Neal's Foo Dog

This winter has been an especially cold one here in New York and, as any loyal reader can confirm, I haven't reported on many tattoos that I have glimpsed in the city.<br /><br />However, last night at the grocery store around the corner, I met Neal, who let me take a quick snapshot of his foo dog on the left side of his neck:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMoOpnf86gOTrJR5IOFBI1lcjc_FrQIAKk-E6EzBYH6E1TnFIT4qCiKdXTSSfllb4XXXHBOJxd71XWbKr-H68JiuQ7LJdVPxpWQIPULN7v2_BscdnVDnEj0ZIkSvQ1bSmpw7SqZPg/s1600-h/foo+dog.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439603431765221026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMoOpnf86gOTrJR5IOFBI1lcjc_FrQIAKk-E6EzBYH6E1TnFIT4qCiKdXTSSfllb4XXXHBOJxd71XWbKr-H68JiuQ7LJdVPxpWQIPULN7v2_BscdnVDnEj0ZIkSvQ1bSmpw7SqZPg/s400/foo+dog.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 380px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fu_Dog">Foo dogs</a> are traditional Asian-style tattoo designs, and have various meanings and interpretations. Click <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Foo%20Dogs">here</a> to see some other posts on the site that have featured foo dog designs.<br /><br />Neal told me that this was inked by Koji at <a href="http://www.studioenigma.com/">Studio Engima</a> on Avenue U in Brooklyn many years ago. Work from Studio Engima has appeared previously on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Studio%20Enigma">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Neal for sharing his foo dog with us here on Tattoosday!

Neal's Foo Dog

This winter has been an especially cold one here in New York and, as any loyal reader can confirm, I haven't reported on many tattoos th...

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Tattoos I Love: Sweethearts for My Sweetheart

So what does an inkblogger get his sweetheart on Valentine's Day?<br /><br />Why, a love-themed tattoo, of course.<br /><br />Lucky me, the good folks over at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-NY/Thicker-Than-Water/225369517165">Thicker than Water Tattoo</a> had a Cupid special, $14 tattoos on February 14.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0f6AJA3ziPrycsztD2EH71ztDSA3lSE0Pf3y2q_BIPBvHGpcZW2vQwsANy5inDaWs1Ki7xpK-B6FDVok8ZEZRA9N0VsT_YgQ_KbsoL_YjqAg3HBAtQp9zidVXWDAFjd-VnxvEwZm/s1600-h/Thicker+than+water.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438255007074225394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0f6AJA3ziPrycsztD2EH71ztDSA3lSE0Pf3y2q_BIPBvHGpcZW2vQwsANy5inDaWs1Ki7xpK-B6FDVok8ZEZRA9N0VsT_YgQ_KbsoL_YjqAg3HBAtQp9zidVXWDAFjd-VnxvEwZm/s400/Thicker+than+water.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />A lot like the <a href="http://www.daredeviltattoo.com/">Dare Devil Tattoo</a> Friday the 13th Special (one of which is documented <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/03/friday-13th-tattoosday-adventure.html">here</a>), the lucky tattoo recipient can choose from an assortment of day-themed flash.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrx1XeUWlX4TvKTkAkVhPPlTrJ-_T4m7w9h-qT2SFU9u8ZOREl2J_uyirnylynlIMcha7ajIA05-fP2aTVdFJ_kw6TIUTYxPaK-pJHuBrdimOYPtKC_y4nWaRFkraw8kNYst0nwLyn/s1600-h/Thicker+than+water+14.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438254857287450594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrx1XeUWlX4TvKTkAkVhPPlTrJ-_T4m7w9h-qT2SFU9u8ZOREl2J_uyirnylynlIMcha7ajIA05-fP2aTVdFJ_kw6TIUTYxPaK-pJHuBrdimOYPtKC_y4nWaRFkraw8kNYst0nwLyn/s400/Thicker+than+water+14.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 393px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />Here's what my lovely bride Melanie had to choose from:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRNAI0URM6TP4Dzz0f4xinJT4rrbUMAqKQuYZyJCL9-FKbXNvueTxH7VmnBQ3q0h7Frtt3qTVmI_gQKRjWnA_s7e-n3sVoJkJHNld6L5_T6DL_qbPBiK4AHEZOX38IN454hsZEgm7/s1600-h/VDAY+THICKER+THAN+WATER.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438255085742314162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRNAI0URM6TP4Dzz0f4xinJT4rrbUMAqKQuYZyJCL9-FKbXNvueTxH7VmnBQ3q0h7Frtt3qTVmI_gQKRjWnA_s7e-n3sVoJkJHNld6L5_T6DL_qbPBiK4AHEZOX38IN454hsZEgm7/s400/VDAY+THICKER+THAN+WATER.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 301px;" /></a><br />When we got to the shop, Melanie signed in #53, and they were averaging a dozen or so per hour, so we knew we had a little bit of a wait.<br /><br />I specifically selected Shon Lindauer, since he did such an awesome job with <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/01/tyger-tyger-burning-bright.html">my tiger tattoo</a>.<br /><br />It was nice that Melanie got to meet Shon and the piece she selected was one that he had drawn up.<br /><br />He tattooed her in the middle of the back and took just about fifteen minutes:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZKpMwR0F0tAeNx9hjQy3iVWQ1RpcDIoveXPOURNSTDHpJgBaYNVUEHKEoCKyCmsfHgAuXcALLWyEiyhalIofgR6YwSHuT-cXCOc-C_f_q4jyYHAlabArBOJE_LgcwAPNttVuOfzf/s1600-h/Shon+Inking+Mel.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438254790488516514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZKpMwR0F0tAeNx9hjQy3iVWQ1RpcDIoveXPOURNSTDHpJgBaYNVUEHKEoCKyCmsfHgAuXcALLWyEiyhalIofgR6YwSHuT-cXCOc-C_f_q4jyYHAlabArBOJE_LgcwAPNttVuOfzf/s400/Shon+Inking+Mel.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />She was very happy with the end result:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IzBerdL28P_t913TnsclZhRrLCwaMxhgJjSMdi7HVKLgUcG2xFvtFedQuhLYL6SyYR7vojebCSVEtbXFLQ9zJiF4dujKZQNkpdkL6vVhwAeGhqjPqlSnwld57Ni32p3hFGbFU4Kq/s1600-h/Mel+Hearts+1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438423966989250722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IzBerdL28P_t913TnsclZhRrLCwaMxhgJjSMdi7HVKLgUcG2xFvtFedQuhLYL6SyYR7vojebCSVEtbXFLQ9zJiF4dujKZQNkpdkL6vVhwAeGhqjPqlSnwld57Ni32p3hFGbFU4Kq/s400/Mel+Hearts+1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 238px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />When we left around 3:45, the waiting list was over a hundred, so they looked like they had a long night ahead of them.<br /><br />Thanks to Shon and the staff at Thicker Than Water for another great tattoo experience!

