Melanie's Phoenix Helps Her Rise Above

I met Melanie in Penn Station and had to stop her to ask about this colorful phoenix on her back:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNISU8_bQuS09WXYgJ0blUA_IBMVYdI1l76GnMpkerSGpl5_4ehKI0gp7LQ-vcFCTjbfTDsQ429I_zUdd9wgZNhDYHN_kweLTWP7OrDVdq5CS9UGSpFDmml-UGnFmTSMiKQ08-YIP/s1600/Melanie+Phoenix+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNISU8_bQuS09WXYgJ0blUA_IBMVYdI1l76GnMpkerSGpl5_4ehKI0gp7LQ-vcFCTjbfTDsQ429I_zUdd9wgZNhDYHN_kweLTWP7OrDVdq5CS9UGSpFDmml-UGnFmTSMiKQ08-YIP/s400/Melanie+Phoenix+wm.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><br />She originally had just the Yin and Yang tattoo, but expanded the work to include the legendary bird rising through the ashes. To Melanie, this represents being "better and stronger" after picking up the pieces from life's challenges, overcoming difficulties and rising above everything.<br /><br />The tattoo was inked by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/houseof1000tattoosnj">Rick Schreck</a> at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Middlesex-NJ/HOUSE-OF-1000-TATTOOS/60057472825">House of 1000 Tattoos</a> in Middlesex, New Jersey.<br /><br />Thanks to Melanie for sharing her cool phoenix tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Melanie's Phoenix Helps Her Rise Above

I met Melanie in Penn Station and had to stop her to ask about this colorful phoenix on her back: She originally had just the Yin and Yang t...

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Tattoosday Goes to Hawai'i - Honu Thursday

One of the most popular symbols in modern Polynesian tattoo is the green sea turtle, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_turtle">honu</a>, as it is known in Hawaiian.<br /><br />I saw a lot of honu tattoos while I was in Hawai'i, but I didn't snap any photos of them until my last day on Oahu, when I was wrapping up my trip with a last minute stop at <a href="http://www.pearlridgeonline.com/">Pearlridge</a>. More specifically, I was at the Pearlridge Longs Drug Store, a great place to stock up on chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, Kona coffee, and other tasty local snacks that are hard to find on the mainland.<br /><br />While wandering the aisles, I spotted not one, but two honu-adorned locals, who were kind enough to share their tattoos with me.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDDa7RqpEAi7luwO5UtYU0Skki131DmFzu43thvUugr8liT0cOXX1oFumwlvQNsCoS9rNyty6HP5jwvyrwvXFjCiRJHWOwDVVlSoavKMcxU_RGuEAT19qer7-wMARv-gs6ADKJEzr/s1600/4+honu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDDa7RqpEAi7luwO5UtYU0Skki131DmFzu43thvUugr8liT0cOXX1oFumwlvQNsCoS9rNyty6HP5jwvyrwvXFjCiRJHWOwDVVlSoavKMcxU_RGuEAT19qer7-wMARv-gs6ADKJEzr/s640/4+honu.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><br /><br />First was Ash, who didn't say much about the four honu on his left leg, other than the fact that he has "always loved turtles," and that his brother was the artist who did the tattoos.<br /><br />Next was Chantel, who has this lovely tattoo on her upper back:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWjBC7wBZFIi3B3Z5-cTmXWCHD2V2MsWhiIx0Mr1tW90jWIGDNnzimCcfbsoa-Il_Td3OHAzEZQJ9bHApy9dRlukBlYe30Xl6jHbIR8xAKDklldhzquOxYN5JFdmBzOcWH1RMzDAi/s1600/Honu+sticker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWjBC7wBZFIi3B3Z5-cTmXWCHD2V2MsWhiIx0Mr1tW90jWIGDNnzimCcfbsoa-Il_Td3OHAzEZQJ9bHApy9dRlukBlYe30Xl6jHbIR8xAKDklldhzquOxYN5JFdmBzOcWH1RMzDAi/s400/Honu+sticker.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><br />This not only has the honu element, but also has a floral aspect, along with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_and_yang">Yin and Yang</a> design.<br /><br />When I asked her where the design came from, she laughed and said she had seen it on a sticker plastered to the back of a car. She liked it so much, she got some paper, traced it, and brought it into a shop called <a href="http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Big.Fat.Tatts.808-843-2644">Big Fat Tatts</a>, where the artist sketched it and cleaned up the lines.<br /><br />Thanks both to Ash and Chantel, for finally getting me my photos of honu tattoos, just a few hours before returning to New York.

Tattoosday Goes to Hawai'i - Honu Thursday

One of the most popular symbols in modern Polynesian tattoo is the green sea turtle, or honu , as it is known in Hawaiian. I saw a lot of ho...

