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...

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The Tattooed Poets Project: Laura Mullen

Our next tattooed poet is <a href="http://www.lauramullen.biz/">Laura Mullen</a>, who sent us this photo of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koi">koi</a> on her ankle:.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3y3nXHUdu_QJKFzAHSyBpsmLQN7NsZG2JlYxOf4hircsoIcdjT-OVKNgHuA4btblRkarTl77GsYaSseE4ZAvwwatbUHl-TEe3Mybyqp9VSKAp9EwszjxRhNzj3_xrU9bOKSC3jH2Ra4/s572/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3y3nXHUdu_QJKFzAHSyBpsmLQN7NsZG2JlYxOf4hircsoIcdjT-OVKNgHuA4btblRkarTl77GsYaSseE4ZAvwwatbUHl-TEe3Mybyqp9VSKAp9EwszjxRhNzj3_xrU9bOKSC3jH2Ra4/s400/photo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />Laura explains:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"The fish was a celebration of a book, early on (#2 maybe?)--somewhere before I realized how serious I was about this book stuff? I mean, these days, I think a bottle (or so) of champagne is fine now (I'm glad I don't have 7 or 8 tattoos!) (I have two); I'm more like, Okay that's awesome, another book, now let's get back to work.<br /><br />(I'd like another tattoo at some point but the right place and occasion need to be clear.)<br />This Koi was done is San Francisco at a studio my friend <a href="http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/240">Joshua Clover</a> recommended: <a href="http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/general-tattoo-discussion/63-222-tattoo-stories-memories-pictures-page2.html">222 Tattoo</a>. [The shop closed in 2000, according to references <a href="http://thatsthehookup.com/headlines/tatuesday-studio-visit-with-eddy-deutsche/">here</a> and <a href="http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/general-tattoo-discussion/63-222-tattoo-stories-memories-pictures-page2.html">here</a>.]</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Can't recall the name of the artist who did the work, sorry…there was some effort put in, as you can tell, and the fish--out of the sun mostly--is holding up well."</blockquote>Laura was kind enough to send along the following poem which "is unpublished and newish":<br /><br /><b>The Plastic Wrapper</b><br /><br />The war on drugs<br />The war on terror<br />The war on kids<br />The war on bullshit<br />The war on drugs<br />The war on guns<br />The war on health<br />The war on bacon<br />The war on drugs<br />The war on war<br />The GOP war on voting<br />The Left’s war on fertility<br />The war on Weed<br />The war on salt<br />The war on poverty <br />The war on women<br />The war on moms<br />The Republican war on Science<br />Why can’t the army win the war on suicide<br />The war on truth<br />The war on fun<br />Stop the war on Iran before it starts<br />The war on drugs <br />The war on terror<br />The war on coal<br />The war on Democracy<br />The war on sharing<br />The war on Terror<br />The war on Drugs<br />The war on free clicks<br />The war on health<br />The war on poverty<br />The war on cancer<br />The war on drugs<br />The war on drugs is a failure<br />The war on evil<br />The war on the war on coal<br />The war on drugs<br />The war on drugs is just plain crazy<br />The war on terror<br />House approves stop the war on coal bill<br />The war on work<br />War on terror the board game<br />The war on Islam<br />Iraq War<br />End the war on pubic hair<br />The war on cameras<br />The war on drugs<br />The war on success<br />The war on bacon<br />The war on cancer<br />The war on Christmas<br />Gulf war<br />The war on Choice<br />The war on bugs<br />The war against boys<br />The war on immigrants<br />The war on poverty<br />The war on Pellagra<br />The battle for the war on women<br />The war on terror<br />The war on coal is a myth<br />The war on drugs is a failure<br />The war on Children<br />The war on women<br />The war on silver<br />The war on wolves<br />The war on terror is over<br />The war on kids<br />The war on the middle class<br />The war on the poor<br />The war on animals<br />The war on cancer <br />The war on terror<br />The war on Christmas<br />The war on drugs<br />The war on drugs the war on drugs<br />The war on democracy<br />The war on bugs<br />The war on terror<br />Rupert Murdoch’s war on journalism<br />The Christian right and the war on America<br />The war on drugs<br />The war on women<br />The war on Iraq<br />The war on drugs the war on democracy<br />The war on the bill of rights <br />The war on baby boomers<br />The war on American jobs<br />The war on business<br />The war on success<br />The war on gays<br />The war against the weak<br />The war on doping<br />The war on wrong<br />An end to the war on drugs?<br />The war on terror is ‘over’<br />The war on cameras<br />The war on Syria<br />The war on drugs is lost<br />The war on women<br />The war on men<br />The war on teachers<br />The war on health<br />The war on finance<br />The war on margarine<br />The war on bagpipes<br />The war on Wisconsin<br />The war on Sexual Temptation<br />The war on crooked police<br />The war on pizza<br />The war on java<br />The war on Nixon<br />The war of art<br />The war on everything<br />Defend America<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~</div><br /><a href="http://www.lauramullen.biz/">Laura Mullen</a> is the author of seven books: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0984528989/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0984528989&linkCode=as2&tag=bill03-20%22%3EEnduring%20Freedom%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0984528989%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">Enduring Freedom: A Little Book of Mechanical Brides</a>, just out from <a href="http://www.otis.edu/academics/graduate_writing/seismicity_editions.html">Otis Books / Seismicity Editions</a>, and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/025206187X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=025206187X&linkCode=as2&tag=bill03-20%22%3EThe%20SURFACE:%20POEMS%20(National%20Poetry%20Series)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=025206187X%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">The Surface</a>, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/082032096X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=082032096X&linkCode=as2&tag=bill03-20%22%3EAfter%20I%20Was%20Dead:%20Poems%20(Contemporary%20Poetry%20(Univ%20of%20Georgia%20Paperback))%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=082032096X%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">After I Was Dead</a>, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520242947/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520242947&linkCode=as2&tag=bill03-20%22%3ESubject%20(New%20California%20Poetry)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0520242947%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">Subject</a> and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520268865/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520268865&linkCode=as2&tag=bill03-20%22%3EDark%20Archive%20(New%20California%20Poetry)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0520268865%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">Dark Archive</a> (<a href="http://www.ucpress.edu/">University of California Press</a>, 2011), <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0932716482/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0932716482&linkCode=as2&tag=bill03-20%22%3EThe%20Tales%20Of%20Horror:%20%20[A%20Flip-Book]%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0932716482%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">The Tales of Horror</a>, and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/097168006X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=097168006X&linkCode=as2&tag=bill03-20%22%3EMurmur%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=097168006X%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">Murmur</a>. Recognitions for her poetry include Ironwood’s Stanford Prize, two Board of Regents ATLAS grants, a <a href="http://www.nea.gov/">National Endowment for the Arts</a> Fellowship and a <a href="http://www.ronajaffefoundation.org/">Rona Jaffe Award</a>, among other honors. She has had several <a href="http://www.macdowellcolony.org/secondcentury/fellowships/">MacDowell Fellowships</a> and is a frequent visitor at the Summer Writing Program at the <a href="http://www.naropa.edu/academics/jks/">Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa</a>. Her work has been widely anthologized and is included in <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393333752/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0393333752&linkCode=as2&tag=bill03-20%22%3EAmerican%20Hybrid:%20A%20Norton%20Anthology%20of%20New%20Poetry%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0393333752%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">American Hybrid</a> (<a href="http://books.wwnorton.com/books/index.aspx">Norton</a>), and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1934254339/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1934254339&linkCode=as2&tag=bill03-20%22%3EI'll%20Drown%20My%20Book:%20Conceptual%20Writing%20by%20Women%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1934254339%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">I'll Drown My Book: Conceptual Writing by Women</a> (<a href="http://www.lesfigues.com/lfp/index.php">Les Figues</a>). Undersong, the composer <a href="http://www.ensemble21.com/">Jason Eckardt’s</a> setting of “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KpQWw5gBqc">The Distance (This)</a>” (from <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520242947/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520242947&linkCode=as2&tag=bill03-20%22%3ESubject%20(New%20California%20Poetry)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0520242947%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">Subject</a>) was released on <a href="http://www.moderecords.com/">Mode</a> records in 2011. Mullen is the McElveen Professor in English at <a href="http://www.lsu.edu/">LSU</a> and a special interest delegate in Creative Writing for the <a href="http://www.mla.org/">Modern Language Association</a>. She is a contributing editor for the on-line poetry site <a href="http://www.thevolta.org/">The Volta</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Laura for her contribution to the Tattooed Poets Project on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><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=0984528989" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><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=0520242947" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><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=025206187X" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><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=082032096X" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><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=0520268865" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.3747453649993986" 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 ©2013 Tattoosday. The poem and tattoos are reprinted with the poet's permission.</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: #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></div><br />

The Tattooed Poets Project: Laura Mullen

Our next tattooed poet is Laura Mullen , who sent us this photo of a koi on her ankle:. Laura explains: "The fish was a celebration of...

