Tattoos I Know: Brooke's Back

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

Tattoos I Know: Brooke's Back

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

Read more »

Alicio's Barbed Cross

Here's a quick one.<br /><br />Last Sunday at the laundromat, I ran into Alicio who had this simple tattoo on the inside of his left forearm:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTbUMjLWtEUC9mIw_7n0ie7X1feC58U2shS9-PuoaX3YV6U2sYipEad9e06-77109KD_08d-RM2RtviNF9DIcs6S9wFUXK1CP5PZFLPnEiTMBAcjr_doaYI5HBoSHYU174GU6yxupvZhR/s1600-h/100_6815.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180138704034305634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTbUMjLWtEUC9mIw_7n0ie7X1feC58U2shS9-PuoaX3YV6U2sYipEad9e06-77109KD_08d-RM2RtviNF9DIcs6S9wFUXK1CP5PZFLPnEiTMBAcjr_doaYI5HBoSHYU174GU6yxupvZhR/s400/100_6815.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Designs are never just designs.<br /><br />Alicio explained, "When I was growing up, religion was a big part of my life, but it caused me a lot of pain. I wanted something to represent that."<br /><br />Alicio got this cross, with barbs on it to represent the pain. The tattoo is about two years old and he had it inked in Tucson, Arizona, where he lives. He was in Brooklyn, visiting.<br /><br />Thanks to Alicio for his willingness to share his barbed ink with Tattoosday.

Alicio's Barbed Cross

Here's a quick one. Last Sunday at the laundromat, I ran into Alicio who had this simple tattoo on the inside of his left forearm: Desig...

Read more »

The First Two Elements of Omar's Sleeve

I was sitting in my local coffee establishment Sunday morning when I overheard some words that got my attention. Among the words uttered were “traditional,” “sleeve,” and “work”. I looked up to see a guy talking to the barista. He had a tattoo on his wrist. I waited until he was done talking to the guy behind the counter and spoke up when he walked by.<br /><br />His name is Omar and he has two tattoos, both on his inner right forearm:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_g_rJkXY0KActrhFDQGjgCHwyJNn2s0oqKHJR5M4l5zX9F3EaTRthW5jk2hRBDNUroIweTNiiqBpKBnbRJAdzFCBvZ7d6a2hj5mgRCFzlMle4lc7nj7NMQk_lFTYM1N2BQzWW-yGYAVM/s1600-h/100_6802.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178646179615297074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_g_rJkXY0KActrhFDQGjgCHwyJNn2s0oqKHJR5M4l5zX9F3EaTRthW5jk2hRBDNUroIweTNiiqBpKBnbRJAdzFCBvZ7d6a2hj5mgRCFzlMle4lc7nj7NMQk_lFTYM1N2BQzWW-yGYAVM/s400/100_6802.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />His first one is the nautical star, definitely a traditional piece:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLukLkUKHMg1xyjVeudOH0C-falIZOsGJ9zkIUi80hJPo5N-fcHkk6PIhl1J2225ydkFrxkhXzcdYcQnIkvQP6bFpc3U8zf6UZrYsXUv5eP5ha6BTYPZGne75ENTvBIGZrV_ZkbgjMBB-/s1600-h/100_6803.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178646024996474402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLukLkUKHMg1xyjVeudOH0C-falIZOsGJ9zkIUi80hJPo5N-fcHkk6PIhl1J2225ydkFrxkhXzcdYcQnIkvQP6bFpc3U8zf6UZrYsXUv5eP5ha6BTYPZGne75ENTvBIGZrV_ZkbgjMBB-/s400/100_6803.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> He explained that, as he understood it, the nautical star tattoo is a common piece that represents a star guiding a sailor home on the right path. He had flames added to symbolize change, as it so often does in tattooing.<br /><br />This was not inked at any shop, but by one of Omar's friends who is just learning the art of the tattoo. He pointed out that the line work was not perfect, but I wouldn't have noticed it without a harder glance.<br /><br />The second piece is a traditional sugar skull, very similar to the one that appeared in Tattoosday's "<a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2007/09/rad-tattoo-from-nebraska.html">Rad Tattoo from Nebraska</a>" post:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYxmZtGp1hVsfjZJZ0zUSpa8Q1a2fTKBLu9S8D0cWnaDtvSubOc2QIipF55zF7R_yurIjGmz17ZEiwU4LYc0Ij2ezEDGiawAfNpL-faFZRNy74G4d5dTagQV0gxPC8xmWsoaUz_wqWwnw/s1600-h/100_6804.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178645823133011474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYxmZtGp1hVsfjZJZ0zUSpa8Q1a2fTKBLu9S8D0cWnaDtvSubOc2QIipF55zF7R_yurIjGmz17ZEiwU4LYc0Ij2ezEDGiawAfNpL-faFZRNy74G4d5dTagQV0gxPC8xmWsoaUz_wqWwnw/s400/100_6804.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Omar had first gone into <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=48272453">Brooklyn Ink</a> and discussed his second tattoo it was there that the artist recommended that he should stay traditional to be consistent with the nautical star.<br /><br />He ended up in SoHo at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/whatever-tattoo-ii-new-york">Whatever Tattoo II</a> where he had <a href="http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/mexicansugarskull/recipe.htm">the sugar skull</a> added. I'll be frank, I thought that the design was just a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead">Day of the Dead</a> piece and only recently learned of the significance of the sugar skull. These items are usually associated with the Mexican Day of the Dead holiday, and are made specifically for the ocasion using colored sugar. In the context of the tattoo they represent the dichotomy of life and death. This tattoo is only about two weeks old.<br /><br />Omar says he plans to have a full sleeve dedicated to traditional tattoo symbols. He next hopes to add to the background of the skull with some flowers and other designs.<br /><br />Thanks to Omar for his contribution to Tattoosday!

