Andy's Watership Down Sleeve

I met Andy back in September in Penn Station and he shared this incredible sleeve:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgv1uOERh7qw8bANBmE11FUH9O5mb-nhGHkVtJrJN0JuFI6q1qK6fqcaU0hCZJm8DrkBKcsL1Io5ZogTAyS0C1pgr5KJIeg97Wo1NSsSyqzUdNGwt8eyKQet-jE3PkOswxUvy6RGtMdik/s1600/watership+collage+alt+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgv1uOERh7qw8bANBmE11FUH9O5mb-nhGHkVtJrJN0JuFI6q1qK6fqcaU0hCZJm8DrkBKcsL1Io5ZogTAyS0C1pgr5KJIeg97Wo1NSsSyqzUdNGwt8eyKQet-jE3PkOswxUvy6RGtMdik/s400/watership+collage+alt+wm.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I asked him about the inspiration behind this incredible work, he indicated the rabbit, which is based on his pet Fiver:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYzYK2H96u4qAquUUNbZME9_pahFDfFG7ZvEvPXCp9LymmBYja9ui8uQ5PueSYhJJUt6fDE_Z7Q1tVfp3deLbq9Y3I1U3oLoAB-kbpi-LV3J11-ePgAI1Ztnb-3fsSGLz1iZKewzxIhs/s640/watership+detail+3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="364" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I immediately recognized the name as one of the characters in Richard Adam's wonderful novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Watership-Down-Richard-Adams/dp/B00394TGB8?ie=UTF8&tag=bill03-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Watership Down</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00394TGB8" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He basically wanted something that was nature-based and gave the artist, <a href="http://www.naturalbornkeller.com/index/home.html">Keller</a> at <a href="http://classic-tattoos.com/home.html">Classic Tattoos</a> in Pinellas Park, Florida, free reign on the design, allowing him to pretty much free-form the sleeve.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlFTtpZYJIYlKQ5T3n02UfQwLlkdkoNhceZaoq-hCZ45901IC6T0bS2hJ7OVnOuZeho7pCvaCI4CdaGn6c9IM0qCskgdFoOqIwJdzxmLU37PN-vmh2leUhyphenhyphengfKwFv0TM3jKJc2VfqSsk/s1600/watership+detail+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlFTtpZYJIYlKQ5T3n02UfQwLlkdkoNhceZaoq-hCZ45901IC6T0bS2hJ7OVnOuZeho7pCvaCI4CdaGn6c9IM0qCskgdFoOqIwJdzxmLU37PN-vmh2leUhyphenhyphengfKwFv0TM3jKJc2VfqSsk/s640/watership+detail+2.jpg" width="426" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The collage at the top of the post consists of my shots in Penn Station, but the detailed photos are based on the pictures Andy generously sent me after the fact. These detailed photos show the brilliant colors and exquisite detail that Keller put into the tattoo, which Andy estimates represents about 18-20 hours of work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_rXuaZAN-T0DuBJmFiXIhb8FiJLyABI5DgLAjOLEyHW-GMZ38L81mMYnLSPb7EXgwhPi7vdsM1Zf04z6FHJYrIrUfc78_MkceTm7t_Qw6d370zTWq62IKACHPXMRLFRpFdYF6UEgbdc/s1600/watership+detail+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_rXuaZAN-T0DuBJmFiXIhb8FiJLyABI5DgLAjOLEyHW-GMZ38L81mMYnLSPb7EXgwhPi7vdsM1Zf04z6FHJYrIrUfc78_MkceTm7t_Qw6d370zTWq62IKACHPXMRLFRpFdYF6UEgbdc/s640/watership+detail+1.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />Thanks again to Andy for sharing this amazing sleeve with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bill03-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00394TGB8&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></div>

Andy's Watership Down Sleeve

I met Andy back in September in Penn Station and he shared this incredible sleeve:   When I asked him about the inspiration behind this incr...

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James Shares a Tattoo, Inspired by The Walking Dead