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Tom Shares His Escher and Hokusai-Inspired Sleeves

Back in June, I rode my bike out to the Coney Island boardwalk and did a little inkspotting. One of the several tattooed individuals I met was Tom, who had some cool work to share.<br /><br />It was his <a href="http://www.mcescher.com/">M.C. Escher</a>-inspired sleeve that first caught my attention:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipilEf1KvnMRVC67MI_G1rZXQauixeuN7Zv36TLuJ4KbYa-WZZM_TgumzMY-IydIimiPVZgNdb2rM-0E9488bVA71T1WpJbJmYT1RCjhZzKDOI15BKr45lV7nD96o2fwLxLbZX50ltWmY/s615/IMG_0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipilEf1KvnMRVC67MI_G1rZXQauixeuN7Zv36TLuJ4KbYa-WZZM_TgumzMY-IydIimiPVZgNdb2rM-0E9488bVA71T1WpJbJmYT1RCjhZzKDOI15BKr45lV7nD96o2fwLxLbZX50ltWmY/s640/IMG_0361.JPG" width="305" /></a></div><br />Among the designs from which Tom drew inspiration were Escher's "12 Birds"<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mcescher.com/Shopmain/ShopEU/facsprints-uk/data/1000/16%20Twelve%20Birds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.mcescher.com/Shopmain/ShopEU/facsprints-uk/data/1000/16%20Twelve%20Birds.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><br />and his "Lizard."<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mcescher.com/Shopmain/ShopEU/facsprints-uk/data/1000/12%20Lizard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.mcescher.com/Shopmain/ShopEU/facsprints-uk/data/1000/12%20Lizard.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tom credited his artist Haun Duong, located in Queens, with this work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">His other arm has a compilation of the works of the Japanese artist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokusai">Katsushika Hokusai</a>:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1pgiiy0s7bmE1KEfIU8I-RYp07_dM3Y-bgGt6QZK8Kum-auPS_wFZFKT9luFJEUmqn4uDL33d7_IZ-3j69sxqEjTDt0Mg5vtPsUnS1Q1EN7c11ZKhLMzKykay647sSvYUg9_9Hh8fBU/s614/IMG_0362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1pgiiy0s7bmE1KEfIU8I-RYp07_dM3Y-bgGt6QZK8Kum-auPS_wFZFKT9luFJEUmqn4uDL33d7_IZ-3j69sxqEjTDt0Mg5vtPsUnS1Q1EN7c11ZKhLMzKykay647sSvYUg9_9Hh8fBU/s640/IMG_0362.JPG" width="356" /></a></div><br />This is based primarily on his most recognizable work, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Wave_off_Kanagawa">The Great Wave of Kanagawa</a></i>:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://wiki.brown.edu/confluence/download/attachments/75703088/KanagawaWave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://wiki.brown.edu/confluence/download/attachments/75703088/KanagawaWave.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Tom told me that the <i>koi </i>fish represent the fact that he is a Pisces and that he has a twin sister. And there are additional elements from the Japanese master lower on the arm that represent him and his wife, along with three turtles (not pictured) which represent his kids. And inside the bicep:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-rrANKXgfUdyJd1l7fZB1TVXUETeeGjSPQ9zNwduy9zPTrXaZZyA_Ytox9KDRPU7IjxfQjuOpW-rrfqKUq7Q2Egi5_9RvKnFX4mxGMiIpDxJbN7ad-SFAoRBEsP4EfVzUCU2U_2XtFs/s615/IMG_0365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-rrANKXgfUdyJd1l7fZB1TVXUETeeGjSPQ9zNwduy9zPTrXaZZyA_Ytox9KDRPU7IjxfQjuOpW-rrfqKUq7Q2Egi5_9RvKnFX4mxGMiIpDxJbN7ad-SFAoRBEsP4EfVzUCU2U_2XtFs/s640/IMG_0365.JPG" width="258" /></a></div><br />The falcon and the snake represent the good and the bad within him.<br /><br />Thanks to Tom for sharing his great work with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.9506956902332604" 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 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>

Tom Shares His Escher and Hokusai-Inspired Sleeves

Back in June, I rode my bike out to the Coney Island boardwalk and did a little inkspotting. One of the several tattooed individuals I met w...

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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;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </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...

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Amanda and Her Koi

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-W9iztjxyMOTUjKAlQ7nw8zqIz4xFYfZGwpMCynOgjSXBwlRYPZWdbHTA14YypKMH9GLbXuRAHPUqGezmokV9V0n5kVgINDFImxiiBI4Zqk7kRaUivUOYwatV5437NdgwWzN_X-Rzsg/s1600/Koi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-W9iztjxyMOTUjKAlQ7nw8zqIz4xFYfZGwpMCynOgjSXBwlRYPZWdbHTA14YypKMH9GLbXuRAHPUqGezmokV9V0n5kVgINDFImxiiBI4Zqk7kRaUivUOYwatV5437NdgwWzN_X-Rzsg/s640/Koi.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br />This <i>koi</i> is swimming upstream on Amanda's left arm.<br /><br />Talking to her in Penn Station, Amanda explained that she was "really interested in the Japanese style".<br /><br />She received the tattoo from Pat James Dean at <a href="http://www.neptunetattoo.com/">Tattooville</a>, in Neptune, New Jersey. Done in two sessions, Amanda told me that she selected Pat, in part, because he had his whole back inked in the traditional Japanese fashion. I'm going to take a leap and say it might have been by Horiyoshi III of Yokohama, based on a reference in his bio on the <a href="http://www.neptunetattoo.com/">Tattooville site</a>.<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Thanks to Amanda for sharing this, one of four tattoos she has, with us here on Tattoosday.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. </span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br /><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>

Amanda and Her Koi

This koi is swimming upstream on Amanda's left arm. Talking to her in Penn Station, Amanda explained that she was "really interest...

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Andrew's Traditional Sleeve by Horisei

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDIi1R-Yr7xysGpks7H29QGjvsm2kPfs42OJMghtJ8L5YFbHqnuAM_j1jrQ5O9MW6VNwoe3j7pZ9x00_46CgRJqRgTrYaVihgZU7chq0HbDCK_rW925YLEEjh1U59orcoRkMqkQWh-qQ/s1600/horisei+super+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDIi1R-Yr7xysGpks7H29QGjvsm2kPfs42OJMghtJ8L5YFbHqnuAM_j1jrQ5O9MW6VNwoe3j7pZ9x00_46CgRJqRgTrYaVihgZU7chq0HbDCK_rW925YLEEjh1U59orcoRkMqkQWh-qQ/s400/horisei+super+detail.jpg" width="347" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Every once in a while, it's nice to appreciate a tattoo for its own sake. This is especially rewarding for me when I am familiar with the artist, and I know people who have been tattooed by him or her, which has allowed me to appreciate their craft over time.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">Two of my friends have been fortunate enough to have been tattooed by the wonderful <a href="http://www.horiseitattoo.com/">Horisei</a> (their work appeared <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/02/tattoos-i-know-paul-part-5-or-great.html">here</a> and <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/06/robs-traditional-japanese-dragons.html">here</a>). Horisei works out of <a href="http://www.chelseatattoocompany.com/">Chelsea Tattoo Company</a>, former location of <a href="http://www.risingdragon.com/">Rising Dragon</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So, when I spotted Andrew, coming out of Penn Station last month, I was more than thrilled to take shots of his Horisei-crafted sleeve.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqg0p2CPJTOMMX8Ecyw-mV9BvKtNsCqpMGgk_BnZjJUZTj1CfoplIE-tUfGCVi5PlaEoaZYtZrQVR6gOrfEkGdSHHZcqnUuvobUVUTEggKrYzglW_YC3JPdt3v2MzHo6rKJ6d1ZN_0rs/s1600/horisei+sleeve+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqg0p2CPJTOMMX8Ecyw-mV9BvKtNsCqpMGgk_BnZjJUZTj1CfoplIE-tUfGCVi5PlaEoaZYtZrQVR6gOrfEkGdSHHZcqnUuvobUVUTEggKrYzglW_YC3JPdt3v2MzHo6rKJ6d1ZN_0rs/s640/horisei+sleeve+front.jpg" width="116" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuuvkROTeZp_uQMSHtUAu6rSB0Lpy1j6eHxoBENui-odrKUK1g9zkrsSWflc2pv2GJs1uhOdVhxLiClXspQ-FKUpc0WZ_Y_hlr5VuFzk-SQ67Ty1zbJ19iUGLMCGUwhaCx7XBbHnajT0/s1600/horisei+sleeve+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuuvkROTeZp_uQMSHtUAu6rSB0Lpy1j6eHxoBENui-odrKUK1g9zkrsSWflc2pv2GJs1uhOdVhxLiClXspQ-FKUpc0WZ_Y_hlr5VuFzk-SQ67Ty1zbJ19iUGLMCGUwhaCx7XBbHnajT0/s640/horisei+sleeve+back.jpg" width="156" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"> Andrew estimates that this took about twenty hours of work, over a two to three month period.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCac3n5b3P6NDkhCkCGWhBN4IiR0-Q8yZNYOHbq_bsq2hni0pWBpBAWI-SOss9R-7643vrwRL5t1oQ2ATKlyRiFUnGR2awecrBktn6HNkbvzHPPpctl89gf7FUID7Vt2FEoodR30AZn8/s1600/Horisei+sleeve+tiger+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCac3n5b3P6NDkhCkCGWhBN4IiR0-Q8yZNYOHbq_bsq2hni0pWBpBAWI-SOss9R-7643vrwRL5t1oQ2ATKlyRiFUnGR2awecrBktn6HNkbvzHPPpctl89gf7FUID7Vt2FEoodR30AZn8/s640/Horisei+sleeve+tiger+detail.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">His traditional Japanese sleeve consists of a tiger, two koi, and peonies, in addition to the water background.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyg70qB8CGRf_-97ImRABmKw-bHu8iSHcSouUD3Fhuh5PZhrs7Nfx8g26Wh1cAT3JU6B522p-LrjFMi6m3cqV3v8FTBe6q2GbtqhuP2Bm5pA2QsyOkT9xaJokHFDQa5k83WnA1wt8YeE/s1600/horisei+sleeve+front+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyg70qB8CGRf_-97ImRABmKw-bHu8iSHcSouUD3Fhuh5PZhrs7Nfx8g26Wh1cAT3JU6B522p-LrjFMi6m3cqV3v8FTBe6q2GbtqhuP2Bm5pA2QsyOkT9xaJokHFDQa5k83WnA1wt8YeE/s640/horisei+sleeve+front+detail.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div>Thanks to Andrew for sharing his awesome sleeve with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><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><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><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