The First Two Elements of Omar's Sleeve

I was sitting in my local coffee establishment Sunday morning when I overheard some words that got my attention. Among the words uttered wer...

Read more »

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...

Read more »

Cathy's Cat-toos

I ran into Cathy at our local Rite Aid store where she was working replenishing the greeting cards stock.<br /><br />Her short sleeves allowed her to more than adequately show off two tattoos on her upper arms. The first I saw was this astrological depiction of her birth sign:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvBS2MoAXAH35QRvKAjbb-NRAmxrYmlF4tewqIiMm5FpxvqqUWplLhXOEX4Y2mfFazHPUFZpoFpcRQXpuCJBLSqJddxI6au-rDSNEDeWNG1PHDSQgJUIkj-_PlMRx7a5R9duEtSOxJYBQ/s1600-h/100_6705.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175599879571328034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvBS2MoAXAH35QRvKAjbb-NRAmxrYmlF4tewqIiMm5FpxvqqUWplLhXOEX4Y2mfFazHPUFZpoFpcRQXpuCJBLSqJddxI6au-rDSNEDeWNG1PHDSQgJUIkj-_PlMRx7a5R9duEtSOxJYBQ/s400/100_6705.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />That was, in fact, her first tattoo, inked back in 1993 at a shop in Philadelphia. No real explanation necessary. She is a Leo and wanted her sign depicted on her biceps. Leo was on the left.<br /><br />Cathy has 8 tattoos in all. She has two on the upper part of her chest, 3 on her lower back and behind, and 1 below her navel along the waistline.<br /><br />The tattoos on her chest were inked in London, and the one on her waistline was the only New York City tattoo.<br /><br />The three on her lower back and the one on her right biceps were done at the same shop in <a href="http://www.oceangrovenewjersey.com/">Ocean Grove, New Jersey</a>. She cannot recall the names of any of the shops or artists who tattooed her.<br /><br />The one on her right biceps she's not completely happy with:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGkp7PZKS6YgvV6S733cZ-OJK0vl0-e1aFg4PneIamXVtJhspwRbJDqlMcMI1d8u8_JSaUtIgc_ACV3Jr9o7ISl17qy5e3Z17rr7UWEow2wR6pr3LxY1U3OGC9C7DtOq-HVRdY-wkKpEl/s1600-h/100_6706.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175599600398453778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGkp7PZKS6YgvV6S733cZ-OJK0vl0-e1aFg4PneIamXVtJhspwRbJDqlMcMI1d8u8_JSaUtIgc_ACV3Jr9o7ISl17qy5e3Z17rr7UWEow2wR6pr3LxY1U3OGC9C7DtOq-HVRdY-wkKpEl/s400/100_6706.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />"It was supposed to be a female lion," she said, to go with the Leo, but it didn't come out quite right. She loves lions and other big cats.<br /><br />She laughed and said, now that she thinks about it, she got the lioness on her right arm "the same time as I got my husband's name on my butt."<br /><br />I did not ask about all of the tattoos that were completely covered. The tattoos on her chest are florals. She did say she would try to send me photos of the others.<br /><br />Thanks again to Cathy again for sharing her lions here on Tattoosday!

