Tattoosday (A Tattoo Blog): cherry blossoms

Showing posts with label cherry blossoms. Show all posts

Kimberly's Flowering Sugar Skull

It may be 9 degrees today in New York, but I'm thinking about last July, when I was basking in the warmth of the <a href="http://poetrysocietyny.org/new-york-city-poetry-festival/nycpf-2013/">New York City Poetry Festival</a> on <a href="http://www.govisland.com/html/visit/directions.shtml">Governor's Island</a>.<br /><br />And inkspotting, of course!<br /><br />I met a woman named Kimberly, who shared this sugar skull:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8mcCA2LUyAVInuZD1vdb2tZwOFw5bJCi7G2_ouwTzH8i4B81m5qhOhaqaL3pRKQ_D_Lt85rNvbOspG9etPT0rD4n6XcXvsewZ5iUwr8y5fyYa-x6lILBKhjmQX5vRr7Ov-0-wdowb7Q/s1600/sarah+sugar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8mcCA2LUyAVInuZD1vdb2tZwOFw5bJCi7G2_ouwTzH8i4B81m5qhOhaqaL3pRKQ_D_Lt85rNvbOspG9etPT0rD4n6XcXvsewZ5iUwr8y5fyYa-x6lILBKhjmQX5vRr7Ov-0-wdowb7Q/s1600/sarah+sugar.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><br />Kimberly got this about six years ago at <a href="http://www.addictionink.com/">Addiction Ink</a> in the East Village.<br /><br />There's a lot of symbolism in this piece, and Kimberly elaborated for me:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The flowers in the eye are for my grandmother, and then every flower around the edge is a favorite flower of a female member of my family. Left eye is a rose, right eye is a mum, pink one is prairie rose, gerber daisy , cherry blossom, daisy, and then roses [at the bottom]."</span></blockquote>"What's the significance of the gold tooth?" I asked.<br /><br />Kimberly laughed, "I really liked it - if I really want to mess with somebody, I say it's how many men I've killed!"<br /><br />This is one of four tattoos that she has.<br /><br />Thanks to Kimberly for sharing this great tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><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 ©2014 Tattoosday.</span></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-39bf6e68-71a5-f200-9d7a-2e25d2c73d0d"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; 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="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: underline; 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><br />

Kimberly's Flowering Sugar Skull

It may be 9 degrees today in New York, but I'm thinking about last July, when I was basking in the warmth of the New York City Poetry Fe...

3:42 AM

Carlos Shares a Buddha Tattoo (NYC Tattoo Convention)

I met Carlos at the <a href="http://www.nyctattooconvention.com/">New York City Tattoo Convention</a> earlier this month, and he shared this great tattoo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxHRd13muDtnDiigAl04Uv88ShAklIULRfqPfsoVlkVJmjbz8OYnW0w_NYFswEeWhvL6ioWOX5z2YZ2HJ-he9p4optgVPg1pi8HAeGTwLoCDBZ7uHMxTHNGZyIBy-K4uX-oeJGibxO34/w341-h659-no/IMG_0977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxHRd13muDtnDiigAl04Uv88ShAklIULRfqPfsoVlkVJmjbz8OYnW0w_NYFswEeWhvL6ioWOX5z2YZ2HJ-he9p4optgVPg1pi8HAeGTwLoCDBZ7uHMxTHNGZyIBy-K4uX-oeJGibxO34/w341-h659-no/IMG_0977.JPG" /></a></div><br />Carlos told me that this tattoo was inspired by his appreciation of the Buddhist way of thinking.<br /><br />It's a great black and gray piece, with that extra pop from the color from the cherry blossoms.<br /><br />He credited <a href="http://monkeymojo.com/">Needles</a> at <a href="http://eastsideinktattoo.com/">East Side Ink</a> in New York City. Needles' work has previously appeared on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2013/05/head-cross-by-needles.html">here</a> and <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2012/09/marshalls-vesalius-tattoo.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Carlos for sharing his tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><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><b id="docs-internal-guid-388b3fbd-f08f-d08f-2828-85344d99c38b" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><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></b><br /><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><br />

Carlos Shares a Buddha Tattoo (NYC Tattoo Convention)

I met Carlos at the New York City Tattoo Convention earlier this month, and he shared this great tattoo: Carlos told me that this tattoo wa...

6:53 AM

Chris and His Koi (at the NYC Tattoo Convention)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7fdVLRA60L2S7TyhDzxISarU_H3qMkicMm-v9TiXJm2nb5HZtuXoftV9iZ7iq6hvjtarrVLSxqjR-e1vWB3eYkHIP1BVvEElSv4oQYU7vZNL8GiA5lYq_Pxx7LXJCppzVW8cq55dipw/w297-h659-no/IMG_0970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7fdVLRA60L2S7TyhDzxISarU_H3qMkicMm-v9TiXJm2nb5HZtuXoftV9iZ7iq6hvjtarrVLSxqjR-e1vWB3eYkHIP1BVvEElSv4oQYU7vZNL8GiA5lYq_Pxx7LXJCppzVW8cq55dipw/w297-h659-no/IMG_0970.JPG" /></a></div><br />I'll be honest, koi tattoos are pretty popular, so I don't often post photos of them. But, every once in a while, I see an exceptional one, and feel compelled to share it here.<br /><br />The photo above is of a stunning koi tattoo, courtesy of a guy named Chris, who I met last week at the <a href="http://www.nyctattooconvention.com/">NYC Tattoo Convention</a>.<br /><br />It's an exceptionally well-done piece, with the traditional Japanese carp, or <i>koi</i>, swimming upstream, along with a lotus flower at the bottom and cherry blossoms at the top. Note also the way water and movement is skillfully represented.<br /><br />Chris credited <a href="http://jeremymillertattoo.com/about/">Jeremy Miller</a> from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/screaminink">Screamin' Ink Tattoo</a> in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Note: this is a different Jeremy Miller than the one who competed on the first season of<i> Ink Master</i>.<br /><br />I usually see something spectacular from the talented crew at Screamin' Ink every year at the convention, all of which can be seen in previous posts with their shop tagged <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Screamin%27%20Ink%20Tattoo%20and%20Body%20Piercing">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Chris for sharing this great sleeve 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-388b3fbd-dcc5-2d23-2137-f0f054125abb"><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>

Chris and His Koi (at the NYC Tattoo Convention)

I'll be honest, koi tattoos are pretty popular, so I don't often post photos of them. But, every once in a while, I see an exception...

