sharing this awesome tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.6684094211086631" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2013 Tattoosday.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are seeing this on another website other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit</span><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></span></b>

Tattoosday Goes to L.A. - Javie's Sublime Tattoo

On my recent trip to Los Angeles, I popped in and talked to a few of the artists in San Pedro's Ace of Hearts Tattoo . Fortunately for m...

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Matt's Black Flag Tribute

I met Matt on the 59th Street subway platform in Brooklyn back in October 2011 and he shared one of his tattoos with me.<br /><br />Before I proceed though, I should point out that this is my last photo from 2011. I was holding out to make this an elaborate post, combined with a book review, but it just never evolved that way.<br /><br />And, as Tattoosday recently reached its five year milestone (more on that later), we're going to try things a little differently around here. Of course, that has nothing to do with this tattoo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMh7hYgmmKPmcMhUyFe9p_ZNpOWozegKksGtw-KWS3zGQfZOWwSkP9CExTHe0nCk1YxfIyy6KJmHSSTzhf5m_kjtGR52ttFZdyitjcirvZbuSuBNdUo_OimTz9JH7iq5ljB_LE8pxfAo/s774/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMh7hYgmmKPmcMhUyFe9p_ZNpOWozegKksGtw-KWS3zGQfZOWwSkP9CExTHe0nCk1YxfIyy6KJmHSSTzhf5m_kjtGR52ttFZdyitjcirvZbuSuBNdUo_OimTz9JH7iq5ljB_LE8pxfAo/s400/photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This tattoo is based on the album cover for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Flag_(band)">Black Flag's</a> <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_War">My War</a></i>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTw-suCO7jmzcYs4BSVN4J85Z08O8YXcfOqW5yhgZ7D3yptwcNL" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTw-suCO7jmzcYs4BSVN4J85Z08O8YXcfOqW5yhgZ7D3yptwcNL" width="200" /></a></div><br />Note the slight artistic differences:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQfVu2t_Jl0yzjO-C7BW1r_Y5EIeTzL-YDDz2yHkITABeinQ4f-5HXv0FW6jQ7R9fZlH5bpYbfXEewgFrOtO5CkRfWnzBG2Rc7tZ2g_mL2Xkm6sWSTh4dQkD8SqPbNV3JllK6A3xcqJI/s615/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQfVu2t_Jl0yzjO-C7BW1r_Y5EIeTzL-YDDz2yHkITABeinQ4f-5HXv0FW6jQ7R9fZlH5bpYbfXEewgFrOtO5CkRfWnzBG2Rc7tZ2g_mL2Xkm6sWSTh4dQkD8SqPbNV3JllK6A3xcqJI/s400/photo.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><br />Matt credited this work to <a href="http://www.nyhctattoo.com/oscar/index.html">Oscar Varela</a>, a visiting artist at <a href="http://www.nyhctattoo.com/index.html">New York Hardcore Tattoo</a> in Manhattan.<br /><br />When I asked Matt why he chose to pay tribute to this album with a tattoo, he explained, "That's been one of my favorite hardcore albums of all time ... I grew up in Anaheim, California, so, you know, the So Cal scene and everything like that ... gotta keep it real."<br /><br />I had originally wanted to tie this piece in with a review of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Rollins">Henry Rollins'</a> book <a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/Occupants.html?id=-oopTCvTWpYC">Occupants</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRFOfei2lQVqOMoXw2fQKq04mZ55vnc-QQ9joMXyopHXKmmJlr3Og" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRFOfei2lQVqOMoXw2fQKq04mZ55vnc-QQ9joMXyopHXKmmJlr3Og" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With Rollins the lead singer of Black Flag, it seemed like a cool tie-in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The problem is, I really couldn't wrap my head around a book review for the site, but I can give it a rousing endorsement. The volume consists of Rollins' photos as he has traveled the world, and essays he has written to accompany the images. The words are profound and the linked photos are stark and moving. I strongly suggest that people check out the book.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><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&ref=ss_til&asins=1569768153" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks to Matt for sharing his Black Flag tattoo with us here on Tattoosday, and for waiting patiently these past months for me to post it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.26662319526076317" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2012 Tattoosday.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are reading this on another website other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit</span><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></span></b></div>

Matt's Black Flag Tribute

I met Matt on the 59th Street subway platform in Brooklyn back in October 2011 and he shared one of his tattoos with me. Before I proceed th...

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A Trio of Tattoos from Devin

I met Devin walking down Third Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, back in September.<br /><br />He had a lot of ink, so I just grabbed a shot of his left leg:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8kvNs61KBKKJs_YG86RmUIDUzlJGhA8MrdIgqW7RKiqVqfDRiANJfCAwZxCk-2uWoDEJKWEK6jytfpEyI5vqQwJ_ur_21Ym6X-upiUwIJ8csYOfUdjO28N5ePu_ICPpAVl9Vv4gtLLs/s1600/three+from+devin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8kvNs61KBKKJs_YG86RmUIDUzlJGhA8MrdIgqW7RKiqVqfDRiANJfCAwZxCk-2uWoDEJKWEK6jytfpEyI5vqQwJ_ur_21Ym6X-upiUwIJ8csYOfUdjO28N5ePu_ICPpAVl9Vv4gtLLs/s640/three+from+devin.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><br />He broke these three pieces down for me, explaining that the butterfly on the top is an old <a href="http://sailorjerry.com/">Sailor Jerry</a> flash piece that was his friend Shawn first tattoo as an apprentice at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ron-and-Daves-Tattooing/106933639395674?sk=wall">Ron & Dave's Tattooing</a> on Staten Island.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFZy4tNS32MPsRePf_DJ85cZPgqFOok-tspf-hVClleEwOd_W3dV4jGPEQB2qSWLrIDWcPQpnntPthIL6aTC4ODY5fBLWZOFHLiINkabu8l1bc6cJmkcPMz19c6mwf1X1phgPEdIaRN4/s1600/1+from+devin+butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFZy4tNS32MPsRePf_DJ85cZPgqFOok-tspf-hVClleEwOd_W3dV4jGPEQB2qSWLrIDWcPQpnntPthIL6aTC4ODY5fBLWZOFHLiINkabu8l1bc6cJmkcPMz19c6mwf1X1phgPEdIaRN4/s320/1+from+devin+butterfly.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><br />His friend Shawn's second tattoo as an apprentice was the skull at the bottom:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhExCZPaLrN7yDnFhKfcBxMSVtEY0EQt3vWLJ7rF83J5nY0PRBFm_j0rFciezbg8xtgEgaTpYL4UlmUSiEJWiWELHbFLPNqjrCu9_H8mBQfDBYP5IEFTFd8iJrN46dR9F8hEZpo_M4CU/s1600/3+from+devin+skull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhExCZPaLrN7yDnFhKfcBxMSVtEY0EQt3vWLJ7rF83J5nY0PRBFm_j0rFciezbg8xtgEgaTpYL4UlmUSiEJWiWELHbFLPNqjrCu9_H8mBQfDBYP5IEFTFd8iJrN46dR9F8hEZpo_M4CU/s320/3+from+devin+skull.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />In the middle of these two pieces is a piece of art that Devin attributed to artwork from the first album by a Staten Island band called <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thecablecartheory">The Cable Car Theory</a>:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmU1QSFnuM5PR6qQdixtln1FKIuwg9raqUS5EUw8zaV8h_zkIz9TzuEeuJE7kuGqRhX5AP1KW2DQdk9sDe_dqvB5Hs0RXBSZsXplJdSH1KXbBsMZc-ko0xgmQokY29aLgznJnBUPxK24/s1600/2+from+devin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmU1QSFnuM5PR6qQdixtln1FKIuwg9raqUS5EUw8zaV8h_zkIz9TzuEeuJE7kuGqRhX5AP1KW2DQdk9sDe_dqvB5Hs0RXBSZsXplJdSH1KXbBsMZc-ko0xgmQokY29aLgznJnBUPxK24/s400/2+from+devin.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br />Thanks to Devin for sharing these three tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. </span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</a> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div>

A Trio of Tattoos from Devin

I met Devin walking down Third Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, back in September. He had a lot of ink, so I just grabbed a shot of his left l...