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J.R.'s Five Elements

At the end of August, I spent a couple of minutes on the R train with J.R., who has quite a few tattoos. I didn't have time to take notes, just photos, and I hoped that she would e-mail me with all the details of her work. Fortunately, she did. So, what follows is her explanation of the tattoos, with a little bit of friendly editing.<br /><blockquote><br /><div>"My left arm? Dedicated to the five elements...as I see them to be. Earth, Air, Water, Fire and Friendship.</div><div><br /><br /></div><div>The ants (done by <a href="http://www.hiddenhandtattoo.com/artist.aspx?perid=79695b82-e9c6-43e1-89fa-f38d85857a33">Roni</a> from <a href="http://www.hiddenhandtattoo.com/">Hidden Hand Tattoo</a> in Seattle) represent Earth.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYK4Q6PDbSw6GAfe-0tIZQGD1AiOx0CJORbEm7kdvR0GvH6DhsR4RjjgS-J7Fko4R1dJjoY5H-j_xQ70T0G-dMkKZ-SrvQwX7GUkqOoQh3ScFMQXGD3pHAWPHIwuropGCJaRRjIvSc5As/s1600-h/Ants.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386152258672846386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYK4Q6PDbSw6GAfe-0tIZQGD1AiOx0CJORbEm7kdvR0GvH6DhsR4RjjgS-J7Fko4R1dJjoY5H-j_xQ70T0G-dMkKZ-SrvQwX7GUkqOoQh3ScFMQXGD3pHAWPHIwuropGCJaRRjIvSc5As/s400/Ants.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Ants are the closest social structure to mirror humans. They have no real strength individually, but together can achieve so much. As a human, I feel it is destined to feel lonely and when I got the tattoo, I came to terms with that and even found beauty in it. I want to feel less like an ant in the sense that there is something that I'm "supposed" to do and if I don't do it I'll be punished or kicked out of the colony, so to say. I want to feel more that there is a greater purpose for my life (or at least one that reflects me as an individual and not what society tells me to be) and that with the help of others I can realize that to it's fullest potential. </div><div><br /><br />The clouds and birds (done by <a href="http://www.hiddenhandtattoo.com/artist.aspx?perid=97f71dbf-fc94-40a0-a43e-5d78ecc0e47a">Jeff Cornell</a> owner/artist at Hidden Hand Tattoo) represent Air.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasza5b1bDmSqmmqSrQC-49kY5f5sI9PaGp1o51jwpWXqJkmNz0h0QRu_JxLhQjC_yPAFCZGjm44_nNpRsoqr5oQnK1wo3c7K89C3EkSe1edMEmHZSYJ9bj8T9nhdZXvd6SB83LabQnWU/s1600-h/birdonthewire.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386152158629156306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasza5b1bDmSqmmqSrQC-49kY5f5sI9PaGp1o51jwpWXqJkmNz0h0QRu_JxLhQjC_yPAFCZGjm44_nNpRsoqr5oQnK1wo3c7K89C3EkSe1edMEmHZSYJ9bj8T9nhdZXvd6SB83LabQnWU/s400/birdonthewire.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />There is a <a href="http://www.leonard-cohen.com/">Leonard Cohen</a> song called "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_on_the_Wire">Bird on the Wire</a>" that I think is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. I feel the lyrics of the song so deeply and feel that they express such a core sense of who I am. Always, trying to be free. I aspire to someday be free instead of always trying and the tattoo is an attempt to remind myself that the feeling of trying is also a choice just as easy as the feeling of being free is a choice. The past tense nature of the words remind me to be light and free as a bird...<br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Mjem3G_QsKA&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Mjem3G_QsKA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />The blue tattoo on my inner arm (done by a girl in her apartment 10 years ago and I can't even remember her name) represents Water.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr05ZGbFlDvhPeQtMTUYEpsGZidKk-gD8TJRT5ZslibWt0zs84c27oB1D8xFOD3bqYzgF9MvV6gLj07spn9xD7fW5st_cbLypA1EfrTSccTO_C2pvDXAcp9xtFXq9wpCRsIlWrfpRWB6s/s1600-h/water+rev.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386155640928106914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr05ZGbFlDvhPeQtMTUYEpsGZidKk-gD8TJRT5ZslibWt0zs84c27oB1D8xFOD3bqYzgF9MvV6gLj07spn9xD7fW5st_cbLypA1EfrTSccTO_C2pvDXAcp9xtFXq9wpCRsIlWrfpRWB6s/s400/water+rev.