10:41 AM

Tattoosday Goes to L.A. - Max's First Tattoo for Mom

On my way back to the airport last week, my father and I had lunch at <a href="http://www.lasirenagrill.com/ElSegundo/">La Sirena Grill</a> in El Segundo.<br /><br />The meal was delicious, and I'll certainly be raving about their spicy BBQ duck tamale for quite some time.<br /><br />As an added bonus, our waiter, Max, had plenty of visible tattoos and, even better, he shared one with me to post here on Tattoosday:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbX7mwRTLy2jEF8rTR9LMEtxJBrurg7HAdLAQjw4sIHmWpaK9nJgxZqt1zStbH07AuVgEh1malrejA6644OF9CYI9v_qWKTTcw9wZK7eDkoviXRx5uH8X-pKMExngeV0UlYlPLiaPFmYk/s615/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbX7mwRTLy2jEF8rTR9LMEtxJBrurg7HAdLAQjw4sIHmWpaK9nJgxZqt1zStbH07AuVgEh1malrejA6644OF9CYI9v_qWKTTcw9wZK7eDkoviXRx5uH8X-pKMExngeV0UlYlPLiaPFmYk/s640/photo.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><br />Max explained that this was his first tattoo and he went big in honor of his mother, who is a cancer survivor. BCB in the banner are her initials, and the word "<a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/l%C3%A1idir">Láidir</a>" is Gaelic for "strong".<br /><br />This tattoo was done by <a href="http://babyraytattoos.com/Home_Page.html">Baby Ray</a> at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bob-Charlie-Roberts-Spotlight-Tattoo/182583588460619?fref=ts">Bob & Charlie Roberts' Spotlight Tattoo</a> on Melrose in Los Angeles.<br /><br />Thanks to Max for sharing his tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.2057843606453389" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2013 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 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/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: initial; 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></b>

Tattoosday Goes to L.A. - Max's First Tattoo for Mom

On my way back to the airport last week, my father and I had lunch at La Sirena Grill in El Segundo. The meal was delicious, and I'll c...

9:51 AM

Yuiko's Cherry Blossoms Ring in a New Year

As an old year ends, and a new year begins, let's celebrate with this photo of Yuiko's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_blossom">cherry blossoms:</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPgwUnfMnDkuHeERsdIqkXQqbUjjpfe3ttVezW-w7X7Vs7EOPiS6xdRbeAy7lRypSxROM6dN_l_cxBbTHOQOZXUOOr4c8VCjH46kOEAztbHOvv1gbIH5g7WwszeEIdvNPDmU1MYaS68s/s614/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPgwUnfMnDkuHeERsdIqkXQqbUjjpfe3ttVezW-w7X7Vs7EOPiS6xdRbeAy7lRypSxROM6dN_l_cxBbTHOQOZXUOOr4c8VCjH46kOEAztbHOvv1gbIH5g7WwszeEIdvNPDmU1MYaS68s/s640/photo.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />I met Yuiko at the <a href="http://brooklynlyceum.com/">Brooklyn Lyceum</a> over the summer.<br /><br />She was sitting a couple rows ahead of me during a performance of <a href="http://pipertheatre.org/">Piper Theater's</a> <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiddler_on_the_Roof">Fiddler on the Roof</a>.</i><br /><i><br /></i>After the show, we chatted about her work and she later e-mailed me more information about the work, also sending me a clearer, "fresher" photo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOj8hSnW_1C5zb_lfM1C_U0JeebgKls4g5lpWWyLHdC1emITutkjssNWpQd5bqFIXNfeFmbmrGDHXz-zZGvVF1YZ3XBMJIJOzv0nao698DX0Imtm04v8zX0zaurvtwQgp8R8ypV8JmGs/s373/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOj8hSnW_1C5zb_lfM1C_U0JeebgKls4g5lpWWyLHdC1emITutkjssNWpQd5bqFIXNfeFmbmrGDHXz-zZGvVF1YZ3XBMJIJOzv0nao698DX0Imtm04v8zX0zaurvtwQgp8R8ypV8JmGs/s400/photo.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><br />Yuiko credited this work to <a href="http://www.mytats.com/kohei.htm">Kohei Toyama</a>, an L.A.-based artist she met at the NYC Tattoo Convention a few years back.<br /><br />I also snapped this shot of the lotus tattoo on the back of her neck:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWKmOAGtC5NXqLNJqCJJYtqUwWqLjmxvMoCrgA-sTKLb14QvMfyLaj4ru5Yni1ZIR5XeaxtuEOfMAZuvvD72kHlwYZ0EbyGmMKVt59p8TRjleVPcLpMq2YP6WRGCOk6FHn7_5bfHKeMo/s615/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWKmOAGtC5NXqLNJqCJJYtqUwWqLjmxvMoCrgA-sTKLb14QvMfyLaj4ru5Yni1ZIR5XeaxtuEOfMAZuvvD72kHlwYZ0EbyGmMKVt59p8TRjleVPcLpMq2YP6WRGCOk6FHn7_5bfHKeMo/s320/photo.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><br />As we move from one year to the next, let's pause and remember to cherish every moment, because life's beauty, like the cherry blossom, is fleeting.<br /><br />Thanks to Yuiko for sharing her beautiful tattoos with us here on Tattoosday, and a happy new year to all of our contributors and readers!<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.8359710872173309" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><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 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/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: initial; 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></b>

Yuiko's Cherry Blossoms Ring in a New Year

As an old year ends, and a new year begins, let's celebrate with this photo of Yuiko's cherry blossoms: I met Yuiko at the Brooklyn ...