I met James, along with his two friends (whose tattoos were shared <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/11/tims-bleeding-rose.html">here</a> and <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/11/not-your-typical-knuckles-tattoo.html">here</a>) as they were headed to Comic Con in New York last month.<br /><br />James shared this, one of his five tattoos:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4xZ8o3qp5tmFXntf6OhuCUkeDePJn8WsKWbDApAn5sq7PB8axHHDhlJUVx8acCmInmrwWO1IqhD9g3xnB1th7_Jk87NPJmDh-t2Jn76CxJvfxzmxPS7RNcw3Tby2_h2DIHRrh4sBiZE/s1600/Walking+Dead+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4xZ8o3qp5tmFXntf6OhuCUkeDePJn8WsKWbDApAn5sq7PB8axHHDhlJUVx8acCmInmrwWO1IqhD9g3xnB1th7_Jk87NPJmDh-t2Jn76CxJvfxzmxPS7RNcw3Tby2_h2DIHRrh4sBiZE/s640/Walking+Dead+wm.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><br />This tattoo is the an interpretation of a scene from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Walking_Dead">The Walking Dead</a>.<br /><br />The tattoo was done by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/kustomscott">Scottso</a> at <a href="http://www.mattstribaldragontattoo.com/">Matt's Tribal Dragon Tattoo</a> in Bethpage, New York. Here's a fresh shot from when the tattoo was first completed:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/kustomscott/photos/45296226#mssrc=SitesPhotos_PP_ViewPhoto" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Zombie tattoo on forearm - 4 hours. I did not draw this." height="400" src="http://hotlink.myspacecdn.com/images02/150/9eb9e356d853437a9e562c2cd0cbccd1/m.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Scottso, from his MySpace page.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Thanks to James for sharing this cool tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

James Shares a Tattoo, Inspired by The Walking Dead

I met James, along with his two friends (whose tattoos were shared here and here ) as they were headed to Comic Con in New York last month....

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Tim's Bleeding Rose

I mentioned in <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/11/not-your-typical-knuckles-tattoo.html">my last post</a> that I met three guys on their way to New York Comic Con when they stopped and shared their tattoos.<br /><br />Below we have Tim's contribution, one of his nine tattoos: <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ahL7nLQ8CzXFIGXmZr7k32VlVlekSip7ypelYVeGDQpIk0hnd9o_qrun3WsJS_R4qnih2Z7W7dKMDNRf6oQl8neUrrWfnQat_Uxi070VYuN8RXCWr2OIxAD1G_RUSG675Y1CpZ-ZEg8/s1600/bleeding+rose+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ahL7nLQ8CzXFIGXmZr7k32VlVlekSip7ypelYVeGDQpIk0hnd9o_qrun3WsJS_R4qnih2Z7W7dKMDNRf6oQl8neUrrWfnQat_Uxi070VYuN8RXCWr2OIxAD1G_RUSG675Y1CpZ-ZEg8/s640/bleeding+rose+wm.jpg" width="268" /> </a></div><br />This piece, on his forearm, is a bleeding rose.<br /><br />It was tattooed by Christopher Wilkie at <a href="http://petertat2studio.com/ptat21.html">Peter Tat-2</a> in West Hempstead, New York.<br /><br />Tim added that the yellow highlights in the tattoo are a subtle tribute to <a href="http://www.hulkhogan.com/">Hulk Hogan</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Tim for sharing his tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Tim's Bleeding Rose

I mentioned in my last post that I met three guys on their way to New York Comic Con when they stopped and shared their tattoos. Below we h...

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Not Your Typical Knuckles Tattoo

Last month I was trying to figure out why so many interesting people were walking around the Penn Station area when a trio of tattooed guys enlightened me: it was the Friday commencement of the <a href="http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/">New York Comic Con</a>.<br /><br />Now, I realize, I could go to one of these events and have a field day with some amazing tattoos on some very committed fans, but then I'd also be writing up posts for another month or two, as well, so I was content to chat with Rob and his two friends (who will appear in subsequent posts - stay tuned-).<br /><br />Rob offered us one of his three tattoos, this animated creature on his inner right forearm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngMKWmEd8UmxEdCb8qencnHeJI2HAI0b212nDPV-b7ZTDOqXxsYDKX6xKHoxBg4GZ97JTdeKGIo6lNXyqkMzYEe_NwUMiK2w25ah5gae-M3szRNpR-fxFaB4BLoj0ZFrO36cjCRY-tRQ/s1600/Knuckles+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngMKWmEd8UmxEdCb8qencnHeJI2HAI0b212nDPV-b7ZTDOqXxsYDKX6xKHoxBg4GZ97JTdeKGIo6lNXyqkMzYEe_NwUMiK2w25ah5gae-M3szRNpR-fxFaB4BLoj0ZFrO36cjCRY-tRQ/s640/Knuckles+wm.jpg" width="368" /></a></div><br />This is, I'm sure many of you may know, a character from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_%28series%29">Sonic the Hedgehog</a>, an iconic video game series that appeared in the early 1990's and has since sold, according to Wikipedia, 70 million units worldwide.<br /><br />Rob explained that he grew up playing Sonic games and his favorite character was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knuckles_the_Echidna">Knuckles the Echidna</a>, who first appeared in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_3">Sonic the Hedgehog 3</a>. "He was the only one I wanted to be," Rob told me. An echidna, by the way, is another name for a spiny anteater.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASCEHUGvr7epSOWpANUgjsTXT7i9eXfGM9Xh6dhWkzdI0YFpLqh8gTLQc1lB0bEK0GHbRasC9wAGX-eZCd2DcOMxE0jmFlKJf_ZjbOjXicg-yo0KczxQRgM-V_8C4e_jw9HS-i8MnCP4/s1600/Knuckles-the-echidna-sonic-forever-14378590-350-447.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASCEHUGvr7epSOWpANUgjsTXT7i9eXfGM9Xh6dhWkzdI0YFpLqh8gTLQc1lB0bEK0GHbRasC9wAGX-eZCd2DcOMxE0jmFlKJf_ZjbOjXicg-yo0KczxQRgM-V_8C4e_jw9HS-i8MnCP4/s320/Knuckles-the-echidna-sonic-forever-14378590-350-447.gif" width="250" /></a></div><br />Rob credited this tattoo to "<a href="http://www.myspace.com/xxdooxx">Debbie Doo</a>" at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/skindeepny">Skin Deep Tattoo</a> in Levittown, New York.<br /><br />Thanks to Rob for sharing his Knuckles Tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Not Your Typical Knuckles Tattoo

