Mike's Incredible Aquatic Sleeve (and More!)

I had the good fortune of meeting Mike outside of Penn Station last week and, despite first noticing him because of his leg tattoos, he was extremely generous and unveiled an incredible sleeve that covered his right arm:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7J15i70pmrcmV29HI1LnqacvMXUB_vJ6cNqSy0BdbgQDOfX4AYsjCKCs9XH1Wa1psKfPsGS8-9K15ibM4FoXECb7C3V6rbtth9aUsquUpTfHiw83M61WPt3hZ6NNqphZipieRamM/s1600/Aquatic+sleeve+1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453714388438253810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7J15i70pmrcmV29HI1LnqacvMXUB_vJ6cNqSy0BdbgQDOfX4AYsjCKCs9XH1Wa1psKfPsGS8-9K15ibM4FoXECb7C3V6rbtth9aUsquUpTfHiw83M61WPt3hZ6NNqphZipieRamM/s400/Aquatic+sleeve+1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 148px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Mike is a fisherman and a loves the brightness, color and variety of oceanic life. Such things translate well to the body's canvas and make for some amazing tattoo work...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNY9N5v6RaPBVfw9wCUASJXlpwZAnAPUMLuADzV4GNbBRNRtvBftgfoUsZeWy4eaA89CslMtBsinGlIfdhOLVc1Svv7uane89wgszrUKVMgJfgdFXiyHOpgaVF-9QHSLLFQgDCiisG/s1600/Aquatic+sleeve+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453714288290685826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNY9N5v6RaPBVfw9wCUASJXlpwZAnAPUMLuADzV4GNbBRNRtvBftgfoUsZeWy4eaA89CslMtBsinGlIfdhOLVc1Svv7uane89wgszrUKVMgJfgdFXiyHOpgaVF-9QHSLLFQgDCiisG/s400/Aquatic+sleeve+2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The giant octopus actually curls up over his shoulder and onto his chest, with one tentacle moving down his arm....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsfMfgCEOoQZVdxxIByxZQrE-Gog5q2AnvCUHu_2IrBplLM4oqEYx_E1WaBCe6Sejw-schUKqoosw81b5mqQ0z_kcmxm2SwyFS-02HrrNgPI9y1aMbiHyvHp2LvtO0-FTjdavffS9/s1600/Aquatic+sleeve+3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453714182408603538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsfMfgCEOoQZVdxxIByxZQrE-Gog5q2AnvCUHu_2IrBplLM4oqEYx_E1WaBCe6Sejw-schUKqoosw81b5mqQ0z_kcmxm2SwyFS-02HrrNgPI9y1aMbiHyvHp2LvtO0-FTjdavffS9/s400/Aquatic+sleeve+3.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The deep sea diver punctuates the middle of his arm...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzlRxe8OovLUycgZwdL14ynU31VZtgULwWoTvoqNw8Z8W1D7a1JIxCLKhDNz0YTGpCG4CznAAr7VUd6PA8wl2QSbNTiznX6JsmjtEBpxC96EmfZBORzy94UuDlK0feESGGHO-dh5K/s1600/Aquatic+sleeve+4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453714058152040130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzlRxe8OovLUycgZwdL14ynU31VZtgULwWoTvoqNw8Z8W1D7a1JIxCLKhDNz0YTGpCG4CznAAr7VUd6PA8wl2QSbNTiznX6JsmjtEBpxC96EmfZBORzy94UuDlK0feESGGHO-dh5K/s400/Aquatic+sleeve+4.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />At the bottom of the arm are tropical motifs including a huge tiki god and a hibiscus....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLom4WCTBlQJXi_RCRuvaiAW7KTIyKL55Nk8lJh_y3iCevgNHUCW1jZEfxU0_IJ-fNiWLdgX3J355XyC5VsSWoqNHRtH7OWzsYHX8qiVoGoc17NRFKhlzIiSP2vuuaAvw9X4GIgXB/s1600/Aquatic+sleeve+5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453713903699303730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLom4WCTBlQJXi_RCRuvaiAW7KTIyKL55Nk8lJh_y3iCevgNHUCW1jZEfxU0_IJ-fNiWLdgX3J355XyC5VsSWoqNHRtH7OWzsYHX8qiVoGoc17NRFKhlzIiSP2vuuaAvw9X4GIgXB/s400/Aquatic+sleeve+5.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />On the inside of his inner bicep is this fish which is a cross between an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglerfish">anglerfish</a> and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xyrichtys">razorfish</a>:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-2E6FbXQ39A1Na-0fLz2KBsYAoiMqgp3f9MR1SygM84CMJZpQAh7XGSiltWDkMIdrDIqD2kW5goOgnz8nJrUUuBHGXpTm8qZyfFIrOOZ7sGtIN63Xm9kylZhxfhD4AA_tUKAflhv/s1600/Aquatic+sleeve+6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453713829412058290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-2E6FbXQ39A1Na-0fLz2KBsYAoiMqgp3f9MR1SygM84CMJZpQAh7XGSiltWDkMIdrDIqD2kW5goOgnz8nJrUUuBHGXpTm8qZyfFIrOOZ7sGtIN63Xm9kylZhxfhD4AA_tUKAflhv/s400/Aquatic+sleeve+6.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" /></a><br />And we ended with this piece that was so fresh at the time, that Mike had to peel back the protective plastic covering this amazing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puffer_fish">blowfish</a>:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOfpumURB8ox7g_XhiCwFkE62QId1noEem01LQN96Odft9YCj11ZngfusuR2j71y3DZrpLwmSJvjk4AF3lDpdGixcWXZXYywYTdwXWY3frFjATcSmQaQ-uCEFuZjh13-s2eQyzvuc/s1600/Aquatic+sleeve+7.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453713415661527714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOfpumURB8ox7g_XhiCwFkE62QId1noEem01LQN96Odft9YCj11ZngfusuR2j71y3DZrpLwmSJvjk4AF3lDpdGixcWXZXYywYTdwXWY3frFjATcSmQaQ-uCEFuZjh13-s2eQyzvuc/s400/Aquatic+sleeve+7.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 347px;" /></a><br />The artist behind this amazing work is Steve Woison formerly of <a href="http://www.electrictikitattoos.com/tiki.html">Electric Tiki Tattoo</a> in Patchogue, and now at <a href="http://www.520tattoos.com/">Studio 520</a> in Oakdale, on Long Island.<br /><br />Thanks again to Mike for taking the time to share his amazing aquatic sleeve with us here on Tattoosday!

