Daniela's Spiral of Stars

I met Daniela a couple weeks back in Bay Ridge, stopping her after spotting a text tattoo on her forearm. However, she preferred to share this tattoo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4jnqNy3Ntk5J4bjoBo4NHZVEty3AQJqv28ENGbRxMFEfVG9SoPEF3VH6vMg7Ru20A2bZKMElfeXgabjPmFSqCS6hvwORlJ_ROxLrFH6fDARu7uX39tWhMzWq-M3DTkpxL9zBaKwEdvg/w495-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/AVvXsEg_4jnqNy3Ntk5J4bjoBo4NHZVEty3AQJqv28ENGbRxMFEfVG9SoPEF3VH6vMg7Ru20A2bZKMElfeXgabjPmFSqCS6hvwORlJ_ROxLrFH6fDARu7uX39tWhMzWq-M3DTkpxL9zBaKwEdvg/w495-h659-no/photo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />She got this spiral pattern of 15 stars on her fifteenth birthday when she was living in Argentina. I always try to remain objective, but as a parent of two teenage daughters, I asked what her parents thought when she came home with this tattoo on her neck. Daniela told me that they actually took her to get the tattoo and expanded on why she chose such a visible spot for her tattoo:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"I do kinda regret the tattoo at times, but ... at that age, I was going through a lot at school, and I just wanted to stand out from everybody else. In Argentina, basically all the people are the same, so I didn't want at all to be like them."</blockquote>She was born in Argentina and lived there for almost seven years, and she acknowledged that this tattoo was one way for her to express her own individuality.<br /><br />Thanks to Daniela for sharing these stars 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-4e72a7e0-b459-10d4-f0a9-995f17039233"><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>

Daniela's Spiral of Stars

I met Daniela a couple weeks back in Bay Ridge, stopping her after spotting a text tattoo on her forearm. However, she preferred to share th...

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Jason's Two Stars Lead the Way

Last week, I spotted Jason walking through Penn Station and took the opportunity to ask him about some of his tattoos. He says he has about twenty-four in all, so I took a picture of his forearms, from the photo here you can see six of them, including a Celtic knot and the phrase "Let it be...".<br /><br /><strike></strike><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMjfe5q5pVcF3DbSwouSI9coOw8QmVCiPKcJia1jBuUfcEGUreRwIpBPSBHnugbRRC01g0-OTBgiWqD9gMDDwiLyTXTpF7Z4PqphHmQBB6NNkz2PICHoJGaJfdWqENrT5tZ8BUAAzTy0/s1600/stars+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMjfe5q5pVcF3DbSwouSI9coOw8QmVCiPKcJia1jBuUfcEGUreRwIpBPSBHnugbRRC01g0-OTBgiWqD9gMDDwiLyTXTpF7Z4PqphHmQBB6NNkz2PICHoJGaJfdWqENrT5tZ8BUAAzTy0/s640/stars+2.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However, Jason drew my attention to the two stars, which were his first two tattoos. I'll let Jason explain, in his own words:</div><blockquote class="tr_bq">"The crumbling star was originally meant for my broken aspirations, something I dreamt up when I was a kid. And then, the outline of the green star ... the green, for me, it means rejuvenation, you know, new ideas, new paths, just different things to inspire me."</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The two stars were not done at the same time, but the crumbling star was inked at <a href="http://www.addiction-nyc.com/">Addiction NYC</a> in the East Village. The green star followed a couple weeks later and was completed in Brooklyn, at <a href="http://www.inkmantattoo.com/">Inkman Tattoo Studio</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jason told me he likes to get new tattoos when he travels, what I like to call a "tattoorist," if you will. New ink is always a great way to commemorate places one has visited.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks to Jason for sharing these two stars with us here on Tattoosday!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.22328101168386638" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><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 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</span><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><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> </span></div>

Jason's Two Stars Lead the Way

Last week, I spotted Jason walking through Penn Station and took the opportunity to ask him about some of his tattoos. He says he has about ...

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Kristina: Aon Grá

Over the summer, we were having a yard sale, when Kristina stopped by to peruse the goods. She shared this, one of her four tattoos:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4S6s050ktGznYriTvVPMBPIgPMRI5drh7irPNLe_psyPyIjldYRKJ1uzytqVroT2GZGbgehcpdPRtPVM9meJBrWkYojEKL8jz3szaWk-TsiUHGe6CxR0kUa2IOapBWbR-wSuLmrW6Lsk/s1600/aon+gra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4S6s050ktGznYriTvVPMBPIgPMRI5drh7irPNLe_psyPyIjldYRKJ1uzytqVroT2GZGbgehcpdPRtPVM9meJBrWkYojEKL8jz3szaWk-TsiUHGe6CxR0kUa2IOapBWbR-wSuLmrW6Lsk/s640/aon+gra.jpg" width="466" /></a></div><br />Located on the inside of her right arm, the phrase<span class="st"><em></em> "aon grá" is Irish for "one love". This decorative tattoo with a powerful message was tattooed by Rob at <a href="http://www.brooklyninktattoo.com/">Brooklyn Ink</a> in Bay Ridge. Work from the shop which, due to its close proximity to "home base" for Tattoosday, has appeared often over the years on the site, and can be seen <a href="http://www.brooklyninktattoo.com/">here</a>.</span><br /><span class="st"><br /></span><br /><span class="st">Thanks to Kristina for sharing her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!</span><br /><span class="st"><br /></span><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. </span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</a> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div><span class="st"></span>

Kristina: Aon Grá

Over the summer, we were having a yard sale, when Kristina stopped by to peruse the goods. She shared this, one of her four tattoos: Located...

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Musician Monday: Ryan from The Disconnects

Here on our second installment of Musician Mondays, we have a rockin', self-explanatory tattoo from Ryan, lead singer and guitarist from an unsigned band called <a href="http://www.reverbnation.com/thedisconnects">The Disconnects</a>:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-6cEyYGi_Gb9RH6vvwIMzLvnEd1ZYXj86UmfeU1boPgzzUjtJMJ7Tk7O3ZescTKIVTl9F2M4voEjM9hhW-99OtCRJa7WG1Sls48NzQIOIchJymXXsXMAiNRWdpAGeQZPrCibd71oZcU/s1600/Punk+Rock+Girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-6cEyYGi_Gb9RH6vvwIMzLvnEd1ZYXj86UmfeU1boPgzzUjtJMJ7Tk7O3ZescTKIVTl9F2M4voEjM9hhW-99OtCRJa7WG1Sls48NzQIOIchJymXXsXMAiNRWdpAGeQZPrCibd71oZcU/s640/Punk+Rock+Girl.jpg" width="406" /></a></div><br />From her mohawk to her Doc Martens, this punk rock girl and her "Too Fast to Live, To Young to Die" banner totally capture that raw, rock aesthetic.<br /><br />I met Ryan last month, across the street from where I work, on Seventh Avenue and 31st Street, in Manhattan.<br /><br />The tattoo was inked at <a href="http://www.fatkattat.com/">Fat Kat Tattoos</a> in Keyport, New Jersey. Work from Fat Kat previously appearing on the site can be seen <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Fat%20Kat%20Tattoo">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Ryan for sharing his cool tattoo 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><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

Musician Monday: Ryan from The Disconnects

Here on our second installment of Musician Mondays, we have a rockin', self-explanatory tattoo from Ryan, lead singer and guitarist from...