Tattoos I Love: Sweethearts for My Sweetheart

So what does an inkblogger get his sweetheart on Valentine's Day? Why, a love-themed tattoo, of course. Lucky me, the good folks over at...

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Tattoos I Know: Paul's Love, Over His Heart

On this Valentine's Day, I'm sharing a tattoo that my friend Paul had recently done. He showed me when I was taking the latest set of photos on <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/02/tattoos-i-know-paul-part-5-or-great.html">the cover-up</a> her is working on.<br /><br />He pulled down the top of his shirt to reveal this simple message:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaGumOTJqwX9q0vW99EqQN6ejpcNxWXNb2oFSlU6qobMJIiLzX6xt9zaPNW7Pv2p8AoQlNrrXB02PVo6Npo-BXCQ2EyI6ZlyAG5_ekc5JSRUAvYFl2aYTwfnY3Fnn4VpTLdCoMFO-/s1600-h/Ana+Tejeda.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438106474697286514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaGumOTJqwX9q0vW99EqQN6ejpcNxWXNb2oFSlU6qobMJIiLzX6xt9zaPNW7Pv2p8AoQlNrrXB02PVo6Npo-BXCQ2EyI6ZlyAG5_ekc5JSRUAvYFl2aYTwfnY3Fnn4VpTLdCoMFO-/s400/Ana+Tejeda.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" /></a><br />Paul's message to his wife is simple, but it is what is not spoken that is most remarklable. Paul always swore up and down that he would never ink a woman's name on his body. When he showed me this, I was surprised, but love can make us express ourselves in such ways, especially when we love getting tattooed.<br /><br />Paul had this done by <a href="http://fortapachestudio.com/Pierre.html">Pierre</a> at <a href="http://fortapachestudio.com/2ndpage.html">Fort Apache Tattoo Studio</a>, just around the corner from where we work in Manhattan.<br /><br />Happy Valentine's Day from Tattoosday to Paul and Ana. Stay tunde, as there may be more Valentine's ink on the horizon!

