Alex Shares Three Elements of an Amazing Sleeve

I'm not sure why it has taken so long to post Alex's tattoos - when I met him at the end of May in K-Mart @ Penn Station, I was totally stoked by his ink. Perhaps I was just letting the photos simmer as I waited for the right time to share them. Nevertheless, here they are, finally.<br /><br />What we're seeing are three portions of Alex's left arm sleeve, beginning with this segment which is the most impressive part of the work:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7XkrW20wENR0ktAfS_3YxQhw-1peAjRY_YyxL9Q5sbPps957JSudiYAVc4hREJgJtbq71VZFJHEfbSFjfez6EIPM_MlfUZrsY4fDLRK9CHdkyojOJp6b1D3WLK4Jf2Zf2vhJffojnyg/s1600/Indra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7XkrW20wENR0ktAfS_3YxQhw-1peAjRY_YyxL9Q5sbPps957JSudiYAVc4hREJgJtbq71VZFJHEfbSFjfez6EIPM_MlfUZrsY4fDLRK9CHdkyojOJp6b1D3WLK4Jf2Zf2vhJffojnyg/s640/Indra.jpg" width="164" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As Alex explains, this tattoo is </div><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"inspired by the carvings in Cambodia in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siem_Reap">Siem Reap</a> ... it's one of the temples of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indra">Indra</a>, Indian god of thunder ... he's also the god of change and progress ...  </div></blockquote><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IBMiJAFjwn7rXjYsqSf0pP6M4fOSfFK9i0aapF96yiHuphPjhmsVSFZBzSNj_9a9eYsgTZnPiPKuJZmuSc1VLBcYLTIrBM9scalZcnQR1arpp8uvk9ZvigKkCmWaVlFDO8oaFHnOwXw/s1600/Indra+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IBMiJAFjwn7rXjYsqSf0pP6M4fOSfFK9i0aapF96yiHuphPjhmsVSFZBzSNj_9a9eYsgTZnPiPKuJZmuSc1VLBcYLTIrBM9scalZcnQR1arpp8uvk9ZvigKkCmWaVlFDO8oaFHnOwXw/s640/Indra+detail.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div></blockquote><br /><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> ... He's very human-like because he messes up a lot ... he's somewhat of a womanized, so it makes him very original from the rest of the Indian gods..."</div></blockquote>At the top of Alex's arm is this symbol:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvvsC5tCG-wHG54BNMg_Nq8PZVNNP_oZURJfmlBkTMa6BNFxYf3ngVWvu4YAAyZOYvnUPYbuVv3x6LaHAzykSh-hOxeBDbUdKl6bfD-Cxs0ZW1y5r3eAeJb4LB2UbrPRzEKx35xa87uU/s1600/Life+of+Agony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvvsC5tCG-wHG54BNMg_Nq8PZVNNP_oZURJfmlBkTMa6BNFxYf3ngVWvu4YAAyZOYvnUPYbuVv3x6LaHAzykSh-hOxeBDbUdKl6bfD-Cxs0ZW1y5r3eAeJb4LB2UbrPRzEKx35xa87uU/s640/Life+of+Agony.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />He told me that this is the logo of a hard rock group from Brooklyn called <a href="http://www.lifeofagony.com/">Life of Agony</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinA3_gjCCm0QYxp0BVD7KDPYZjZ57IAsJm7CssjZV7FK89Gvj2pNdkIGjxkri7rqcf-LPnHH0_-HlDuzrQMYSG0ARyeqnlVtvfC7FbgwBCRaZ4cdFztpEVJN-c20wzdqwROcGzTHaViVo/s1600/51RItv2N2iL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinA3_gjCCm0QYxp0BVD7KDPYZjZ57IAsJm7CssjZV7FK89Gvj2pNdkIGjxkri7rqcf-LPnHH0_-HlDuzrQMYSG0ARyeqnlVtvfC7FbgwBCRaZ4cdFztpEVJN-c20wzdqwROcGzTHaViVo/s1600/51RItv2N2iL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" /></a></div><br />You can check out their website <a href="http://www.lifeofagony.com/">here</a> or peruse their Amazon catalog <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fentity%2FLife-of-Agony%2FB000AQ07T8%2Fdigital%3Fie%3DUTF8%26ref_%3Dntt_mp3_rdr%26sn%3Dd%23&tag=bill03-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957%22%3ELife%20of%20Agony%20Amazon%20index%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=ur2&o=1%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">here</a>.<br /><br />In the photo above, you get a glimpse of the third and final segment of Alex's sleeve which we're seeing today, which features this familiar face:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7XXGTXLsK0L60Pon8PbiO8psiM-MDTZQkqi050il2JwU_9DBo95HbFYBD5IjVBeoHSNW69Yhb4fn0B-gLvoBrVDfsXTmOm_fJvaIAXznqKd55b6hVtoc41GTGJWRRmFbqeLXYnJBbPt8/s1600/Steeplechase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7XXGTXLsK0L60Pon8PbiO8psiM-MDTZQkqi050il2JwU_9DBo95HbFYBD5IjVBeoHSNW69Yhb4fn0B-gLvoBrVDfsXTmOm_fJvaIAXznqKd55b6hVtoc41GTGJWRRmFbqeLXYnJBbPt8/s640/Steeplechase.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><br />That's the symbolic face of  <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steeplechase_Park">Steeplechase Park</a> on Coney Island.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3hUbXlbihXXpKkEtMri72itl7jKoIJwkQoPXA4WSAdVAxs8I-VTGYDnSrsJ6lzAEx64aoMxQPDozSimygjyIc_B8ryfsWVBiE8MIbyf2ztZ-a6aVSpag_QmCv1mawnrw_0Sj2w2V_vc/s400/CONEY+ISLAND+STEEPLE+CHASE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3hUbXlbihXXpKkEtMri72itl7jKoIJwkQoPXA4WSAdVAxs8I-VTGYDnSrsJ6lzAEx64aoMxQPDozSimygjyIc_B8ryfsWVBiE8MIbyf2ztZ-a6aVSpag_QmCv1mawnrw_0Sj2w2V_vc/s320/CONEY+ISLAND+STEEPLE+CHASE.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><br />Compare to <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/12/two-no-three-from-lisa-marie.html">this tattoo</a>, which appeared here last year.<br /><br />Alex explained about his connection to Coney Island:<br /><blockquote>"...Basically, I grew up there ... I grew up in Bensonhurst, but [Coney Island] is kind of where I became myself, adolescence and all that stuff - that's the <u>old</u> Coney Island..."</blockquote>Alex credited all of his work to a tattoo artist named <a href="http://sethwoodtattoo.com/about">Seth Wood </a>who is currently working out of <a href="http://www.savedtattoo.com/">Saved Tattoo</a> in Brooklyn.<br /><br />Thanks to Alex for sharing this amazing work 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"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><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><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>