1:02 PM

Yukio's Cherry Blossoms Ring in a New Year

As an old year ends, and a new year begins, let's celebrate with this photo of Yukio's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_blossom">cherry blossoms:</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPgwUnfMnDkuHeERsdIqkXQqbUjjpfe3ttVezW-w7X7Vs7EOPiS6xdRbeAy7lRypSxROM6dN_l_cxBbTHOQOZXUOOr4c8VCjH46kOEAztbHOvv1gbIH5g7WwszeEIdvNPDmU1MYaS68s/s614/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPgwUnfMnDkuHeERsdIqkXQqbUjjpfe3ttVezW-w7X7Vs7EOPiS6xdRbeAy7lRypSxROM6dN_l_cxBbTHOQOZXUOOr4c8VCjH46kOEAztbHOvv1gbIH5g7WwszeEIdvNPDmU1MYaS68s/s640/photo.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />I met Yukio at the <a href="http://brooklynlyceum.com/">Brooklyn Lyceum</a> over the summer.<br /><br />She was sitting a couple rows ahead of me during a performance of <a href="http://pipertheatre.org/">Piper Theater's</a> <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiddler_on_the_Roof">Fiddler on the Roof</a>.</i><br /><i><br /></i>After the show, we chatted about her work and she later e-mailed me more information about the work, also sending me a clearer, "fresher" photo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOj8hSnW_1C5zb_lfM1C_U0JeebgKls4g5lpWWyLHdC1emITutkjssNWpQd5bqFIXNfeFmbmrGDHXz-zZGvVF1YZ3XBMJIJOzv0nao698DX0Imtm04v8zX0zaurvtwQgp8R8ypV8JmGs/s373/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOj8hSnW_1C5zb_lfM1C_U0JeebgKls4g5lpWWyLHdC1emITutkjssNWpQd5bqFIXNfeFmbmrGDHXz-zZGvVF1YZ3XBMJIJOzv0nao698DX0Imtm04v8zX0zaurvtwQgp8R8ypV8JmGs/s400/photo.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><br />Yukio credited this work to <a href="http://www.mytats.com/kohei.htm">Kohei Toyama</a>, an L.A.-based artist she met at the NYC Tattoo Convention a few years back.<br /><br />I also snapped this shot of the lotus tattoo on the back of her neck:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWKmOAGtC5NXqLNJqCJJYtqUwWqLjmxvMoCrgA-sTKLb14QvMfyLaj4ru5Yni1ZIR5XeaxtuEOfMAZuvvD72kHlwYZ0EbyGmMKVt59p8TRjleVPcLpMq2YP6WRGCOk6FHn7_5bfHKeMo/s615/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWKmOAGtC5NXqLNJqCJJYtqUwWqLjmxvMoCrgA-sTKLb14QvMfyLaj4ru5Yni1ZIR5XeaxtuEOfMAZuvvD72kHlwYZ0EbyGmMKVt59p8TRjleVPcLpMq2YP6WRGCOk6FHn7_5bfHKeMo/s320/photo.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><br />As we move from one year to the next, let's pause and remember to cherish every moment, because life's beauty, like the cherry blossom, is fleeting.<br /><br />Thanks to Yukio for sharing her beautiful tattoos with us here on Tattoosday, and a happy new year to all of our contributors and readers!<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.8359710872173309" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><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 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/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: initial; 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></b>

Yukio's Cherry Blossoms Ring in a New Year

As an old year ends, and a new year begins, let's celebrate with this photo of Yukio's cherry blossoms: I met Yukio at the Brooklyn ...

12:47 PM

A Brazilian Rooster Goes Shopping in Manhattan

Last month, while shopping at Marshall's on 6th Avenue in Manhattan, I spotted a woman with this cool tattoo on her right arm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJYtmZxrZoV8hnYiCSqf34L8MQmI9tBTUP4cUOlHeM-rRuvpp9YZI5YLfovNUeOe0LQTCqsN_5IQkp5tli5jkHS4F6Q9Rg4fVljtmrmiYB3HcnguHBtrZPntGMvU9aeBewTcnLKTMQd4/s615/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJYtmZxrZoV8hnYiCSqf34L8MQmI9tBTUP4cUOlHeM-rRuvpp9YZI5YLfovNUeOe0LQTCqsN_5IQkp5tli5jkHS4F6Q9Rg4fVljtmrmiYB3HcnguHBtrZPntGMvU9aeBewTcnLKTMQd4/s640/photo.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><br />This Japanese-style rooster, accompanied with cherry blossoms, belongs to Janayna.<br /><br />Janayna was visiting from Brazil.<br /><br />I didn't get much information, other than that the artist is also from Brazil.<br /><br />Thanks to Janayna for sharing her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.15757910208776593" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><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 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/"><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></b>

A Brazilian Rooster Goes Shopping in Manhattan

Last month, while shopping at Marshall's on 6th Avenue in Manhattan, I spotted a woman with this cool tattoo on her right arm: This Japa...

8:40 AM

Lindsey's Lucky Cat

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjElvV1xlL6lkfg-j0sNBHI6u0QkYnPsl3J2Rorbj5heueCfKDIg3hoNRKkFtW6OwyvtqLH2TFHb79paE2KtIIZ6Du6fdCROCO4N6qdmyd4iPK5enBwUJjS6ElN3CJptVR2X-qzV3TkZc/s0-d/IMG_0460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjElvV1xlL6lkfg-j0sNBHI6u0QkYnPsl3J2Rorbj5heueCfKDIg3hoNRKkFtW6OwyvtqLH2TFHb79paE2KtIIZ6Du6fdCROCO4N6qdmyd4iPK5enBwUJjS6ElN3CJptVR2X-qzV3TkZc/s0-d/IMG_0460.JPG" width="312" /></a></div><br />Growing up in Hawai'i, the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maneki-neko">Maneki-neko</a> </i>was a common sight in most homes and businesses. I still have my "lucky cat" today and always am happy to see it in people's tattoos, like in <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2012/07/jenns-robotic-tattoos-with-hand-mixer.html">this variation</a> we saw earlier this month.<br /><br />The photo above is a lucky cat belonging to Lindsey, who I met passing through Penn Station last month. She loves Japanese art and has a koi fish, a well, on her leg. The cherry blossoms on her arm are a nice touch, as well.<br /><br />This tattoo was done by Erik Desmond at <a href="http://www.horifudo.com/bio.shtml">Horifudo Tattoo</a> in Smithtown, New York.<br /><br />Thanks to Lindsey for sharing her luck with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.825981087051332" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2012 Tattoosday.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are reading 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/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; 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></b>

Lindsey's Lucky Cat

Growing up in Hawai'i, the Maneki-neko was a common sight in most homes and businesses. I still have my "lucky cat" today an...