Last month I was trying to figure out why so many interesting people were walking around the Penn Station area when a trio of tattooed guys ...

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Tattoos I Know: Tracy's Tributes (Re-Post)

<i>Let's take a moment and pause from our regularly-scheduled programming this Veteran's Day to remember the men and women who serve our country bravely. I've dug into the archives and reposted a friend's tattoo, which appeared originally here on Tattoosday in January 2008. Be sure to thank a Veteran today, and to appreciate not only our soldiers at home and abroad, but their families who support and inspire them to serve our country courageously.</i><br /><br /><i><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/01/tattoos-i-know-tracys-tributes.html">This post</a> originally appeared January 14, 2008:</i><br /><br />Tracy is a friend of mine who lives in <a href="http://www.drum.army.mil/sites/local/">Fort Drum, New York</a>. She was in town last weekend, visiting family, and this was the first time I have seen her since Tattoosday was born over the summer.<br /><br />I knew Tracy had at least one tattoo, because she and my wife have talked ink before. So when I saw her on Saturday, unexpectedly, I was happy that I had a couple of Tattoosday printouts in my pocket.<br /><br />I explained the blog and asked if she'd like to participate. She was happy to oblige and, as fortune would have it, she was coming to an indoor soccer game the following day. Her nephew plays on the same team as my daughter Shayna. <br /><br />After the game Sunday, I asked if she was ready. She lifted the back of her shirt to reveal:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGOkoWh6MCGPcUBgrjnwtAqeQ0LLBJKu9DkvwT6lw1W7s6Pfqd_wSW9rGM5Ih3uu0S5DbCATou0eZxsMN9-sYzi_9YISJ_n27J6mQRsmXedWNAWHwKD5TKjYsav5N5xzTgpTokOdkk4oK/s1600-h/100_6245.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155020510763723682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGOkoWh6MCGPcUBgrjnwtAqeQ0LLBJKu9DkvwT6lw1W7s6Pfqd_wSW9rGM5Ih3uu0S5DbCATou0eZxsMN9-sYzi_9YISJ_n27J6mQRsmXedWNAWHwKD5TKjYsav5N5xzTgpTokOdkk4oK/s400/100_6245.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />I was surprised, honestly. I was not expecting butterflies, but expecting the one above it which, as fate would have it, is later in this post. But I wasn't about to pass up a cool tattoo, so I took a picture of this one as well.<br /><br />Tracy is a mother of two boys, Matthew and Danny, and these butterflies represent each of them, as they flutter and transform, as ones children are apt to do, growing from infants into people. Tracy had these inked three years ago in <a href="http://www.ci.victorville.ca.us/">Victorville</a>, when she was living at <a href="http://www.irwin.army.mil/channels">Ft. Irwin</a>. She said that they had been done at "Victorville Designs," which has either changed names or gone out of business, based on <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=dIu&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=tattoos&near=Victorville,+CA&fb=1&view=text&sa=X&oi=local_group&resnum=1&ct=more-results&cd=2">this link</a>.<br /><br />These butterflies are nicely inked and really seem to float over the skin. Definitely a nice tattoo, from design to execution.<br /><br />Above the butterflies is the tattoo that I had heard about:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeG0HdXSvvpNaNAyDxKz31PZoov5G5HPmZSw01Skqj-970huqB6Rlfmno_1i4zSjNsRamlyIs9IP9cO1OrZGp33LPNQ-Edms5UwhFCl6kbvUAO-xhsNluRzy9drBZPJ3Tr1WYoGr-auQQ/s1600-h/100_6246.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155020351849933714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeG0HdXSvvpNaNAyDxKz31PZoov5G5HPmZSw01Skqj-970huqB6Rlfmno_1i4zSjNsRamlyIs9IP9cO1OrZGp33LPNQ-Edms5UwhFCl6kbvUAO-xhsNluRzy9drBZPJ3Tr1WYoGr-auQQ/s400/100_6246.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br /><br />A simple, basic script. The arced triad of three pillars of strength in many people's lives: "Faith. Family. Friends."<br /><br />In order to understand this tattoo, we have to take a little side journey.<br /><br />Whatever one's politics may be, or however one feels about what we are doing in Asia and the Middle East, one thing must be acknowledged: the men and women in our military are there to do a job, to serve our country, and to fight to not only protect the people there, but here as well. Thousands of American men and women have given their lives and their souls to serve our country.<br /><br />As one may have guessed by two prior references (Ft. Drum and Ft. Irwin), Tracy is closely tied to the <a href="http://www.army.mil/">United States Army</a>, as she is married to Pete, who is a soldier with the 10th Mountain Division, Light Infantry.<br /><br />On October 31, 2006, Pete's friend and fellow soldier, Major Douglas E. Sloan, was killed in the line of duty in the Wygal Valley in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a>, while serving with <span class="details">Company B, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment</span>. You can read more about Doug <a href="http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/desloan.htm">here</a> at the Arlington National Cemetary website.<br /><br />As every drop of spilled blood in the line of duty hits home, the loss of Major Sloan was devastating to his family and friends back in the States. The community of Fort Drum mourned Doug's passing and hearts went out to his wife Kerry and their children.<br /><br />In December 2006, to pay tribute to Doug's memory, Tracy and three friends, including Kerry, went to <a href="http://www.tattoos-forever.com/">Tattoos Forever</a> in Evans Mills, NY, and each had the same inscription inked. In hindsight, Tracy recalls how funny it must have appeared, for four moms in minivans to drive up to the shop and collectively get tattooed.<br /><br />It is a recurring theme on tattoo shows. Memorial tattoos are among the most popular types of body art. People mourn, heal, and remember through the art of the tattoo. And a piece of the loved one lives on, for years, in the flesh of the survivors, who gain strength and hold on to the memory of the departed.<br /><br />The alliterative mantra of "Faith, Family, and Friends" reminds not only the tattooed, but those around them, of the most important things in life.<br /><br />I want to thank Tracy for sharing her tattoos, and the stories behind them. I would add a special nod of gratitude to the memory of Major Douglas Sloan, who I never knew. Yet, by virtue of this tattoo, helped remind me of the sacrifice that our soldiers make day in, day out, and their families they leave behind.<br /><br />Some related links:<br /><br />A touching tribute to Major Sloan from YouTube:<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/okXkQlOoEX0&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/okXkQlOoEX0&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Also of note, <a href="http://www.oxy.edu/">Occidental College</a> professor <a href="http://www.marybethheffernan.com/bio.html">Mary Beth Heffernan's</a> <a href="http://www.marybethheffernan.com/skin.html">"The Soldier's Skin,"</a> currently <a href="http://www.pasadena.edu/calendar/eventitem.cfm?ID=7555">on exhibit</a> at <a href="http://www.pasadena.edu/">Pasadena City College</a>.<br /><br />****<br /><br /><br />Tracy's husband Pete subsequently returned from Afghanistan, but has since returned to duty overseas. On behalf of all of our Tattoosday readers, I want to thank Tracy and Pete, for their commitment and sacrifice, and for sharing this one story among thousands, with us here at Tattoosday.