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Christina's Frankenstein Girl

I met Christina at the end of June, unable to help noticing this colorful neck tattoo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeap00RlLb4pdklwJDmov5xT2oCXaK70TC9BWlnuAPoQs3sGBc9akyMy1dP1B2YH3qQwWQkXD-nG1YHau_pWoAfW1-9aUIh8Qev97i01XjITzFA-dnIkjSl5l1Ht3fGIaPwXNlbdxZ15g/s1600/Frankenstein+Girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeap00RlLb4pdklwJDmov5xT2oCXaK70TC9BWlnuAPoQs3sGBc9akyMy1dP1B2YH3qQwWQkXD-nG1YHau_pWoAfW1-9aUIh8Qev97i01XjITzFA-dnIkjSl5l1Ht3fGIaPwXNlbdxZ15g/s640/Frankenstein+Girl.jpg" width="470" /></a></div><br />Christina, who is a prep chef at a catering hall, as well as a club promoter, explained that this tattoo is based on the album art from a group called <a href="http://www.mindlessselfindulgence.com/">Mindless Self-Indulgence</a>. I believe she was referring to the band's 2000 release <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000021XS3/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bill03-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=B000021XS3%22%3EFrankenstein%20Girls%20Will%20Seem%20Strangely%20Sexy%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=1&a=B000021XS3&camp=217145&creative=399369%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E"><i>Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy</i></a>:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ymnsl8NYhlgQPPYO6UXyuDEFtiC8rPcSzgk_ojCMpwAfpazTilzm1tFH6ytS27FL3OgtCkfrF5_M5Ynog6pOOWDxsehGx5YfM6UslB4y5U3aMZBOi-8SKcTX5xAOHpmLIowRqnYB5pE/s1600/frank+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ymnsl8NYhlgQPPYO6UXyuDEFtiC8rPcSzgk_ojCMpwAfpazTilzm1tFH6ytS27FL3OgtCkfrF5_M5Ynog6pOOWDxsehGx5YfM6UslB4y5U3aMZBOi-8SKcTX5xAOHpmLIowRqnYB5pE/s400/frank+girls.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />She credited an artist named Serge for doing the tattoo at <a href="http://www.tattoofrenzy.com/">Tattoo Frenzy</a> in Lindenhurst, New York.<br /><br />Thanks to Christina for sharing her Frankenstein girl with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><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&ref=ss_til&asins=B000021XS3" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</a> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div>

Christina's Frankenstein Girl

I met Christina at the end of June, unable to help noticing this colorful neck tattoo: Christina, who is a prep chef at a catering hall, as ...

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Panic in New York - A Visit from Victor

I always like visits from old friends of the site, but when I bumped into Victor in the Penn Plaza Borders back in May, I realized I hadn't seen him in a while. Turns out he had moved out of New York and has been residing in Pennsylvania.<br /><br />Before we go further, perhaps you should reacquaint yourselves with Victor's "tat-alog". He first appeared <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/06/heeeeeeeeeres-victors-tattoos.html">here</a>, showing off eight tattoos, then we checked out five more cinematic tattoos <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/08/return-of-victors-ink.html">here</a>, and then, last year, an iconic piece <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/05/update-from-victor.html">here</a>.This will mark the fourth consecutive year Victor has appeared on the site, so we'll make it a good, no, <u>great</u> one:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkoiQjuE9am8KxPEpNdRcF4soWRR9VPS061lqZqMJV_vRUslMb1DbGOcAh3J6OiGxxQiHWMNsy0v1JOqEomoFMuFvExlIsjGqnOqAEe0zyMxPSLZn4F4FLjxqZMk7OC2uX7hVrxQerp0/s1600/bowie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkoiQjuE9am8KxPEpNdRcF4soWRR9VPS061lqZqMJV_vRUslMb1DbGOcAh3J6OiGxxQiHWMNsy0v1JOqEomoFMuFvExlIsjGqnOqAEe0zyMxPSLZn4F4FLjxqZMk7OC2uX7hVrxQerp0/s640/bowie.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><br />This incredible David Bowie tattoo was inked by Victor's brother, Eddie Bonacore, at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/5-7-0-Tattooing-Co/70637454612">5-7-0 Tattooing Co.</a> in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.<br /><br />The image above, of course, is from the iconic Bowie album <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aladdin_Sane">Aladdin Sane</a></i>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxKoU99HMMJ7iMCuySYuDRh5tym3aAUZY72SYpdsarJZ9qjvG6NEpCNpP7PhZtYGOCowgGHzr30-k2tSL1Jl-RWTDMwC1sQQ8ReF_ztYGlf4EuP1iNa7QbtuvgX9CMlfv_WPgm1-6vys/s1600/David+Bowie+Aladdin+Sane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxKoU99HMMJ7iMCuySYuDRh5tym3aAUZY72SYpdsarJZ9qjvG6NEpCNpP7PhZtYGOCowgGHzr30-k2tSL1Jl-RWTDMwC1sQQ8ReF_ztYGlf4EuP1iNa7QbtuvgX9CMlfv_WPgm1-6vys/s320/David+Bowie+Aladdin+Sane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Victor told me that Eddie's Bowie portrait had garnered three awards at a recent tattoo convention.<br /><br />It was a pleasure seeing our old friend Victor after a year, and we thank him, and his brother Eddie, for sharing this amazing tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</a> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div>

Panic in New York - A Visit from Victor

I always like visits from old friends of the site, but when I bumped into Victor in the Penn Plaza Borders back in May, I realized I hadn...

