John's Incredible Art-Themed Sleeve by Stefano Alcantara

If you go back to the beginnings of Tattoosday, one of our earliest contributors was John Sorezza, a friend of the neighborhood who I see quite often. He shared his first work, the beginning of a leg piece, <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2007/10/3rd-avenue-festival-bay-ridge.html">here</a>.<br /><br />In the years that have passed since I first met him, John has taken up work as a tattoo artist and tattoos out of <a href="http://www.brooklynmadetattoo.com/">Brooklyn Made Tattoo</a>.<br /><br />Over last summer I ran into him down the block and he shared some of his latest ink, all inspired by his new vocation:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplWLO7O8dRo6YfrjhsiMeKIch3U93mhc_PZcEyqpUuKGd1LjFu1EZKsArOffHX5ELam2ApTZtyIHT2Ili1cRHwTKvbMCdS9ER0x5FXREqWKdNOKfDEKaaq1HSVEJgDC-RZrNA6e1tNPU/s572/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplWLO7O8dRo6YfrjhsiMeKIch3U93mhc_PZcEyqpUuKGd1LjFu1EZKsArOffHX5ELam2ApTZtyIHT2Ili1cRHwTKvbMCdS9ER0x5FXREqWKdNOKfDEKaaq1HSVEJgDC-RZrNA6e1tNPU/s640/photo.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />As I've said before, sleeves are always a challenge to capture on a web page, especially when the photos are taken out on the street, where natural light differs, depending on the angle. Despite my amazing photo editing skills, the collage above is marred by totally different tones, but you can still see the gist of the tattoo - the phrase "ART IS PAIN" carved from the inside with an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-Acto">X-Acto knife</a>, with a dripping paintbrush, pen and pencil, all tools of the artist's trade, poking through the letters in the flesh.<br /><br />And if you weren't impressed by that, check out this phenomenal tattoo machine on the inner part of John's forearm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTd-6Se4nWd9ps7BpljwMCZVFutqnwuPN94gLq_yyWk8i4NmBPPWI__ioI_DXvMey0tim66Y8u7Jgg-BZ0cpLhfn1a-vffDJK4VbsqUTQZjKNJzPXtU_GumGmxnH3KPKUxCd9u1-_ogI/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/AVvXsEhQTd-6Se4nWd9ps7BpljwMCZVFutqnwuPN94gLq_yyWk8i4NmBPPWI__ioI_DXvMey0tim66Y8u7Jgg-BZ0cpLhfn1a-vffDJK4VbsqUTQZjKNJzPXtU_GumGmxnH3KPKUxCd9u1-_ogI/s640/photo.jpg" width="362" /></a></div><br />And all of this is punctuated by this mask on the back of his hand:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6ErBy8MoZ5_qYyf2L_DKjuc-GrYMVrnIHGN07RL6g2fQ7G1xlpQfIU_mzCw5r1G-O8Gw49CpUUtw0pCBglxw6D6ZZrJ41fIo4ZztOZKsXJmii7WuSX3d0lEJuwQ7Zeo2d_OvoXD_oKI/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/AVvXsEgu6ErBy8MoZ5_qYyf2L_DKjuc-GrYMVrnIHGN07RL6g2fQ7G1xlpQfIU_mzCw5r1G-O8Gw49CpUUtw0pCBglxw6D6ZZrJ41fIo4ZztOZKsXJmii7WuSX3d0lEJuwQ7Zeo2d_OvoXD_oKI/s640/photo.jpg" width="468" /></a></div><br />John pointed out that the eyes are fashioned with pen quills, to keep with the theme of this art-inspired sleeve.<br /><br />This amazing work is the product of the great <a href="http://www.stefanoalcantara.com/">Stefano Alcantara</a>, who hails from Lima, Peru, and tattoos out of world-famous <a href="http://www.darkimages.com/">Paul Booth's Last Rites Tattoo Theater</a> here in New York City. You can also check out Alcantara's Facebook fan page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stefano-Alcantara/85657678062">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks again to John for continuing to share his work with us here on Tattoosday! You can find John at <a href="http://www.brooklynmadetattoo.com/">Brooklyn Made Tattoo</a> in Bay Ridge.<br /><br />See John's other tattoos <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2007/10/3rd-avenue-festival-bay-ridge.html">here</a>, <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/05/johns-koi-then-and-now.html">here</a>, <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/05/johns-other-three-tattoos.html">here</a>, and <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/03/only-god-can-judge-him.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.24773594224825501" 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.</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>

John's Incredible Art-Themed Sleeve by Stefano Alcantara

If you go back to the beginnings of Tattoosday, one of our earliest contributors was John Sorezza, a friend of the neighborhood who I see qu...

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Adrian's Ink Celebrates His Heritage

I met Adrian last month on a fluke - I was on the D train headed to Brooklyn going to a dentist's appointment, having left work early.<br /><br />I approached him about his ink and we had a really great discussion about tattoos and art.<br /><br />Adrian is a wonderful artist and his work can be seen <a href="http://viajeroart.com/">here</a> at Viajero Art (dot) com. Take a look at <a href="http://viajeroart.com/#1228345/Caja-De-La-Memoria-Viva-II">this exhibit</a>, a mixed media piece that just looks amazing.<br /><br />He shared two of his tattoos with me. First, this piece:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWQq18X9vWpDPsKNNNBLDS3_uCjK-YUhCOPMrBtrXOuanUmoLKnRjWVeR9e8ONXNF3z5dw1AKfdCBnchCBLR5ennur-7t5qwyGzYCiyDGZiyq9eW0cjg-jMwHN8wcnH8tG5C-Vuqwepg/s1600/st+james+mask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWQq18X9vWpDPsKNNNBLDS3_uCjK-YUhCOPMrBtrXOuanUmoLKnRjWVeR9e8ONXNF3z5dw1AKfdCBnchCBLR5ennur-7t5qwyGzYCiyDGZiyq9eW0cjg-jMwHN8wcnH8tG5C-Vuqwepg/s640/st+james+mask.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br />This tattoo, on the inside of Adrian's right arm, is a Puerto Rican mask. Adrian's family hails from the small town of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lo%C3%ADza,_Puerto_Rico">Loíza</a>, in northeastern Puerto Rico. In <a href="http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/legacies/PR/200003485.html">the festival of St. James, the Apostle</a>, people wear traditional masks like these as part of the celebration. Adrian explained that St. James was known, among many things, for helping the Spanish fight back invading Moors. One of the functions of the masks, he explained, was to  scare people into going back to church, where the masks represented the terrifying Moors.<br /><br />Adrian also shared this piece from his right forearm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9nocdBZ5Pn3ngfiPboItw2ET2sorxiKWwmd81gFq3fG_v-QQp-k-HeNJ_IKVbRErwRD7xGxHZYDQ6yuXD-nLujVAmw_KRQFW5MOT-5M6CdfT_vgEasz95H1grnokPvhGHXBAAGz_WXY/s1600/gypsy+life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9nocdBZ5Pn3ngfiPboItw2ET2sorxiKWwmd81gFq3fG_v-QQp-k-HeNJ_IKVbRErwRD7xGxHZYDQ6yuXD-nLujVAmw_KRQFW5MOT-5M6CdfT_vgEasz95H1grnokPvhGHXBAAGz_WXY/s640/gypsy+life.jpg" width="158" /></a></div><br />This tattoo, he told me, represents the women in his life. The fact that she is depicted as a gypsy is for good luck. The detail in this tattoo is astonishing:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uqnqngFa9IgxvdHl3neU-ObvRicKJsNVB-p-0VBgJM3QbsCaEb6X8vNZjgVmHvvrdVHIyOtkvb63M1ouiZSsztgfo5oZFxHOPIgst_LfbxLmWmPzclrYAY20AhTiGJM6u1Ui3gObVZA/s1600/gypsy+life+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uqnqngFa9IgxvdHl3neU-ObvRicKJsNVB-p-0VBgJM3QbsCaEb6X8vNZjgVmHvvrdVHIyOtkvb63M1ouiZSsztgfo5oZFxHOPIgst_LfbxLmWmPzclrYAY20AhTiGJM6u1Ui3gObVZA/s640/gypsy+life+detail.jpg" width="354" /></a></div><br />He told me that the artist, the talented <a href="http://www.marcuskuhn.com/">Marcus Kuhn</a>, used the image from a popular brand of jalapeno peppers, La Morena, as a model for the woman in the tattoo. You can see the resemblance:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjMsG1ndS3yPoAGuurRRfn93k_v5oTaEGrjUUKBmCDArJht8UK17TEQj1R4dEqK9jvSI6yK4rgSBNSR0tD_NPsdLH8Le5PWcgT-HE11GvfgwlqiqJfNMVGJ_b9AhPMDLzX0eQnl8iTik/s1600/la+morena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjMsG1ndS3yPoAGuurRRfn93k_v5oTaEGrjUUKBmCDArJht8UK17TEQj1R4dEqK9jvSI6yK4rgSBNSR0tD_NPsdLH8Le5PWcgT-HE11GvfgwlqiqJfNMVGJ_b9AhPMDLzX0eQnl8iTik/s320/la+morena.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Marcus Kuhn tattoos out of <a href="http://www.redstarirons.com/">Red Star Irons</a> when visiting New York.<br /><br />Thanks to Adrian for sharing his amazing tattoos with us here on Tattoosday! I look forward to seeing more of his art in the future!<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><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>

