Andrea's Half-Sleeve with Mermaid

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2PqFH1r79II94v_Blm4n5u1h2d1FhKI72B56nQnqlDSMkShOqjjPbb-vOK8NU6l0bpu13nJiBYLJkSVFmp-Rzy1D6CGnrhPfD8x0NVUZd9gIoEpaAk823cgo2Wyds5ANgNUmUzmBpzU/s1600/Mermaid+R+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2PqFH1r79II94v_Blm4n5u1h2d1FhKI72B56nQnqlDSMkShOqjjPbb-vOK8NU6l0bpu13nJiBYLJkSVFmp-Rzy1D6CGnrhPfD8x0NVUZd9gIoEpaAk823cgo2Wyds5ANgNUmUzmBpzU/s400/Mermaid+R+detail.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><br /> Today we are checking out an awesome traditional half-sleeve by Charlie Foos at Reade Street Tattoo Parlour. I spotted it on Andrea outside of the Fuse studios on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan:<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7t6ncVtBw1ohO6WTcifUjkCrTxEwBU8aXj0lynXQnjREHqqg5nfM0neaqmZvU1cWiqB2qY1fgZUIL3gNGPKvnBI209GWvUXeYVBFUrd6qz9lOSwTqAXe5q4wIb6yuITg_XFGrmmbZGCQ/s1600/mermaid+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7t6ncVtBw1ohO6WTcifUjkCrTxEwBU8aXj0lynXQnjREHqqg5nfM0neaqmZvU1cWiqB2qY1fgZUIL3gNGPKvnBI209GWvUXeYVBFUrd6qz9lOSwTqAXe5q4wIb6yuITg_XFGrmmbZGCQ/s320/mermaid+collage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Andrea told me this was completed in three sessions of three and a half hours each and was inspired by s piece of jewelery. "I bought this pendant of a ship," she said, "and I decided I wanted a half-sleeve of something traditional." The rest is history.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS91AFwJ7fx0GS4AiPKOS0UmwCNles5MHQ0g9NiVVOjoSFnxYJHC09fmsUKbfIYL7Xt0M0OJ5UVLH6fyeZ0QlmywdS8AB3hrS9ZOeqH4NYhMo-evNx6uKp1vBHM3p68zWKlKKQApygRLA/s1600/mermaid+L+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS91AFwJ7fx0GS4AiPKOS0UmwCNles5MHQ0g9NiVVOjoSFnxYJHC09fmsUKbfIYL7Xt0M0OJ5UVLH6fyeZ0QlmywdS8AB3hrS9ZOeqH4NYhMo-evNx6uKp1vBHM3p68zWKlKKQApygRLA/s400/mermaid+L+detail.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><br /> <br /> Thanks to Andrea for sharing this great tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Andrea's Half-Sleeve with Mermaid

Today we are checking out an awesome traditional half-sleeve by Charlie Foos at Reade Street Tattoo Parlour. I spotted it on Andrea outside...

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Erin's Tribute to Thomas, Her Grandfather

Back in June, I met Erin on the subway, and she shared this section of her inner forearm:<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGKZT5pekPJ6u7CoCpa76YnBlVg7ymF_xje3jFbK36ZQbCW6-X0HbxHjAGNrgabOuFVcC32rNAhrqgp9cbcC5uhHzTFQjZWNzmH5IsLqWDBjnHzQuZm2kHHwfJDn6yGW2NP4sVx6Tik8/s1600/erin+anchor+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGKZT5pekPJ6u7CoCpa76YnBlVg7ymF_xje3jFbK36ZQbCW6-X0HbxHjAGNrgabOuFVcC32rNAhrqgp9cbcC5uhHzTFQjZWNzmH5IsLqWDBjnHzQuZm2kHHwfJDn6yGW2NP4sVx6Tik8/s640/erin+anchor+1.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /> This tattoo is a tribute to her grandfather, Thomas, who served in the U.S. Navy.<br /> <br /> The work was done at High Street Tattoo in Columbus, Ohio.<br /> <br /> Erin explained:  <br /> <blockquote>"I just told [the artist] that I wanted something that would relate to the Navy, I guess, so that's the anchor. I like Old School tattoos, I like Sailor Jerry classic-style."</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDgSHjWVVlyr_OE6_pldefuHpmcRV2UJgCZGtHsZF1ozez2P1K_t1fPs631rP72b68GG3FmiJ6J3BjXsd2yNj-i_ZFelW4Igbb8ijjSdZUwTyHQii2crsEtfVpbUYeUnQBV93bTZimwQ/s1600/erin+anchor+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDgSHjWVVlyr_OE6_pldefuHpmcRV2UJgCZGtHsZF1ozez2P1K_t1fPs631rP72b68GG3FmiJ6J3BjXsd2yNj-i_ZFelW4Igbb8ijjSdZUwTyHQii2crsEtfVpbUYeUnQBV93bTZimwQ/s400/erin+anchor+detail.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br />  Erin also has a Friday the 13th tattoo below this, on her wrist:<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jKgJ-4ctLAk6rqW_LIA0kiYgu9WcQboViKymbGO8hr9CLKHskYt3t_9wnQmIaGjJWfes4mf3Q8YRnCt1WdkyT1cHZ6ZlfFS64DLJJwu6aqsqF4AMJJHnZw7rdTAjD6qGXBQz50TM1Xc/s1600/erin+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jKgJ-4ctLAk6rqW_LIA0kiYgu9WcQboViKymbGO8hr9CLKHskYt3t_9wnQmIaGjJWfes4mf3Q8YRnCt1WdkyT1cHZ6ZlfFS64DLJJwu6aqsqF4AMJJHnZw7rdTAjD6qGXBQz50TM1Xc/s400/erin+13.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><br /> This was done at Only You Tattoo in Atlanta.