Alex Shares Three Elements of an Amazing Sleeve

I'm not sure why it has taken so long to post Alex's tattoos - when I met him at the end of May in K-Mart @ Penn Station, I was tota...

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Ganesh Waits for the A Train

Actually, Kerry was waiting on the platform for the uptown <a href="http://www.mta.info/nyct/service/aline.htm">A Train</a> when I walked by at 34th Street.<br /><br />How could I not stop and ask her about this tattoo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89AkCji3tGDFBZLvCDTmqVV5ZFYzd9XVCxVEz9Fgy9g3Ey112IyC78ap8FsbbRGiy4dM3-rUKKmSn6Iz1Aoyb5vG6ot-3awUGglgEw3W_Hu1ik5_i92YAQzZAuY9rovjbURua2Paj/s1600/Ganesh+Center.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89AkCji3tGDFBZLvCDTmqVV5ZFYzd9XVCxVEz9Fgy9g3Ey112IyC78ap8FsbbRGiy4dM3-rUKKmSn6Iz1Aoyb5vG6ot-3awUGglgEw3W_Hu1ik5_i92YAQzZAuY9rovjbURua2Paj/s640/Ganesh+Center.jpg" width="326" /></a></div><br /><br />This absolutely stunning depiction of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_deities">Hindu</a> deity <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesha">Ganesh</a> took between eight and nine hours to complete. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcI8GdlB6ZAoBX4H2HhQR1jOopOSw4YAlfi5zdVW45grD3AtrfQzvHBz-s6QSg5eqwbE_EL7QlvZDHeRxTLmJuAwQ7XAoRIrzwzHqEQxks-APhrrkBNS5KA1Quhl96fm8Y9BlXwvVV/s1600/Ganesh+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcI8GdlB6ZAoBX4H2HhQR1jOopOSw4YAlfi5zdVW45grD3AtrfQzvHBz-s6QSg5eqwbE_EL7QlvZDHeRxTLmJuAwQ7XAoRIrzwzHqEQxks-APhrrkBNS5KA1Quhl96fm8Y9BlXwvVV/s400/Ganesh+collage.jpg" width="397" /></a></div><br /><br /><a href="http://guyursitti.com/">Guy Ursitti</a> at <a href="http://www.thickerthanwatertattoo.com/index.html">Thicker Than Water</a> is the tattooist responsible for this work of art, the newest (at the time I met her) of Kerry's approximately fifty tattoos.<br /><br />The detail in the tattoo is absolutely incredible.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7GLNtYlr_9s38yoWJaero37SgFQvPj6FMWDsrpRkcVtIWDiz1DDpCrPekL1lvKg9gHlDjoq-y-owE_eaZOYspBc1qOh20FahRe-tEvXSXsJcXV8Vr8F5VWAJbjfVJcpjA1I4N0zv/s1600/Ganesh+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7GLNtYlr_9s38yoWJaero37SgFQvPj6FMWDsrpRkcVtIWDiz1DDpCrPekL1lvKg9gHlDjoq-y-owE_eaZOYspBc1qOh20FahRe-tEvXSXsJcXV8Vr8F5VWAJbjfVJcpjA1I4N0zv/s400/Ganesh+detail.jpg" width="361" /></a></div><br />Work from Thicker Than Water has appeared previously on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Thicker%20Than%20Water">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Kerry for sharing this amazing tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Ganesh Waits for the A Train

Actually, Kerry was waiting on the platform for the uptown A Train when I walked by at 34th Street. How could I not stop and ask her about ...