Adrian's Ink Celebrates His Heritage

I met Adrian last month on a fluke - I was on the D train headed to Brooklyn going to a dentist's appointment, having left work early. I...

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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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Juan's Sleeve, Traditional Elements, Inked in the Bronx

A burst of pleasantly warm weather this week signified the end of a quiet winter.<br /><br />Posts have been scarce indeed, but I see busier times ahead.<br /><br />Wednesday afforded me my first "Tat* Trick" of 2010. That term, for those unfamiliar, is reserved for a day when I meet and photograph at least three tattoo hosts. Even rarer is the "Lunch Tat Trick," which involves me getting photos from three people (or more) in the course of an hour, on my lunch break.<br /><br />So I am grateful for the following contributor, and the <del>two</del> three other nice people from the 10th of March.<br /><br />I spotted Juan in Penn Station and he offered up this half-sleeve-in-progress, which includes a skull element and a panther :<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3GSj3bp6B2x9HVFbDF4WxsVVpcgmqKcPsOnr2vCBuBWvJaOStVvjKdxuxMHg5z7t8YkL_F2DI9wOyTJqMfZH32yMG_WLOhrtF9VxKSEGCdqFXW6x_LxzjEPGsWmd-GkpZArcX0Td/s1600-h/Juan+sleeve+1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447341839215409442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3GSj3bp6B2x9HVFbDF4WxsVVpcgmqKcPsOnr2vCBuBWvJaOStVvjKdxuxMHg5z7t8YkL_F2DI9wOyTJqMfZH32yMG_WLOhrtF9VxKSEGCdqFXW6x_LxzjEPGsWmd-GkpZArcX0Td/s400/Juan+sleeve+1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Inked by <a href="http://coolhandtats.com/section/147836_Freddie_Arroyo.html">Freddie Arroyo</a> at <a href="http://coolhandtats.com/home.html">Cool Hand Tattoo</a> in the Bronx, this tattoo features his ideas and the artist's interpretation of the suggested design elements. The mask at the bottom of the design is one element I find exceptionally interesting, as it deviates slightly from what a traditional demon mask looks like, and takes on a slightly more original appearance which more likely reflects the style of the artist:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtQgwgGiKSK_q08ZtCl0bh190SmHErMS5KKx1_AVqBwo-34NPLfDgH1nQbl0UMu7JZVkfIKvm1_MljYzu4Vr3G10w54FMcKFCKr75D5Qhs4Nce4rVOLqE7j-lEht5h_wzA3bIjfAS/s1600-h/Juan+sleeve+1+mask+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447342696264786146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtQgwgGiKSK_q08ZtCl0bh190SmHErMS5KKx1_AVqBwo-34NPLfDgH1nQbl0UMu7JZVkfIKvm1_MljYzu4Vr3G10w54FMcKFCKr75D5Qhs4Nce4rVOLqE7j-lEht5h_wzA3bIjfAS/s400/Juan+sleeve+1+mask+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The work as photographed represents two sittings. Not seen in the shot above, but quite impressive, is the work and color of this flower, which is on the inside of the biceps, extending into the ditch:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfhtRpNLkwHM6DVJ4qfZwvYWtQ-9Y0ajtF_DKAdUYpXSP-RG1H3EMoxj545724UnhIPCJHb4HiS8lmwgOAqOIS3ojjG8lF2mFXzLI-aW7V-TWEd_C1nBUylNN0c44wIJFVC5IKQUT/s1600-h/Juan+flower+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447341745909761522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfhtRpNLkwHM6DVJ4qfZwvYWtQ-9Y0ajtF_DKAdUYpXSP-RG1H3EMoxj545724UnhIPCJHb4HiS8lmwgOAqOIS3ojjG8lF2mFXzLI-aW7V-TWEd_C1nBUylNN0c44wIJFVC5IKQUT/s400/Juan+flower+2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Thanks to Juan for sharing this tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br />*<span style="font-style: italic;"> Ed. Note:Tattoo purists often raise an eyebrow at the term "tat" to denote a tattoo. I generally employee it when I am attempting a clever play on words. Sometimes, I fail.</span>

Juan's Sleeve, Traditional Elements, Inked in the Bronx

A burst of pleasantly warm weather this week signified the end of a quiet winter. Posts have been scarce indeed, but I see busier times ahea...

