Jenny's Tattoo Speaks No Evil (at the Urban Tattoo Convention)

Last week I posted Erika's <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2013/08/erikas-cheetah-by-splinter-at-urban.html">cheetah tattoo</a> from the <a href="http://www.nycurbantattooconvention.com/index.html">NYC Urban Tattoo Convention</a> at the end of June. When I met her, I also met her friend Jenny, who had this cool piece on her inner arm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoEGqi_pBJnvTt0kj2j0K7vpBTavocltzXwAGeuykMrkIJOTtGJTJsPBZWv4xxgqfSS57oPKvLNDNPb87_T4y_4KTLXq-EVMZ6RSqoqIx44ZRuYBTh5tt35LZKychdDX2NGQhSUNETqo/w829-h498-no/IMG_1117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoEGqi_pBJnvTt0kj2j0K7vpBTavocltzXwAGeuykMrkIJOTtGJTJsPBZWv4xxgqfSS57oPKvLNDNPb87_T4y_4KTLXq-EVMZ6RSqoqIx44ZRuYBTh5tt35LZKychdDX2NGQhSUNETqo/w829-h498-no/IMG_1117.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />This piece was also done by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000707554405">Splinter</a>.<br /><br />This is a take on the whole "See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil" motif, but Jenny said it has the extra meaning for her of "To each his own ... no judgment."<br /><br />Thanks to Jenny for sharing this cool tattoo 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-46881142-bb6c-c297-5029-ed4f21d11033"><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>

Jenny's Tattoo Speaks No Evil (at the Urban Tattoo Convention)

Last week I posted Erika's  cheetah tattoo from the NYC Urban Tattoo Convention  at the end of June. When I met her, I also met her fri...

Read more »

Rocco Shares Some Work by Grez

Our previous post featured a tattoo I spotted on Cristine at the Mermaid Parade back in June. Cristine's brother Rocco was also in attendance, and he was kind enough to share this piece on his inner left arm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqReZq47kJHDXEU2-BGn8bOKcbwqGugNeYYqiN6npRr-e8wBsD3uNiERYZ07TyZhG_ij3-8UIXs0YiC4LBrnM46U5Klp644EvAtaghiHOKxjHrvkULo7tE8dSo42d3y1j6Iwq00E75y20/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/AVvXsEjqReZq47kJHDXEU2-BGn8bOKcbwqGugNeYYqiN6npRr-e8wBsD3uNiERYZ07TyZhG_ij3-8UIXs0YiC4LBrnM46U5Klp644EvAtaghiHOKxjHrvkULo7tE8dSo42d3y1j6Iwq00E75y20/s640/photo.jpg" width="322" /></a></div><br />Rocco credited this to <a href="http://kingsavetattoo.com/artists/grez/bio-0/">Grez</a> at <a href="http://kingsavetattoo.com/">Kings Avenue Tattoo</a>. He did this out on Long Island in the Massapequa shop, but now works out of their Manhattan shop on the Bowery. Grez's work has been seen several times before on Tattoosday, including most recently <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2012/10/lindsays-grandfather-resonates-in-her.html">here</a> and <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2011/10/collins-gypsy-snake-and-time.html">here</a>. You can also clcik on "Grez" in the tags at the bottom of the post to see more of his work that's been on the site.<br /><br />Thanks to Rocco for sharing this great tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.39020659355446696" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2012 Tattoosday.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are 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>

Rocco Shares Some Work by Grez

Our previous post featured a tattoo I spotted on Cristine at the Mermaid Parade back in June. Cristine's brother Rocco was also in atten...

Read more »

