Claire's Hemaris Thysbe Flutters on Her Forearm

Butterfly tattoos can be a dime a dozen (no offense, butterfly fans), but moths, on the other hand often get a bum rap, taking a back seat to their more flamboyant insect cousins. To the chagrin of some inked <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepidopterist">lepidopterists</a>, you don't see as many moth tattoos. This, however, is a lovely exception, perched on Claire's forearm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmO09mF9e5uS9O623QPCkRigieMlUNamUPgOn63wPp3LhxcW4tMEcXhRNs1ngL-2VyDH81SgOpACrwQ90v3H0dcJ7XLowKwkG_CW4pdlDR2O_v0h-p-woYAg9oEaxPmLqotai85xA/s1600/hummingbird+clearwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmO09mF9e5uS9O623QPCkRigieMlUNamUPgOn63wPp3LhxcW4tMEcXhRNs1ngL-2VyDH81SgOpACrwQ90v3H0dcJ7XLowKwkG_CW4pdlDR2O_v0h-p-woYAg9oEaxPmLqotai85xA/s400/hummingbird+clearwing.jpg" width="362" /></a></div><br /><br />This is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemaris_thysbe"><i>Hemaris Thysbe</i></a>, more commonly known as the Clear Wing Hummingbird Moth, a beautiful insect that gets its name from its large size and rapid wing speed.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghg5G3P7T6MjAyGzgUZTxU_LP4QInHKiUaO0nW4gHxOH1_yGGHmyq0Tm-ar8qQkf_teGVmc0DT2zffkFOp1_aDnlyB4XoY_QNSByuoYiELMgRlHrEnUdvnHPA0g5Z3tD8J2nv7dG5t/s1600/hummingbird+clearwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghg5G3P7T6MjAyGzgUZTxU_LP4QInHKiUaO0nW4gHxOH1_yGGHmyq0Tm-ar8qQkf_teGVmc0DT2zffkFOp1_aDnlyB4XoY_QNSByuoYiELMgRlHrEnUdvnHPA0g5Z3tD8J2nv7dG5t/s320/hummingbird+clearwing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Claire, who I met in Borders at 2 Penn Plaza, is originally from Vermont and this moth reminds her of back home. There are certainly no Hummingbird Moths fluttering about New York City!<br /><br />She found a picture she liked and took it in to <a href="http://www.nyadorned.com/gallery.php?id=22">Yoni Ziebler</a> at <a href="http://www.nyadorned.com/#bg=h">Brooklyn Adorned</a> where he recreated this lovely specimen.<br /><br />Work from Adorned appears here often and can be seen together under <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/New%20York%20Adorned">this tag</a>.<br /><br />Thanks again to Claire for sharing her Hummingbird Moth with us here on Tattoosday!

Claire's Hemaris Thysbe Flutters on Her Forearm

Butterfly tattoos can be a dime a dozen (no offense, butterfly fans), but moths, on the other hand often get a bum rap, taking a back seat t...

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Xrin Arms Explains His Tattoos

