Tattoosday (A Tattoo Blog)

Tattoos from the Blogosphere: Introducing Mat’s Incredible Back Piece

<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> With the exception of <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2007/08/tattoosday-5-dolphins-shackles-and.html">one photo sent by my Dad</a> way back at the advent of Tattoosday, everything on this blog has resulted from an encounter in the streets of New York City. However, we’re branching out, and I am actually going to feature tattoos I have never seen in person. A cyber-field trip, if you will, to the canvas of a fellow blogger, Mat Giordano, whose <a href="http://www.matgiordano.com/">This Blog Right Here</a>, is a favorite web destination of mine.  <o:p></o:p>Mat and I occasionally chat, and his blog and BillyBlog occasionally link one another for various and sundry reasons. A month or so ago, I mentioned Tattoosday to him and he told me he was heavily inked, and proceeded to e-mail me his amazing back piece:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSp-4pjwYqj8lTu79Auee7TRim4peg5WW9HOQcBfGBvtbw66ITUXiozWiey6BdYrIqInXux3LWXdXMlsd7Mnppol973z1lEp0KFb03Ne5ajhHH1DCwTBoHkKNM_rAJjdmihZLFIhm3dq8/s1600-h/picasa_001.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179292305905372962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSp-4pjwYqj8lTu79Auee7TRim4peg5WW9HOQcBfGBvtbw66ITUXiozWiey6BdYrIqInXux3LWXdXMlsd7Mnppol973z1lEp0KFb03Ne5ajhHH1DCwTBoHkKNM_rAJjdmihZLFIhm3dq8/s400/picasa_001.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>  <o:p></o:p> Needless to say, this is one of the more impressive pieces I have seen, and I was eager to post it but you know me, I love the back story (no pun intended). I e-mailed Mat some questions and he didn’t get back to me for a while. Finally, through instant messaging, he not only sent me new pictures of other tattoos (subject for a later post), but gave me the full rundown of this incredible tattoo.  <o:p></o:p> Me: I need to know what [the elephant] was all about <o:p></o:p> Mat: Well, it's actually a simple one. I have a love for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephants#African_Elephant">African black elephants</a>: their patterning, symmetry, ear structure, [and] demeanor….and the platelets of jewelry and Tibetan skull crown symbolize a Tibetan tradition.  <o:p></o:p> Me: Since you were a kid?<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Mat: Yes, since I was a baby, I think. [The] tradition [is] where there's five skulls: the three in the center<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElVdqG5dqiDoAZWrdgVvCbc6HrsGbhT1vdAiwR_9phhFnLKuSL8UJliR31eKciL50xTjHOyMU9x_xUCjeNycvWwSNoaRnKc2yItIrI_Z85dIK2gCO0Z8m4q8pytbcv-Ql27Onl7U5fyyi/s1600-h/picasa_002b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179292615143018290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElVdqG5dqiDoAZWrdgVvCbc6HrsGbhT1vdAiwR_9phhFnLKuSL8UJliR31eKciL50xTjHOyMU9x_xUCjeNycvWwSNoaRnKc2yItIrI_Z85dIK2gCO0Z8m4q8pytbcv-Ql27Onl7U5fyyi/s400/picasa_002b.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> symbolizing my small family…being book-ended by prosperity to the right and longevity to the left, depending on how you are looking at it, I suppose.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> [Five-Skull Crown: The skulls stuck onto the five points of the crown represent the five main afflictions, anger, greed, pride, envy and ignorance, conquered and transmuted into the five wisdoms--ultimate reality, discriminating, equalizing, all-accomplishing, and mirror wisdoms. Cited <a href="http://dl.lib.brown.edu/BuddhistTempleArt/symbols.html">here</a>.]Me: How long did it take/how many sittings? Was it one shop that you had it inked in?<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Mat: Nope, a friend that sleeved both of my legs started the basic line work….and in Orlando, I ran into this up-and-coming fella, BJ, in a bar. He whipped out his digital camera, took some snapshots, said 'don't make any plans on Sunday'. He went, bought some reference books, and free-handed the entire thing. Four sittings total, about 25 hours.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Me: So, BJ did the majority of the work in Florida, right? After a friend of yours did the basic outline in Philly? <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Mat: My back credit will go to <a href="http://www.myspace.com/brettjbarr">BJ</a> at <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=24021612">Built 4 Speed</a><a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=24021612"> Tattoo</a> in Orlando, Florida. It should be noted that Built 4 Speed is a custom shop only...<o:p></o:p>Me: ...Custom meaning, by appointment only, no <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_%28tattoo%29">flash</a> on the walls, all original work, right?<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Mat: Yeah, no flash basically. That's the point I wanted to make.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>Well, there will be more from Mat down the line, but I wanted to get this contribution up on Tattoosday first. Thanks to Mat for sending the photos and giving me the scoop on this awesome back piece!