Tattoos I Know: Tracy's Tributes (Re-Post)

Let's take a moment and pause from our regularly-scheduled programming this Veteran's Day to remember the men and women who serve ou...

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One of Timothy's Leg Tattoos

I spotted Timothy one afternoon near the intersection of 31st Street and 7th Avenue.<br /><br />He has thirteen or fourteen tattoos and shared one from his right leg:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaMNkHbhKj0qrPivB_mylNG-D1KOnd4CHU74FFRddh_hsyxxgl7rJI4cPxLQ6Kh6grfVsq5RI5RhabCFeNCJW26A1uaQA5hDH1YrsobGZrytVN6x6tG6iwF7YIoWwPb_BECj070jMcYQ/s1600/Timothys+Legs+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaMNkHbhKj0qrPivB_mylNG-D1KOnd4CHU74FFRddh_hsyxxgl7rJI4cPxLQ6Kh6grfVsq5RI5RhabCFeNCJW26A1uaQA5hDH1YrsobGZrytVN6x6tG6iwF7YIoWwPb_BECj070jMcYQ/s640/Timothys+Legs+wm.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />One can see some of the work on both legs. In the background, you can get a fairly good idea how nice the dragon is on his left, Japanese-themed leg.<br /><br />His right leg is devoted more to "Black Magic," hence the baby voodoo doll on the front of his shin.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqh1cLYh6jgyIknwg8Tat8zMFwBb-FcAgx2iOBwn__jHVh_1mJwVN54fYIW4XCHYmX_pjZHF7VCHet4dx9nx0mhjD2Kk1AtOqZAPBl2nKbE1C_3fvbnWtIteUn-f25r9vnzxufBBCsqxE/s1600/Timothy+Voodo+Baby+Doll+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqh1cLYh6jgyIknwg8Tat8zMFwBb-FcAgx2iOBwn__jHVh_1mJwVN54fYIW4XCHYmX_pjZHF7VCHet4dx9nx0mhjD2Kk1AtOqZAPBl2nKbE1C_3fvbnWtIteUn-f25r9vnzxufBBCsqxE/s640/Timothy+Voodo+Baby+Doll+wm.jpg" width="388" /></a></div><br />The tattoo was done by <a href="http://jinxproof.com/section/182446_Ox.html">Ox</a> at <a href="http://jinxproof.com/home.html">Jinx Proof Tattoo & Body Piercing</a> in Montclair, New Jersey.<br /><br />Thanks to Timothy for sharing his ink with us here on Tattoosday!