Andrew's Traditional Sleeve by Horisei

Every once in a while, it's nice to appreciate a tattoo for its own sake. This is especially rewarding for me when I am familiar with ...

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Out With the Old.....

As we wind down 2010, and look ahead to 2011, I wanted to take care of one of my several loose ends from the past year.<br /><br />Back in July, I met a guy named John on the D train. He had tattooed arms and we chatted a bit. He said he'd send me photos and he did a few weeks later.<br /><br />I never posted the photos because the resolution was low, and when I tried to increase the size, they blurred. I was going to include these in the Christmas housecleaning post, but the work is just too good.<br /><br />So hear you have them, small photos, but recognizably amazing:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-hzlN93Jnz2vYVhBBmmDv9p9y8iwBrHUbLNYsRjzKi5EWrAUAfhXhUPiKB-T0btdozcL2MTqd8_RIPFCw2MZfvTtRw_eyZs6c3BQ4Eovt9VY5jo8b8PS9QT1zFP3_G6K9i668hUIG50/s1600/john+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-hzlN93Jnz2vYVhBBmmDv9p9y8iwBrHUbLNYsRjzKi5EWrAUAfhXhUPiKB-T0btdozcL2MTqd8_RIPFCw2MZfvTtRw_eyZs6c3BQ4Eovt9VY5jo8b8PS9QT1zFP3_G6K9i668hUIG50/s1600/john+2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUe27nkIRFiA67O6YO4x0bPL01SOfDZxZB9YdwIRd30z_HmSjkeFfkjxe_PTB2MwVor_VxqxUwmSjcVI9-SQOsh23GuegJ_ZtB3t7R1_DvhuZAp5PxPrpttWKSQAYPZhyphenhyphenGNo8GIaTqtL0/s1600/john.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUe27nkIRFiA67O6YO4x0bPL01SOfDZxZB9YdwIRd30z_HmSjkeFfkjxe_PTB2MwVor_VxqxUwmSjcVI9-SQOsh23GuegJ_ZtB3t7R1_DvhuZAp5PxPrpttWKSQAYPZhyphenhyphenGNo8GIaTqtL0/s1600/john.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5LvL074JtMzgzJFblhyphenhyphen8MXv4QHzUcABmyhZrxgRBpImSvrcfirHzVPFdH4BZJXUL4paEgPJsziDbbYBaEh8Mq3VWGqU2Wmhy_WOXcmoElgf41gZAhrmfjHe77F6hMWkoGPDcw5ZhOOk/s1600/john3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5LvL074JtMzgzJFblhyphenhyphen8MXv4QHzUcABmyhZrxgRBpImSvrcfirHzVPFdH4BZJXUL4paEgPJsziDbbYBaEh8Mq3VWGqU2Wmhy_WOXcmoElgf41gZAhrmfjHe77F6hMWkoGPDcw5ZhOOk/s1600/john3.jpg" /></a></div><br />I mean, what is there to say? This work is quite excellent. The koi, the tiger, the sailing ship, sugar skull, nautical stars - it's all quite a body of work!<br /><br />The artist is Nacho, who appeared once before on the blog <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/06/matt-wears-his-heart-of-bacon-on-his.html">here</a>. You can check out Nacho's work <a href="http://www.nachotattoo.com.ar/home_eng.htm">here</a>. in New York, he tattoos out of <a href="http://www.studioenigma.com/">Studio Enigma</a> on Avenue U.<br /><br />Thanks to John for sharing these amazing tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br />And thanks to all of our fans and contributors for making 2010 a successful year of inkspotting!

Out With the Old.....

As we wind down 2010, and look ahead to 2011, I wanted to take care of one of my several loose ends from the past year. Back in July, I met ...

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Two-for-Tattoosday, Brazilian-Style

Sometimes, due to a) a language barrier and b) the passage of time, we're not always able to give you the most in-depth story about our subjects' tattoos.<br /><br />Such is the case with Celso and Reginaldo, who I met back in September outside of <a href="http://www.thegarden.com/">Madison Square Garden</a>.<br /><br />Both gentlemen were visiting from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A3o_Paulo">São Paolo</a>, Brazil and one of Celso's tattoos caught my eye:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEVTOOCp-zjNDuvH2WpHRiDXpTOTyHFUWOAbWSoQCDMlHqQhEl88GnvlWPVs50Mzo1fzCR0MGPZfYefeo7J1B0lxwNJZcagO9r85ckwTQTV8Aaz4SR33ihVa3ZMk-lnC2Dp5_C261lnA/s1600/Dragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEVTOOCp-zjNDuvH2WpHRiDXpTOTyHFUWOAbWSoQCDMlHqQhEl88GnvlWPVs50Mzo1fzCR0MGPZfYefeo7J1B0lxwNJZcagO9r85ckwTQTV8Aaz4SR33ihVa3ZMk-lnC2Dp5_C261lnA/s640/Dragon.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />That was on his right arm. He also had this one on his left arm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVGKo_2eHTTVkfZcET5o-hxH-PjFaFhiPwcDPeHctOw8OmjL1i95IBacUu0PrVaegxHP2w_5y_9GDzThepHecYYP5fPjmox7JrjGsYs_cPZDhvJLhLRFsCJuwG4syfQ8yzWvCPcO3Ags/s1600/Mermaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVGKo_2eHTTVkfZcET5o-hxH-PjFaFhiPwcDPeHctOw8OmjL1i95IBacUu0PrVaegxHP2w_5y_9GDzThepHecYYP5fPjmox7JrjGsYs_cPZDhvJLhLRFsCJuwG4syfQ8yzWvCPcO3Ags/s640/Mermaid.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><br />Celso's friend Reginaldo pulled his shirt off so I could get the full view of his koi tattoo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh028XG2aevJvmkrZZUkfIS-QCi2fdwMq9XokaEwEb0pjkoUaQfnLZyGbzqc36WHlyBwmsI4VxZ5Y235RjflaQTEjK6VnDkMF-po8rBN96DG-lM9Eu7rbLCIviwFqhvvxfRFYM6eRLkqBA/s1600/koi+BRazil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh028XG2aevJvmkrZZUkfIS-QCi2fdwMq9XokaEwEb0pjkoUaQfnLZyGbzqc36WHlyBwmsI4VxZ5Y235RjflaQTEjK6VnDkMF-po8rBN96DG-lM9Eu7rbLCIviwFqhvvxfRFYM6eRLkqBA/s640/koi+BRazil.jpg" width="392" /></a></div><br />Celso credited Artur at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/TRUE-LOVE-TATTOO/107617653333">True Love Tattoo</a> in São Paolo for inking his dragon and his mermaid.<br /><br />Artur also was the artists who did Reginaldo's koi.<br /><br />Thanks to Celso and Reginaldo for sharing their tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Two-for-Tattoosday, Brazilian-Style

Sometimes, due to a) a language barrier and b) the passage of time, we're not always able to give you the most in-depth story about our...