Tattoos I Know: Paul's Love, Over His Heart

On this Valentine's Day, I'm sharing a tattoo that my friend Paul had recently done. He showed me when I was taking the latest set o...

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Markjames' Knuckles

Last week I posted <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/02/markjames-helps-start-february-with.html">this great owl tattoo</a> belonging to Markjames, a Pennsylvania-based tattoo artist.<br /><br />Prior to sharing it, however, I also snapped his knuckles:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoRUcbwcqmkq8AV8pI7_RV2HM6ZlJLd4lirR91bYeGP3xwbvCjWuzL5GstjMMIsECzbYY3hqQZlgSnUdG6LB3OcuU7cExpvYZ_9rLGaFstxCsabyvd_2MSS01BKD4y-6AXn9TvaBp/s1600-h/Soft+Soul.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436195103935625506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoRUcbwcqmkq8AV8pI7_RV2HM6ZlJLd4lirR91bYeGP3xwbvCjWuzL5GstjMMIsECzbYY3hqQZlgSnUdG6LB3OcuU7cExpvYZ_9rLGaFstxCsabyvd_2MSS01BKD4y-6AXn9TvaBp/s400/Soft+Soul.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />When I asked what this meant, he said "just a feeling". What is particularly cool about these knuckles are the traditional anchor and horseshoe standing in for the letters "T" and "U", respectively.<br /><br />These were inked by <a href="http://www.silkcitytattoo.com/russell-kelley/">Russell Kelley</a> at <a href="http://www.silkcitytattoo.com/">Silk City Tattoo</a> in Hawthorne, New Jersey. Work from the shop has appeared multiple times before and can all be seen under Silk City's Tattoosday label <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Silk%20City%20Tattoo">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks again to Markjames for sharing his work with us here on Tattoosday!

Markjames' Knuckles

Last week I posted this great owl tattoo belonging to Markjames, a Pennsylvania-based tattoo artist. Prior to sharing it, however, I also s...

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Tattoos I Know: Paul, Part 5 or, The Great Cover-Up of 2008, continued...

In December 2008, we posted about our friend Paul getting some cover-up work done on his upper right arm. Revisit the report <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/12/tattoos-i-know-paul-part-3-or-great.html">here</a>.<br /><br />We checked in with Paul again this past November to see the progress (<a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/11/tattoos-i-know-paul-part-4-or-great.html">here</a>). And, just last Friday, he updated us again on the latest efforts by <a href="http://www.chelseatattoos.com/artists/gallery/Horisei/H01gallery.html">Horisei</a>, who has one more session before this cover-up is done:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpR5-4R73NbCIAuHUBJ5Wnrz-sRu-abSGw9MZC5AFkjx17IS9eloLDzmzg7RLsG-4qt30Vjipcv4NzrrwxYYGFhJFg3EceU1ibc-hVHXbu1DD1lTokXXkZbatnI6ALqaQ8wVjXTY-I/s1600-h/Paul+Cover-Up+Stage+3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435825866546378274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpR5-4R73NbCIAuHUBJ5Wnrz-sRu-abSGw9MZC5AFkjx17IS9eloLDzmzg7RLsG-4qt30Vjipcv4NzrrwxYYGFhJFg3EceU1ibc-hVHXbu1DD1lTokXXkZbatnI6ALqaQ8wVjXTY-I/s400/Paul+Cover-Up+Stage+3.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 372px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />Horisei tattoos out of the <a href="http://www.chelseatattoos.com/">Chelsea Tattoo Company</a>, formerly the home of <a href="http://www.risingdragon.com/">Rising Dragon</a>.<br /><br />Thanks again to Paul for sharing. I'm guessing we'll see the finished product later in 2010!

Tattoos I Know: Paul, Part 5 or, The Great Cover-Up of 2008, continued...

In December 2008, we posted about our friend Paul getting some cover-up work done on his upper right arm. Revisit the report here . We check...

