Brandice's Family Ink

I met Brandice in Penn Station back in August, as she sat on the stairs by the New Jersey transit terminal. She shared her half-sleeve-in-progress on her right arm.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhFsDm42VbmXJGquBenF8UwMa34Hu_7Sv4nXZnDXvctqO8u8NV3linCfgbEVa9DNMInqFgkBkdomG1TP2MromDB7s8SqOBuxlBwCbEadBXAbJ0M3o1m95FrtAJK7UceCtY6XirfDQWGA/s1600/Brandice+outer+arm+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhFsDm42VbmXJGquBenF8UwMa34Hu_7Sv4nXZnDXvctqO8u8NV3linCfgbEVa9DNMInqFgkBkdomG1TP2MromDB7s8SqOBuxlBwCbEadBXAbJ0M3o1m95FrtAJK7UceCtY6XirfDQWGA/s640/Brandice+outer+arm+wm.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><br />This is the inside of the arm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPjo6IonuPly6FWPzFYHZfG4F0YsPKtR-jhb4_mPqo680OXApHnRQ1mIp6nGKv8xbFOlRUXx5hKb1SWHsmsB8LLeMDg8JDKO62_r_BSD10tDVfkPnNlh8lq90JYzt-Y2T_DVOCXfY4Sk/s1600/Brandice+inner+arm+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPjo6IonuPly6FWPzFYHZfG4F0YsPKtR-jhb4_mPqo680OXApHnRQ1mIp6nGKv8xbFOlRUXx5hKb1SWHsmsB8LLeMDg8JDKO62_r_BSD10tDVfkPnNlh8lq90JYzt-Y2T_DVOCXfY4Sk/s640/Brandice+inner+arm+wm.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><br />Brandice explained that her work is a tribute to her family. The Confederate Flag is a nod to her family from the South, most of whom come from Virginia.<br /><br />I had to ask if she had any reservations about inking the flag on her arm, since some people see such a symbol in a negative light. She acknowledged that she took this into consideration, but decided that it is part of her family history, and that when she explains this to people, they understand. She does not wear it to make a statement but, rather, to honor where her family is from.<br /><br />The "Daddy" is a memorial nod to her father who passed away and the phrase "Family Tradition" reinforces the central theme of the tattoo, and further acknowledges her Southern heritage.This is an allusion to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Williams,_Jr.">Hank Williams, Jr.</a> and his song (and album) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Tradition_%28Hank_Williams,_Jr._song%29">"Family Tradition"</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFGJlqClZu_QDUf-_Q0pII9jRm63ggxSS49lRkbElz_Zi4RZROk7lY0TwOZKy-7ia3VzxyI_udBCFj9rJl8rkaApBw7LnR8fRR6VjBo_DAIjyE4p0hZInK56btsqDtbqC0Ffqninh0s4/s1600/album-family-tradition-original-classic-hits-vol-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFGJlqClZu_QDUf-_Q0pII9jRm63ggxSS49lRkbElz_Zi4RZROk7lY0TwOZKy-7ia3VzxyI_udBCFj9rJl8rkaApBw7LnR8fRR6VjBo_DAIjyE4p0hZInK56btsqDtbqC0Ffqninh0s4/s400/album-family-tradition-original-classic-hits-vol-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />On the second part of the tattoo, the design is filled with additional meaning, with her cousin represented by the skull,<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPjo6IonuPly6FWPzFYHZfG4F0YsPKtR-jhb4_mPqo680OXApHnRQ1mIp6nGKv8xbFOlRUXx5hKb1SWHsmsB8LLeMDg8JDKO62_r_BSD10tDVfkPnNlh8lq90JYzt-Y2T_DVOCXfY4Sk/s1600/Brandice+inner+arm+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPjo6IonuPly6FWPzFYHZfG4F0YsPKtR-jhb4_mPqo680OXApHnRQ1mIp6nGKv8xbFOlRUXx5hKb1SWHsmsB8LLeMDg8JDKO62_r_BSD10tDVfkPnNlh8lq90JYzt-Y2T_DVOCXfY4Sk/s640/Brandice+inner+arm+wm.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><br />and the skull with the bow represents herself. The banner bearing the initials MLC is a nod to her grandmother. She has used symbols to represent the living and names for those who have passed.<br /><br />The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornus_%28genus%29">dogwood flowers</a> in the tattoo have religious meaning as well, in addition to being the state flower and state tree of Virgina. The magnolias are also shout-outs to her southern family heritage.<br /><br />Brandice has about eight hours of this tattoo done so far, all by Dan Paone at <a href="http://www.whitelotustattoos.com/">White Lotus Tattoo and Art Gallery</a> in Tom's River in New Jersey.<br /><br />Thanks to Brandice for sharing her tattoo steeped in family traditions with us here at Tattoosday!