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Danny's Koi Struggles Upstream

I met Danny in Penn Station early in August just as he was about to board a train.<br /><br />Before he headed to his platform, however, he allowed me to take this photo of his tattoo-in-progress on his upper right arm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rCpgXvmD4SKbR0MKyrkiQ7blF86M00kg3P3LqbE4snJ4gc4AOR5QHujZIpmZW-Kvm0FL47aXYWbceZ-OI94UOrMevih41_GrNwGntEEC8-TM6wiyrzi_gmLw6zLCr_SZYFz6HSfB/s1600/dannys+koi+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rCpgXvmD4SKbR0MKyrkiQ7blF86M00kg3P3LqbE4snJ4gc4AOR5QHujZIpmZW-Kvm0FL47aXYWbceZ-OI94UOrMevih41_GrNwGntEEC8-TM6wiyrzi_gmLw6zLCr_SZYFz6HSfB/s640/dannys+koi+wm.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><br />He explained that the koi swimming upward on his bicep represented that he was still moving upstream, that is, he was "still overcoming struggles, trials and tribulations". He added that he would get another koi on his left arm, facing downstream, when he had completed his struggle in life.<br /><br />Before we could talk further, however, he had to run for his train. Fortunately for me (and for you, dear Readers), he e-mailed me shortly thereafter with some more details:<br /><blockquote><br />"The leaves are Japanese maples...Everyone gets the traditional lotus flowers, etc. But I chose a leaf that represents no religion or significant meaning to it. I would have gone with the Korean national flower [<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscus_syriacus"><i>Hibiscus syriacus</i></a>] but that, too, had meaning behind it. Many flowers that are traditionally on bodies are either Buddhist or Catholic, etc. Coming from a Christian background, I chose one without any meaning. How can I live with a Buddhist lotus on my arm?<br /><br />At the time I got the tattoo I was confused with life... Direction, purpose, goals, meaning.. I had obstacles and self goals I had to achieve and was in a standstill (not drug-related or any of that sort). I looked to the pain tattooing offers and how it puts your mind in a zoned-out state, which I now thrive for when I'm stressed. It's therapy to me. I'll update you when I find an artist to finish this tattoo. The windbars were left open to expand."</blockquote><br />The tattoo was done by <a href="http://infinitytattoo1.com/section/69530_Lee.html">Lee</a> at <a href="http://infinitytattoo1.com/section/69529.html">Infinity Tattoo</a> in Manhattan.<br /><br />Thanks again yo Danny for sharing his koi with us here at Tattoosday!

Danny's Koi Struggles Upstream

I met Danny in Penn Station early in August just as he was about to board a train. Before he headed to his platform, however, he allowed me ...

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A Selection of Jorge's Tattoos

I met Jorge last week at the top of the escalators leading from Penn Station to 7th Avenue.<br /><br />He has quite a few, and I took photos of the front and back of his left forearm.<br /><br />The inner part of his arm has this koi design:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqk2WoTGAjrcvTxnBcEZQnZubhAShJmkClGxRUCNaxFfnZXWU_xJw3_ysLNs8NwVyJRVyB6ShNgidAxDm87cgqiO8ykTSPc6_eDGHBFWFHAmHhFtEERM3MBn81i19aU91QI9pIjuJ/s1600-h/Jorge+Koi.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451081515675651714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqk2WoTGAjrcvTxnBcEZQnZubhAShJmkClGxRUCNaxFfnZXWU_xJw3_ysLNs8NwVyJRVyB6ShNgidAxDm87cgqiO8ykTSPc6_eDGHBFWFHAmHhFtEERM3MBn81i19aU91QI9pIjuJ/s400/Jorge+Koi.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />A friend of his did this for him, which he got for luck before going overseas with the U.S. Army to Iraq in 2008. He proudly served with the <a href="http://www.campbell.army.mil/units/101st/Pages/3BCT.aspx">Third Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, 187th Infantry Regiment</a>, also known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/187th_Infantry_Regiment_%28United_States%29">The Rakkasans</a>.<br /><br />Jorge loves what he calls his "good luck koi fish" and says "We deployed for 15 months....every time I was tired for walking for 2 or 3 days nonstop, I would look at my tattoo and smile and keep walking...".<br /><br />After returning, he got this tattoo in Nashville:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHRGGGJmkeCyqUxsJeAeBifSFhjdc9OZNLSeHUJGHwlesJGJJejU6fzdlngAnC26zlT-Va33ErKyYWDsszeu9yX7GBB9W4fBI67kqCQUHItMsNxScYwTbWZZ0zmKNBmKMTKg-K-V0/s1600-h/jorge+mask.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451083035144167378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHRGGGJmkeCyqUxsJeAeBifSFhjdc9OZNLSeHUJGHwlesJGJJejU6fzdlngAnC26zlT-Va33ErKyYWDsszeu9yX7GBB9W4fBI67kqCQUHItMsNxScYwTbWZZ0zmKNBmKMTKg-K-V0/s400/jorge+mask.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 175px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />This piece was just a very cool design.<br /><br />Bridging these two very different tattoos are two cherry blossoms:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSh7Ii6VrGWKukTUG5DpLaDTtMxP-i8egVHRE_5LOw7MtkuLM35-1CxDiYj3yNkZdBNfUfvcmVIEB8SdVuc5w5Ws3mXY05xdx96zW5jaJiFLRxVM_5LFf-0siiKe3PyXWRnTnon0M/s1600-h/jorge+cherry+blossoms.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451083925940916130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSh7Ii6VrGWKukTUG5DpLaDTtMxP-i8egVHRE_5LOw7MtkuLM35-1CxDiYj3yNkZdBNfUfvcmVIEB8SdVuc5w5Ws3mXY05xdx96zW5jaJiFLRxVM_5LFf-0siiKe3PyXWRnTnon0M/s400/jorge+cherry+blossoms.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Jorge wanted to make sure they didn't get omitted from the post, as these flowers represent his mother and sister.<br /><br />That would have been it for this post from Jorge, except the day after meeting him, he sent me this shot of a tattoo on the upper left side of his back:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTdTfK7kh4_Dmz-ZeSwhx5Dq5qkiwdCnwBHxTE47b7U7tmMkXryrHdImnhjSkFvAD865d3jPHBieMEku82CJbWL1D1GwtESrkCR7-cyUzTCErTso8FnOZd9QNsJEBa3a-XFgcB2AP/s1600-h/Jorge+Peru.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449770097171993954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTdTfK7kh4_Dmz-ZeSwhx5Dq5qkiwdCnwBHxTE47b7U7tmMkXryrHdImnhjSkFvAD865d3jPHBieMEku82CJbWL1D1GwtESrkCR7-cyUzTCErTso8FnOZd9QNsJEBa3a-XFgcB2AP/s400/Jorge+Peru.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 386px; height: 257px;" /></a>He hadn't mentioned this when I met him, so I was pleased to include it in the post.<br /><br />Jorge got this piece at <a href="http://www.fotolog.com/coyotes__tattoo/54701572">Coyote's Tattoo</a> in Lima, Peru.<br /><br />He says this is a tribute to his mother and his Peruvian heritage. It is based on a pure gold artifact found next to a mummy in Peru which he saw on display in the <a href="http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/gold/">American Museum of Natural History</a>.<br /><br />Thanks again to Jorge for sharing so many of his tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

A Selection of Jorge's Tattoos

I met Jorge last week at the top of the escalators leading from Penn Station to 7th Avenue. He has quite a few, and I took photos of the fro...

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Joe's Blue Koi (and a Honu, too!)