One of Timothy's Leg Tattoos

I spotted Timothy one afternoon near the intersection of 31st Street and 7th Avenue. He has thirteen or fourteen tattoos and shared one from...

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Gavan's Hands, Folded in Prayer

This past Sunday, tens of thousands of runners gathered for the <a href="http://www.nycmarathon.org/">ING New York City Marathon</a>. As luck would have it, yesterday I had the good fortune to run into Gavan, an Australian runner who had completed the marathon (his 24th!).<br />And where the rest of New York seemed bundled for a chilly, drizzly Autumn Day (with our first reported sleet of the season), Gavan was wearing shorts. This was great for me, as it allowed a view of this very nice tattoo on the back of his right calf:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwALk3jGgrjoYh19MmH6qH0oMFrGOPSuCAA7-wqu8Q6eiXUfwD8DhwVMvenV1LlygrypZD7_yr-5sac9-la0_ucUpivTBgIzDm24xtcYQYuavkX6MoHcpFFcb8z4IJOD6WxL4jygixVc/s1600/praying+hands+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwALk3jGgrjoYh19MmH6qH0oMFrGOPSuCAA7-wqu8Q6eiXUfwD8DhwVMvenV1LlygrypZD7_yr-5sac9-la0_ucUpivTBgIzDm24xtcYQYuavkX6MoHcpFFcb8z4IJOD6WxL4jygixVc/s640/praying+hands+wm.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><br />Gavan explained that this was based on a work of art by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albrecht_D%C3%BCrer">Albrecht Dürer</a> called <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betende_H%C3%A4nde">Betende Hände</a></i>, or "Praying Hands." <a href="http://www.moytura.com/reflections/prayinghands.htm">One story</a> behind the work details the sacrifice between two brothers.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddIHAZsXYUBOa5wJ1JyvtT2UTTmCQ9X18jjOc78yAGPzoV7LYwT_XV-RaJ7NZyVZYuAWuJqJpnOGAc7-YtP3bVPgq-pi5IFAW9XnnSY8oQHfhWF_elWh9UBOj6fZ9nn5NzgQx2cKRi08/s1600/300px-Praying_Hands_-_Albrecht_Durer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddIHAZsXYUBOa5wJ1JyvtT2UTTmCQ9X18jjOc78yAGPzoV7LYwT_XV-RaJ7NZyVZYuAWuJqJpnOGAc7-YtP3bVPgq-pi5IFAW9XnnSY8oQHfhWF_elWh9UBOj6fZ9nn5NzgQx2cKRi08/s400/300px-Praying_Hands_-_Albrecht_Durer.png" width="266" /></a></div><br />He elaborated that it has a greater meaning that, although he has never been very religious, he found himself<br />praying during the birth of his second son, beseeching a higher power, "Please let him be okay".<br /><br />He believes that the prayer travels with him, as he is separated and not always with his sons. His journey as a marathoner carries him to faraway places, as well, and these absences are tinged with worry over the well-being of his kids. <i>Please let them be okay</i>.<br /><br />As life progresses and he grows older, these hands become more and more significant.<br /><br />Gavan's tattoo is also striking in that the tattoo is on the back of his leg, and he is a runner. To complete a marathon, I believe, takes more than stamina and training. One must also have faith, whether it be in a higher power or the ability to push one's body to complete an astounding task of strength and endurance.<br /><br />I also wonder how many runners this past Sunday saw Gavan's tattoo ahead of them, and drew strength from the image before them.<br /><br />Gavan credits this wonderful tattoo to <a href="http://www.myspace.com/34089415">Jane Laver</a> at <a href="http://www.chapeltattoo.com/">Chapel Tattoo</a> in Prahran, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. There's a nice profile of Jane <a href="http://thslfe.com/jane-laver">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks again to Gavan for sharing his hands of prayer with us here on Tattoosday! Congratulations on a race well-run and thank you for visiting our metropolis. We hope you have an enjoyable stay and pray that your return home safely to your two boys back in Australia!