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 304px;" /></a><br />It is a play on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_and_yang">yin and yang</a> as well as a the symbol for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer_%28astrology%29">Cancer</a>, which is my astrological moon sign. Cancer is ruled by the moon and your moon signs make up your emotional nature. So, I feel this sign very strongly and luckily balances my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_%28astrology%29">Leo</a> sun sign which I will get to more later. The symbol has stars instead of circles like a traditional yin yang because I wanted it to represent the universe within myself versus me questioning the universe around me. I got the box around it to express the feeling of being limited due to the human mind. I wanted to remind myself that any limitations are just an illusion and the healthy balance is one in which I'm learning from my experiences but also pushing my own boundaries.</div><div><br /></div><div>The red and orange tattoo on my outer arm was done by the same forgotten artist though I will mention I was one of her first clients and that she was the perfect person for the job due to her own self-exploratory nature. She provided a healing space in which I was able to have an out of body experience.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCabiJCFJqwEvc9Easmt6cjpsFK0Yc122QMZ6ESQuYQrc6cQPr8SF9W4NJxK9fU0j0mZ33k2-FQ_nArdVOvoi6w7YVa6YME-k6_KXUQAaBD7m77IlkQ3eEuHHRIfcbsBC-70lUw5PzELU/s1600-h/Sun.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386152048922134530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCabiJCFJqwEvc9Easmt6cjpsFK0Yc122QMZ6ESQuYQrc6cQPr8SF9W4NJxK9fU0j0mZ33k2-FQ_nArdVOvoi6w7YVa6YME-k6_KXUQAaBD7m77IlkQ3eEuHHRIfcbsBC-70lUw5PzELU/s400/Sun.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 337px;" /></a><br />The tattoo represents Fire. It captures my before mentioned fire sign of Leo, which is ruled by the sun. It is also Buddhist themed using a Tibetan mantra <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om_mani_padme_hum">Om Mani Padme Hum</a> which roughly translates to "the jewel is in the lotus," which to me is a beautiful way to live life. The lotus roots reach far into the muck and swamp but emerge with a beautiful flower on top. The tattoo is an attempt to capture the notion of living in the world yet being separate from it, as to not get burned or be consumed by it. The circle in the tattoo represents the sun and myself and the red is the part of myself that struggles to find my way in the world.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9Rxl1OWQrM83rcDUEqiq_PsfbOomtVF3L5L2qjiBteYpifAt_lm43lgz06jJ0-bv6YFhhfpvJTYchLrvePZKu9gbaEWn-FkyHci4Vr1jnSrEk2Z9hg7g7rGFZls84Il5fVpRJPNQRgc/s1600-h/beehive.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386151796342501714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9Rxl1OWQrM83rcDUEqiq_PsfbOomtVF3L5L2qjiBteYpifAt_lm43lgz06jJ0-bv6YFhhfpvJTYchLrvePZKu9gbaEWn-FkyHci4Vr1jnSrEk2Z9hg7g7rGFZls84Il5fVpRJPNQRgc/s400/beehive.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The beehive (done by <a href="http://www.louisbarak.com/">Louis Barak</a> here in NYC) is a tribute to Emer and Naomi, two best friends of mine, and the tattoo as a whole captures what I consider to be the fifth element, Friendship...It bears the lyrics of <a href="http://www.thebeatles.com/">The Beatles</a>' "<a href="http://www.thebeatles.com/#/songs/With_A_Little_Help_From_My">With a Little Help from My Friends.</a>" We lived together in Seattle and called our lovely house the Beehive. We used to listen to The Beatles A LOT...though now I'm more of a <a href="http://www.rollingstones.com/home.php">Stones</a> fan.<br /><br />There are two bees buzzing to represent them<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIn312Z7CwhIvoTbQKKHsUviKH_wEd0zwF9mT_T3dxxRven-pJuTKOGz3XWW5PKCYQanHhjUb2eSWWGyBrZQnHvjs5Cr9GGljMQZC6iCXhUb4UlqJ_0RgfCYvvoelsTnt0U7Rcn_l4O04/s1600-h/Forgetmenots.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386151705047008322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIn312Z7CwhIvoTbQKKHsUviKH_wEd0zwF9mT_T3dxxRven-pJuTKOGz3XWW5PKCYQanHhjUb2eSWWGyBrZQnHvjs5Cr9GGljMQZC6iCXhUb4UlqJ_0RgfCYvvoelsTnt0U7Rcn_l4O04/s400/Forgetmenots.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 391px;" /></a><br />and the three <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forget-me-not">forget-me-not</a> flowers represent each of us. Emer and Naomi have known me the longest and have seen me through thick and thin. They mean the world to me and I love them both like sisters. I know in my heart that we will know each other forever."</div></blockquote><div> </div><div><br /></div>A big thanks to J.R. for sharing her tattoos with me on the subway and then writing so eloquently about them for us to read here on Tattoosday!