3:25 AM

An Anonymous Half-Sleeve from the Subway

This is an orphan post - I ran into the subject on the West 4th Street subway platform back in April. She consented to my photographing her half-sleeve but, before I could get any info, including her name, her train rolled in and she left me in the station with only a few photos.<br /><br />I asked her to e-mail me with details, but two months later, I still have not heard from her, so I figured I'd just share what I have, which are the photos:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaNTpYUSNuclKRm7b7DTLfRSWHGuaDAUcQE5tLeM0CWPXoIzg9TjAhnp8CdylkIslMyxlgFbcX-WpA2WpKgplmtPWC-QJZjHgV8v_kSIVbpqZprDAk7y6UXXjoSwOI1aoigoicCy_W_s/s614/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaNTpYUSNuclKRm7b7DTLfRSWHGuaDAUcQE5tLeM0CWPXoIzg9TjAhnp8CdylkIslMyxlgFbcX-WpA2WpKgplmtPWC-QJZjHgV8v_kSIVbpqZprDAk7y6UXXjoSwOI1aoigoicCy_W_s/s1600/photo.jpg" /></a></div><br />If anyone knows this tattoo and can get the host to e-mail me so, at the very least, I can credit the artist, please send her my way.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKS-11X8EsAcLs7onUaSZrZUW7anmv7krPWIAJIhHFLkCOnQz-_3nFcqO7nabvO372GO7TxtAA9qcVKYR6IOkkHAvYkCPl1Ds8lhvVESnVkNIHjOWnS4BHFpvPkYvocqiDdHRF6-zvNs/s615/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKS-11X8EsAcLs7onUaSZrZUW7anmv7krPWIAJIhHFLkCOnQz-_3nFcqO7nabvO372GO7TxtAA9qcVKYR6IOkkHAvYkCPl1Ds8lhvVESnVkNIHjOWnS4BHFpvPkYvocqiDdHRF6-zvNs/s1600/photo.jpg" /></a></div><br />The combination of skulls and flowers, including the cherry blossoms, makes this quite a lovely piece.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlwwygrRac6wKY-8ImPzcrlkthQ4xzLbUS9Jq4FTKyNqwAZtWLD2J9e2edLQf4Lv9hZCPOU4_xTRn9pM_rSoCdtwVM8-w4Zm_xFOFZbt0iSS7FxeT7jcLnoLupXuC0nBMJN7496uthSE/s615/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlwwygrRac6wKY-8ImPzcrlkthQ4xzLbUS9Jq4FTKyNqwAZtWLD2J9e2edLQf4Lv9hZCPOU4_xTRn9pM_rSoCdtwVM8-w4Zm_xFOFZbt0iSS7FxeT7jcLnoLupXuC0nBMJN7496uthSE/s640/photo.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><br />Thanks to the young lady who shared her ink, wherever she may be. Her anonymous contribution to Tattoosday is greatly appreciated!<br /><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.22375731077045202" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><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></b>

An Anonymous Half-Sleeve from the Subway

This is an orphan post - I ran into the subject on the West 4th Street subway platform back in April. She consented to my photographing her ...

3:16 AM

The Tattooed Poets Project: Michael Henry Lee

Beginning in the second year of the Tattooed Poets Project, we experienced the thrill of having poets from previous years return to share more ink.<br /><br />This year is no exception, and the first of two repeat contributors is Michael Henry Lee.<br /><br />Last year, he contributed "work inspired by his spiritual convictions, with work spanning three decades by three artists in three very distinct parts of the country."<br /><br />"This year" he informs us, "reveals a more earthy side; with work again spanning three decades by two artists from the heart of America and the sunshine state."<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/AVvXsEj7bKf-yQkxyo0Mj-5BpaN9dMvu6QG3c0j8_dGylYlrzufvYTyIwmLrN4gW-x_b16KQoY5_YKXEcGFDums7ET8uNE8dDYkknwdN4G3slyGzyAXx2yxpD293LZuunX4p8Te-5ZkyD5iwq54/s1600/mhl+tattoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bKf-yQkxyo0Mj-5BpaN9dMvu6QG3c0j8_dGylYlrzufvYTyIwmLrN4gW-x_b16KQoY5_YKXEcGFDums7ET8uNE8dDYkknwdN4G3slyGzyAXx2yxpD293LZuunX4p8Te-5ZkyD5iwq54/s640/mhl+tattoo.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Photo by Chris Bodor </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Michael Henry Lee explains:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"The piece began with the oh so typical heart and initials by [his] then girlfriend and now wife of over thirty years. Gradually several butterflies, stars, comets, clouds, and lightning were all added by a Kansas City Missouri artist named John. Fast forward to Saint Augustine, Florida, and a great shop called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tattoo-Garden/123643334358516">Tattoo Garden</a>, owned and operated by a super artist Tattoo Mike. He re-colored and revitalized the original piece on [my] last birthday and soon after the kanji for <i>poet </i>and the cherry blossoms were added."</blockquote>Mr. Lee got the kanji to remind him "of the gift he has been given to pursue and ... the cherry blossoms celebrate the beauty and brevity of the life  in which he has to pursue it."<br /><br />Mr. Lee provided us with the following poems, which originally appeared in <i><a href="http://www.wayfarergallery.net/haikunews/">Haiku News</a></i> in response to various news stories. They are the sole property of Mr. Lee and may not be used without his explicit permission.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>sobriety checkpoint<br />the nation’s oldest city<br />comes of age<br /><br />buyer’s market-<br />the realtor kept insisting<br />till the bitter end<br /><br />in less time than it took<br />to say we’re sorry<br />you were gone<br /><br />consulting the stars<br />all the laws of probability<br />contained on a pinhead<br /><br />parent teacher day-<br />the class turtle<br />fends for itself<br /><br />mother’s day<br />something inside us<br />can’t let go<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~</div><br />Michael lives in the nation's oldest city with his wife,  two cats ,and numerous bonsai trees. His work has appeared in <i>The Heron's Nest</i>, <i>Icebox</i>. <i>Berry Blue Haiku</i>, <i>The Mainichi Daily News</i>, and <i>Haiku News</i>. His most recent award was a first place in  the traditional category and  runner up in the contemporary category for the 2012 Haiku Now National Haiku Foundation contest. <br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks to Michael Henry Lee for contributing again to the Tattooed Poets Project! Be sure to check out his <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2011/04/tattooed-poets-project-michael-henry.html">contribution from last year</a>, as well, in case you missed it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2012 Tattoosday. The poems and tattoo are reprinted with the poet's explicit permission. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><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 http://tattoosday.blogspot.com 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>

The Tattooed Poets Project: Michael Henry Lee

Beginning in the second year of the Tattooed Poets Project, we experienced the thrill of having poets from previous years return to share mo...