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Mike's Tribute to His Thai Heritage

There are generally two kinds of Tattoosday subjects (and by subjects I mean people):<br /><br />Those that let me take a picture or two and I never hear from them again, and those that send me nice messages and a correspondence more or less develops.<br /><br />Last weekend I met a guy named Mike at the laundromat (which is turning out to be quite a lucky locale for inkspotting) and he falls in the latter category.<br /><br />Not only was Mike friendly and interested in the site when I met him, but he has followed up our initial conversation with e-mails that have helped me create a much more thorough and well-rounded post than many readers may be used to.<br /><br />Mike's tattoo is a tribute to his heritage. His father is from Thailand, so he considers himself "50% Thai". Check this out:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42-hCpYrzj_mEDzUt8qaWk48wWa_kpKtBrXq2K6Jbsdf7vuapNyBCS9m-YLNnq_cfPZq2qX3P_nbIW3oUc87rKC-4HtoHbnq2zEueTI7aqvRZ6OYCZNGgS4YEcQWmf83lP1OEi1MLC0M/s1600-h/Mike's+Temple.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346851758734900898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42-hCpYrzj_mEDzUt8qaWk48wWa_kpKtBrXq2K6Jbsdf7vuapNyBCS9m-YLNnq_cfPZq2qX3P_nbIW3oUc87rKC-4HtoHbnq2zEueTI7aqvRZ6OYCZNGgS4YEcQWmf83lP1OEi1MLC0M/s400/Mike's+Temple.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 242px;" /></a><br />This piece does wrap around the left bicep, and on either side of the elephantine temple, there are "<span style="font-style: italic;">singha</span>" lions:<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0NQLq1rirZPZlvazsVpCZ4ttQffnz2cwggexoLDcf4bIri4yp_zM7JsRRVw4OLoYI9p5rfVSNnvI1FIeDtam0hly0jNAw7EpMvcYmuseSFXWBlEzchHhm-NIjlxAtnUX8605FeZ2mpA/s1600-h/left+singha.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346851135394992530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0NQLq1rirZPZlvazsVpCZ4ttQffnz2cwggexoLDcf4bIri4yp_zM7JsRRVw4OLoYI9p5rfVSNnvI1FIeDtam0hly0jNAw7EpMvcYmuseSFXWBlEzchHhm-NIjlxAtnUX8605FeZ2mpA/s200/left+singha.jpg" style="float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 245px;" width="153" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_A16MNro38OLYqXdNiNMwYf5WQ6VUW9QXC0pF6HtpsrQwIcv95kujI6zj5c_ZA0Eg-V5Ru5QRcJsV0mtsRjqw71jL4l3rjgyF5OQeigvR0xdrLcPuve3g5Kd6HFC9ZPsZDvBukui_O2w/s1600-h/right+singha.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346851228370002914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_A16MNro38OLYqXdNiNMwYf5WQ6VUW9QXC0pF6HtpsrQwIcv95kujI6zj5c_ZA0Eg-V5Ru5QRcJsV0mtsRjqw71jL4l3rjgyF5OQeigvR0xdrLcPuve3g5Kd6HFC9ZPsZDvBukui_O2w/s200/right+singha.jpg" style="float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 219px;" width="136" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The idea for this tattoo started with a concept and evolved into the finished work in flesh above.<br /><br />Mike started with the basic images, found online in the form of the elephant and lion masks, and the photo of a Thai temple:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikEq0HWxXcGPuFvCHdEAlapIbqi_aYrD1M2NgwQroRi2nNSUiSSu1-0crt7cWNBhMwokPk_GHqmaUDQ7KNRRzBsYNuIQWh7X7U7TkIv0v979ZlPW2CVjqPdtUXZ3SOMhh-eu2anPBeq0/s1600-h/LionEleph_Originals.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346852013188019858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikEq0HWxXcGPuFvCHdEAlapIbqi_aYrD1M2NgwQroRi2nNSUiSSu1-0crt7cWNBhMwokPk_GHqmaUDQ7KNRRzBsYNuIQWh7X7U7TkIv0v979ZlPW2CVjqPdtUXZ3SOMhh-eu2anPBeq0/s400/LionEleph_Originals.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 309px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghndWV1iRWR9YdG3m9Ar4HGqTa17hoqan_S6XUn3Zc-PhL2kACnb7J0I5My1GMlTaxz0YUnQDFn2nsMcnCMCP9Vomwma9DWxRTI79TPeQwzyJwiaitmLU_56Hl7xThehGThnt06HdAC4k/s1600-h/Temple.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346852067351593474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghndWV1iRWR9YdG3m9Ar4HGqTa17hoqan_S6XUn3Zc-PhL2kACnb7J0I5My1GMlTaxz0YUnQDFn2nsMcnCMCP9Vomwma9DWxRTI79TPeQwzyJwiaitmLU_56Hl7xThehGThnt06HdAC4k/s400/Temple.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 278px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />He notes that he wanted to use the Tribal elephant mask "because the Elephant is a national symbol of Thailand, they [were] used ... in wars and ... represent strength. I chose the Tribal 'wood' look mainly because it looks great and I thought it represented the 'old/history' of Thailand." He added that he finds Thai temples "amazingly beautiful" and that the two Singha lions on either side of the temple in the design "represent protection, and they usually are at the entrance ways of many Thai buildings".<br /><br />He then tinkered with these images in Photoshop and came up with this rudimentary design:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6oElWeLPwsG7dPA13R5vpC1WhPVscSDmToU19BeVeurAi2SOUmsWrg2jAKl9OVKeP8CVOsvhsfx-cEslOY8qw6mGT_Vg2KZOlTbzKmtq5lIX4z2p2VE4NGLIJWOOZ1a13Wke6pix0gEc/s1600-h/Tattoo_photoShop.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346852119949299330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6oElWeLPwsG7dPA13R5vpC1WhPVscSDmToU19BeVeurAi2SOUmsWrg2jAKl9OVKeP8CVOsvhsfx-cEslOY8qw6mGT_Vg2KZOlTbzKmtq5lIX4z2p2VE4NGLIJWOOZ1a13Wke6pix0gEc/s400/Tattoo_photoShop.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 332px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 309px;" /></a>He took this artwork to <a href="http://www.regnyc.com/">Regino Gonzalez</a> at <a href="http://www.troydenningtattoo.com/">Invisible NYC</a>. Mike explains, "I showed him my idea and he actually kinda chuckled a bit. I told him I realized [that] this was a real shitty representation of what I want and that I hoped that he could do ANYTHING with it."<br /><br />Mike continues, "...And then literally three days later, he called me into the shop and when I walked in, he had this HUGE AMAZING piece of art...I just turned to him and said, 'Let's do it' [and] I ... sat down right then and there for four hours and had the outline done ... I ... went back about three weeks later and had the black color and shading done, and then about three more weeks later I had the final color done."<br /><br />What Mike explains is typical of great tattoo work. So many novices to tattooing are surprised that a nice piece takes a while, unlike it does on the reality tattoo shows, when an eight-hour piece often is edited down to a few minutes of air time. It's also the recommended way to get a great tattoo: bring in the framework of an idea and let the artist go to town.<br /><br />And, if you have a good artist (which you should have, if you've done you're homework), you should put your absolute faith and trust in them. Case in point, Mike recalls "I asked Regino how he was going to color it and I was pretty nervous ... he looked at me and pointed to his head and said <span style="font-style: italic;">'Trust me, I have a plan'</span>. And that was it ... I walked away with what I think is an amazing piece of work ... I have since recommended Regino to anyone who asks my opinion, and I will continue to [do so] ....".<br /><br />Incidentally, work from Regino has appeared previously on this site <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/07/monas-pocket-watch-honors-her.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Mike for sharing his incredible work with us here on Tattoosday!

Mike's Tribute to His Thai Heritage

There are generally two kinds of Tattoosday subjects (and by subjects I mean people): Those that let me take a picture or two and I never he...