Brandice's Family Ink

I met Brandice in Penn Station back in August, as she sat on the stairs by the New Jersey transit terminal. She shared her half-sleeve-in-pr...

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Inked Up Angels: Part 2, Kat's Incredible Buddha

Last Friday, I featured a tattoo from one of two women I met in Penn Station.<br /><br />They both are part of a group called <a href="http://www.myspace.com/theinkedupangels">Inked Up Angels</a>.<br /><br />I had first taken the photo of <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/05/inked-up-angels-part-1-pinks-x-men.html">the tattoo belonging to "Pink"</a>, and now it was her friend's turn.<br /><br />I looked to Kat curiously, wondering what tattoo she was going to offer for Tattoosday.<br /><br />We were standing in a corner of busy Penn Station near the subway turnstiles and she told me I needed to move. We switched spots, so that I was standing in the corner and she was between me and the crowds. Her friend Pink stood behind her and shielded Kat from the throngs of commuters. I got that she was going to show me something quite revealing, yet I had no clue what it was.<br /><br />With her left side facing me, Kat hiked up her skirt to reveal this absolutely incredible piece, that ran from the upper part of her thigh, to above her waistline:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOfRinrsxTsUIvgIedXfQS1PLwyS5NPyizJBE9GSoYnMiOPzs4LTKeMaDgAfydWx4uQkIypnZHSKowOb21b6fl3AAiETUNT3GzJyac6bKYN19klhIHWbgRVTkLsyCkWb_FUse8Pi0LcU/s1600-h/Buddha.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334502404603355842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOfRinrsxTsUIvgIedXfQS1PLwyS5NPyizJBE9GSoYnMiOPzs4LTKeMaDgAfydWx4uQkIypnZHSKowOb21b6fl3AAiETUNT3GzJyac6bKYN19klhIHWbgRVTkLsyCkWb_FUse8Pi0LcU/s400/Buddha.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />That's about eighteen hours of work, folks, and it's an amazing piece. Kat had it tattooed because she is a Buddhist and loves loves the spirituality of Buddha.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1xrmvU44bEkm23xAJpWLksvseH55Ng5MOVJtAFz7x5vw77au32N7OJ6WmY3LZ2g_O8mRs6Mj4X55-OAvD7B28msJne7pXjDCOWGbMwIegVGBOPa0S6Mr0Fukduxmd1BmwQnafuexd3M/s1600-h/Buddha+detail+1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334502156665454738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1xrmvU44bEkm23xAJpWLksvseH55Ng5MOVJtAFz7x5vw77au32N7OJ6WmY3LZ2g_O8mRs6Mj4X55-OAvD7B28msJne7pXjDCOWGbMwIegVGBOPa0S6Mr0Fukduxmd1BmwQnafuexd3M/s400/Buddha+detail+1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 347px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The detail that went into this tattoo and the vibrancy of the color is phenomenal. Take a closer loom at the lotus at the bottom of the tattoo:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52dpq1llN9F8PwhsJFjk7lbRJaSPSu9k3nYMMYVpkSLy0iL-9k2ntxFptQy1tf-d4XLfvKXjCmQYUfuFzipxK2uOP8t0BOe8-MDslcEs_-04c4h9BDeWHlN2Njq_R3xVuP1bWVnPYakk/s1600-h/Buddha+detail+2+-+lotus.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334502508286563426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52dpq1llN9F8PwhsJFjk7lbRJaSPSu9k3nYMMYVpkSLy0iL-9k2ntxFptQy1tf-d4XLfvKXjCmQYUfuFzipxK2uOP8t0BOe8-MDslcEs_-04c4h9BDeWHlN2Njq_R3xVuP1bWVnPYakk/s400/Buddha+detail+2+-+lotus.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 246px;" /></a><br />Equally incredible is the detailed line work, as is evidence in the eyebrows and the leaves of the tree in the background:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLdpgjLu4_WMiD2VUpBfqWhjUY4uu8tALRci6DTetRJ-2XwmWylHJwJ6Mj7hq04siQjaMg1djVANWOyt3a7ZwYqCI0QHIjcDdew_nt0ChQBfFhIcYAHRBk5j5rtfhwL8afFst44Xjof4/s1600-h/Buddha+detail+3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334502065064756194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLdpgjLu4_WMiD2VUpBfqWhjUY4uu8tALRci6DTetRJ-2XwmWylHJwJ6Mj7hq04siQjaMg1djVANWOyt3a7ZwYqCI0QHIjcDdew_nt0ChQBfFhIcYAHRBk5j5rtfhwL8afFst44Xjof4/s400/Buddha+detail+3.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 226px;" /></a><br />This amazing tattoo was inked by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/dezmoon">Dez Mooney</a> at <a href="http://www.whitelotustattoos.com/">The White Lotus Tattoo & Art Gallery</a> in Toms River.<br /><br />This is definitely one of my favorite tattoos that I have seen in nearly two years of Tattoosday posts.<br /><br />I want to thank Kat for sharing her amazing work with us here at Tattoosday.<br /><br />If you head over to the <a href="http://www.myspace.com/theinkedupangels">Inked Up Angels MySpace Page</a>, you can not only see more of Kat's tattoos (including shots of the Buddha in progress), but you can catch glimpses of some additional work on a number of other tattooed women.