Gavan's Hands, Folded in Prayer

This past Sunday, tens of thousands of runners gathered for the ING New York City Marathon . As luck would have it, yesterday I had the goo...

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Megan's Empress Impresses

I spotted Megan at the end of September walking down West 23rd Street in Chelsea.<br /><br />She has an amazing sleeve-in-progress but, because it is still unfinished, she offered up this tattoo, on her upper right arm, instead:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcO4coICJUm8J-AqVibD8Xb1CMKGdwiag9eX_vGKd66b4fG6gkq2Yk-jlp56kZ8MQTG4YlBPCh006eRwsAyFuVDC8-FCDpN9NYFRAuk0-qzekt0-_8PtC3zq9rCpui5CkkX17Sexwg6Bo/s1600/Tarot+Card+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcO4coICJUm8J-AqVibD8Xb1CMKGdwiag9eX_vGKd66b4fG6gkq2Yk-jlp56kZ8MQTG4YlBPCh006eRwsAyFuVDC8-FCDpN9NYFRAuk0-qzekt0-_8PtC3zq9rCpui5CkkX17Sexwg6Bo/s640/Tarot+Card+wm.jpg" width="352" /></a></div><br />This <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarot_of_Marseilles">tarot card</a> is significant because her mother is from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carribean">Caribbean</a> and she grew up with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santer%C3%ADa">Santerían</a> religion in her household.<br /><br />She has a profound respect for tarot cards and based on the time and date of her birth, has what she refers to as a "weird numerology".<br /><br />This card is known as L'Impératrice,or <a href="http://www.tarotpedia.com/wiki/Empress">The Empress</a>, and has a very positive meaning. As interpreted by one site (<a href="http://tarotcardsreading.blogspot.com/2007/10/limpratrice-impress-arcana-iii-3.html">here</a>):<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Empress seems to be sure of herself, calm, intelligent, worthy.</span> <span style="font-family: verdana;">This major arcana represents the capacity, the Empress clothing is luxurious and invaluable.</span> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />This arcana is extremely positive...</span> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>...<span style="font-family: verdana;">In the right position the Empress represents the intelligence, dignity, the authority, the mother, the wife, the right decisions.</span></blockquote><br />The detail in this tattoo is amazing:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJOhPQhHGnN8nbG_UpP4xOsT83QmyBJBLjv3OMFxdvwV_pGUv8GHCIcS2Azn-OHpVlJW9jFReTqty5s80FaRwQJzLU79-wmUrEox7Wf3aSPhdzh_q7lCEeeCXJpa32XdkTgN6MDnhl0w/s1600/Tarot+Card+detail+2+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJOhPQhHGnN8nbG_UpP4xOsT83QmyBJBLjv3OMFxdvwV_pGUv8GHCIcS2Azn-OHpVlJW9jFReTqty5s80FaRwQJzLU79-wmUrEox7Wf3aSPhdzh_q7lCEeeCXJpa32XdkTgN6MDnhl0w/s400/Tarot+Card+detail+2+wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The art was inked by <a href="http://www.threekingstattoo.com/site/artistpage.php?artistid=7&picid=420&page=1">Annie Lloyd</a> at <a href="http://www.threekingstattoo.com/site/index.php">Three Kings Tattoo</a> in Brooklyn. Work from Three Kings has appeared previously on Tatoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Three%20Kings%20Tattoo">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Megan for sharing this lovely tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Megan's Empress Impresses

I spotted Megan at the end of September walking down West 23rd Street in Chelsea. She has an amazing sleeve-in-progress but, because it is s...

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John Shares More Than Just a Fly on the Wall