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Tracy's Indian God

I approached Tracy in Penn Station to ask her about the large <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva">Shiva</a> tattoo on her right arm.<br /><br />However, the piece wasn't finished, so she rolled up her left pant leg to display this intricate tattoo:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORCJA3lVpTb_WJDVgR16InHRpCulNEFIPokNtUvMCbtkdP0m_2TxneqqCwQXDIzh3BzdwC1lv1_eP5bhIi20dKWqapc6erGEMRHihdXvoo3odSN9n0cLZ-QJh15AvBfX74Q3FU-hI_eI/s1600-h/Brahma.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369754942622061154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORCJA3lVpTb_WJDVgR16InHRpCulNEFIPokNtUvMCbtkdP0m_2TxneqqCwQXDIzh3BzdwC1lv1_eP5bhIi20dKWqapc6erGEMRHihdXvoo3odSN9n0cLZ-QJh15AvBfX74Q3FU-hI_eI/s400/Brahma.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />She couldn't remember which god this is, in the Hindu pantheon. I'm going to guess it is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahma">Brahma</a>, the Creator, but I will entertain corrections, especially if I'm wrong.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1LwKXqd-plcqmAEyphiQM0eXRiIw1GTsASuYgbuaiAa1olCtTKpGagb0u4jTA-ob3Pk6msF8hSn7m5yC8ZfCJV0A_0-XQpMChUuCjb4NPNKwv7xLtkkmRktEvVdh3Y2KgpxC4zCKQIU/s1600-h/Brahma+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369755363679752818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1LwKXqd-plcqmAEyphiQM0eXRiIw1GTsASuYgbuaiAa1olCtTKpGagb0u4jTA-ob3Pk6msF8hSn7m5yC8ZfCJV0A_0-XQpMChUuCjb4NPNKwv7xLtkkmRktEvVdh3Y2KgpxC4zCKQIU/s400/Brahma+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Tracy loves Asian art and similarly loved this design.<br /><br />It was inked in about four hours at <a href="http://www.brooklyntattoo.com/">Brooklyn Tattoo</a> by <a href="http://www.brooklyntattoo.com/ROBERT.html">Robert</a>. Work from Brooklyn Tattoo has appeared previously on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Brooklyn%20Tattoo">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Tracy for sharing her amazing tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Tracy's Indian God

I approached Tracy in Penn Station to ask her about the large Shiva tattoo on her right arm. However, the piece wasn't finished, so she...

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Elvis and the Saint

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFLrHfSwH0FoIV1NyqebAK_Y8TC3jO8F8buerhE9rTajZtZFG6MCe2n622MH3gSID-7cggmYknzmN8YxQwrShOKv4xQONQ00tZlYP2S448H_HNidCaNzK1YqmmYrqUqYxQtLIVdIN5r4/s1600-h/Monk+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353050285479038210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFLrHfSwH0FoIV1NyqebAK_Y8TC3jO8F8buerhE9rTajZtZFG6MCe2n622MH3gSID-7cggmYknzmN8YxQwrShOKv4xQONQ00tZlYP2S448H_HNidCaNzK1YqmmYrqUqYxQtLIVdIN5r4/s400/Monk+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 380px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />I met Kristin and Jason at the 7th Avenue Street Fair in Park Slope on Father's Day.<br /><br />Street fairs in New York City generally occur in the summer months and, to an inkspotter like me, they are heaven on earth.<br /><br />Well, perhaps I exaggerate. They are also hot, crowded, and dangerous. I have seen many a fair-goer clipped by a slowly-moving baby stroller. But I digress.<br /><br />There were tattoos aplenty at the street fair, and one is so overwhelmed by the sheer volume of great ink, it is often paralyzing to pick just one. Compare it to letting a child lose in a candy store, and tell them they can have all the candy they want, as long as they spend just a dollar.<br /><br />So when I saw a few people walking along that were festooned with tattoos, I stopped them as soon as I could wend my way through the crowd and get their attention.<br /><br />When someone has "lost count" of how many tattoos they have, it is safe to say that they have a lot.<br /><br />Kristin offered up her inner right forearm:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAAMU4PH7R6jwbdexnKpaP4_3qbc9nIcv6APbm-438tc0ns9RgNe281oipMYQeI47kznHE2QAK0VSkqbyjCXqFG33YjTpe5BgsNNsSzyRaQLUYrLGmooL0A4ZJWvbvRa7YiWXGM4C0fA/s1600-h/Elvis.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353049558154761602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAAMU4PH7R6jwbdexnKpaP4_3qbc9nIcv6APbm-438tc0ns9RgNe281oipMYQeI47kznHE2QAK0VSkqbyjCXqFG33YjTpe5BgsNNsSzyRaQLUYrLGmooL0A4ZJWvbvRa7YiWXGM4C0fA/s400/Elvis.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 187px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />She loves <a href="http://www.elvis.com/">Elvis Presley</a> and this portrait, based on a shot of him from the film <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girls%21_Girls%21_Girls%21" style="font-style: italic;">Girls! Girls! Girls!</a>, is wonderfully done.<br /><br />She noted that this was an older Elvis, but definitely pre-Vegas.<br /><br />Jason, who was walking with Kristin, and also incredibly inked, offered up his right forearm as well:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4PT0UYAal_T_eG1Yr3qsr2Ob-GQSw41jDTZcqrR7O9v4s3PtnME_4k-HT_fwtinJlbCiHqJHa83kSl_uFnWXw7wIMwAMyaSdkTKF_2EFHhR1EVPXoDJdMisH-hXynFJgElcn_OO6f4E/s1600-h/Monk.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353049915930140466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4PT0UYAal_T_eG1Yr3qsr2Ob-GQSw41jDTZcqrR7O9v4s3PtnME_4k-HT_fwtinJlbCiHqJHa83kSl_uFnWXw7wIMwAMyaSdkTKF_2EFHhR1EVPXoDJdMisH-hXynFJgElcn_OO6f4E/s400/Monk.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Upon returning from a trip to India several years ago, Jason brought home a poster of a Hindu saint. He loved the poster so much, he decided to have it tattooed.<br /><br />I'll be honest here. I was initially disappointed that these were the tattoos that Jason and Kristin offered. Not that they're bad tattoos. Far from it. But, they had other work I admired more.<br /><br />However, I do ask people which tattoos they'd like to share, so I certainly have no right to complain.<br /><br />But, in the week or so since I shot these photos, I've come to appreciate the level of skill and artistry with which these pieces were created.<br /><br />Both were inked by Josh Carlton at the <a href="http://www.joshuacarlton.com/">Great American Tattoo Company</a> in Indianapolis.<br /><br />If you look closely, he has infused each tattoo with colorful highlights that really accentuate the tattoos with an extra element of artistry.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8-MhMfHiNY8heoJJSKZAAFqHh3axMBkPFmHrZU0zTK6Z4XK8UuvbXOyeimtZjfpL0xlFklj5p39DPTjQNvtelcHFaqQIybbPp85rBT4ZtnfwSd3vQ3x7Q7XGFLCbgNviAdf12nIj2fA/s1600-h/elvis+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353050686571042274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8-MhMfHiNY8heoJJSKZAAFqHh3axMBkPFmHrZU0zTK6Z4XK8UuvbXOyeimtZjfpL0xlFklj5p39DPTjQNvtelcHFaqQIybbPp85rBT4ZtnfwSd3vQ3x7Q7XGFLCbgNviAdf12nIj2fA/s400/elvis+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />It's a brilliant effect.<br /><br />Thanks to both Kristin and Jason for sharing these two amazing tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Elvis and the Saint