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Home is Where the Star Is

Yesterday in Penn Station, I met Jonathan, whose one tattoo caught my eye when I passed him in the Amtrak waiting area.<br /><br />Except, sometimes, a fragment of a tattoo doesn't necessarily reveal the whole piece. As in Jonathan's case, I saw the back of his arm, and this segment, which resembled (to me, at the time), a crude figure with the beginning of a speech bubble emanating from its mouth:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85xL5y0WorRCXQOHBlVO5vuJ1zyaX7xB9GLFlJUSTscyoqbF3N_jKCTF6kTvAwCU2zlP-ULd0H_0NDGmeLjEH_G_A4aBy2qvKon8Xm9_xoNqMNtxUulcE9J3kS_j3tMLQ4NJTnU0nvX8/s1600/ny+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85xL5y0WorRCXQOHBlVO5vuJ1zyaX7xB9GLFlJUSTscyoqbF3N_jKCTF6kTvAwCU2zlP-ULd0H_0NDGmeLjEH_G_A4aBy2qvKon8Xm9_xoNqMNtxUulcE9J3kS_j3tMLQ4NJTnU0nvX8/s320/ny+detail.jpg" width="187" /></a></div><br />I felt rather silly, however, when Jonathan agreed to participate and showed me the full tattoo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jeh6Hp145rMDY_va6ed4w8_pKs7V3HAH0if5aIo8w3dB3R1ud0BK3SIFKCd2vPaIZOeE663yjOs5mTYunFaMvR8JvJtFBaoiRdu67a1KJNpMtJnNSwHJC2ktfBX5pLZWwQVJVyUAu3g/s1600/ny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jeh6Hp145rMDY_va6ed4w8_pKs7V3HAH0if5aIo8w3dB3R1ud0BK3SIFKCd2vPaIZOeE663yjOs5mTYunFaMvR8JvJtFBaoiRdu67a1KJNpMtJnNSwHJC2ktfBX5pLZWwQVJVyUAu3g/s400/ny.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The figure I imagined, of course, is really Long Island, and the balloon was the southern tip of the state of New York.<br /><br />Jonathan explained that he is from Rochester, marked on the tattoo with a star, and that he lived in the same house growing up there for eighteen years. It's a New York state of mind, indeed.<br /><br />The tattoo was done at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/bigjoestattoo">Big Joe & Sons Tattooing</a> in White Plains, New York.<br /><br />Thanks to Jonathan for sharing his stately tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday.</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-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>

Home is Where the Star Is

Yesterday in Penn Station, I met Jonathan, whose one tattoo caught my eye when I passed him in the Amtrak waiting area. Except, sometimes, a...

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Out With the Old.....

As we wind down 2010, and look ahead to 2011, I wanted to take care of one of my several loose ends from the past year.<br /><br />Back in July, I met a guy named John on the D train. He had tattooed arms and we chatted a bit. He said he'd send me photos and he did a few weeks later.<br /><br />I never posted the photos because the resolution was low, and when I tried to increase the size, they blurred. I was going to include these in the Christmas housecleaning post, but the work is just too good.<br /><br />So hear you have them, small photos, but recognizably amazing:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-hzlN93Jnz2vYVhBBmmDv9p9y8iwBrHUbLNYsRjzKi5EWrAUAfhXhUPiKB-T0btdozcL2MTqd8_RIPFCw2MZfvTtRw_eyZs6c3BQ4Eovt9VY5jo8b8PS9QT1zFP3_G6K9i668hUIG50/s1600/john+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-hzlN93Jnz2vYVhBBmmDv9p9y8iwBrHUbLNYsRjzKi5EWrAUAfhXhUPiKB-T0btdozcL2MTqd8_RIPFCw2MZfvTtRw_eyZs6c3BQ4Eovt9VY5jo8b8PS9QT1zFP3_G6K9i668hUIG50/s1600/john+2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUe27nkIRFiA67O6YO4x0bPL01SOfDZxZB9YdwIRd30z_HmSjkeFfkjxe_PTB2MwVor_VxqxUwmSjcVI9-SQOsh23GuegJ_ZtB3t7R1_DvhuZAp5PxPrpttWKSQAYPZhyphenhyphenGNo8GIaTqtL0/s1600/john.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUe27nkIRFiA67O6YO4x0bPL01SOfDZxZB9YdwIRd30z_HmSjkeFfkjxe_PTB2MwVor_VxqxUwmSjcVI9-SQOsh23GuegJ_ZtB3t7R1_DvhuZAp5PxPrpttWKSQAYPZhyphenhyphenGNo8GIaTqtL0/s1600/john.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5LvL074JtMzgzJFblhyphenhyphen8MXv4QHzUcABmyhZrxgRBpImSvrcfirHzVPFdH4BZJXUL4paEgPJsziDbbYBaEh8Mq3VWGqU2Wmhy_WOXcmoElgf41gZAhrmfjHe77F6hMWkoGPDcw5ZhOOk/s1600/john3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5LvL074JtMzgzJFblhyphenhyphen8MXv4QHzUcABmyhZrxgRBpImSvrcfirHzVPFdH4BZJXUL4paEgPJsziDbbYBaEh8Mq3VWGqU2Wmhy_WOXcmoElgf41gZAhrmfjHe77F6hMWkoGPDcw5ZhOOk/s1600/john3.jpg" /></a></div><br />I mean, what is there to say? This work is quite excellent. The koi, the tiger, the sailing ship, sugar skull, nautical stars - it's all quite a body of work!<br /><br />The artist is Nacho, who appeared once before on the blog <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/06/matt-wears-his-heart-of-bacon-on-his.html">here</a>. You can check out Nacho's work <a href="http://www.nachotattoo.com.ar/home_eng.htm">here</a>. in New York, he tattoos out of <a href="http://www.studioenigma.com/">Studio Enigma</a> on Avenue U.<br /><br />Thanks to John for sharing these amazing tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br />And thanks to all of our fans and contributors for making 2010 a successful year of inkspotting!

Out With the Old.....

As we wind down 2010, and look ahead to 2011, I wanted to take care of one of my several loose ends from the past year. Back in July, I met ...