4:52 AM

Frank's Koi Blends Traditional and Modern

Back on the first of July, I met Frank as I was headed home through Penn Station. He shared this tattoo on his lower leg:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOgmvYqHu2vNy1ogw7w6VTXek5Qny9oBVP6JptB0focEA0IAMcK_-Id31ZsFeJslAWDaVP_0UJVA4uKlxzG8G7GYN_QYpLRi6gJg08WsOliOy15il6fNrdhZeqggP4CJ0z2TMJBc5Jq8/s1600/Frank+Koi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOgmvYqHu2vNy1ogw7w6VTXek5Qny9oBVP6JptB0focEA0IAMcK_-Id31ZsFeJslAWDaVP_0UJVA4uKlxzG8G7GYN_QYpLRi6gJg08WsOliOy15il6fNrdhZeqggP4CJ0z2TMJBc5Jq8/s640/Frank+Koi.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><br />Frank explained that the tattoo artist was <a href="http://johnstattoo.com/gus-color-tattoos.php">Gus</a>, who works out of <a href="http://johnstattoo.com/index.html">John's Tattoos</a> in Islip, New York. He elaborated, telling me, "I originally wanted a koi fish ... not too traditional, but a little bit different. Some modern twist on it ... Gus put the traditional with the modern and there it is." <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnENdy1ImD-YLF899ueHXLJCHj_VH-5aQhI-jFLYWQZyLRWzTeX0H_2HDwX9jeS7G2muFOLw3YAj9yuc2VjmVRKvX3eht_qt4pfwSYWob5QN1ws5-mRHkcJtec5gwzMt3G8YiuYzqqtw/s1600/Frank+koi+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnENdy1ImD-YLF899ueHXLJCHj_VH-5aQhI-jFLYWQZyLRWzTeX0H_2HDwX9jeS7G2muFOLw3YAj9yuc2VjmVRKvX3eht_qt4pfwSYWob5QN1ws5-mRHkcJtec5gwzMt3G8YiuYzqqtw/s640/Frank+koi+detail.jpg" width="498" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks to Frank for sharing his koi fish and cherry blossoms 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;">  </div><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 style="font-size: x-small;">  </span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

Frank's Koi Blends Traditional and Modern

Back on the first of July, I met Frank as I was headed home through Penn Station. He shared this tattoo on his lower leg: Frank explained th...

3:52 AM

Leigh's Skull with a Mouthful of Blossoms

Last month, I ran into Leigh, getting off the C train at 34th Street in Manhattan. She estimates she has 40% of her corporeal canvas covered, and she offered me this tattoo on her left forearm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3yjeV0zQTG2q7RUxCCBKkt4HMoA9FMiA4exodTdfLN_z82SjXyfSACckJB_XDsMdaL7JAnoJF2D67HNAjb6xLFYXwTucMiPJbiahBoC94nAnBCZC7JkkMVX2sfLGd1YjyiKHxLe5PtI/s1600/Sugar+Skull+cherry+blossoms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3yjeV0zQTG2q7RUxCCBKkt4HMoA9FMiA4exodTdfLN_z82SjXyfSACckJB_XDsMdaL7JAnoJF2D67HNAjb6xLFYXwTucMiPJbiahBoC94nAnBCZC7JkkMVX2sfLGd1YjyiKHxLe5PtI/s640/Sugar+Skull+cherry+blossoms.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><br />We've had  a lot of sugar skulls here on Tattoosday, but everyone is different and unique. This one, inked by <a href="http://myleskarr.tumblr.com/">Myles Karr</a> at <a href="http://www.threekingstattoo.com/site/">Three Kings Tattoo</a> in Brooklyn, stands out from the bow at the top of the skull, and the open jaw full of cherry blossoms, both items not generally associated with the traditional sugar skull design.<br /><br />"I'm always talking," Leigh told me, "and it's always positive, so I wanted something that would keep the mouth open." She collaborated with Myles on the piece, saying she wanted a skull, but didn't want a "cliche," and pointed out it's also "kind of a take on the <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=suicidal+tendencies+skull%5C&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1024&bih=638">Suicidal Tendencies skull</a>."<br /><br />Thanks to Leigh for sharing this great tatoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br />  <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 can contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div>

Leigh's Skull with a Mouthful of Blossoms

Last month, I ran into Leigh, getting off the C train at 34th Street in Manhattan. She estimates she has 40% of her corporeal canvas covered...

3:51 AM

Don't Sit Under the Cherry Tree with Anyone Else but Me

I spotted Christina one Friday afternoon in Penn Station, sporting this awesome cherry blossom tattoo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1o6FB3DseLGw9emjFLd6eWPwStDmz8JCGnS5iiKexCoa1T2BlVfTFwsfKrzb0nKKus2rSYgkJUKKFgCdVDQjh11qCqQ3-oUt-SErQnZdD2rahuYvgIKKa8jwDm_xoUzbmer9reOAf21s/s1600/cherry+blossom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1o6FB3DseLGw9emjFLd6eWPwStDmz8JCGnS5iiKexCoa1T2BlVfTFwsfKrzb0nKKus2rSYgkJUKKFgCdVDQjh11qCqQ3-oUt-SErQnZdD2rahuYvgIKKa8jwDm_xoUzbmer9reOAf21s/s400/cherry+blossom.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />She took some photos in to Jason Loui, then at <a href="http://www.redemptiontattoo.com/2/Artist.asp?ArtistID=28105&Akey=XAPSX3K7">Redemption Tattoo</a> in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He sketched out a design, and the rest is history. Mr. Loui now works out of <a href="http://www.goodfaithtattooing.com/">Good Faith Tattooing</a>, in Brookline, Massachusetts.<br /><br />Thanks to Christina for sharing her cherry blossom tree with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br />  <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. </span></div><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>

Don't Sit Under the Cherry Tree with Anyone Else but Me

I spotted Christina one Friday afternoon in Penn Station, sporting this awesome cherry blossom tattoo: She took some photos in to Jason Loui...