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Zoe's Birds, Aloft

I met Zoe a couple weeks ago when I spotted an incredible bird tattoo creeping up over her shoulder:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytPFMzm0hZucZHBbjMUHM_OPJj4unjicVA1Pef9v9LtxlYf9vZ9tGblyezgQan_l1NEBKCw3zXc0CndkA1I9c7etk_n5BvD9j-4LloLHWxH0DnazkYAxf1Eh1VYXmCNJSJMEJqnUSZgk/s1600/zoes+birds+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytPFMzm0hZucZHBbjMUHM_OPJj4unjicVA1Pef9v9LtxlYf9vZ9tGblyezgQan_l1NEBKCw3zXc0CndkA1I9c7etk_n5BvD9j-4LloLHWxH0DnazkYAxf1Eh1VYXmCNJSJMEJqnUSZgk/s640/zoes+birds+2.jpg" width="470" /></a></div><br />What's especially mesmerizing about this tattoo is where it begins:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEad2klgGWukYC2Y3FmJC4CnNgZhR-a6XGqffXrCIaAY4VWK_iIJJ7M5kKgZ5sZ5bQbIV_oSeINwlSFAKMssS64s3ZTQchVZ3HJC5Ku4CwjIi5rU9dS6avpIWHAXSiNDYFb1LMhSj6s8/s1600/zoes+birds+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEad2klgGWukYC2Y3FmJC4CnNgZhR-a6XGqffXrCIaAY4VWK_iIJJ7M5kKgZ5sZ5bQbIV_oSeINwlSFAKMssS64s3ZTQchVZ3HJC5Ku4CwjIi5rU9dS6avpIWHAXSiNDYFb1LMhSj6s8/s400/zoes+birds+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Starting in the middle of her back, this flock of birds lifts up off of her flesh, and flies over her shoulder.<br /><br />So from where did the inspiration for this tattoo come? Zoe explains:<br /><blockquote>"I stole the color combination and the silhouetted birds from my favorite album [<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deja_Entendu">Deja Entendu</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fightoffyourdemons.com/">Brand New</a>].<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzysy7-JNLKReOzHNsdOJALZP_eeACG5LcKyAQKxWv5Dbpi6Wn_nGSSD8uwxEjB7LnzT6s_wl0mPyeAy-tmJ7jIwhlL3NVLHpJqnjpkS4SHzsQilZ5w_q4I0DWKNxGqhKUG7N03CJlLTM/s1600/art7.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzysy7-JNLKReOzHNsdOJALZP_eeACG5LcKyAQKxWv5Dbpi6Wn_nGSSD8uwxEjB7LnzT6s_wl0mPyeAy-tmJ7jIwhlL3NVLHpJqnjpkS4SHzsQilZ5w_q4I0DWKNxGqhKUG7N03CJlLTM/s400/art7.gif" width="400" /></a></div><br />I went in [to <a href="http://namebrandtattoo.com/home.html">Name Brand Tattoo</a> in Ann Arbor, Michigan] and gave [tattoo artist <a href="http://dawncooke.net/home.html">Dawn Cooke</a>] the music and said this is why ... it helped me get through a really bad point in my life. I told her what I wanted and she figured out the placement on my body. I originally wanted it straight across my back, but she worked with my body to get it on there ... after three hours of tattooing, I asked her if she put coloring in and she did. It's all free-hand."</blockquote><br />The tattoo took four hours in all to complete, and Zoe had nothing but praise for the artist and the shop. Name Brand, she said, "is great, super-relaxed ... they weren't judgmental [and] tend to have people with art degrees, which is really interesting." Artist Dawn Cook has moved, however, and now tattoos out of <a href="http://depottowntattoo.com/home.html">Depot Town Tattoo</a>, in Traverse City, Michigan.<br /><br />Thanks to Zoe for sharing her amazing tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br />Asa an added treat, here's a track from Brand New, from the album that helped inspire this body art:<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aMJIc9USE2U" width="480"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. </span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit http://tattoosday.blogspot.com and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span>

Zoe's Birds, Aloft

I met Zoe a couple weeks ago when I spotted an incredible bird tattoo creeping up over her shoulder: What's especially mesmerizing about...

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Best Week Ever: Tattoosday Edition

The last seven days have been quite a whirlwind, and I felt it is worth a recap, just because I can't believe what happened since last Saturday.<br /><br />A week ago, I had my best trip to the <a href="http://www.nyctattooconvention.com/">New York Tattoo Convention</a>, saw a lot of great ink, reconnected with old blogging friends, and met a lot of cool people. All my posts since Sunday (with the exception of Friday) recapped the show and some of the folks I met.<br /><br />On Wednesday, I swung by <a href="http://kingsavenuetattoo.com/">Kings Ave NYC</a> on the Bowery after work and met one of the greats in the tattoo community, <a href="http://www.sixfeetunder.com/">Corey Miller</a>. When I asked him if it would be too dorky to ask to take a picture with him, he said, "Of course, it's dorky, but I love that shit." Do I look just a little bit excited?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYhKxDGTdoWYrpwLiQRwWzhpnw_V6fj2OJ2dIqyzhJpQ_rZwU7l7FufQENGE-LxPve0_lswNYFFWDwLhkJv3NbCXWwrSiuLlov_XICMFENatyn1vm585YS3EO7EtdLoW5V_skY-0MpQ4/s1600/Corey+and+Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYhKxDGTdoWYrpwLiQRwWzhpnw_V6fj2OJ2dIqyzhJpQ_rZwU7l7FufQENGE-LxPve0_lswNYFFWDwLhkJv3NbCXWwrSiuLlov_XICMFENatyn1vm585YS3EO7EtdLoW5V_skY-0MpQ4/s400/Corey+and+Me.jpg" width="373" /></a></div><br />For those of you who watch <a href="http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/la-ink">L.A. Ink</a>, last season we saw a subplot in an episode in which Corey designed the album art for his friend <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trever_Keith">Trever Kieth's</a> band <a href="http://www.facetofacemusic.com/">Face to Face</a>.<br /><br />As it happened, this past week the album dropped, and Face to Face had a gig in Times Square. Corey came along for the ride, and joined the band at Kings Avenue NYC to sign posters, singles, magazines, and other goodies.<br /><br />Corey and the band signed the poster featuring the original album artwork<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyg6iVnxiqfqOqBZQT9C4RC-6UAWQHyvtEFTwjbgJUVBh0TUmx7mA3R6NULeJj_84muHozk1rh47SabPlpPfAbjHwJ6ng7akXqfgjQE_sWjnZZO0REdjPA335lUa6Ykz4hpaWkfXPVgMQ/s1600/Face+to+Face+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyg6iVnxiqfqOqBZQT9C4RC-6UAWQHyvtEFTwjbgJUVBh0TUmx7mA3R6NULeJj_84muHozk1rh47SabPlpPfAbjHwJ6ng7akXqfgjQE_sWjnZZO0REdjPA335lUa6Ykz4hpaWkfXPVgMQ/s400/Face+to+Face+Poster.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><br /><br />and the single they produced with <a href="http://www.riseagainst.com/events/">Rise Against</a>:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWl8WHl2rpTR67sG41F5DvAJxM89oWwLO-Lf-4o8xgmAlo16Jnu4yu-MtUbrOvS_bIiKD_qiykM8L9WTpIolF6IcByu04Q4S3hKR5EW9TcmsdY8EXEWfjG1GxZHnQDu4iqNJ8Kmg6oaI/s1600/108_1101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWl8WHl2rpTR67sG41F5DvAJxM89oWwLO-Lf-4o8xgmAlo16Jnu4yu-MtUbrOvS_bIiKD_qiykM8L9WTpIolF6IcByu04Q4S3hKR5EW9TcmsdY8EXEWfjG1GxZHnQDu4iqNJ8Kmg6oaI/s320/108_1101.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />I'm not holding my breath, but I did give out Tattoosday cards to the guys in the band (and to Corey, of course) and asked them to contact me if they wanted to share some of their ink on a future Musician Monday feature. Fingers crossed!<br /><br />Here's a fan video from the show they did that night:<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yEBRVTb6XVI" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />Unfortunately, I can't tell you much about how the week ended, but I can tell you I was on location Friday on the set of a local tattoo establishment that is home base for a new reality-based tattoo show on a cable channel. Now, I may or may not have received a new tattoo, but eventually I'll be able to tell you all about the experience.<br /><br />Incidentally, we are less than two weeks away from the premiere of TLC's <a href="http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/ny-ink">NY Ink</a> (June 2!) Can't wait to see it, as the show features <a href="http://www.ami-james.com/">Ami James</a>, formerly of <a href="http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/miami-ink/miami-ink.html">Miami Ink</a>, as well as amazing artists like <a href="http://www.saltwatertattoo.com/">Tim Hendricks</a>, <a href="http://www.lowridertattoostudios.com/?tag=tommy-montoya">Tommy Montoya</a>, and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Megan-Massacre/283960613976">Megan Massacre</a>.<br /><br /><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="288" id="dit-video-embed" scrolling="no" src="http://static.discoverymedia.com/videos/components/tlc/49db72f1581d668c0a98418116df180c89eafd5b/snag-it-player.html?auto=no" width="512"></iframe><br /><br />Oh, and I almost forgot! Congratulations to Michael Henry Lee, who won a t-shirt in our Kings Ave NYC contest! Your shirt is on its way!