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Mel's Star Shines from Down Under

Earlier this month, I ran into Mel coming out of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Station_%28New_York_City%29">Penn Station</a>.<br /><br />She has amazing work, and it was soon clear why. Mel was visiting from <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx">Melbourne, Australia</a>, where she works as a tattoo artist at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oakleigh-South-Australia/Get-Smart-Body-Art-Tattooing/274500058582">Get Smart Body Art</a>.<br /><br />I was drawn particularly to one of her newer tattoos, this dot-style Tibetan-inspired design:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLMekO2x_z0tPDf1f-ZMbZDX3YbV4dkw-S1extR63QpguEQc2VqEfrKrgNc3pZQ4l3d9CDIqDd_zEPlEPu-X63RsHfEtKvgGSVv1MlJIO_dPBiK-TetWxVssEozwAsTCmp9pC_ib7/s1600/mel+star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLMekO2x_z0tPDf1f-ZMbZDX3YbV4dkw-S1extR63QpguEQc2VqEfrKrgNc3pZQ4l3d9CDIqDd_zEPlEPu-X63RsHfEtKvgGSVv1MlJIO_dPBiK-TetWxVssEozwAsTCmp9pC_ib7/s320/mel+star.jpg" /></a></div><br />I told her it reminded me of the style of <a href="http://meditationsinatrament.com/">Thomas Hooper</a>, an artist at <a href="http://www.nyadorned.com/tattoo/index.htm">New York Adorned</a> whose website (<a href="http://meditationsinatrament.com/">here</a>) showcases some astonishing work, including tattoos made from the dot-style technique.<br /><br />Mel noted that it was an original design that was inked using a rotary tattoo machine, with the purpose of achieving this effect. Thomas Hooper's style, she acknowledged, inspired her to attempt this ambitious tattoo.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9qloWIWKg-skxQvnnDH_tGJxTdJxDYwHxM1cG7G7chkyygBV1Kme8wFZqanMY6-RXhsHBV54na6Nm8cmO5eaURpD_yzuaqxf0wlkmyQo2RAGtyOzL3rvu92gXNiCp5mQJGMaU6ip/s1600/Mel+star+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9qloWIWKg-skxQvnnDH_tGJxTdJxDYwHxM1cG7G7chkyygBV1Kme8wFZqanMY6-RXhsHBV54na6Nm8cmO5eaURpD_yzuaqxf0wlkmyQo2RAGtyOzL3rvu92gXNiCp5mQJGMaU6ip/s320/Mel+star+detail.jpg" /></a></div><br />In all fairness, she collaborated with Mick Kelly, at Get Smart Body Art, who did the actual tattooing.<br /><br />Thanks to Mel for sharing this lovely tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Mel's Star Shines from Down Under

Earlier this month, I ran into Mel coming out of Penn Station . She has amazing work, and it was soon clear why. Mel was visiting from Melbo...

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Mandy's Leopard Stars

I spotted Mandy on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan last month and I had to stop her to ask about this, one of her three tattoos:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlJibfHq5NdOLuWL5wkPfrB84yBfiH1jUapLmualIMSW0zPH2JAtbc3Drr8_KosClUfkSmME6dUc_pCQg1gU0EQHwhyphenhyphenEptkH-OVVdrZSEVuLE5cDkyTZAlxM-BxNqpstYtUXHji3d/s1600/Mandy+Leopard+Stars+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468465133350278834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlJibfHq5NdOLuWL5wkPfrB84yBfiH1jUapLmualIMSW0zPH2JAtbc3Drr8_KosClUfkSmME6dUc_pCQg1gU0EQHwhyphenhyphenEptkH-OVVdrZSEVuLE5cDkyTZAlxM-BxNqpstYtUXHji3d/s400/Mandy+Leopard+Stars+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 380px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />She came up with the design and made sure to include the leopard print that she likes so much.<br /><br />She credits the artist <a href="http://inkxpression.com/preview_003.htm">Eric Newby</a> at <a href="http://inkxpression.com/">Ink Xpressions</a> on Ringgold Road in East Ridge (Chattanooga), Tennessee.<br /><br />You may notice another tattoo peeking into the picture, so let me show you the larger perspective and a glimpse of the piece to the left of the stars:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXU15Xi0N2H2DrOxNy9leBy4dAcTHHQ8cTfLx-0c9hBdbQcjcg5XFUnt_xqmorKP1nTkSUY6JS5GoW6KprAMN0MUeIgNNnrf03DtdfhLJYrZS2ctjUrAMYmYLfQ5eLqbF9p1PhUGh6/s1600/Mandy+Leopard+Stars.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468465052413726930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXU15Xi0N2H2DrOxNy9leBy4dAcTHHQ8cTfLx-0c9hBdbQcjcg5XFUnt_xqmorKP1nTkSUY6JS5GoW6KprAMN0MUeIgNNnrf03DtdfhLJYrZS2ctjUrAMYmYLfQ5eLqbF9p1PhUGh6/s400/Mandy+Leopard+Stars.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" /></a><br />Mandy informed me later, via e-mail, that the floral piece<br /><blockquote>"was actually a stencil I found, and I really liked the design a lot. I had two black and white tattoos, so I wanted bright colors and we decided no outlines would look cool. It was a long process to get the colors I wanted to absorb, but it was well worth it in the end. The artist was <a href="http://www.myspace.com/shanehartlinetattoos">Shane Hartline</a> at <a href="http://www.evermoregalleries.com/">Evermore Galleries</a> in Chattanooga".</blockquote>Thanks to Mandy for sharing these tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Mandy's Leopard Stars

I spotted Mandy on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan last month and I had to stop her to ask about this, one of her three tattoos: She came up wit...

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The Tattooed Poets Project: Jackie Sheeler

Today's tattooed poet is no stranger to us here on Tattoosday. <a href="http://getangrywithme.com/">Jackie Sheeler</a> appeared <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/04/jackie-sheelers-swirling-tribal-tattoos.html">last year</a> on the Tattooed Poets Project and came back to share some more. Be sure to look at last year's contribution <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/04/jackie-sheelers-swirling-tribal-tattoos.html">here</a>, to get a little perspective about Jackie and her ink.<br /><br />This new piece is on her outer right thigh:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGykwSjoXQuf8jovf97i3fnJAoZwnGfaz-EZdnOC3ZjwsMRrnSWfyIGwsAT2gEJQnSr9cN_Szd7akYjLBnHbbXC5bXZdvSZWAMpnOo3nfqHR__bM44qF5rHW2pNQAGskgORGq2fUrM/s1600/sheeler.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460141304763616386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGykwSjoXQuf8jovf97i3fnJAoZwnGfaz-EZdnOC3ZjwsMRrnSWfyIGwsAT2gEJQnSr9cN_Szd7akYjLBnHbbXC5bXZdvSZWAMpnOo3nfqHR__bM44qF5rHW2pNQAGskgORGq2fUrM/s400/sheeler.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Jackie says she doesn't "have a long story about this tattoo the way [she] did about [her] others!". Nonetheless, it's lovely work and no less worthy of sharing, story or not.<br /><br />Jackie credits this piece to “Triple X Jess,” who works out of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kingdom-Tattoo-Body-Piercing-NYC/265587563278?v=wall">The Kingdom Tattoo & Body Piercing</a> in Manhattan.<br /><br />Be sure to head over to BillyBlog to check out a new poem from Jackie <a href="http://oxypoet.blogspot.com/2010/04/tattooed-poets-project-jackie-sheeler.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://getangrywithme.com/">Jackie Sheeler</a> is a poet, musician, and performance artist in New York City. You can also read her blog, <a href="http://getangrywithme.com/">Get Angry With Me</a>, <a href="http://getangrywithme.com/">here</a>, or visit her band, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/talkengine">Talk Engine</a>, on MySpace Music <a href="http://www.myspace.com/talkengine">here</a>. Her other site <a href="http://poetz.com/" target="_blank">www.poetz.com</a> is being redesigned and the new site is launching later this week.<br /><br />Thanks again to Jackie for sharing her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

The Tattooed Poets Project: Jackie Sheeler

Today's tattooed poet is no stranger to us here on Tattoosday. Jackie Sheeler appeared last year on the Tattooed Poets Project and cam...