I met Kristin and Jason at the 7th Avenue Street Fair in Park Slope on Father's Day. Street fairs in New York City generally occur in th...

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Fabiana's Saraswati Tattoo

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCmCxzf-YbUPUOxGIR2PxJOBdVgP1oFaT8_nT0PwSzif-BL6vJpfF7PmzpA0PTDRtiuzE_9hmcLsDHvPAVbByyFQBVTLl4dQ9EXCfI9I-9FoNn2Uzz19U2ciYjV1T1oxUdHiGhfV8A6tf/s1600-h/tatttss+009.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217992855207395602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCmCxzf-YbUPUOxGIR2PxJOBdVgP1oFaT8_nT0PwSzif-BL6vJpfF7PmzpA0PTDRtiuzE_9hmcLsDHvPAVbByyFQBVTLl4dQ9EXCfI9I-9FoNn2Uzz19U2ciYjV1T1oxUdHiGhfV8A6tf/s400/tatttss+009.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><br />First of all, let me first thank all my visitors who helped me get 10,000 hits in the month of June alone. That's more than the first five months of Tattoosday (September '07 to February '08, combined). I am grateful for your interest and hope you continue to visit us here.<br /><br />Above is another one of Fabiana's tattoos. It is located on her inner left bicep and is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saraswati">Saraswati</a>, the Hindu goddess of arts, knowledge and music.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJe1aiCXjP4EIM4uhlFbNdHPFfTLR_XfTfGwJGPcMh8dIqQwc9NTJuEoEfROjJ70BaFXq_HZvMzKhGLvnfHU7GRxsnUJRgVCYRpPVerw-ZvvwkW2OcnRkeudgcI0G-TKVLsqvc4wVk0iLN/s1600-h/saraswati.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218350960089780114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJe1aiCXjP4EIM4uhlFbNdHPFfTLR_XfTfGwJGPcMh8dIqQwc9NTJuEoEfROjJ70BaFXq_HZvMzKhGLvnfHU7GRxsnUJRgVCYRpPVerw-ZvvwkW2OcnRkeudgcI0G-TKVLsqvc4wVk0iLN/s400/saraswati.gif" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Fabiana first learned about this goddess while reading a Tori Amos book (probably <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tori-Amos-Piece/dp/076791676X">this one</a>) and thought Saraswati "was so beautiful....I knew she would bring me strength and knowledge".<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjox2Lm6s-WIH4cY-RUAzyBBgQDFBI0tXhlouzcpsJpnPqRPfojpPIjYPAMQqBrD5yO0LLhdovdSZhalykzg3RBRyirsH0pFSN9Ujjq-cwmhw348w2n7Az0MC94P_NQ8etUHYQofekj72dW/s1600-h/saraswati.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217992960319432130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjox2Lm6s-WIH4cY-RUAzyBBgQDFBI0tXhlouzcpsJpnPqRPfojpPIjYPAMQqBrD5yO0LLhdovdSZhalykzg3RBRyirsH0pFSN9Ujjq-cwmhw348w2n7Az0MC94P_NQ8etUHYQofekj72dW/s400/saraswati.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />This piece was inked by Lou Andrew, the owner and artist at Third Eye Tattoos in Brooklyn.<br /><br />Fabiana's ink has appeared previously on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/06/introducing-fabianas-ink.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks again to Fabiana for sharing her body art here! If you like her ink, don't worry there's more appearing here later this month!!<br /><span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br /></span></span>

Fabiana's Saraswati Tattoo

First of all, let me first thank all my visitors who helped me get 10,000 hits in the month of June alone. That's more than the first fi...