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Two Tattoos From John: One for Superstition, One for Courage

Last Friday, I met John, who was in Penn Station in a t-shirt and shorts, certainly brave, considering the cold temperature outside.<br /><br />He has four tattoos, and shared two with us. First, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-leaf_clover">four-leaf clover</a> on his right elbow, which he got because he is superstitious:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGz8n_WtpobfrxIKn1z6BXqU2h1neJb8EUIGlJvApgkHSr9NOrNhyphenhyphen-PguaXN1LRgTgmjgdOcU6UOjECmMMpJKjCM29-KVf0tI5SlAQ67RBKJ667a9dnMaI7WiIHHpGlIA0JrtQNMy/s1600-h/Four-Leaf+Clover.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435592983138207714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGz8n_WtpobfrxIKn1z6BXqU2h1neJb8EUIGlJvApgkHSr9NOrNhyphenhyphen-PguaXN1LRgTgmjgdOcU6UOjECmMMpJKjCM29-KVf0tI5SlAQ67RBKJ667a9dnMaI7WiIHHpGlIA0JrtQNMy/s400/Four-Leaf+Clover.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />And this Latin phrase "sine metu," which means "Without Fear" on his left forearm:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOX9W3UKSwFbn_3ITLGrVWVSGwjWWPR9YnhbHXzfcKs-1dav53_stAN2kvvziI1afKqR2ZDgYEJH0OYx0XWvPg04GycTMLQ5-sz5AedeX1-IAS0R9KhH3En9da5jajbUKUhOm2Hko/s1600-h/Without+Fear.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435593228332414130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOX9W3UKSwFbn_3ITLGrVWVSGwjWWPR9YnhbHXzfcKs-1dav53_stAN2kvvziI1afKqR2ZDgYEJH0OYx0XWvPg04GycTMLQ5-sz5AedeX1-IAS0R9KhH3En9da5jajbUKUhOm2Hko/s400/Without+Fear.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 180px;" /></a><br />Both tattoos were inked by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=100000443012074">Eric Barrett</a>, who currently works at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Annapolis-MD/Orange-Tattoo-Company/211420311478">Orange Tattoo Company</a> in Annapolis, Maryland. Please note, I previously attributed this to a different artists named Eric in Annapolis. My apologies for the mix-up.<br /><br />Thanks to John for sharing his tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><span style="color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"></span>

Two Tattoos From John: One for Superstition, One for Courage

Last Friday, I met John, who was in Penn Station in a t-shirt and shorts, certainly brave, considering the cold temperature outside. He has ...

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Markjames Helps Start February with a Hoot

February 1st found me scowling optimistically.<br /><br />I was pondering how I had managed, since Christmas Eve, to only post ink-spotted tattoos only twice. Some days over the summer I easily eclipse that total on my lunch break.<br /><br />But this is the heart of winter and, when the temperatures haven't been cooperating, things go slowly.<br /><br />I was passing through the New Jersey Transit section of Penn Station and was about to head back to the office when I spotted Markjames.<br /><br />He had tattoos on his hands, neck, and head and answered affirmatively whenI asked if he was a tattoo artist.<br /><br />After taking a picture of his knuckles to share with the good folks at <a href="http://www.knuckletattoos.com/">KnuckleTattoos.com</a>, he offered up this wonderful neck piece:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sTA7e9q63eIFG531A7OK4oDWHjzTI_W9gmp6fWpBpcN8A8Psk-NiCQXLHlOdUV6C-KhZb-OUsWW_Dm8n4fwW-hMAkqcZ0bAuI7NJ7rKZRq8GORwDUrxZmvfgP-Gm0SZiwIhX2rGA/s1600-h/Markjames+Owl.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433428442692839890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sTA7e9q63eIFG531A7OK4oDWHjzTI_W9gmp6fWpBpcN8A8Psk-NiCQXLHlOdUV6C-KhZb-OUsWW_Dm8n4fwW-hMAkqcZ0bAuI7NJ7rKZRq8GORwDUrxZmvfgP-Gm0SZiwIhX2rGA/s400/Markjames+Owl.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 222px;" /></a><br />He wanted a bird of some sort on his throat and collaborated with the artist <a href="http://tattoonationonline.com/rosenthal.html">Matt Rosenthal</a> at <a href="http://www.tattoonationonline.com/">Tattoo Nation</a> in Wayne, New Jersey. Work from Tattoo Nation has appeared previously on the site <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/11/aries-neck-tattoo.html">here</a>.<br /><br />The owl as a symbol of wisdom is a popular tattoo motif, as is evident from the folks over at <a href="http://owltattoos.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Owl Tattoos</a> and their site dedicated solely to owl ink.<br /><br />Markjames works out of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and will be tattooing at Triple VI Tattoos, beginning in April.<br /><br />Thanks to Markjames for sharing his amazing tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Markjames Helps Start February with a Hoot

February 1st found me scowling optimistically. I was pondering how I had managed, since Christmas Eve, to only post ink-spotted tattoos onl...

Read more »