J.R.'s Five Elements

At the end of August, I spent a couple of minutes on the R train with J.R., who has quite a few tattoos. I didn't have time to take note...

Read more »

Jenny's Interpretation of Yin and Yang

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WGrOWOEc_P5XnqBMY8zfYMV1JoqyhvhbCx50nlez-F9RK9fwxB8Bk_nsY0xe6YGgSljjAWwYrfdTCyGhs5Wnpo4A4Qjw5cDzwneU0gDmUvs47rDmmfYj5dC4dDdlqE0blJdVXXhKU-f7/s1600-h/100_7563.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210558475824225746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WGrOWOEc_P5XnqBMY8zfYMV1JoqyhvhbCx50nlez-F9RK9fwxB8Bk_nsY0xe6YGgSljjAWwYrfdTCyGhs5Wnpo4A4Qjw5cDzwneU0gDmUvs47rDmmfYj5dC4dDdlqE0blJdVXXhKU-f7/s400/100_7563.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />I was camera-less on Sunday when I breezed through day 2 of the <a href="http://www.moccany.org/artfest-main.html">Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MoCCA) 2008 Art Festival</a>. The whole time I kept thinking wow, cool, awesome, as I beheld the expectedly fantastic body art on multitudes of comic artists, fans, and publishers.<br /><br />As fate would have it, two days later I ran into <a href="http://www.jennyillustration.com/jennydevildoll/">Jenny</a>, who was in attendance at the same event.<br /><br />I spotted the above piece, and when we started talking, and she mentioned her comic, <a href="http://www.toonegative.com/">Too Negative</a>, did I think to ask her if she was at the <a href="http://www.moccany.org/">MoCCA</a> event.<br /><br />This tattoo was designed by Jenny and inked by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie_Crumb">Sophie Crumb</a> (daughter of the legendary master of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_comix">comix</a> <a href="http://rcrumb.com/artgallery.html">R. Crumb</a> and <a href="http://rcrumb.com/artgallery.html">Aline Kominsky-Crumb</a>), when she was apprenticing at Suerte Studios, in Brooklyn. Sophie has moved on and <a href="http://www.adamsuerte.com/">Adam Suerte</a> moved <a href="http://www.myspace.com/brooklyntattoo">his shop</a> (Brooklyn Tattoo) from State Street to Smith.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OjisDy-g1NNSRnfsqq99VlqHQarcg9o6N3fSYMQCzojNw4cbGQC9DmGryoJ6FTkZRHhs8H2PAoGT8x7FquPvnAF4OfgTbfC5emx0qYnE99dGOcTFAf5SZeXNqqldnBLcq1ce5YT01R9H/s1600-h/600px-Yin_and_Yang.svg.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211316000375819810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OjisDy-g1NNSRnfsqq99VlqHQarcg9o6N3fSYMQCzojNw4cbGQC9DmGryoJ6FTkZRHhs8H2PAoGT8x7FquPvnAF4OfgTbfC5emx0qYnE99dGOcTFAf5SZeXNqqldnBLcq1ce5YT01R9H/s200/600px-Yin_and_Yang.svg.png" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_yang">yin and yang</a> symbols, a staple in Chinese philosophy, are popular emblems for countless people, and Jenny's design infuses the recognizable art with her own dark spin.<br /><br />The circles in the standard yin and yang have been replaced with X's, a nod to one of her main characters in her comic, whose eyebrows are represented with a set of X's, as Jenny elaborated, "like a Manson girl who got over-zealous".<br /><br />The flames surrounding the symbol refer to the devils that populate her comic. The blood dripping down is a nice touch, as well, definitely heightening the tension between Jenny's vision and the popular interpretation of the <span style="font-style: italic;">yin and yang</span> harmony.<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>Jenny's work is dark and twisted, and her influence on a design often associated with peace and balance, is unsettling and perfectly tailored to her artistic style.<br /><br />Be sure to check out Jenny's site <a href="http://www.jennyillustration.com/jennydevildoll/">here</a>. Her work <a href="http://www.toonegative.com/Homepage.htm"><span style="font-style: italic;">Too Negative</span></a> appears in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Comix</span> section.<br /><br />Thanks to Jenny for pausing during lunch on a blisteringly hot day to share her ink here on Tattoosday.

Jenny's Interpretation of Yin and Yang

I was camera-less on Sunday when I breezed through day 2 of the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MoCCA) 2008 Art Festival . The whole time I...

Read more »