Repost: Michael's Mariachis

<i>Well, it has been a repost sort of week, and as it is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_dead">All Soul's Day</a>, a.k.a. The Day of the Dead, this only seemed fitting. It's from my college friend, Michael, and it appeared <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/12/michaels-mariachis-celebrate-life-with.html">here</a> originally on December 30, 2008. Enjoy!</i><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisl_mObKQKr2imPCk-4UPiJ588Nx4lI7uj5iiQEUOAhDFsDUnEHSAiaIsp4nxluk11dEzpw7r2IvuguXcXuOSMa4UO3nwettlNmdVZ_Gzjmb4oR6-HAcdiqASSLsoJS9M8rQ5EGyNovpIt/s1600-h/mariachi+with+iris.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269720254143055906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisl_mObKQKr2imPCk-4UPiJ588Nx4lI7uj5iiQEUOAhDFsDUnEHSAiaIsp4nxluk11dEzpw7r2IvuguXcXuOSMa4UO3nwettlNmdVZ_Gzjmb4oR6-HAcdiqASSLsoJS9M8rQ5EGyNovpIt/s640/mariachi+with+iris.jpg" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 356px;" width="569" /></a><br />In reconnecting with old college friends through Facebook, my old friend Michael who I haven't seen in almost twenty years sent me an amazing tattoo he has on his right arm.<br /><br />He sent me before and after shots so we can see the transformation from outline to spectacularly colorful body art. First, the before shots.....<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AMg5HMwRZUERr-Es-5Oa6m7x9w1U8pUrooumPGk4Xt9VOVnEC0FRMCNKaKt6_Os2zOo5gyF7nv_fo4W-LRJUyNRgzneBfnO4RH-ut-2enD6i6Q0INgJUQ07ffDtGcgcG9Uf2rBsAEZCQ/s1600-h/mariachi+outline+1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269719225156372226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AMg5HMwRZUERr-Es-5Oa6m7x9w1U8pUrooumPGk4Xt9VOVnEC0FRMCNKaKt6_Os2zOo5gyF7nv_fo4W-LRJUyNRgzneBfnO4RH-ut-2enD6i6Q0INgJUQ07ffDtGcgcG9Uf2rBsAEZCQ/s640/mariachi+outline+1.jpg" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" width="342" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_ZW0JG2QE8LiO2edxzvyHoJ3mbZUs4kS82hkS_ivr6pkW5LowQ5sCrBMQawWPhv9tUu-04a9oIwUFlYfvMpqpeapROfMW39qVZj2I4X1elk_HMAWH5adS5UdfylSDbTW_8kfh3yqytU0/s1600-h/mariachi+outline+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269718659087915346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_ZW0JG2QE8LiO2edxzvyHoJ3mbZUs4kS82hkS_ivr6pkW5LowQ5sCrBMQawWPhv9tUu-04a9oIwUFlYfvMpqpeapROfMW39qVZj2I4X1elk_HMAWH5adS5UdfylSDbTW_8kfh3yqytU0/s400/mariachi+outline+2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 176px;" /></a><br />The detail and the line work is exemplary and breath-taking. As someone with a guitar inked on my arm, I can appreciate the intricacies of a finely-drawn instrument. The detail on the mariachi's jacket cuff is incredible.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-D6Tip6rawH-OB3InfgTcjZDjZ6V78uT17xhncbCzlqnb4ui2pRjGR6kVbkGdE7jnnlAgH1pGaiKLMvpZ0DYuYa01aOTAJLb6Qu126mERW82SIeHyHmZ9WxSQMzoke50tEQ-av5lTuq3/s1600-h/mariachi+detail.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269719773239210498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-D6Tip6rawH-OB3InfgTcjZDjZ6V78uT17xhncbCzlqnb4ui2pRjGR6kVbkGdE7jnnlAgH1pGaiKLMvpZ0DYuYa01aOTAJLb6Qu126mERW82SIeHyHmZ9WxSQMzoke50tEQ-av5lTuq3/s400/mariachi+detail.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 147px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />And now, for some color:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bjMatrIXqOp_IIF_sdBHQcLBRSA-tOMxasc9xXdQvBlbgY1a3lUhyeBVKNLMn6OxEorcwcU0zAcrlkYfwz1TT2TK2dlglg2lJUzkyDQZCWN1hdAUSFToyJtDYP2KkO5TQPPEIk0Hqi2G/s1600-h/mariachi+right.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269718515179009634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bjMatrIXqOp_IIF_sdBHQcLBRSA-tOMxasc9xXdQvBlbgY1a3lUhyeBVKNLMn6OxEorcwcU0zAcrlkYfwz1TT2TK2dlglg2lJUzkyDQZCWN1hdAUSFToyJtDYP2KkO5TQPPEIk0Hqi2G/s400/mariachi+right.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 193px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8BG4GBRddcgJXZuI-npX_gQKQOk_X9kSuS-KM7eDopjjGPxXwhZBQSsElfCgk1PESG9WHRtkyr5HoqOBNsdYmQIJzQEoepYWr7YuXCs5FKL-tx5etGeHOoMX96syQZ_wqPWjKq-VP4Sp/s1600-h/mariachi+left.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269718414681594482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8BG4GBRddcgJXZuI-npX_gQKQOk_X9kSuS-KM7eDopjjGPxXwhZBQSsElfCgk1PESG9WHRtkyr5HoqOBNsdYmQIJzQEoepYWr7YuXCs5FKL-tx5etGeHOoMX96syQZ_wqPWjKq-VP4Sp/s400/mariachi+left.