I met John walking down 7th Avenue in the upper 20s back in the beginning of September.<br /><br />He has six tattoos, but it was this one, on his left side, that I spotted through the hole cut in the side of his t-shirt:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHbXDLeYLp5HS8tiiDAougnmabL3eu0FLeDgG4VNHoq6ycO7zhx31miniFQepMV7D8ajUb1_MHTdAnFS8H7V5c6nNARy3yvSPsReELMyeMJf8p_MDBNWQXe6N-uWvc3wHfe661oIKlKg/s1600/Banksy+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHbXDLeYLp5HS8tiiDAougnmabL3eu0FLeDgG4VNHoq6ycO7zhx31miniFQepMV7D8ajUb1_MHTdAnFS8H7V5c6nNARy3yvSPsReELMyeMJf8p_MDBNWQXe6N-uWvc3wHfe661oIKlKg/s640/Banksy+wm.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br />Fans of the popular British graffiti artist <a href="http://www.banksy.co.uk/">Banksy</a> will recognize this as a tattoo based on his work. Another Banksy-inspired tattoo appeared <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/10/you-gotta-go-there-to-come-back-sarah.html">here</a> on Tattoosday in October of 2009.<br /><br />Why this design? Aside from the fact that John likes the imagery, he especially likes the dripping effect at the bottom of the piece, as if it was spray-painted on. He also related to the ape's sign that reads "Laugh now but one day we'll be in charge".<br /><br />The piece was inked at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Neptune-NJ/Neptune-Tattooville/295323493183?v=wall">Tattooville</a> in Neptune, New Jersey.<br /><br />Here's a shot of the original Banksy work:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAlZnXbfqM38v7aMGZJ7KcINIA1NPc0ltojdtH-O1bh2V982opr6H3vFgFNxNNKDn4HsoWD-Ob0kF5RRqkOPyeGpTVbm9NZU8tWrhiNSrBqBVpwnaQcqFRsaUBxwFZhodYG_etgvWsmQ/s1600/banksy_laugh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAlZnXbfqM38v7aMGZJ7KcINIA1NPc0ltojdtH-O1bh2V982opr6H3vFgFNxNNKDn4HsoWD-Ob0kF5RRqkOPyeGpTVbm9NZU8tWrhiNSrBqBVpwnaQcqFRsaUBxwFZhodYG_etgvWsmQ/s400/banksy_laugh.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />John offered up, an additional tattoo, as well:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MGVIxfJzzTyouI0cEsaJr2kRrJC4NdKEee3_DVuO90SWcLlIsT8X5NBIbI4pWfn6GLXJ1sd9No0gPbyXZWszvVoX-v6FarXBwzRXKVlov6TxDYPqZ2v7RzrxKPKNI-Lfym8FmnBDKII/s1600/Flyday+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MGVIxfJzzTyouI0cEsaJr2kRrJC4NdKEee3_DVuO90SWcLlIsT8X5NBIbI4pWfn6GLXJ1sd9No0gPbyXZWszvVoX-v6FarXBwzRXKVlov6TxDYPqZ2v7RzrxKPKNI-Lfym8FmnBDKII/s320/Flyday+wm.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />Yes, that's a fly tattooed under his right armpit.<br /><br />John explained that this was tattooed by an artist under the moniker "<a href="http://www.porktomic.com/">Porkchop</a>" at Asbury Park's <a href="http://www.parlor-gallery.com/">Parlor Gallery</a>. It was part of an occasional event called "Fly Day Friday".<br /><br />If that sounds bizarre, it gets even crazier. If you present Pork Chop with an item that was bought for under $5.00, and he finds it valuable, he will trade it for one of his fly tattoos.<br /><br />John successfully presented an item and got the tattoo in exchange.<br /><br />"What did you offer?" I asked.<br /><br />"A <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pets.com#The_Pets.com_sock_puppet">Pets.com sock puppet</a>," he replied.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfM7OnMNxFg8UkN5zIh3zXzwO0szyD1IIACRwi0Bgu-saSPvpk-6e-iOYcYMQAYXLYD2JIIZjXYu2zXxnEmGmbMBRv6hzCkf15dZWI7WUy1hCH3tPN3rVBSGX-2BTRyPQWHWPh6JFutu4/s1600/petscom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfM7OnMNxFg8UkN5zIh3zXzwO0szyD1IIACRwi0Bgu-saSPvpk-6e-iOYcYMQAYXLYD2JIIZjXYu2zXxnEmGmbMBRv6hzCkf15dZWI7WUy1hCH3tPN3rVBSGX-2BTRyPQWHWPh6JFutu4/s320/petscom.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br />Cool.<br /><br />Thanks to John for sharing these unusual tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

John Shares More Than Just a Fly on the Wall

I met John walking down 7th Avenue in the upper 20s back in the beginning of September. He has six tattoos, but it was this one, on his left...

