Announcing Sailor Jerry Event Tonight at Tammany Hall!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3DAqmTFs5The8Rc2VNqmI7AVy81zrg1SzHXFHsx3qG8Sq1bEFcFB6bAMjficPk27_5lyyLBDAZl-hHonEZEyLYTPNt_Rb8MMyU1zG50GD7aluTgj1wUtHc_BxSrmv-mbAYqi5KZceOs/s1600/790_SJUS_SHUTLive_web_R2%5B4%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3DAqmTFs5The8Rc2VNqmI7AVy81zrg1SzHXFHsx3qG8Sq1bEFcFB6bAMjficPk27_5lyyLBDAZl-hHonEZEyLYTPNt_Rb8MMyU1zG50GD7aluTgj1wUtHc_BxSrmv-mbAYqi5KZceOs/s640/790_SJUS_SHUTLive_web_R2%5B4%5D.jpg" width="414" /></a></div><br />The good folks at <a href="http://sailorjerry.com/">Sailor Jerry</a> are hosting another event tonight in New York and, yes, there's a shot you can score a free tattoo from <a href="http://mattvancuratattoos.com/">Matt Van Cura</a> of <a href="http://invisiblenyc.com/">Invisible NYC</a>.<br /><br />Word is that there will be only a handful of Sailor Jerry tattoos available, so best to RSVP and get there early. You might just be one of the lucky recipients!<br /><br />These are the event details:<br /><br /><div><b>SHUT LIVE V5.0 & Sailor Jerry Presents</b></div><div><b>Cerebral Ballzy</b></div><div><b>DJ sets by Superjuice- MC PATH </b><span style="border-collapse: separate; color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Mr Gargoyle and DJ Smoke LES </span></div><div><b>21+ Doors at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_543370750" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">8pm</span></span></b></div><div><b>Tammany Hall- 152 Orchard Street- NY</b></div><div><b>Tattoos by Matt Van Cura of Invisible - First Come , First Served. </b></div><div><b>Sailor Jerry Drink Specials</b></div><div><b>Free with RSVP- <a href="mailto:RSVP@SHUTNYC.COM" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">RSVP@SHUTNYC.COM</a></b></div><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><br /><div><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.shutnyc.com/" target="_blank">www.shutnyc.com</a> </span></div><div><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">I can't make it, but feel free to tell me all about it and share your tattoo, if you get lucky!</span></div><div><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Have a great weekend everyone!</span></div><div><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: arial;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2013 Tattoosday.</span></span></span></div><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><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/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: underline; 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></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div></span></div>

Announcing Sailor Jerry Event Tonight at Tammany Hall!

The good folks at Sailor Jerry are hosting another event tonight in New York and, yes, there's a shot you can score a free tattoo from ...

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Ashley Shares a Narwhal of a Tattoo

Last week at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailor_Jerry">Sailor Jerry</a> free tattoo event at <a href="http://www.thegutterbrooklyn.com/">The Gutter</a> in Williamsburg (recounted <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2013/06/my-first-sailor-jerry-tattoo-in-honor.html">here</a>), I caught up with Ashley after getting my shark tattoo and before she had her cherry tattoo inked. I had met her earlier in line, as she was among the first couple dozen people to arrive and she had been telling us about the Sailor Jerry anchor she received from <a href="http://www.villagevoice.com/slideshow/this-is-what-happens-when-you-offer-people-free-tattoos-37034505/">last year's event</a>.<br /><br />However, I was more interested in this cool tattoo on her inner left forearm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDBbOI3L_9p9x5AiWix8qXp5lNRlcSlqD1eLJntLmXpcfz5enGDrCoFRwSVT3kb7nC68DUngPQEinKnarxphGKmQxY4jMkrW7Vnh2jPBAO0sMs54cKqahl5aifo5wpaBpSZf1zN2nDc4/w830-h610-no/20130612_194020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDBbOI3L_9p9x5AiWix8qXp5lNRlcSlqD1eLJntLmXpcfz5enGDrCoFRwSVT3kb7nC68DUngPQEinKnarxphGKmQxY4jMkrW7Vnh2jPBAO0sMs54cKqahl5aifo5wpaBpSZf1zN2nDc4/w830-h610-no/20130612_194020.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />That's a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narwhal">narwhal</a>, in case you were wondering, and this Arctic whale is particularly well-known for its tusk. It almost seems a mythical creature, but they are, in fact, real.<br /><br />Ashley explained how a narwhal landed on her arm:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"My friend who's with me today, Kyle, we were at a Christmas party and she was drawing Sharpie animals on us and she drew a Sharpie narwhal on my arm, so I wanted to get something to remind me of that night ... it was a really good night!"</blockquote>The tattoo came to life at the hands of <a href="http://www.johnreardontattoos.com/">John Reardon</a> at <a href="http://greenpointtattoo.com/">Greenpoint Tattoo Company</a> in Brooklyn. Reardon is no stranger to Tattoosday. He was the master behind one of my all-time favorite posts from 2009, <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/12/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-tattoo-with.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Ashley for sharing her narwhal 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 ©2013 Tattoosday.</span></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-69eaa6a6-51ff-2e8c-af23-b8d6bbbab1de"><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>

Ashley Shares a Narwhal of a Tattoo

Last week at the Sailor Jerry free tattoo event at The Gutter in Williamsburg (recounted here ), I caught up with Ashley after getting my ...

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My First Sailor Jerry Tattoo, in Honor of His 102nd Birthday