Erin's Tribute to Thomas, Her Grandfather

Back in June, I met Erin on the subway, and she shared this section of her inner forearm: This tattoo is a tribute to her grandfather, Th...

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Repost for Memorial Dsy: A Traditional Naval Tattoo on a 21st Century Ship

This post originally appeared on November 7, 2009. I felt it was appropriate to re-post on Memorial Day, 2011:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9c7Drx239BvOLGQgceTD_oDP_xqhVcC-L2l-5Z-_7tF9Iq0tQnIIqDGy_dWLUyYfNCze9CgFc1VyxhNSPyJTWrxPYyr1h81oMN_6kDGME01f-PtnD0AR_skY6RStYXBet1OgHxf6/s1600-h/uss+ny.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401485864141434754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9c7Drx239BvOLGQgceTD_oDP_xqhVcC-L2l-5Z-_7tF9Iq0tQnIIqDGy_dWLUyYfNCze9CgFc1VyxhNSPyJTWrxPYyr1h81oMN_6kDGME01f-PtnD0AR_skY6RStYXBet1OgHxf6/s400/uss+ny.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 264px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br /> The <a href="http://www.ussnewyork.com/ussny_about.html">USS New York</a> was <a href="http://www.newsday.com/news/with-pride-sadness-uss-new-york-comes-to-life-1.1572431">put into service today</a> by the <a href="http://www.navy.mil/swf/index.asp">United States Navy</a>.<br /><br />Her hull was forged with steel salvaged from the rubble of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Center">World Trade Center</a>.<br /><br />It's a momentous occasion indeed, and several crew members were in attendance with dignitaries earlier this week at the World Series.<br /><br />As is happens, I noticed a gentleman in uniform outside of <a href="http://www.thegarden.com/">Madison Square Garden</a> earlier in the week and he had this tattoo on both hands:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3SpdLkLuyCH1KKusjoUETiuklySxV9z1hwBe-b7BhUXcAvwwTb4QKNukM8VzXZ8DxLOzZNL4bJDc4cUv72IiK_1tnQtBbyKRY6AhczQNow3W2iEWq7_qHE1vFB3l4yAW44YEHr2I/s1600-h/Anchors.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401485181191486450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3SpdLkLuyCH1KKusjoUETiuklySxV9z1hwBe-b7BhUXcAvwwTb4QKNukM8VzXZ8DxLOzZNL4bJDc4cUv72IiK_1tnQtBbyKRY6AhczQNow3W2iEWq7_qHE1vFB3l4yAW44YEHr2I/s400/Anchors.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 365px;" /></a><br />Turns out, the tattoo was modeled after this naval pin, which represents the rank of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boatswain%27s_Mate_%28United_States_Navy%29">Boatswain's Mate</a>, worn on the lapel:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLYRsmfB9crzbrRIpsHkPZ64gMTupEuaMge5UrYUvkU9E8w0cvQ3MTHxg9v_2E9LoFtP8hCBNgtEoTneWRWg2etGKzLg99NO1zE0exQo5p69330wqBC4JFmKyXEzSfa8_bNhZ4NkI/s1600-h/Anchors+pin.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401485246198738994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLYRsmfB9crzbrRIpsHkPZ64gMTupEuaMge5UrYUvkU9E8w0cvQ3MTHxg9v_2E9LoFtP8hCBNgtEoTneWRWg2etGKzLg99NO1zE0exQo5p69330wqBC4JFmKyXEzSfa8_bNhZ4NkI/s400/Anchors+pin.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 385px;" /></a><br />The gentleman, whose name is Fred, serves on the USS New York, as the more commonly-known title of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boatswain">Ships Bos'n</a>, and it seems appropriate to post this tattoo today as the ship officially enters the naval fleet.<br /><br />Fred has been in the service for 26 years, and has seven or eight tattoos all told.<br /><br />As Ships Bos'n he works with mission systems on amphibious maneuvers.<br /><br />The crossed anchors are traditional naval insignia and, even though he drew this design himself and they weren't inked in a traditional tattoo shop, he recognizes the crossed anchors as symbols of his dedication to the trade.<br /><br />I thank Fred for his service to our country, as well as his willingness to contribute to Tattoosday. We wish him well as he serves with pride on the USS New York!

