Tattoosday (A Tattoo Blog)

Ian Jones Has Thirteen Tattoos. Here Are Four.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopY_V9DiXBsgCGFsN3LUXpDTO-fwkcfIq6vYrXbDVBhCV0wEYjGyl0h-ahmDbQxYSQPcI_22JpXQWpp-6gy9sMmxq0H78SU7oKSsH1DnBDKty-O22lUgKrcQLWDEVr161eohAV6sBXCwL/s1600-h/100_7218.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202688628715262034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopY_V9DiXBsgCGFsN3LUXpDTO-fwkcfIq6vYrXbDVBhCV0wEYjGyl0h-ahmDbQxYSQPcI_22JpXQWpp-6gy9sMmxq0H78SU7oKSsH1DnBDKty-O22lUgKrcQLWDEVr161eohAV6sBXCwL/s400/100_7218.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>I saw this <a href="http://www.tattoosymbol.com/articles/hannya.html">hannya mask</a> outside of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Station_%28New_York_City%29">Penn Station</a> and went up to talk to its host, Ian Jones, a Long Islander waiting for a train. Despite a light rainfall, we chatted for ten minutes or so about his tattoos and the stories behind them. Since the advent of Tattoosday, participants' reactions to the project range from total disinterestedness to moderate amusement. Ian, however, took it a notch higher, to the point of downright enthusiasm. He sounded sincere in his appreciation for the blog (and the idea behind it), and I got the impression that he would have let me take pictures of each tattoo, had time and weather permitted. The big piece that first drew my attention was the colorful half-sleeve on his left bicep. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannya">hanyya masks</a> are traditional elements in Japanese tattooing styles, and he has two masks representing good and evil. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnibWupuFFHCIg4lgANDhw0it_uPpJ83XSjUkjgj6vcWcp6KakNRsR-my5vCDp3ztK-nZPKwK3r8TsD7dwL5avNz9kyCFa8FhJSWIgcUDXqJW1perb7WuSehV2c4yWiW2YM3PWc6S72HM_/s1600-h/100_7215.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202690226443096210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnibWupuFFHCIg4lgANDhw0it_uPpJ83XSjUkjgj6vcWcp6KakNRsR-my5vCDp3ztK-nZPKwK3r8TsD7dwL5avNz9kyCFa8FhJSWIgcUDXqJW1perb7WuSehV2c4yWiW2YM3PWc6S72HM_/s400/100_7215.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DOAixldMhn0hIaZzhKG742EPGsroyu_tEeVausE5gNGrUKtEjWCVouv1iZ0mMZ_40NlGfoldHfQg1F6UPTowf2WfREMf1SyYkFsARnZm3vhfSFFzG6caVZF_mP8sCprfpQ1YqURQxrLr/s1600-h/100_7214.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202689857075908738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DOAixldMhn0hIaZzhKG742EPGsroyu_tEeVausE5gNGrUKtEjWCVouv1iZ0mMZ_40NlGfoldHfQg1F6UPTowf2WfREMf1SyYkFsARnZm3vhfSFFzG6caVZF_mP8sCprfpQ1YqURQxrLr/s400/100_7214.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> This tattoo, about ten hours worth of work so far, was done by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/tattoosbykristen">Kristen</a> at <a href="http://www.artfulinktattoo.com/">Artful Ink Tattoo Studio</a>, in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemia%2C_New_York">Bohemia</a>, on Long Island. He noted that it was also a cover-up of a "bad sparrow and flower". Ian says he gets the most questions about his <a href="http://www.vw.com/">Volkswagen</a> logo on the inside of his right wrist. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uoULOAfeB55AUM46DD56QMrtZUDOnN7iZ18SexTLwtr05YuDhTtpmGdKRu6P2kd6sq9E7Cchwwr67OMfkYZEvsg9_WBV0mfumeIkDD0ZHPgR2xBHYwunDgckKsW8ogeFYyNgtHThNk_w/s1600-h/100_7216.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202689466233884786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uoULOAfeB55AUM46DD56QMrtZUDOnN7iZ18SexTLwtr05YuDhTtpmGdKRu6P2kd6sq9E7Cchwwr67OMfkYZEvsg9_WBV0mfumeIkDD0ZHPgR2xBHYwunDgckKsW8ogeFYyNgtHThNk_w/s400/100_7216.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> He explains why he got an automotive emblem on such a prominent spot: he's always loved German engineering and has always had VW vehicles. His first car was a VW Eurovan, but his second car, a VW <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Golf_Mk5">GTI</a> 2-door hatchback, was what cemented his love of Volkswagens for life. Ian told me how he was in his GTI when he was in a horrible crash. The other vehicle was purportedly going 100 MPH and Ian is convinced that the VW's structural shell protected him from critical injuries. As a tribute to the GTI, and as an expression of his love of Volkswagen, he had the VW logo inked on his shifting arm (he now drives a VW <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Jetta">Jetta</a>) as a reminder of his survival from such a harrowing experience. His left arm sports two tattoos: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOK4hp6GKuQ1RBqXJZMib0uPC4LX0G17UFRdksZy7AMiaeDraVVjXDgOxQaiqv12Rpp1N1D7imy5VO9YUnErr0UAvaJd0LpnN2prXz9bM0oZkSgASt0QHZA5Mr7CtxOK3ceDbpCI3ltXje/s1600-h/100_7217.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202689109751599202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOK4hp6GKuQ1RBqXJZMib0uPC4LX0G17UFRdksZy7AMiaeDraVVjXDgOxQaiqv12Rpp1N1D7imy5VO9YUnErr0UAvaJd0LpnN2prXz9bM0oZkSgASt0QHZA5Mr7CtxOK3ceDbpCI3ltXje/s400/100_7217.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>There is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Island">Long Island</a> on the forearm and a star on his inner wrist. The star was inked the same time as the VW logo to provide balance, but it grew to take on a more important meaning. It's a reminder symbol about a friend of his who is in the <a href="http://www.marines.com/page/usmc.jsp?flashRedirect=true">Marines</a>. The VW and star were inked by his friend and bandmate <a href="http://www.myspace.com/tat2coffins">Tony Coffins</a> at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/resonancetattoo">Resonance Tattoo</a>, also on Long Island (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_Moriches,_New_York">Center Moriches</a>). Ian and Tony are in a band, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/phoenixriseny">Phoenix Rise</a>, together. See their MySpace page <a href="http://www.myspace.com/phoenixriseny">here</a> and listen to them play. The tattoo of Long Island, which Ian admits is not done that well (although I would say at least looks like Long Island), is nonetheless, still near and dear to his heart. Ian was adopted when he was a baby, and he feels that he could have ended up anywhere, and Long Island was his home. He is proud to be a Long Islander, and thus wears this as a badge of honor. Thanks to Ian for his enthusiasm for Tattoosday, and let's hope we see more of his ink here in the future!

