Benjamin's Amazing Viking-Geisha Sleeve by Tim Kern

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAc1wgiuSnxc0El7Y5OD5Ii-fn6LA3UTr8uN1oxp37NppDiQerrBdvqEGi8CKRrjqAqV4aRAcSafV5z6KE8Jx3te5SsGWaP8yq_Y_Yy1y-6EH0tpTNFJgKf7wd9V5Umm2Ixe89T7Q/s1600-h/Geisha+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396844938984706418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAc1wgiuSnxc0El7Y5OD5Ii-fn6LA3UTr8uN1oxp37NppDiQerrBdvqEGi8CKRrjqAqV4aRAcSafV5z6KE8Jx3te5SsGWaP8yq_Y_Yy1y-6EH0tpTNFJgKf7wd9V5Umm2Ixe89T7Q/s400/Geisha+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Please join me as I extend a metaphor.<br /><br />I approach inkblogging as if I were one of those guys that goes out on the beach with a metal detector.<br /><br />You find a lot of interesting stuff and, every once in a while, you find treasure.<br /><br />Earlier this month, I saw a man in front of Madison Square Garden walking south. I was headed in the opposite direction and, despite my general reluctance to post sleeves here (I wonder if I can even do them justice), I stopped and asked him to show me the amazing work on his right arm.<br /><br />I should also preface this by acknowledging how awesome it is to randomly find work by a tattoo artist who is at the top of his game, and is a recognized talent in the tattoo community.<br /><br />Benjamin, the guy I stopped, was visiting New York from Denmark to see his artist, <a href="http://www.tribulationtattoo.com/artist.aspx?id=1">Tim Kern</a> at <a href="http://www.tribulationtattoo.com/Home.aspx">Tribulation Tattoo</a>. He was in town to begin work on a new sleeve. Benjamin happily shared his first sleeve:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyGvBTCHDqg1DV21cPCbolI2ZY_3BY1sDQh41hbezzaV8ypvEUvlqBu93QF1jB8UxlC5InaN5rKXfSxNm_avAmNu166cx9_kpzSC64yBGe-PLdsJKVDm13JwQJSUkPQIg4BK7Q8W2/s1600-h/Viking+and+Geisha.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396844134866977682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyGvBTCHDqg1DV21cPCbolI2ZY_3BY1sDQh41hbezzaV8ypvEUvlqBu93QF1jB8UxlC5InaN5rKXfSxNm_avAmNu166cx9_kpzSC64yBGe-PLdsJKVDm13JwQJSUkPQIg4BK7Q8W2/s400/Viking+and+Geisha.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Benjamin summarized the theme of his arm by stating that life is about choices. The two extrmes are, you can take a life, as represented by the Viking warrior at the top of the shoulder:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEml2wTvnVkbHXe_7b1AoEZ2v9FwhlQuo80JXRO9sRghhI5aySerC7O-EE2JndG5Vmn6vCcs9P-VCfnoBpoRLeRi4psV9YO_gLrUTaOQ7RxmOxFOSQ3vn_DSF_2X3KSm4Ewc3U8Fas/s1600-h/Viking.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396843886915477586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEml2wTvnVkbHXe_7b1AoEZ2v9FwhlQuo80JXRO9sRghhI5aySerC7O-EE2JndG5Vmn6vCcs9P-VCfnoBpoRLeRi4psV9YO_gLrUTaOQ7RxmOxFOSQ3vn_DSF_2X3KSm4Ewc3U8Fas/s400/Viking.