Tattoos from the Blogosphere: Introducing Mat’s Incredible Back Piece

With the exception of one photo sent by my Dad way back at the advent of Tattoosday, everything on this blog has resulted from an enc...

5:38 AM

It Captures His Dreams

A lovely day this past Tat-Tuesday, and at the tail end of my lunch hour I spotted black ink darting out from the leg of someone's jeans: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXfFZc6q83ECZjK6lX8oMRn9af_430MIzU1CVS-ihaSwyODcnlYRNs6Faj2Sbf-aZzfOCP9xcBn0Kd_w_9HWvpIBTgQeb45gjMEbz8Nn9gBz15Y2t7QBscLNLcTuNc4APK_YFr6R_1Cq_/s1600-h/100_6908b+s.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189650175146368242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXfFZc6q83ECZjK6lX8oMRn9af_430MIzU1CVS-ihaSwyODcnlYRNs6Faj2Sbf-aZzfOCP9xcBn0Kd_w_9HWvpIBTgQeb45gjMEbz8Nn9gBz15Y2t7QBscLNLcTuNc4APK_YFr6R_1Cq_/s400/100_6908b+s.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> I was intrigued. I'll call it a "tat-tease," because you only get a glimpse and have no idea what the fragmented piece is linked to. You have an inkling, but the only way to find out what the whole thing looks like is to ask. I was guessing a serpent, or something tribal. The possessor of said tattoo was stopping to smoke outside of <a href="http://www.bordersstores.com/stores/store_pg.jsp?storeID=582">Borders on the Plaza</a>. Our subject, Nick, was happy to share his tattoo. He raised the fabric of his jeans up over his calf to reveal (drum roll please.....): <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsY3n6adifYNrHCnEOtbqlHv27D9I1oOaER2QOk6zN2jEwTyuSTdaBkbGQ92X3ao7pdEaALfNixJ36iP0iGi5QolIBVClGXcGtqVyJPUlyLsJdzIduWSG4McO4_a_fktTq5CD7RQn2WDUi/s1600-h/100_6908.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189649780009376994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsY3n6adifYNrHCnEOtbqlHv27D9I1oOaER2QOk6zN2jEwTyuSTdaBkbGQ92X3ao7pdEaALfNixJ36iP0iGi5QolIBVClGXcGtqVyJPUlyLsJdzIduWSG4McO4_a_fktTq5CD7RQn2WDUi/s400/100_6908.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> This is what I love about Tattoosday. What first appears to be merely a tail of ink turns into something so much more interesting. Nick explained the piece. He found the design on a site called <a href="http://www.bordersstores.com/stores/store_pg.jsp?storeID=582">deviantART.com</a>. I think I remember hearing about the site, so I checked it out when I got home. No luck finding the art in question (there's tens of thousands of images). Nick said this piece of art spoke to him, reminding him of being young again. Young meaning, childhood. "It captures my dreams," he explained, adding that, as I understood him to mean, the art opened up a whole world of possibilities to his imagination. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PRODyD3GjEEeymWkohzC_8cP04wN1qc6bZFnlarWcZIaz7YNGmqTf3aVwcCD1siodEubW1neh3nMgiHUC9hz-yEF_Xw73ge8IfrZosUURHzgPu0bGuy-Il0OYLfrkKhj5eNZB_VfksYo/s1600-h/100_6908d.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189650535923621122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PRODyD3GjEEeymWkohzC_8cP04wN1qc6bZFnlarWcZIaz7YNGmqTf3aVwcCD1siodEubW1neh3nMgiHUC9hz-yEF_Xw73ge8IfrZosUURHzgPu0bGuy-Il0OYLfrkKhj5eNZB_VfksYo/s400/100_6908d.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> What's great, in my opinion, about tattooing a work of art onto oneself, is that the meaning can change over time, and can evolve along with the individual. This piece is very simple, yet its context is cool. The clouds, as well, add texture to the overall piece, and develop the landscape of the flesh. This piece was inked in 2007 and was Nick's second tattoo. He has since had two more added. This was the only one visible. He resides in Brooklyn but got this piece at <a href="http://www.marcstattooingwb.com/">Marc's Tattooing and Body Piercing</a> in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. <a href="http://www.marcstattooingwb.com/dani1.htm">Dani</a> was the tattooist who inked the piece. Thanks to Nick for sharing his cool tattoo with the rest of us here on Tattoosday! On deck: An amazing back piece from Texas!