Best Week Ever: Tattoosday Edition

The last seven days have been quite a whirlwind, and I felt it is worth a recap, just because I can't believe what happened since last S...

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The Tattooed Poets Project: Michael Henry Lee

Today's tattoo was submitted by Michael Henry Lee:<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/AVvXsEjLViE3VKXMI9SZRNBfESZHgv-wbhPI7YrmuluPTpI1PkQJEirym3kAQb3NWpXZrQf23NZc64K3cLLNmBv1yU5AwMLdgtHhXADg2zPA4kudzB_6mKRy_oJ_g09JBLcMGEag_UCNdy8vaN0/s1600/michael+henry+lee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLViE3VKXMI9SZRNBfESZHgv-wbhPI7YrmuluPTpI1PkQJEirym3kAQb3NWpXZrQf23NZc64K3cLLNmBv1yU5AwMLdgtHhXADg2zPA4kudzB_6mKRy_oJ_g09JBLcMGEag_UCNdy8vaN0/s400/michael+henry+lee.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Michael Henry Lee</td></tr></tbody></table>There's a lot going on here, so let's let Michael explain:<br /><br /><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">"The work pictured began about 36 years ago in Kansas City, Mo. I only remember the artist's name as John. The piece started with the stylized exotic bird's head that John took credit for as his own. A few years later I found the same piece on the back of a <a href="http://www.mountainrockband.com/">Mountain</a> album cover. Imagine. Fast forward a couple of decades to a fantastic shop [<a href="http://soulexpressionstattoo.com/home.html">Soul Expressions Tattoo Studio</a>] in Temecula Ca. and an artist named <a href="http://soulexpressionstattoo.com/section/182964_Daniel_Adair.html">Dan Adair</a>. The sun and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_of_Judah">Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah</a> were added there. The sun was David's design and the Lion comes from the Ethiopian flag borrowed from a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marley_%26_The_Wailers">Bob Marley</a> album. The conceptual idea was mine and is meant to be symbolic of the Christian trinity: Father (as the sun), the Son (as the Conquering Lion) and our old buddy the bird (as the holy spirit). The seven is symbolic of the biblical number of completion and is repeated three times. The piece was just retouched and colored last year in Saint Augustine, Florida, by Tattoo Mike from <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=9gG&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=tattoo+garden+st+augustine+fl&fb=1&gl=us&hq=tattoo+garden&hnear=St+Augustine,+FL&cid=570080614392525222">Tattoo Garden</a>."</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"></div></blockquote>Michael also offered up several short poems, including some haiku:<br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">"tattoo impressions"</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">    van goes home </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><b><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">stepping out in a starry night    </span></b><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">first appeared in graffiti kolkata Aug 2010)</span></b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">~ </span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">tattoo garden</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> the blush returns</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> to mother's rose</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">~</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What Love’s Got to do with It</span></u><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It was rumored of late</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">that Love;</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">is suffering from a stolen identity</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Eros has hacked into Agape</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">like the evil twin exchanged at birth;</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">     Ying for Yang</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">           The Pauper for the Prince</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">                    Cain for Abel</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The imposter has taken control</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">using seduction and guile</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">to manipulate the hearts and minds </span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">of whoever might be deceived</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Love’s calling all investors</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Setting the record straight</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Distancing itself from a nefarious sibling</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Love does not </span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">          sell cars, clothes, food, or personal hygiene products</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Love knows</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">          the grass isn’t greener in the next field,</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">          and besides brown is highly underrated anyway</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Love always makes deposits</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">          but not withdrawals</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Love is patient as water</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">          smoothing stone           </span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Love knows the worst</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">          but hopes for the best</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Love bites its tongue and swallows its pride</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Love looks at the heart</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">          not: boobs, biceps, or bank accounts</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Love is the first one into a burning building </span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">          an the last one off a sinking ship</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Love builds </span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">         Marriages</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">             Families</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">                  and  Nations </span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">                                                            </span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Love is an invisible necessity</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">         like  time, gravity, and oxygen</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Love is beyond time and space</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Eternal</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Unconditional</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">                          a</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">                         gift</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">                    a promise</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">            one poured out for all  </span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">                     that they</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">                       might</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">                        know</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">                         that</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">                         God</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">                           is</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">                           L</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">                           O</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">                           V</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Bodoni MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">                           E</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">"What Love's Got to do with It" first appeared in <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heart-Pour-The-Love-Book/195634107114411?sk=wall">Heart Pour The Love Book</a> from <a href="http://poetplant.blogspot.com/">Poet Plant Press</a>, 2011</span></b></span></i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Michael Henry Lee is a husband, father and grandfather. He and his wife of 30 years reside in St. Augustine, Florida; the nation’s oldest city, along with two cats, and numerous bonsai trees.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Michael is a member of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ancient-City-Poets/279133290875?sk=wall">Ancient City Poets</a> and the <a href="http://www.hsa-haiku.org/">Haiku Society of America</a>. The last Sunday of every month generally finds him at the Heart Pour Matinee; an open mic poetry reading that features seasoned artists as well as new talents. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Mr. Lee serves as contributing co-editor for Poet Plant Press, and is a frequent contributor to <a href="http://haikunews.org/">Haiku News</a>, and Haiku Ramblings. His work has appeared in <a href="http://cobaltcrowproductions.blogspot.com/">Berry Blue Haiku</a>, and <a href="http://www.graffitikolkata.com/home.htm">Graffiti Kolkata</a> He was voted among the favorites in the 2009 <i>Alibi Weekly</i> annual haiku contest, and was awarded third place prize in the Yukei Teikei Annual Tokutomi Haiku Contest for 2010.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Mr. Lee is quoted as saying “my objective is to express the good news and mystery of life in every breath, through the simplicity of haiku”.</div><br />Thanks to Michael Henry Lee for sharing his tattoo and his work with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. The poems are reprinted here with the permission of the author.<br /><br />If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div>

The Tattooed Poets Project: Michael Henry Lee

Today's tattoo was submitted by Michael Henry Lee: Photo courtesy of Michael Henry Lee There's a lot going on here, so let's let...