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />This is juxtaposed by the geisha who is taking her own life through <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seppuku">ritual suicide</a>:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTRmOdzGnoVmNDoB48n_61eJ3YpLbrzGXHLpJdqD7qEwlRUS2tq7Ge4TF-Lx-vSon9d28H3Smj5g3h087kavy6qXNT_NRM_M-ebQ7kG9JunuDjuUlYvjOeOWPMGKtW4Vclkx6icQv/s1600-h/Geisha+full.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396843560176412290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTRmOdzGnoVmNDoB48n_61eJ3YpLbrzGXHLpJdqD7qEwlRUS2tq7Ge4TF-Lx-vSon9d28H3Smj5g3h087kavy6qXNT_NRM_M-ebQ7kG9JunuDjuUlYvjOeOWPMGKtW4Vclkx6icQv/s400/Geisha+full.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The detail of the blood-spattered hand holding the <span style="font-style: italic;">seppuku</span> blade is fascinating in its stark grisliness:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6MSD0oF959E6s_orbAV7nE6xY3viOQMPNarqf7dW40VdZIF5675gWm4PHDq5x7JS5FkoudPtswCf0vPmwvGoLwQ0RLInQztdDkJLC8qi6TwZHEpCybR5kPdZ4APyfauFCM35_ADx/s1600-h/Geisha+blade.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396842279008547714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6MSD0oF959E6s_orbAV7nE6xY3viOQMPNarqf7dW40VdZIF5675gWm4PHDq5x7JS5FkoudPtswCf0vPmwvGoLwQ0RLInQztdDkJLC8qi6TwZHEpCybR5kPdZ4APyfauFCM35_ADx/s400/Geisha+blade.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The sleeve also includes stunning waterfall and pagoda elements on the inside of the arm:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLIoD2ujOxTuJIueCARNZJda5jhRVJFbKMKaiaz3jT9JE3KeigPiAD7g_8Z75SU2mE2LKGd88j5LQDE0ZvfmR_Z8hToASJuqPNjtn0HMNwWzkOOfsVApUQ1298FC6UIjnVEfyI7qT/s1600-h/Pagoda+Waterfall.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396843299756345554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLIoD2ujOxTuJIueCARNZJda5jhRVJFbKMKaiaz3jT9JE3KeigPiAD7g_8Z75SU2mE2LKGd88j5LQDE0ZvfmR_Z8hToASJuqPNjtn0HMNwWzkOOfsVApUQ1298FC6UIjnVEfyI7qT/s400/Pagoda+Waterfall.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 169px;" /></a><br />I especially appreciate the beauty and shading of the pagoda:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91SjoODuuX-OJXy1VjXg1e1l8kqZK4HMW8HsASj9Xo_1PiNh41MhMUsLK7YaEOnNmi76UDiKneW-RGNsA-1A3mlivucl7kBOpX1y-jE46Lbd37FjVU5z_JQrZOZgyyeQrj-sEHFK-/s1600-h/Pagoda+Waterfall+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396843225735341074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91SjoODuuX-OJXy1VjXg1e1l8kqZK4HMW8HsASj9Xo_1PiNh41MhMUsLK7YaEOnNmi76UDiKneW-RGNsA-1A3mlivucl7kBOpX1y-jE46Lbd37FjVU5z_JQrZOZgyyeQrj-sEHFK-/s400/Pagoda+Waterfall+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 261px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The color and artistry of this entire sleeve are astonishing and we are honored that Benjamin consented to contributing this work to Tattoosday.<br /><br />We thank him and the artist Tim Kern for their work!