Ian Jones Has Thirteen Tattoos. Here Are Four.

I saw this hannya mask outside of Penn Station and went up to talk to its host, Ian Jones, a Long Islander waiting for a train. Despite a...

4:20 AM

John's Koi: Then and Now

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJrVFCvPPbyhRYqDKfPjbVmyWYkjhGYVo673x7c4VAPHuArhbVT4Jih4SSAGuEjTNGEkBrXUL4t3pyowWl2BcQT4TmhAvQvnx9mygwonqInCJVdz_gkDam1cMJKCVxBKB_Iih10FS2noU/s1600-h/John's+Koi+1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202240805360209906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJrVFCvPPbyhRYqDKfPjbVmyWYkjhGYVo673x7c4VAPHuArhbVT4Jih4SSAGuEjTNGEkBrXUL4t3pyowWl2BcQT4TmhAvQvnx9mygwonqInCJVdz_gkDam1cMJKCVxBKB_Iih10FS2noU/s400/John's+Koi+1.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> It was only a matter of time. I wondered when, just buy the nature of my talking to so many tattooed people, I would approach someone about Tattoosday, having already featured them on the blog. The answer: seven months. Here's an excerpt from October 2007: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoRASuREHb14MWZMrxsPJsEXgMsOO6XFtwJ9SRSKjV0IAug5F9JbEebWM5BCF9O7yGRo2CanQDoq3HyJWZJaW16kKV3d8zloELz5Z3LE02HFIRjBG4S_5E6gBIaJoF_vL4kaYl6NuFEOz/s1600-h/100_5246.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116210110045820738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoRASuREHb14MWZMrxsPJsEXgMsOO6XFtwJ9SRSKjV0IAug5F9JbEebWM5BCF9O7yGRo2CanQDoq3HyJWZJaW16kKV3d8zloELz5Z3LE02HFIRjBG4S_5E6gBIaJoF_vL4kaYl6NuFEOz/s400/100_5246.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> Does that look familiar? I wrote in October 2007: <blockquote>The first piece is a classic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koi" style="font-style: italic;">koi</a> tattoo, done on the front of the calf. There is a dragon on the back of the leg but it is not finished yet, as color still needs to be added. The host, John, is from the Bay Ridge area and had his koi inked at <a href="http://www.bodyartstudios.com/">Body Art Studios</a> on 3rd Avenue. We know the artist, <a href="http://www.bodyartstudios.com/peter.htm">Peter Cavorsi</a>, who also runs the shop, because he is responsible for one of mine and three of my wife's pieces. I strongly recommend his shop if you live in southwest Brooklyn. His shop is clean and he does very nice work, as you can see from John's koi. Koi are a traditional part of Japanese tattoo, and are very common subjects n body art because they represent good fortune. Despite their being regular subjects, they seldom are ever one in the same. Like snowflakes, they tend to differ from body to body, and unlike tribal pieces, I don't think I could ever get bored of koi tattoos. John estimated that this large leg piece, including the dragon on the back of the leg, not pictured and not yet colored, took 13 hours so far. A lot of people don't realize how much time goes into elaborate pieces like these. On shows like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Ink" style="font-style: italic;">Miami Ink</a>, a ten-hour project can be compressed to five minutes of screen time. </blockquote>Well, last Sunday, I saw the finished work, not realizing that John had been here previously. I handed him a flier at the grocery store, and he reminded me who he was. He was busy with groceries, but he promised me he'd send photos of the finished work. He estimates that Peter had spent an additional nine hours on the piece since October, making it about 22 hours in total. That's one thing about the whole "_____ Ink" television experience, the work is edited down so much that many people don't realize how much effort goes into the large quality pieces. And of course, John came through with these updated shots: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJSii3WxbnCrXnZd5uXGD4wkN5Cts_0BmzGMlj83J1LkBFn3BWFBwTDk_syxg4A18kGo9dOnXzcNVJuLXjzHSYBvbC9pIw12j5s-25B0-ufoo8MZT10lKjhJwh8ExcOmcmtvTjxGWPEHL/s1600-h/John's+Koi+1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202240453172891618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJSii3WxbnCrXnZd5uXGD4wkN5Cts_0BmzGMlj83J1LkBFn3BWFBwTDk_syxg4A18kGo9dOnXzcNVJuLXjzHSYBvbC9pIw12j5s-25B0-ufoo8MZT10lKjhJwh8ExcOmcmtvTjxGWPEHL/s400/John's+Koi+1.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguz3jo7nl6kvOwedR4VeJzAd9-4v50gVhS-5xP0sF2EefL5ikr0XgRTADrM-z62FcTjdPYNKunuZm-_uJbnGhle-OdwZnkfhL-gOzAioDS8oEEVEH81ad2e5sK8UQELU9ciHe6D5Ib4eCP/s1600-h/John's+Koi+2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202240285669167058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguz3jo7nl6kvOwedR4VeJzAd9-4v50gVhS-5xP0sF2EefL5ikr0XgRTADrM-z62FcTjdPYNKunuZm-_uJbnGhle-OdwZnkfhL-gOzAioDS8oEEVEH81ad2e5sK8UQELU9ciHe6D5Ib4eCP/s400/John's+Koi+2.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11DegcN6lDa9VbpKxRA0xA8lw_wj9M4IXVSMm8lM1tPAZcBKtFxHSdLipTwSm3dRVmBg7DVZkMW09wVHdeuxZvTNF2NCmfx1d3fhs1nnBUS1tjnISZ2QQ96TkgVfdI_qryoalXOYEKvI8/s1600-h/John's+Koi+3.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202239366546165698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11DegcN6lDa9VbpKxRA0xA8lw_wj9M4IXVSMm8lM1tPAZcBKtFxHSdLipTwSm3dRVmBg7DVZkMW09wVHdeuxZvTNF2NCmfx1d3fhs1nnBUS1tjnISZ2QQ96TkgVfdI_qryoalXOYEKvI8/s400/John's+Koi+3.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKj5HkJTtij0jDhr9wchoV8EX4BM-L-ZcVYEIyo7_b1abBJ7Ae4KN5e41K09qVBIp_N9eyNYSEtAjLzpbxQ1fkYIxyZp6VLRPsC3oQUp-mtB6SR80A9veNcFCyF1BeEun0Zr7yJnly0uQk/s1600-h/John's+Koi+4.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202239194747473842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKj5HkJTtij0jDhr9wchoV8EX4BM-L-ZcVYEIyo7_b1abBJ7Ae4KN5e41K09qVBIp_N9eyNYSEtAjLzpbxQ1fkYIxyZp6VLRPsC3oQUp-mtB6SR80A9veNcFCyF1BeEun0Zr7yJnly0uQk/s400/John's+Koi+4.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> Thanks to John for sharing his finished leg piece with us! Stay tuned!! He also sent me photos of his other tattoos, which will be featured in a later post.

John's Koi: Then and Now

It was only a matter of time. I wondered when, just buy the nature of my talking to so many tattooed people, I would approach someone about ...