Mike's Incredible Aquatic Sleeve (and More!)

I had the good fortune of meeting Mike outside of Penn Station last week and, despite first noticing him because of his leg tattoos, he was ...

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Dani Helps Tattoosday Celebrate 50 Years of Statehood

Today is the 50th anniversary of <a href="http://www.gohawaii.com/">Hawaiian</a> statehood.<br /><br />As a former resident of the Aloha State, I thought we could honor the occasion with a Hawaii-themed tattoo:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Dy1ejdLPrR6OyGd4Zel_rtZX4m777tQ7JNndTpnVbUNFappjTRykFbQji49QsLmL1FefWNyRrQJ_6ncS-dmx0cvR9n3PvIwMg0ZJeW24AIiZcVKJ-O8Z7fSC2LH6f1zXzH0zX5YTCts/s1600-h/Tiki.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372355021109744354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Dy1ejdLPrR6OyGd4Zel_rtZX4m777tQ7JNndTpnVbUNFappjTRykFbQji49QsLmL1FefWNyRrQJ_6ncS-dmx0cvR9n3PvIwMg0ZJeW24AIiZcVKJ-O8Z7fSC2LH6f1zXzH0zX5YTCts/s400/Tiki.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 174px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />This cool tiki is on the right forearm of Dani, who estimates she is 60% covered in ink.<br /><br />Dani and I met near Penn Plaza and had a lovely chat about tattoos. This tiki is one of her favorites.<br /><br />Don Lussier at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/artfreektattoo">Artfreek Tattoo</a> basically free-handed the design on her. Don is the ex-husband of Doris, who is a friend of Dani's. A piece from Artfreek appeared last month on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/07/jonathan-gives-us-sun-on-sunday.html">here</a>.<br /><br />She has the tiki as an acknowledgment of her heritage, being part Hawaiian, with ancestors two or three generations back.<br /><br />She loves the detail Don put into the piece, especially the heart inked on the tiki's left arm.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhToHgCc0EEikR1H4kTxIg5Ema8KbZHhcYS4-BR2l2eL9jfYSe5dMam5VK9d9BabnuUy14SwFqxjIGYheIAx3XnTiz-yiSSaYYOxrF0UxYktwGG4L8jkK144ubTfTF4_w0bNJl-tWiYN8M/s1600-h/tiki+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372354697688418994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhToHgCc0EEikR1H4kTxIg5Ema8KbZHhcYS4-BR2l2eL9jfYSe5dMam5VK9d9BabnuUy14SwFqxjIGYheIAx3XnTiz-yiSSaYYOxrF0UxYktwGG4L8jkK144ubTfTF4_w0bNJl-tWiYN8M/s400/tiki+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mahalo_nui_loa" style="font-style: italic;">Mahalo nui loa</a> to Dani for sharing this great tattoo with us here, and helping Tattoosday celebrate Hawaii's Golden Anniversary!

Dani Helps Tattoosday Celebrate 50 Years of Statehood

Today is the 50th anniversary of Hawaiian statehood. As a former resident of the Aloha State, I thought we could honor the occasion with a ...