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 146px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLo6X96y4Igse_fUrL-b0Teb9B58vUgjcISYt5vZ_FUUrSjT5P72GIWPbAHNhnCyw6Xm_q2DaZ-owOzQwTZoN-BWt2uKEFtv8ySo-_QtbBpNvdhAJw3sBsRJcxvq_VohWsxd6-1IjhzgSF/s1600-h/mariachi+center.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269718302019198898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLo6X96y4Igse_fUrL-b0Teb9B58vUgjcISYt5vZ_FUUrSjT5P72GIWPbAHNhnCyw6Xm_q2DaZ-owOzQwTZoN-BWt2uKEFtv8ySo-_QtbBpNvdhAJw3sBsRJcxvq_VohWsxd6-1IjhzgSF/s640/mariachi+center.jpg" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 190px;" width="304" /></a><br />Michael explains the basic premise of this tattoo:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">In a sense, this piece is a "memorial" tattoo, although I hate to call it that. Since I grew up in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwestern_United_States">Southwest</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_dead">Day of the Dead</a> was a regular thing, so I've always been drawn to that type of imagery, plus I like the meaning -- honoring the dead, and reminding us to live life to the fullest.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> I picked the mariachis partly because I am so into music, and partly because of the celebratory aspect of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariachi">mariachis</a>. </span></blockquote>Like many intricate tattoos with multiple elements, every part has significance. The tulips, for example, that are growing at the mariachi's feet, "are an actual heirloom varietal that I have in the garden" [and] are for my wife -- tulips are her favorite flower".<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqK3ClnntneQxWCiwiu_UvW0zNh0GNyT-SBKq6SGqQnRzcGjJbO8JlWNtylYrL1hx7rV2ZOBJeatmDMKulEGXaGEAE_4zDm76TfwTq8uCYpwOgIA6SBMYnqaWvgganF0BhxeGuYAMWnbH/s1600-h/mariachi+tulips.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285329957944922738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqK3ClnntneQxWCiwiu_UvW0zNh0GNyT-SBKq6SGqQnRzcGjJbO8JlWNtylYrL1hx7rV2ZOBJeatmDMKulEGXaGEAE_4zDm76TfwTq8uCYpwOgIA6SBMYnqaWvgganF0BhxeGuYAMWnbH/s400/mariachi+tulips.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 285px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />And the angel at the top of the piece (and the top of the post)?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qDgMdFWJL0p2zR3OjSoGUOohaqjk_YJ8wABuTHHQJbAjYV3sCqP26b2FuXDaTMlSUT0c1ye1IH2lVf0TLlpIqVonjztBFYmPSibzeN0xro1NE2Q5rvdgfNEXONdHG6PjK2cDKRuOc5rm/s1600-h/mariachi+top.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269719465230803490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qDgMdFWJL0p2zR3OjSoGUOohaqjk_YJ8wABuTHHQJbAjYV3sCqP26b2FuXDaTMlSUT0c1ye1IH2lVf0TLlpIqVonjztBFYmPSibzeN0xro1NE2Q5rvdgfNEXONdHG6PjK2cDKRuOc5rm/s400/mariachi+top.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 355px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />Michael informs us that "the angel is for my mother, who is no longer with us. The angel holds a purple iris (my mother's favorite flower), and looks down over the whole scene."<br /><br />This amazing piece was inked by <a href="http://www.doyleomite.com/">Susan Behney-Doyle</a> who works out of <a href="http://www.jinxprooftattoos.com/index.html">Jinx Proof Tattoo</a> in Washington, D.C. Mexican folk art is one of her specialties (see a gallery of her work <a href="http://www.doyleomite.com/gallerySusan.htm">here</a>) and Michael says he "gave her a few reference pieces to look at, but she basically drew it after a consultation". He continues, "we made just a couple tweaks after I saw the drawing, but it's a one-of-a-kind custom piece".<br /><br />The whole tattoo was crafted back in 2006 over a five-month, seven-session period. Michael notes that one of those sessions was devoted solely to shading the guitar. A closer look at the instrument reveals an incredible complexity of brown variations that truly makes the guitar jump off the skin.<br /><br /><i>Thanks again to Michael for sharing this amazing tattoo with us here on Tattoosday</i> - twice!<br /><br /><!--[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="MsoNormal">This entry is ©2008, 2011 Tattoosday. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">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.</div>