3:49 AM

All Aboard! Susan's Train Tattoo Honors Her Son

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4yqu5oy9OPmmDaDfK-3rRmrUpHVVxKgMow9FVrUFipTdSYv9vAMoMYNYFuOLCib9ck7JMSg9JJKZ_4Hcs7TLD6mDnCc-OHg3heaLB13N40ESv1TE_Wa-doGRUIoTJqgFhAsx0Yz7IFM6/s1600-h/100_7194.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201820791918399298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4yqu5oy9OPmmDaDfK-3rRmrUpHVVxKgMow9FVrUFipTdSYv9vAMoMYNYFuOLCib9ck7JMSg9JJKZ_4Hcs7TLD6mDnCc-OHg3heaLB13N40ESv1TE_Wa-doGRUIoTJqgFhAsx0Yz7IFM6/s400/100_7194.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> I ran into Susan, walking south on 3rd Avenue last Saturday. She sports nine tattoos in all, but the one that jumps out at you is the piece above on her lower left calf. I have yet to master the art of photographing a wrap-around piece, so bear with this one (although I think I did ok). First the story behind the ink. Susan is a proud parent and, like most parents, her body art reflects her love of her child. She has been getting tattooed since her son was 3 (now he's 10) and he has even collaborated on designing some of her work. If memory serves, her son's name is Nicholas, which explains the "N" on the locomotive. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mjxGC9C82b2f8FeYqj6JG5pp_zeOk70-ZIs6QWBFXSwEkiYnvdJBwfm7Hl4kbvVQU8qc4d-UFYLJXsATdz26IveGEI4oYPYUW-go4ShXVRR2XJFCy4oh0eEIPXp8cLAe34lTQ8HfNAxc/s1600-h/n+train.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201821169875521362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mjxGC9C82b2f8FeYqj6JG5pp_zeOk70-ZIs6QWBFXSwEkiYnvdJBwfm7Hl4kbvVQU8qc4d-UFYLJXsATdz26IveGEI4oYPYUW-go4ShXVRR2XJFCy4oh0eEIPXp8cLAe34lTQ8HfNAxc/s400/n+train.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> He is a HUGE fan of trains, to the extent that he knows subway lines and is adept at giving directions and the <a href="http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/index.html">MTA</a> routes. Thus, the central element of the piece. In front of the train is a railroad crossing signpost <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYZ4CRnQjtiPJFcUWFpHjR3W8kx1TIU9bSfTWglSRYHy8N_PT9o-uhNowyXCBIZ081L2cq7Q2qo7RBDWrd7-dHikzeaA-2V-wckYno334wcYxDyM3_sFPBGzPSNacQ5ydYFwff6-NRBTb/s1600-h/100_7195.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201820650184478514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYZ4CRnQjtiPJFcUWFpHjR3W8kx1TIU9bSfTWglSRYHy8N_PT9o-uhNowyXCBIZ081L2cq7Q2qo7RBDWrd7-dHikzeaA-2V-wckYno334wcYxDyM3_sFPBGzPSNacQ5ydYFwff6-NRBTb/s400/100_7195.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> and at the back is the caboose, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilstyf5Ay4teNsl4BO-F1hyWS6VBaKliHXywHj9_GUl7AYLh1eBMUzIHOeRlsCp1RNxE0qixzNSiBYqaxjxK1DuZ906vzNgWVpIdH_8Vt9LErmXLYwRRKmiytyVIy3rZRTOx7a2929zSXI/s1600-h/100_7196.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201820439731080994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilstyf5Ay4teNsl4BO-F1hyWS6VBaKliHXywHj9_GUl7AYLh1eBMUzIHOeRlsCp1RNxE0qixzNSiBYqaxjxK1DuZ906vzNgWVpIdH_8Vt9LErmXLYwRRKmiytyVIy3rZRTOx7a2929zSXI/s400/100_7196.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>complete with hearts and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pac-Man">Pac-Man</a> symbol to reflect her son's love of video games. His love of rainbows, as well, is reflected by the multi-colored arc over the train. The piece is completed by the rising sun (a play on "son"). <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ue1xa-2zjWAYyYi52tQisV-BBrgDrcGqtk-_9TigUMaNOOzyKQk3am6wr1jiC9WsLzp6o5dGBk_FGZTy_yhE_0dK3wH76fGnLp6LXdZF9cKlquW1v92lRluWUD1n260K1WkaNplfMYXF/s1600-h/sunbow.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202671624939737090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ue1xa-2zjWAYyYi52tQisV-BBrgDrcGqtk-_9TigUMaNOOzyKQk3am6wr1jiC9WsLzp6o5dGBk_FGZTy_yhE_0dK3wH76fGnLp6LXdZF9cKlquW1v92lRluWUD1n260K1WkaNplfMYXF/s400/sunbow.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> The end result is a vibrant, wonderful piece of body art which is poignant and visually-appealing. This tattoo, along with all her other work, was inked be <a href="http://www.bodyartstudios.com/peter.htm">Peter Cavorsi</a> at <a href="http://www.bodyartstudios.com/">Body Art Studios</a> in Bay Ridge. Peter inked my guitar-cherub (at the bottom of the page) and has appeared on Tattoosday many times before (click <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Body%20Art%20Studios">here</a> to see the various pieces). Thanks to Susan for bringing some colorful maternal ink to us here at Tattoosday!

All Aboard! Susan's Train Tattoo Honors Her Son

I ran into Susan, walking south on 3rd Avenue last Saturday. She sports nine tattoos in all, but the one that jumps out at you is the piece ...