It Captures His Dreams

A lovely day this past Tat-Tuesday, and at the tail end of my lunch hour I spotted black ink darting out from the leg of someone's jeans...

5:05 AM

Chalk it Up to Teenage Angst

Sunday morning I was leaving Rite-Aid when a woman walked in. She had several visible tattoos so I turned around and walked back into the store. I introduced myself, Tattoosday, etc., and Courtney was happy to share her tattoo stories with me, offering up one of her seven tattoos: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4FTWZIYxopnqdW3sGI7Wt0n5GqkvV84UfbJ10-db4VxfSP45ZNxcz69LBCSdrFegmWSJWa2Ut4OPbkBgkuQL9yhN8jeR09MzO__A_aCKah49vF2yS3S0lqBqsKWuR9rWyAn4S0K6djvg/s1600-h/100_6901.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189651313312701730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4FTWZIYxopnqdW3sGI7Wt0n5GqkvV84UfbJ10-db4VxfSP45ZNxcz69LBCSdrFegmWSJWa2Ut4OPbkBgkuQL9yhN8jeR09MzO__A_aCKah49vF2yS3S0lqBqsKWuR9rWyAn4S0K6djvg/s400/100_6901.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> All of her work is in black and gray. This piece is a tribal design, and is Satanic in origin. Courtney explained. She was a lapsed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Church">Roman Catholic</a> who became involved in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Satan">Church of Satan</a>. This piece is about 5 years old and was inked by Richie at <a href="http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3718627683">Tattooing by Richie</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmont,_New_York">Elmont, Long Island</a>. Incidentally, Courtney is no longer affiliated with that lifestyle and has returned to the Catholic Church. She says she was going through a phase and was experiencing teenage <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angst">angst</a>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2V7uO7n2vR-XDoRtgIodFZq8US051VzfJCVt_g9OyON8mbP4AQGI2jPoq1rb9TMU9K3gdsXsfTLJeZY4FiFPcL_R_ZRQgClkVP1Dy4smTQGMUT5qd39Jg_6XzHfdgpFS3j8nXWYpA2wt-/s1600-h/100_6901b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189651107154271506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2V7uO7n2vR-XDoRtgIodFZq8US051VzfJCVt_g9OyON8mbP4AQGI2jPoq1rb9TMU9K3gdsXsfTLJeZY4FiFPcL_R_ZRQgClkVP1Dy4smTQGMUT5qd39Jg_6XzHfdgpFS3j8nXWYpA2wt-/s400/100_6901b.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> I had a nice chat with her about tattoos and how she is finding it challenging because she has a corporate job now, and finding attire that covers her ink appropriately can be tough. This almost limits her in her choice to get any more work done. From what I can recall from our conversation and from seeing what was visible, she has three or four pieces in all on her legs, a tribal design on the lower part of her neck, an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankh">ankh</a> on her lower back, and another piece on her right biceps. She did not show the biceps or lower back tattoos. I explained to Courtney my policy is generally not to ask people, who are generally women, if I can photograph their lower backs. If they offer (<a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/03/whole-lotta-rosary.html">like this woman did</a>), I will snap away. Thanks to Courtney for being so cool, talking tattoos with me, and sharing her Satanic piece with Tattoosday! Here's hoping she'll make a return visit here in the future!

Chalk it Up to Teenage Angst

Sunday morning I was leaving Rite-Aid when a woman walked in. She had several visible tattoos so I turned around and walked back into the st...