If <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailor_Jerry">Sailor Jerry</a> were alive today, he'd be a ripe 102 years old.<br /><br />If you don't know who Sailor Jerry is, you likely don't know much about tattoos.<br /><br />It's an oversimplification, but Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins, who died in Honolulu in 1972, is the godfather of modern American tattooing. Based in downtown Honolulu, Sailor Jerry was credited for "modernizing" American tattooing, and was a mentor to Ed Hardy, among others.<br /><br /><a href="http://sailorjerry.com/">Sailor Jerry</a> has become a brand, and the savvy folks who are behind the brand, are masters at celebrating the name of Sailor Jerry, and distributing Sailor Jerry rum. Just check out <a href="http://sailorjerry.com/">their website</a> if you want to know more.<br /><br />On Tuesday, I learned that, as they have in years past, the good folks at Sailor Jerry were celebrating the master's birthday with a free tattoo giveaway.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.needlesandsins.com/2013/06/11/SJDAYNY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.needlesandsins.com/2013/06/11/SJDAYNY.jpg" width="414" /></a></div><br />This multi-city event was landing in Brooklyn, which piqued my interest and, since I was not working on Wednesday, I thought I'd give it a shot.<br /><br />Now, I've been to events with bargain-priced tattoos (see my Friday the 13th event reporting here), and I wasn't willing to show up at dawn, but aimed for a 12:30 arrival at <a href="http://www.thegutterbrooklyn.com/">The Gutter</a>, the Bowling Alley/Bar in Williamsburg that was housing the event.<br /><br />When I turned the corner, I was prepared for a horde of ink-seeking enthusiasts. There was no one in sight. In fact, the venue didn't even open until five p.m.<br /><br />I decided to walk over to Manhattan Avenue and say hi to the good people at over at <a href="http://www.threekingstattoo.com/site/">Three Kings Tattoo</a>, where I ran into <a href="http://alexmcwatt.com/">Alex McWatt</a> and met <a href="http://jasonmonroetattoos.com/">Jason Monroe</a>, one of the artists who would be doling out the Sailor Jerry ink.<br /><br />After grabbing a quick bite, I headed back to the Gutter where, much to my chagrin, there was someone standing outside, waiting. I was happy to learn, however, that he was merely having a cigarette in the shade. It was 1:00, the bar didn't open until five, the event didn't start for six more hours, and I was alone. Not only was I first in line, I was the line.<br /><br />Fortunately, it was a beautiful day and I was on the shady side of the street:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VqTRgzWEbF_WcZ-4Emvmwci7p1d3yqnDXKijcjjcAVXGqx-WQXIZ_7MSfK8htHP_VOaKeZIGxB6UjZ8T8CZV6K-DiGCQ7rfb-sWzcgZmdKMMKFQkuLnZ0mPdggCDUvOrEiG7oBogEX8/w530-h659-no/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VqTRgzWEbF_WcZ-4Emvmwci7p1d3yqnDXKijcjjcAVXGqx-WQXIZ_7MSfK8htHP_VOaKeZIGxB6UjZ8T8CZV6K-DiGCQ7rfb-sWzcgZmdKMMKFQkuLnZ0mPdggCDUvOrEiG7oBogEX8/w530-h659-no/photo.jpg" width="321" /></a></div><br />I was hoping to pass the time by interviewing passing tattoo aficionados, but some technical issues limited my true interactions. Nonetheless, I was joined by a woman named Gloria after about an hour, and she was kind enough to provide me with an extra beach chair.<br /><br />After four p.m., the line had grown to a handful, and by five, when the Gutter opened, we had a couple dozen people waiting along North 14th Street.<br /><br />Ever the skeptic, and not knowing how the event would be organized, I deputized myself with gathering a list of names, in arrival order, of the handful of us that had arrived so early. No one likes to stand in line for hours only to see late arrivals pop up out of nowhere and jump to the head of the class. Plus, it killed time and allowed me to pass out Tattoosday cards, plugging the site.<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/AVvXsEgs4Zr7yji5Kb7j19X2loWS9xlNzMct3s3seM2BFkLFZAHzslMaGw6AE7HEZaB4NwOZp3ddlrfxh3rpgWmxA-ENhziUVUGKCMlRs4nM7jCIG7A7sa7dszSeahOshuODUTuQdIX-prKRIG8/w821-h616-no/20130612_182922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4Zr7yji5Kb7j19X2loWS9xlNzMct3s3seM2BFkLFZAHzslMaGw6AE7HEZaB4NwOZp3ddlrfxh3rpgWmxA-ENhziUVUGKCMlRs4nM7jCIG7A7sa7dszSeahOshuODUTuQdIX-prKRIG8/w821-h616-no/20130612_182922.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the head of the line looking toward Berry Street and Nassau Avenue</td></tr></tbody></table>Once the Sailor Jerry rep arrived and politely told me the list (now 29 people long) wouldn't be needed, I stopped running back and forth collecting names. Several times before the event started, people came out explaining the rules, handing out drink tokens and pins to redeem for free hot dogs.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSPkVz1h1YWulWjW2E6h43SMgsjcMzn6QwvPsUvHgieFfe7EPyp4EdykFZDS2WRijMJeWsLjx-4l2SXYy6WpnLQ1VCHHvYtxfFpz7ijjMojpfsq8xEMXVfehgqNteOf75isoVEc-bZKM/w453-h616-no/20130614_134011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSPkVz1h1YWulWjW2E6h43SMgsjcMzn6QwvPsUvHgieFfe7EPyp4EdykFZDS2WRijMJeWsLjx-4l2SXYy6WpnLQ1VCHHvYtxfFpz7ijjMojpfsq8xEMXVfehgqNteOf75isoVEc-bZKM/w453-h616-no/20130614_134011.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><br />I was the first one in, so things moved pretty quickly. Those of us in line were trying to do the math - how were three artists going to do 102 tattoos in a 7-hour span? "They're small," I was told by the woman running point from Three Kings, "and we have a good system in place." Still, that's four to five tattoos per tattooer every hour, allowing time to break-down and set-up after each piece.<br /><br />So, here's how it went down:<br /><br />After eating a delicious hot dog from Bark Hot Dogs, eschewing the onions to spare the tattooer, I signed a release form and headed to the dart board:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB98CWTcycGrT2pgke8sCDAImDK4op2rBp9OQBaxAeuiFgbQxoVMXfu-p-g57wqCRSwVW_o13i32FJWqrSofKijbidat_94aQ5KYkkeaKq0W4Oga1tzg26ADmNTnRTeN9Fl1MxEsRk4Yc/w573-h616-no/IMG_1026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB98CWTcycGrT2pgke8sCDAImDK4op2rBp9OQBaxAeuiFgbQxoVMXfu-p-g57wqCRSwVW_o13i32FJWqrSofKijbidat_94aQ5KYkkeaKq0W4Oga1tzg26ADmNTnRTeN9Fl1MxEsRk4Yc/w573-h616-no/IMG_1026.JPG" width="594" /></a></div><br />If you look closely, you can see the five options of Sailor Jerry flash that were part of the promotion. Whichever design your dart was closest to, that was the design you got. I would have been happy with anything, except perhaps the cherry, so I aimed low and hit the left side of the bottom monkey - Bingo! I wanted the shark most of all!<br /><br />Alas, the burden of being first is not having the time to think about where to put the tattoo - which is ironic considering I had six hours to think about it.<br /><br />Jason Monroe was waiting for me, poised to launch the event with the first tattoo of the night. "Where do you want it?" he asked. I froze and stared as I considered all the options. He broke the spell, "C'mon, arm or leg?" These events usually limit location to limbs because they are generally the fastest parts to tattoo. I blurted out "arm" and sat down. After a brief discussion we agreed to put it up flush against my bigger tattoo on my upper left arm. It seemed to fit there, although if I had to do it over again, I might move it. Then again, I might not.<br /><br />Jason asked me what color I wanted and I did what I always recommend - defer to the artist. Let them use their best judgment to determine what looks best. He worked quickly and efficiently as I stared out the windows of the Gutter at some of the people still standing in line.<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/AVvXsEginK550q1TSnwXAyjy62RfI3zc4KUN_idu9ZlezT3a-whidMMHkc1nvYnpILSgYSd5gBCgZ3uaALKSAHT4HeuN0JPUZd9izrk6rSOXKyoYoA9pi7RS6Hlhtds0PRP7ApDP1iBmuHfXYy4/s1600/DSC_0736.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginK550q1TSnwXAyjy62RfI3zc4KUN_idu9ZlezT3a-whidMMHkc1nvYnpILSgYSd5gBCgZ3uaALKSAHT4HeuN0JPUZd9izrk6rSOXKyoYoA9pi7RS6Hlhtds0PRP7ApDP1iBmuHfXYy4/s640/DSC_0736.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason Monroe tattooing me efficiently, photo courtesy of  Igor at <a href="http://www.drivenbyboredom.com/">DrivenByBoredom.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table>I did learn that Jason had just recently moved up to Three Kings from Atlanta, where he worked at <a href="http://www.inkanddaggertattoo.com/">Ink & Dagger Tattoo Parlour</a>.<br /><br />He finished the tattoo, by my best estimate in a hair under ten minutes. Here it is, two days later:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ttHceO-M5eLBJYmEmrrGKZwo_Xu4aRcHWxGeAoF9lHBZsttjwb9Gqgtrx5RKLuc98jYrF2YbZXuldlziXVJQbFKRn9yEyquwkiBfmIqvm3BhlXIU9VqdLeXXq7TW2qJf0FLDEuquRrY/w830-h593-no/IMG_1030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ttHceO-M5eLBJYmEmrrGKZwo_Xu4aRcHWxGeAoF9lHBZsttjwb9Gqgtrx5RKLuc98jYrF2YbZXuldlziXVJQbFKRn9yEyquwkiBfmIqvm3BhlXIU9VqdLeXXq7TW2qJf0FLDEuquRrY/w830-h593-no/IMG_1030.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Afterwards, I wandered over to the bar and traded in my token for a Sailor Jerry rum and coke, and wandered about, talking to a lot of the folks I had met earlier in the day, many of whom were waiting patiently for their turn.<br /><br /><a href="http://mattvancuratattoos.com/">Matt Van Cura</a>, from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/INVISIBLE-NYC/130751466455">Invisible NYC</a> was tattooing, as well, and I later learned that he was also in charge of VIPs, who had some additional options to choose from.<br /><br />I chatted with the photographer, Igor, who did a brief write-up and posted over 100 photos from the event over on his website <a href="http://www.drivenbyboredom.com/">Driven By Boredom</a>. Did I mention there was free bowling, too?<br /><br />I wasn't long for this party, however, as I was tired out by my marathon goal to be number one. Why show up early? This sums it up:<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.drivenbyboredom.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/sailor-jerry-day-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://www.drivenbyboredom.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/sailor-jerry-day-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Igor at Driven By Boredom</td></tr></tbody></table>I did meet some really great people and, who knows, maybe you'll see some of their tattoos in the days to come. I did snap a cool photo on a young lady named Ashley, who shared a particularly unusual tattoo.<br /><br />Thanks to the awesome folks at Sailor Jerry - do check out their website <a href="http://sailorjerry.com/">here</a>. There's a lot of great tattoo history there, and they are involved in some pretty great ink-related events. You can sign up for e-mail alerts and check out some of their archival photos and video.<br /><br />And thanks to the artists and staff at Three Kings Tattoo, as well, with a special "mahalo" to Jason Monroe, for my giving me my first Sailor Jerry tattoo.<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-69eaa6a6-4543-6133-ebd8-9ffc193893f8"><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>

My First Sailor Jerry Tattoo, in Honor of His 102nd Birthday

If Sailor Jerry were alive today, he'd be a ripe 102 years old. If you don't know who Sailor Jerry is, you likely don't know mu...

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Rus and His Sailor Jerry Ducks

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xst9NrBhH2szWskFPgsDKGy94mUccEyhycRX_ykymh4iJEEPvLLf9I_4-Ig8PTPbpvLwW7HUCe1BpgWKaMsaZg0BMb1ebqGtyDvBHbEe4vo_orGxpi_Z2499LJk_OnGHHlJ3YF9rLOk/s614/IMG_0587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xst9NrBhH2szWskFPgsDKGy94mUccEyhycRX_ykymh4iJEEPvLLf9I_4-Ig8PTPbpvLwW7HUCe1BpgWKaMsaZg0BMb1ebqGtyDvBHbEe4vo_orGxpi_Z2499LJk_OnGHHlJ3YF9rLOk/s640/IMG_0587.JPG" width="342" /></a></div><br />I met Rus in Penn Station last month. He had quite a lot of ink, and offered up this piece from the front of his lower left leg.<br /><br />He credited <a href="http://www.inksmithtattoo.com/artists/mike-wilson">Mike Wilson</a> at <a href="http://www.inksmithtattoo.com/about">Inksmith & Rogers</a> in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, as the artist who tattooed this. A piece by Mike appeared <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/10/shaunceys-pantherabbit.html">here</a> on Tattoosday back in 2010.<br /><br />When I asked Rus if there was a particular story behind the tattoo or a reason he got the ducks, he replied,<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"No. I just liked it. It's an old <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailor_Jerry">Sailor Jerry</a> design. It didin't make any sense, like, why is there a bunch of ducks? [There was a flash sheet with] all the old usual nautical stuff, skulls, you know, boats, things like that and in the middle of it is a bunch of ducks, so I thought I would get that."</blockquote>Thanks to Rus for sharing this tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.3354695320595056" 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: #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>

Rus and His Sailor Jerry Ducks

I met Rus in Penn Station last month. He had quite a lot of ink, and offered up this piece from the front of his lower left leg. He credited...