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Alex's East Indian Tribal Mask

What's fascinating about approaching two inked people talking on a subway platform and asking them if either would like to share a tattoo, is that you never know what you'll get (if anything).<br /><br />On Saturday, May 23, I found myself in such a situation, and Alex, one of the two people chatting on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/59th_Street_%28BMT_Fourth_Avenue_Line%29">59th Street subway platform</a> in Brooklyn, offered up this, one of his sixteen (16) tattoos:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWj1km2nBMrm5FXqS1gF-Iqk60NDqw042ZC1DlhOOi7bO-NqKXEODWTv0B00ZH5kD2ncURq-QGE6JE9ynI31jzA7AUtGu2o8AXiS9cJfoYVSitfXTf_lG604d9UfjQMhFbZtB_dPGv1N0/s1600-h/PICT2001.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343422650402635778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWj1km2nBMrm5FXqS1gF-Iqk60NDqw042ZC1DlhOOi7bO-NqKXEODWTv0B00ZH5kD2ncURq-QGE6JE9ynI31jzA7AUtGu2o8AXiS9cJfoYVSitfXTf_lG604d9UfjQMhFbZtB_dPGv1N0/s400/PICT2001.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />This piece, which covers the front of Alex's right shin, is a representation of an East Indian tribal mask.<br /><br />The tattoo was done by David at <a href="http://www.daviddragonfly.com/">Dragonfly Studio & Gallery</a> in West Reading, Pennsylvania.<br /><br />Thanks to Alex for sharing this cool mask with us here on Tattoosday!

Alex's East Indian Tribal Mask

What's fascinating about approaching two inked people talking on a subway platform and asking them if either would like to share a tatto...

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Two Tattooed Tourists on a Tuesday

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOul304z3XmaLL_GdS1BC1pDq1YPgXxvIh6m4nUY74bM4A_b_Lk8o1L7CJMb9fmkkXZUAcVfII8rw0wDAOePA7eWH8tGNN6jaFIxCM0dOsYd5iNGjAjysYJ4eFZLy-29V8BzCYudJuxuv/s1600-h/Pirate+Skull+Detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317121792217021026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOul304z3XmaLL_GdS1BC1pDq1YPgXxvIh6m4nUY74bM4A_b_Lk8o1L7CJMb9fmkkXZUAcVfII8rw0wDAOePA7eWH8tGNN6jaFIxCM0dOsYd5iNGjAjysYJ4eFZLy-29V8BzCYudJuxuv/s400/Pirate+Skull+Detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 368px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Sometimes the hand of Fate guides the Tattoosday blogger as he journeys through the streets of New York. At lunch, a change in traffic signals prompted me to veer East, sending me into a bank vestibule that I rarely, if ever, frequent.<br /><br />I could have ventured into a dozen branches or drug stores to do my business but this is where I ended up on a day that started frigid, but was still in the blustery high 30's at noon.<br /><br />I finished my ATM transaction and exited, not even glancing at the two people to my left, jacketed and weighed down with large backpacks.<br /><br />I hit the sidewalk, peering into a side window bordering the vestibule. I did a quick about-face and headed back into the bank. Despite the coats, hats, and long pants, I could tell the two men I had been next to had significant ink.<br /><br />And, once back inside, I was delighted to find them both willing to talk tattoos.<br /><br />Both men were visiting tourists from England. The first one I spoke to was <a href="http://www.myspace.com/captainheadrush">Jethro "Jeff" Wood</a>, a tattoo artist who works out of <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=107322068">The SkynYard</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southend-on-Sea">Southend-on-Sea</a> (in Essex County, 40 miles East of central London). I spoke to Jeff first, while his friend Sam worked the ATM machine.<br /><br />Jeff estimates that his body is 30% covered in ink. He offered up this neck piece:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHy2Gqpo-07j9iSf7kj5ygEhzZbzbIuUjBUkA4JIw4KrEIEoFl1FABYz3tBA_YH00Jyfc7qxzUzNZfkOkfnJjqLk3sI7wXExt3PpNRi_Sc9NuXhjW_m4Et6aes_iJK0S3FqAhT4v0yEMe/s1600-h/PICT1762.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317121595969789138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHy2Gqpo-07j9iSf7kj5ygEhzZbzbIuUjBUkA4JIw4KrEIEoFl1FABYz3tBA_YH00Jyfc7qxzUzNZfkOkfnJjqLk3sI7wXExt3PpNRi_Sc9NuXhjW_m4Et6aes_iJK0S3FqAhT4v0yEMe/s400/PICT1762.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I apologize for the angle, but one can see that it's a pretty nice grim reaper tattoo. You also get a view of the small skull and crossbones behind Jeff's left ear.<br /><br />He had been hanging out with another tattooer and "got drunk and tatted my neck". The artist was <a href="http://www.lifefamilytattoo.co.uk/aboutdan.html">Dan Sims</a> at <a href="http://www.lifefamilytattoo.co.uk/index.html">Life Family Tattoo</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sevenoaks">Sevenoaks, Kent, in England</a>.<br /><br />Not to be outdone, Jeff's friend Sam had an amazing pirate-themed neck piece, with a "Do or Die" banner, courtesy of Jeff:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIWjio7AAbtDZpDW0kyeCENOqeBnEs5KO-R28GGQ8dsN2aH-nq-EoG-uwq7LGMkId63rk_ridQzNe-LdN0m8VnYASQGcKH7t9sLuZZZV6mYzxpmjp73PyHEfoiyXNwHRjvyu3VLYjSnz6/s1600-h/Do+or+Die+Pirate.