It's a Small World: Steve Shares Some Amazing Tim Kern Handiwork

Last June (yes, you read that correctly - I've been sitting on this post a while!), I attended a <a href="http://www.needlesandsins.com/2011/06/reminder-book-release-party-tonight-sacred-gallery.html">book release party</a> at <a href="http://www.sacredgallerynyc.com/gallery">Sacred Gallery</a> in Manhattan.<br /><br />While perusing the art hanging on the walls, I noticed a fellow attendee who had a lot of tattoos. To be honest, that pretty much described everyone in attendance, but what jumped out at me was a familiar-looking piece on this gentleman's leg:<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/AVvXsEimlJWHHH6_W-_MH3a_n0ntTc-mnsA5UJXbqZ2Pdy4tQTKq825QrLixVc0BdYRO7w7mLO2sCr51qQUmuKyevrTNCDKg3fVWRmhVeTz0ZCepNUJpYIA8rO00FV_T0bF2CjbtR0qZyZcQYsI/s320/Pam_Can_Tattoo_20090515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlJWHHH6_W-_MH3a_n0ntTc-mnsA5UJXbqZ2Pdy4tQTKq825QrLixVc0BdYRO7w7mLO2sCr51qQUmuKyevrTNCDKg3fVWRmhVeTz0ZCepNUJpYIA8rO00FV_T0bF2CjbtR0qZyZcQYsI/s320/Pam_Can_Tattoo_20090515.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Janet Loder-Berthelon</td></tr></tbody></table>What was surprising about this tattoo is that I had seen it before - just not in person. It had, however, appeared on Tattoosday, two years earlier in <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/05/janet-presents-non-stick-tattoo-that-is.html">this post</a>, courtesy of my friend Janet, who spotted the host on the subway and unwittingly submitted one of the few "guest spots" we have ever had.<br /><br />I introduced myself and learned that the gentleman's name is <a href="http://www.teamrockstarimages.com/">Steve Prue</a>, a very talented photographer (click through his name to see some amazing work). Needless to say, he remembered meeting Janet, and offered up to me some of his amazing work on his left sleeve:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOEP2cZb7XmwYG5ha0S0lcidYYzKAXG5nTkHUhnk-USoyLg0ScfhsUzQqYrZ7uQJJFfKCs7VwBUOkOyKzHbMrPMO29HNDe7BtWv_-zQp1RirccDHo3R7zsR4UJvbRQWx3jPagQS7VQtw/s0-d/108_1277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOEP2cZb7XmwYG5ha0S0lcidYYzKAXG5nTkHUhnk-USoyLg0ScfhsUzQqYrZ7uQJJFfKCs7VwBUOkOyKzHbMrPMO29HNDe7BtWv_-zQp1RirccDHo3R7zsR4UJvbRQWx3jPagQS7VQtw/s0-d/108_1277.JPG" width="290" /></a></div><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/AVvXsEjYObHQ-PUWmfV3Glw40A0vMn6dZcsEQJQs5ZDTJmzz2wc4LY9jwMKixaeCu-sUufojIDqMb9GKQOFYiyV8DRhWqtXOHPpYwWvhpfxtnKxlc76oPHgdX6QrsfPMG3J4_CWQMUtHV24WHZs/s0-d/108_1278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYObHQ-PUWmfV3Glw40A0vMn6dZcsEQJQs5ZDTJmzz2wc4LY9jwMKixaeCu-sUufojIDqMb9GKQOFYiyV8DRhWqtXOHPpYwWvhpfxtnKxlc76oPHgdX6QrsfPMG3J4_CWQMUtHV24WHZs/s0-d/108_1278.JPG" width="326" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>These wonderful tattoos are the handiwork of <a href="http://www.tribulationtattoo.com/artist.aspx?id=1">Tim Kern</a> of <a href="http://www.tribulationtattoo.com/home.aspx">Tribulation Tattoo</a>. The robot face (above) and what Steve called his "robo-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali">Kali</a>" (below) are truly phenomenal and it is almost criminal that I have been sitting on these photos for so long.<br /><br />This "small world" story ended up letting us experience segments of  two "out of this world" tattoos.<br /><br />Thanks to Steve for sharing them with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.45952231367118657"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2012 Tattoosday.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; 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; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; 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><br /><div><br /></div>

It's a Small World: Steve Shares Some Amazing Tim Kern Handiwork

Last June (yes, you read that correctly - I've been sitting on this post a while!), I attended a book release party at Sacred Gallery ...

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Benjamin's Amazing Viking-Geisha Sleeve by Tim Kern

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

Benjamin's Amazing Viking-Geisha Sleeve by Tim Kern

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

Read more »