8:36 PM

Katherine's Symbol of Change

When I went to my wife Melanie's twentieth high school reunion last weekend, I wasn't expecting to come away with a story and a photo for Tattoosday. But I did. In fact, as I had to arrive a little late, Melanie had the camera with her, so I was only travelling with a few fliers, just in case I ran into a tattoo or two en route to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_West_Side">Upper West Side</a>. It's usually when I have no fliers that I wish I'd had the foresight to bring them. I arrived an hour late, and so was a bit behind the curve on introductions. I recognized names on name tags, but there were also many people untagged. And when the call came out for the reunion class to assemble for a photo, I was left behind with a trio of women. "Spouses?" I asked. Close. One spouse, one fiancée, one girlfriend. I chatted with them for a bit while we waited for the alumni to return. The fiancée was talking to one of the other women about the tattoo on her wrist. The class returned and Melanie came over and commented, "Oh, you should get her picture," or something like that. There was a quizzical look. I introduced Tattoosday. And here we have the unusual tattoo: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4DKY8p3cLVrpedRcXA0ycR-G52V8BTVmNklIASjolnyP7pwqfQP0XavxkrhL7fa0AOZcnrOoWsjLbaPrYebfk4s_danZiSULg5FWQtMvI9FH7kPaozJuxhLB-Jl6PlvRRzl9T2dpBUKr/s1600-h/100_6886.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188569703108615282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4DKY8p3cLVrpedRcXA0ycR-G52V8BTVmNklIASjolnyP7pwqfQP0XavxkrhL7fa0AOZcnrOoWsjLbaPrYebfk4s_danZiSULg5FWQtMvI9FH7kPaozJuxhLB-Jl6PlvRRzl9T2dpBUKr/s400/100_6886.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Yes, Katherine Pushkar has a tattoo of a lobster on the inside of her forearm, just below the wrist. It was inked circa 2000 in one of the many lower East Side tattoo shops, the name of which, along with the tattooist, is lost to memory. Katherine, who is currently an editor at the <a href="http://www.nypost.com/">New York Post</a>, used to be an editor at <a href="http://www.villagevoice.com/">The Village Voice</a>. As she tells it, the editorial job oversaw, among other things, the food critic. She occasionally would go out to dinner with the reviewer and the menu would inevitably feature seafood. The problem was, Katherine didn't like and didn't eat seafood. Now I am totally with her on this. Aside from tuna salad, I abhored seafood growing up. And I grew up in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii">Hawai'i</a>. Even now I admit that I missed out due to my pickiness. I have gradually evolved into the occasional sushi eater, a taster of Melanie's dishes, but I still largely remain a non-seafood kind of guy. Katherine, on the other hand, understood that her distaste for creatures of the sea was an issue she had to deal with and so she took the plunge. She realized she needed to learn to like seafood and she chose to take the first step in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nantucket">Nantucket</a> and ate her first lobster. The rest is history. From that point on, she no longer suffered from the menu laden with fish dishes. Fast forward to a tattoo shop in the East Village. She and her friend were getting their first tattoos. Her friend was the driving force, looking to get a lower back tattoo. Her friend was set but Katherine was still trying to decide what was best. Still proud of her expansion of her palate's horizons, she explained the concept to the tattooist who found the lobster in a book of flash art. The rest is history. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFyjBYse0QDbTk8Y9VZ0sqwp59KFxz1Sl__y63ZluhFh4uytsnSidcw-1daWprugr5D4zBayWz5MKA0iPOvryP0-6tvCc-fYQbUNWFzK0AFHha9v51lORLZYVzdQPy6s8VIFEv5o_BnLz/s1600-h/100_6886b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188570063885868162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFyjBYse0QDbTk8Y9VZ0sqwp59KFxz1Sl__y63ZluhFh4uytsnSidcw-1daWprugr5D4zBayWz5MKA0iPOvryP0-6tvCc-fYQbUNWFzK0AFHha9v51lORLZYVzdQPy6s8VIFEv5o_BnLz/s400/100_6886b.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> And, Katherine concluded, while her friend's affection for her back tattoo has waned over the years, she still wears her lobster ink proudly on her wrist. It serves as a constant reminder, Katherine beamed, that "I can change if I want to." Thanks to Katherine for her sharing this story, along with her tattoo!

Katherine's Symbol of Change

When I went to my wife Melanie's twentieth high school reunion last weekend, I wasn't expecting to come away with a story and a phot...