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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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Kristen's Anchor - Dedicated to Daddy

"This tattoo is for my father," Kristen told me, as we sat talking at the laundromat earlier this month, "because he's my anchor and he's the only man that could ever hold me down and take care of me."<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekcmho3acF3ympO6-9mqUpK-DPujlYSmc8eAiwwjkYlyGV8E6Er5iMcVPuK1zjT7CGsRS1ynL8WyuKST4e82DnigFVahhZw-_tneoo31g7f9OQp800t8VAUMYRmhyphenhyphenCszYWyQ7E7umHzI/s1600/Anchor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekcmho3acF3ympO6-9mqUpK-DPujlYSmc8eAiwwjkYlyGV8E6Er5iMcVPuK1zjT7CGsRS1ynL8WyuKST4e82DnigFVahhZw-_tneoo31g7f9OQp800t8VAUMYRmhyphenhyphenCszYWyQ7E7umHzI/s640/Anchor.jpg" width="380" /></a></div><br /><br />She credits an artist named <a href="http://www.myspace.com/skin1369">Twace</a> who works in Brooklyn. [On October 4, 2011, I learned Twace is working at <a href="http://www.citizeninkstudios.com/artist-twace1.html">Citizen Ink</a>.] Twace does all her work and is working with Kristen on her sleeve, which is based on family and inspired by Sailor Jerry flash.<br /><br />When I asked her about coming up with the design, she praised Twace, her artist:<br /><blockquote><br />"What I love about him is that we designed the entire piece together ... I paint and do artistic things, as well, which you find [can be] very difficult with tattoo artists to put your inspiration in ... The heart rope was my idea, the color scheme, we basically worked together, bounced ideas off each other, which makes it even more like a special event."</blockquote>Thanks to Kristen for sharing this cool tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><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><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

Kristen's Anchor - Dedicated to Daddy

"This tattoo is for my father," Kristen told me, as we sat talking at the laundromat earlier this month, "because he's my...

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Emily Picks Her Poison

It's always interesting when I meet someone with a lot of tattoos, trying to guess, when you ask them to pick just one, which piece they will choose to share. A couple weeks ago, I met Emily, who has two full sleeves, along with her chest and back tattooed. She selected this tattoo on her right forearm for our readers to enjoy:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWe-NZBPaTiUm3y88kq_UtiGPMolfUCEtXGhWPp8gwHh7rS-1YgZktluaw9RNcmOku-iM510kYzRh_gHbB58s9nYLkrnzZ_GGtAN319MPXk6hpfvjLbI7mDQDnXDNZCK0jFnSHPlRd8I/s1600/Poison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWe-NZBPaTiUm3y88kq_UtiGPMolfUCEtXGhWPp8gwHh7rS-1YgZktluaw9RNcmOku-iM510kYzRh_gHbB58s9nYLkrnzZ_GGtAN319MPXk6hpfvjLbI7mDQDnXDNZCK0jFnSHPlRd8I/s640/Poison.jpg" width="504" /></a></div><br />This is a take on the famous <a href="http://sailorjerry.com/age-verification/?title=Sailor+Jerry&redirect=%2f">Sailor Jerry</a> design, like the one seen in <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/09/buddys-advice-about-neck-tattoos.html">this post from 2008</a>:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALNYGug5pygoCVbQTA_ggmlMIQzjDICjU4iUY3yvl7_TZU75QqV7JGHYsk9szyiog6CSg-mDfXJkx9FqYVOXoixzJE-Ik338gFFEsaAhlN7h_lQ9C39fYBQNqHYfO48Uib34eAbyE9WU/s1600/PICT0759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALNYGug5pygoCVbQTA_ggmlMIQzjDICjU4iUY3yvl7_TZU75QqV7JGHYsk9szyiog6CSg-mDfXJkx9FqYVOXoixzJE-Ik338gFFEsaAhlN7h_lQ9C39fYBQNqHYfO48Uib34eAbyE9WU/s400/PICT0759.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />Emily created a male version of the classic "Posion" Sailor Jerry woman. She explained:<br /><blockquote>"I was a Women's Studies major an an undergrad and when I started getting a lot of tattoos, I thought, 'This'll be funny'. That's what most of my tattoos are."</blockquote>The tattoo was done by <a href="http://www.brooklyninktattoo.com/alex_tattoos.html">Alex Franklin</a> when he was at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/sinister-ink-new-brunswick">Sinister Ink</a> in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Sinister Ink has long since closed (<a href="http://www.revolvertattoo.com/">Revolver Tattoo</a> is located in its place) and Alex has been working out of <a href="http://www.brooklyninktattoo.com/">Brooklyn Ink</a> in Bay Ridge for many years now. <br /><br />Thanks to Emily for sharing this cool tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. </span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br /><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>

Emily Picks Her Poison

It's always interesting when I meet someone with a lot of tattoos, trying to guess, when you ask them to pick just one, which piece they...

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Delphine Shares a Lucky Cat and a Sailor Jerry Design

I met Delphine last week and she shared two of her tattoos with me. First is this piece:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekV_L84OpSJqdzgGWKv66XGCKlYINAKqjijDeawO1kTF1CVsegNktgCHx7NlkbF1wvW29iCny7uftwQ8Vglr0hyphenhyphenppIKmt776n980d1CznaZbY2Ol1zVaCoicGt0Hs5uSWoZV-vJlY6Q0/s1600/Lucky+Cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekV_L84OpSJqdzgGWKv66XGCKlYINAKqjijDeawO1kTF1CVsegNktgCHx7NlkbF1wvW29iCny7uftwQ8Vglr0hyphenhyphenppIKmt776n980d1CznaZbY2Ol1zVaCoicGt0Hs5uSWoZV-vJlY6Q0/s640/Lucky+Cat.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br />For those of you who do not recognize this image, it is a common piece of ceramic sculpture popular in Japanese culture called the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maneki_Neko">Maneki Neko</a>," or Lucky Cat. It is a good luck charm, and is often seen in Asian-owned stores as a totem of good fortune. Delphine explained further that this was her most recent piece and that "I have always loved the Japanese Lucky Cat.  I felt that this would be a great time to get it (due to the economy - cat has a prosperity in Kanji) and as a tribute to the Japanese that were affected by the Tsunami)."<br /><br />She credited her Lucky Cat to artists <a href="http://sftattoo.com/artists/megan-wilson/">Megan Wilson</a> at <a href="http://sftattoo.com/">Picture Machine Tattoo</a> in San Francisco.<br /><br />On her other forearm is this tattoo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVestwzYj5RJ75KrB8IbISFruaP8dghxVjc6zzcbiombieoDe1fbzKMojw3BnADMmVRughyod2LTd2tfKeDCtB2IIaS13EKPKzq9Qyw-A3GDbVOzXbJBGKI_cbPvNnJ8PHo7eNIv2MA-0/s1600/USMC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVestwzYj5RJ75KrB8IbISFruaP8dghxVjc6zzcbiombieoDe1fbzKMojw3BnADMmVRughyod2LTd2tfKeDCtB2IIaS13EKPKzq9Qyw-A3GDbVOzXbJBGKI_cbPvNnJ8PHo7eNIv2MA-0/s640/USMC.jpg" width="344" /></a></div><br />This tattoo is attributed to <a href="http://www.luckystarstattoo.com/artist/anthony">Anthony Gonzalez</a> at <a href="http://www.luckystarstattoo.com/">Lucky Stars Tattoo</a> in San Jose, California. Delphine explains, "My father and I are Marine Vets.  I saw this <a href="http://www.sailorjerry.com/">Sailor Jerry</a> piece and loved it to honor my father and me.  On the original piece it says 'Never Again'.  I updated this to 'Never Forget' - the 'forget' is done in red to look like spray paint."<br /><br />Thanks to Delphine for sharing these two tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Delphine Shares a Lucky Cat and a Sailor Jerry Design

I met Delphine last week and she shared two of her tattoos with me. First is this piece: For those of you who do not recognize this image, i...

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Salvatore Shares a Family Heirloom

Yesterday marked the anniversary of the death of Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins, so it seems appropriate to share the following tattoo, courtesy of Salvatore:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_vR3syYR0EhJNDV77KCRanI_I0eJ-uKfEo-NiSZZ7S2lpD6Q36Nwor34hczjJ3tXQkvnIUG46OiE9rEPsyTgNqXPWTjR_qcXrArkDc2lDBRRjVq7gOjeOOJuMHG1xOe5b6zlgdUkTKE/s1600/Sailor+Jerry+pinup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_vR3syYR0EhJNDV77KCRanI_I0eJ-uKfEo-NiSZZ7S2lpD6Q36Nwor34hczjJ3tXQkvnIUG46OiE9rEPsyTgNqXPWTjR_qcXrArkDc2lDBRRjVq7gOjeOOJuMHG1xOe5b6zlgdUkTKE/s640/Sailor+Jerry+pinup.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><br />Located on his upper right arm, Salvatore explained that his family emigrated from Europe several generations ago. His grandfather joined the service when he was a young man and served in World War II. His travels brought him, at some point, through Honolulu where, according to Salvatore, his grandfather received the original version of the tattoo above, from none other than Sailor Jerry himself. The design above is a replica of Slavatore's grandfather's tattoo, a Sailor Jerry original.<br /><br />Not only is he carrying a piece of traditional tattoo history on him, he is also honoring the memory of his grandfather. How cool is that?<br /><br />Salvatore is a chef at <a href="http://www.oneifbyland.com/">One if by Land, Two if by Sea</a>, a restaurant in New York's West Village. He is also a personal chef for several mixed martial arts fighters.<br /><br />The Sailor Jerry piece above, as well as his left arm, which is fully-sleeved, was tattooed by Elio Espana, formerly of <a href="http://flyritetattoo.net/">Flyrite Tattoo</a>. Elio now works upstate at <a href="http://adktattoo.com/">ADK Tattoo</a> in Constable, New York.<br /><br />Thanks to Salvatore for sharing this wonderful tattoo, that celebrates both an American tattoo master, and a family patriarch, here on Tattoosday.

Salvatore Shares a Family Heirloom

Yesterday marked the anniversary of the death of Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins, so it seems appropriate to share the following tat...