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Kali Takes Manhattan

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pznJhK_Z8BrQ2pSOwkwdACekZWGq8_F5jsys_d3sMl9IAwsp7ikb2ZNQm-fZaDeaszcu5WAY7irC4AS0Toa7PYimmWAi38joo_v1cvzEgIh8vR8cbAKPsFpWp36aa8uRcEUWv0AJQhYs/s1600-h/100_7564.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212775563504161842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pznJhK_Z8BrQ2pSOwkwdACekZWGq8_F5jsys_d3sMl9IAwsp7ikb2ZNQm-fZaDeaszcu5WAY7irC4AS0Toa7PYimmWAi38joo_v1cvzEgIh8vR8cbAKPsFpWp36aa8uRcEUWv0AJQhYs/s400/100_7564.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Ronda J. is a painter/musician from New York City who wears this beautiful tattoo on her left bicep.<br /><br />This is the Hindu goddess <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali">Kali</a>, who is often associated with death and destruction, although she more accurately represents change.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZDatcjp2VKabDkYNvSbnRVzCV03ljpAbh7Wx37CSfxQopLyw0RJi-qMV13Cy81rOKYGqT90omWxHtucnNx72n31VwX2vR4j_RS-WKcNbic6jA78isAqJCRbcgw9MiUWIo7NOexu1OZBl/s1600-h/100_7568.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212775751668543538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZDatcjp2VKabDkYNvSbnRVzCV03ljpAbh7Wx37CSfxQopLyw0RJi-qMV13Cy81rOKYGqT90omWxHtucnNx72n31VwX2vR4j_RS-WKcNbic6jA78isAqJCRbcgw9MiUWIo7NOexu1OZBl/s400/100_7568.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />This tattoo is a traditional image of Kali, with one significant exception. Whereas she is usually pictured standing upon the deity <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva">Shiva</a>, this incarnation has her standing on a city aflame. Ronda J. points out that the burning metropolis is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City">New York City</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCthRzT2CpPGdsZUkMG7t_MqZPCkWPu8-4BTcXeyfCI0osO-E2sKV3byFbbQek27ajvikNqF-WFFw2sHcdtnv3mqJYOMzdKrvhch8XCOjvR-yCVcdz4Q1e8B0_uP220cNg6CHLVVdwlJyc/s1600-h/100_7569.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212775963874238450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCthRzT2CpPGdsZUkMG7t_MqZPCkWPu8-4BTcXeyfCI0osO-E2sKV3byFbbQek27ajvikNqF-WFFw2sHcdtnv3mqJYOMzdKrvhch8XCOjvR-yCVcdz4Q1e8B0_uP220cNg6CHLVVdwlJyc/s400/100_7569.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />It should be noted, she points out, that the flames reach highest behind the two twin towers in the lower right section of the tattoo:<br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg55lwsSmeogdUtKIsX26B-AEX7F93Dp4o83f9bcsDj2LPVa_wBO7-05lznVqxRHSjDhr9PptMhA55i4qSyWL_hnV-kqiIcC8IGrx1b15Zy8wA8F9jcZysTal8qcIBxSltKn1ZgMq-zZGe/s1600-h/100_7566.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212776241069046114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg55lwsSmeogdUtKIsX26B-AEX7F93Dp4o83f9bcsDj2LPVa_wBO7-05lznVqxRHSjDhr9PptMhA55i4qSyWL_hnV-kqiIcC8IGrx1b15Zy8wA8F9jcZysTal8qcIBxSltKn1ZgMq-zZGe/s400/100_7566.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>This is of course the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Center">World Trade Center</a>, but the piece was completed in 1997, four years before <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11%2C_2001_attacks">9/11</a>. This makes the tattoo that much more haunting.<br /><br />This remarkable work was inked by <a href="http://www.flyritetattoo.net/elio_espana/ElioEspanaMain.html">Elio Espana</a> at <a href="http://www.flyritetattoo.net/enter.html">Fly-Rite Studio</a> in Brooklyn. Work from Elio and Fly-Rite has appeared on Tattoosday previously <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2007/12/jasons-koi-and-flower.html">here</a> and <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/03/rising-sun.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Ronda J. is a self-described Kali-initiate. Hindu mysticism takes on many forms, and I got the distinct impression that her faith in Kali was multi-layered, and by proxy, her connection to this tattoo and its meaning was exceptionally complex.<br /><br />Thanks to Ronda J. for sharing her tattoo here at Tattoosday!