2:15 AM

Kyle's Take on Heaven and Hell

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQiUhz9evVAce6pqnfQJFOC0quUYAihfFOnWoJvgcgTxs_1S7SbFGFEvQ68DrMdKDGhd9VCjyWQdDCyhC7nES1iYjQ6lhrvqBLJ_DvW7LJPmB0HCL9_kJvix_BGtvWblmapmvTUazDuTM/s1600-h/DSC00672.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200558363591150994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQiUhz9evVAce6pqnfQJFOC0quUYAihfFOnWoJvgcgTxs_1S7SbFGFEvQ68DrMdKDGhd9VCjyWQdDCyhC7nES1iYjQ6lhrvqBLJ_DvW7LJPmB0HCL9_kJvix_BGtvWblmapmvTUazDuTM/s400/DSC00672.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> I initially just saw the bottom of this tattoo, an inverted cityscape poking out from under a sleeve. Quite unusual, so I had to stop Kyle and ask. We were on 7th Avenue, and I was using the borrowed <a href="http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&categoryId=16161&langId=-1&storeId=10151">Sony Cyber-shot</a> of a co-worker (thanks, Tina!). Kyle rolled up his sleeve and blew me away. The detail and color of the tree were breath-taking. And if you click on the initial photo to enlarge it, the detail in the buildings is astonishing, with color on the billboards and light emanating from some of the tiny windows. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4PB_8qkSAl9PiBWkqphz45SCLEMfoJn-9iVMka1wIKjk1k7pjWe7yDyfz2hmXKtTEuXG8CylswOptLzddrkVan2oajQpip3UGgqwesJa28SFXt_W-EajsrmRyLlER68zvx-SPwhplSjj/s1600-h/heaven.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200558737253305794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4PB_8qkSAl9PiBWkqphz45SCLEMfoJn-9iVMka1wIKjk1k7pjWe7yDyfz2hmXKtTEuXG8CylswOptLzddrkVan2oajQpip3UGgqwesJa28SFXt_W-EajsrmRyLlER68zvx-SPwhplSjj/s400/heaven.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> The concept behind this piece, Kyle explained, is that the country is Heaven and the city is Hell, separated by a layer of purgatorial clouds. He was raised in upstate New York, far from the five boroughs of New York City and its eight million-plus inhabitants. This work was inked by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/myleskarr">Myles Karr</a> at <a href="http://www.savedtattoo.com/">Saved Tattoo</a> in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. Thanks to Kyle for sharing this piece with Tattoosday!

Kyle's Take on Heaven and Hell

I initially just saw the bottom of this tattoo, an inverted cityscape poking out from under a sleeve. Quite unusual, so I had to stop Kyle ...