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Sailor Jerry on the Rooftop

Saturday night found me on a rooftop in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gowanus">Gowanus</a> section of Brooklyn watching the film <a href="http://horismokumovie.com/">Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry</a>, a documentary about the legendary tattoo artists <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailor_Jerry">Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins</a>. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtl3pK9Je29B3AfN4n7NMQb6xWUuHmEtmm6VdnX_hxbDkRlm_gU2TZzWNHuNJwotpyVKIjlaFoIiWhajLxAlMFvdVKelGBYNljXy_8puFuovBdrzjd4Upy7rdAH_UlKOA0rxYy4OM/s1600/hssj-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtl3pK9Je29B3AfN4n7NMQb6xWUuHmEtmm6VdnX_hxbDkRlm_gU2TZzWNHuNJwotpyVKIjlaFoIiWhajLxAlMFvdVKelGBYNljXy_8puFuovBdrzjd4Upy7rdAH_UlKOA0rxYy4OM/s400/hssj-1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />It was part of the Rooftop Films free festival, yet another amazing benefit of living in New York City. That and hearing a guy with a cowboy hat playing "Silent Night" on his harmonica on the subway in August.<br /><br />A bit about <a href="http://www.rooftopfilms.com/">Rooftop Films</a>, what a great program. I encourage everyone in New York to take advantage of (and support) this series, now winding up it's 14th year. The program champions underseen independent films in spectacular locations.<br /><br />Saturday's show was atop the historic <a href="http://www.nyc.com/arts__attractions/the_old_american_can_factory.685032/editorial_review.aspx">Old American Can Factory</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54s9FcvGNa9eKru5nmZlxNswUCH4Nqzp-ipn_BKuNgVprOM24iHOJKuRZnJIxvmNzn-7UMIK-dcjyIFh9Pcd5O-UJiOR6AGJKYdGasl_Sa5HBzS3se2pEM0ooAbbAQuB_s46rMHGB/s1600/old+can.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54s9FcvGNa9eKru5nmZlxNswUCH4Nqzp-ipn_BKuNgVprOM24iHOJKuRZnJIxvmNzn-7UMIK-dcjyIFh9Pcd5O-UJiOR6AGJKYdGasl_Sa5HBzS3se2pEM0ooAbbAQuB_s46rMHGB/s400/old+can.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> Here was my view, initially:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnE1Ra7N6Hv45buATemQOmH1AnytEozdL-AbHuDdQTSXrcUi9ZV45aIVHr40VB7dYLKTVE24U8-qI5NehAWW1GUP2egqzff6Bpc35fjA1xZzmR08oW4f7o67BlH3AdStLNVzK8LLHY/s1600/rooftop1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnE1Ra7N6Hv45buATemQOmH1AnytEozdL-AbHuDdQTSXrcUi9ZV45aIVHr40VB7dYLKTVE24U8-qI5NehAWW1GUP2egqzff6Bpc35fjA1xZzmR08oW4f7o67BlH3AdStLNVzK8LLHY/s400/rooftop1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />and then when I moved up to the front row:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcAqFfWPRwZH3ZrwCmqgoULiW3hR0GOHj2N8pML3GnuD43IBHulaqjj_I1jAMj823ah3eIUSGtn8HoVWM3ZML2KlVY7zhAi6YGh_DHpzfvDhojghsjyr3hPfKS37sr9ZE4uM4DShW/s1600/rooftop+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcAqFfWPRwZH3ZrwCmqgoULiW3hR0GOHj2N8pML3GnuD43IBHulaqjj_I1jAMj823ah3eIUSGtn8HoVWM3ZML2KlVY7zhAi6YGh_DHpzfvDhojghsjyr3hPfKS37sr9ZE4uM4DShW/s400/rooftop+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We were treated to some music from a band called <a href="http://www.myspace.com/cheeseburger">Cheeseburger</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZI-c38qbicSz3xvpa4LHyyNhai1no17byxFJl_MGTDZjgNeY5lZ8HTeC_5xZjEM0CaHkD8Co8WgDxTKR6J8j5bFlifmvGx1TIkGQWXclODVS0koeJvhyphenhyphenH6aF0HM0oH0GTexGRCis/s1600/cheeseburger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZI-c38qbicSz3xvpa4LHyyNhai1no17byxFJl_MGTDZjgNeY5lZ8HTeC_5xZjEM0CaHkD8Co8WgDxTKR6J8j5bFlifmvGx1TIkGQWXclODVS0koeJvhyphenhyphenH6aF0HM0oH0GTexGRCis/s400/cheeseburger.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Prior to the film starting, we were introduced to the producer/director of the film, Erich Weiss. He explained that the film has been a three to four year process. It was initially shown at the 2008 South by Southwest Festival and, after a limited theater run, found its way to DVD in late 2009. "I've met a lot of interesting people," he told the audience, and he also asked us not to talk to him after the movie about our own tattoos and the story behind them. Clearly he's heard more than his fair share of tattoo stories.<br /><br />The film itself was wonderful, and echoed what I consider one of the best tattoo books I've ever read, <span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sailor-Jerry-Collins-American-Tattoo/dp/0945367112?ie=UTF8&tag=bill03-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Sailor Jerry Collins: American Tattoo Master</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0945367112" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />.Much of the book is the actual correspondence between Sailor Jerry and a young tattoo artist named Don Ed Hardy. The film intersperses snippets from the correspondence, typed out across the screen, with a voiceover representing the artist's voice, with interviews from Don Ed Hardy, along with a veritable Who's Who of Old School tattoo legends like Lyle Tuttle, Mike Malone, Zeke Owen, Bob Roberts, and the scene-stealing Philadelphia Eddie Funk.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle">Because Sailor Jerry was so suspicious of "outside forces" (i.e. the media), he never gave interviews, and the only exposure we get to him are still photographs and a rare recording of his voice from a radio program.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle">I found the film doubly interesting because Sailor Jerry was based in Hawai'i, my home state, and I really had an understanding of the Hotel Street area of downtown Honolulu where the tattoo shops were located, and I remember how seedy that part of town was, even as late as 1984. I also loved the one artist speaking pidgin, "Eh brah, wheah da five dollah poke stay?" This, of course, translates to, "Excuse me, where can I go for a five-dollar tattoo?"</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle"> </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle">The film illustrates the man for who he was, warts-and-all. He was a political conservative who thought Nixon was too liberal. He exhibited what today would be considered racism, but back in the Fifties, Sixties, and Seventies was considered a typical prejudice toward Asians that was molded by experiencing World War II in the Pacific. Yet, through this all shone his artistry and his commitment to the craft of tattooing. The fact that he has been dead for 37 years certainly allows one to focus more on his contributions as an artist, and less on what many would call his shortcomings.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle">After the film, Erich Weiss did a brief Q and A, with the audience. He seemed to channel a bit of Sailor Jerry, as he continued with his polite rant against people who want to talk about the stories behind their tattoos (sounds like he would not be a Tattoosday reader!). He railed against "tattoo snobbery"  and said he "loves the fact that my tattoos are so shitty". </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle">What Weiss was saying is that tattoos are art and the personal aspects should be just that, personal. He cut his teeth with this film dealing with old school tattoo artists, many who have seen their art form go from an exclusive club to a worldwide fad. About Sailor Jerry, Weiss said, "I think he would have hated what tattooing has become in our society," referring to the tattoo-reality shows and the trendiness of the art form.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle">The irony of the event being co-sponsored by <a href="http://www.sailorjerry.com/index.php/rum/">Sailor Jerry Rum</a></span><span id="btAsinTitle"> was not lost on me. I could almost see Norman Collins looking down from heaven (or up from hell) and shaking his head at the spectacle.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle"> </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle">Speaking of rum, there were free drinks after the event and an after-party in the building courtyard. I had a cup of rum and ginger and looked at some of the beautiful flash that was being displayed in huge frames. My favorite was this one:</span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvnpK-Ap2Dt9nJ44Xwf_WpfWHg0m_a2whTyeb04QAfdyG0tDVGec13CYXFTgSfC_QhFBzrz5f_IvCm11PiD-cEZcpIu114vTKb-waIkn3NMaA3acYdfzQPakPKOm_9HHA0SvzAxXl/s1600/Sailor+Jerry+flash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvnpK-Ap2Dt9nJ44Xwf_WpfWHg0m_a2whTyeb04QAfdyG0tDVGec13CYXFTgSfC_QhFBzrz5f_IvCm11PiD-cEZcpIu114vTKb-waIkn3NMaA3acYdfzQPakPKOm_9HHA0SvzAxXl/s320/Sailor+Jerry+flash.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle">The whole experience was quite enjoyable, but the star of the show was Sailor Jerry. I recommend the movie to anyone interested in the art of American tattoo, and encourage people to check out Rooftop Films and support this amazing program.<br /></span></span><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=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=0945367112" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><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=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B002H083UK" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>

Sailor Jerry on the Rooftop

Saturday night found me on a rooftop in the Gowanus section of Brooklyn watching the film Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry , a documentary about the...