Benjamin's Amazing Viking-Geisha Sleeve by Tim Kern

Please join me as I extend a metaphor. I approach inkblogging as if I were one of those guys that goes out on the beach with a metal detecto...

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Tattoorism: Sean's Leg Piece Represents His Transformation from Child to Adult

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf56CEjfYuByaKU8bPxr-35iM-G1n96SkSo_Pq5x7q-Rtf_m0sUyoMm7cF-Bp8ObicV9k7Llx3EPitmujhfTrdcI7_wblzbUAhW6pRa3MoegolI3_1mtnML4QP7jskfPupcI8QP9veEGYr/s1600-h/seansleg+pagoda.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302146204716664114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf56CEjfYuByaKU8bPxr-35iM-G1n96SkSo_Pq5x7q-Rtf_m0sUyoMm7cF-Bp8ObicV9k7Llx3EPitmujhfTrdcI7_wblzbUAhW6pRa3MoegolI3_1mtnML4QP7jskfPupcI8QP9veEGYr/s400/seansleg+pagoda.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 400px;" /></a>This installment of Tattoorism comes from Sean, a reader who offered up his leg piece for our viewing pleasure. The detail above is my favorite aspect of the tattoo, which wraps around Sean's entire left leg.<br /><br />In Sean's words:<br /><br /><blockquote>"...Even though this was done in about 4 or 5 sessions, I could not describe this in any other way except as one big tattoo.<span> </span>Each piece works together with each other. <p> </p> <p>I consider this my growth-themed tattoo.<span> </span>I started the tattoo, at the age of 18, right before I graduated from high school and finished it right before entering my first year of college, a period of immense growth in my opinion.<span> </span>As long as I can remember, I have been drawn to Asian artwork, so at an extremely basic level this tattoo is just extremely aesthetically pleasing to me, but there is also deeper meaning.</p> <p> </p> From the Japanese folklore I have heard, koi fish are said to grow into dragons.<br /></blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy7mxMFcfMfZ47gt7jB95kiQ44zSnu6qa4y2diIwh2oaZO0dIgHKP2IoYsBqQWiPPe_O7JgsQZ7_Fg-NawKF41-1ZBCeA8-NTFaF7Vq_vQAqvCs49_CQZ5gREI0j1QL4T9H-qB_FkSBJY/s1600-h/seansleg2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302140634961351410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy7mxMFcfMfZ47gt7jB95kiQ44zSnu6qa4y2diIwh2oaZO0dIgHKP2IoYsBqQWiPPe_O7JgsQZ7_Fg-NawKF41-1ZBCeA8-NTFaF7Vq_vQAqvCs49_CQZ5gREI0j1QL4T9H-qB_FkSBJY/s400/seansleg2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFKEmJqtnz5BpF6SoJKHnlzLV4AYIURQijpRPspqEreJE6WkaV5bxBAp_X3-nDUPqdLIcawPypd2jhFrC49Q9o5wA2nQa2-1_w4uKRQKDSSy0vl0d3p7Fy4zoIceMmWLx4dR-6ECIgcAJ/s1600-h/seansleg1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302140951556368258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFKEmJqtnz5BpF6SoJKHnlzLV4AYIURQijpRPspqEreJE6WkaV5bxBAp_X3-nDUPqdLIcawPypd2jhFrC49Q9o5wA2nQa2-1_w4uKRQKDSSy0vl0d3p7Fy4zoIceMmWLx4dR-6ECIgcAJ/s400/seansleg1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 171px; height: 400px;" /></a><blockquote><span> </span>That was the basic premise of my tattoo, maturing from childhood to adulthood.<span> </span>I decided to have the koi swimming upwards to portray the different struggles experienced in this growth.<span> </span>The dragon has always been such a powerful image to me and a great symbol of courage and strength, two qualities I constantly strive to achieve and portray myself.<p><span> </span></p> <p> </p></blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfuiTD_Xg9GupNdsOpS8Ong0xGqb8IxHEExLUOOc38yxsKjPUPGb829Gz8kS2oJhBmwdcpMM6QbOOpUrHbEVzeJ6hroXqpfJXaklbXxptie9N-IPvnUtAOqdeKzjaEoWbuEiMqXOPdBqW/s1600-h/seansleg4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302139802896108642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfuiTD_Xg9GupNdsOpS8Ong0xGqb8IxHEExLUOOc38yxsKjPUPGb829Gz8kS2oJhBmwdcpMM6QbOOpUrHbEVzeJ6hroXqpfJXaklbXxptie9N-IPvnUtAOqdeKzjaEoWbuEiMqXOPdBqW/s400/seansleg4.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 400px;" /></a><blockquote>There are also two other major images in this tattoo, the pagoda and the lotus flower.