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRNdyB-89ECJjYJ4pUnN9LzIyQrssMM0stuGpS6irz3Z3vbMEwzlJ21jyPHlATgtAcNCXtbusQfBCciExbfc4IKxzm5xikaFMtHb4_H0XfjLevzgQc_LU06Dz0BoTmuGBAUZ9r0H73WPP/s1600-h/Arm.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317801623989392914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRNdyB-89ECJjYJ4pUnN9LzIyQrssMM0stuGpS6irz3Z3vbMEwzlJ21jyPHlATgtAcNCXtbusQfBCciExbfc4IKxzm5xikaFMtHb4_H0XfjLevzgQc_LU06Dz0BoTmuGBAUZ9r0H73WPP/s400/Arm.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 172px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />I ran into Anthony after work while passing through the Amtrak section of Penn Station.<br /><br />He was in town to perform in Brooklyn and was waiting for his ride. He performs under the name "Xrin Arms," which he pronounced as "Your-in-arms". He's a techno punk musician currently on tour. Here's the flier for the gig he was playing that night:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9STB90BJUZrS30hyWHdXyjzITP3VZq8SU2MHOzhGdyF-xo_xwgr54xPGJPUCzJK12oiZP_i6svapHRc8wslwf0mxmt9RcOMwhIsl8dcsYxnvbABSzB8vRLNqFbbTd-yfsfpF-rWgA9OSh/s1600-h/xrin.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317802491218909138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9STB90BJUZrS30hyWHdXyjzITP3VZq8SU2MHOzhGdyF-xo_xwgr54xPGJPUCzJK12oiZP_i6svapHRc8wslwf0mxmt9RcOMwhIsl8dcsYxnvbABSzB8vRLNqFbbTd-yfsfpF-rWgA9OSh/s400/xrin.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 388px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />He had an unusual series of tattoos which he allowed me to photograph, after he explained them to me.<br /><br />The tattoos cover a significant part of his upper right arm, as well as one side of his forearm.<br /><br />First and foremost, as a writer, he had his pen inked on his arm.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37rC5V_oo9N4fMrlZ3w3fe1IhEAt93Imcs9clYscba-853OixTW7gSZ4Ercl4HLdPq_bHlU10VIbTZQjFM9ZzC7YQ6p7tBNcDm3NxRf8QeVisfXNekGvj2GR-8X-QJM0djq6k9wumCI4-/s1600-h/Pen.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317801294965445250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37rC5V_oo9N4fMrlZ3w3fe1IhEAt93Imcs9clYscba-853OixTW7gSZ4Ercl4HLdPq_bHlU10VIbTZQjFM9ZzC7YQ6p7tBNcDm3NxRf8QeVisfXNekGvj2GR-8X-QJM0djq6k9wumCI4-/s400/Pen.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" /></a><img alt="" src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Bill/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-31.jpg" /><br />He always uses a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Precise-Liquid-Rollerball-Extra-Fine/dp/B00006IEBI">Pilot Precise V5</a>, he said,<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw48dpH-0WRGTWBWDaYijYMOUPsDuVGvcpuwrnUfl_bkwhBpdUP3ZetS9x1d3SUI32r4pgnE4ABxM-WS3b4V25PXkLuhh6WjLAjc9JihW_XhDDsEA1qrxsVEFXFUpTXhW1kqQ7OemM9FHv/s1600-h/set.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318222102234537106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw48dpH-0WRGTWBWDaYijYMOUPsDuVGvcpuwrnUfl_bkwhBpdUP3ZetS9x1d3SUI32r4pgnE4ABxM-WS3b4V25PXkLuhh6WjLAjc9JihW_XhDDsEA1qrxsVEFXFUpTXhW1kqQ7OemM9FHv/s200/set.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 175px;" /></a>and he produced one to show me, holding it up to the piece to show me that it was tattooed to scale.<br /><br />The next element of his inked arm is a legion of sperm directed at his elbow. Some of the sperm are traveling from the pen, representing the knowledge that flows from the written word.<br /><br />At the center of the elbow is a moth in a circle. He said that it represents a "moth in a beehive". When I questioned that image, he acknowledged that that was how he feels a lot of the time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyu-_ncsrdn_V9i69U-FMS1iTO8Dm6CZhrjZ1sKvURpPlqBEYDecHDkhJwQOHZjZoDStyNxFsGw0VRfA-QAfNn_A1Jl_gBD0JPMDcZgH6RpKIa9BDsMPrpLGMShbxqOZc4p-RuFvn3CSBa/s1600-h/Sperm+and+Moth.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317800998827751122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyu-_ncsrdn_V9i69U-FMS1iTO8Dm6CZhrjZ1sKvURpPlqBEYDecHDkhJwQOHZjZoDStyNxFsGw0VRfA-QAfNn_A1Jl_gBD0JPMDcZgH6RpKIa9BDsMPrpLGMShbxqOZc4p-RuFvn3CSBa/s400/Sperm+and+Moth.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />If you picture a moth in a beehive, you envision many things: solitude and violence. Of beauty and alienation. The sperm heading toward this image reinforce that the creative experience is a birthing process fraught with danger.<br /><br />Lastly, on the back of the bicep, is an owl with its wings outstretched.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9tUVDMVrNkJrwBzU2FkXfrVvDdHT5g-2wE8xKutZ2eg_Ktpi1mLR-c1aYaHwxKQOtXjAmOXC42VqPdJShRdw95uamw4WjSMX_x258MDS2ZpXXeUZJmbhPNklhaxs8m-42iqsNTzRRl7_/s1600-h/Owl.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317800712792400162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9tUVDMVrNkJrwBzU2FkXfrVvDdHT5g-2wE8xKutZ2eg_Ktpi1mLR-c1aYaHwxKQOtXjAmOXC42VqPdJShRdw95uamw4WjSMX_x258MDS2ZpXXeUZJmbhPNklhaxs8m-42iqsNTzRRl7_/s400/Owl.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The owl represents to him that he is noctural, and stays up all night.<br /><br />He has 2 other tattoos but we stuck with these because they played off one another.<br /><br />They were tattooed by <a href="http://www.inkednation.com/r/r.cfm?t=9&DisplayUser_ID=41944">Chris Bragg</a> when he was working out of <a href="http://www.hammerstattoo.com/">Hammer's Tattoo & Body Piercing</a> in Canton, Ohio.<br /><br />Please check out Xrin Arms myspace page <a href="http://www.myspace.com/xrinarmsmotherfucker">here</a>. There's also a cool interview with Anthony over on the blog Digital Liver <a href="http://digitalliver.blogspot.com/2008/02/xrin-arms.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks again to for sharing his work with us here on Tattoosday.<br /><br />As an added extra, here's a video of Xrin Arms song "Feather Mask":<br /><br /><object height="315" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PfjaHyzqpJE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PfjaHyzqpJE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="315"></embed></object>

Xrin Arms Explains His Tattoos

I ran into Anthony after work while passing through the Amtrak section of Penn Station. He was in town to perform in Brooklyn and was waitin...

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