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317120232414180418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIWjio7AAbtDZpDW0kyeCENOqeBnEs5KO-R28GGQ8dsN2aH-nq-EoG-uwq7LGMkId63rk_ridQzNe-LdN0m8VnYASQGcKH7t9sLuZZZV6mYzxpmjp73PyHEfoiyXNwHRjvyu3VLYjSnz6/s400/Do+or+Die+Pirate.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 398px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The two visitors seemed to enjoy showing their tattoos and were soon rolling up pant legs to show me what Jeff's apprentice, Charlie, had tattooed on the back of Sam's left leg:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lc0K56I0JHnEJQdr2USJl2v5-TtuOxJWyTMyA2rJPwgNRCk2fqo7vgldXdiXTuZPZSBHp-XpTFjtEItDwL-o27CXIVGs_4h-igN7G_AODHOdP1cp8Hb3BQPldwNSKzOKJ1Wa1A_uLxM4/s1600-h/PICT1766.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317115970388865394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lc0K56I0JHnEJQdr2USJl2v5-TtuOxJWyTMyA2rJPwgNRCk2fqo7vgldXdiXTuZPZSBHp-XpTFjtEItDwL-o27CXIVGs_4h-igN7G_AODHOdP1cp8Hb3BQPldwNSKzOKJ1Wa1A_uLxM4/s400/PICT1766.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />That is the mask of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrior_%28wrestler%29">The Ultimate Warrior</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlnYRGPOdoeYEJoypJOIJ8hsi-kRlSOG1ah5PMtkK4CnVzFS1GCbiEr1Gv8y8AsRxjozYJa6Bp6WVaD0-xZVOHsBKfvkUw5PX80XdIcGdww0_ESn_qlyrbLc9lQ7xPYqWVap0rOwcqOzW/s1600-h/ultimatewarriormask.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317116163387376114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlnYRGPOdoeYEJoypJOIJ8hsi-kRlSOG1ah5PMtkK4CnVzFS1GCbiEr1Gv8y8AsRxjozYJa6Bp6WVaD0-xZVOHsBKfvkUw5PX80XdIcGdww0_ESn_qlyrbLc9lQ7xPYqWVap0rOwcqOzW/s400/ultimatewarriormask.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 346px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwM-v0GygTU3GpHKf0cIlqDXCZY8bj2wHIHMllCCslq0L0yAiilHfpruaF3FypuWUFt_AZDJ3qZ9OrPazeeCbPrejA3fGtxRvD1LBgZDAc7IDBy6R3Jz4hduyhpZMPpqTOaek1xGpKCLF/s1600-h/UltimateWarrior055.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317115561413645250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwM-v0GygTU3GpHKf0cIlqDXCZY8bj2wHIHMllCCslq0L0yAiilHfpruaF3FypuWUFt_AZDJ3qZ9OrPazeeCbPrejA3fGtxRvD1LBgZDAc7IDBy6R3Jz4hduyhpZMPpqTOaek1xGpKCLF/s400/UltimateWarrior055.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 361px;" /></a><br />Sam also showed me some work on his right leg, also credited to Charlie, featuring a mythical creature, "The Rare Horned Dolfin," stuffed and mounted by a taxidermist:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LagniucVDFeRhFSzWgO30o8kWZDzueP3CKhBhlQR6z5LeWlorCcfW39wVfL8AYRc_sDK-ZGF3tjFucGrGo23c5t5L_wPG9Y-LL17Dnpq-QsA3Zyj47wC-lGm3ZJ67k2ZWkzqozidzbBM/s1600-h/dolfin.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317112350757166690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LagniucVDFeRhFSzWgO30o8kWZDzueP3CKhBhlQR6z5LeWlorCcfW39wVfL8AYRc_sDK-ZGF3tjFucGrGo23c5t5L_wPG9Y-LL17Dnpq-QsA3Zyj47wC-lGm3ZJ67k2ZWkzqozidzbBM/s400/dolfin.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Granted, it's a funny tattoo, but I believe there was an element I was missing (perhaps a key facet of an inside joke). Sam and Jeff laughed heartily while showing me the piece, along with another gag tattoo on Sam's right calf, a D.L.T. sandwich:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaZjuMJKhvhJRh-z4fAnjGhLiK79ZWGzNtZUdX_vvtnZdhUU5VSFsyj-8UjHaV5Y-yma0tn_KEoKSkAQ0iR2N2o-BzU_A7pCvLbxADAC2tzN8DgbtMrYofV-mANtrcN4sxb8k6alFicLO/s1600-h/DLT.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317111604312531970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaZjuMJKhvhJRh-z4fAnjGhLiK79ZWGzNtZUdX_vvtnZdhUU5VSFsyj-8UjHaV5Y-yma0tn_KEoKSkAQ0iR2N2o-BzU_A7pCvLbxADAC2tzN8DgbtMrYofV-mANtrcN4sxb8k6alFicLO/s400/DLT.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />In a DLT sandwich, the bacon is replaced by, you guessed it, tiny smiling dolphins!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalNHhFYqfgiLIP30KIzeUi4bmqxaa_yzFDtUAmVYWTrZRr6PRaUISOCfufuT2yF2WTPMxGECwaQRY3O6ZHnEXSnbVZ4el5VkBGtMSmj-O4KAPRLbuLw6BY-DeMGTSeg4lDVmYIdcvSp6C/s1600-h/DLT-2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317111670437571298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalNHhFYqfgiLIP30KIzeUi4bmqxaa_yzFDtUAmVYWTrZRr6PRaUISOCfufuT2yF2WTPMxGECwaQRY3O6ZHnEXSnbVZ4el5VkBGtMSmj-O4KAPRLbuLw6BY-DeMGTSeg4lDVmYIdcvSp6C/s400/DLT-2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 365px;" /></a><br />I also get a kick out of the "I love frogs" scribbled above the D.L.T. Note the S is reversed. Sam indicated that Charlie had done some of these, but he had also inked a few himself, on an experimental basis.<br /><br />Both men also have knuckle tattoos, and pictures of their knuckle are posted <a href="http://www.knuckletattoos.com/cosy-jeff-and-fat-sam/">here</a> at <a href="http://www.knuckletattoos.com/">KnuckleTattoos.com</a>.<br /><br />Thanks again to Sam and Jeff for sharing their tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Two Tattooed Tourists on a Tuesday