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Colin's Left Leg is Traditionally Flash-y

I spotted Colin one afternoon while I was waiting for another tattooed individual to get off of her cell phone.<br /><br />(Not only have I come up with individual terms for things that are associated with inkblogging, but I follow a code, as well. One of its tenets is to never bother someone talking on a cell phone.)<br /><br />Colin ambled by and I bounded after him, stopping him and asking about his tattoos.<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFcgQQy8_8GQb9Im0v1GoJeDAbrvBDflhWjHl0dOp8qlDYlwZpi5-c6MtO6B1Qiez-WEd8859-xCfbqktLRQ1sbmnQtcLBGfYeJ5a5hlKuljfaJLVOVIgk4Ze13KOzCRNN60sxu0KLI8/s1600-h/Heart+Dagger.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385340050895541922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFcgQQy8_8GQb9Im0v1GoJeDAbrvBDflhWjHl0dOp8qlDYlwZpi5-c6MtO6B1Qiez-WEd8859-xCfbqktLRQ1sbmnQtcLBGfYeJ5a5hlKuljfaJLVOVIgk4Ze13KOzCRNN60sxu0KLI8/s400/Heart+Dagger.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />His left leg is covered with traditional flash, from swallows and bombs, roses, death's head moths,<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-lW_QVT_Kv0_HQzeVzyDEkCkX4byN2gIt9RQK6cEp_UQjoCQXF35PgfSXKqFLoKnyp_Db5xgzYVN2FFcjf6iRB4MZq1C2ZNCPDhjCx-XarUfjXpy3ap5bB145aronC4usZdrEz72jqc/s1600-h/leg+ink.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385339974470086578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-lW_QVT_Kv0_HQzeVzyDEkCkX4byN2gIt9RQK6cEp_UQjoCQXF35PgfSXKqFLoKnyp_Db5xgzYVN2FFcjf6iRB4MZq1C2ZNCPDhjCx-XarUfjXpy3ap5bB145aronC4usZdrEz72jqc/s400/leg+ink.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />and a pin-up girl, done in the Sailor Jerry style.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeabe8PbvVxcap9fy7Kq5ZoU2jGR0ZrIMOI_lO3axAI3FJ-p3uZW5jD44ogkp72i8yjfYNxfyorecyOPFfbDSKRipud4kyXtngj0zI7j-Zv_QkXylvoIvEVdgGXyU9w8nwrkC_Uh0nxXA/s1600-h/leg+ink+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385339878332443874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeabe8PbvVxcap9fy7Kq5ZoU2jGR0ZrIMOI_lO3axAI3FJ-p3uZW5jD44ogkp72i8yjfYNxfyorecyOPFfbDSKRipud4kyXtngj0zI7j-Zv_QkXylvoIvEVdgGXyU9w8nwrkC_Uh0nxXA/s400/leg+ink+2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />He explained that the sleeved left leg is a result of being "overzealous and excited" about tattoos.<br />Usually I try to talk about one or two pieces, but because most of his work is just flash, I captured most of his calf.<br /><br />No fascinating stories to tell, just tattoos.<br /><br />Thanks to Colin for sharing his ink with us here on Tattoosday!

Colin's Left Leg is Traditionally Flash-y

I spotted Colin one afternoon while I was waiting for another tattooed individual to get off of her cell phone. (Not only have I come up wit...

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Izzy's Ink: A Tatt-alog, Part 1

On occasion here on Tattoosday, we go a little ink-wild. Someone I meet will show me piece after piece of great body art, and I will snap away and scribble notes as quickly as I can.<br /><br />And when I share a half dozen or more tattoos from one person, in one post, I call it a <span style="font-style: italic;">tatt-alog</span>.<br /><br />I was heading home later than normal, having attended a New York City open house on applying to public high schools when, after one stop on the <a href="http://www.mta.info/nyct/service/rline.htm">R train</a>, a few people boarded at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Avenue%E2%80%93Pacific_Street_%28BMT_Fourth_Avenue_Line%29#BMT_Fourth_Avenue_Line_platforms">Pacific Street</a>.<br /><br />I noticed the woman first, and a bicep covered with flowers, and then I nudged Melanie (my lovely wife) and drew her attention to the back of a man's calf:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjLB0m1VT1SfndHX6cNmNp-WCSjVpY2GlvPdL1JRCtb9QomJKm-DTPe9aa7Z2kiq-IcwhnaSoRYE4taosyDdAO9pmfT93jBoTWK_kOf2ZVg42zMjLfqtVsKO5g0LpG8AwbOAwkyZw4fo/s1600-h/Hendrix.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358622993516899010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjLB0m1VT1SfndHX6cNmNp-WCSjVpY2GlvPdL1JRCtb9QomJKm-DTPe9aa7Z2kiq-IcwhnaSoRYE4taosyDdAO9pmfT93jBoTWK_kOf2ZVg42zMjLfqtVsKO5g0LpG8AwbOAwkyZw4fo/s400/Hendrix.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />So I had no intention of letting that piece exit the train un-documented by yours truly, I quickly got up and introduced myself, but the woman knew who I was, I think she said "It's the Tattoosday Guy!"<br /><br />She, of the flowered bicep, was Lauren, whose <a href="http://www.mastodonrocks.com/">Mastodon</a> tattoo was featured <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/05/laurens-thigh-tattoo-salutes-mastodon.html">here</a> back in June, and her boyfriend Izzy had a ton of ink (approximately 16 pieces). What follows are 5 of the more noteworthy tattoos. For the sake of brevity, I have a few more saved for a later date.<br /><br />The first piece Izzy talked about was this <a href="http://www.sailorjerry.com/index.php">Sailor Jerry</a>-inspired monkey. Legend has it that the original Sailor Jerry had a pet chimp upon which he tattooed the letters "A L" on its left buttock and "H A" on its right. He then trained the chimp to bend over and look at someone through its knees. The resulting message "A L o H A" was visible thanks to the extra letter provided by the monkey's nether orifice. Sailor Jerry designed flash to commemorate the trick:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tWcUiQ5EUyHwMD1uzS7KazYpFPFirh0yh_dMnOu_CyRiSmKhDJCSZ6fRzAM9CI7Ki049IGh-5ducMa9_KPYuGquj8pZ8QwugWc8G8UnyoRKgAw2nRLXcu0wq13Y49DclKIEdczQUJAo/s1600-h/aloha+monkey.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358621375374335762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tWcUiQ5EUyHwMD1uzS7KazYpFPFirh0yh_dMnOu_CyRiSmKhDJCSZ6fRzAM9CI7Ki049IGh-5ducMa9_KPYuGquj8pZ8QwugWc8G8UnyoRKgAw2nRLXcu0wq13Y49DclKIEdczQUJAo/s320/aloha+monkey.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" /></a><br />Izzy's homage to the monkey replaces ALoHA with BROoKLYN:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aw7H3PhdBQDVCOdPS4-ozHUR1BdGhWpi_pDyvgPbMF3sqBoyHvSfrVHCIzlFj9c5s44p0dU_SJEluYPnEcsA99DpqER5qJCSCEzcooOUkBH2UabnIdWUIVrkqramUuHOcRxrGwVdqBk/s1600-h/Brooklyn+Monkey.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358252289223285426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aw7H3PhdBQDVCOdPS4-ozHUR1BdGhWpi_pDyvgPbMF3sqBoyHvSfrVHCIzlFj9c5s44p0dU_SJEluYPnEcsA99DpqER5qJCSCEzcooOUkBH2UabnIdWUIVrkqramUuHOcRxrGwVdqBk/s320/Brooklyn+Monkey.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 320px;" /></a><br />This was tattooed by Josh Everett who, Izzy explained, quit tattooing to run the family business.<br /><br />Everett was co-owner of the now-defunct <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/macdougal-st-tattoo-company-new-york">Macdougal Street Tattoo Company</a>, but it's worth checking out this article <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/30/style/noticed-the-tattooed-badge-of-courage.html">here</a> from <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/" style="font-style: italic;">The New York Times</a> archives, in which he is interviewed about giving free tattoos to 9/11 rescue workers.<br /><br />Everett was also responsible for the incredible <a href="http://www.jimihendrix.com/">Jimi Hendrix</a> tattoo on the back of his right leg:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjLB0m1VT1SfndHX6cNmNp-WCSjVpY2GlvPdL1JRCtb9QomJKm-DTPe9aa7Z2kiq-IcwhnaSoRYE4taosyDdAO9pmfT93jBoTWK_kOf2ZVg42zMjLfqtVsKO5g0LpG8AwbOAwkyZw4fo/s1600-h/Hendrix.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358622993516899010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjLB0m1VT1SfndHX6cNmNp-WCSjVpY2GlvPdL1JRCtb9QomJKm-DTPe9aa7Z2kiq-IcwhnaSoRYE4taosyDdAO9pmfT93jBoTWK_kOf2ZVg42zMjLfqtVsKO5g0LpG8AwbOAwkyZw4fo/s400/Hendrix.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Definitely worth a second look.<br /><br />Remember, we're talking and the camera is flashing on the R train, so we certainly were drawing some stares. Izzy moved on to this intriguing tattoo:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXt0XUp6VK98hIEe72gQJGpi-SgUUqh6lTMkm2sk3K6zWiaHWxVPpCl8UsetLODZTpuIf01LyWuTgeVUvoQNk3UZT-EoFpR8JKR4QQYsA6zZJas6DHakjrBjipYE8DyJjf7adMaygsTpg/s1600-h/Dimebag.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358623651454226450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXt0XUp6VK98hIEe72gQJGpi-SgUUqh6lTMkm2sk3K6zWiaHWxVPpCl8UsetLODZTpuIf01LyWuTgeVUvoQNk3UZT-EoFpR8JKR4QQYsA6zZJas6DHakjrBjipYE8DyJjf7adMaygsTpg/s400/Dimebag.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />"Ever hear of a band called <a href="http://www.pantera.com/">Pantera</a>?" he asked.<br /><br />Melanie laughed, the tattoo made sense, I knew what the crux of it was immediately - Izzy had the autograph of Pantera guitarist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Darrell">"Dimebag" Darrell</a> forever inked on his flesh. Sadly, for those who don't know, in 2004, Dime was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Darrell#Death">murdered on stage</a> in by a crazed fan.<br /><br />Above Dimebag's signature is the logo <del>CBH</del> CFH from their debut album <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboys_from_Hell" style="font-style: italic;">Cowboys from Hell</a> and below it is a guitar drawn by the legendary musician.<br /><br />Izzy met Dime about 11 years ago, outside of the building where <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_stern">Howard Stern</a> was broadcasting his radio show. Dime drew it all on with a <a href="http://www.sharpie.com/">Sharpie</a> and an artist named Eric tattooed it in the back of <a href="http://www.bleeckerbobs.com/">Bleecker Bob's Records</a>.<br /><br />Moving to his left arm, Izzy shared this design:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGhlx0Sc8jfJtlW1SdUM8Z-hgWs7kdIGYkHJBCB5lBqIKlg2v7pV-62QhsISMt9pJ9jaJRlepIiuGVWm9NDE2CjQ-Voizpk6-VKA5rAyfrGzgxC6c5UvF3be5OrDwsUYvAYGFQjGnvZk/s1600-h/slash.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358624452521998002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGhlx0Sc8jfJtlW1SdUM8Z-hgWs7kdIGYkHJBCB5lBqIKlg2v7pV-62QhsISMt9pJ9jaJRlepIiuGVWm9NDE2CjQ-Voizpk6-VKA5rAyfrGzgxC6c5UvF3be5OrDwsUYvAYGFQjGnvZk/s400/slash.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 334px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Although not immediately apparent, this tattoo is also an autograph-turned-tattoo. This was drawn on Izzy's arm by <a href="http://www.slashonline.com/">Slash</a>, former <a href="http://web.gunsnroses.com/index.jsp">Guns N' Roses</a> guitarist, backstage at a <a href="http://www.velvetrevolver.com/">Velvet Revolver </a>concert.<br /><br />As a guitarist in a rock band (<a href="http://www.myspace.com/godsgreenearthnyc">God's Green Earth</a>), I can understand why Izzy might want the autographs of two of the most influential rock guitarists from the last twenty-five years permanently inked on his being.<br /><br />Since meeting Izzy, I also have met a guy in our neighborhood with <a href="http://www.paulstanley.com/">Paul Stanley's</a> autograph inked on his calf. See <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Autographs">here</a> for previous examples of "signed tattoos" appearing on Tattoosday.<br /><br />Further up his left arm is this amazing belly dancer tattooed by <a href="http://www.joshualord.com/gallery.html">Joshua Lord</a> at <a href="http://www.eastsideinktattoo.com/">East Side Ink</a>:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXuEWp9yIKu9Z_9vbIoN-haeRC-qq8vyjNzJKvmOYZZ7oHm37wLR_E4Zf732hz1Dqzi79dZuAu6UQ5IMkSW5JWNKVhFcaWMgab8f-zUt7D9MX-zWNWyMps4fQ1EPnJ4CupNnJNFobrys/s1600-h/belly+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358624698550042578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXuEWp9yIKu9Z_9vbIoN-haeRC-qq8vyjNzJKvmOYZZ7oHm37wLR_E4Zf732hz1Dqzi79dZuAu6UQ5IMkSW5JWNKVhFcaWMgab8f-zUt7D9MX-zWNWyMps4fQ1EPnJ4CupNnJNFobrys/s400/belly+2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Izzy and Lauren rode with us all the way to the end of the R line, definitely winning the honor of being the subject with whom I have spent the most amount of time (about 30 minutes).<br /><br />I am eternally grateful to Izzy for sharing his work with us here on Tattoosday and for doing so with such genuine excitement.<br /><br />Be sure to check out his band at their MySpace page <a href="http://www.myspace.com/godsgreenearthnyc">here</a>.<br /><br />And stay tuned for some additional shots of Izzy's Ink!