<br /><br />The lotus is another symbol of "growth."<span> </span>I always loved the idea that a lotus begins its life in murky, dark, ugly waters, but eventually grows to become a beautiful flower despite its surroundings.<span> </span>It's a reminder that no matter how hard things get in life, I can make it through those times and blossom as a better person.<span> </span><br /></blockquote><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1OoEmsBrfCf-oxxdSX0uxprzItlua-KDIYVtU1xiaadb9fUwWeMzorYmwWnSsRojQIuT6ex0QJexjJRpVLS7XfQ-LSF-jMORKCT6WQUcK9GBOK2GX89SS89kkCaMjnao9-N031pwoEnt/s1600-h/seansleg+lotus+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302232830262242130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1OoEmsBrfCf-oxxdSX0uxprzItlua-KDIYVtU1xiaadb9fUwWeMzorYmwWnSsRojQIuT6ex0QJexjJRpVLS7XfQ-LSF-jMORKCT6WQUcK9GBOK2GX89SS89kkCaMjnao9-N031pwoEnt/s400/seansleg+lotus+2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1OoEmsBrfCf-oxxdSX0uxprzItlua-KDIYVtU1xiaadb9fUwWeMzorYmwWnSsRojQIuT6ex0QJexjJRpVLS7XfQ-LSF-jMORKCT6WQUcK9GBOK2GX89SS89kkCaMjnao9-N031pwoEnt/s1600-h/seansleg+lotus+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span></span></a><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnc0JjHmiV0R9fDTk0leZbkSHHq4VGp0kUc6MVGut46G94j0sy9V4juWzbD7zeJ14cxsWrQsE35jRkUvUQUHy0SA7T-wrvfpJLn7vhQqvqqRtQ6qRPQaccw1CwouJF3LORJJ4Y6tAPYeZ7/s1600-h/seansleg+lotus.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302232889135143458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnc0JjHmiV0R9fDTk0leZbkSHHq4VGp0kUc6MVGut46G94j0sy9V4juWzbD7zeJ14cxsWrQsE35jRkUvUQUHy0SA7T-wrvfpJLn7vhQqvqqRtQ6qRPQaccw1CwouJF3LORJJ4Y6tAPYeZ7/s400/seansleg+lotus.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 400px;" /></a></span><blockquote>Finally, the personal symbolism I hold for the pagoda is a house of knowledge and discipline.<span> </span>I hoped to achieve, and believe I have, a great amount of knowledge and discipline through my years in college and during the growth from childhood to adulthood in general.<br /></blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAHw6dkvFOaE-LePlw9L4UfKwrfF6rgWW8xqEGmES_u4So4vyP1ootFyyic-4Dvc5i89tebJORXoq8xyzP4DHX5kT2NQEstJjlT8w5wCtbkiaLU0bdihd-U4hLUPJWYXBRa1VCt_T5DdZ/s1600-h/seansleg3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302140551484871938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAHw6dkvFOaE-LePlw9L4UfKwrfF6rgWW8xqEGmES_u4So4vyP1ootFyyic-4Dvc5i89tebJORXoq8xyzP4DHX5kT2NQEstJjlT8w5wCtbkiaLU0bdihd-U4hLUPJWYXBRa1VCt_T5DdZ/s400/seansleg3.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 400px;" /></a><span></span><blockquote><span>The tattoo was done by <a href="http://mikeschweigerttattooer.com/home.html">Mike Schweigert</a> @ <a href="http://electrictattoonj.com/home.html">Electric Tattoo</a> in <a href="http://www.bradleybeachonline.com/index.asp">Bradley Beach, NJ</a>.<br /></span></blockquote><span>Thanks to Sean for sharing this amazing leg piece with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br />Sean recognized that our "</span>posts kind of drop off, completely understandably, during the colder months." Not only did he help us with content on an ink-less day, regular readers will recognize that I generally don't run sleeves, or wrap-around tattoos, on the blog, as their characteristics make them very difficult to adequately display in their full glory. It's tough to capture them fully when on the street. So a double thanks to Sean for not only sending us an elaborate leg piece, but providing a well-written synopsis of the personal meaning behind the elements in the design!

Tattoorism: Sean's Leg Piece Represents His Transformation from Child to Adult

This installment of Tattoorism comes from Sean, a reader who offered up his leg piece for our viewing pleasure. The detail above is my favor...

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