3:20 AM

The Tattooed Poets Project: Alicia Adams

Alicia Adams is today's tattooed poet. She contacted me back in February and told me she was moving out to Brooklyn from Southern California in March. So, last week we met in a large Union Square flagship bookstore and I snapped a photo of her stunning tattoo: <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOiKf5AzR05WVTVj0bpYya9f5LsuvqccOASCQvh5gDeM9S5iC2_LNvy02HYHioMiEZ1niDkuQleugDAugGdb_7UkaH9zhHZ7YgP7oFWWlKuhaxnnte5IsstnTkb5e7Wa57gR3IvbZXjk/s1600/alicia+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOiKf5AzR05WVTVj0bpYya9f5LsuvqccOASCQvh5gDeM9S5iC2_LNvy02HYHioMiEZ1niDkuQleugDAugGdb_7UkaH9zhHZ7YgP7oFWWlKuhaxnnte5IsstnTkb5e7Wa57gR3IvbZXjk/s400/alicia+1.jpg" width="388" /></a></div><br />I'll let Alicia explain the story behind this beautiful piece:<br /><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This tattoo was done by an artist named <a href="http://shaybredimus.com/">Shay Bredimus</a> at <a href="http://www.outerlimitstattoo.com/">Outer Limits Tattoo and Body Piercing</a> in </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Long   Beach</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">California</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, the city where I was raised and educated.  I had always known I wanted a tattoo, but I could never settle on exactly what I wanted.  When I went in to Outer Limits, I still didn’t know.  I decided flowers were pretty and timeless and could mean whatever I wanted them to mean.  I decided on a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peony">peony</a> because I had just seen my first one and fallen in love with it.  I didn’t know what peonies symbolized, and I didn’t want to know.  I decided I had a lifetime to figure out what it meant to me.  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was getting my MFA in fiction writing, and when I met Shay he told me he had his MFA in painting.  For hours we talked about art and literature and grad school and our lives.  It was the best tattooing experience I could have hoped for, and I fell in love with the finished product immediately.  As I was leaving he invited me to his gallery.  I went when he wasn’t there.  His pieces were huge, each one taking up the better part of a wall, and they were exquisite and done in black tattoo ink only.  I wrote him an email telling him how amazing I thought his art was, and he asked me to come back in for touch ups, and that’s when he added the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_blossom">cherry blossoms</a>.  </span></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD45M3JZoRowdkq-HGL8ezlQN3sK51o9u2e-RA0kLvbKDJN7nnKg3pEdKo9gM7URLQy3f6RiAf7VRTMDzEC4u_2MJxn9HGu_xBSaMpCsb9Vymq8AAVsBpLL4T4L9U-h56zJ5DVBzW1UO4/s1600/alicia+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD45M3JZoRowdkq-HGL8ezlQN3sK51o9u2e-RA0kLvbKDJN7nnKg3pEdKo9gM7URLQy3f6RiAf7VRTMDzEC4u_2MJxn9HGu_xBSaMpCsb9Vymq8AAVsBpLL4T4L9U-h56zJ5DVBzW1UO4/s400/alicia+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I buy cherry blossom shampoo now and cherry blossom soap.  It’s a silly thing maybe, but it makes me feel pretty and reminds me that I am part of a work of art.</span></div></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote>In addition to this tattoo, Alicia is sharing the following poem, "Red Room," <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">which was originally published in <a href="http://themastequilareview.wordpress.com/"><i>The Mas Tequila Review</i></a><i>:</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><i></i></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">Red Room</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">By Alicia Adams</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">You wish you had been born from your father’s head.  </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">Like Athena.  When you picture Athena in the womb </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">of Zeus’s skull, you picture her in a hollow red room </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">with no corners.  You picture her curled in a ball </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">and growing larger, fully clothed with battle gear, spear </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">stuck behind her father’s eye, a migraine pulsing.  When you </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">picture your own father’s head, you picture it crowded.  </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">But you could have curled around the deep-set grooves </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">of gray matter, your tiny hands pressed against his frontal</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">cortex and into his dreams.  And when you were ready, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">you could have stood on your shoed feet and pushed</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">up and hard with rhythmic contractions until your father,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">unable to take it any longer, found a way to open </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">himself and let you out.  You think about this often.  </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">In the back of your own mind, dark and polluted, you can feel </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">a tumor growing.  One that will ripen and mutate,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">killing you slowly, and with little effort.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><i>~~~</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><i> </i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alicia Adams graduated from </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1947858922"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">California</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">State</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">University</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">:  </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Long   Beach</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.csulb.edu/colleges/cla/departments/english/mfa/">’s Fiction MFA program</a> in 2010.  She co-hosted <a href="http://proseandconsradio.blogspot.com/"><i>Prose and Cons Radio</i></a> and is the co-founder of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/After-the-Carnival-Literary-Events/137307442987969?ref=ts&sk=wall"><i>After the Carnival (Literary Events)</i></a>.  Her work has been published in several magazines and anthologies, including most recently <i><a href="http://www.kulone.com/US/Event/2049901-How-Dirty-Girls-Get-Clean-Reading">How Dirty Girls Get Clean</a> </i>and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0984619860/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bill03-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0984619860%22%3EBeside%20the%20City%20of%20Angels:%20An%20Anthology%20of%20Long%20Beach%20Poetry%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=1&a=0984619860%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E"><i>Beside the City of Angels</i></a>.   </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=bill03-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0984619860" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><br />Thanks so much to Alicia for sharing her tattoo and poem with us here on Tattoosday's Tattooed Poets Project!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">  </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. The poem is reprinted here with the permission of the author.<br /><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 </span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><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 style="font-size: x-small;">  </span>

The Tattooed Poets Project: Alicia Adams

Alicia Adams is today's tattooed poet. She contacted me back in February and told me she was moving out to Brooklyn from Southern Califo...

7:14 AM

Chris's Cherry Blossoms Grace His Forearm

On Friday afternoon, I ran into Chris near the 34th Street subway station near the Manhattan Mall.<br /><br />He had this wonderful tattoo on his left forearm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAN06KPWUMpYt2zLqDZBnVERXolP3280P32-XSlc3bw9ac3pJlgK7XPm6-QVo69xbzZUxWJtAhh7huPniQ6uIVvABbcNmtbllyAK7-hoNwpte3nuWXuFY_WERT7JppKQ7ivw9vmw7fNZA/s1600/cherry+blossom+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAN06KPWUMpYt2zLqDZBnVERXolP3280P32-XSlc3bw9ac3pJlgK7XPm6-QVo69xbzZUxWJtAhh7huPniQ6uIVvABbcNmtbllyAK7-hoNwpte3nuWXuFY_WERT7JppKQ7ivw9vmw7fNZA/s640/cherry+blossom+1.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br /><br />Chris explained that this tree resembles a cherry blossom tree that he played on with his cousin when he was a kid. His cousin has passed, so this is, in essence, a memorial, "without being over the top".<br /><br />I found it interesting and quite poignant that I spotted this piece on the day of the earthquake in Japan, when the plight of the residents in the northern part of that country was on so many minds. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_blossom#Symbolism">cherry blossom</a>, as many know, is often associated with the temporary, fleeting nature of life.<br /><br />I particularly like the shadowy effect in the background of the tattoo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcu31jMIYWe1B_gjzdDawlAZteqzc8qj8T7sGv33Mas22twND_PcWE7csNxFhkAVfi2-NtY8KJcIN4yAapCbgGtuF83AujoyqajGM0UC_1oXTNFRBjZ9x_QsYk_sM2c0DxDgdH2sh-jzU/s1600/cherry+blossom+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcu31jMIYWe1B_gjzdDawlAZteqzc8qj8T7sGv33Mas22twND_PcWE7csNxFhkAVfi2-NtY8KJcIN4yAapCbgGtuF83AujoyqajGM0UC_1oXTNFRBjZ9x_QsYk_sM2c0DxDgdH2sh-jzU/s640/cherry+blossom+2.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><br />Chris credited Ryan at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/artcoretattoos">ArtCore Tattoos</a> in Naples, Florida with this tattoo.<br /><br />Thanks to Chris for sharing his tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">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></span>