12:51 PM

Burn My Body: Carson Honors a Difficult Decision

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-n0UOAM6_Ea5sPDswen6ApyUNzzjWr15a5am3wPjNl35DMEs3fb5sDwzwL70o8gDPZyUs9NO_fQ_ohHf38iZ1AGBthn_A0wP0yFLWnT70sPHbszNgjWLZVJDrw8NeDKrQKnKRN3FvZdU/s1600-h/100_7177.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200902712594107906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-n0UOAM6_Ea5sPDswen6ApyUNzzjWr15a5am3wPjNl35DMEs3fb5sDwzwL70o8gDPZyUs9NO_fQ_ohHf38iZ1AGBthn_A0wP0yFLWnT70sPHbszNgjWLZVJDrw8NeDKrQKnKRN3FvZdU/s400/100_7177.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Needless to say, I was amazed. Our paths intersected at 23rd and 7th around Noon. He had neck work and a sleeve, and an incredible lighthouse tattooed on the back of his left leg (for his fiancée, he later explained), but I didn't think I'd catch him. He was walking faster than me, and had earbuds in. I generally don't like to a) interrupt people listening to music and, b) chase them. But I happened to be walking the same direction and, when I noticed he had stopped to look into the windows of<a href="http://chelseaguitars.com/"> Dan's Chelsea Guitars</a>, condition "b" was no longer a factor. I approached him, distracted him from his ear buds, and introduced myself. I forgave myself the interruption because his work was so well done. As I always do, when speaking with folks with multiple tattoos, I asked him which meant the most, which piece I could feature here on Tattoosday. He acknowledged that he had a chest piece which was "in progress". Did he mind showing me on the street? As the photo above indicates, not at all. Excuse my manners. I didn't introduce our host properly. The guy on the sidewalk displaying has tattoos just downstairs from the <a href="http://www.hotelchelsea.com/">Hotel Chelsea</a> was Carson James. Carson is a Brooklynite that plays bass in a band called <a href="http://www.myspace.com/tombsbklyn">Tombs </a>(click to hear some of their stuff on their MySpace page). And when he pulled his shirt off, I was expecting a great chest piece, but nothing like what scrolled across his body. Carson confirmed, the words were the complete lyrics to a song, "<a href="http://elbo.ws/video/GUEgDoTu3q0/">Burn My Body</a>" by <a href="http://www.williamelliottwhitmore.com/">William Eliot Whitmore</a>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKDeRxufYAaW0B0R3jYK3J1YyyIl-fyqBxmkm0Bw0fhu_uTTxm1Vu3GoslyFiObMGV4_2zLlbeU-4bDHf_wrZzELi40mj4csydClLKTn2YNGfSsXWfvF3g7d13Rio2mJOXLeUCDLBrvA0/s1600-h/lyric.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200902940227374610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKDeRxufYAaW0B0R3jYK3J1YyyIl-fyqBxmkm0Bw0fhu_uTTxm1Vu3GoslyFiObMGV4_2zLlbeU-4bDHf_wrZzELi40mj4csydClLKTn2YNGfSsXWfvF3g7d13Rio2mJOXLeUCDLBrvA0/s400/lyric.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> "What," I asked, "is the significance of this song that made you want to preserve it forever on you like this?" He told me how, about two years ago, his younger brother, Trevor Lorne James, was killed in a motorcycle accident in New Jersey. His parents were understanably distraught over such a devastating event, and the decision fell to Carson - his brother's body was cremated. Here are the lyrics to "Burn My Body": <blockquote style="font-family:arial;">Burn My Body Burn my body in the northern field and let the wind blow the ashes around Then you will know that my wounds have been healed 'cause Lord I'll be homeward bound Let the flames warm your hands let the glow light your way These gifts to you I bestow No one's listening don't bother to pray if you do I'll never know Up and up the smoke will roll like a cloud of frightened crows carry my not so immortal soul up between the rows Some words that are said can cut like a saw and my ears nearly bled at the sound I can't help prepare for the springtime thaw 'cause Lord I'll be homeward bound When frost turns to flowers and they all start to bloom and there's nothing left to hold tip one back and sing me a tune and never let the fire grow cold</blockquote>You can see a video of Whitmore performing the song <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUEgDoTu3q0">here</a>. We talked about cremation and I asked if he had ever heard the poem "<a href="http://plagiarist.com/poetry/9253/">Cremation</a>" by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_Jeffers">Robinson Jeffers</a> (read it <a href="http://plagiarist.com/poetry/9253/">here</a>). I promised to e-mail it to him later. This piece, and most of Carson's work was inked by <a href="http://thomashooper.wordpress.com/">Thomas Hooper</a>, an incredible tattooer who worked out of <a href="http://www.frithstreettattoo.co.uk/">Frith Street Tattoo and Piercing</a> in London, and now works out of <a href="http://www.nyadorned.com/">New York Adorned's</a> Brooklyn shop. You can see more of Hooper's amazing work on his web site <a href="http://thomashooper.wordpress.com/">here</a>. The quality of Hooper's tattooing is truly awesome. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfCs2I7epqQpWZ6dk0FZVNFPu7t09qBh4vrviVXL9j73G-7vXV_R2cztn67aniXMeydrlnWmdTDM7_FO0tyMiy8mc6yQzK-kX92EL0_y36AcuOTq9JZ8RLjzVUmP5BWTAftGaRJ6wuFp9/s1600-h/100_7178.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200445547685186850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfCs2I7epqQpWZ6dk0FZVNFPu7t09qBh4vrviVXL9j73G-7vXV_R2cztn67aniXMeydrlnWmdTDM7_FO0tyMiy8mc6yQzK-kX92EL0_y36AcuOTq9JZ8RLjzVUmP5BWTAftGaRJ6wuFp9/s320/100_7178.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> Carson also gave me some more background on his other work (which I did not photograph). His right arm is sleeved with a depiction of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Taylor_Coleridge">Samuel Taylor Coleridge's</a> "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rime_of_the_Ancient_Mariner">The Rime of the Ancient Mariner</a>" and, as mentioned earlier, the lighthouse is for his fiancée. It should also be noted that this is another first for Tattoosday, as Carson is the host here whose face is visible in a tattoo shot. Understandable (and appreciated) due to the size of the featured work. Thanks so much to Carson for sharing his ink with us here at Tattoosday!

Burn My Body: Carson Honors a Difficult Decision

Needless to say, I was amazed. Our paths intersected at 23rd and 7th around Noon. He had neck work and a sleeve, and an incredible lighthous...

