Belinda's Penny-Farthing

At the end of May, I spotted Belinda's unusual bicycle tattoo on the 34th Street subway platform during Friday afternoon rush hour:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9yHn-kzuPEFxrRXb3N8RBov7VBmQb7xxu9OwigRW0-a7H7sa_3N9OsgmYXUAA5PltsNi7EYpQrku5tYIvmFBEv7dGDgsRCz0Bg7C7LMebbK1TKA7MVNwjWgtF68MZqyrqHku5Rxm/s1600/bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9yHn-kzuPEFxrRXb3N8RBov7VBmQb7xxu9OwigRW0-a7H7sa_3N9OsgmYXUAA5PltsNi7EYpQrku5tYIvmFBEv7dGDgsRCz0Bg7C7LMebbK1TKA7MVNwjWgtF68MZqyrqHku5Rxm/s400/bike.jpg" width="357" /></a></div><br />Of course, I asked her about this piece on her left ankle, since it isn't too often you see old-fashioned bicycle tattoos on people.<br /><br />Belinda explained tha a while back she had gone on a pilgrimmage to Spain, which included a 100-mile trek on bicycles. This design is of the "high wheel bicycle" that was introduced in the late 19th century and is more commonly referred to as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny-farthing">penny-farthing</a>. She told me that this was a much more efficient bicycle than had been seen before. The larger wheel allowed it to travel better, although the falls from a much greater height were a problem.<br /><br />Belinda added,<br /><br /><blockquote>"The purpose of the pilgrimage was not religious but more a curiosity to see this path (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Way_of_St._James">the Way of St. James</a>) that people have been taking for hundreds and hundreds of years just because of faith. I felt it was a great way to see the real "Spain" by riding through the small villages and woods...we ended in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_de_Compostela">Santiago de Compostela</a>..."</blockquote>This tattoo was inked by one of the artists at <a href="http://www.nyadorned.com/">NY Adorned</a>. Work from Adorned has appeared previously on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/New%20York%20Adorned">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks again to Belinda for sharing this cool tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Belinda's Penny-Farthing

At the end of May, I spotted Belinda's unusual bicycle tattoo on the 34th Street subway platform during Friday afternoon rush hour: Of c...

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Oscar's Quartet of Tattoos

Born in Costa Rica, a one-time resident of Canada, and now a denizen of the Bronx, Oscar has traveled all over the world.<br /><br />He expressed his passion for mountain biking to me as we talked in the Amtrak section of Penn Station.<br /><br />This made sense to me as I had noticed his bike-themed tattoo on his left calf:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7sU86tzCRACIPhW2eDDEVJqNKuhkXGNgtlDha5F1OgKWMg76QOZj9fgGsqHBMmjx7mwX72IUX73AZ61wZH-gk6j7lJWxL4DQR9EaCZ-W7JbXxwQ-yXTT52OmohPoolD5iRYIUJE0TaA/s1600-h/Oscar's+wheel.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375081240504161618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7sU86tzCRACIPhW2eDDEVJqNKuhkXGNgtlDha5F1OgKWMg76QOZj9fgGsqHBMmjx7mwX72IUX73AZ61wZH-gk6j7lJWxL4DQR9EaCZ-W7JbXxwQ-yXTT52OmohPoolD5iRYIUJE0TaA/s400/Oscar's+wheel.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 147px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The wheel is specific to a mountain bike he owns, and it is connected around the back of his leg by a bicycle chain: <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsmZVPr1_Jd0Moqx4L-Qid4fxWQMQpUcKzfTh6WL97lCd3u1RJ50Ex4hDutuGmSprn_NIlmwgHnoYXD1ssR8c0ZwyhTgqNi0PkVn1h-XmtAtldHxaSGQCDiqVI_gAk_3XP9pa9QyBcs8/s1600-h/oscars+chain.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375081071342909106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsmZVPr1_Jd0Moqx4L-Qid4fxWQMQpUcKzfTh6WL97lCd3u1RJ50Ex4hDutuGmSprn_NIlmwgHnoYXD1ssR8c0ZwyhTgqNi0PkVn1h-XmtAtldHxaSGQCDiqVI_gAk_3XP9pa9QyBcs8/s400/oscars+chain.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" /></a><br />The detail is quite good, almost three-dimensional, and the tribal flourishes up and down the leg add volume to the piece.<br /><br />This was his first tattoo, inked on his birthday, after many years of thinking about tattoos. He waited until he was ready, so that he could get something with deep meaning for him.<br /><br />Since then, he has added three other tattoos, all created by <a href="http://richie4240.tripod.com/richie.htm">Richard</a> at <a href="http://richie4240.tripod.com/">Jent's Tattooing</a> in Yonkers.<br /><br />He graciously shared those as well. First is a tribal <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven_%28mythology%29">raven</a>:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9JVevi4WEXls79TJiUqalsPOg9OXk19h8BKDE7l933dQR7IBY6o752uyI3S3w5a4jHRZAbxKXos6x5v4wcBRjjV7KidsoYXs7l_Ylzq6HYDqxiYVjnK4ROPW1vj4L-J-suE4dJ3T67E/s1600-h/oscars+crow.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375080565984351170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9JVevi4WEXls79TJiUqalsPOg9OXk19h8BKDE7l933dQR7IBY6o752uyI3S3w5a4jHRZAbxKXos6x5v4wcBRjjV7KidsoYXs7l_Ylzq6HYDqxiYVjnK4ROPW1vj4L-J-suE4dJ3T67E/s400/oscars+crow.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Oscar spoke of the raven's relationship with God. In the folklore, Raven helps the gods to raise the moon and the stars. He also is known as the prankster, who is always trying to catch the Sun.<br /><br />In addition, there is a tattoo of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva">Shiva</a>, who Oscar acknowledges as a deity who "destroys ignorance and builds knowledge":<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDTpOZoYNmPiApynJePCuLF-lnpR0gp9xQpHcCoUblo9JxDBwsFQ6vyRKC9VVM76i2guCqZEhFBMoSm6uYYasfgQRylFqIT6nEUuk6IeIuTHj4Kcjds6ELWZucYrK3pwENbmQ7MTeb9A/s1600-h/oscars+shiva.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375080968016809090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDTpOZoYNmPiApynJePCuLF-lnpR0gp9xQpHcCoUblo9JxDBwsFQ6vyRKC9VVM76i2guCqZEhFBMoSm6uYYasfgQRylFqIT6nEUuk6IeIuTHj4Kcjds6ELWZucYrK3pwENbmQ7MTeb9A/s400/oscars+shiva.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Finally, Oscar wears a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_eye">Third Eye</a> on his right bicep, which carries its traditional meaning:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKkgqbqOpNMWuBEEFvIY6YwoBbZaF8k0GzlUqUernxL8CJwV684U62Y3iZWwEgF0w5tG9_Z2DmqnJsu98VFz8EvKX_WUqD8frtu6KsOUq4p82zZkj4e6Vjo8UXfEE9MsmNFJBrVbEGp8/s1600-h/oscars+third+eye.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375080476650086130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKkgqbqOpNMWuBEEFvIY6YwoBbZaF8k0GzlUqUernxL8CJwV684U62Y3iZWwEgF0w5tG9_Z2DmqnJsu98VFz8EvKX_WUqD8frtu6KsOUq4p82zZkj4e6Vjo8UXfEE9MsmNFJBrVbEGp8/s400/oscars+third+eye.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 344px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Many thanks to Oscar for sharing his amazing tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Oscar's Quartet of Tattoos