Cathy's Cat-toos

I ran into Cathy at our local Rite Aid store where she was working replenishing the greeting cards stock. Her short sleeves allowed her to m...

Read more »

Whole Lotta Rosary

So it was another Saturday night in Bay Ridge and we had just got home from a friend's house. The kids were getting ready for bed. My youngest, Shayna, was having a birthday party the next day. We were pretty much set on the party planning, but needed gift bags for party favors.<br /><br />I headed off to the 24-hour <a href="http://www.duanereade.com/">Duane Reade</a>, six blocks away. By the time I arrived, there were already a half-dozen things added to my list. I grabbed a cart (although in Brooklyn they refer to it as a wagon) and was somewhere in the haircare section (shampoo for kids) when two young ladies walked by.<br /><br />I had brought, as always, my Tattoosday folder with fliers in it, along with my camera, despite the fact that it was cold and in the thirties. But one can never be too prepared. These women were dressed for the clubs, coatless, bare-armed, and high-heeled. I spotted a tattoo on one of the women's feet.<br /><br />I thought about asking her then and there about it, but I balked. These were two attractive young women in a drugstore late at night and I wasn't up for the challenge of being scrutinized as a creep.<br /><br />Besides, I reasoned, it's only a rosary tattoo. Nothing extraordinary about that. Let me just leave them alone, I thought, they're obviously headed to some club.<br /><br />But I ran into them/passed them a couple more times and, each time, I cursed myself more for being too cowardly to ask. So what if its just a rosary? Here at Tattoosday, it's not just about the ink, but about the story behind the ink.<br /><br />I was at the front part of the store, trying to decide which individually-wrapped candies would be the least damaging to my children's teeth (for the party bags), when they headed my way, on their way out of the store. I figured, "what the heck?" and asked the young lady about her tattoo.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcg4k_IF46v3m4xVBQ1vSzb_lndMI0rSKPPZz2fjEU9sA2nbk0wcQfLrzhTrV5WTCl8D_xZY5EKWNHlh4D4xWzRVIqI8cfA1te29_fSw1V2z0Ri3_MyN2D6coygCJGh5mQII3J-pIRImLi/s1600-h/100_6641.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174497780672622258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcg4k_IF46v3m4xVBQ1vSzb_lndMI0rSKPPZz2fjEU9sA2nbk0wcQfLrzhTrV5WTCl8D_xZY5EKWNHlh4D4xWzRVIqI8cfA1te29_fSw1V2z0Ri3_MyN2D6coygCJGh5mQII3J-pIRImLi/s400/100_6641.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />This was not the first tattoo I took a picture of. Before I knew it, woman said "Wanna see a sick tattoo?" And she turned around and lifted the back of her shirt up to reveal, indeed, this very sick tattoo:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNrW7WiaEaPlon9jCpQwDsP0dZiXelhUfl7kKbK05GxyMeXpGNVUkdcqYZVTiQdOryFHGhcH1MteLi_g0r_-gy5PcQ_VvbPUAzZAlx7usxlNtsketw7NjwZrL1ZTmLnlA2TLqFerfpZB4/s1600-h/100_6640.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174497578809159330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNrW7WiaEaPlon9jCpQwDsP0dZiXelhUfl7kKbK05GxyMeXpGNVUkdcqYZVTiQdOryFHGhcH1MteLi_g0r_-gy5PcQ_VvbPUAzZAlx7usxlNtsketw7NjwZrL1ZTmLnlA2TLqFerfpZB4/s400/100_6640.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Wow. Sweet. Which just goes to show, Tattoosday Rule #1: Don't dismiss the "ordinary" tattoo. There may be extraordinary ones just out of sight!