2:34 AM

Galactus and Red Skull on The Right Arm of Thomas

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSCH40dW4lOotQnmCNldgpUQDVoV_PMXDtpsdXo2uKwS_8EbWPpiwUeAdPV9u7x6AOC4NEkvFhP5VOApQpJ6p2yz8sfCH6p8HgJf5WUspZGRB6Qd0A5VCeF3st8kkbwaRsONOXcXaWqTn/s1600-h/100_7158.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198985075033034626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSCH40dW4lOotQnmCNldgpUQDVoV_PMXDtpsdXo2uKwS_8EbWPpiwUeAdPV9u7x6AOC4NEkvFhP5VOApQpJ6p2yz8sfCH6p8HgJf5WUspZGRB6Qd0A5VCeF3st8kkbwaRsONOXcXaWqTn/s400/100_7158.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> Saturday night, I ran into Thomas, who was waiting for the B16 bus on 86th Street in Bay Ridge. Thomas is a manager at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/galaxy-collectibles-brooklyn">Galaxy Collectibles</a> in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The store specializes in comics and related items and Thomas' tattoos reflect his love of the Art of Comic Books. Above we have the inner forearm, his right, which he has dubbed "The Bad Guy Arm". On top is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactus">Galactus</a>, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7op7dAJBIWjqUietkJkjNlcLY2wnciRIxMlRCQpuSshLtvLI_z_zCN3Z65zaBbkmn0MbWJ7E85MDy4NSVDSYi0UmbpIg50CWi3BX6cd6_rZex6LJZY3M7zfaod1BQKW1vPLP9dw_Lz8-C/s1600-h/purpletop.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198984898939375474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7op7dAJBIWjqUietkJkjNlcLY2wnciRIxMlRCQpuSshLtvLI_z_zCN3Z65zaBbkmn0MbWJ7E85MDy4NSVDSYi0UmbpIg50CWi3BX6cd6_rZex6LJZY3M7zfaod1BQKW1vPLP9dw_Lz8-C/s400/purpletop.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> and below is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Skull">Red Skull</a>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzfgy1BQF8l4ShVa2YfDiDTGY6NVx9vD7wIRNrBfo9Bp01IaYXKtIdyYK-W6L-HBX8p5dHi4y_eJORf6lQy6t0SXi5pbs9n4vq9aPMf7A1SLRkphNFqX0GM4aO8J7_6cwHf9l6OWsA7JF/s1600-h/redbottom.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198984452262776674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzfgy1BQF8l4ShVa2YfDiDTGY6NVx9vD7wIRNrBfo9Bp01IaYXKtIdyYK-W6L-HBX8p5dHi4y_eJORf6lQy6t0SXi5pbs9n4vq9aPMf7A1SLRkphNFqX0GM4aO8J7_6cwHf9l6OWsA7JF/s400/redbottom.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnt7jcvecBf8MK-Nza3yCEzD756_BwGz0AMuPKniRSdeQN_-IlBdd-QL09kpBrUKuTocPRbNSz_-IPtNcLcA8cFA7ZiBSdVHjtk7d_8KbHd65z5jbPAOcTz-FEL02FANHtgPFLKLmT1xmA/s1600-h/redskull.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200164128543051010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnt7jcvecBf8MK-Nza3yCEzD756_BwGz0AMuPKniRSdeQN_-IlBdd-QL09kpBrUKuTocPRbNSz_-IPtNcLcA8cFA7ZiBSdVHjtk7d_8KbHd65z5jbPAOcTz-FEL02FANHtgPFLKLmT1xmA/s320/redskull.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 231px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_vOhX967fXjggOd7hyphenhyphenVln2HAesA02XntbarGAWv9Vrz84jfgtQDOZAYj9IJ4DJ6lc7HsSweDO0vdnWeaAchtBux4lEJet1YIJtBPfyP40Uw-mwwogy-ri8117YdgCN_csfFp_dzA-gfb/s1600-h/silversurferv3-018.