Born in Costa Rica, a one-time resident of Canada, and now a denizen of the Bronx, Oscar has traveled all over the world. He expressed his p...

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Massimo Shares A Tribal Design

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilx7A7_3B_-XTsvTVILeU5qiVtUfIH5Xhb7vpy1jzt2cTaX5MT3fDaaO_tayXJ3qMbd_00xPtOwwuAPJZ5-i1YbhrIt1nTm07Ehp3uqbbs3OP1f7bzwp4VfSIaySRIaaMvGEpt2aittH2t/s1600-h/PICT0480.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235129414896421250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilx7A7_3B_-XTsvTVILeU5qiVtUfIH5Xhb7vpy1jzt2cTaX5MT3fDaaO_tayXJ3qMbd_00xPtOwwuAPJZ5-i1YbhrIt1nTm07Ehp3uqbbs3OP1f7bzwp4VfSIaySRIaaMvGEpt2aittH2t/s400/PICT0480.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />I met Massimo on the plaza in front of Penn Station last Friday and talked to him about this cool piece he has on his right foot.<br /><br />He was visiting from Milan and, according to him, designed and tattooed this himself about seven years ago. He had a friend who was a tattoo apprentice around that time, who taught him the basics of tattooing.<br /><br />He began by saying this was Hawaii-inspired, which is understandable, as it has the "look" of a Hawaiian tiki in its design.<br /><br />He also said that the top part is inspired by the fact he had been doing a lot of cycling, which<br />lot of cycling, which influenced the top half of the tattoo. A closer look reveals a resemblance to a bicycle wheel:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFalVkykFi8beqKsRWbFiO7Cuhhgjudl1uG8ME98Nar-6oih2e7kJ2AR2OByHiv4OTw_EVnAiBySXrb0KjXV2uVRM4bKTfM9cY2K_XUPIgxDwFs5jLMxNUknh4WFkCIKREni6D1Q2RkaI6/s1600-h/cycle+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235795015873814082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFalVkykFi8beqKsRWbFiO7Cuhhgjudl1uG8ME98Nar-6oih2e7kJ2AR2OByHiv4OTw_EVnAiBySXrb0KjXV2uVRM4bKTfM9cY2K_XUPIgxDwFs5jLMxNUknh4WFkCIKREni6D1Q2RkaI6/s400/cycle+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />He was also very candid with me and said that he was smoking a lot at that time and he would wake up the next day and find incredible designs lying around. This was one of them.<br /><br />After I took the picture, Massimo had second thoughts, hesitating about letting me post this on Tattoosday. He was worried that his design would be copied. I appealed to him and I must have been convincing, as he changed his mind and assented.<br /><br />Thank you, Massimo, for sharing this design with us here at Tattoosday!

Massimo Shares A Tribal Design

I met Massimo on the plaza in front of Penn Station last Friday and talked to him about this cool piece he has on his right foot. He was vis...

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