<br /><br />Her name is Layla and she was very cool. I snapped the above shot and then asked if I could take the rosary one as well, since that's what caused me to stop and talk to her.<br /><br />Both were inked by her friend <a href="http://www.myspace.com/vitotatts">Vito</a> at <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=277607840">King's County Tattoo Co.</a>. She got the rosary modeled after<a href="http://www.tattooblog.org/entry/nicole-richies-foot-rosary-tattoo-is-hot-amongst-american-girls/"> Nicole Richie's tattoo</a>. The awesome lower back piece she inked when she was 19. She was young and rebelling against her parents, she said, and she didn't want a small lower back tattoo like everyone else had, she wanted something big and bold. Check out this detail:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwdYON4Mb0nr8aKPFUnet0sTerMyJ_AAil4rdVuuRQib4G-02NUvjprBcNr4S1kiNXNEGDqVOmn-huClYrJVLv25e9iSfs6pTHHUcJCvGkFWvAEgpdzMM8Qk9R3vcGJBnAmEIsFXDZUjk/s1600-h/skull+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174496543722040962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwdYON4Mb0nr8aKPFUnet0sTerMyJ_AAil4rdVuuRQib4G-02NUvjprBcNr4S1kiNXNEGDqVOmn-huClYrJVLv25e9iSfs6pTHHUcJCvGkFWvAEgpdzMM8Qk9R3vcGJBnAmEIsFXDZUjk/s400/skull+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />It's beautiful work.<br /><br />I noticed that she also had a cross on her left forearm and I gave my standard Tattoosday patter: check out the blog in a few days, and feel free, if you like what you see, to email me if she wants to share more of her ink with the world.<br /><br />I turned to her friend, , and said, naively, and when you get a tattoo, let me know, and I'll put yours on too. She proudly replied, "I have seven already." Silly me, and then I noticed the rosary on her right foot.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6o5hRr3-dPg22n0elMpR-fVKG_vMrw4lkmKxYHK2CPFLiqDKOLzGof_yutcvoHRhcTjv4a6e3o4kOabhnfR3WNhtHwfJ8fA6M_3L6cLc6KuiX_JckZXQi07-yZ9GJWh1jWdpOUK5sUgj/s1600-h/100_6642.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174497153607397010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6o5hRr3-dPg22n0elMpR-fVKG_vMrw4lkmKxYHK2CPFLiqDKOLzGof_yutcvoHRhcTjv4a6e3o4kOabhnfR3WNhtHwfJ8fA6M_3L6cLc6KuiX_JckZXQi07-yZ9GJWh1jWdpOUK5sUgj/s400/100_6642.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><br />Like Layla, Lisa's rosary tattoo is inspired by Nicole Richie's. In fact, Lisa said, hers is an <span style="font-style: italic;">exact</span> replica of Nicole Richie's (below):<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1JTj9CNnvVopuWu2q9W5JPh3qxQLiHTQ5PvxWnbPFW2akaNmGJsV8JtInIASfTbMQzPnFuwDcSObLeDCDGwR7iaXwAq2_3XGR2Yd-U9Dx66TbeXEupl7emFOeksA_KMmdH_AlTLBCXBn/s1600-h/nicoleritch1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174605876409528002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1JTj9CNnvVopuWu2q9W5JPh3qxQLiHTQ5PvxWnbPFW2akaNmGJsV8JtInIASfTbMQzPnFuwDcSObLeDCDGwR7iaXwAq2_3XGR2Yd-U9Dx66TbeXEupl7emFOeksA_KMmdH_AlTLBCXBn/s400/nicoleritch1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />I extended the same offer: if you like what you see on the blog, let me know, we can always have you come back as a recurring tattoo feature.<br /><br />I thanked both ladies and they headed out while I went back to searching for the elusive gift bags.<br /><br />Thanks to Layla and Lisa for their willingness to put their night on hold, and sharing their tattoos!