Repost for Memorial Dsy: A Traditional Naval Tattoo on a 21st Century Ship

This post originally appeared on November 7, 2009. I felt it was appropriate to re-post on Memorial Day, 2011:  The USS New York was put in...

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Marie's Anchor of Hope

I met Marie outside of Penn Station last month after spotting her sleeve of naval designs. She picked this one on the inside of her upper right arm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGnST1Mhy_7gHI0finZjyHRfOhSyt8FmNfttaDL50lhf4n1AQK-lQJG0nJVpidpC2-OUoaKYO5IdHU3syG13UCAkUH65BVnxTvRJr4a_wkbEIdk3cBqMuYJEfHU7_tWbhHa7F8qVH/s1600/Hope+for+Marie+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGnST1Mhy_7gHI0finZjyHRfOhSyt8FmNfttaDL50lhf4n1AQK-lQJG0nJVpidpC2-OUoaKYO5IdHU3syG13UCAkUH65BVnxTvRJr4a_wkbEIdk3cBqMuYJEfHU7_tWbhHa7F8qVH/s640/Hope+for+Marie+wm.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><br />This tattoo reminds her the importance of "loving where you're from" and having "faith in where you live". The anchor and cherry blossoms are a nice blend of traditional tattoo designs from the East and the West.<br /><br />The design is an allusion to a song called "Anchor and Hope,"  from the album <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_of_People"><i>Wall of People</i></a> by alternative rock band <a href="http://www.montyarei.com/">Monty Are I</a>, out of Cranston, Rhode Island.<br /><br />Check them out in this video of them doing the song acoustically:<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XURk6rpg2uY&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XURk6rpg2uY&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Marie is originally from New York, moved to Virginia, and has relocated back home to New York City.<br /><br />The tattoo was done by <a href="http://www.brooklyninktattoo.com/rob_tattoos.html">Rob</a> at <a href="http://www.brooklyninktattoo.com/">Brooklyn Ink</a>. Rob was a subject on Tattoosday a couple of years back. See his post <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/09/robs-rite-of-passage.html">here</a>. And <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Brooklyn%20Ink">this tag</a> will show you the work previously featured on Tattoosday created at Brooklyn Ink.<br /><br />Thanks to Marie for sharing her cool tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Marie's Anchor of Hope

I met Marie outside of Penn Station last month after spotting her sleeve of naval designs. She picked this one on the inside of her upper ri...

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Tattoosday Goes to Hawai'i - Hail to the Chief

It's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleet_Week#New_York_City_Fleet_Week">Fleet Week</a> in New York City this weekend, so it only seemed fitting, with just a few Hawai'i posts remaining, that we share the following offering from Jack, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Petty_Officer#United_States">Chief Petty Officer</a> (E7) in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy">U.S. Navy</a>.<br /><br />Jack's was the final tattoo I spotted at <a href="http://www.pearlridgeonline.com/">Pearlridge</a>, on what turned out to be a record-breaking detour for me (five tattoos from five different people in just under two hours).<br /><br />Jack's tattoo was fresh, as he had just completed a sitting less than a couple of hours before I ran into him, so the tattoo had that film of ointment that added a little glare to the picture:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwaJqMIarhnjQfrlarYOrkMIKUz-SXx5OMyeccFT-paXTdvhpaWC7piCqurWkaxaQrxm_FxJUE8fkrDhoCn1K2yI0Ph-salBF29_y4vBthlY6bfynWGYlbVojs64la4OAfIg5Kvbz4/s1600/Chief+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwaJqMIarhnjQfrlarYOrkMIKUz-SXx5OMyeccFT-paXTdvhpaWC7piCqurWkaxaQrxm_FxJUE8fkrDhoCn1K2yI0Ph-salBF29_y4vBthlY6bfynWGYlbVojs64la4OAfIg5Kvbz4/s400/Chief+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The skull at the center of the tattoo is wearing a hat similar to those warn by Navy chiefs.<br /><br />The artist for this piece is known as "Buddha" out of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#%21/pages/Aiea-HI/Liquid-Metal-Tattoo-and-Piercings/316943629500?v=wall&ajaxpipe=1&__a=31">Liquid Metal Tattoo</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aiea,_Hawaii">Aiea</a>, Hawai'i.<br /><br />Thanks to Jack for sharing this, his newest of over ten tattoos, with us here on Tattoosday.<br /><br />We here at the site salute not only all the men and women in uniform visiting New York during Fleet Week, but to everyone in all branches of the Armed Forces as we enter into Memorial Day weekend. Thanks to all for their service to our country!

Tattoosday Goes to Hawai'i - Hail to the Chief

It's Fleet Week in New York City this weekend, so it only seemed fitting, with just a few Hawai'i posts remaining, that we share th...

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