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199182015551343666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_vOhX967fXjggOd7hyphenhyphenVln2HAesA02XntbarGAWv9Vrz84jfgtQDOZAYj9IJ4DJ6lc7HsSweDO0vdnWeaAchtBux4lEJet1YIJtBPfyP40Uw-mwwogy-ri8117YdgCN_csfFp_dzA-gfb/s320/silversurferv3-018.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 153px; height: 238px;" /></a>As he was showing me the tattoos, he was explaining the characters, where they first appeared, and who designed them. Thomas explained that he didn't start out with the intention of having "themed" arms, but they just sort of "evolved". He started with Galactus, and then realized another piece just below it would make sense and fill the space neatly. On his outer right forearm is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Goblin">Green Goblin</a>: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03jmWJ_K4vuShxIoow8GMNlrfjch-qoA5YwJmW3zqoq9Why8pL0SQG_0MzSQ6y7EPiLacln-yoaK_ZsUHHPokOgjXbTiKqBva2j6nstxOKAepPZPOUJd8wVRqY6iQAgU1psWJ_r8Vn9b-/s1600-h/100_7161.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198974243125514034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03jmWJ_K4vuShxIoow8GMNlrfjch-qoA5YwJmW3zqoq9Why8pL0SQG_0MzSQ6y7EPiLacln-yoaK_ZsUHHPokOgjXbTiKqBva2j6nstxOKAepPZPOUJd8wVRqY6iQAgU1psWJ_r8Vn9b-/s400/100_7161.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZFVu8dJrpi3jCq8_bFPk3Mi_9Wn12iLy5wLwjlQUGmdtt6HnmUboISHqny9KXoCVEmyOTimEL4ZY5ZXigWr7lOZJ_vozoBgNbmExnqAbim-edKEj55-JWYL2N0P_VbAYfur265cyY_Ts/s1600-h/toybox2005113-02_1130998458.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200174393514888466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZFVu8dJrpi3jCq8_bFPk3Mi_9Wn12iLy5wLwjlQUGmdtt6HnmUboISHqny9KXoCVEmyOTimEL4ZY5ZXigWr7lOZJ_vozoBgNbmExnqAbim-edKEj55-JWYL2N0P_VbAYfur265cyY_Ts/s320/toybox2005113-02_1130998458.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> These were all inked by his friend <a href="http://www.inkednation.com/r/r.cfm?t=41&DisplayUser_ID=39843">Marc Redbeard</a> at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=w5s&resnum=0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=groove+tattoo&near=Bay+Ridge,+New+York&fb=1&view=text&latlng=6215111559260006253">Groove Tattoo in Bay Ridge</a>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnm-bRbqdTnt1UdJyG-Epi9R4tgKzeYPtYlY1xtNxoFH__qH9yAwl9R_Ih62vMnFRo_Ix4e7mEflkveiJ10ihKkcX2Z2d_axsU3nnk7Vq9qOI6hxKZiRtLC6Ae-idZvXLGJqP4lCuTP3_N/s1600-h/scan0001.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208346282966824578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnm-bRbqdTnt1UdJyG-Epi9R4tgKzeYPtYlY1xtNxoFH__qH9yAwl9R_Ih62vMnFRo_Ix4e7mEflkveiJ10ihKkcX2Z2d_axsU3nnk7Vq9qOI6hxKZiRtLC6Ae-idZvXLGJqP4lCuTP3_N/s400/scan0001.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Work from Groove has appeared previously <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/04/world-is-his.html">here</a>. His next project is "The Good Guy Arm," his left, which already has a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman">Superman</a> logo and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Lantern">The Green Lantern</a>. Thanks to Thomas for sharing his cool ink with us here on Tattoosday!