Joe has this amazing koi on his upper left arm, part of a 3/4 sleeve:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRhc6k7B3zinnKc5ls94dTUCkaGcBgk9J8uTxMJkrrc9zM4K2ejvvqy9g4AjYTbKYtaCk-Texo-tl2C5oS9HY_L8NszByPdN0-oPBsfZOf8FQpVY6RUMsBPZk64I62ML2vZmrgOACBzc/s1600-h/Blue+Koi.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380917610134641330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRhc6k7B3zinnKc5ls94dTUCkaGcBgk9J8uTxMJkrrc9zM4K2ejvvqy9g4AjYTbKYtaCk-Texo-tl2C5oS9HY_L8NszByPdN0-oPBsfZOf8FQpVY6RUMsBPZk64I62ML2vZmrgOACBzc/s400/Blue+Koi.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Initially, our discussion was brief. He is a fan of traditional tattoos and loves the Japanese style. He had this inked in 2001 by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/civofficialsite">Civ</a> at <a href="http://www.lotustattoo.com/">Lotus Tattoo</a> in Sayville, New York. Work from Civ appeared previously <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/08/kellys-memorial-for-best-friend-carpe.html">here</a> on Tattoosday.<br /><br />I certainly thought it was unusual to see a blue koi. It's certainly not the most traditional color for a koi tattoo. When I asked Joe about it, he replied, "...there is no significance and I believe it was suggested by Civ...I thought it would certainly be unique, since I had yet to see a blue koi. It was strictly an aesthetic decision."<br /><br />It was only later, when I was looking at the photo at home, that I noticed a fine detail I hadn't picked up before:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UyaUuJl3R2sdztYhBeVPLU_PDsaTdaJmRZrYb7Yc23OgGglDNjc5YFuwRbVa2nYbhv65eK9IgkrbfXZLRWwBsoBNm9P5_VdjbGbvUIo08-nOzD5jUG7QWUcAMaYAFRklKI7rgTklX3k/s1600-h/Blue+Koi+-+Honu.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380917512034796850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UyaUuJl3R2sdztYhBeVPLU_PDsaTdaJmRZrYb7Yc23OgGglDNjc5YFuwRbVa2nYbhv65eK9IgkrbfXZLRWwBsoBNm9P5_VdjbGbvUIo08-nOzD5jUG7QWUcAMaYAFRklKI7rgTklX3k/s400/Blue+Koi+-+Honu.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 354px;" /></a><br />Having grown up in Hawai'i, that certainly looked like a <span style="font-style: italic;">honu </span>design, or traditional Hawaiian sea turtle. I had remembered that Joe had a Polynesian-style tribal arm band on his right forearm, so I shot him an e-mail.<br /><br />He replied:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">The story behind the Polynesian sea turtle is ... I was on my honeymoon in Hawaii, 2001. I had wanted to get tattooed while there and found a shop in Waikiki, <a href="http://www.skindeeptattoowaikiki.com/">Skin Deep</a>. Walked in, shot the shit with one of the guys for half an hour, had an idea of what I wanted to do, a Polynesian band around my forearm being that we were in Hawaii. It seemed fitting as far as a "souvenir" tattoo. Since the band I decided on did not work in a perfect circle around my arm, I decided on the turtle to make it work. We did the tattoo in about an hour and I still love it...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></blockquote>Thanks to Joe for sharing his koi tattoo. I am looking forward to featuring more of his work in the future.

Joe's Blue Koi (and a Honu, too!)

Joe has this amazing koi on his upper left arm, part of a 3/4 sleeve: Initially, our discussion was brief. He is a fan of traditional tattoo...

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Grace's Black and Gray Koi

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3r34VPwRthki3PQROesFrFpJp20WWorH8vBV-8KY8aQUuVoN1ZXZ9RwAzK1BcaznAlhI82qopZN0DrQfOWYHy49FjzNqSP1mtY7p6X7tZ-kTIRkiAc0dAGnl1-jcr-_jsruXiZF9rjzQ/s1600-h/blackandgray+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331282191515718274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3r34VPwRthki3PQROesFrFpJp20WWorH8vBV-8KY8aQUuVoN1ZXZ9RwAzK1BcaznAlhI82qopZN0DrQfOWYHy49FjzNqSP1mtY7p6X7tZ-kTIRkiAc0dAGnl1-jcr-_jsruXiZF9rjzQ/s400/blackandgray+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" /></a><br />I met Grace earlier this week outside of Penn Station. She has three stars tattooed on the inside of her right wrist and had a cherry blossom (above) inked on the back of her neck.<br /><br />About a year ago, she expanded it, adding the <span style="font-style: italic;">koi</span> fish below it:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlm2OOGSRdleSXb6e4jJ_Govcl-pVxGzXLSjLyt3XEcZodw-uGUvTtA_jVIGSde2soCf9NvD9187BMC6iOZFTR9SHglaRgZM-WquvDZ7xGcz8CbUcxK2xUuhoq6YmMuHmQvGXATsH2_w/s1600-h/blackandgray+koi.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331282146204912370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlm2OOGSRdleSXb6e4jJ_Govcl-pVxGzXLSjLyt3XEcZodw-uGUvTtA_jVIGSde2soCf9NvD9187BMC6iOZFTR9SHglaRgZM-WquvDZ7xGcz8CbUcxK2xUuhoq6YmMuHmQvGXATsH2_w/s400/blackandgray+koi.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />She attributed the work to an artist named Kevin, and he did in it in a small shop in Koreatown in Manhattan.<br /><br />Grace says that the tattoo is purely decorative, with no underlying meaning, and that she has no plans to add color. She likes the black and gray appearance of the piece.<br /><br />Thanks to Grace for sharing her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Grace's Black and Gray Koi

I met Grace earlier this week outside of Penn Station. She has three stars tattooed on the inside of her right wrist and had a cherry blosso...

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Tattoorism: Sean's Leg Piece Represents His Transformation from Child to Adult