Izzy's Ink: A Tatt-alog, Part 1

On occasion here on Tattoosday, we go a little ink-wild. Someone I meet will show me piece after piece of great body art, and I will snap aw...

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A Traditional Sailor Jerry Pin-up for the 4th of July

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iYqkFCGM739dbucGP3b0R8w9V04rvXymSxvsESeRAB5nFWmqCFabnqzNlTPVW18NSW6liw4WsjW1O7-lYGlwt8HW5NRimHR7w0Zk_ChyphenhyphentxSPYw4PdAyOAvrRaVkVV-kPYVYxoy_rCFI/s1600-h/Sailor+Jerry+Cowgirl+-+Detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353809668715093026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iYqkFCGM739dbucGP3b0R8w9V04rvXymSxvsESeRAB5nFWmqCFabnqzNlTPVW18NSW6liw4WsjW1O7-lYGlwt8HW5NRimHR7w0Zk_ChyphenhyphentxSPYw4PdAyOAvrRaVkVV-kPYVYxoy_rCFI/s400/Sailor+Jerry+Cowgirl+-+Detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px;" /></a><br />When I saw Paul standing in Borders, inked up with nineteen tattoos, I couldn't help but ask to take a picture.<br /><br />Not much of a story here, but a hell of a tattoo:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwg6CxEEtaVxmtTqseRjJD-LJjaPqfMDTujdweo7QRWPKgRzTpaI46JV6Zv8MBP3t9UffbS5khicE-vqwaGFLu6lSZGK1TAib_fUp-HfAXZ356nXdA-pdAsOYD-royhbbpINh40DKKRM/s1600-h/Sailor+Jerry+Cowgirl.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353809443298021586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwg6CxEEtaVxmtTqseRjJD-LJjaPqfMDTujdweo7QRWPKgRzTpaI46JV6Zv8MBP3t9UffbS5khicE-vqwaGFLu6lSZGK1TAib_fUp-HfAXZ356nXdA-pdAsOYD-royhbbpINh40DKKRM/s400/Sailor+Jerry+Cowgirl.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 153px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />This is an old school <a href="http://www.sailorjerry.com/index.php">Sailor Jerry</a> pin-up design that Paul had always loved. So, he finally had it inked by <a href="http://jprodrigues.com/home.html">J.P.</a> at <a href="http://www.risingdragon.com/">Rising Dragon Tattoos</a> in Manhattan. Work from their shop has appeared previously on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Rising%20Dragon%20Tattoos">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Paul for sharing his awesome tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

A Traditional Sailor Jerry Pin-up for the 4th of July

When I saw Paul standing in Borders, inked up with nineteen tattoos, I couldn't help but ask to take a picture. Not much of a story here...

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Amy's Variation on a Sailor Jerry Classic

I met Amy one day a few weeks back, outside of <a href="http://www.thegarden.com/">Madison Square Garden</a>.<br /><br />She estimates she has spent about 36 hours being tattooed, and that her body is "a work in progress".<br /><br />She offered up this tattoo on her left arm, which is a modified version of a classic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailor_Jerry">Sailor Jerry</a> design:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7_GcWT8ku0qW5GOddqkh1vj4sIwjWhK2MUNINANFwaX9zutNqXIT4HVnKywJFajbFcjfEdPeBd6c9QV04DRZIvxqxcgMHNf8C_6f1FTVt6lZL9B68Mb67o4oEfirHv5cEfe3U4RL5EQ/s1600-h/Amy+sleeve.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348974148120056306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7_GcWT8ku0qW5GOddqkh1vj4sIwjWhK2MUNINANFwaX9zutNqXIT4HVnKywJFajbFcjfEdPeBd6c9QV04DRZIvxqxcgMHNf8C_6f1FTVt6lZL9B68Mb67o4oEfirHv5cEfe3U4RL5EQ/s400/Amy+sleeve.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The original concept is your basic naval tattoo design, with the "Stewed, Screwed, and Tattooed" slogan:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpNm7rdzpTm0_yZNIszrqPLSuR_LZoOJUiHAV2sFba_24_wJaicFe5pqRJlE8IErJWdO-od6Xi_OcNO5dZwzzIiFeF4xnqmwkAb64_i9hV8PIoKEFnODvMNCP7ixPC6RU3vZBdlKQBL8/s1600-h/SailorJerry_stewed_sticker.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348975902244036930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpNm7rdzpTm0_yZNIszrqPLSuR_LZoOJUiHAV2sFba_24_wJaicFe5pqRJlE8IErJWdO-od6Xi_OcNO5dZwzzIiFeF4xnqmwkAb64_i9hV8PIoKEFnODvMNCP7ixPC6RU3vZBdlKQBL8/s400/SailorJerry_stewed_sticker.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 300px;" /></a>This piece has been elongated, with a few flowers added for that feminine touch, and the banner "1 Life" is inserted as a nod to the shop where she had this done.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xxsrs5mhIbJlnuJok_PtsEkqCe6ghUFNBzZbhn9CQdUd0z-wLSQ-9K0W6MlV-QjHYMawRWDZMEWYv-ulxoo3i632VI965EwbFwFiKXKvpYeeThUAvVpexWLRTGrErQ7OkYQk0Dh6LTY/s1600-h/Stewed+screwed.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348973940797773778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xxsrs5mhIbJlnuJok_PtsEkqCe6ghUFNBzZbhn9CQdUd0z-wLSQ-9K0W6MlV-QjHYMawRWDZMEWYv-ulxoo3i632VI965EwbFwFiKXKvpYeeThUAvVpexWLRTGrErQ7OkYQk0Dh6LTY/s400/Stewed+screwed.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />This, along with most of her work, was tattooed by Branden Noetzel at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/1lifetattoo">1 Life Tattoo</a> in <a href="http://www.brainerd.com/">Brainerd, Minnesota</a>.<br /><br />Amy, who is a make-up artist by trade, also has the knuckle tattoos that read B-O-O-K W-O-R-M. I would have shot them for my friends over at <a href="http://www.knuckletattoos.com/">KnuckleTattoos.com</a>, but she's already on the site (see them clearly <a href="http://www.knuckletattoos.com/book-worm/">here</a>). So, she offered up her two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fu_Dog">foo dogs</a> (inked on her hands for protection) instead:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdR13V81Gc5cvfDqHPP7uvnI6kJfOPyLcq-v1zGgN9wU6cfwzkALSjYN8dzC18UEUInBhqVgwiCzDdhbAXSsnVSaS7ZRPUF56JB3nurWV8MH6miIc9yUg1RF0LNznINqhtxCznJh4lBbw/s1600-h/Amys+fists+of+foo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348973199802084578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdR13V81Gc5cvfDqHPP7uvnI6kJfOPyLcq-v1zGgN9wU6cfwzkALSjYN8dzC18UEUInBhqVgwiCzDdhbAXSsnVSaS7ZRPUF56JB3nurWV8MH6miIc9yUg1RF0LNznINqhtxCznJh4lBbw/s400/Amys+fists+of+foo.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 248px;" /></a><br />Thanks to Amy for sharing her great tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Amy's Variation on a Sailor Jerry Classic

I met Amy one day a few weeks back, outside of Madison Square Garden . She estimates she has spent about 36 hours being tattooed, and that h...