Repost: Michael's Mariachis

Well, it has been a repost sort of week, and as it is All Soul's Day , a.k.a. The Day of the Dead, this only seemed fitting. It's fr...

Read more »

Kate Reminds Us: Two Calves Are Better than One

I met Kate last month and she shared these two, of her eleven tattoos:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaswm8j3HUDt3Eu7w47xpHdjHXGioiUymw2sBeYYcflscZ9wDj8r2kDMSGcrxiI0869hsHyHXWVPgchDAauxJBGHS2rnarrZbLxvxiSVX7JTn_CCrVlngUKUQXYynNtra9NXQcPK0H0IY/s1600/2+Calves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaswm8j3HUDt3Eu7w47xpHdjHXGioiUymw2sBeYYcflscZ9wDj8r2kDMSGcrxiI0869hsHyHXWVPgchDAauxJBGHS2rnarrZbLxvxiSVX7JTn_CCrVlngUKUQXYynNtra9NXQcPK0H0IY/s640/2+Calves.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />Kate says these don't have specific meanings behind them, she "just liked the art". Nothing wrong with that at all.<br /><br />On the left calf, Kate has an exquisite black and grey piece by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/benjaminmoss">Benjamin Moss</a> at <a href="http://www.apocalypsetattoo.com/">Apocalypse Tattoo</a> in Seattle.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eRUv06_mtDzZemOIp1DjSZD_ZZ34-EPuMTmjYdH-bXFjA6_BS5ajSahAXqGn_L4paxGpHhdYLU-u3kvd0pdheT-FZgAT6ZhQ-iN0uA_ri0cBIhvzU0oSMCOsEeblmpWguehA_u9RXkI/s1600/2+skeletons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4d7LMCxhUtQNm9YjCm21LbUNTpW6LOYQZM96Qvq4gHJBqo-hgaH39vqx4LDWeC9iBjkH7BaIEK9ktoMNmpAMvNsyCbWTGwN5JbJN77ia1nnHjycY9mcSvPI8LhTTA6sH5SfTXr2ylmg/s1600/2+skeletons+alt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4d7LMCxhUtQNm9YjCm21LbUNTpW6LOYQZM96Qvq4gHJBqo-hgaH39vqx4LDWeC9iBjkH7BaIEK9ktoMNmpAMvNsyCbWTGwN5JbJN77ia1nnHjycY9mcSvPI8LhTTA6sH5SfTXr2ylmg/s640/2+skeletons+alt.jpg" width="344" /></a></div><br />The romantically morbid idea of two skeletons sharing an eternity in the same coffin is a haunting image.<br /><br />On her right calf is this dagger:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5bGXH8d5g0sKFn-5rc_hsvjnrXgZklnMe6ns33VcCU7L6hM5La20be2etKeo35qojOJkDYH2G-VaNgoklwnucSBNzhuQpFx3urVbWML8u-K6-3md4qh1k79fW4YpO7hPdKE59aJvrKw/s1600/Dagger+Calf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5bGXH8d5g0sKFn-5rc_hsvjnrXgZklnMe6ns33VcCU7L6hM5La20be2etKeo35qojOJkDYH2G-VaNgoklwnucSBNzhuQpFx3urVbWML8u-K6-3md4qh1k79fW4YpO7hPdKE59aJvrKw/s640/Dagger+Calf.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />The phrase "MORTE PRIMA DI DISONORE" translates to the expression "Death Before Dishonor". This tattoo was created at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Addiction-NYC/282610705212?sk=wall">Addiction NYC</a> on St. Mark's Place in Manhattan.<br /><br />Thanks to Kate for sharing these great tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><!--[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><br /> /* Style Definitions */<br /> table.MsoNormalTable<br /> {mso-style-name:"Table Normal";<br /> mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;<br /> mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;<br /> mso-style-noshow:yes;<br /> mso-style-parent:"";<br /> mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;<br /> mso-para-margin:0in;<br /> mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;<br /> mso-pagination:widow-orphan;<br /> font-size:10.0pt;<br /> font-family:"Times New Roman";}<br /> </style> <![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. </span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</a> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I 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>