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf56CEjfYuByaKU8bPxr-35iM-G1n96SkSo_Pq5x7q-Rtf_m0sUyoMm7cF-Bp8ObicV9k7Llx3EPitmujhfTrdcI7_wblzbUAhW6pRa3MoegolI3_1mtnML4QP7jskfPupcI8QP9veEGYr/s1600-h/seansleg+pagoda.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302146204716664114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf56CEjfYuByaKU8bPxr-35iM-G1n96SkSo_Pq5x7q-Rtf_m0sUyoMm7cF-Bp8ObicV9k7Llx3EPitmujhfTrdcI7_wblzbUAhW6pRa3MoegolI3_1mtnML4QP7jskfPupcI8QP9veEGYr/s400/seansleg+pagoda.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 400px;" /></a>This installment of Tattoorism comes from Sean, a reader who offered up his leg piece for our viewing pleasure. The detail above is my favorite aspect of the tattoo, which wraps around Sean's entire left leg.<br /><br />In Sean's words:<br /><br /><blockquote>"...Even though this was done in about 4 or 5 sessions, I could not describe this in any other way except as one big tattoo.<span> </span>Each piece works together with each other. <p> </p> <p>I consider this my growth-themed tattoo.<span> </span>I started the tattoo, at the age of 18, right before I graduated from high school and finished it right before entering my first year of college, a period of immense growth in my opinion.<span> </span>As long as I can remember, I have been drawn to Asian artwork, so at an extremely basic level this tattoo is just extremely aesthetically pleasing to me, but there is also deeper meaning.</p> <p> </p> From the Japanese folklore I have heard, koi fish are said to grow into dragons.<br /></blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy7mxMFcfMfZ47gt7jB95kiQ44zSnu6qa4y2diIwh2oaZO0dIgHKP2IoYsBqQWiPPe_O7JgsQZ7_Fg-NawKF41-1ZBCeA8-NTFaF7Vq_vQAqvCs49_CQZ5gREI0j1QL4T9H-qB_FkSBJY/s1600-h/seansleg2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302140634961351410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy7mxMFcfMfZ47gt7jB95kiQ44zSnu6qa4y2diIwh2oaZO0dIgHKP2IoYsBqQWiPPe_O7JgsQZ7_Fg-NawKF41-1ZBCeA8-NTFaF7Vq_vQAqvCs49_CQZ5gREI0j1QL4T9H-qB_FkSBJY/s400/seansleg2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFKEmJqtnz5BpF6SoJKHnlzLV4AYIURQijpRPspqEreJE6WkaV5bxBAp_X3-nDUPqdLIcawPypd2jhFrC49Q9o5wA2nQa2-1_w4uKRQKDSSy0vl0d3p7Fy4zoIceMmWLx4dR-6ECIgcAJ/s1600-h/seansleg1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302140951556368258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFKEmJqtnz5BpF6SoJKHnlzLV4AYIURQijpRPspqEreJE6WkaV5bxBAp_X3-nDUPqdLIcawPypd2jhFrC49Q9o5wA2nQa2-1_w4uKRQKDSSy0vl0d3p7Fy4zoIceMmWLx4dR-6ECIgcAJ/s400/seansleg1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 171px; height: 400px;" /></a><blockquote><span> </span>That was the basic premise of my tattoo, maturing from childhood to adulthood.<span> </span>I decided to have the koi swimming upwards to portray the different struggles experienced in this growth.<span> </span>The dragon has always been such a powerful image to me and a great symbol of courage and strength, two qualities I constantly strive to achieve and portray myself.<p><span> </span></p> <p> </p></blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfuiTD_Xg9GupNdsOpS8Ong0xGqb8IxHEExLUOOc38yxsKjPUPGb829Gz8kS2oJhBmwdcpMM6QbOOpUrHbEVzeJ6hroXqpfJXaklbXxptie9N-IPvnUtAOqdeKzjaEoWbuEiMqXOPdBqW/s1600-h/seansleg4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302139802896108642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfuiTD_Xg9GupNdsOpS8Ong0xGqb8IxHEExLUOOc38yxsKjPUPGb829Gz8kS2oJhBmwdcpMM6QbOOpUrHbEVzeJ6hroXqpfJXaklbXxptie9N-IPvnUtAOqdeKzjaEoWbuEiMqXOPdBqW/s400/seansleg4.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 400px;" /></a><blockquote>There are also two other major images in this tattoo, the pagoda and the lotus flower.<br /><br />The lotus is another symbol of "growth."<span> </span>I always loved the idea that a lotus begins its life in murky, dark, ugly waters, but eventually grows to become a beautiful flower despite its surroundings.<span> </span>It's a reminder that no matter how hard things get in life, I can make it through those times and blossom as a better person.<span> </span><br /></blockquote><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1OoEmsBrfCf-oxxdSX0uxprzItlua-KDIYVtU1xiaadb9fUwWeMzorYmwWnSsRojQIuT6ex0QJexjJRpVLS7XfQ-LSF-jMORKCT6WQUcK9GBOK2GX89SS89kkCaMjnao9-N031pwoEnt/s1600-h/seansleg+lotus+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302232830262242130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1OoEmsBrfCf-oxxdSX0uxprzItlua-KDIYVtU1xiaadb9fUwWeMzorYmwWnSsRojQIuT6ex0QJexjJRpVLS7XfQ-LSF-jMORKCT6WQUcK9GBOK2GX89SS89kkCaMjnao9-N031pwoEnt/s400/seansleg+lotus+2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1OoEmsBrfCf-oxxdSX0uxprzItlua-KDIYVtU1xiaadb9fUwWeMzorYmwWnSsRojQIuT6ex0QJexjJRpVLS7XfQ-LSF-jMORKCT6WQUcK9GBOK2GX89SS89kkCaMjnao9-N031pwoEnt/s1600-h/seansleg+lotus+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span></span></a><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnc0JjHmiV0R9fDTk0leZbkSHHq4VGp0kUc6MVGut46G94j0sy9V4juWzbD7zeJ14cxsWrQsE35jRkUvUQUHy0SA7T-wrvfpJLn7vhQqvqqRtQ6qRPQaccw1CwouJF3LORJJ4Y6tAPYeZ7/s1600-h/seansleg+lotus.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302232889135143458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnc0JjHmiV0R9fDTk0leZbkSHHq4VGp0kUc6MVGut46G94j0sy9V4juWzbD7zeJ14cxsWrQsE35jRkUvUQUHy0SA7T-wrvfpJLn7vhQqvqqRtQ6qRPQaccw1CwouJF3LORJJ4Y6tAPYeZ7/s400/seansleg+lotus.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 400px;" /></a></span><blockquote>Finally, the personal symbolism I hold for the pagoda is a house of knowledge and discipline.<span> </span>I hoped to achieve, and believe I have, a great amount of knowledge and discipline through my years in college and during the growth from childhood to adulthood in general.<br /></blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAHw6dkvFOaE-LePlw9L4UfKwrfF6rgWW8xqEGmES_u4So4vyP1ootFyyic-4Dvc5i89tebJORXoq8xyzP4DHX5kT2NQEstJjlT8w5wCtbkiaLU0bdihd-U4hLUPJWYXBRa1VCt_T5DdZ/s1600-h/seansleg3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302140551484871938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAHw6dkvFOaE-LePlw9L4UfKwrfF6rgWW8xqEGmES_u4So4vyP1ootFyyic-4Dvc5i89tebJORXoq8xyzP4DHX5kT2NQEstJjlT8w5wCtbkiaLU0bdihd-U4hLUPJWYXBRa1VCt_T5DdZ/s400/seansleg3.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 400px;" /></a><span></span><blockquote><span>The tattoo was done by <a href="http://mikeschweigerttattooer.com/home.html">Mike Schweigert</a> @ <a href="http://electrictattoonj.com/home.html">Electric Tattoo</a> in <a href="http://www.bradleybeachonline.com/index.asp">Bradley Beach, NJ</a>.<br /></span></blockquote><span>Thanks to Sean for sharing this amazing leg piece with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br />Sean recognized that our "</span>posts kind of drop off, completely understandably, during the colder months." Not only did he help us with content on an ink-less day, regular readers will recognize that I generally don't run sleeves, or wrap-around tattoos, on the blog, as their characteristics make them very difficult to adequately display in their full glory. It's tough to capture them fully when on the street. So a double thanks to Sean for not only sending us an elaborate leg piece, but providing a well-written synopsis of the personal meaning behind the elements in the design!

Tattoorism: Sean's Leg Piece Represents His Transformation from Child to Adult

This installment of Tattoorism comes from Sean, a reader who offered up his leg piece for our viewing pleasure. The detail above is my favor...

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Jay's Incredible Chest Pieces

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNcqYrJNTB8A9Xyg2rmkJW7YVHsRczugetHdl0KMn6qlpyREEVv4kPVJM2pMQv96e9kIsB4SmfwrnhlRf1vBJxZNEavq8PJZBw6v5uJTUJIkXBVTxMG5X_Dz_s3m2fFgRDi10FbOBTdxX/s1600-h/Tattoosday.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231531248718818194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNcqYrJNTB8A9Xyg2rmkJW7YVHsRczugetHdl0KMn6qlpyREEVv4kPVJM2pMQv96e9kIsB4SmfwrnhlRf1vBJxZNEavq8PJZBw6v5uJTUJIkXBVTxMG5X_Dz_s3m2fFgRDi10FbOBTdxX/s400/Tattoosday.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Last Friday, I met Jay on the 59th Street platform in Brooklyn. He had well-inked arms and he clearly had other ink peeking out from the edges of his shirt.<br /><br />We chatted for a while on the platform and on the <a href="http://www.mta.info/nyct/service/rline.htm">R train</a> after it arrived. Jay was game for contributing to the blog, but wanted to offer up his chest pieces, of which he is most proud. Since taking off his shirt was not an option, he agreed to send me a photo later. That's what you see above.<br /><br />Needless to say, Jay was right. His chest work is phenomenal. The artist is <a href="http://www.inkstoptattoonyc.com/artist_gal_eddie.cfm">Eddie Carrero</a>, who works out of <a href="http://www.inkstoptattoonyc.com/">Inkstop Tattoo</a><a href="http://www.inkstoptattoonyc.com/"> NYC</a> in Manhattan. It's all custom-designed and original art by Eddie. Let's take a closer look:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72esBkGZh1Sz_WyJOMID3pjUCucjqj4HixGNhheSvYjC4QvuGg15k_0dZ6jVhsebU8Rq5PrBiP5nofBT-6ne-Lp4mkoCqxr7tpVNCgAPVkuxehodPu1zxS5SzkbteOm-qiE1xpN-OPmna/s1600-h/goldkoi1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232315256049669506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72esBkGZh1Sz_WyJOMID3pjUCucjqj4HixGNhheSvYjC4QvuGg15k_0dZ6jVhsebU8Rq5PrBiP5nofBT-6ne-Lp4mkoCqxr7tpVNCgAPVkuxehodPu1zxS5SzkbteOm-qiE1xpN-OPmna/s400/goldkoi1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSCqbDmVPKPV75Yv0nGeKL3qOaRKOoXCgZuE892KHjPe9d1f7fmwYSQsuS5zxBjDwjp_NxkS1fZdSZA-za4ceUOea01xjzAR7C8t6tACo7OGpw50S6OJ13Y5BYMEMEBFNei6ifQB85BoL/s1600-h/dragon2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232315161878341026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSCqbDmVPKPV75Yv0nGeKL3qOaRKOoXCgZuE892KHjPe9d1f7fmwYSQsuS5zxBjDwjp_NxkS1fZdSZA-za4ceUOea01xjzAR7C8t6tACo7OGpw50S6OJ13Y5BYMEMEBFNei6ifQB85BoL/s400/dragon2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Not only does Eddie use phenomenal coloring on the koi and the dragon, but his shading work in the background is extremely cool as well.<br /><br />Thanks to Jay for sharing his chest pieces here on Tattoosday!