Chris's Cherry Blossoms Grace His Forearm

On Friday afternoon, I ran into Chris near the 34th Street subway station near the Manhattan Mall. He had this wonderful tattoo on his left ...

9:32 AM

Darya's Bi-Coastal Peacock and Cherry Blossoms

I met Darya coming out of the subway in Bay Ridge and asked if I could take a picture of her tattoo. She kindly allowed me to do so and share it here with everyone on Tattoosday:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzR99r2rZAuCnQhBLoOwfeN9S8NW8oowAeEeXtWNaICFC45ZQlGV8yQM4Yd1WmNV37L-kLbGiUPwiakMsgbyh1yl09v_QtGAnVUqF5hpcawP17QLouhPBQevNe-G_R38EDHbjA9OfMjo/s1600/Darya+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzR99r2rZAuCnQhBLoOwfeN9S8NW8oowAeEeXtWNaICFC45ZQlGV8yQM4Yd1WmNV37L-kLbGiUPwiakMsgbyh1yl09v_QtGAnVUqF5hpcawP17QLouhPBQevNe-G_R38EDHbjA9OfMjo/s640/Darya+wm.jpg" width="166" /></a></div><br />Darya explained that she always wanted a peacock tattoo, and she has fourteen tattoos in all (not all peacocks). Joe Maggs at <a href="http://www.brooklyninktattoo.com/">Brooklyn Ink</a> tattooed the peacock. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWd9mJpAIFcL5VrKs25FEa-Wyu6VpIgYO4VD0m192exJmuP2CjhhWarTtjgRbw_6WJo25RjTVTSa_bO6iywSeaeSfeGnK3ivL9QHBTXGN33irRdDvDzB5FW2ePz8xkEBk3Qry4ZwvlVA/s1600/Darya+detail+peacock+wm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWd9mJpAIFcL5VrKs25FEa-Wyu6VpIgYO4VD0m192exJmuP2CjhhWarTtjgRbw_6WJo25RjTVTSa_bO6iywSeaeSfeGnK3ivL9QHBTXGN33irRdDvDzB5FW2ePz8xkEBk3Qry4ZwvlVA/s640/Darya+detail+peacock+wm2.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhcir464rH39U8dZCquam86mSuBcrmkbvao6i-3wiFmA6MD9tqUiP4SH84-lJeiEtYUm3QlOHGvpUrb3tBG5bVe0esVZn7fAhCIF06veKTxYn9b5Lh0fib8IqLnNxoqezA0vXAA1Xpo0/s1600/Darya+detail+peacock+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />The cherry blossoms, symbols of regeneration, were added by Illya at <a href="http://www.studiocitytattoo.com/">Studio City Tattoos</a> in California.<br /><br />Thanks to Darya for sharing her tattoos from both coasts here on Tattoosday!

Darya's Bi-Coastal Peacock and Cherry Blossoms

I met Darya coming out of the subway in Bay Ridge and asked if I could take a picture of her tattoo. She kindly allowed me to do so and shar...

8:39 AM

Two for Tattuesday Saturday: Wanderful Love Under the Cherry Blossoms

In honor of the release of <a href="http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/harrypotterandthedeathlyhallows/mainsite/index.html">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1)</a> , we're sharing this tattoo, which I spotted back in September:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDeUhkmoppX5IIlbN93NSNYppBwVbx84R9GT6E_NeAw4BBFwVVmXL8gR7rxP1eSHeMYd6_l0qmTV6_t6k1iMy3pcNkcoer4hZxOFxFLqsmA5eYTjdGACXu5BxtDPCzWbwXS4NI85oNw0/s1600/wand+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDeUhkmoppX5IIlbN93NSNYppBwVbx84R9GT6E_NeAw4BBFwVVmXL8gR7rxP1eSHeMYd6_l0qmTV6_t6k1iMy3pcNkcoer4hZxOFxFLqsmA5eYTjdGACXu5BxtDPCzWbwXS4NI85oNw0/s640/wand+wm.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><br />This belongs to Rich, a musician and rap artist. He's a big <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter">Harry Potter</a> fan, as exemplified by the magic wand. The snake at the base of the wand not only symbolizes infinity, it is a nod to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severus_Snape">Severus Snape</a>, a character associated with the House of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slytherin#Slytherin">Slytherin</a>, of which the serpent is the mascot.<br /><br />The concept of the tattoo is exemplified by the music coming out of the wand, illustrating that sounds can be magical and that Rich is under music's spell.<br /><br />The piece was inked by Chris at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/ladylucktattoostudio">Lady Luck Tattoo Studio</a> in Montville, Connecticut.<br /><br />When I met Rich, he was sitting with his girlfriend in Penn Station. She introduced herself as Kytti, and asked if I wanted to see her tattoo.<br /><br />But of course!<br /><br />She actually has two tattoos, but lifted up her shirt to show me this beautiful design:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoFpVTNAFJaeOiyRHii776XQeMiGcyZ8XKE5Xz4tmcYJxCpmEz4BuUDK22XZt5fGwCkGnjVyi9lNA8ialnoouaeId7w6PQWekWdPuD4gSvAUbthXzVfEgStU3QoahVS9uo_WxKj7a-P0/s1600/Japan+love+wm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoFpVTNAFJaeOiyRHii776XQeMiGcyZ8XKE5Xz4tmcYJxCpmEz4BuUDK22XZt5fGwCkGnjVyi9lNA8ialnoouaeId7w6PQWekWdPuD4gSvAUbthXzVfEgStU3QoahVS9uo_WxKj7a-P0/s640/Japan+love+wm2.jpg" width="406" /></a></div><br />Kytti explained that this represents her and Rich together in Japan. They've been together for over a year and they'd both love to go there together and experience the culture. The tree is filled with cherry blossoms, a flower often associated with Japan.<br /><br />Chris at Lady Luck also was the artist behind this tattoo.<br /><br />Thanks to Rich and Kytti for sharing their magical and romantic tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Two for Tattuesday Saturday: Wanderful Love Under the Cherry Blossoms

In honor of the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1) , we're sharing this tattoo, which I spotted back in September...