Kate Reminds Us: Two Calves Are Better than One

I met Kate last month and she shared these two, of her eleven tattoos: Kate says these don't have specific meanings behind them, she ...

Read more »

Cenk's Skeleton Tattoo Pays Homage to Yukio Mishima and St. Sebastian

I met Cenk where I meet so many Tattoosday volunteers, outside of Penn Station on the plaza adjacent to Madison Square Garden.<br /><br />He shared this, one of his four tattoos:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uk8GU4bDET3y49Peha39ZexaGNThB2IisKdv3QqRRFKHguspHlwi9e_H2IY7PWmsuwe4Hx5zF6EaqmD9c5giGW0zsZWt5GnZQ3aTCf3uMsFsW32CIPoTJRSUwpoXao253hzyWjWuQv4/s1600-h/St+sebastian.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379419825433531538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uk8GU4bDET3y49Peha39ZexaGNThB2IisKdv3QqRRFKHguspHlwi9e_H2IY7PWmsuwe4Hx5zF6EaqmD9c5giGW0zsZWt5GnZQ3aTCf3uMsFsW32CIPoTJRSUwpoXao253hzyWjWuQv4/s400/St+sebastian.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 400px;" /></a>This is an interpretation of the depiction of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Sebastian">St. Sebastian</a>, as seen by the Japanese author <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukio_Mishima">Yukio Mishima</a>, one of Cenk's favorite writers. A variation of the St. Sebastian imagery graced one of the many covers of Mishima's <a href="%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/081120118X?ie=UTF8&tag=bill03-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=081120118X%22%3EConfessions%20of%20a%20Mask%20%28New%20Directions%20Paperbook%29%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=081120118X%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E">Confessions of a Mask</a>:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_da794PhqgVYrBeNsvyiGL6OtCFJtGAStBsCtlfnRoUvC6hIQvpkO5raXlf2kTE0MDL43afnXhkUjGhAJd863NTzQ-siixSllylKaccIGRah3DfBmOwYyt3kAiHd0VcQrOgpmB1l5IW4/s1600-h/yukio1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382388324295232978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_da794PhqgVYrBeNsvyiGL6OtCFJtGAStBsCtlfnRoUvC6hIQvpkO5raXlf2kTE0MDL43afnXhkUjGhAJd863NTzQ-siixSllylKaccIGRah3DfBmOwYyt3kAiHd0VcQrOgpmB1l5IW4/s400/yukio1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Mishima even posed for a publicity photo as the martyred St. Sebastian:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOF9S7sbdRv5DGyrLVMAH8hj_zPpUW5dLZPPrwsE4b1JYuoffCsT-76p72b2T3USQvh4FQ35f60BYvT4b-NrWJr3pYkp-0Yxab2-0R_Its3pSAkKu_RRMcuusqpjxQRsHFHi2njlpRe70/s1600-h/mishima2ss.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382389007158723650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOF9S7sbdRv5DGyrLVMAH8hj_zPpUW5dLZPPrwsE4b1JYuoffCsT-76p72b2T3USQvh4FQ35f60BYvT4b-NrWJr3pYkp-0Yxab2-0R_Its3pSAkKu_RRMcuusqpjxQRsHFHi2njlpRe70/s400/mishima2ss.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 258px;" /></a><br />This piece was tattooed by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/myleskarr">Myles Karr</a> at <a href="http://www.savedtattoo.com/">Saved Tattoo</a> in Brooklyn. According to <a href="http://myleskarr.com/">his website</a>, he has since left Saved, and opened <a href="http://www.threekingstattoo.com/">Three Kings Tattoo Parlor</a>. Mr. Karr's work has appeared previously on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/05/milos-tattoos-honor-family.html">here</a> and <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/05/kyles-take-on-heaven-and-hell.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WXOyaz3a4bhrq-ipuKEaKaz1EQkbCetbrdw2bUmY7qecsAhRCUC4gLjO0bAla-CLLyMHAauD56SP6K7FWS3XLDMKjJtsYWyTy1Frw1DfSeYjytRWu3ATKrt_PnIQiymr67EuIBDdLVE/s1600-h/Mishima+Sebastian.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379419623004825954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WXOyaz3a4bhrq-ipuKEaKaz1EQkbCetbrdw2bUmY7qecsAhRCUC4gLjO0bAla-CLLyMHAauD56SP6K7FWS3XLDMKjJtsYWyTy1Frw1DfSeYjytRWu3ATKrt_PnIQiymr67EuIBDdLVE/s400/Mishima+Sebastian.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Thanks to Cenk for sharing this tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Cenk's Skeleton Tattoo Pays Homage to Yukio Mishima and St. Sebastian

I met Cenk where I meet so many Tattoosday volunteers, outside of Penn Station on the plaza adjacent to Madison Square Garden. He shared thi...