2:39 AM

Faces Staring Out at Me

Confounded by poor timing and fluctuating temperatures, I have slumped lately getting new material up here. However, I sense a shift in the tide, and have this latest encounter to relate, with photos to boot. It was turning a little chilly on a Friday afternoon when I walked by a guy eating his lunch on the plaza outside of the Borders above Penn Station. This has been a bread and butter spot for me: plenty of sun and people not in a hurry to go anywhere fast.  <o:p></o:p> I noticed he had ink on his neck but I couldn’t tell what it was and it looked interesting. Turns out, this was <a href="http://www.thirddimensiontattoos.com/bio.htm">Brian Murphy</a>, a tattooist from Pennsylvania who is doing a guest artist gig from April 10-13, 2008 at <a href="http://darkimages.com/">Paul Booth’s Last Rites “Tattoo Theatre”</a> nearby. Brian works out of <a href="http://www.thirddimensiontattoos.com/index.html">Third Dimension Tattoo</a> in <a href="http://pennsylvania.hometownlocator.com/PA/Monroe/Marshalls-Creek.cfm">Marshalls Creek</a> (in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Poconos">the Poconos</a>, north of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia">Philadelphia</a> in the Eastern end of the state). First a production note: people are always giving me advice on where to find tattoos. “Go to shops,” they say, “hang out in front and get people as they are coming and going.” Great idea, really, but not in the spirit of Tattoosday. A lot of the fun is meeting people by chance and interesting them in the blog enough for them to want to contribute. Going to a shop and asking people about their tattoos seems a little easy. Not to knock the idea, but it takes some of the fun out of it. Similarly, I wouldn’t want to bother an artist in shop with my little venture. But to find one randomly on the street. That’s good fortune shining down on Tattoosday, especially when the individual is as friendly as Brian Murphy is.Brian offered me two pieces, the more recent ones on his corporeal tapestry. First up is this amazing piece by <a href="http://www.kylecotterman.com/">Kyle Cotterman</a> on Brian’s inner left biceps: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJWpVAw9ERmtEg1-35ka3pQpomIyK6oQYqo2lZkRl0w_-gUTcTkicHfCQxtvZk1Zden7yr2oVfjaOYhg0WS1KSe1Dw6pTaCqR4rCdTgewHMTEwYVkDTGugLnt0VLjeWqnUuP9QTAWQv6X/s1600-h/100_6880.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188170151555336450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJWpVAw9ERmtEg1-35ka3pQpomIyK6oQYqo2lZkRl0w_-gUTcTkicHfCQxtvZk1Zden7yr2oVfjaOYhg0WS1KSe1Dw6pTaCqR4rCdTgewHMTEwYVkDTGugLnt0VLjeWqnUuP9QTAWQv6X/s400/100_6880.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> Brian said that Kyle, who is a friend of his, gave him this tattoo in exchange for one from Brian. The image is that of a homeless man. It represents a life that Brian once had, when he was homeless for a brief time. He is no longer in that situation, so the dichotomy of the piece lies in the half that represents the past, as it is disintegrating, and falling away from the foreground, where the new self is represented. The present and future are represented by the expression in the face, showing happiness of getting one’s life back. I’ve asked Brian to ask Kyle for a photo of the piece that he received in exchange for inking this one on Brian. They would certainly be interesting to see together. Brian also wanted to show me a piece on his left leg designed and tattooed by the world-renowned artist <a href="http://www.rhernandeztattoos.com/">Robert Hernandez</a>, who works out of <a href="http://www.rhernandeztattoos.com/">Vittamin Tattoo Studio</a> in Madrid.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DQsi8STy03Sobsk44Y5X3_rtnuIfRfVw09tEIKTtpXf53ls2WyhDmojXC8VJZsUoOmjAh7sel6xERZCEzAd_wUWONNfT7YUCcxCF15_TAOLe1rWTOXTKxPIZlT48cY-jQzL5XnPlCEuc/s1600-h/100_6881.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188169971166710002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DQsi8STy03Sobsk44Y5X3_rtnuIfRfVw09tEIKTtpXf53ls2WyhDmojXC8VJZsUoOmjAh7sel6xERZCEzAd_wUWONNfT7YUCcxCF15_TAOLe1rWTOXTKxPIZlT48cY-jQzL5XnPlCEuc/s400/100_6881.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>There’s no significance to it, he told me, “that’s just what he does”. Indeed, an amazing piece. Brian also told me about a cool tattoo site called <a href="http://www.tattoonow.com/">TattooNow.com</a>, which I have added to the blogroll. Thanks to Brian for sharing these two amazing pieces with Tattoosday!