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Tattoorism: Tammy from Texas

Last summer, my wife Melanie met Tammy on the staff message board of their company's website, where she and other employees across the country can exchange ideas and feedback. As a leader for Weight Watchers, Melanie often comes across members and co-workers who have used tattoos for inspiration and to mark milestones.<br /><br />When talking to Tammy, a leader in Texas, she learned that she was inked, as well. She sent her the link to Tattoosday, and Tammy sent us photos of a few of her eleven tattoos.<br /><br />We'll let Tammy describe them for us:<br /><br /><blockquote>"I got my very first [tattoo] when I was 21 in Virginia while getting a tattoo for my younger brother but I didn't get another for several years at which time I had my uncle in Arkansas place a rose under the butterfly I had done first. It is old and faded but holds so much meaning to me as my uncle passed away in his 40s about 5 years ago so I have him with me at all times...I then waited a couple more years and had a dolphin put on my left ankle as a reminder of a trip we had made to Florida. About a year later an apprentice in Shreveport added an ankle wave under the dolphin.<br /><br />I then took a long break from tattoos and the rest have all been done in the last 5 years here in Wichita Falls, Texas, with the exception of the tribal butterfly [seen below]. I had it done in Lawton, Oklahoma, when my son was getting his rib piece finished up [a subject of a later post].<br /><br />On my right thigh I have the New York Yankees logo:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVGsrgcvLnn1sk0k7-IWAm44AkghFPO-JqV50Ddp6lnsIEx-MNGmDL7gqwtWXweCruu6aQi9yqJfoRROqi1I91Up-F7wVpkZrtvq4Yrc5dwdrya0qOncHIP4Pk-UetMyNQ7yQR-65/s1600-h/ny.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429919548129046306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVGsrgcvLnn1sk0k7-IWAm44AkghFPO-JqV50Ddp6lnsIEx-MNGmDL7gqwtWXweCruu6aQi9yqJfoRROqi1I91Up-F7wVpkZrtvq4Yrc5dwdrya0qOncHIP4Pk-UetMyNQ7yQR-65/s400/ny.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 127px;" /></a><br /><div>On my left shoulder blade my husband and I got kanji symbols for Eternity for our 19th wedding anniversary. I have a tribal butterfly (the only tattoo I have ever picked off a wall) put on the top of my left foot and I love it:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9b91T_BJ-cAULDhP1qzZ4cxGfQG-pfEzgyDubLuzann1nTkVJ8lbFMAK6NIRewvEomFx1TeSKqTNNt5BfNC5NO-m-YUHQ-ACFMZjNGiha3fvchX1xEhAcVmjy38jKigYCu8UeLLtr/s1600-h/butterfly.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429919243711998722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9b91T_BJ-cAULDhP1qzZ4cxGfQG-pfEzgyDubLuzann1nTkVJ8lbFMAK6NIRewvEomFx1TeSKqTNNt5BfNC5NO-m-YUHQ-ACFMZjNGiha3fvchX1xEhAcVmjy38jKigYCu8UeLLtr/s200/butterfly.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 129px; height: 200px;" /></a><br />When I hit 50 pounds gone, my oldest son paid for the star that everyone sees in pictures I post:<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1gu1W9jv_3EYATS8Byg8A_fHkXodDchJ09Iat6KXLH0bUamRM-3Uw5yTkeXOL2nRwdHlUfvh03M_fMTVe92Of6rQaKkDui85tZswKNPNRp7L_Udag3AJ5aQVmqqR_kDqaNvXDQH2/s1600-h/star.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429919611123486866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1gu1W9jv_3EYATS8Byg8A_fHkXodDchJ09Iat6KXLH0bUamRM-3Uw5yTkeXOL2nRwdHlUfvh03M_fMTVe92Of6rQaKkDui85tZswKNPNRp7L_Udag3AJ5aQVmqqR_kDqaNvXDQH2/s400/star.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 224px;" /></a><br />And a Pisspot with my husbands name <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHsyoLx8tS33T6eyH1tDlR6z9HdMqMUrQcSHE1YZZV8_Hv_HzKuG740K7H0KXtBUxbt9JryC6Vi-86Tp7FpYPbNtrwQtKpuzbKzf4cVkGZyyNVhcs9huL-MhLt8QtY5fgyWUwjLiM/s1600-h/chris.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429919338444007634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHsyoLx8tS33T6eyH1tDlR6z9HdMqMUrQcSHE1YZZV8_Hv_HzKuG740K7H0KXtBUxbt9JryC6Vi-86Tp7FpYPbNtrwQtKpuzbKzf4cVkGZyyNVhcs9huL-MhLt8QtY5fgyWUwjLiM/s200/chris.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 119px;" /></a>[pictured left]. My husband just retired with 26 years in the service and was AMMO-I always wanted this but was never brave enough nor skinny enough for that so called "tramp stamp"... it actually looks awesome although this picture is a little blurry.<br /><br /><br /><br />And of course when I hit Lifetime [when a Weight Watchers member reaches their goal and maintains it for six weeks], my rib piece came alive:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_va1eOohtE-ZBr5sr6LeOlT4a_ebS0kcypzQI5gNbdiSJK0nFwFhodTAxyniuMGhf-6b8mJw-IfpmkDfqYpZvcPmlHzG83UmtJh9tRu13cOTRTeZFnE3Hz5Wbn70uy4EdFjyTAW0/s1600-h/LIFETIME+tatt+3-16-08.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429919480395575730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_va1eOohtE-ZBr5sr6LeOlT4a_ebS0kcypzQI5gNbdiSJK0nFwFhodTAxyniuMGhf-6b8mJw-IfpmkDfqYpZvcPmlHzG83UmtJh9tRu13cOTRTeZFnE3Hz5Wbn70uy4EdFjyTAW0/s400/LIFETIME+tatt+3-16-08.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 362px;" /></a></blockquote><br />The photo above is the tattoo right after it was completed. Here is how it healed:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVXwrgq6-6HVD8FaqOEOH4bl2rFONirxgit9EsaX8zSG2djfYSLK37B_tHT677NFJOHQZjjKRlBMIg2ucNL4W884BWzHeLZQ4bWsM56CAuAS0CpIlk5IMaOKKB0QF4WrYX4BkUz2r/s1600-h/LIFETIME+tatt+3-16-08+crisper.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429991805606831170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVXwrgq6-6HVD8FaqOEOH4bl2rFONirxgit9EsaX8zSG2djfYSLK37B_tHT677NFJOHQZjjKRlBMIg2ucNL4W884BWzHeLZQ4bWsM56CAuAS0CpIlk5IMaOKKB0QF4WrYX4BkUz2r/s400/LIFETIME+tatt+3-16-08+crisper.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 127px; height: 294px;" /></a><br /><br />Most of Tammy's work was done at <a href="http://www.wichitafallstattoos.com/drummer/index.php">A Different Drummer Tattoo Studio</a> in Wichita Falls.<br /><br />Thanks to Tammy for sharing some of her photos with us here on Tattoosday!

Tattoorism: Tammy from Texas

Last summer, my wife Melanie met Tammy on the staff message board of their company's website, where she and other employees across the c...