Read more »

Skeleton Emerging

I met Javier outside of Madison Square Garden back in July and he shared this incredible tattoo on the back of his right calf:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZPKZ2_8hz9EF7vy_aMfpg3ExYT81EgcvlRpBpJvE8TASOT8gZQdegq0ubDaOBWHep_Dv-5FB0KSGUPr0ItE5TKYOq6988SSJHqJeFfkyuzOxgQTtv65Oi_pHzdfqGpCqDtySenlRtx4/s1600-h/SkeletonEmerging.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368269272860739410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZPKZ2_8hz9EF7vy_aMfpg3ExYT81EgcvlRpBpJvE8TASOT8gZQdegq0ubDaOBWHep_Dv-5FB0KSGUPr0ItE5TKYOq6988SSJHqJeFfkyuzOxgQTtv65Oi_pHzdfqGpCqDtySenlRtx4/s400/SkeletonEmerging.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />He had the idea in mind and took it to <a href="http://www.strestattoo.com/uccio.php">Uccio</a>, a tattoo artist in a shop in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salamanca">Salamanca</a>, located in western Spain.<br /><br />This amazing piece has an incredible three-dimensional feel, with a skeleton emerging through the torn flesh of Javier's leg.<br /><br />Thanks to Javier for sharing this amazing tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br />UPDATE:<br /><br />Javier was kind enough to clarify for us that the shop where this was done is called <a href="http://www.strestattoo.com/">Stres Tattoo</a> in Salamanca.<br /><br />He also sent me images of the sketches upon which this amazing tattoo was based:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqJbEmVTRPSOD1ICpiOekL97xHhj-XSst7rmbiaZ2q4CFcVWWjtXtrn5n2cqWGvCtm8J_NJsBaaBJLxdlBRBpdznOlAlQ1BkC4WXEV4KZ2ZAFAAOVFzg6nEXjkRVn8X2eeqtNbXBfebM/s1600-h/calavera.bmp" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369763992510452866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqJbEmVTRPSOD1ICpiOekL97xHhj-XSst7rmbiaZ2q4CFcVWWjtXtrn5n2cqWGvCtm8J_NJsBaaBJLxdlBRBpdznOlAlQ1BkC4WXEV4KZ2ZAFAAOVFzg6nEXjkRVn8X2eeqtNbXBfebM/s400/calavera.bmp" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 139px; height: 215px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSho99QVaxI9E3XwAbZOJYiPl5YKUXs8ItYA29MAdVlFpYN_8Jc3FT-oOfSHVCFjuRxt2Ml2KtWdZ6OQnKTJPdcZoo1CX94p7g_Nyc2Rs26eXrQnPbFSWXsHoHCrqGi52FnOFyrvvLVDI/s1600-h/calavera2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369763835752272386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSho99QVaxI9E3XwAbZOJYiPl5YKUXs8ItYA29MAdVlFpYN_8Jc3FT-oOfSHVCFjuRxt2Ml2KtWdZ6OQnKTJPdcZoo1CX94p7g_Nyc2Rs26eXrQnPbFSWXsHoHCrqGi52FnOFyrvvLVDI/s400/calavera2.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" /></a><br /><br />Thanks to Javier for the update!

Skeleton Emerging

I met Javier outside of Madison Square Garden back in July and he shared this incredible tattoo on the back of his right calf: He had the id...

Read more »

