Chris Wears His Knife on his Sleeve

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTqrgjxqQ5_zNi8UkAHKDBVARUELxdUKAOtLfxoWu7Pxk9EDvOTDv4_JlVvjm5pxWn6kxceXc9DCAx9mAstMBKwmSmtWTsPzlZLW56hoslsdEjXkSjIZ4XzefBKk345TddNYANz3zl8I5/s1600-h/knife1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235122926202009058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTqrgjxqQ5_zNi8UkAHKDBVARUELxdUKAOtLfxoWu7Pxk9EDvOTDv4_JlVvjm5pxWn6kxceXc9DCAx9mAstMBKwmSmtWTsPzlZLW56hoslsdEjXkSjIZ4XzefBKk345TddNYANz3zl8I5/s400/knife1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />On Wednesday I met Chris, outside of the hotel across the street from my office. He sported four tattoos in all, but this one was the most fascinating.<br /><br />Chris was in town (he resides in <a href="http://www.cityofripon.org/">Ripon, California</a>) on business as the tour caterer for <a href="http://www.neildiamond.com/">Neil Diamond</a> (he has also worked for <a href="http://www.timmcgraw.com/login">Tim McGraw</a>, <a href="http://www.faithhill.com/timeline.php">Faith Hill</a>, and others).<br /><br />The knife, on his left forearm, is a portrait, one could say, of his own chef's knife.<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHW567l3uBRHlwW6E5ueHUUcZtDjSiZorRTXvU2p9NOTYrxCw5uVuZ-YcpfAu9jVQ9hnkgXP5MnnN6Td55KlmgYwA1Jy0WVNM4jHyty5hToFj_40qGDoUgMIfF9_ZWPZiMFOO_w_44lwW/s1600-h/knife11.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235122758902586914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHW567l3uBRHlwW6E5ueHUUcZtDjSiZorRTXvU2p9NOTYrxCw5uVuZ-YcpfAu9jVQ9hnkgXP5MnnN6Td55KlmgYwA1Jy0WVNM4jHyty5hToFj_40qGDoUgMIfF9_ZWPZiMFOO_w_44lwW/s400/knife11.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Clearly, most chefs have a connection to the tools of their trade. I would imagine that a favorite knife would be near and dear to one's heart. Chris' tattoo is testament to that fact.<br /><br />Chris actually takes this portrait a step further and incorporates other elements into the knife tattoo. Their are markings on the knife that appear almost like runes.<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5mFLsmLlSbG-Xw5rpquYQcONrbmFcQKHU7vMtkuctYzGlk9m2GZEDE7tSSlvK_rsMPSSCU5TFF8CXUh376Vepu8jMDobqtzkQJ3GpnAzebqF7PBM-NW4cYrPp3XEO9lHDeSpA807XLnP/s1600-h/knife111.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235122696242706434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5mFLsmLlSbG-Xw5rpquYQcONrbmFcQKHU7vMtkuctYzGlk9m2GZEDE7tSSlvK_rsMPSSCU5TFF8CXUh376Vepu8jMDobqtzkQJ3GpnAzebqF7PBM-NW4cYrPp3XEO9lHDeSpA807XLnP/s400/knife111.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />This is actually written in the <a href="http://www.cherokee.org/">Cherokee</a> tongue, a tribute to his heritage (his father is Cherokee). When I asked if he could tell me what was inscribed in the blade, he smiled and shook his head. He doesn't disclose the deeply personal nature of the message to anyone.<br /><br />One additional element that I would have not noticed had he not mentioned it are the geometrical shapes on the hilt of the knife.<br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yZHybIsqyFFj8L2OFIy8vaGtPiGma-3ceepag1aQNUWgn4qLabo-uL4inPlxu6o47Ze6Z1dW6F39uOalabA2t9dTk1F1RrGNQLXSNGWvmJuAKEcXxOqT91EoR6anG6nMbyu6iNiAXBh2/s1600-h/knife1111.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235122638020611906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yZHybIsqyFFj8L2OFIy8vaGtPiGma-3ceepag1aQNUWgn4qLabo-uL4inPlxu6o47Ze6Z1dW6F39uOalabA2t9dTk1F1RrGNQLXSNGWvmJuAKEcXxOqT91EoR6anG6nMbyu6iNiAXBh2/s400/knife1111.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Chris explained to me that he is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowboarding">snowboarder</a> as well, and each shape represents the <a href="http://www.abc-of-snowboarding.com/pistemarking.asp">trail marking symbo</a><a href="http://www.abc-of-snowboarding.com/pistemarking.asp">l</a> for a slope that he has conquered while boarding.<br /><br />Chris told me that this unique piece was inked by <a href="http://www.skinwerks.com/craigfoster_tat01.html">Craig Foster</a> at <a href="http://www.skinwerks.com/home.html">Skinwerks Tattoo and Design</a> in <a href="http://carrolltongeorgia.com/">Carrollton, Georgia</a> (about 50 miles from Atlanta). I was excited to hear this as Craig's work has appeared on Tattoosday previously <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/06/syndys-windjammer-in-honor-of-nanny.html">here</a>. His work is phenomenal and I am fortunate enough to have come across his ink up in New York. Check out their shop site <a href="http://www.skinwerks.com/home.html">here</a> and see what other amazing work they do there.<br /><br />Thanks to Chris for sharing his "<a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2007/09/tat-tool.html">tat-tool</a>" of the trade with us here at Tattoosday!

Chris Wears His Knife on his Sleeve

On Wednesday I met Chris, outside of the hotel across the street from my office. He sported four tattoos in all, but this one was the most f...

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