Galactus and Red Skull on The Right Arm of Thomas

Saturday night, I ran into Thomas, who was waiting for the B16 bus on 86th Street in Bay Ridge. Thomas is a manager at Galaxy Collectibles ...

3:10 AM

The Squid and the Elephant

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFXfp63gNG-JNm_K0QCdqjIf7tsjsb5rk1UW1Kt1xlVwhddau3bhAgVWl1Ed0BujvK4dQFnBlUNNXSIq3sGaAvU8SgbNelMNHNhoV8NxI76GfQlQmnGPkIxkt4yZ76Blt0sD4I8p7h03m/s1600-h/100_7113.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197959416118498674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFXfp63gNG-JNm_K0QCdqjIf7tsjsb5rk1UW1Kt1xlVwhddau3bhAgVWl1Ed0BujvK4dQFnBlUNNXSIq3sGaAvU8SgbNelMNHNhoV8NxI76GfQlQmnGPkIxkt4yZ76Blt0sD4I8p7h03m/s400/100_7113.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> A seriously long line at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Farley_Post_Office">the Post Office</a> cut into my outside time at lunch, which adversely affected my tattoo-spotting on Wednesday. However, I took advantage of the long line at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philately">Philatelic</a> Window and introduced myself to Barrett, who offered up the tattoo above. He has four tattoos, but this was the only one visible. It was inked about 13 years ago in his home in Colorado by a free-lance artist named <a href="http://www.durangotelegraph.com/05-03-17/arting.htm">Bryan Saren</a>. Mr. Saren is mentioned in several <a href="http://www.durangogov.org/">Durango, Colorado</a> newspaper articles as a local artist and sculptor. I will assume its the same guy. Barrett designed this piece himself and, although he acknowledges that it resembles the "tribal" category, he doesn't consider it a tribal tattoo. He was just playing with the design and liked the end result, which is comprised of a melding of a squid and an elephant. Look again: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg297FVGxtZBB0czDQgTRnhjtOGLUsD8K22LQ_MibciT1twU_WkpJs3TdeNPgm5f7eN2ORW5X40IrKSaZ6jqUet7_NkQ0tHbYfytXCSmqMJ8L1115tlnZDwSOaxwkozrWYjZX27pJVfvQ4s/s1600-h/squid.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197962602984232322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg297FVGxtZBB0czDQgTRnhjtOGLUsD8K22LQ_MibciT1twU_WkpJs3TdeNPgm5f7eN2ORW5X40IrKSaZ6jqUet7_NkQ0tHbYfytXCSmqMJ8L1115tlnZDwSOaxwkozrWYjZX27pJVfvQ4s/s400/squid.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> The squid is at the tail end, or top of the piece. And the elephant is at the front. A closer look shows the center axis is comprised of the elephantine trunk, surrounded by two shorter, curving tusks. No special significance to squid and elephant, just part of the design elements. Thanks to Barrett for sharing his work with us here at Tattoosday!

The Squid and the Elephant

A seriously long line at the Post Office cut into my outside time at lunch, which adversely affected my tattoo-spotting on Wednesday. Howev...

3:55 AM