Carrie Returns with Some Matrimonial Ink

<span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryWQCfxbK7okyTiKTmA20HpE7TJk6idoe-Gj4C2AvSfZ0eIL7eoSGG_Xuycer4MAZ0tkSmpGaOy9evDNlpCO79OAu4z51I59CodJdlaRYrKnFjSN0Jh9K4BDxefkWKHP9QAtQBHHMMshc/s1600-h/groom+ink+in+progress.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297839470525684562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryWQCfxbK7okyTiKTmA20HpE7TJk6idoe-Gj4C2AvSfZ0eIL7eoSGG_Xuycer4MAZ0tkSmpGaOy9evDNlpCO79OAu4z51I59CodJdlaRYrKnFjSN0Jh9K4BDxefkWKHP9QAtQBHHMMshc/s400/groom+ink+in+progress.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 211px;" /></a><br /></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >As this blog has evolved from a weekly installment over at BillyBlog into a full-time appreciation of the Tattoo, I have gained an immense appreciation of the way Mexican folk art has been absorbed into the medium.<br /><br />The celebration of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dio de los Muertos</span></a> (the Day of the Dead) is a perfect match for tattooing, as it is associated with bright colors and what I call a "pleasant mor</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >bidity," in the form of skeletons and skulls.<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" > </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJbCyauKJlby793h93SxBrQk1Hzz3W5c3W3_DFfl-eEG3aXx4R23t001o4FEhehZiPazNRbWU9W4-yAd3fW6EJA8V-X6lnNyweX21DUKHT3nd16BZCfjKdxkMLtrqOTq5GnLpYGTEm_RV/s1600-h/dod+shrine.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297839952353525010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJbCyauKJlby793h93SxBrQk1Hzz3W5c3W3_DFfl-eEG3aXx4R23t001o4FEhehZiPazNRbWU9W4-yAd3fW6EJA8V-X6lnNyweX21DUKHT3nd16BZCfjKdxkMLtrqOTq5GnLpYGTEm_RV/s400/dod+shrine.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 212px;" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><br />Some of my favorite posts here at Tattoosday have been related to the Day of the Dead (see <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Day%20of%20the%20Dead">here</a> and <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Sugar%20Skulls">here</a>).<br /><br />So it was with great pleasure that I learned that Carrie, of <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/09/series-of-nautical-stars-guide-me-to.html">the amazing ship tattoo</a>, was sending me new ink photos, and moreso when I saw they were in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Dio de los Muertos</span> theme.<br /><br />Carrie sent a slew of photos relating to two tattoos she and her new husband, Ryan, received as a wedding gift from their friend, Evan Lindemann, who is a tattoo artist at <a href="http://www.revolvertattoo.com/">Revolver Tattoo</a> in New Brunswick, NJ. This is the same shop where her pirate ship was (and continues to be) inked.<br /><br /><div>The couple were married on Halloween of 2008, and honeymooned the following week, which coincided with the <span style="font-style: italic;">Day of the Dead</span> celebrations:<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span> </div><blockquote> <div>"We had a masquerade ball for our Halloween wedding...our cake topper was a <span style="font-style: italic;">Day of he Dead</span> skeleton bride and groom folk art bride and groom<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3fauEhcnoq0R_LZqL__nnVBitpObHJ30w2MCm_409C28vhQGpV08uk6W29lAx86ZGXyQuCpaNhUDkqwPC2ztqA34x0YH0QMtlipL21nr2D0xKt2bVyn1qczw2emHHApCtbapzN8DxRWr/s1600-h/dod+b+and+g.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297840085960490338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3fauEhcnoq0R_LZqL__nnVBitpObHJ30w2MCm_409C28vhQGpV08uk6W29lAx86ZGXyQuCpaNhUDkqwPC2ztqA34x0YH0QMtlipL21nr2D0xKt2bVyn1qczw2emHHApCtbapzN8DxRWr/s400/dod+b+and+g.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 212px;" /></a><br />and our toasting flutes were hand painted from Mexico and had day of the dead bride and groom skulls as well [see photo above]....Going to Mexico was the icing on the cake to finish out our awesome wedding....In Mexico we went to <a href="http://playadelcarmen.com/">Playa del Carmen</a>, shopped like crazy on 5th ave and ... found some beautiful <span style="font-style: italic;">Day of the Dead</span> figurines and shadow boxes.....</div> <div><br /></div><div>For our wedding gift, ...Evan...wanted to give us a tattoo each.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cCeIpm3HA91Uw5ILwA5P4y8EmFbK8H1e-4QUp6FhsPKbkB1dzXYIwHObxIVWgLOKZp0k6iPwmgLsBvxRn4P83KVMILVl91RdaUYsaPZsPC4vONTCNnaVGSyCRivn-eqH283wjgZlljgQ/s1600-h/artist+trace+4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297840316764682514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cCeIpm3HA91Uw5ILwA5P4y8EmFbK8H1e-4QUp6FhsPKbkB1dzXYIwHObxIVWgLOKZp0k6iPwmgLsBvxRn4P83KVMILVl91RdaUYsaPZsPC4vONTCNnaVGSyCRivn-eqH283wjgZlljgQ/s400/artist+trace+4.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 319px;" /></a>We love tattoos, so it was one hell of an offer....so...we decided that I would get the <span style="font-style: italic;">Day of the Dead</span> figurine that is the skeleton in the tux representing the groom<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GCn2TroC62g5AYMZCEhAbB80TUzWMNedpJgEXrrcBWujms9OqSjZcUSo7dJvBH1FXcf0UeG79IQPGYiDjm1cgkx13hRrAufHgaVFWgYIKMMnDirYn-jUdSpglCxxka9KiuAt6WqEv-cg/s1600-h/Groom+closeup.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297839568914284226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GCn2TroC62g5AYMZCEhAbB80TUzWMNedpJgEXrrcBWujms9OqSjZcUSo7dJvBH1FXcf0UeG79IQPGYiDjm1cgkx13hRrAufHgaVFWgYIKMMnDirYn-jUdSpglCxxka9KiuAt6WqEv-cg/s400/Groom+closeup.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 141px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />and Ryan would get the <span style="font-style: italic;">Day of the Dead</span> woman figurine which represents the bride:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFtpzscMteZ-CEIvPuYgeuoSuU0eEKFy3A7m-MfMC9VgUH0VxdNtnN9qswROwww6s3KKvbGVoz8M4oL6DMUEel77MAZ11GJGg5I-Jwb6GEZvpPARgVfQDsZFcLH-oVBdsUI7Y0UrZ-6Gn/s1600-h/Bride+closeup.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297840209619599986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFtpzscMteZ-CEIvPuYgeuoSuU0eEKFy3A7m-MfMC9VgUH0VxdNtnN9qswROwww6s3KKvbGVoz8M4oL6DMUEel77MAZ11GJGg5I-Jwb6GEZvpPARgVfQDsZFcLH-oVBdsUI7Y0UrZ-6Gn/s400/Bride+closeup.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />So, we have a piece together and they are beautiful!"<br /><br /><span class="nfakPe"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34T9ZCw1f-Jh-iSmVX3Ev18bS9f8S1ERhxtTiQcRdpTMe-eBFqodBSerC3U6Wv_0w12JpnegS69iyl4O0npgpoB2Z60gS-olBPQIegsR8lNaoY4xSwYnf6fleQ4JAKwfH8qnRBIbSuWil/s1600-h/The+Couple+Together.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297839407043158354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34T9ZCw1f-Jh-iSmVX3Ev18bS9f8S1ERhxtTiQcRdpTMe-eBFqodBSerC3U6Wv_0w12JpnegS69iyl4O0npgpoB2Z60gS-olBPQIegsR8lNaoY4xSwYnf6fleQ4JAKwfH8qnRBIbSuWil/s400/The+Couple+Together.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /></span></div></blockquote><div>Carrie concludes, that these tattoos "symbolize our love, marriage and <span class="nfakPe">honeymoon".<br /><br />She added that this may "</span>sound kind of corny," but she is right when she says they are beautiful.</div> <div><br />A belated congratulations to Carrie (and Ryan) for the marriage, and their incredibly cool (and romantic) his-and-hers tattoos. In a day and age when so many married couples tattoo each others' names on their bodies, it is heart-warming from an artistic perspective to see the level of creativity and thought that went into these pieces.<br /><br />And a <span>hearty thank you </span>to Carrie (and Ryan) for sharing their work here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><br /></div></span>