Whole Lotta Rosary

So it was another Saturday night in Bay Ridge and we had just got home from a friend's house. The kids were getting ready for bed. My yo...

Read more »

By Philip's Own Design

Perhaps it is a sign that winter is coming to an end, perhaps it is just being in the right place at the right time. On Tuesday, February 26, I was browsing in the Chelsea Salvation Army store. And I saw a guy browsing with this cool tattoo on the bottom section of his forearm:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0y9wzNU1b95HLshAreMc-IOZVSLmioRwnKAtcs6wRRaGB9PDCXiWMz40ZyiMXG_Aj_etN0Z6aca7lA0NcyzdoFVNsz7m17pqQDVuieXCPeG4DhZPfkt9Zk3_D3KX_hHllLuaFgyZ2Vb_C/s1600-h/100_6635.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171529114134953074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0y9wzNU1b95HLshAreMc-IOZVSLmioRwnKAtcs6wRRaGB9PDCXiWMz40ZyiMXG_Aj_etN0Z6aca7lA0NcyzdoFVNsz7m17pqQDVuieXCPeG4DhZPfkt9Zk3_D3KX_hHllLuaFgyZ2Vb_C/s400/100_6635.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />He was in a bit of a rush, so I snapped a photo and he said he would e-mail me the information that I normally ask about tattoos later on. I did learn this, his name was Phil Dusel, he was an artist, and I could check out his website <a href="http://www.theundeadcookbook.com/">here</a>.<br /><br />Later in the week, he did write back, and this is what he had to say about the piece:<br /><br />He "got the tattoo done at <a href="http://readstreettattoo.com/splash.html">Read Street Tattoo Parlour</a> in Baltimore, unfortunately I couldn't find the name of the artist".<br /><br />Phil explained the design in greater detail: "the design is of two fish swimming in a circle, the heart shapes came naturally out of the drawing, and I decided to accent them in red...I guess it says something about love, but ... the meaning ... had more subconscious origins."<br /><br />Here's a look at it inverted, from a different perspective:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJTf_haiWdenXqw0UwHI7U3fW3OCQBJFj1kkXZ8RTwI_4A5bjiyO2_ksUBUL0SSjPrWKaLs4nqZmK7C-_t7bEUbPp2091zbhK7eWKMoHutV3L_4hYXSr59JkmTojlTGjd4FgDbx0siYYh/s1600-h/100_6635+inverted.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174413865601592914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJTf_haiWdenXqw0UwHI7U3fW3OCQBJFj1kkXZ8RTwI_4A5bjiyO2_ksUBUL0SSjPrWKaLs4nqZmK7C-_t7bEUbPp2091zbhK7eWKMoHutV3L_4hYXSr59JkmTojlTGjd4FgDbx0siYYh/s400/100_6635+inverted.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />He continued, "It was my 3rd inking, I have 5 tattoos" in all.<br /><br />Here's one piece of art from Philip Dusel:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vyuWg-mBR09jZTnSrWAWhUP-nrOtWSKaN7DaTuVs_murrAVA-uTsDdH9FqEVd2PepnrYWXapnka3yxopzm3ddQt1_c-yt4HRh6d687gpx5OHBxhfiloxe6lajvZpHIUiaf8MV9aVYSGL/s1600-h/CIMG0581.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173156172491615554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vyuWg-mBR09jZTnSrWAWhUP-nrOtWSKaN7DaTuVs_murrAVA-uTsDdH9FqEVd2PepnrYWXapnka3yxopzm3ddQt1_c-yt4HRh6d687gpx5OHBxhfiloxe6lajvZpHIUiaf8MV9aVYSGL/s400/CIMG0581.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Thanks to Phil for contributing to Tattoosday and following up with e-mail. I truly appreciate it.

By Philip's Own Design

Perhaps it is a sign that winter is coming to an end, perhaps it is just being in the right place at the right time. On Tuesday, February 26...

Read more »