4:53 AM

Rebecca's Memorial Butterfly

I met Rebecca a couple months ago in Penn Station and asked her about her tattoos.<br /><br />Of the eleven, she shared this one from her leg:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduTEyebk3FfSZkNU4V_UAB6cIFjeP31BwIimZffKIvb-AbdS1cPbtUss13jgPcgluEwI6XVgkwL95irV6isxQHLgpdY7etl2EAm-BoYIRZ6bS9oE0N9o5laNVFN8VZhWVo7oznLCT/s1600/butterfly+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduTEyebk3FfSZkNU4V_UAB6cIFjeP31BwIimZffKIvb-AbdS1cPbtUss13jgPcgluEwI6XVgkwL95irV6isxQHLgpdY7etl2EAm-BoYIRZ6bS9oE0N9o5laNVFN8VZhWVo7oznLCT/s400/butterfly+wm.jpg" width="372" /></a></div><br />This beautiful, yet battered, butterfly is a memorial to her unborn child. She lost the baby when she was just nineteen. The cherry blossoms are often symbolic of the fleeting nature of life.<br /><br />The tattoo was completed on October 13, 2007 by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/natestattoos">Nate Hudson</a> when he was at <a href="http://www.vabeachink.com/">Virginia Beach Ink</a>. He now tattoos at <a href="http://folkcitytattoo.com/?page_id=35">Folk City Tattoo</a> in Suffolk, Virginia. As today is October 13, I've been hanging on to this post,  not only to correspond with the day the tattoo was finished, but also  the due date of the baby that was lost.<br /><br />We here at Tattoosday truly thank Rebecca for sharing, not only this poignant tattoo, but also for allowing us to relate the emotional story behind this butterfly.

Rebecca's Memorial Butterfly

I met Rebecca a couple months ago in Penn Station and asked her about her tattoos. Of the eleven, she shared this one from her leg: This bea...

3:05 AM

Sandra's Cherry Blossoms

I met Sandra at the local laundromat at the end of August and she shared this lovely tattoo on her upper right arm: <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzKyQmL9-I8usE9q2N0hzyZk09kahLzgJyAibfIHfGOWGh-XL-pi-x1FP_9YAipsXLPBODabCi65uHLhk5gTxR2rwaJMXmx_4V-FdiPz0nuv4smTLI5S5OCidbBeNgJ1zC8L7SoOX/s1600/Jiminy+Cherry+Blossom+collage+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzKyQmL9-I8usE9q2N0hzyZk09kahLzgJyAibfIHfGOWGh-XL-pi-x1FP_9YAipsXLPBODabCi65uHLhk5gTxR2rwaJMXmx_4V-FdiPz0nuv4smTLI5S5OCidbBeNgJ1zC8L7SoOX/s400/Jiminy+Cherry+Blossom+collage+wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />There are two elements to this design, the cherry blossoms and the quote. The cherry blossoms were inked after her father was initially diagnosed with cancer. The quote was added when Sandra decided to move to New York from Oregon.<br /><br />Reading "When your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme...", this quote is from the film <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinocchio_%281940_film%29">Pinocchio</a>, in the song "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_You_Wish_Upon_a_Star">When You Wish Upon a Star</a>".<br /><br />The tattoo was done by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/4833400">Dragon</a> at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/12091597">Star Tattoo</a>, in Portland, Oregon.<br /><br />Thanks to Sandra for sharing her lovely tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><br />Here's a little bonus:<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4cHsPCAZlP4?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4cHsPCAZlP4?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

Sandra's Cherry Blossoms

I met Sandra at the local laundromat at the end of August and she shared this lovely tattoo on her upper right arm: There are two elements t...

7:27 AM

Marie's Anchor of Hope

I met Marie outside of Penn Station last month after spotting her sleeve of naval designs. She picked this one on the inside of her upper right arm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dI5sblhwSW79M_6HHi6jOOl2OMYqr2jR6Z65xAoxOdVCwaGPTOWluOt2ij_sTdqdonTql6jSoaULgw2vNPSaJpD-rvJACFJ6MKfXZCxfa09lP_R74EurQ0-P2vz8XUHtsyYEO0_z/s1600/Hope+for+Marie+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dI5sblhwSW79M_6HHi6jOOl2OMYqr2jR6Z65xAoxOdVCwaGPTOWluOt2ij_sTdqdonTql6jSoaULgw2vNPSaJpD-rvJACFJ6MKfXZCxfa09lP_R74EurQ0-P2vz8XUHtsyYEO0_z/s640/Hope+for+Marie+wm.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><br />This tattoo reminds her the importance of "loving where you're from" and having "faith in where you live". The anchor and cherry blossoms are a nice blend of traditional tattoo designs from the East and the West.<br /><br />The design is an allusion to a song called "Anchor and Hope,"  from the album <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_of_People"><i>Wall of People</i></a> by alternative rock band <a href="http://www.montyarei.com/">Monty Are I</a>, out of Cranston, Rhode Island.<br /><br />Check them out in this video of them doing the song acoustically:<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XURk6rpg2uY&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XURk6rpg2uY&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Marie is originally from New York, moved to Virginia, and has relocated back home to New York City.<br /><br />The tattoo was done by <a href="http://www.brooklyninktattoo.com/rob_tattoos.html">Rob</a> at <a href="http://www.brooklyninktattoo.com/">Brooklyn Ink</a>. Rob was a subject on Tattoosday a couple of years back. See his post <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/09/robs-rite-of-passage.html">here</a>. And <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Brooklyn%20Ink">this tag</a> will show you the work previously featured on Tattoosday created at Brooklyn Ink.<br /><br />Thanks to Marie for sharing her cool tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Marie's Anchor of Hope

I met Marie outside of Penn Station last month after spotting her sleeve of naval designs. She picked this one on the inside of her upper ri...

10:58 AM

Tattoosday (A Tattoo Blog)

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