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Melanie's Traditional Revolvers

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwvAEn8yIjr6cEw7L5XryHuAMXpMCNmxYRqk3BdnWGTHuep15oLhH6P3FyiFmJD2DE1TLWvKwT2HiZj2y8aljXrBxpy9rInj7atFD08erX3MvrF690vMJzOQr5hkgpmvEiCErF3vIn72l/s1600-h/Melanie's+gun+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260313004072408946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwvAEn8yIjr6cEw7L5XryHuAMXpMCNmxYRqk3BdnWGTHuep15oLhH6P3FyiFmJD2DE1TLWvKwT2HiZj2y8aljXrBxpy9rInj7atFD08erX3MvrF690vMJzOQr5hkgpmvEiCErF3vIn72l/s400/Melanie's+gun+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 221px;" /></a><br />As I mentioned above (<a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/10/interlude-third-times-charm.html">here</a>), Melanie crossed my path on a day last week when I had been having some bad luck with inkspotting.<br /><br />However, when I saw her on 34th Street across from <a href="http://www.nyctourist.com/macys1.htm">Macy*s</a>, I had to talk to her about her tattoos.<br /><br />What caught my eye first was her chest piece, two traditional <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailor_Jerry">Sailor Jerry</a> designs, including a near replica of <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/09/buddys-advice-about-neck-tattoos.html">the neck piece</a> sported by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Nielsen">Buddy Nielsen</a> of <a href="http://www.sensesfail.com/">Senses Fail</a>.<br /><br />She told me an artist named Kenny up in <a href="http://www.ci.kingston.ny.us/">Kingston, New York</a> had inked the chest piece, but instead of photographing that, she offered up her stomach piece instead:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5c_DmyJFmzI6hE8Oqw7VICtMqiIjQpFRwFBj9uGkGc-fc18vaTdebuoVxwXEiJlrElrHmfkFBoGJT6unUlzOdbS6Nnj_AeHluTqXnalhT6g7ad6wQ6216E6dfXcgYxoc95cr_eR0ZqErt/s1600-h/Melanie's+guns.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260310065425530066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5c_DmyJFmzI6hE8Oqw7VICtMqiIjQpFRwFBj9uGkGc-fc18vaTdebuoVxwXEiJlrElrHmfkFBoGJT6unUlzOdbS6Nnj_AeHluTqXnalhT6g7ad6wQ6216E6dfXcgYxoc95cr_eR0ZqErt/s400/Melanie's+guns.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 230px;" /></a><br />The reason for her offering this other piece is that it was tattooed by the artist she is currently working with, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/cookietat2">Cookie</a>, at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/popstattoo">Pop's Tattoo Emporium</a> in Kingston.<br /><br />Melanie got her first tattoo at sixteen and fell in love with the traditional style. When I asked her how many she had, she had the typical response of the heavily-inked: she wasn't sure.<br /><br />The guns and roses along the waistline are a traditional motif and part of her desire for ink is to fill in space, to keep working with the body's canvas. The sheriff's badge exemplifies this, as she noted it was added as an afterthought.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOC4TeEKQPhE2lVchitcPkw8meYs_r8UUXgcHyyKhBR9U5hcruWh7SuJPAfYrY8yXPekXVkSCi-VIkF8uupDKO4q5h2mwdC7oG6w0Nz-M3ONxvTeZXqYK4ICG_3hujZEnr9zZRlzWIDy3U/s1600-h/Melanie'sbadge.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260312433945678210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOC4TeEKQPhE2lVchitcPkw8meYs_r8UUXgcHyyKhBR9U5hcruWh7SuJPAfYrY8yXPekXVkSCi-VIkF8uupDKO4q5h2mwdC7oG6w0Nz-M3ONxvTeZXqYK4ICG_3hujZEnr9zZRlzWIDy3U/s320/Melanie'sbadge.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 320px;" /></a><br />The "City of Sin" identification on the badge is consistent with the piece's theme, and it artistically brings the whole tattoo together, centering the focus at the ends of the gun barrels, and providing a stronger sense of balance in the design.<br /><br />Thanks so much to Melanie for sharing her traditional holsters with us here on Tattoosday!

Melanie's Traditional Revolvers

As I mentioned above ( here ), Melanie crossed my path on a day last week when I had been having some bad luck with inkspotting. However, wh...

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Candice Explains Her Six Interesting Tattoos