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Darren's Trio of Tattoos

I was contemplating the best way to approach a rather imposing figure who was completely covered in ink, when Darren passed me at the entrance to K-Mart in Penn Station.<br /><br />When I caught up to him in the store, I introduced myself and, being a piercer in a New York City tattoo shop, he was more than happy to indulge my curiosity.<br /><br />Darren has three tattoos, all on his arms and crafted by Young Cho at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/monster-tattoo-elmhurst">Monster Tattoo</a> in the Elmurst section of Queens.<br /><br />The first piece, on his lower right arm, is a pin-up depiction of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Luck">Lady Luck</a> perched on a crescent moon:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqx6zge0tJmxmmG4d-iE8DzYeZjTC6LvxA9m2phi4N_7uI1X_QAC842z2LilML4Uc6mj0873E5DHnwVOhyphenhyphenv2BV6C1gi1eNny1bxnLhkPMcoGcg6e5qjKmJm02cv9R4wuVakgbKYXz/s1600-h/Pin+Up+Crescent+Moon.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413560251162861890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqx6zge0tJmxmmG4d-iE8DzYeZjTC6LvxA9m2phi4N_7uI1X_QAC842z2LilML4Uc6mj0873E5DHnwVOhyphenhyphenv2BV6C1gi1eNny1bxnLhkPMcoGcg6e5qjKmJm02cv9R4wuVakgbKYXz/s400/Pin+Up+Crescent+Moon.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The second tattoo is a half-skull that pays homage to <a href="http://www.myspace.com/boysnightout">Boys Night Out</a>, a band in which one of Darren's friends plays:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qq4OgQE_k7TZn1XjKi7fz5MSoipWISVjMhIbrDEdE6HsJ1XMhUqI5di2YyqhOZIZsMP_7LcEdO9aUkgoM_xAiY8LxsjiPnUboaajGTCh4Eomu7ZONmHejLENM5WTvReoT4kIMsvN/s1600-h/boys+night+out+skull.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413559596050959826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qq4OgQE_k7TZn1XjKi7fz5MSoipWISVjMhIbrDEdE6HsJ1XMhUqI5di2YyqhOZIZsMP_7LcEdO9aUkgoM_xAiY8LxsjiPnUboaajGTCh4Eomu7ZONmHejLENM5WTvReoT4kIMsvN/s400/boys+night+out+skull.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 379px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />This is the outer forearm on his left side.<br /><br />Finally, we have this piece, which is more than just a few numbers and letters:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gmWolyBUfc6_2ckwhXlx-KNTtthA34gz7aVJqrMJKAa1O0MH7eoU7WycRCk21CH31Rmv3xUYRuBhCGW2QimtdeVGtqgvH1_2GKSpjkyytn_ADjjJd3v4xXhJPN6APQb5fEXWUi28/s1600-h/ashes+coordinates.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413559801280886546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gmWolyBUfc6_2ckwhXlx-KNTtthA34gz7aVJqrMJKAa1O0MH7eoU7WycRCk21CH31Rmv3xUYRuBhCGW2QimtdeVGtqgvH1_2GKSpjkyytn_ADjjJd3v4xXhJPN6APQb5fEXWUi28/s400/ashes+coordinates.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Located on his inner right forearm, this tattoo is translated as 40 degrees, 40 minutes, north <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latitude">latitude</a> and 73 degrees, 9 minutes west <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longitude">longitude</a>. These coordinates refer to a specific location in the world, in this case, a spot in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_South_Bay">Great South Bay</a> off the coast of Long Island. It was here that Darren's father loved to go fishing and the coordinates in question mark the spot where his father's ashes were scattered after he passed away.<br /><br />I must emphatically state that this is one of the coolest memorial pieces I have seen. It is extremely thoughtful and creative, speaking to a point on the earth where Darren knows his father will remain, in spirit, for the rest of time.<br /><br />I thank Darren for taking the time to stop and chat with me about his three tattoos here on Tattoosday!

Darren's Trio of Tattoos

I was contemplating the best way to approach a rather imposing figure who was completely covered in ink, when Darren passed me at the entran...

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Annie Cherry and Bindlestiff Willy in New York City