Sometimes the hand of Fate guides the Tattoosday blogger as he journeys through the streets of New York. At lunch, a change in traffic signa...

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Isn't She Lovely? Camille from TV/TV Shares Some Ink

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwWR4ygMN8enYcPqo0g6GHBUfvEDLW5Q5XR-hf2tiNTh3PCUkDOJDv6hGAUdhvSuUk9Uf7LfOtkt0xs5QxBhzfzyaMfQbXX24Pmi4jSZgL5nH5Do3DanF6mXntkHv5nUt_xWZHEBfky9m/s1600-h/isnt+she+lovely+closeup.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279278498225243138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwWR4ygMN8enYcPqo0g6GHBUfvEDLW5Q5XR-hf2tiNTh3PCUkDOJDv6hGAUdhvSuUk9Uf7LfOtkt0xs5QxBhzfzyaMfQbXX24Pmi4jSZgL5nH5Do3DanF6mXntkHv5nUt_xWZHEBfky9m/s400/isnt+she+lovely+closeup.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 365px;" /></a>One of the benefits of Tattoosday is that, because musicians tend to have a lot of ink, I meet a lot of them, and learn about bands that I may never have heard about.<br /><br />This past Friday, I met Camille (pronounced Cah-mee) outside of Penn Station and he showed me a couple of his tattoos.<br /><br />Camille is the drummer for the band TV/TV (MySpace <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=31485994">here</a>).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0LcGPaiqHaWsELlK3DlNHuWywTe8qjzPUTUdZmeHIm51rXDfjzZ9DiomOb2BNppucqGDs8Q8sj_Yj2Jn-8SWH_wM5s-6Iw73hKZ0MaUvzLXdrAh4h_b8W5pvl28ETkUyWVNgds6nwEG4/s1600-h/camille.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279648665995746434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0LcGPaiqHaWsELlK3DlNHuWywTe8qjzPUTUdZmeHIm51rXDfjzZ9DiomOb2BNppucqGDs8Q8sj_Yj2Jn-8SWH_wM5s-6Iw73hKZ0MaUvzLXdrAh4h_b8W5pvl28ETkUyWVNgds6nwEG4/s400/camille.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" /></a>They just released their 5-track EP <span style="font-style: italic;">Something to Get Excited About</span> this past year (read a review <a href="http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=318589">here</a>). I've heard several of their songs since then, and I've enjoyed their sound (see the bottom of the post for more info). TV/TV is playing at the <a href="http://www.highlineballroom.com/">Highline Ballroom</a> on January 15 and are booked for the <a href="http://www.warpedtour.com/warpedtour/index.asp">Warped Tour</a> in the Summer of 2009.<br /><br />Of Camille's sixteen tattoos, he showed me this one first:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5P_p0exqBJ8J1yTFSraV4V-naThG3gz-HcxHRr72WGd17v_JtCKLeSXBwzg9UcGEBas-JXbVDkCNZ_GPW6og5KjVXyrvlGIvpH7Bwu-zk6ViHBzCiW8ePPTPwPSlRbwKsBuzdC_jiRb9i/s1600-h/isnt+she+lovely.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279278439917794370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5P_p0exqBJ8J1yTFSraV4V-naThG3gz-HcxHRr72WGd17v_JtCKLeSXBwzg9UcGEBas-JXbVDkCNZ_GPW6og5KjVXyrvlGIvpH7Bwu-zk6ViHBzCiW8ePPTPwPSlRbwKsBuzdC_jiRb9i/s400/isnt+she+lovely.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 400px;" /></a>On the day the world mourned the passing of <a href="http://www.bettiepage.com/obit/index.html">Bettie Page</a>, it seemed appropriate to get a shot of a pin-up tattoo.<br /><br />This piece is a vision, like many pin-ups, of the wearer's "dream girl". The top caption, "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isn%27t_She_Lovely">Isn't She Lovely?</a>" is a nod to the <a href="http://www.steviewonder.net/">Stevie Wonder</a> song (his "favorite song ever"). Camille notes he's a big Stevie fan.<br /><br />He says it's not obvious from the piece, but the woman has a knife behind her back, which explains the warning "Trust No One".<br /><br />Just below the pin-up are the theater's Comedy and Tragedy masks:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju11Kd1rOcX4WIhSmFUoDiWqBCn1rCMrBgcO457wvWNcl_HArgn2DcELr4ES-h-OziDpEbNQip140FhcxNS8qfHzD7gA3Hzm-qhfqkJY5YRsUR3a4KMwCw19u_w54nL_2CVMRiqmOjEKFn/s1600-h/PICT1014.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279277779983086978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju11Kd1rOcX4WIhSmFUoDiWqBCn1rCMrBgcO457wvWNcl_HArgn2DcELr4ES-h-OziDpEbNQip140FhcxNS8qfHzD7gA3Hzm-qhfqkJY5YRsUR3a4KMwCw19u_w54nL_2CVMRiqmOjEKFn/s400/PICT1014.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />See another version of this motif, appearing previously on Tattoosday, <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2007/09/tattoos-i-know-comedy-and-tragedy.html">here</a>. He added these to his arm because he loves the theater and musicals.<br /><br />Both tattoos are on his left arm. The comedy/tragedy masks are on the inside of his wrist.<br /><br />The artist on both pieces were inked by <a href="http://www.gurutattoo.com/?section=artists&page=profile&id=7">Turk</a> at <a href="http://www.gurutattoo.com/">Guru Tattoo</a> in the Pacific Beach section of San Diego.<br /><br />Thanks to Camille for sharing these tattoos here with us on Tattoosday!<br /><br />You can hear the songs from their debut EP <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/TvTvRock">here</a> on their YouTube channel. Here's a taste, listen to "Call it Love":<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oFzcThxZ55c&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oFzcThxZ55c&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Isn't She Lovely? Camille from TV/TV Shares Some Ink

One of the benefits of Tattoosday is that, because musicians tend to have a lot of ink, I meet a lot of them, and learn about bands that I m...

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Tattoos from the Blogosphere: Matt's Canva Gypsy Head

<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZXJw5iRjc59H4O7stClcn_sZcXzpyY7IYiMBpk_KkFqXg1rkbetNSAGm4E4_AZHgKYijcxkqm2tNODi5ZBOouuWbrzD-f7mqrumIANmMnguAw8cIN4AOZfJ5WNGkAKPWF4AQoPJBUWTm/s1600-h/new4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273420394135354866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZXJw5iRjc59H4O7stClcn_sZcXzpyY7IYiMBpk_KkFqXg1rkbetNSAGm4E4_AZHgKYijcxkqm2tNODi5ZBOouuWbrzD-f7mqrumIANmMnguAw8cIN4AOZfJ5WNGkAKPWF4AQoPJBUWTm/s400/new4.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 151px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />We're revisiting an old friend, Mat, whose last piece posted <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/06/tattoos-from-blogosphere-mats-take-on.html">here</a>, will link you to two previous posts as well. Mat had dropped off my radar a while, but these photos remained in my inbox, awaiting to see the light of Tattoosday.<br /><br />Here's the finished piece:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWwBOSNyY1bHZkdSkEOqJ5hoWrXmW_JMwKiIo4myHUi3ZCjXWxB3TyadnqzbbcCOURmIZgMiSptV1roRJHllD8g-W0mpPb4WOvuG3B98_m9lFpkdXjoRfnlQvzDmiQxpz8UwRiAYoQBCV/s1600-h/cavna.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273420552374726482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWwBOSNyY1bHZkdSkEOqJ5hoWrXmW_JMwKiIo4myHUi3ZCjXWxB3TyadnqzbbcCOURmIZgMiSptV1roRJHllD8g-W0mpPb4WOvuG3B98_m9lFpkdXjoRfnlQvzDmiQxpz8UwRiAYoQBCV/s400/cavna.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 230px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" /></a><br /><div>Mat explains, "I've attached a new leg piece. I got recently of a cavna gypsy head. <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=66745564">Dustin Golden</a> from <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=429553633">Roanaoke, VA</a>. was doing a guest spot [at <a href="http://www.713tattoo.com/">713 Tattoo</a>] and had a last minute cancellation. I jumped on it."<br /><div><br />What is a "canva gypsy head"? I'm still not sure, but Mat responded to my recent query for further clarification on the motivation behind the piece: "That <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Kafka">Kafka</a> mask was sort of a "gypsy" phase (which I am finding myself in now again). The real shiner of that piece was Dustin's red inks, which he mixes himself."<br /><br />Indeed. The piece just jumps out at you like a bolt of light in a dark alley.<br /><br />Thanks again to Mat for sharing and illuminating his ink for us here on Tattoosday!<br /></div></div></div>

Tattoos from the Blogosphere: Matt's Canva Gypsy Head

We're revisiting an old friend, Mat, whose last piece posted here , will link you to two previous posts as well. Mat had dropped off my ...