Inked Up Angels: Part 2, Kat's Incredible Buddha

Last Friday, I featured a tattoo from one of two women I met in Penn Station. They both are part of a group called Inked Up Angels . I had f...

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Inked Up Angels: Part 1, Pink's X-Men

Back in April, I ran into two young ladies in Penn Station. Both were significantly tattooed and I was delighted when they agreed to talk to me and allowed me to snap a few photos.<br /><br />In order to give each woman her proper due, I'll start with "Pink", who showed me her tattoo first.<br /><br />Actually, she was already showing her tattoos. With a full leg sleeve and an estimated eleven pieces in all (approximately), she already had a lot of ink on full display.<br /><br />She showed me her right bicep to exhibit the following piece in progress:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBcIELphtHQwPWyy59MtAuEGSt02hNvUPv3xv7N7gGE7i8FYhnRIPgjyFA8V9TklFB5mNO7RSydd-Kq_IKIMXAJjp5qr0W-M6kjViGPzcSDP02cYxbkdX7uWlgIAoQryWtOsYtXu3nj4/s1600-h/xmen.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333042248937791810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBcIELphtHQwPWyy59MtAuEGSt02hNvUPv3xv7N7gGE7i8FYhnRIPgjyFA8V9TklFB5mNO7RSydd-Kq_IKIMXAJjp5qr0W-M6kjViGPzcSDP02cYxbkdX7uWlgIAoQryWtOsYtXu3nj4/s400/xmen.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Pink advised me that this is a tattoo of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambit_%28comics%29">Gambit</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogue_%28comics%29">Rogue</a>. Shwoing my ignorance, I questioned who they were, assuming they were characters from a comic. I was in the right neighborhood, as they are characters from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-Men">X-Men</a>.<br /><br />This piece was tattooed by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/fatpatnj">Pat Sheridan</a> at <a href="http://www.whitelotustattoos.com/">The White Lotus Tattoo & Art Gallery</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toms_River,_New_Jersey">Toms River</a>, New Jersey.<br /><br />As it turns out, both Pink and her friend Kat are part of a group called <a href="http://www.myspace.com/theinkedupangels">The Inked Up Angels</a> (their MySpace page is <a href="http://www.myspace.com/theinkedupangels">here</a>). The Inked Up Angels can best be described as a gathering of young ladies with tattoos who model, but without the nudity of the <a href="http://suicidegirls.com/">Suicide Girls</a>.<br /><br />If you head over to their MySpace page and root around the photos section, you'll see more pictures of Pink, including some cool shots where her other tattoos are viewable.<br /><br />And, stay tuned for part two of this post, where Pink's friend Kat unveils what I can safely say is one of the most amazing tattoos I've ever had the pleasure to capture for Tattoosday.<br /><br />Thanks again to Pink for sharing her work with us here!

Inked Up Angels: Part 1, Pink's X-Men

Back in April, I ran into two young ladies in Penn Station. Both were significantly tattooed and I was delighted when they agreed to talk to...

Read more »