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Two for Tattoosday: A Break-Up Tattoo and Some European Tribals

Sure I'm posting Wednesday but both of these volunteers were <a href="http://www.thegarden.com/">MSG</a> plaza-dwellers on Tuesday and, rather than save then for separate days, I thought I'd put them together.<br /><br />First up is Erik:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfM3jOZJBy9ibyq3hfx6-wFLyWpXQk9TDhWtmxfgKYhhRv7vPusoweDXg0iW72SWSHC87IF3tZyXZh1ques4YcMauI4taTRnP2byhsAlSrLBalUxXASCef6SKxGyG4qnVdBcQKq6LdEaRo/s1600-h/breakup.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197564833178047826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfM3jOZJBy9ibyq3hfx6-wFLyWpXQk9TDhWtmxfgKYhhRv7vPusoweDXg0iW72SWSHC87IF3tZyXZh1ques4YcMauI4taTRnP2byhsAlSrLBalUxXASCef6SKxGyG4qnVdBcQKq6LdEaRo/s400/breakup.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Sorry I cut this off, but I couldn't see the screen in the sun's glare. Erik has a 3/4 sleeve (left arm), his mother and grandmother's names inked on, a small back piece, a leg piece, and a diamond on his chest, but we went with this design, on his left forearm, because it is more recent.<br /><br />Tattooed by <a href="http://www.silkcitytattoo.com/newman.html">Eric Newman</a> at <a href="http://www.silkcitytattoo.com/">Silk City Tattoo</a> in Hawthorne, New Jersey (the shop was credited previously only two days ago <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/05/graces-tattoo-anita-berber-in-service.html">here</a>), this piece, a dagger through a flaming skull, was purchased for Erik by an ex-girlfriend, after she broke up with him. It is meant to represent a new beginning.<br /><br />At the end of the day I met Cesar, also in front of <a href="http://www.thegarden.com/">the Garden</a>. This is the tattoo that caught my eye:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-9Yhs8hnS0AKXG0hJ4cbG29XD_M1cNGnNWBj1_Y3aZsLmTz0FHtJVr9t5pOuPn1IKPpFv6SlFZhM69ZYmOwyCtEBP4p26FH5tWwVQbuNYHeInJXE8r4vXjVaOEVatvQTmq35MU66RPeC/s1600-h/tribal1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197565138120725858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-9Yhs8hnS0AKXG0hJ4cbG29XD_M1cNGnNWBj1_Y3aZsLmTz0FHtJVr9t5pOuPn1IKPpFv6SlFZhM69ZYmOwyCtEBP4p26FH5tWwVQbuNYHeInJXE8r4vXjVaOEVatvQTmq35MU66RPeC/s400/tribal1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />I'm not a huge fan of tribal pieces, but this one on his right calf is one of the nicer pieces I have seen in a while. I especially like how it is not a solid black design, but resembles a textured wood. Cesar, who is from Italy, is in New York for only two days, and we had some difficulty communicating. This tattoo was inked in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brescia">Brescia</a>, in Northern Italy, and cost $40. (He offered, I have decided asking is not polite.)<br /><br />He then showed me a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiki">tiki</a> piece on his inner right bicep:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjNwHn1lWMdZh54vUwR4X7dCxYmCLxM_IAz9qg5rquu4iCM3_YagTWsEu6PDpFnuEAPXFoLTkJvK04fqxCocVRQYAxEKsVT_2Y4LJnGtFQmCCxOy-rZNzaj7O_yXgqN-6DPtNxfdvsL-b/s1600-h/tiki1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197564730098832706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjNwHn1lWMdZh54vUwR4X7dCxYmCLxM_IAz9qg5rquu4iCM3_YagTWsEu6PDpFnuEAPXFoLTkJvK04fqxCocVRQYAxEKsVT_2Y4LJnGtFQmCCxOy-rZNzaj7O_yXgqN-6DPtNxfdvsL-b/s400/tiki1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />There are two faces, one representing good, one representing bad, juxtaposed on the tattoo, which was inked on the island of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibiza">Ibiza</a>, which is part of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain">Spain</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbzrQzLAonp8TWbpvgRtJHqu1rmShOyEGOAFsHEEtlVZrwd1cNi47p5ZNgGjVxqr4NoCLRNZ8eXoXzclXVPk8fV7yceD6DnZq7tfJaAsEY3ZdjG2vFf7BIKTl6DXhsTumotNS5aFQ30iP/s1600-h/tiki2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197564627019617586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbzrQzLAonp8TWbpvgRtJHqu1rmShOyEGOAFsHEEtlVZrwd1cNi47p5ZNgGjVxqr4NoCLRNZ8eXoXzclXVPk8fV7yceD6DnZq7tfJaAsEY3ZdjG2vFf7BIKTl6DXhsTumotNS5aFQ30iP/s400/tiki2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Cesar told me the name of the shop was Sara, but I couldn't find a listing. However, considering the type of tattoo he received, I am going to go out on a limb and guess he got this piece at <a href="http://www.tahiti-tiki-tattoo.com/index.htm">Tahiti Tiki Tattoo</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Erik and Cesar for making Tattoosday a true Tat-twos-day!

Two for Tattoosday: A Break-Up Tattoo and Some European Tribals

Sure I'm posting Wednesday but both of these volunteers were MSG plaza-dwellers on Tuesday and, rather than save then for separate days...

Read more »