Faces Staring Out at Me

Confounded by poor timing and fluctuating temperatures, I have slumped lately getting new material up here. However, I sense a shift in the ...

6:48 PM

The Rising Sun

Despite the warmer weather, it was drizzly and overcast on Friday when I was walking north on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_%28New_York_City%29">Broadway</a> at lunchtime. Despite the occasional raindrop, the journey didn't warrant an umbrella. As I ambled toward <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Square">Times Square</a>, I passed a gentleman smoking a cigarette outside of a building. His arms were inked. I walked to the corner contemplating whether I should head back and ask him about his tattoos. I dismissed the weak excuse of precipitation and wandered back and introduced myself. He had multiple tattoos on both arms, but what jumped out initially were the pin-ups on the interior of his forearms: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCtz3ImxEKGQDqCC-OlkJZfBZbrwjsApdoGEIDiwlb5PXMkvvXjZxuNdgu9xr4sBiZRQpyUyYvr_e8rCy-sZtqxfgIO0lMvAtB8ZqK2Ob0fv5bHZLUzVD7GAJf_CP2UPk0_xBY-od-k2Z/s1600-h/100_6861b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183004744300861346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCtz3ImxEKGQDqCC-OlkJZfBZbrwjsApdoGEIDiwlb5PXMkvvXjZxuNdgu9xr4sBiZRQpyUyYvr_e8rCy-sZtqxfgIO0lMvAtB8ZqK2Ob0fv5bHZLUzVD7GAJf_CP2UPk0_xBY-od-k2Z/s400/100_6861b.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1Nms-fTg_MYs3aans137YfqvWb9ef85Z7qg3eBG1yQNRpSOyJevvKWNUBqjKaohcyHt_SKygnmW_mqhiM24W7zq88Jet87Z56VLelHOrFVI3nKDmPsTuywLRggLZc_yAoWWTuup-ElgW/s1600-h/100_6860b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183004645516613522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1Nms-fTg_MYs3aans137YfqvWb9ef85Z7qg3eBG1yQNRpSOyJevvKWNUBqjKaohcyHt_SKygnmW_mqhiM24W7zq88Jet87Z56VLelHOrFVI3nKDmPsTuywLRggLZc_yAoWWTuup-ElgW/s400/100_6860b.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> I especially liked his newest piece, on the right, with the Stars & Stripes theme and what appeared to be a rising sun tattooed on the lower right buttock of the woman. "Great detail," I thought. I handed him a printout and said that Tattoosday averages a modest 150 hits a day. He indicated he had a blog too, with significantly more traffic. I asked if I could get the site to link and he hesitated. Remembering that he had met me only minutes before, and that people generally have strong opinions about lifestyles that may be different than theirs, his pause was understandable when he disclosed that his blog, <a href="http://spankingbrats.blogspot.com/">The House of Richard Windsor</a> (Mature Readers only), is dedicated to the fetish of, well, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erotic_spanking">spanking</a>. I'm an open-minded guy and such a revelation hardly phased me. If anything, it made the encounter more interesting. So, going by the name Richard Windsor, the possessor of the above tattoos is a 44-year old originally from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England">English</a> town of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swindon">Swindon</a>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhLuN1EKQska1DzXS2OsznSKyTS4XxLNZGWkVT-28v3KYX2nt8plnwtbsB8IJ6xbb5O6zZvmkk8Bjqic8_SGdCj-S0jGmgEZAtLc3a2BFkzPEDe3gM3VcZndM32SCCamXUCbkRlQZxz1c/s1600-h/100_6861bb.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183008459447572434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhLuN1EKQska1DzXS2OsznSKyTS4XxLNZGWkVT-28v3KYX2nt8plnwtbsB8IJ6xbb5O6zZvmkk8Bjqic8_SGdCj-S0jGmgEZAtLc3a2BFkzPEDe3gM3VcZndM32SCCamXUCbkRlQZxz1c/s400/100_6861bb.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a>He offered up the pin-ups happily. They actually represented the lifestyle he lived. On his left forearm is the "good girl". He drew her himself* and she was later inked by <a href="http://www.holdfastbrooklyn.com/artists/kelly/index.html">Kelly Krantz</a> at <a href="http://www.flyritetattoo.net/">FlyRite Studio</a> in Brooklyn. The shop has previously been featured on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2007/12/jasons-koi-and-flower.html">here</a>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcV4Ogtd_qgo1ZEdYeAI1KcnvVGyTyy_l-Dg1G2dEUNMb1Jssjf6USLGyPUP9UJy6uo_5_QoYimHUG9d5eNiL0XXTN3b9pCsxSFFkzmLyxIhvdJ-GPmFFD7qkcL_NYTg-rtpJeUstym5b4/s1600-h/100_6860bb.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183008403612997570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcV4Ogtd_qgo1ZEdYeAI1KcnvVGyTyy_l-Dg1G2dEUNMb1Jssjf6USLGyPUP9UJy6uo_5_QoYimHUG9d5eNiL0XXTN3b9pCsxSFFkzmLyxIhvdJ-GPmFFD7qkcL_NYTg-rtpJeUstym5b4/s400/100_6860bb.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" /></a> The opposite arm bears the Naughty Girl, as tattooed by Krantz most recently. Both were done at the same shop, although Krantz is now working out of <a href="http://www.holdfastbrooklyn.com/index.html">Hold Fast Tattoos</a>, in Williams- burg, Brooklyn. It was then that I made the additional connection. I said to him: "Oh, the mark on the Naughty Girl is a hand print! I thought it was a rising sun!" Richard smiled and laughed, "Well, it is." Brilliant. Anyway, thanks to Mr. Windsor for being so open and sharing his ladies with the denizens of Tattoosday! *NOTE: Richard wrote to me, clarifying the design of the "good girl" after this posted: <blockquote> I just want to clarify a little bit what I told you. While I did indeed sketch the first tattoo, all credit should really go to Kelly as his interpretation of my "very rough" drawing by far exceeded my expectations. He took my ideas and the finished product is actually his work, I shouldn't really take credit for what he created. All I did was provide the ideas and the original sketch, which in fairness was 100 times inferior to his creation.</blockquote>Thanks to Richard Windsor for a) clarifying this matter and b) sending visitors this way to check out his pin-ups over here on Tattoosday!