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Anja's Tattoo - A Brother and Sister Find Common Ground

Anja was visiting New York City from Denmark earlier this fall, when she ran into me in Penn Station. Of course, I was thrilled when she agreed to share this tattoo with us here on Tattoosday:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsOlgrxJwK4sH41KSeG0-s5k89HjZ2yWRyEVUSHop6mQAwb0hHLHDwLvzD12GXWD9STKePH2IpURgkxQpVQvdwCWUHczcKEVpGi4POinPG9ZGFRkzYbyG9tw-UT6qvK7bVYvCkreWe50/s1600/Anja%2527s+Calf+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsOlgrxJwK4sH41KSeG0-s5k89HjZ2yWRyEVUSHop6mQAwb0hHLHDwLvzD12GXWD9STKePH2IpURgkxQpVQvdwCWUHczcKEVpGi4POinPG9ZGFRkzYbyG9tw-UT6qvK7bVYvCkreWe50/s640/Anja%2527s+Calf+wm.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><br />This tattoo on Anja's calf is based on the cover art from <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Es_ist_soweit">Es ist soweit</a></i>, a 1990 album from a German band called <a href="http://www.onkelz.com/">Böhse Onkelz.</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOI2IVRT7E4G49_A8HYMvYSRFYg84BJjAVWHOXalqCXwres0DvqmaVAvoVCtKlR1mfVrQpiinJQTQ0-GZAZ0uXTP9mO54zeEuCCRSS8MZkKBXOq8Z6rYD99WBCnlFySi3sFDXvGdb5vs/s1600/B%25C3%25B6hse_Onkelz_-_Es_ist_soweit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOI2IVRT7E4G49_A8HYMvYSRFYg84BJjAVWHOXalqCXwres0DvqmaVAvoVCtKlR1mfVrQpiinJQTQ0-GZAZ0uXTP9mO54zeEuCCRSS8MZkKBXOq8Z6rYD99WBCnlFySi3sFDXvGdb5vs/s400/B%25C3%25B6hse_Onkelz_-_Es_ist_soweit.jpg" width="397" /></a></div><br />This record has significant meaning for Anja because it helped bring her and her brother together. She explained that they lived apart and didn't talk much, growing up in separate households. She was living with her grandmother, and came to visit her father and she was walking past her brother's room and heard him listening to this record. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUGm2TaNLqJ9TpnBl_q4VGAKDSE1V38bFx0-k-diP06BEhuWj93DWq110El0ww9k2vEn3Av8YnwHU5N2V6_AhgCWWlrHBWeLqqjuiSj8ykC-tdK22ggNiSTCARgsIHnIBvgajtrj4ZNo/s1600/Anja%2527s+Calf+center+detail+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUGm2TaNLqJ9TpnBl_q4VGAKDSE1V38bFx0-k-diP06BEhuWj93DWq110El0ww9k2vEn3Av8YnwHU5N2V6_AhgCWWlrHBWeLqqjuiSj8ykC-tdK22ggNiSTCARgsIHnIBvgajtrj4ZNo/s640/Anja%2527s+Calf+center+detail+wm.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><br />The music brought them together, as she stopped to talk to him about it, learned that he had been listening to <a href="http://www.onkelz.com/">Böhse Onkelz</a> longer than her, and this common ground broke the ice. Whereas before they had very little to talk about, Anja credits the band and this album with helping establish ties with her brother.<br /><br />The top of the tattoo starts a lyric<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsDskA-VUdAunTuffkOk1I9P2355PJaWbwk0GJImFCwrwjNhggD7EaHmM_HVY6ILev99I4U2D0NOZLm-fFVMp3-lvztRTesXWGdoothMccPbvS6MS4UBCxZa5OQCEF-CEaUXtANY3YkE/s1600/Anja%2527s+Calf+top+detail+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsDskA-VUdAunTuffkOk1I9P2355PJaWbwk0GJImFCwrwjNhggD7EaHmM_HVY6ILev99I4U2D0NOZLm-fFVMp3-lvztRTesXWGdoothMccPbvS6MS4UBCxZa5OQCEF-CEaUXtANY3YkE/s400/Anja%2527s+Calf+top+detail+wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />and ends with<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXyZH7EsS00-X5_x53uIVmqbT6LFSdfhTvsZu3ECYvdaV9ic3jsd_Qwmh-cj94DdPS72ODXeXuxrNlAmiY2tJy9sMxO1tNZwBb6RE8zO30EBi2tan7NXbOchHXiQMT-U-lMRTispn7KQ/s1600/Anja%2527s+Calf+bottom+detail+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXyZH7EsS00-X5_x53uIVmqbT6LFSdfhTvsZu3ECYvdaV9ic3jsd_Qwmh-cj94DdPS72ODXeXuxrNlAmiY2tJy9sMxO1tNZwBb6RE8zO30EBi2tan7NXbOchHXiQMT-U-lMRTispn7KQ/s400/Anja%2527s+Calf+bottom+detail+wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The lyric in question, "Let's forever be that Rebel Monster" is actually from a song by <a href="http://www.volbeat.dk/2/index.php">Volbeat,</a> a Danish rock band, on their first album <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Strength/The_Sound/The_Songs">The Strength/The Sound/The Songs</a></i>. The date below, "29-07-19--" is her brother's birth date.<br /><br />This cool, meaningful tattoo was inked in Denmark by an artist named <a href="http://is-is.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21366410775">Dennis Wehler</a>. I love how the words seem to be carved in her flesh.<br /><br />Thanks to Anja for sharing this wonderful tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br />As a bonus, here's a little "Rebel Monster" from Volbeat:<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GqU4Z8g0CPg?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GqU4Z8g0CPg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

Anja's Tattoo - A Brother and Sister Find Common Ground

Anja was visiting New York City from Denmark earlier this fall, when she ran into me in Penn Station. Of course, I was thrilled when she agr...

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Two Rocking Tattoos from Joe