<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:black;" >I first met Candice a couple of weeks ago when I spotted some very interesting tattoos on her arms and told her about Tattoosday.</span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >She was on her way back to work from lunch, so she took a flier and said she'd check it out.<span style=""> </span>She e-mailed me later that day and we agreed to meet a week later to talk about her six tattoos. She has three on her right biceps, two on her left, and a chest piece.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >Candice works for a New York-based non-profit hunger organization, and gets to tra</span><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >vel a bi</span><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >t. I discovered, as she went through her tattoos chronologically, that she collected tattoos in various cities across the country.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >Her right arm has three pieces:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23UJkim4hLoiNJvvVFVGY8Uq5WcqeQE2SAG1kCxC1o5H5oT8tFKW0jwg_LT25JrhlqSSCJErtIE4zVxsu_iyXUIgZBhqWQoman-j8ASHnJ44oy1p2u9mjKRQGxEjnGKv847Eb3H5QmtnE/s1600-h/100_6973.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195713153744631378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23UJkim4hLoiNJvvVFVGY8Uq5WcqeQE2SAG1kCxC1o5H5oT8tFKW0jwg_LT25JrhlqSSCJErtIE4zVxsu_iyXUIgZBhqWQoman-j8ASHnJ44oy1p2u9mjKRQGxEjnGKv847Eb3H5QmtnE/s400/100_6973.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >The one on the top right is her first:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7R4IeM4hUwozAi6g19kslT6EeXa0eZYKR7MRRd1_QVopGo9vfpKk3QVKCFmMj9AbIiomAmG_QrRv0aZb5gSdWclnFY90lvAiRdkJ0UUEZjJD1Z7FsYrJyd0xnp5l6zzDB3q5Cv4c2cGcB/s1600-h/100_6975.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195713518816851554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7R4IeM4hUwozAi6g19kslT6EeXa0eZYKR7MRRd1_QVopGo9vfpKk3QVKCFmMj9AbIiomAmG_QrRv0aZb5gSdWclnFY90lvAiRdkJ0UUEZjJD1Z7FsYrJyd0xnp5l6zzDB3q5Cv4c2cGcB/s400/100_6975.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >This was inked in August 2003 when she was 19 at Distinction TA2 in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. She thinks the artist’s name was Carlos, but doesn’t remember for sure.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_D7_TOLuMedr7IJ2oJOpgalUXE44KZsQ8L37zMH0R1TSJ7QrI6uEMFREPNdHtXFW-HPMeqZrhWOYGSgO_GphFGQdUkq-XS8DWDU9m0sk95DETlzBeNAu41jeWOEtax0SLeUUmSSr9azJ/s1600-h/570px-Coat_of_Arms_of_Iceland.svg.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195713909658875506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_D7_TOLuMedr7IJ2oJOpgalUXE44KZsQ8L37zMH0R1TSJ7QrI6uEMFREPNdHtXFW-HPMeqZrhWOYGSgO_GphFGQdUkq-XS8DWDU9m0sk95DETlzBeNAu41jeWOEtax0SLeUUmSSr9azJ/s400/570px-Coat_of_Arms_of_Iceland.svg.png" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 239px;" /></a></span><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" > <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >Since the age of 10, Candice has been fascinated by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland">Iceland</a>.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" > She pointed out her ancestry is</span><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" > Sicilian, not Icelandic. Nonetheless, she has always loved Iceland. Thus, her first tattoo was the Icelandic crest, which graces the backs of most coins, or kron</span><span style="font-size:130%;">á</span><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >, in the country.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlP77qM_TT2PiGHBHgG9WewHhlWLsHSheSqhhyphenhyphenBl71V6mckuvgs1wkhE-bUagAY4JqK02Zwmj5XLrzb3SlmpwQib2qcVbe6AcJDzkeic5SbpGrGe175O_4-DgHcJW7zzf_6Oj3vMliItX/s1600-h/iceland_1000kronur.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195372021672179266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlP77qM_TT2PiGHBHgG9WewHhlWLsHSheSqhhyphenhyphenBl71V6mckuvgs1wkhE-bUagAY4JqK02Zwmj5XLrzb3SlmpwQib2qcVbe6AcJDzkeic5SbpGrGe175O_4-DgHcJW7zzf_6Oj3vMliItX/s400/iceland_1000kronur.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span></p><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><o:p></o:p></span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Courier;font-size:130%;color:black;" > <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >The four quadrants each represent one of the four mythical Guardians of Icelan</span><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >d, each in turn representing the North, South, East and West sections of the country. This myth is central to Icelandic culture (</span><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >read more <a href="http://www.isholf.is/gardarj/folk/guard.htm">here</a>).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >Clockwise from the upper left, there is an eagle, a dragon, a mountain giant, and a bull. Candice has a special affinity for the bull as her astrological sign is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurus_%28astrology%29">Taurus</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Courier;font-size:130%;color:black;" > <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >Her second piece was inked in August 2004 at the same shop in Sunset Park by Rob. The person </span><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >who did her coin had subsequently left the shop:</span></p><p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAzehcjov4t7UfS0eHXz7gV6_fRzaiW3_17X87n1l6iUs8jnEuPsmyZo6icCjyPkU3ctLEjGDKqSwnG2GsRDjUlB13oy4fipaihA7-kMqgmSwoSx3pZpKYDH35RAor7NspGlyDqEhyphenhyphenzEm/s1600-h/100_6970.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195370952225322546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAzehcjov4t7UfS0eHXz7gV6_fRzaiW3_17X87n1l6iUs8jnEuPsmyZo6icCjyPkU3ctLEjGDKqSwnG2GsRDjUlB13oy4fipaihA7-kMqgmSwoSx3pZpKYDH35RAor7NspGlyDqEhyphenhyphenzEm/s400/100_6970.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span></p><p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" > Aside from liking birds, the piece's design history came courtesy of her boyfriend at the time (they have since broken up but remain friends). He found the bird image in a textbook and duplicated and customized it into a larger</span><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" > collage. At a time, she thought about using it as a back piece, but they pared it down to fit on her biceps. She's not sure what type of bird it is, but it remains one of her favorite pieces. I love the inverted imagery, which recalls a bit of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_yang">yin-yang</a> correlation.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >Her third tattoo is a very basic, rudimentary design. Flipping back to her left arm, Candice explained that it represents a medieval watermark of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossbow">crossbow</a>:</span></p><p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigM4ilCiIJ9AHoYDYkuW3LBJtufY4ak0IosGruZogdzdxgqHKjqhhwzTe6ayR0VuQvJtpRRHvkhxWQTcoA9kFdqN0g4RJWSTjqaTxJRwHXlOKALMcmVHyA-xnA4BvGXe1LeVWAngBYeN8v/s1600-h/100_6977.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195370084641928738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigM4ilCiIJ9AHoYDYkuW3LBJtufY4ak0IosGruZogdzdxgqHKjqhhwzTe6ayR0VuQvJtpRRHvkhxWQTcoA9kFdqN0g4RJWSTjqaTxJRwHXlOKALMcmVHyA-xnA4BvGXe1LeVWAngBYeN8v/s400/100_6977.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >At first, I wasn't very impressed by it. Then I got the story. She was<o:p></o:p> visiting New Orleans on business, pre-Katrina in March 2005, and it took all of 7 minutes and cost only $25. The piece was inked at <a href="http://www.eyecandytattoo.com/all.htm">Eyecandy Tattoo</a> in New Orleans and, Candice believes that the artist was intoxicated ("I think she was drunk. It was a total</span><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" > New Orleans experience.")<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" ><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" ><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >She sensed my surprise at her analysis of the sobriety of the tattooist. Diplomatically, she re-stated, "Well, she was drinking a beer while doing it. She said not to worry, she worked like that a lot." So, let's give the tattooist the benefit of the doubt. Maybe not drunk, but certainly quick.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >And why the crossbow watermark?</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >The crossbow represented a Medieval theme, another subject of interest in Candice’s life.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >This watermark design also appears on the cover of the first single by an artist named Jason Molina, performing as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songs:_Ohia">Songs:Ohia</a>.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3DBaiFLyWgytK9u8KsNZOLbgwvRymPADCQmdYAWi395rx5ZYlf_NYdEgZ5tBEJAsCvKzXyCMzkRKNVQco7mtx2dCCbsXzbPUupbAouvI0sGHoiykFfaaaXORecyYEZbw_uLVqIb-Qc-f/s1600-h/ohia-norcease-cover.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195369835533825554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3DBaiFLyWgytK9u8KsNZOLbgwvRymPADCQmdYAWi395rx5ZYlf_NYdEgZ5tBEJAsCvKzXyCMzkRKNVQco7mtx2dCCbsXzbPUupbAouvI0sGHoiykFfaaaXORecyYEZbw_uLVqIb-Qc-f/s400/ohia-norcease-cover.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >Tattoo #4 was inked in August 2005, her third August tattoo in a row. The design originated after waking up from a dream and immediately drawing the image that had been so prominent in the dream state. She designed the piece, purposely modeling the hands after her own, down to distinctive spots and coloring:</span></p><p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FOXFDJz7v4j7DjXr8V-zjCUEtS4wPZRz4o0mIFrDmmcRXl8jqe-14Vze8gkgvnrQAoq5YLDfmnZEIbQW6b9wyqSwl1LEUY6vrzOqCZBh0vCorTij2CSJTTkPi5LXGzZ4scd7fIQK1YHi/s1600-h/100_6972.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195368843396380162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FOXFDJz7v4j7DjXr8V-zjCUEtS4wPZRz4o0mIFrDmmcRXl8jqe-14Vze8gkgvnrQAoq5YLDfmnZEIbQW6b9wyqSwl1LEUY6vrzOqCZBh0vCorTij2CSJTTkPi5LXGzZ4scd7fIQK1YHi/s400/100_6972.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" > <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >My first impression was that it was a variation on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claddagh_ring">claddagh ring</a>, with the two hands and the heart in the center of the balloon. Candice was surprised when I mentioned that, but acknowledged the similarities, although she had never considered them before. In fact, to Candice, this tattoo represents one being able to let go of things in life, while at the same time allowing things to come back, as well. In essence, it embodies one’s ability to control one’s own happiness.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >When I asked Candice why it was the sole tattoo of hers in color. She simply replied, “Because I dreamt it in color.” Makes perfect sense. I could probably write another page about the apparent influence that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wizard_of_Oz_%281939_film%29">The Wizard of Oz</a> had on this tattoo. I say apparent, because the movie never came up when we discussed it. But the theme is applicable, the dreaming in color is similar, and the hot air balloon, which was what transported the wizard to the land of Oz, also makes the case for an homage, conscious or sub-conscious, to the images of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Frank_Baum">L. Frank Bau</a></span><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Frank_Baum">m</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >Interesting to note that this piece was inked by <a href="http://www.holdfastbrooklyn.com/artists/kelly/index.html">Kelly Krantz</a>, formerly of <a href="http://www.flyritetattoo.net/enter.html">FlyRite Studio</a> in Brooklyn. Kelly’s appeared previously <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/03/rising-sun.html">here</a> on a tattoo I spotted just a few blocks away.<o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" class="a" ><o:p></o:p></span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Courier;font-size:130%;color:black;" > <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >Candice’s fifth tattoo was inked in March 2006 while on a trip to San Francisco. I actually didn’t take this photo, which she understandably provided to me. It’s a chest piece that runs vertically from the middle of her chest down to her stomach:</span></p><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dZdF0GdZDsTpBrM_xIA9GpV4VSiHdT46p88gpTID9EoLbQnVKts_DqomKGQha1FDesKgy5o8QVloBmeuX0EHu8eH-J6yMUIeYM21Y8qbIVxoAipKgGwfzMIo7D3L2p8bBy_tLrsQ87Bj/s1600-h/IMG_2570_.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195367507661551090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dZdF0GdZDsTpBrM_xIA9GpV4VSiHdT46p88gpTID9EoLbQnVKts_DqomKGQha1FDesKgy5o8QVloBmeuX0EHu8eH-J6yMUIeYM21Y8qbIVxoAipKgGwfzMIo7D3L2p8bBy_tLrsQ87Bj/s400/IMG_2570_.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:black;" ><o:p></o:p></span> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:130%;color:black;" >This style of ink is known as a “<a href="http://www.sailorjerry.com/history.php">Sailor Jerry</a>” tattoo, which is basically classic, old-school tattooing. Candice just loved this piece of flash art. This photo was taken about a week after the piece was done at <a href="http://www.blackandbluetattoo.com/home/">Black & Blue Tattoo</a>, “a woman owned and operated San Francisco tattoo shop”. The fact that it is woman-owned increased the comfort level significantly for Candice, as the inking required much more exposure than she had been used to with her arm tattoos. She also noted that the location on her body created an interesting sensation: both pain and laughter - it tickled and hurt simultaneously! The artist was <a href="http://www.skinfiend.com/home.htm">Natalie Chandler</a>, who is now working out of Oakland.</span></p><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >And finally, her last piece is a line drawing of a structure representing a house:</span><p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8xjTJUTnAHsqRBg9b8bFfozV1pXH9ezhy9m9E7Rv2NW9-7R9g3jVReWoKecAA9Ci1DjHnl4-9t5D4x-wYQVl1TmO_ZU0BxQb_mJsyJ_E5XHxbEyd59onGvx0xIGMqdT2pt8wJEdCEUv6/s1600-h/100_6976.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195366472574432722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8xjTJUTnAHsqRBg9b8bFfozV1pXH9ezhy9m9E7Rv2NW9-7R9g3jVReWoKecAA9Ci1DjHnl4-9t5D4x-wYQVl1TmO_ZU0BxQb_mJsyJ_E5XHxbEyd59onGvx0xIGMqdT2pt8wJEdCEUv6/s400/100_6976.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">This image appeared on the cover of an album by the band <a href="http://www.modestmousemusic.com/">Modest Mouse</a> called <i style=""><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_Nothing_Out_of_Something">Building Nothing Out of Something</a>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLk2dV6ttm4DPMnHuLkebmzMkvAaBv05kw1abLcRAvGzhx4DDUyXQefe5xa2xLalDGOwkuFLxU3FhWwpO8BrqgWgsXGNoJvLFrpTRm8InQNc-3nMdA9UIyzhpb5bC6Cq3saUq_yhHCIodY/s1600-h/MMBuildingNothingOutOfSomething.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195367005150377442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLk2dV6ttm4DPMnHuLkebmzMkvAaBv05kw1abLcRAvGzhx4DDUyXQefe5xa2xLalDGOwkuFLxU3FhWwpO8BrqgWgsXGNoJvLFrpTRm8InQNc-3nMdA9UIyzhpb5bC6Cq3saUq_yhHCIodY/s400/MMBuildingNothingOutOfSomething.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">This piece was inked by Curtis James at <a href="http://www.anchortattoo.com/">Anchor Tattoo</a> in Seattle, in January 2007. Modest Mouse is from the Seattle area and when Candie was visiting her ex-boyfriend, and several other friends, the image from the album seemed apropos, as she felt she was in a home away from home.</span></p><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" class="a" ><o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Well, I must thank Candice for her active participation in this post. She and I exchanged multiple e-mails, coordinating our schedules so I could snap the pictures, and she made my life easier by doing a lot of the research on her tattoos. Thank you for sharing your ink here at Tattoosday!</span></p>

Candice Explains Her Six Interesting Tattoos

I first met Candice a couple of weeks ago when I spotted some very interesting tattoos on her arms and told her about Tattoosday. She wa...

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