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Catanya

It's not often that I get someone to share facial tattoos here on Tattoosday, but the occasion arose last month while I was browsing at one of my favorite inkspotting locales, the Borders in Penn Plaza.<br /><br />I was lucky to meet Catanya, who I noticed had interesting markings on her face, and I was compelled to ask her about the ink. She gladly posed and told me a little about the designs.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tCzqhwfocnE3FsO2BqSswp5ZdMoph5TcFrVTypejAFp0PR_kfEvD53nYH8-GQgdkp68GBsls3_2re5h4hBeSNXzLEwfHe8fog6MmQSN_Mm1IYZL5wFeUJJlCzo9kQoBqA3TLvdIKsNE/s1600/Catanya+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tCzqhwfocnE3FsO2BqSswp5ZdMoph5TcFrVTypejAFp0PR_kfEvD53nYH8-GQgdkp68GBsls3_2re5h4hBeSNXzLEwfHe8fog6MmQSN_Mm1IYZL5wFeUJJlCzo9kQoBqA3TLvdIKsNE/s400/Catanya+wm.jpg" width="327" /></a></div><br />Catanya explained that she got her tattoos in the 1970's in New York. She was involved as a dancer in the art scene and eventually married a photographer and relocated to New Mexico and currently resides in Baja, California.<br /><br />She referred to herself as a "gypsy tribal belly dancer hula hooper" and explained that the design on her forehead is a yin-yang, the tattoo on the right side of her face is Apache feathers, and that the left side and chin are Moroccan in their origins.<br /><br />Catanya also told me that she had been photographed by someone named Stanley Stellar many years ago here in New York, and that he might have photos from those early days.<br /><br />Thinking it would be great to have a photo of Catanya from when she was much younger with these tattoos, I tracked down Mr. Stellar and asked if he still had access to his photographs. He completely came through and forwarded this shot:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_0FH520BEKg1YGfL34bDru2YxCH20iQFRh-JBtViD8Y3Wm1fXieMquZHfxXXzg8BTbQf1PEsHyvGdQmaswYF8gNmLfgHnS98dsYLQh9JyG54qjQna40sH4rXIm-2UbkbT0TNr9FU9F4/s1600/1977_Catanya02++.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_0FH520BEKg1YGfL34bDru2YxCH20iQFRh-JBtViD8Y3Wm1fXieMquZHfxXXzg8BTbQf1PEsHyvGdQmaswYF8gNmLfgHnS98dsYLQh9JyG54qjQna40sH4rXIm-2UbkbT0TNr9FU9F4/s400/1977_Catanya02++.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I certainly feel  fortunate to be able to share photos of the same tattoos, separated by thirty-three years.<br /><br />Such an opportunity allows us to see an example of how one person has aged gracefully, along with her tattoos.<br /><br />Catanya subsequently emailed me and elaborated on her tattoos and their history:<br /><blockquote><br />Back in the early 1970's I was part of a "tribal style" group of dancers and musicians from all over the world. The main things we had in common were our love of the Dance, world music, colorful costumes and even more colorful life styles. That included Henna, Kohl rimmed eyes and LOTS of Tattoos! We also sported plenty of nose jewelry!   The tattoos for all of us were personal and also tribal, (as can be seen in India, Morocco and other  exotic places around the world.) I do not think that any of us took our tattoo ceremonies lightly.  <br /><br />I received my first tattoos in Venice, Calif. in 1973.<br /><br />I like to think of it as an initiation ceremony. It was wonderful! Lots of music and dancing and plenty of red wine and good herbs.<br /><br />My tattoos were applied the "old fashioned" way. India Ink, a needle and a broken pen.<br /><br />They were done by two brothers from Cuba. They were also fantastic Conga drummers!<br /><br />A few years later, I had a few more tattoos added to my collection. These were executed by a wonderful tattoo artist, Boyd, in Taos, New Mexico.<br /><br />I do not regret any of my tattoos and find as the years go by that I am actually "earning" them. I am becoming them. They ARE a personal manifestation of my journey in life.<br /><br />As my friend Walter once said to me, (referring to my Eagle feathers tattoo), "Catanya, when I look into your eyes, I see that you are growing your real Eagle feathers."</blockquote><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4B4tDMWi5BFOdcIZ69zXpr1pXmG5l7lEA3Xvuyn9vn16asPtuhARpOBkVbUdlAFEBseAPY6s8JwUbMlypenWsio5dHonjqVpw_X4oCd4Dz4CJ1Zq3IUN5GejNkTEJu5LHt2S5Soo0hxM/s400/pic07240.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="256" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walter Chappell and Catanya, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1985<br />© 1985, 2008 Robert Saltzman</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4B4tDMWi5BFOdcIZ69zXpr1pXmG5l7lEA3Xvuyn9vn16asPtuhARpOBkVbUdlAFEBseAPY6s8JwUbMlypenWsio5dHonjqVpw_X4oCd4Dz4CJ1Zq3IUN5GejNkTEJu5LHt2S5Soo0hxM/s1600/pic07240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>The photo above was taken by Catnya's husband about eight years after Mr, Stellar's photo, with the late photographer <a href="http://walterchappell.com/">Walter Chappell</a>, their friend quoted by Catanya in her testimony.<br /><br />I want to profusely thank Catanya for allowing me to photograph her and for sharing her tattoos with me, and all of us here on Tattoosday! It's an encounter like this that really stands out among the hundreds I have had over the last few years. To be able to see how someone has so gracefully and proudly worn their tattoos over time is truly an honor and a blessing.<br /><br />I also want to thank Stanley Stellar for sharing his photograph of Catanya from so many years ago. You can see more of Mr. Stellar's photography <a href="http://www.stellarnyc.com/HTML/home.html">here</a>. Be sure to check out his wonderful tattoo photos under the "images" section.

Catanya

It's not often that I get someone to share facial tattoos here on Tattoosday, but the occasion arose last month while I was browsing at ...

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