I met Joe last month outside of Penn Station and he shared two tattoos with us.<br /><br />First is this hellcat:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf47aT1y97ZsGSPV0Lb5n3juDNOccEQhyphenhyphenh3_xYmj6d4TGyAQExQi5FO2TFwSBzgtxQ_tvwiIydoY-8Ert2UICBVaIVXFKwd393RcA5Te_fad9lWlO4sSjcIA-T10rdXRPgmXQQjfO4/s1600/hellcat+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf47aT1y97ZsGSPV0Lb5n3juDNOccEQhyphenhyphenh3_xYmj6d4TGyAQExQi5FO2TFwSBzgtxQ_tvwiIydoY-8Ert2UICBVaIVXFKwd393RcA5Te_fad9lWlO4sSjcIA-T10rdXRPgmXQQjfO4/s320/hellcat+wm.jpg" /></a></div><br />Why this cat? It's a design, Joe says, inspired by the band <a href="http://www.rancidrancid.com/">Rancid</a>, whose music appears on <a href="http://www.hell-cat.com/">Hellcat Records</a>. <br /><br />Not to mention, he likes cats. Need he have more reasons? That's on his upper left arm.<br /><br />I'm more excited to share this photo, which actually is a rare Tattoosday shot in which one can see the contributor's face. I could have cropped it out, but I think it's a cool shot.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhkPZ1acmP7Ixzz6p5b-eg-Y_PmXa2LehM0kEYfAhr2hkdob1m4LYT-7QXx5dd3NNqwnpFY5stkeq3V4U1BngA09o25mLwRMRGCdFApC3KANACnqwRe_dIlQao6v-QI5h3cDAphBc/s1600/joe+isa+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhkPZ1acmP7Ixzz6p5b-eg-Y_PmXa2LehM0kEYfAhr2hkdob1m4LYT-7QXx5dd3NNqwnpFY5stkeq3V4U1BngA09o25mLwRMRGCdFApC3KANACnqwRe_dIlQao6v-QI5h3cDAphBc/s400/joe+isa+wm.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />This tattoo arose out of Joe's desire to have some body art made with red ink. The design is based on the album art for a disbanded musical act out of Washington called <a href="http://www.myspace.com/isa">Isa</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizx0AUKU4N1ybukvyCNzKoT9caMu_99xNyxMgOObNjq3NxRxtL8KHqRGyZN_kHovmjvzhnCSnrO32d5bTKJBghEeHw-ExO1RNxpzyFyH3HVdKaNILUByhvfyuuMZhtOrw14vXvKt6/s1600/joe+isa+detail+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizx0AUKU4N1ybukvyCNzKoT9caMu_99xNyxMgOObNjq3NxRxtL8KHqRGyZN_kHovmjvzhnCSnrO32d5bTKJBghEeHw-ExO1RNxpzyFyH3HVdKaNILUByhvfyuuMZhtOrw14vXvKt6/s640/joe+isa+detail+wm.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br />The two tattoos are among five Joe has in total and were done by <a href="http://www.tattooroyale.com/milton.html">Milton Sillas</a> at <a href="http://www.tattooroyale.com/">Tattoo Royale</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Beach,_San_Diego,_California">Pacific Beach</a> section of  San Diego, California.<br /><br />Thanks to Joe for sharing his ink with us here on Tattoosday and for waiting so patiently for me to get to his tattoos. The summer backlog is both a bane and a blessing.<br /><br />As a postscript, readers familiar with the site will notice that I've watermarked these photos. I've grown tired of seeing Tattoosday content appropriated elsewhere on the web, without attribution. This is an attempt to maintain credit of our content here at Tattoosday.

Two Rocking Tattoos from Joe

I met Joe last month outside of Penn Station and he shared two tattoos with us. First is this hellcat: Why this cat? It's a design, Joe ...

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The Tattooed Poets Project: Julie Platt

I always feel like I'm not doing a tattoo justice when it wraps around a curved limb. Generally, I will be reluctant to showcase a piece without displaying the entire tattoo, even if that means multiple pictures shot from different angles.<br /><br />Today's tattoo is one of those rare designs that is worth sharing, even if the reader can't behold every inch of it.<br /><br /><a href="http://aristotlejulep.com/">Julie Platt</a> sent these photos, along with an explanation, which follows:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8h36w0uxQSJY7nw-N5Mp9Qy-l-1eeEJW65uSlz0wQrUqD2RHE7pLkn3dc88apOKwNkaUNJvS-9Zv5g7eYp932E20SWsSFmOv9CaYUrzROUns9mplPEP9On8MWbQwTvvwmwD6YrI1c/s1600/platt_tattoo2+rev.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461079790499029490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8h36w0uxQSJY7nw-N5Mp9Qy-l-1eeEJW65uSlz0wQrUqD2RHE7pLkn3dc88apOKwNkaUNJvS-9Zv5g7eYp932E20SWsSFmOv9CaYUrzROUns9mplPEP9On8MWbQwTvvwmwD6YrI1c/s400/platt_tattoo2+rev.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 243px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 365px;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhe5BDWYsXMhRj4YEsBHebJga1FykOVdMAt9SAGhB3ExO8T2z_xseIUtuPxnhF_Ob1YoFEF5kUvGtPg-NOnoXYM4bYcISCOhcyKuspMqAeLW5WGIeVDv4zdImjZ1_wuQ88vEcIlZg/s1600/platt_tattoo1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461079614779603330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhe5BDWYsXMhRj4YEsBHebJga1FykOVdMAt9SAGhB3ExO8T2z_xseIUtuPxnhF_Ob1YoFEF5kUvGtPg-NOnoXYM4bYcISCOhcyKuspMqAeLW5WGIeVDv4zdImjZ1_wuQ88vEcIlZg/s400/platt_tattoo1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16lUCm8i87koILhsJDfCIsMZm4t4_ysRF8i88G4F84BoZYiZotZpTy-JAVlvildzwAGPJPnzTPAjD0stkEYPjCftaoqXjhzNpLmRfxN579Apv85hQQ2ZVSv77dUyG0hEjytPpPtg8/s1600/platt_tattoo3+rev.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461079716616058962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16lUCm8i87koILhsJDfCIsMZm4t4_ysRF8i88G4F84BoZYiZotZpTy-JAVlvildzwAGPJPnzTPAjD0stkEYPjCftaoqXjhzNpLmRfxN579Apv85hQQ2ZVSv77dUyG0hEjytPpPtg8/s400/platt_tattoo3+rev.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 375px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 219px;" /></a><br />Julie says<br /><blockquote>"It's the audio waveform of a blackbird song made into bracelet around my left wrist. It's inspired by an image on the cover of <a href="http://www.katebush.com/">Kate Bush's</a> album <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerial_%28album%29">Aerial</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQFfwtfXzxcFiSqpm-Q-OjzG0NtAq1R1CAig3tZtw5qpcSYURi6-ZDvKuDIViznFmShfH-dvdQKAk0VZqUWgAdBb-TkQV4-q4G4tSgHPb2NbxFSZn8IyG3xGVe0XP5gc53ohNT81y/s1600/Katebushaerial.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461080484618266770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQFfwtfXzxcFiSqpm-Q-OjzG0NtAq1R1CAig3tZtw5qpcSYURi6-ZDvKuDIViznFmShfH-dvdQKAk0VZqUWgAdBb-TkQV4-q4G4tSgHPb2NbxFSZn8IyG3xGVe0XP5gc53ohNT81y/s320/Katebushaerial.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 317px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />I got this tattoo to commemorate earning my MFA -- I wanted something visible to remind me of poetry, whose root is song."</blockquote>The tattoo was inked by <a href="http://www.fishladdertattoo.com/artist_cb_bio.php">Chris Boilore</a> at <a href="http://www.fishladdertattoo.com/">Fish Ladder Tattoo</a>, in Lansing, Michigan.<br /><br />Check out one of Julie's poems over on BillyBlog <a href="http://oxypoet.blogspot.com/2010/04/tattooed-poets-project-julie-platt.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Julie Platt was born and raised in Pittsburgh and now lives in <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EdIDrtTPNJUty6jBeoeZ6EOvtUaYReLibx8ZP51SLYNacJptqU1qbyGWK9C599nwSt9a0AQK-uAug1sU8EBSrCatQXGMxeGQpiGAkIn3lyXXUUqdkbOsaIhmNOT3y45h3vBbu4i-/s1600/julie+cover.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461081699485297282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EdIDrtTPNJUty6jBeoeZ6EOvtUaYReLibx8ZP51SLYNacJptqU1qbyGWK9C599nwSt9a0AQK-uAug1sU8EBSrCatQXGMxeGQpiGAkIn3lyXXUUqdkbOsaIhmNOT3y45h3vBbu4i-/s320/julie+cover.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 268px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 174px;" /></a>Michigan. Her print poetry chapbook, <u>In the Kingdom of My Familiar</u>, was published by <a href="http://www.tiltpress.com/index.htm">Tilt Press</a> in 2008. My mini e-chapbook, <a href="http://goldwakepress.org/2009/06/11/julie-platt-imitation-animals/">Imitation Animals</a>, was published by<a href="http://goldwakepress.org/"> Gold Wake Press</a> in 2009. Two poems from<br /><a href="http://goldwakepress.org/2009/06/11/julie-platt-imitation-animals/">Imitation Animals</a> were selected to appear in <a href="http://www.dzancbooks.org/BestOfTheWeb/">Dzanc Books' Best of the Web 2010</a>. My work will also appear in the forthcoming e-anthology <a href="http://www.vanvinkinroys.com/">Poems to Sweat By: Hungry Young Poets 2009</a>, published by <a href="http://www.vanvinkinroys.com/">VanVinkinroy's Indie e-Book Emporium</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Julie for sharing this great tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