Carrie Returns with Some Matrimonial Ink

As this blog has evolved from a weekly installment over at BillyBlog into a full-time appreciation of the Tattoo, I have gained an immense a...

Read more »

Michael's Mariachis Celebrate Life with a Burst of Musical Color

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisl_mObKQKr2imPCk-4UPiJ588Nx4lI7uj5iiQEUOAhDFsDUnEHSAiaIsp4nxluk11dEzpw7r2IvuguXcXuOSMa4UO3nwettlNmdVZ_Gzjmb4oR6-HAcdiqASSLsoJS9M8rQ5EGyNovpIt/s1600-h/mariachi+with+iris.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269720254143055906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisl_mObKQKr2imPCk-4UPiJ588Nx4lI7uj5iiQEUOAhDFsDUnEHSAiaIsp4nxluk11dEzpw7r2IvuguXcXuOSMa4UO3nwettlNmdVZ_Gzjmb4oR6-HAcdiqASSLsoJS9M8rQ5EGyNovpIt/s400/mariachi+with+iris.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 356px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />In reconnecting with old college friends through Facebook, my old friend Michael who I haven't seen in almost twenty years sent me an amazing tattoo he has on his right arm.<br /><br />He sent me before and after shots so we can see the transformation from outline to spectacularly colorful body art. First, the before shots.....<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AMg5HMwRZUERr-Es-5Oa6m7x9w1U8pUrooumPGk4Xt9VOVnEC0FRMCNKaKt6_Os2zOo5gyF7nv_fo4W-LRJUyNRgzneBfnO4RH-ut-2enD6i6Q0INgJUQ07ffDtGcgcG9Uf2rBsAEZCQ/s1600-h/mariachi+outline+1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269719225156372226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AMg5HMwRZUERr-Es-5Oa6m7x9w1U8pUrooumPGk4Xt9VOVnEC0FRMCNKaKt6_Os2zOo5gyF7nv_fo4W-LRJUyNRgzneBfnO4RH-ut-2enD6i6Q0INgJUQ07ffDtGcgcG9Uf2rBsAEZCQ/s400/mariachi+outline+1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_ZW0JG2QE8LiO2edxzvyHoJ3mbZUs4kS82hkS_ivr6pkW5LowQ5sCrBMQawWPhv9tUu-04a9oIwUFlYfvMpqpeapROfMW39qVZj2I4X1elk_HMAWH5adS5UdfylSDbTW_8kfh3yqytU0/s1600-h/mariachi+outline+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269718659087915346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_ZW0JG2QE8LiO2edxzvyHoJ3mbZUs4kS82hkS_ivr6pkW5LowQ5sCrBMQawWPhv9tUu-04a9oIwUFlYfvMpqpeapROfMW39qVZj2I4X1elk_HMAWH5adS5UdfylSDbTW_8kfh3yqytU0/s400/mariachi+outline+2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The detail and the line work is exemplary and breath-taking. As someone with a guitar inked on my arm, I can appreciate the intricacies of a finely-drawn instrument. The detail on the mariachi's jacket cuff is incredible.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-D6Tip6rawH-OB3InfgTcjZDjZ6V78uT17xhncbCzlqnb4ui2pRjGR6kVbkGdE7jnnlAgH1pGaiKLMvpZ0DYuYa01aOTAJLb6Qu126mERW82SIeHyHmZ9WxSQMzoke50tEQ-av5lTuq3/s1600-h/mariachi+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269719773239210498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-D6Tip6rawH-OB3InfgTcjZDjZ6V78uT17xhncbCzlqnb4ui2pRjGR6kVbkGdE7jnnlAgH1pGaiKLMvpZ0DYuYa01aOTAJLb6Qu126mERW82SIeHyHmZ9WxSQMzoke50tEQ-av5lTuq3/s400/mariachi+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 147px;" /></a><br />And now, for some color:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bjMatrIXqOp_IIF_sdBHQcLBRSA-tOMxasc9xXdQvBlbgY1a3lUhyeBVKNLMn6OxEorcwcU0zAcrlkYfwz1TT2TK2dlglg2lJUzkyDQZCWN1hdAUSFToyJtDYP2KkO5TQPPEIk0Hqi2G/s1600-h/mariachi+right.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269718515179009634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bjMatrIXqOp_IIF_sdBHQcLBRSA-tOMxasc9xXdQvBlbgY1a3lUhyeBVKNLMn6OxEorcwcU0zAcrlkYfwz1TT2TK2dlglg2lJUzkyDQZCWN1hdAUSFToyJtDYP2KkO5TQPPEIk0Hqi2G/s400/mariachi+right.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8BG4GBRddcgJXZuI-npX_gQKQOk_X9kSuS-KM7eDopjjGPxXwhZBQSsElfCgk1PESG9WHRtkyr5HoqOBNsdYmQIJzQEoepYWr7YuXCs5FKL-tx5etGeHOoMX96syQZ_wqPWjKq-VP4Sp/s1600-h/mariachi+left.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269718414681594482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8BG4GBRddcgJXZuI-npX_gQKQOk_X9kSuS-KM7eDopjjGPxXwhZBQSsElfCgk1PESG9WHRtkyr5HoqOBNsdYmQIJzQEoepYWr7YuXCs5FKL-tx5etGeHOoMX96syQZ_wqPWjKq-VP4Sp/s400/mariachi+left.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 146px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLo6X96y4Igse_fUrL-b0Teb9B58vUgjcISYt5vZ_FUUrSjT5P72GIWPbAHNhnCyw6Xm_q2DaZ-owOzQwTZoN-BWt2uKEFtv8ySo-_QtbBpNvdhAJw3sBsRJcxvq_VohWsxd6-1IjhzgSF/s1600-h/mariachi+center.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269718302019198898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLo6X96y4Igse_fUrL-b0Teb9B58vUgjcISYt5vZ_FUUrSjT5P72GIWPbAHNhnCyw6Xm_q2DaZ-owOzQwTZoN-BWt2uKEFtv8ySo-_QtbBpNvdhAJw3sBsRJcxvq_VohWsxd6-1IjhzgSF/s400/mariachi+center.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Michael explains the basic premise of this tattoo:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">In a sense, this piece is a "memorial" tattoo, although I hate to call it that. Since I grew up in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwestern_United_States">Southwest</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_dead">Day of the Dead</a> was a regular thing, so I've always been drawn to that type of imagery, plus I like the meaning -- honoring the dead, and reminding us to live life to the fullest.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> I picked the mariachis partly because I am so into music, and partly because of the celebratory aspect of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariachi">mariachis</a>. </span></blockquote>Like many intricate tattoos with multiple elements, every part has significance. The tulips, for example, that are growing at the mariachi's feet, "are an actual heirloom varietal that I have in the garden" [and] are for my wife -- tulips are her favorite flower".<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqK3ClnntneQxWCiwiu_UvW0zNh0GNyT-SBKq6SGqQnRzcGjJbO8JlWNtylYrL1hx7rV2ZOBJeatmDMKulEGXaGEAE_4zDm76TfwTq8uCYpwOgIA6SBMYnqaWvgganF0BhxeGuYAMWnbH/s1600-h/mariachi+tulips.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285329957944922738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqK3ClnntneQxWCiwiu_UvW0zNh0GNyT-SBKq6SGqQnRzcGjJbO8JlWNtylYrL1hx7rV2ZOBJeatmDMKulEGXaGEAE_4zDm76TfwTq8uCYpwOgIA6SBMYnqaWvgganF0BhxeGuYAMWnbH/s400/mariachi+tulips.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" /></a><br />And the angel at the top of the piece (and the top of the post)?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qDgMdFWJL0p2zR3OjSoGUOohaqjk_YJ8wABuTHHQJbAjYV3sCqP26b2FuXDaTMlSUT0c1ye1IH2lVf0TLlpIqVonjztBFYmPSibzeN0xro1NE2Q5rvdgfNEXONdHG6PjK2cDKRuOc5rm/s1600-h/mariachi+top.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269719465230803490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qDgMdFWJL0p2zR3OjSoGUOohaqjk_YJ8wABuTHHQJbAjYV3sCqP26b2FuXDaTMlSUT0c1ye1IH2lVf0TLlpIqVonjztBFYmPSibzeN0xro1NE2Q5rvdgfNEXONdHG6PjK2cDKRuOc5rm/s400/mariachi+top.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 355px;" /></a><br />Michael informs us that "the angel is for my mother, who is no longer with us. The angel holds a purple iris (my mother's favorite flower), and looks down over the whole scene."<br /><br />This amazing piece was inked by <a href="http://www.doyleomite.com/">Susan Behney-Doyle</a> who works out of <a href="http://www.jinxprooftattoos.com/index.html">Jinx Proof Tattoo</a> in Washington, D.C. Mexican folk art is one of her specialties (see a gallery of her work <a href="http://www.doyleomite.com/gallerySusan.htm">here</a>) and Michael says he "gave her a few reference pieces to look at, but she basically drew it after a consultation". He continues, "we made just a couple tweaks after I saw the drawing, but it's a one-of-a-kind custom piece".<br /><br />The whole tattoo was crafted back in 2006 over a five-month, seven-session period. Michael notes that one of those sessions was devoted solely to shading the guitar. A closer look at the instrument reveals an incredible complexity of brown variations that truly makes the guitar jump off the skin.

Michael's Mariachis Celebrate Life with a Burst of Musical Color

In reconnecting with old college friends through Facebook, my old friend Michael who I haven't seen in almost twenty years sent me an am...

Read more »