Kali Takes Manhattan

Ronda J. is a painter/musician from New York City who wears this beautiful tattoo on her left bicep. This is the Hindu goddess Kali , who is...

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Tattoos I Know: Paul Part 2, or, The Traditional Japanese Sleeve

NOTE: This post was updated on March 31, 2008 with three additional photographs.<br /><br /><span style="color:black;">Here's a Tattoosday first: a repeat subject in this blog's history.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;">Paul appeared <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/02/tattoos-i-know-pauls-first-tattoo.html">here</a> first, showing off <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/02/tattoos-i-know-pauls-first-tattoo.html">his first tattoo</a>, a dragon. In this post, Paul returns, showing off a full sleeve on his left arm.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;">The sleeve consists of traditional elements: there is a dragon, a lotus, a mask, a lily, and a koi.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;">If you went back in a time machine 8 or 9 years to visit Paul's arm, you would have seen a grim reaper holding a skull on the bicep:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_4W5lssA1FrXg4L-4KdxDgHBvyMJyNrQK-SyVO3isigHKuOLUoh4GMNy4ni_sh8WQh4nsjS_GHPFFAjTyYQJJps35-emQH2Rt7PfDNfGHjipIeSMhT1EtDw0VbS5074Kq1xr3yr34-PX/s1600-h/scan0134.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184049469325809730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_4W5lssA1FrXg4L-4KdxDgHBvyMJyNrQK-SyVO3isigHKuOLUoh4GMNy4ni_sh8WQh4nsjS_GHPFFAjTyYQJJps35-emQH2Rt7PfDNfGHjipIeSMhT1EtDw0VbS5074Kq1xr3yr34-PX/s400/scan0134.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />and some roses in a pattern on the forearm. These earlie</span><span style="color:black;">r tattoos have been covered by elements in the sleeve. Even when told where the original ink lies, it's extremely difficult to see the previous work.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p>So I will break this down into two sections: the upper arm and the lower arm.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;">The upper arm began with the dragon cover-up:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEvTQAhJISZo04KdgZb49aaEgwtXfu7lVCa3TMDVLucs5t-9UKPb_9PGuJVkvE5EbBnw_WVudJqFkNloUd0dzD9PZHFTo6CXhW6i1YC4y28KgNXj9h0aW_NGIofUFwLYc6bFaPU93vt3q/s1600-h/100_6773.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178854584313400914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEvTQAhJISZo04KdgZb49aaEgwtXfu7lVCa3TMDVLucs5t-9UKPb_9PGuJVkvE5EbBnw_WVudJqFkNloUd0dzD9PZHFTo6CXhW6i1YC4y28KgNXj9h0aW_NGIofUFwLYc6bFaPU93vt3q/s400/100_6773.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span><span style="color:black;"><br /></span><span style="color:black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZJ9wvJ3ZoQ5xoQ-FSC4A9VHcMZw6Pnwj2WwlY_8JmhKqOTTajd8_soyj4nUK9UL4CDliORy0L9blNZif8S1Q2M1Uoj2wTbLPt14OsAUj0ikw4Wl1lb4aUmm9T2-TjSTpt4WaqYBqH4ZD/s1600-h/100_6774.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178854365270068802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZJ9wvJ3ZoQ5xoQ-FSC4A9VHcMZw6Pnwj2WwlY_8JmhKqOTTajd8_soyj4nUK9UL4CDliORy0L9blNZif8S1Q2M1Uoj2wTbLPt14OsAUj0ikw4Wl1lb4aUmm9T2-TjSTpt4WaqYBqH4ZD/s400/100_6774.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7pmUJ5Ah5hV2abL4Nc0W1inspJdPY085gn64i8UupUb4rEiNPKixlyqSKLx3Mc34U_xGQWdnAM8-C6gJkS4zqrZfWflHY_TOzmeE4Klns-WBKEGrn9lk8P-5SC1rnHduLQZzXGE7McmJ/s1600-h/Om_siddham.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178856315185221218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7pmUJ5Ah5hV2abL4Nc0W1inspJdPY085gn64i8UupUb4rEiNPKixlyqSKLx3Mc34U_xGQWdnAM8-C6gJkS4zqrZfWflHY_TOzmeE4Klns-WBKEGrn9lk8P-5SC1rnHduLQZzXGE7McmJ/s200/Om_siddham.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><span style="color:black;">The dark rock below the dragon covered the old piece. This design, which included the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om">aum</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om">om</a> symbol at the top of the arm, was inked by Carlos at <a href="http://www.risingdragon.com/index.html">Rising Dragon Tattoos</a> in Chelsea back in 2001. The aum symbol is the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddham_script"><b><span title="International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration" class="Unicode" style="white-space: normal; text-decoration: none;" lang="sa-Latn">Siddh</span></b></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddham_script"><b><span title="International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration" class="Unicode" style="white-space: normal; text-decoration: none;" lang="sa-Latn">aṃ</span></b></a><span style="color:black;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddham_script"> script</a> version and is a mystical and sacred symbol in Indian religions. Note that this <span style="font-style: italic;">om</span> is different than the one that appeare din the first Tattoosday post <a href="http://oxypoet.blogspot.com/2007/07/introducing-tattoosday.html">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;">Paul was not 100% thrilled with the dragon, so when he decided to</span><span style="color:black;"> finish the sleeve, the following year, he went elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;">The lower part of the arm, which is the more prominent part of the sleeve, was inked by </span><span style="color:black;">Mike Bellamy at <a href="http://www.redrockettattoo.com/">Red Rocket Tattoo</a> in Manhattan, although at the time his shop was known as Triple X Tattoo.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="color:black;">The specific elements in the sleeve are all traditional <i style="">irezumi</i>, or</span><span style="color:black;"> Japanese tattooing,</span> elements.<br /><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-QCvFK4mZpY_PJ9ZglaGx-T-zrezzn33uKgk7sCzTj-AoD6HEaiX25v24gft78eCTVnjPud9MOybo2nXxbXDf_R9JvX84NUgNSZ6dgJaMoAifUbNn51rJKbNTfrl6hGFtA7-uqdl_mbN/s1600-h/100_6765.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178859695324483250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-QCvFK4mZpY_PJ9ZglaGx-T-zrezzn33uKgk7sCzTj-AoD6HEaiX25v24gft78eCTVnjPud9MOybo2nXxbXDf_R9JvX84NUgNSZ6dgJaMoAifUbNn51rJKbNTfrl6hGFtA7-uqdl_mbN/s400/100_6765.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span><span style="color:black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLpaQcb7kCFbbAz8XFrOelig_OXX2meiiYT4gYCBtGtNOz3A4yBDqN5XJOz6aqgd8UpADLHfxndlJ-GJfTVMwijTYNlRMkk7wQA9Acx7uG34WHqpnC8jF_CKHPaYRFRmA2maCSg39vY3o/s1600-h/100_6766.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178859463396249250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLpaQcb7kCFbbAz8XFrOelig_OXX2meiiYT4gYCBtGtNOz3A4yBDqN5XJOz6aqgd8UpADLHfxndlJ-GJfTVMwijTYNlRMkk7wQA9Acx7uG34WHqpnC8jF_CKHPaYRFRmA2maCSg39vY3o/s400/100_6766.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span><span style="color:black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HK_9tia9oeZcu1qjK8Dh-smy5c9MBnK82XdykMxqaUkjPmUAA1mNtt2ikvVP9Hy67Amdx2pu8rVgJD0oNZrLd_Mriq1XpZO6Tg9KvFMRLPFziBAJGrrWRvfsBjhmBu3sJHvL3aRKyD4a/s1600-h/100_6767.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178859248647884434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HK_9tia9oeZcu1qjK8Dh-smy5c9MBnK82XdykMxqaUkjPmUAA1mNtt2ikvVP9Hy67Amdx2pu8rVgJD0oNZrLd_Mriq1XpZO6Tg9KvFMRLPFziBAJGrrWRvfsBjhmBu3sJHvL3aRKyD4a/s400/100_6767.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span><span style="color:black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXigpZL91Us4R8ZAyL-5XPNX62v61tW_cc4wKDcdspksKUH-UYCn4rErczWqgcmuZaJ4ytnnXQK9vPrG4S3nLdttvXt_IW_LnIk0YUSAdbMfZDbx3SLll-EPvC9ZWUffVMIQIdvkrdzrqU/s1600-h/100_6768.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178859003834748546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXigpZL91Us4R8ZAyL-5XPNX62v61tW_cc4wKDcdspksKUH-UYCn4rErczWqgcmuZaJ4ytnnXQK9vPrG4S3nLdttvXt_IW_LnIk0YUSAdbMfZDbx3SLll-EPvC9ZWUffVMIQIdvkrdzrqU/s400/100_6768.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;">The largest piece is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koi"><i style="">koi</i></a>. It appears to be a golden koi.</span> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMQ4mY7PeK5wiW7DhWp1XJCQb0vFxylBiEU4Rz4m4spmYdxhkC2CyT2k3ZU0b-qJMxyqATwKL2t1G8CnHx2pXSN1av26NiAUhhP3A9ryKLy0VZNpOwuyTl1EtCLY90GbVhyphenhyphenR1UolA4_Uz/s1600-h/Koi.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178858363884621426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMQ4mY7PeK5wiW7DhWp1XJCQb0vFxylBiEU4Rz4m4spmYdxhkC2CyT2k3ZU0b-qJMxyqATwKL2t1G8CnHx2pXSN1av26NiAUhhP3A9ryKLy0VZNpOwuyTl1EtCLY90GbVhyphenhyphenR1UolA4_Uz/s200/Koi.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">There's a whole discussion <a href="http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_a_koi_fish_tattoo_symbolize">here</a> on what <span style="font-style: italic;">koi </span>tattoos symbolize.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">In addition, one can read <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Meaning-and-Symbolism-Behind-the-Lotus-Flower-Tattoo&id=95396">here</a><span style="color:black;"> about the symbolic nature of the </span><span style="color:black;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo">lotus flower</a> in tattoos.