The Tattooed Poets Project: Julie Platt

I always feel like I'm not doing a tattoo justice when it wraps around a curved limb. Generally, I will be reluctant to showcase a piece...

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Two for Tattoosday: Vanessa's Ink (Two Hearts Beat as One)

I met Vanessa last week and she generously shared two of her wonderful tattoos.<br /><br />This piece on her inner right forearm was her first tattoo:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJYGhCw-ccjjBNcVKqmyyhGxr9khK6J780Kll3iBcHfCLAbchrFmk-aEoZhT_Fh2sKfj1IJXrwij8Cw9eWXZoV5V-FnzdR3bC3DkhIYoFaBBwb7lp358Sn9hvDgJNNh6UGTPqeuJt/s1600-h/Sunflower+Album+Cover.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449169227019503538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJYGhCw-ccjjBNcVKqmyyhGxr9khK6J780Kll3iBcHfCLAbchrFmk-aEoZhT_Fh2sKfj1IJXrwij8Cw9eWXZoV5V-FnzdR3bC3DkhIYoFaBBwb7lp358Sn9hvDgJNNh6UGTPqeuJt/s400/Sunflower+Album+Cover.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><br />This design is based on the album cover of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/poisonthewell">Poison the Well's</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Come_Before_You"><span style="font-style: italic;">You Come Before You</span></a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAFRGJD1PFZsXeA_-0G_Bj-Ulu8fQ2UgktftcZmurD0YrfRuZeZ1unM4ILjSs_gs2bBHqI_rySohs5rhdwGXZEK0Ns1MJOL3rJ_USFCupFM8uezEBU-3bmdpgjEHZ9JxhM0LRd1K2/s1600-h/youcome.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449170166505299634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAFRGJD1PFZsXeA_-0G_Bj-Ulu8fQ2UgktftcZmurD0YrfRuZeZ1unM4ILjSs_gs2bBHqI_rySohs5rhdwGXZEK0Ns1MJOL3rJ_USFCupFM8uezEBU-3bmdpgjEHZ9JxhM0LRd1K2/s320/youcome.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" /></a><br />Vanessa explained that this was the album she listened to when she was visiting her mother in the hospital. Her mom recovered, and she associates the record with this time of her life. The tattoo celebrates those moments.<br /><br />The second piece she shared was inspired by her father:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgrA1BC_0G-53EZ-qGvvmooWK6I8sQPAudIi3GYkGIyuEkyBpw8ahDsqa9BJL1VKB9wJ5yEQXrVKXavroY3kit3vSRY1ODdddtrPx2RZ691-nbrbvpRg1LbVG-rKSgOlnLMMwET5L/s1600-h/Vanessa's+Heart.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449168782765637762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgrA1BC_0G-53EZ-qGvvmooWK6I8sQPAudIi3GYkGIyuEkyBpw8ahDsqa9BJL1VKB9wJ5yEQXrVKXavroY3kit3vSRY1ODdddtrPx2RZ691-nbrbvpRg1LbVG-rKSgOlnLMMwET5L/s400/Vanessa's+Heart.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Unlike with her mom, Vanessa does not have a relationship with her dad. The optimistic banner "may we meet again" is a glance forward, toward the possibility of someday reconnecting with him.<br /><br />This large tattoo, on her right biceps, took eight hours, all in one sitting. The detail of the anatomically-correct heart is amazing. Vanessa pointed out how the artist added flowers to the design, as well as the rays of light in the upper right corner to create the shape of a figurative heart, as well.<br /><br />Both pieces were created by <a href="http://www.tattoolous.com/profileanthony.html#">Anthony Mealie</a> at <a href="http://www.tattoolous.com/about.html">Tattoo Lou's</a> in Selden, New York.<br /><br />Work from that shop has appeared previously <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Tattoo%20Lou%27s">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks again to Vanessa for sharing her wonderful tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Two for Tattoosday: Vanessa's Ink (Two Hearts Beat as One)

I met Vanessa last week and she generously shared two of her wonderful tattoos. This piece on her inner right forearm was her first tattoo: ...

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Gregory's Defenders of the Faith Tattoo

Gregory walked by me on Seventh Avenue in front of <a href="http://www.thegarden.com/">Madison Square Garden</a> and I saw a familiar icon from my youth:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfuEXLioDSQ1xM0_MLvG8BKozeZmWOA4wW37cjaIrAGZ2vMcfV-LOtMdDeEPGbRX086h_Mt7k6GtedzKXTDqtiLLnQWJwJfh2wHe1txC01QH41esusAs_6XFUDxaFCW5F-_s8NDZlzOg/s1600-h/Defenders.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375050523395200898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfuEXLioDSQ1xM0_MLvG8BKozeZmWOA4wW37cjaIrAGZ2vMcfV-LOtMdDeEPGbRX086h_Mt7k6GtedzKXTDqtiLLnQWJwJfh2wHe1txC01QH41esusAs_6XFUDxaFCW5F-_s8NDZlzOg/s400/Defenders.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 183px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />As a huge fan of <a href="http://judaspriest.com/">Judas Priest</a> in the 1980's, I recognized the basis for this tattoo immediately: the cover art for the 1984 album <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defenders_of_the_Faith" style="font-style: italic;">Defenders of the Faith</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONxHduu8yXFsdOmpvmDA_zE3s6A59ewaD1qFa6Atvd6hJa56OyyLEJsgnLjI0dS6tDLjjEzY_21TpBchMIPpsvJOgcE8TlLN6QKrLsVt5Z-0FJP8yWB0RNncQmS-i5-u0VpKe9Z04ih4/s1600-h/Judas_Priest-Defenders_of_the_Faith.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375047347521850242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONxHduu8yXFsdOmpvmDA_zE3s6A59ewaD1qFa6Atvd6hJa56OyyLEJsgnLjI0dS6tDLjjEzY_21TpBchMIPpsvJOgcE8TlLN6QKrLsVt5Z-0FJP8yWB0RNncQmS-i5-u0VpKe9Z04ih4/s400/Judas_Priest-Defenders_of_the_Faith.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 390px;" /></a><br />Gregory has four tattoos and is a fan of Japanese-style art. This album and its predecessor, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screaming_for_Vengeance" style="font-style: italic;">Screaming for Vengeance</a>, boasted cover art that had a distinct Japanese influence.<br /><br />He worked with the artist, <a href="http://www.risingdragon.com/artist.php?artist=c-jay">C-Jay</a> at <a href="http://www.risingdragon.com/">Rising Dragon</a> in Manhattan, to modify the design slightly, removing the tank treads and other militaristic elements from the original design.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9YtjPNG8ak_zk-4j6M4zPrC9nwjDCF4M0Gxe2iY0fs7rgPu2OKR0z5mhePXSUj4_nBKWV-R6tA2ECRdFAxHQzxDWbDkPLOXgRLjYgWett4O0NKhyf9qBT1U1_VetAWsd9nMcNZDv1kQ/s1600-h/Defender+Detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375049794245770978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9YtjPNG8ak_zk-4j6M4zPrC9nwjDCF4M0Gxe2iY0fs7rgPu2OKR0z5mhePXSUj4_nBKWV-R6tA2ECRdFAxHQzxDWbDkPLOXgRLjYgWett4O0NKhyf9qBT1U1_VetAWsd9nMcNZDv1kQ/s400/Defender+Detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Thanks to Gregory for sharing his amazing tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Gregory's Defenders of the Faith Tattoo