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Tattoos I Know: Paul Part 2, or, The Traditional Japanese Sleeve

NOTE: This post was updated on March 31, 2008 with three additional photographs.<br /><br /><span style="color:black;">Here's a Tattoosday first: a repeat subject in this blog's history.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;">Paul appeared <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/02/tattoos-i-know-pauls-first-tattoo.html">here</a> first, showing off <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/02/tattoos-i-know-pauls-first-tattoo.html">his first tattoo</a>, a dragon. In this post, Paul returns, showing off a full sleeve on his left arm.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;">The sleeve consists of traditional elements: there is a dragon, a lotus, a mask, a lily, and a koi.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;">If you went back in a time machine 8 or 9 years to visit Paul's arm, you would have seen a grim reaper holding a skull on the bicep:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_4W5lssA1FrXg4L-4KdxDgHBvyMJyNrQK-SyVO3isigHKuOLUoh4GMNy4ni_sh8WQh4nsjS_GHPFFAjTyYQJJps35-emQH2Rt7PfDNfGHjipIeSMhT1EtDw0VbS5074Kq1xr3yr34-PX/s1600-h/scan0134.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184049469325809730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_4W5lssA1FrXg4L-4KdxDgHBvyMJyNrQK-SyVO3isigHKuOLUoh4GMNy4ni_sh8WQh4nsjS_GHPFFAjTyYQJJps35-emQH2Rt7PfDNfGHjipIeSMhT1EtDw0VbS5074Kq1xr3yr34-PX/s400/scan0134.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />and some roses in a pattern on the forearm. These earlie</span><span style="color:black;">r tattoos have been covered by elements in the sleeve. Even when told where the original ink lies, it's extremely difficult to see the previous work.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <o:p></o:p>So I will break this down into two sections: the upper arm and the lower arm.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;">The upper arm began with the dragon cover-up:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEvTQAhJISZo04KdgZb49aaEgwtXfu7lVCa3TMDVLucs5t-9UKPb_9PGuJVkvE5EbBnw_WVudJqFkNloUd0dzD9PZHFTo6CXhW6i1YC4y28KgNXj9h0aW_NGIofUFwLYc6bFaPU93vt3q/s1600-h/100_6773.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178854584313400914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEvTQAhJISZo04KdgZb49aaEgwtXfu7lVCa3TMDVLucs5t-9UKPb_9PGuJVkvE5EbBnw_WVudJqFkNloUd0dzD9PZHFTo6CXhW6i1YC4y28KgNXj9h0aW_NGIofUFwLYc6bFaPU93vt3q/s400/100_6773.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span><span style="color:black;"><br /></span><span style="color:black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZJ9wvJ3ZoQ5xoQ-FSC4A9VHcMZw6Pnwj2WwlY_8JmhKqOTTajd8_soyj4nUK9UL4CDliORy0L9blNZif8S1Q2M1Uoj2wTbLPt14OsAUj0ikw4Wl1lb4aUmm9T2-TjSTpt4WaqYBqH4ZD/s1600-h/100_6774.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178854365270068802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZJ9wvJ3ZoQ5xoQ-FSC4A9VHcMZw6Pnwj2WwlY_8JmhKqOTTajd8_soyj4nUK9UL4CDliORy0L9blNZif8S1Q2M1Uoj2wTbLPt14OsAUj0ikw4Wl1lb4aUmm9T2-TjSTpt4WaqYBqH4ZD/s400/100_6774.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7pmUJ5Ah5hV2abL4Nc0W1inspJdPY085gn64i8UupUb4rEiNPKixlyqSKLx3Mc34U_xGQWdnAM8-C6gJkS4zqrZfWflHY_TOzmeE4Klns-WBKEGrn9lk8P-5SC1rnHduLQZzXGE7McmJ/s1600-h/Om_siddham.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178856315185221218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7pmUJ5Ah5hV2abL4Nc0W1inspJdPY085gn64i8UupUb4rEiNPKixlyqSKLx3Mc34U_xGQWdnAM8-C6gJkS4zqrZfWflHY_TOzmeE4Klns-WBKEGrn9lk8P-5SC1rnHduLQZzXGE7McmJ/s200/Om_siddham.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><span style="color:black;">The dark rock below the dragon covered the old piece. This design, which included the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om">aum</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om">om</a> symbol at the top of the arm, was inked by Carlos at <a href="http://www.risingdragon.com/index.html">Rising Dragon Tattoos</a> in Chelsea back in 2001. The aum symbol is the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddham_script"><b><span title="International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration" class="Unicode" style="white-space: normal; text-decoration: none;" lang="sa-Latn">Siddh</span></b></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddham_script"><b><span title="International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration" class="Unicode" style="white-space: normal; text-decoration: none;" lang="sa-Latn">aṃ</span></b></a><span style="color:black;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddham_script"> script</a> version and is a mystical and sacred symbol in Indian religions. Note that this <span style="font-style: italic;">om</span> is different than the one that appeare din the first Tattoosday post <a href="http://oxypoet.blogspot.com/2007/07/introducing-tattoosday.html">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;">Paul was not 100% thrilled with the dragon, so when he decided to</span><span style="color:black;"> finish the sleeve, the following year, he went elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;">The lower part of the arm, which is the more prominent part of the sleeve, was inked by </span><span style="color:black;">Mike Bellamy at <a href="http://www.redrockettattoo.com/">Red Rocket Tattoo</a> in Manhattan, although at the time his shop was known as Triple X Tattoo.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="color:black;">The specific elements in the sleeve are all traditional <i style="">irezumi</i>, or</span><span style="color:black;"> Japanese tattooing,</span> elements.<br /><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-QCvFK4mZpY_PJ9ZglaGx-T-zrezzn33uKgk7sCzTj-AoD6HEaiX25v24gft78eCTVnjPud9MOybo2nXxbXDf_R9JvX84NUgNSZ6dgJaMoAifUbNn51rJKbNTfrl6hGFtA7-uqdl_mbN/s1600-h/100_6765.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178859695324483250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-QCvFK4mZpY_PJ9ZglaGx-T-zrezzn33uKgk7sCzTj-AoD6HEaiX25v24gft78eCTVnjPud9MOybo2nXxbXDf_R9JvX84NUgNSZ6dgJaMoAifUbNn51rJKbNTfrl6hGFtA7-uqdl_mbN/s400/100_6765.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span><span style="color:black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLpaQcb7kCFbbAz8XFrOelig_OXX2meiiYT4gYCBtGtNOz3A4yBDqN5XJOz6aqgd8UpADLHfxndlJ-GJfTVMwijTYNlRMkk7wQA9Acx7uG34WHqpnC8jF_CKHPaYRFRmA2maCSg39vY3o/s1600-h/100_6766.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178859463396249250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLpaQcb7kCFbbAz8XFrOelig_OXX2meiiYT4gYCBtGtNOz3A4yBDqN5XJOz6aqgd8UpADLHfxndlJ-GJfTVMwijTYNlRMkk7wQA9Acx7uG34WHqpnC8jF_CKHPaYRFRmA2maCSg39vY3o/s400/100_6766.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span><span style="color:black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HK_9tia9oeZcu1qjK8Dh-smy5c9MBnK82XdykMxqaUkjPmUAA1mNtt2ikvVP9Hy67Amdx2pu8rVgJD0oNZrLd_Mriq1XpZO6Tg9KvFMRLPFziBAJGrrWRvfsBjhmBu3sJHvL3aRKyD4a/s1600-h/100_6767.