I met <a href="http://www.kcsob.com/anniecherry.html">Annie Cherry</a> outside of Penn Station in early September. She was talking with <a href="http://www.kcsob.com/bindlestiffwilly.html">Bindlestiff Willy</a>. She had visible tattoos. He did not.<br /><br />I approached them and introduced myself.<br /><br />This is Annie:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAIOx2q7brWv-M6bVB4159cA6d2DPtD0P_BWcdVvdZqSVvmaM6JTaIeMrK03YST6S9rq9Jn9l8bYVaqbDV8i_7wSRjju3tLppYnltReJZNLMQK3YPvu0x7JCm33dDlAmImeABcKpc/s1600-h/anniecherry.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387588337526722306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAIOx2q7brWv-M6bVB4159cA6d2DPtD0P_BWcdVvdZqSVvmaM6JTaIeMrK03YST6S9rq9Jn9l8bYVaqbDV8i_7wSRjju3tLppYnltReJZNLMQK3YPvu0x7JCm33dDlAmImeABcKpc/s400/anniecherry.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 278px;" /></a><br />And here is Bindlestiff Willy:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTvrqukeASsoRI4_2PGumpB033o6xlM7fFC0-rd3ARezx6zjTze-96b9WHNbapquS4R8ALq1qz2kqC0MJjrITsmbemx3HIarG699HAfO_zvwNjhT3e8TTE5p6vZVoP0ee5DeUAsog/s1600-h/BindlestiffPaulAndrews.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387588278609818274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTvrqukeASsoRI4_2PGumpB033o6xlM7fFC0-rd3ARezx6zjTze-96b9WHNbapquS4R8ALq1qz2kqC0MJjrITsmbemx3HIarG699HAfO_zvwNjhT3e8TTE5p6vZVoP0ee5DeUAsog/s400/BindlestiffPaulAndrews.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Both perform with a group called the <a href="http://www.kcsob.com/index.html">Kansas City Society of Burlesque</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfg6F083qmynau5rQFpksINI3t50NmOMe8GIW_q_s8Z9WvHpnKaROvwV_MOEdFnjbAP6pFWIZfSUdDX3BkOiEpO4FzrC2CM85V3EzjvEgQRNJ3u_UTQulWkBzKNTZSP4Aq0IKjSLxt/s1600-h/kcsob.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387589709741165810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfg6F083qmynau5rQFpksINI3t50NmOMe8GIW_q_s8Z9WvHpnKaROvwV_MOEdFnjbAP6pFWIZfSUdDX3BkOiEpO4FzrC2CM85V3EzjvEgQRNJ3u_UTQulWkBzKNTZSP4Aq0IKjSLxt/s400/kcsob.png" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 400px;" /></a> They had been in New York City performing out on Coney Island the previous weekend and were heading home.<br /><br />Annie graciously allowed to photograph her two tattoos, juxtaposed nicely on her inner forearms:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioowAlRLKj3coT8erHZyCuEqEft2gau5nlEywUkfceFl3di-b3uaCa4E_onB4FHRM_qdotMsKzEHC8B77mp0IuI1PHkBAdudUGyeTiEAQ1RAWtZov0mYtcm3tCuWg7eKUgeBnwQJgH/s1600-h/Annie+Arms.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387588649004834914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioowAlRLKj3coT8erHZyCuEqEft2gau5nlEywUkfceFl3di-b3uaCa4E_onB4FHRM_qdotMsKzEHC8B77mp0IuI1PHkBAdudUGyeTiEAQ1RAWtZov0mYtcm3tCuWg7eKUgeBnwQJgH/s400/Annie+Arms.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 333px;" /></a><br />She explained the one on her left arm, saying it was a shooting star, about to be launched from a slingshot. She said the tattoo represents creative inspiration and that it reminds her "not to take herself too seriously".<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhja34SFOYHlBYLEEuj50ScpBx_VHQliOKX72QbYNePGzMxEca82_kBVQY0WtGLsHghVOm94ACmdD5hN9UXbtiWQrhio_r61ilCMqf5xfIi_ep2zvDZKzmMckX3-LfgJ6cklVkMVvnd/s1600-h/Annie+shooting+star.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387588585105458402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhja34SFOYHlBYLEEuj50ScpBx_VHQliOKX72QbYNePGzMxEca82_kBVQY0WtGLsHghVOm94ACmdD5hN9UXbtiWQrhio_r61ilCMqf5xfIi_ep2zvDZKzmMckX3-LfgJ6cklVkMVvnd/s400/Annie+shooting+star.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Incidentally, several weeks later, I met a woman with a similar tattoo, only justaposed differently on the left arm. I was shocked to see it, but she explained that it was also a band logo for the group <a href="http://gogolbordello.com/news/">Gogol Bordello</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDieotjzSRdTHsduKmMIeUnmzugtSnfZSbdhKX7p037d34Kq0dCqoIKm7AOowNs6WmBXfmFNY96LwYH0Wqo8j31OYRGaphORrewJlPxrMrLxj1eftibkPGzBG591bWMZyPM8eK8Ym/s1600-h/gogol+thumbnail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387590376996071506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDieotjzSRdTHsduKmMIeUnmzugtSnfZSbdhKX7p037d34Kq0dCqoIKm7AOowNs6WmBXfmFNY96LwYH0Wqo8j31OYRGaphORrewJlPxrMrLxj1eftibkPGzBG591bWMZyPM8eK8Ym/s400/gogol+thumbnail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The snake on her left arm represents knowledge to Annie, and a reminder that the destination is not always reached by taking the straight path.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfXWZIhqWJjuZIMGo79EfRTLXcQhSz_VmmeBoVAq8FmlQJyI7oOOLdJ3mMr3UnY2rDUcoPVfrWEP-tI6fwlE6lnyu7e-VzVf3cQ-pIdNjEuXBldPDGRvF-jYAa3TSZSvlaeGJirCG/s1600-h/Annie+snake.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387588491343104290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfXWZIhqWJjuZIMGo79EfRTLXcQhSz_VmmeBoVAq8FmlQJyI7oOOLdJ3mMr3UnY2rDUcoPVfrWEP-tI6fwlE6lnyu7e-VzVf3cQ-pIdNjEuXBldPDGRvF-jYAa3TSZSvlaeGJirCG/s400/Annie+snake.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Both tattoos were inked by <a href="http://www.mercyseattattoo.com/portfolio-chet/portfolio.php">Chet Duvenci</a> at <a href="http://www.mercyseattattoo.com/">The Mercy Seat Tattoo & Art Gallery</a> in Kansas City.<br /><br />After talking about her tattoos, Annie informed me that her traveling companion Bindelestiff Willy had a couple of great tattoos, as well. They were inked at The Mercy Seat also, but by different artists.<br /><br />Damian removed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves to reveal the tattoos on his upper arms.<br /><br />The first is on his upper left arm:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViwc6O1ae2OQjqR78xpqhd4dXfHIOJjZl-0dpgJr-VEHDKPEbBmqK5N3jzjuwFF9bzFOO-RleRO_g7r8JYzCSz1oAZZKxW8Tv3DQpSitl7gUqDgGcwL6hNoJUNIL31IkgOaPqCE-z/s1600-h/Clowns+Pinup.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387587725865883138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViwc6O1ae2OQjqR78xpqhd4dXfHIOJjZl-0dpgJr-VEHDKPEbBmqK5N3jzjuwFF9bzFOO-RleRO_g7r8JYzCSz1oAZZKxW8Tv3DQpSitl7gUqDgGcwL6hNoJUNIL31IkgOaPqCE-z/s400/Clowns+Pinup.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />If this classic pin-up girl looks familiar, scroll up to the top of the post and take another gander at the photo of Annie.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gRVITHUruk7ZSPcecuZIjM-PUDJ3M32ysKfwDUnMUmDag7QsiM_wKqXOXMGu4qJoiy7i33uLqGT2A9wdCiXuZtmvHtThRVqFcYcs1gxHEYBwXuO58mi7dC74GkqK2ChUIAaRwNXu/s1600-h/Clowns+Pinup+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387587959501305282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gRVITHUruk7ZSPcecuZIjM-PUDJ3M32ysKfwDUnMUmDag7QsiM_wKqXOXMGu4qJoiy7i33uLqGT2A9wdCiXuZtmvHtThRVqFcYcs1gxHEYBwXuO58mi7dC74GkqK2ChUIAaRwNXu/s400/Clowns+Pinup+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 269px;" /></a><br />The tattoo is modeled after her. The phrase "Clowns need love too" is self-referential. This piece was inked by <a href="http://www.mercyseattattoo.com/portfolio-ss/portfolio.php">Scott Shickman</a>.<br /><br />Damian, who performs under the name of "Bindlestiff Willy," is a pantomime specialist who does a great <a href="http://www.charliechaplin.com/">Charlie Chaplin</a> routine. The pun in his stage name combines the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bindle">bindle </a>stick" commonly carried by hobos and tramps (in the Chaplinesque sense) and the raunchiness of "stiff Willy".<br /><br />His second tattoo, on the right arm, is a portrait of Charlie Chaplin's "Little Tramp" were he still alive. Of course, as the 1889 implies, Chaplin is a skeleton today, so the traditional tattoo takes a macabre turn.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExUWcJz1M_TD1byKBGUV2yOJmgeeDM1zZFCSAERYhZ7eZkjTgkhrVqmif5hgZRqdgzuE43pZEUWnesTisnntzJvOv1Tal3WMOloEEftxWStBz2rstaNfobTgN0kdaGe7D1L3rm2-I/s1600-h/chaplin.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387587625468130434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExUWcJz1M_TD1byKBGUV2yOJmgeeDM1zZFCSAERYhZ7eZkjTgkhrVqmif5hgZRqdgzuE43pZEUWnesTisnntzJvOv1Tal3WMOloEEftxWStBz2rstaNfobTgN0kdaGe7D1L3rm2-I/s400/chaplin.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />This piece was done by <a href="http://thejohnmonk.com/tattoos.html">John Monk</a>.<br /><br />A big thanks to Annie and Willy for sharing their awesome tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Annie Cherry and Bindlestiff Willy in New York City

I met Annie Cherry outside of Penn Station in early September. She was talking with Bindlestiff Willy . She had visible tattoos. He did no...