Gregory walked by me on Seventh Avenue in front of Madison Square Garden and I saw a familiar icon from my youth: As a huge fan of Judas Pr...

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Chip and Tom and Frank

Sometimes, the subject of a tattoo is unclear to the un-illuminated eye. Curiosity compels one to ask: what is that?<br /><br />And the answer makes sense. And one marvels at the mind behind the man (or woman) who says,"Yeah, let's put that on me forever."<br /><br />Such was the case during rush hour on the N train. An guy named Chip stood nearby and his right forearm intrigued me. I couldn't make out what his tattoos were. Can you?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9isiESKEMvsoFkUnyWX0wT5rSgvV1SJraja9D4n3X_RYIkJhK24_xWK4YxmW-rlviogSEa-i5v-KniTTnL4HJtqqTj9JYNAyEPUHK4PP_O3GiKaXQudZ70SoGDsC1dSCbZC4iaCDpuY/s1600-h/zappa+waits.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364199917380210642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9isiESKEMvsoFkUnyWX0wT5rSgvV1SJraja9D4n3X_RYIkJhK24_xWK4YxmW-rlviogSEa-i5v-KniTTnL4HJtqqTj9JYNAyEPUHK4PP_O3GiKaXQudZ70SoGDsC1dSCbZC4iaCDpuY/s400/zappa+waits.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />When I asked, he explained. The top piece is a photograph from a <a href="http://www.tomwaits.com/">Tom Waits</a> album:<br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRweTCj0jyFPw2q5qdAWi6weCHJfaFdKKqRDuRBR38YtVYMjmDtkLctOCBrYRa4Mx7wh6rZbVzpYd77WGYEuJSF4loETBkBQmZTUVqfS8T0zkdD8YWZzz7znArRi2BR_XbUV3We4oUGA/s1600-h/waits+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364199811951872306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRweTCj0jyFPw2q5qdAWi6weCHJfaFdKKqRDuRBR38YtVYMjmDtkLctOCBrYRa4Mx7wh6rZbVzpYd77WGYEuJSF4loETBkBQmZTUVqfS8T0zkdD8YWZzz7znArRi2BR_XbUV3We4oUGA/s400/waits+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 366px; height: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwJ-62CQhCYEGkK-V-mnfTU0ftLXfkutKPAUK_cOx_6NmW9EVCQFYjfT1w1hHKeF8gGWKs5c_JluC00OGBKbpVAu-qkR37Z8YEmvU1IqA9D2UhuAioRSzjZHZf4WtNUEicqIu4cxBueA/s1600-h/tom_waits_tree.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364202593707572386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwJ-62CQhCYEGkK-V-mnfTU0ftLXfkutKPAUK_cOx_6NmW9EVCQFYjfT1w1hHKeF8gGWKs5c_JluC00OGBKbpVAu-qkR37Z8YEmvU1IqA9D2UhuAioRSzjZHZf4WtNUEicqIu4cxBueA/s400/tom_waits_tree.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 381px;" /></a>Despite ascertaining this is a Tom Waits photograph, I can't pinpoint where it came from. If anyone knows for certain, please let me know. The tattoo was done by <a href="http://www.cjaytattoos.com/">C-Jay</a> at <a href="http://www.risingdragon.com/">Rising Dragon Tattoos</a> in Manhattan. Work from Rising Dragon has appeared previously <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Rising%20Dragon%20Tattoos">here</a>.<br /><br />Below the Waits tattoo is a <a href="http://www.zappa.com/flash/lumpymoney/index.html">Frank Zappa</a> piece:<br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaIPSpdQIv6ubrbz2uk5Fh7oaUGGg6ZOKShH6u7RMgqBDR5CfgUYoBMtSGlzBBpFNZJqRADv8iuMAQdk5zKET2lrWt_pvfopaeuSDqH8frSrZzPkd9hlhlQPKtnNbWknovm-KD9-kDgA/s1600-h/zappa+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364199743324366434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaIPSpdQIv6ubrbz2uk5Fh7oaUGGg6ZOKShH6u7RMgqBDR5CfgUYoBMtSGlzBBpFNZJqRADv8iuMAQdk5zKET2lrWt_pvfopaeuSDqH8frSrZzPkd9hlhlQPKtnNbWknovm-KD9-kDgA/s400/zappa+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />This is based on artwork that appeared on the back cover of Zappa's autobiography <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Real_Frank_Zappa_Book">The Real Frank Zappa Book</a>:<br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPnleJ-4VxL5ahVYLsGtdkA5aT5Lz6eoaF-1yLRPcF5p_u2dmdqYElra9PyFfwWMrMAH4_G3Ua9Drmlyz-XASKQDEtWZ_O3YSwxkAY0Zerxsdi8R8eDd_-_XxD08NZiwSvP5YXh02lbw/s1600-h/real_frank_zappa_book-back_cover.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364203398955785362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPnleJ-4VxL5ahVYLsGtdkA5aT5Lz6eoaF-1yLRPcF5p_u2dmdqYElra9PyFfwWMrMAH4_G3Ua9Drmlyz-XASKQDEtWZ_O3YSwxkAY0Zerxsdi8R8eDd_-_XxD08NZiwSvP5YXh02lbw/s400/real_frank_zappa_book-back_cover.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />This piece was tattooed by an artist he only identified as Chris at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/142698433">Marco's Tattoo</a> in Wakefield, Rhode Island.<br /><br />Obviously, Chip is a huge fan of both Frank Zappa and Tom Waits. That's all there is to it.<br /><br />Thanks to Chip for sharing his cool and unusual tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Chip and Tom and Frank

Sometimes, the subject of a tattoo is unclear to the un-illuminated eye. Curiosity compels one to ask: what is that? And the answer makes se...

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