Jay's Incredible Chest Pieces

Last Friday, I met Jay on the 59th Street platform in Brooklyn. He had well-inked arms and he clearly had other ink peeking out from the ed...

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Marta's Koi Lights Up 34th Street

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XXv32k26hAVEvClga6ett7AW5Jv647GxGhy-2PreU2SSVrc3Nq-ZM4gJH-44Cgch52-pT69iI053J5_aFmYaWoAjYXEb1OzIx70t6mFE2UYuMsm0Bqhxc4Ikf9lMyxBFuMUzHgDhTrsR/s1600-h/KOI+DETAIL+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230251296175162594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XXv32k26hAVEvClga6ett7AW5Jv647GxGhy-2PreU2SSVrc3Nq-ZM4gJH-44Cgch52-pT69iI053J5_aFmYaWoAjYXEb1OzIx70t6mFE2UYuMsm0Bqhxc4Ikf9lMyxBFuMUzHgDhTrsR/s400/KOI+DETAIL+2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />During lunch on Friday, good fortune found me in the form of Marta and her amazing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koi"><span style="font-style: italic;">koi</span></a> tattoo.<br /><br />Positioned on her left bicep, the bright colors of this piece really popped off her skin.<br /><br />To Marta, <span style="font-style: italic;">koi</span> represent overcoming adversity and are symbols of empowerment. She is happy to have such a striking reminder on her arm.<br /><br />This is one of ten tattoos she has. The piece was inked by John Gallo, of <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=0tb&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=painless+steel&near=New+York,+NY&fb=1&view=text&latlng=6360306892162936466">Painless Steel Tattoo</a> in the Astoria section of Queens.<br /><a href="http://cafe/studio.com/painlesssteel/indexside.html" target="_blank"></a><br />Thanks to Marta for sharing her awesome <span style="font-style: italic;">koi</span> with us here at Tattoosday!

Marta's Koi Lights Up 34th Street

During lunch on Friday, good fortune found me in the form of Marta and her amazing koi tattoo. Positioned on her left bicep, the bright col...

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John's Koi: Then and Now

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJrVFCvPPbyhRYqDKfPjbVmyWYkjhGYVo673x7c4VAPHuArhbVT4Jih4SSAGuEjTNGEkBrXUL4t3pyowWl2BcQT4TmhAvQvnx9mygwonqInCJVdz_gkDam1cMJKCVxBKB_Iih10FS2noU/s1600-h/John's+Koi+1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202240805360209906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJrVFCvPPbyhRYqDKfPjbVmyWYkjhGYVo673x7c4VAPHuArhbVT4Jih4SSAGuEjTNGEkBrXUL4t3pyowWl2BcQT4TmhAvQvnx9mygwonqInCJVdz_gkDam1cMJKCVxBKB_Iih10FS2noU/s400/John's+Koi+1.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><br />It was only a matter of time.<br /><br />I wondered when, just buy the nature of my talking to so many tattooed people, I would approach someone about Tattoosday, having already featured them on the blog.<br /><br />The answer: seven months.<br /><br />Here's an excerpt from October 2007:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoRASuREHb14MWZMrxsPJsEXgMsOO6XFtwJ9SRSKjV0IAug5F9JbEebWM5BCF9O7yGRo2CanQDoq3HyJWZJaW16kKV3d8zloELz5Z3LE02HFIRjBG4S_5E6gBIaJoF_vL4kaYl6NuFEOz/s1600-h/100_5246.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116210110045820738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoRASuREHb14MWZMrxsPJsEXgMsOO6XFtwJ9SRSKjV0IAug5F9JbEebWM5BCF9O7yGRo2CanQDoq3HyJWZJaW16kKV3d8zloELz5Z3LE02HFIRjBG4S_5E6gBIaJoF_vL4kaYl6NuFEOz/s400/100_5246.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Does that look familiar? I wrote in October 2007:<br /><br /><blockquote>The first piece is a classic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koi" style="font-style: italic;">koi</a> tattoo, done on the front of the calf. There is a dragon on the back of the leg but it is not finished yet, as color still needs to be added.<br /><br />The host, John, is from the Bay Ridge area and had his koi inked at <a href="http://www.bodyartstudios.com/">Body Art Studios</a> on 3rd Avenue. We know the artist, <a href="http://www.bodyartstudios.com/peter.htm">Peter Cavorsi</a>, who also runs the shop, because he is responsible for one of mine and three of my wife's pieces. I strongly recommend his shop if you live in southwest Brooklyn. His shop is clean and he does very nice work, as you can see from John's <span style="font-style: italic;">koi</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Koi </span>are a traditional part of Japanese tattoo, and are very common subjects n body art because they represent good fortune. Despite their being regular subjects, they seldom are ever one in the same. Like snowflakes, they tend to differ from body to body, and unlike tribal pieces, I don't think I could ever get bored of koi tattoos.<br /><br />John estimated that this large leg piece, including the dragon on the back of the leg, not pictured and not yet colored, took 13 hours so far. A lot of people don't realize how much time goes into elaborate pieces like these. On shows like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Ink" style="font-style: italic;">Miami Ink</a>, a ten-hour project can be compressed to five minutes of screen time.<br /><br /></blockquote>Well, last Sunday, I saw the finished work, not realizing that John had been here previously. I handed him a flier at the grocery store, and he reminded me who he was. He was busy with groceries, but he promised me he'd send photos of the finished work. He estimates that Peter had spent an additional nine hours on the piece since October, making it about 22 hours in total. <br /><br />That's one thing about the whole "_____ Ink" television experience, the work is edited down so much that many people don't realize how much effort goes into the large quality pieces.<br /><br />And of course, John came through with these updated shots:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJSii3WxbnCrXnZd5uXGD4wkN5Cts_0BmzGMlj83J1LkBFn3BWFBwTDk_syxg4A18kGo9dOnXzcNVJuLXjzHSYBvbC9pIw12j5s-25B0-ufoo8MZT10lKjhJwh8ExcOmcmtvTjxGWPEHL/s1600-h/John's+Koi+1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202240453172891618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJSii3WxbnCrXnZd5uXGD4wkN5Cts_0BmzGMlj83J1LkBFn3BWFBwTDk_syxg4A18kGo9dOnXzcNVJuLXjzHSYBvbC9pIw12j5s-25B0-ufoo8MZT10lKjhJwh8ExcOmcmtvTjxGWPEHL/s400/John's+Koi+1.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguz3jo7nl6kvOwedR4VeJzAd9-4v50gVhS-5xP0sF2EefL5ikr0XgRTADrM-z62FcTjdPYNKunuZm-_uJbnGhle-OdwZnkfhL-gOzAioDS8oEEVEH81ad2e5sK8UQELU9ciHe6D5Ib4eCP/s1600-h/John's+Koi+2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202240285669167058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguz3jo7nl6kvOwedR4VeJzAd9-4v50gVhS-5xP0sF2EefL5ikr0XgRTADrM-z62FcTjdPYNKunuZm-_uJbnGhle-OdwZnkfhL-gOzAioDS8oEEVEH81ad2e5sK8UQELU9ciHe6D5Ib4eCP/s400/John's+Koi+2.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11DegcN6lDa9VbpKxRA0xA8lw_wj9M4IXVSMm8lM1tPAZcBKtFxHSdLipTwSm3dRVmBg7DVZkMW09wVHdeuxZvTNF2NCmfx1d3fhs1nnBUS1tjnISZ2QQ96TkgVfdI_qryoalXOYEKvI8/s1600-h/John's+Koi+3.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202239366546165698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11DegcN6lDa9VbpKxRA0xA8lw_wj9M4IXVSMm8lM1tPAZcBKtFxHSdLipTwSm3dRVmBg7DVZkMW09wVHdeuxZvTNF2NCmfx1d3fhs1nnBUS1tjnISZ2QQ96TkgVfdI_qryoalXOYEKvI8/s400/John's+Koi+3.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKj5HkJTtij0jDhr9wchoV8EX4BM-L-ZcVYEIyo7_b1abBJ7Ae4KN5e41K09qVBIp_N9eyNYSEtAjLzpbxQ1fkYIxyZp6VLRPsC3oQUp-mtB6SR80A9veNcFCyF1BeEun0Zr7yJnly0uQk/s1600-h/John's+Koi+4.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202239194747473842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKj5HkJTtij0jDhr9wchoV8EX4BM-L-ZcVYEIyo7_b1abBJ7Ae4KN5e41K09qVBIp_N9eyNYSEtAjLzpbxQ1fkYIxyZp6VLRPsC3oQUp-mtB6SR80A9veNcFCyF1BeEun0Zr7yJnly0uQk/s400/John's+Koi+4.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Thanks to John for sharing his finished leg piece with us! Stay tuned!! He also sent me photos of his other tattoos, which will be featured in a later post.