The Rising Sun

Despite the warmer weather, it was drizzly and overcast on Friday when I was walking north on Broadway at lunchtime. Despite the occasional...

5:00 AM

A Trio of Stars, Remembering a Father

A few weeks back, at our local fashion and accessories store, I noticed three stars tattooed on the store manager's foot. I made a mental note that, when I returned, I should ask her about them. I was in the store yesterday and the opportunity presented itself. From the sound of it, every employee in the store has ink, and most of them seem to be open to talking with Tattoosday. But Samantha took the lead and offered up the three stars on her feet: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXK6obC7Tf9FPH0iapALE5e1UYi-DnApVeoSJEjqwX2SwfkGAvRzl9d6Ffbv8Qkde4PUFU994kZXVBQVMAIGY3SoHiaZwabtoWmh9cX-B4Uad7ShU3kFGEzcqD6JLRf5p2gKitUw0ZjlGT/s1600-h/100_6865.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183537650958047218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXK6obC7Tf9FPH0iapALE5e1UYi-DnApVeoSJEjqwX2SwfkGAvRzl9d6Ffbv8Qkde4PUFU994kZXVBQVMAIGY3SoHiaZwabtoWmh9cX-B4Uad7ShU3kFGEzcqD6JLRf5p2gKitUw0ZjlGT/s400/100_6865.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> These were inked by Joe at <a href="http://www.studioenigma.com/">Studio Enigma</a>. The triad of stars is a memorial to Samantha's father, who passed away about five years ago. She initially got the one large star, but then added the two others about 2 months ago to make a set of three, representing her and her two siblings, a brother and sister. She chose to do these on her foot because it seemed to her like a different spot. Thanks again for shining your stars on the blog, Samantha!

A Trio of Stars, Remembering a Father

A few weeks back, at our local fashion and accessories store, I noticed three stars tattooed on the store manager's foot. I made a menta...

7:05 AM