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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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Christina's Flawed Tattoo is Just Right

I spotted this interesting tattoo while in Penn Station last month:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJI6LQs5iz350tfKxSMHDp-GVCic0reS3l8WS1pNDF7p-1RZYYsMIy5xs_X8CjznnzI3F2QwrbqljVwNl1Ody1Qnft6_jVtv3QDhcQN10VP3Pvk1tiM3DY45Y9Cvb3Zkc_OwAXBYKQQQ/s1600-h/Flawed.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383033415648339282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJI6LQs5iz350tfKxSMHDp-GVCic0reS3l8WS1pNDF7p-1RZYYsMIy5xs_X8CjznnzI3F2QwrbqljVwNl1Ody1Qnft6_jVtv3QDhcQN10VP3Pvk1tiM3DY45Y9Cvb3Zkc_OwAXBYKQQQ/s400/Flawed.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Christina, to whom this piece belongs, called this a "reverse tattoo," in that the main focal point of the piece is the word "Flawed".<br /><br />The word is empty of ink and is created by the artist using negative space.<br /><br />But why "flawed?" Christina explained that "we all have a weakness" and that "only God is perfect." It"s a reminder that "everyone has need for improvement" and that no one is ever perfect.<br /><br />This is one of four of Christina's tattoos.<br /><br />Thanks to Christina for sharing this with us here on Tattoosday!

Christina's Flawed Tattoo is Just Right

I spotted this interesting tattoo while in Penn Station last month: Christina, to whom this piece belongs, called this a "reverse tatto...

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Spike's Tattoos Are Out of This World