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178859248647884434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HK_9tia9oeZcu1qjK8Dh-smy5c9MBnK82XdykMxqaUkjPmUAA1mNtt2ikvVP9Hy67Amdx2pu8rVgJD0oNZrLd_Mriq1XpZO6Tg9KvFMRLPFziBAJGrrWRvfsBjhmBu3sJHvL3aRKyD4a/s400/100_6767.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span><span style="color:black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXigpZL91Us4R8ZAyL-5XPNX62v61tW_cc4wKDcdspksKUH-UYCn4rErczWqgcmuZaJ4ytnnXQK9vPrG4S3nLdttvXt_IW_LnIk0YUSAdbMfZDbx3SLll-EPvC9ZWUffVMIQIdvkrdzrqU/s1600-h/100_6768.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178859003834748546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXigpZL91Us4R8ZAyL-5XPNX62v61tW_cc4wKDcdspksKUH-UYCn4rErczWqgcmuZaJ4ytnnXQK9vPrG4S3nLdttvXt_IW_LnIk0YUSAdbMfZDbx3SLll-EPvC9ZWUffVMIQIdvkrdzrqU/s400/100_6768.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;">The largest piece is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koi"><i style="">koi</i></a>. It appears to be a golden koi.</span> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMQ4mY7PeK5wiW7DhWp1XJCQb0vFxylBiEU4Rz4m4spmYdxhkC2CyT2k3ZU0b-qJMxyqATwKL2t1G8CnHx2pXSN1av26NiAUhhP3A9ryKLy0VZNpOwuyTl1EtCLY90GbVhyphenhyphenR1UolA4_Uz/s1600-h/Koi.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178858363884621426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMQ4mY7PeK5wiW7DhWp1XJCQb0vFxylBiEU4Rz4m4spmYdxhkC2CyT2k3ZU0b-qJMxyqATwKL2t1G8CnHx2pXSN1av26NiAUhhP3A9ryKLy0VZNpOwuyTl1EtCLY90GbVhyphenhyphenR1UolA4_Uz/s200/Koi.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">There's a whole discussion <a href="http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_a_koi_fish_tattoo_symbolize">here</a> on what <span style="font-style: italic;">koi </span>tattoos symbolize.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">In addition, one can read <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Meaning-and-Symbolism-Behind-the-Lotus-Flower-Tattoo&id=95396">here</a><span style="color:black;"> about the symbolic nature of the </span><span style="color:black;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo">lotus flower</a> in tattoos.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtP0bc04rZcrczlXfqttqsof8soslVukfIJSAUixYwVG8VVd28HY0SmxJA6XgbLweiZP3r3TOGJIp-Z7Jt7h6GVGqG4dhP_j32ReHXTYcIFFe3jSN9RSZ23zLfslL-4YZ-75QSb3qm_Cx/s1600-h/100_6772.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178864428378443474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtP0bc04rZcrczlXfqttqsof8soslVukfIJSAUixYwVG8VVd28HY0SmxJA6XgbLweiZP3r3TOGJIp-Z7Jt7h6GVGqG4dhP_j32ReHXTYcIFFe3jSN9RSZ23zLfslL-4YZ-75QSb3qm_Cx/s400/100_6772.JPG" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><br />Paul also</span><span style="color:black;"> referred to the other flower as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crinum_pedunculatum">spider lily.</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="color:black;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-9YtgCcXFaSgTyZjloPetZUkEr2ZpBq9N7qGpavslJ-l7jHNKzByWfWmgcosgR_R1OZNyW_M5u45935KHxNbpIX5oES8oOaQJqS-kX7yT7TkuYAAxXpkn8m55sh6Xiv9ZP3jsZGbxIx8/s1600-h/100_6769.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178864011766615746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-9YtgCcXFaSgTyZjloPetZUkEr2ZpBq9N7qGpavslJ-l7jHNKzByWfWmgcosgR_R1OZNyW_M5u45935KHxNbpIX5oES8oOaQJqS-kX7yT7TkuYAAxXpkn8m55sh6Xiv9ZP3jsZGbxIx8/s400/100_6769.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> However, there are so many different varieties of specific families of flowers, that I often have a hard time finding good pictures to represent the tattoos.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">The additional element in the sleeve which is only a small part, but is still interesting is what Paul referred to as the "kite mask":<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONsgo34z8rTLEvvTMc6fZUJh3kygiNLVne4TGFaUIIRWOLa3-Jd5BNScAijtY24BMqzEez6QYob_FMRALBkXIOh1QT5o82AZr5m9cV7onxVzKgy9bxg2OlIWAgJPL4hMs9H1H8jMRRyZl/s1600-h/100_6771.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178865295961837282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONsgo34z8rTLEvvTMc6fZUJh3kygiNLVne4TGFaUIIRWOLa3-Jd5BNScAijtY24BMqzEez6QYob_FMRALBkXIOh1QT5o82AZr5m9cV7onxVzKgy9bxg2OlIWAgJPL4hMs9H1H8jMRRyZl/s400/100_6771.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Masks are traditional parts of Japanese tattoo design, but this specific one is hard to pinpoint for me. Here are some Chinese mask kites. Yet, the fact that I cannot easily find one on the web, just fascinates me more.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcj4TQk8AMprcKCjgT6tbKKPYN3_L3wiXALTvRcPOMqhFj0m9fBs6-gScHFsMbBGiGkh_AK7BqXuI9xNKh80w7QHudcp06XSbp20yTESt-T_uX0tCS2BQlnYNC2v56TX75_WyqEqwPyxj/s1600-h/4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178866206494904050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcj4TQk8AMprcKCjgT6tbKKPYN3_L3wiXALTvRcPOMqhFj0m9fBs6-gScHFsMbBGiGkh_AK7BqXuI9xNKh80w7QHudcp06XSbp20yTESt-T_uX0tCS2BQlnYNC2v56TX75_WyqEqwPyxj/s400/4.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><o:p></o:p></p><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">Paul estimates that the whole sleeve (including the dragon from 2001) took about 20 hours of work, and he did it in 6-7 sittings, mostly in 2002.</p>Paul sent me the following photos from the New York City Tattoo Convention, where Mike Bellamy did some of the work on Paul's sleeve:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJH2kn5_jR-7QBcp-VqIOBIXvtqrF03g-2yUO-h9r_o6qVIQJqRPe2nFMsGxLxU1tGN6Ef56FHju0DEU9LZCG6srBkSHZfZ-qX5FlaxHkbaS2d-YTBNBhyRWkO2sCwfqN6u5sC90CME_Ft/s1600-h/scan0132.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184049361951627314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJH2kn5_jR-7QBcp-VqIOBIXvtqrF03g-2yUO-h9r_o6qVIQJqRPe2nFMsGxLxU1tGN6Ef56FHju0DEU9LZCG6srBkSHZfZ-qX5FlaxHkbaS2d-YTBNBhyRWkO2sCwfqN6u5sC90CME_Ft/s400/scan0132.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>That's Paul and Mike on the far left of the photo:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOAShbn1pjlBIT1QwICh7A_EZu9vzabPiNDFikq9FFNivv7WeLWHjM8X78d_GAK7vZ1HWF25f-QFr5Jl8IJ0h1-xn8z0q-DlveQxqRMtfXzpajhLA_A8uX5raWDGK5dnhZU7bVjMcwkUC/s1600-h/scan0131.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184049245987510306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOAShbn1pjlBIT1QwICh7A_EZu9vzabPiNDFikq9FFNivv7WeLWHjM8X78d_GAK7vZ1HWF25f-QFr5Jl8IJ0h1-xn8z0q-DlveQxqRMtfXzpajhLA_A8uX5raWDGK5dnhZU7bVjMcwkUC/s400/scan0131.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Thanks to Paul for helping me update this post with additional shots!

Tattoos I Know: Paul Part 2, or, The Traditional Japanese Sleeve

NOTE: This post was updated on March 31, 2008 with three additional photographs. Here's a Tattoosday first: a repeat subject in this blo...

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