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtP0bc04rZcrczlXfqttqsof8soslVukfIJSAUixYwVG8VVd28HY0SmxJA6XgbLweiZP3r3TOGJIp-Z7Jt7h6GVGqG4dhP_j32ReHXTYcIFFe3jSN9RSZ23zLfslL-4YZ-75QSb3qm_Cx/s1600-h/100_6772.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178864428378443474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtP0bc04rZcrczlXfqttqsof8soslVukfIJSAUixYwVG8VVd28HY0SmxJA6XgbLweiZP3r3TOGJIp-Z7Jt7h6GVGqG4dhP_j32ReHXTYcIFFe3jSN9RSZ23zLfslL-4YZ-75QSb3qm_Cx/s400/100_6772.JPG" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br />Paul also</span><span style="color:black;"> referred to the other flower as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crinum_pedunculatum">spider lily.</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-9YtgCcXFaSgTyZjloPetZUkEr2ZpBq9N7qGpavslJ-l7jHNKzByWfWmgcosgR_R1OZNyW_M5u45935KHxNbpIX5oES8oOaQJqS-kX7yT7TkuYAAxXpkn8m55sh6Xiv9ZP3jsZGbxIx8/s1600-h/100_6769.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178864011766615746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-9YtgCcXFaSgTyZjloPetZUkEr2ZpBq9N7qGpavslJ-l7jHNKzByWfWmgcosgR_R1OZNyW_M5u45935KHxNbpIX5oES8oOaQJqS-kX7yT7TkuYAAxXpkn8m55sh6Xiv9ZP3jsZGbxIx8/s400/100_6769.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> However, there are so many different varieties of specific families of flowers, that I often have a hard time finding good pictures to represent the tattoos.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">The additional element in the sleeve which is only a small part, but is still interesting is what Paul referred to as the "kite mask":<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONsgo34z8rTLEvvTMc6fZUJh3kygiNLVne4TGFaUIIRWOLa3-Jd5BNScAijtY24BMqzEez6QYob_FMRALBkXIOh1QT5o82AZr5m9cV7onxVzKgy9bxg2OlIWAgJPL4hMs9H1H8jMRRyZl/s1600-h/100_6771.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178865295961837282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONsgo34z8rTLEvvTMc6fZUJh3kygiNLVne4TGFaUIIRWOLa3-Jd5BNScAijtY24BMqzEez6QYob_FMRALBkXIOh1QT5o82AZr5m9cV7onxVzKgy9bxg2OlIWAgJPL4hMs9H1H8jMRRyZl/s400/100_6771.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Masks are traditional parts of Japanese tattoo design, but this specific one is hard to pinpoint for me. Here are some Chinese mask kites. Yet, the fact that I cannot easily find one on the web, just fascinates me more.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcj4TQk8AMprcKCjgT6tbKKPYN3_L3wiXALTvRcPOMqhFj0m9fBs6-gScHFsMbBGiGkh_AK7BqXuI9xNKh80w7QHudcp06XSbp20yTESt-T_uX0tCS2BQlnYNC2v56TX75_WyqEqwPyxj/s1600-h/4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178866206494904050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcj4TQk8AMprcKCjgT6tbKKPYN3_L3wiXALTvRcPOMqhFj0m9fBs6-gScHFsMbBGiGkh_AK7BqXuI9xNKh80w7QHudcp06XSbp20yTESt-T_uX0tCS2BQlnYNC2v56TX75_WyqEqwPyxj/s400/4.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><o:p></o:p></p><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">Paul estimates that the whole sleeve (including the dragon from 2001) took about 20 hours of work, and he did it in 6-7 sittings, mostly in 2002.</p>Paul sent me the following photos from the New York City Tattoo Convention, where Mike Bellamy did some of the work on Paul's sleeve:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJH2kn5_jR-7QBcp-VqIOBIXvtqrF03g-2yUO-h9r_o6qVIQJqRPe2nFMsGxLxU1tGN6Ef56FHju0DEU9LZCG6srBkSHZfZ-qX5FlaxHkbaS2d-YTBNBhyRWkO2sCwfqN6u5sC90CME_Ft/s1600-h/scan0132.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184049361951627314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJH2kn5_jR-7QBcp-VqIOBIXvtqrF03g-2yUO-h9r_o6qVIQJqRPe2nFMsGxLxU1tGN6Ef56FHju0DEU9LZCG6srBkSHZfZ-qX5FlaxHkbaS2d-YTBNBhyRWkO2sCwfqN6u5sC90CME_Ft/s400/scan0132.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>That's Paul and Mike on the far left of the photo:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOAShbn1pjlBIT1QwICh7A_EZu9vzabPiNDFikq9FFNivv7WeLWHjM8X78d_GAK7vZ1HWF25f-QFr5Jl8IJ0h1-xn8z0q-DlveQxqRMtfXzpajhLA_A8uX5raWDGK5dnhZU7bVjMcwkUC/s1600-h/scan0131.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184049245987510306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOAShbn1pjlBIT1QwICh7A_EZu9vzabPiNDFikq9FFNivv7WeLWHjM8X78d_GAK7vZ1HWF25f-QFr5Jl8IJ0h1-xn8z0q-DlveQxqRMtfXzpajhLA_A8uX5raWDGK5dnhZU7bVjMcwkUC/s400/scan0131.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Thanks to Paul for helping me update this post with additional shots!

Tattoos I Know: Paul Part 2, or, The Traditional Japanese Sleeve

NOTE: This post was updated on March 31, 2008 with three additional photographs. Here's a Tattoosday first: a repeat subject in this blo...

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