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XnyiJxtMrYZXmpjcAaRT_5G9FWnwXXprbQpf1DaHcLpYOkSIUdnD4h1CFvT2zdcnMFraMAeQAr_fSBBS5fwPZS-klsk_VLEqy4upjmNW2MbXJDAnGYnDBUA_qruJhwPCJabthKU2ixQ/s1600-h/arm+star.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361593432366580818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XnyiJxtMrYZXmpjcAaRT_5G9FWnwXXprbQpf1DaHcLpYOkSIUdnD4h1CFvT2zdcnMFraMAeQAr_fSBBS5fwPZS-klsk_VLEqy4upjmNW2MbXJDAnGYnDBUA_qruJhwPCJabthKU2ixQ/s400/arm+star.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" /></a><br />Spike stopped and talked to me several weeks ago outside of Madison Square Garden.<br /><br />His right forearm bore many different stars and his upper arm displayed the solar system.<br /><br />I didn't get all the details that I wanted to, as there was a lot of information to process, but I filled in the blanks as best as I could to get a very loose interpretation of his star art.<br /><br />This theme, in particular, was the most fascinating aspect of his tattoos, because his cluster of stars are all uniquely designed by different people, from children to friends.<br /><br />This one was drawn by a five-year old:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8MUlwfvHOBeuvYLdacG0e0s6oNgPih37yTlMG2hxzZsfVHAw76DTsyVHtUibuB3Au7j4kkzkwzgkzcqGCGseRPP_AOjHsB7F7vVd6dAxNxOdD4FE4rIvSx_1SZDYWZmZPmoayYLENiw/s1600-h/yankee+star.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361594083781495874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8MUlwfvHOBeuvYLdacG0e0s6oNgPih37yTlMG2hxzZsfVHAw76DTsyVHtUibuB3Au7j4kkzkwzgkzcqGCGseRPP_AOjHsB7F7vVd6dAxNxOdD4FE4rIvSx_1SZDYWZmZPmoayYLENiw/s400/yankee+star.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 328px;" /></a><br />Spike said he and the child's parents were fascinated by the inner design, and only later discovered he had been trying to replicate the NY logo of the New York Yankees.<br /><br />I labeled each star in my notebook, but didn't get much elaboration.<br /><br />Here's a star comprised of Star Trek logos:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GWZY9XeNwlededOnAM1GGB0ZyAN5KpL_wd3a6jDDBXRwPPThBOdEF6EETG3xHDmplnOGBlaXw_oYmFH8fLgXkHH9o5-7Q_oJfgrKjmmk3JlsTFhLaUuCxYl-J41meGLBxNYESAhgF2U/s1600-h/star+trek+star.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361593951228677362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GWZY9XeNwlededOnAM1GGB0ZyAN5KpL_wd3a6jDDBXRwPPThBOdEF6EETG3xHDmplnOGBlaXw_oYmFH8fLgXkHH9o5-7Q_oJfgrKjmmk3JlsTFhLaUuCxYl-J41meGLBxNYESAhgF2U/s400/star+trek+star.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 383px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />And an atomic representation of a star:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3odE98joSCviYwTxF5cacui3rIb0rfmzU_JAg-CZ-CCb6tKhuJPDuo7Wr1Aq1OzA3I0zkuCXjyI02HcpM1wjj4jnh4kVHt1EwNQ-QpbXLWf0ZSJ1f9TWjWYNCEMIdLAWT6uvVVNugLLQ/s1600-h/atomic+star.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361593505798463074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3odE98joSCviYwTxF5cacui3rIb0rfmzU_JAg-CZ-CCb6tKhuJPDuo7Wr1Aq1OzA3I0zkuCXjyI02HcpM1wjj4jnh4kVHt1EwNQ-QpbXLWf0ZSJ1f9TWjWYNCEMIdLAWT6uvVVNugLLQ/s400/atomic+star.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 385px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />I'm not sure about this one:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjie-AlQuSr4g4I921PRZ5rofhPxx4a4MTpMNacezBz2oFS5Y25hguAspv1LqFm2GHqE6RPNvlGHZ7ALMLeHAXZ-L2rMckdMhuPrxdxqrkDJ2BJiEAHDwGxdfBy5dBEiOPnwC-97QWkxVs/s1600-h/a+star.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361592138801783362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjie-AlQuSr4g4I921PRZ5rofhPxx4a4MTpMNacezBz2oFS5Y25hguAspv1LqFm2GHqE6RPNvlGHZ7ALMLeHAXZ-L2rMckdMhuPrxdxqrkDJ2BJiEAHDwGxdfBy5dBEiOPnwC-97QWkxVs/s400/a+star.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 361px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The Madonna star?<br /><br />This star with sparks shooting out of its points was also drawn by a child, an eight-year old:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinULK7J0Jtq7UGSIKeKWlVjBNIGVjZOmHmw6_-KhqecPVPVdB3BUN0PoZDuTV2a80YcMmtbcjveoBdbD6TtEXb86ErswxKnwVIDUwDhyxpuQil4bykeOxwQq8yulOYpyohVBUVhzc4VEk/s1600-h/sparkle+star.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361593891569766882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinULK7J0Jtq7UGSIKeKWlVjBNIGVjZOmHmw6_-KhqecPVPVdB3BUN0PoZDuTV2a80YcMmtbcjveoBdbD6TtEXb86ErswxKnwVIDUwDhyxpuQil4bykeOxwQq8yulOYpyohVBUVhzc4VEk/s400/sparkle+star.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />And this complicated one incorporated many symbols, including an ankh, a cross, and the circle revolving around the star is a peace symbol:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7pqIsFIBBhz387QHP_RT9C2ujK2iubo3n_kEeRQggKxi7vn14Ju0BCv6_ji9dC2J7S_PJ6mBq6Wtf_n2QE7ErvA2SOvzpQOquw4hRJdW9pIXa46r1C7lui1maTmPOf1pcG-jhO4xif0/s1600-h/symbol+star.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361594024827127138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7pqIsFIBBhz387QHP_RT9C2ujK2iubo3n_kEeRQggKxi7vn14Ju0BCv6_ji9dC2J7S_PJ6mBq6Wtf_n2QE7ErvA2SOvzpQOquw4hRJdW9pIXa46r1C7lui1maTmPOf1pcG-jhO4xif0/s400/symbol+star.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 345px;" /></a><br />Spike did not identify the six-pointed star as a star of David, but as the symbol of Solomon:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZuPLTi35IGHwipg9gHrnOqtsLP4N_tWYN-_O0cDfLa_BNmQ2KZAhKvnhHKGoAeoyfhheemCIFuhgUdmZ-3sRvbFEMLe1rNgrzQaGJ6ENrKnLD2jlyZtozjkKRf5xKYcU_FnTcOss5Ww/s1600-h/solomon+star.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361593738850032178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZuPLTi35IGHwipg9gHrnOqtsLP4N_tWYN-_O0cDfLa_BNmQ2KZAhKvnhHKGoAeoyfhheemCIFuhgUdmZ-3sRvbFEMLe1rNgrzQaGJ6ENrKnLD2jlyZtozjkKRf5xKYcU_FnTcOss5Ww/s400/solomon+star.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 346px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />And another:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiiux4LUi6L5c6VDt_zAMKr4UhYf_RCZwFmMiTUkx271jA1KX8s6LgeRyaHcBi1QiVpwQaua_b8VK_2G3yz0t24dc1Kc4woeaGxSFaZK6kciJzdfmvFcbgZfYpaH_pkBCWYu4IfSOx4Q/s1600-h/a+star+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361593352265288642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiiux4LUi6L5c6VDt_zAMKr4UhYf_RCZwFmMiTUkx271jA1KX8s6LgeRyaHcBi1QiVpwQaua_b8VK_2G3yz0t24dc1Kc4woeaGxSFaZK6kciJzdfmvFcbgZfYpaH_pkBCWYu4IfSOx4Q/s400/a+star+2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 347px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />And another:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRX_oy5LBBYWGD7VVMs3E2nrqPgE5zR6OtP3F7g2X6S7wlJwQfhk04NS7xx4tlZRvZCnQrVDdwxpwdiRaEjd5-F1gAvbaseWV7Q819jj5vOLujZ0wff781pnbna33IYiH2DPYPQJGPmjs/s1600-h/crop+circle+star.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361593623755269986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRX_oy5LBBYWGD7VVMs3E2nrqPgE5zR6OtP3F7g2X6S7wlJwQfhk04NS7xx4tlZRvZCnQrVDdwxpwdiRaEjd5-F1gAvbaseWV7Q819jj5vOLujZ0wff781pnbna33IYiH2DPYPQJGPmjs/s400/crop+circle+star.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 390px;" /></a><br />I believe there were eight in all, and Spike acknowledged he would most likely add more if the right design came along at the right moment.<br /><br />Here's part of the Solar System:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2dhHH75JzXWFV5p18QsLrXYSv5o-snTctU7lf1A39ZgBwqALZmAnWmhFvW5HErkOlwkd28Olx9mswSMohSAwIKX-1eeNOqpPlqQGYYZJOKkvmk84V91knpMd00MBpkeMw-nzurUuDLg/s1600-h/solar+system.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361591471082477986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2dhHH75JzXWFV5p18QsLrXYSv5o-snTctU7lf1A39ZgBwqALZmAnWmhFvW5HErkOlwkd28Olx9mswSMohSAwIKX-1eeNOqpPlqQGYYZJOKkvmk84V91knpMd00MBpkeMw-nzurUuDLg/s400/solar+system.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The Sun occupies the elbow and the planets revolve upward. Saturn can be seen near the shoulder. Here's a closer view of the Earth and her satellite, our Moon:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPawMs2zRJCZYmWPB6RC6drvRpRdg8i8NeFFLEpciV9081iDqg0G56ReeMZ6WKetGXMrqErvsK1KhWWl8ZswRjqBCpz_Om9gV85m4oZn9FYDYX8tM_3Cu_QkYC-jwPjzIbCQ9oNuRUwg/s1600-h/earth+and+moon.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361591736934337922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPawMs2zRJCZYmWPB6RC6drvRpRdg8i8NeFFLEpciV9081iDqg0G56ReeMZ6WKetGXMrqErvsK1KhWWl8ZswRjqBCpz_Om9gV85m4oZn9FYDYX8tM_3Cu_QkYC-jwPjzIbCQ9oNuRUwg/s400/earth+and+moon.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 337px;" /></a><br />The two different sections of Spike's arm are unified under the celestial theme.<br /><br />On his other arm, on the bicep, the theme becomes more fantastic:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gpGx7_zK-3AnqblaGoq2Ha0kw0N84hS7JHHkx8nOnPyEqRcN9zrq1tg9Cfm_QroWL2fb0z9TUt0Th4-EPg9IayV83IHKzsgeQBeIZQhvVhzGsklRTRiuWFEep1oGfo3cq3zrO4_BqWg/s1600-h/krypton.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361591161436594450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gpGx7_zK-3AnqblaGoq2Ha0kw0N84hS7JHHkx8nOnPyEqRcN9zrq1tg9Cfm_QroWL2fb0z9TUt0Th4-EPg9IayV83IHKzsgeQBeIZQhvVhzGsklRTRiuWFEep1oGfo3cq3zrO4_BqWg/s400/krypton.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />What appears to be a space ship racing away from an exploding planet is precisely that.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMka2oZJsJwaEnrUQRxByP1eRfkHBnL42ESk89ZQ2ftC8_no4u1wHctl2GFGyFmZIDBGEd6cbDEw1PVt51Gdn2kg5__T8au2enfWifXe4LTRbkrP-QGEkdul0xiRMadxY4GbkrKw7_o78/s1600-h/Krypton+flee.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361590343182588226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMka2oZJsJwaEnrUQRxByP1eRfkHBnL42ESk89ZQ2ftC8_no4u1wHctl2GFGyFmZIDBGEd6cbDEw1PVt51Gdn2kg5__T8au2enfWifXe4LTRbkrP-QGEkdul0xiRMadxY4GbkrKw7_o78/s400/Krypton+flee.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 161px; height: 400px;" /></a>The tattoo represents Superman as a child fleeing the exploding planet of Krypton.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNopEme1FCYgalL64DtUscyiO1xQdXuXbjbfCOL0xcZg-2KFatLOGPjneOQpeS28LRn5l9hAXSHA2m4OnxUJsVi5U1LuowAF01hjALa0WxYg7vlUga1FZcGOKEE0fH0u23Pq6Twz0eMg/s1600-h/Krypton+flee+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361590887187513586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNopEme1FCYgalL64DtUscyiO1xQdXuXbjbfCOL0xcZg-2KFatLOGPjneOQpeS28LRn5l9hAXSHA2m4OnxUJsVi5U1LuowAF01hjALa0WxYg7vlUga1FZcGOKEE0fH0u23Pq6Twz0eMg/s400/Krypton+flee+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Much of Spike's work was tattooed at <a href="http://www.avalontattoo.com/">Avalon II</a> in the North Park section of San Diego.<br /><br />Thanks to Spike for sharing his intergalactic tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Spike's Tattoos Are Out of This World

Spike stopped and talked to me several weeks ago outside of Madison Square Garden. His right forearm bore many different stars and his upper...

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