John's Koi: Then and Now

It was only a matter of time. I wondered when, just buy the nature of my talking to so many tattooed people, I would approach someone about ...

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Tattoos I Know: Brooke's Back

Readers of Tattoosday may already be familiar with Brooke from her first appearance <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2007/12/tattoos-i-know-brookes-courage.html">here</a>, showing off her courage.<br /><br />Well, she's back. Literally. The other day I spotted her wearing a sweater over a halter-top, so I thought I'd invite her back to show off her previously alluded-to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koi" style="font-style: italic;">koi</a>.<br /><br />From a distance, they look like wings, or perhaps even eyes:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokIlMaznJH_fTBIzuhptDKJNuDod9KXI5woZyH4KJNq5pTqaFeX8MwwT1S5IeouRFscnQMMGj91qJV0dRAO5m_w4cYiWdIG2TNA2nTgasPTiyz2EGyxseo3mVH0UIpu7G3tuNIgyEzVzD/s1600-h/100_6817.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181497167830292226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokIlMaznJH_fTBIzuhptDKJNuDod9KXI5woZyH4KJNq5pTqaFeX8MwwT1S5IeouRFscnQMMGj91qJV0dRAO5m_w4cYiWdIG2TNA2nTgasPTiyz2EGyxseo3mVH0UIpu7G3tuNIgyEzVzD/s400/100_6817.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />But a closer examination reveals that they are two <span style="font-style: italic;">koi</span>. For more on <span style="font-style: italic;">koi</span>, jump <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/03/tattoos-i-know-paul-part-2-or.html">here</a> and follow the links.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqH06qVXKmE8SG-UC-0xTmg_msvRpUJsUwSMjWbX16WdDW4cMtEuRhjnNBtLxKbxgCKIkGZnh0YNZa84N8WkFu63iUusDrQgwm6jYmInvD5urL0eFxCSWoPp0Ytmq5ylu-3xtJNz2qH4K/s1600-h/bcreek.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181495840685397746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqH06qVXKmE8SG-UC-0xTmg_msvRpUJsUwSMjWbX16WdDW4cMtEuRhjnNBtLxKbxgCKIkGZnh0YNZa84N8WkFu63iUusDrQgwm6jYmInvD5urL0eFxCSWoPp0Ytmq5ylu-3xtJNz2qH4K/s320/bcreek.gif" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><br />Just to recap, Brooke is from <a href="http://www.utah.gov/">Utah</a> and currently lives in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoboken,_New_Jersey">Hoboken</a>.<br /><br />Her first koi was inked on the right side of her back in May 2005. She was in <a href="http://www.cityofboise.org/">Boise, Idaho</a>, at the time, reeling from the end of a ten-year relationship. She was in a watering hole called <a href="http://www.bittercreekalehouse.com/home.htm">Bittercreek Alehouse</a> where, she estimates, she consumed a pitcher of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojito">mojitos</a>. It was decided that a tattoo was on the menu for the evening so she headed over to <a href="http://www.idaho-tattoo.com/sixthstreet.htm">6th Street Studio</a> in downtown Boise.<br /><br />Brooke had heard the expression "bleeding out" when people had gone through the tattoo process. Rather than the threateningly <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleeding_out">negative meaning</a> the phrase may have in the medical community, or the technical expression of flawed inking, Brooke understands the expression to reflect the fact that many people find the pain and the minimal blood shed of the tattoo process to be redemptive and healing.<br /><br />Brooke spent time looking through books and found a design she liked, a traditional <span style="font-style: italic;">koi</span> with a background of cherry blossom petals and waves. However, when working with John the artist, she had him enlarge the koi, brighten its color, and remove the background elements.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUqVdh1MthZA_zDJ9wUzL3WU0rQrSTmb8Nec2lkuMrQvaM3djKpGeO3Ix_iKbfPyH64CULNJ6xPf7xnFoeG6hmA5wxMnc4zDGrquAwFLhe0yUj2m18tEj8TYk7pGdMWOgXP4sHKeSoh4N/s1600-h/100_6819.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181499414098188066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUqVdh1MthZA_zDJ9wUzL3WU0rQrSTmb8Nec2lkuMrQvaM3djKpGeO3Ix_iKbfPyH64CULNJ6xPf7xnFoeG6hmA5wxMnc4zDGrquAwFLhe0yUj2m18tEj8TYk7pGdMWOgXP4sHKeSoh4N/s400/100_6819.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />To her, the koi on her back symbolized moving past the ended relationship into a new chapter of her life.<br /><br />Flash forward to December, seven months later, she was headed back to Boise. There was a celebrity event she wanted to attend with her friends, at which adult film director/producer/star<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_jeremy"> Ron Jeremy</a> was the main attraction. She met him at the event and the next night, was back at Bittercreek, enjoying their mojitos.<br /><br />She headed back to 6th Street Studio and had John even out her back, placing another <span style="font-style: italic;">koi</span> on the left side, facing the other.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAkIpCdbSgRkSMN9d26kkj39oCUOG7qpdkm88xs3-pB9BJUOnu9ATYVPcL-vfzeWMEUhYV-dUYLf7dAp6IMJbygzEY5QIDqIxLv3n45k_ZLVPUNHsRIdkQkmTpLvq3JUv_cUWp1WgKCvh/s1600-h/100_6818.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181499753400604466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAkIpCdbSgRkSMN9d26kkj39oCUOG7qpdkm88xs3-pB9BJUOnu9ATYVPcL-vfzeWMEUhYV-dUYLf7dAp6IMJbygzEY5QIDqIxLv3n45k_ZLVPUNHsRIdkQkmTpLvq3JUv_cUWp1WgKCvh/s400/100_6818.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />The symmetry brought a nice balance to the ink on her back. John also gave a little touch-up to the original koi on her right side.<br /><br />And here's a Tattoosday first: Brooke has provided pictures from the shop as she was getting the second <span style="font-style: italic;">koi</span>:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KiSJr5b1SI0YU9AnFDXXgKMXSIQN4ZHUBBJ-dCTjMbZc-EdFPFp6Zt7CT0atc32WJGisjhhRdzLLm-Yu0ucAQubWNuki5e93-FB-JrkB1wJZXusfcib9B3eXd7XOEq9N_td9SUBrOJQ_/s1600-h/tat+in+progress.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181500109882890050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KiSJr5b1SI0YU9AnFDXXgKMXSIQN4ZHUBBJ-dCTjMbZc-EdFPFp6Zt7CT0atc32WJGisjhhRdzLLm-Yu0ucAQubWNuki5e93-FB-JrkB1wJZXusfcib9B3eXd7XOEq9N_td9SUBrOJQ_/s400/tat+in+progress.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />And here's a photo with Brooke and Chris, the artist at 6th Street Studio:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3_nrTKCWS3e7fy-IBZ14CliS5qZkwnkg2gQoXGUVEo3HL_3pRivWSGQJqrBkF7TPF5U9xe8xgaKCrFeJ4NooL3grnYmlb3f_FF3kWeUlRg4IrKFvvjf1eLK5YNHAYzdMTK9JChmYoXwy/s1600-h/brookeandjohn.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181500470660142930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3_nrTKCWS3e7fy-IBZ14CliS5qZkwnkg2gQoXGUVEo3HL_3pRivWSGQJqrBkF7TPF5U9xe8xgaKCrFeJ4NooL3grnYmlb3f_FF3kWeUlRg4IrKFvvjf1eLK5YNHAYzdMTK9JChmYoXwy/s400/brookeandjohn.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Brooke loves her <span style="font-style: italic;">koi</span>, which people often mistake for wings from afar. However, he finds them symbolic of her perseverance and courage.<br /><br />There are many stories about <span style="font-style: italic;">koi</span> and their significance in body art. One legend is that, when <span style="font-style: italic;">koi</span> swim upstream and reach the source of the river, they transform into dragons. Brooke sees parallels to this in her own life, having swum away from home and reached the East Coast. She is not a dragon, but feels that her tattoos represent her transformation here in the New York City area.<br /><br />Thanks gain to Brooke for sharing her ink and the great back story (no pun intended) behind these and the prior tattoo here. Next time you drink mojitos, think of koi and good fortune!

Tattoos I Know: Brooke's Back

Readers of Tattoosday may already be familiar with Brooke from her first appearance here , showing off her courage. Well, she's back. Li...

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