Tim's Sleeve Illustrates A Vision of Life on Earth

I met Tim back in April in Penn Station and took several pictures of his left arm, which is fully-sleeved. What follows is a presentation of the work, from top to bottom:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijM0KwLJedPvV-ZPemxrilPE62aY6PKSj2ZiAg0V3ureRsBcg6stqTZZvNAE2ji8NEbQG_q6WzcvSuIsYOXeQMfslzm5M6deEL7Y-MURtR7JqWM_6mBvNyL2wTmogXpwIpIa3aqGhorY0/s1600/Angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijM0KwLJedPvV-ZPemxrilPE62aY6PKSj2ZiAg0V3ureRsBcg6stqTZZvNAE2ji8NEbQG_q6WzcvSuIsYOXeQMfslzm5M6deEL7Y-MURtR7JqWM_6mBvNyL2wTmogXpwIpIa3aqGhorY0/s640/Angel.jpg" width="324" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7ILVS4lSaNuvq56aP1sH1RLUNmcdSvmM8rYuxO50xCF5uKdXruXsSm7EIw_QA6cBK6wxfdeHUWa8xr1o9qutY2jsm9aRIeuc2jcY5O1aj2oAAY4Pr4hJvM6qJ3FYESk9EU34hG-_QeQ/s1600/Purple+Skull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7ILVS4lSaNuvq56aP1sH1RLUNmcdSvmM8rYuxO50xCF5uKdXruXsSm7EIw_QA6cBK6wxfdeHUWa8xr1o9qutY2jsm9aRIeuc2jcY5O1aj2oAAY4Pr4hJvM6qJ3FYESk9EU34hG-_QeQ/s640/Purple+Skull.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulHYTyzyLaaiQFJjaFSo4vLhv3615A7QuikFNTM3Dhvjgbiq0blgyfl1-4WXE0ZzOYgoNqRtgma60jqNvldkxu4Dt5N-xiCxqauExzlLpr2EPKi78wUJ1EFqnX_XZNNMSKr3Ih_0k5VE/s1600/Boston+Burning+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulHYTyzyLaaiQFJjaFSo4vLhv3615A7QuikFNTM3Dhvjgbiq0blgyfl1-4WXE0ZzOYgoNqRtgma60jqNvldkxu4Dt5N-xiCxqauExzlLpr2EPKi78wUJ1EFqnX_XZNNMSKr3Ih_0k5VE/s400/Boston+Burning+Collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">There's a lot going on here, but Tim summed the theme of the sleeve as "Hell is the world we're living in, and we're all trying to escape Death." The top of the arm features the angel, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel">Gabriel</a>, watching over us.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />The city that is burning is based on Boston, where Tim is from.<br /><br />Tim estimates that this sleeve took twenty-seven hours, in three nine-hour sessions. Yes, you read that right, nine-hour sessions! That's commitment! He credits Dan Soule at <a href="http://www.millworkink.com/">Milltown Ink</a> in Bondsville, Massachusetts with this incredible work.<br /><br />Thanks to Tim for sharing his sleeve with us here on Tattoosday!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</a> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div>

Tim's Sleeve Illustrates A Vision of Life on Earth

I met Tim back in April in Penn Station and took several pictures of his left arm, which is fully-sleeved. What follows is a presentation of...

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Lisa's Guardian Angel

I met Lisa recently on the subway platform at West 4th Street.<br /><br />She had this cool tattoo on her right forearm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6NSYfxKQyI5utLxnBI2VVNpe7THn2eG5eue8JzngenUKfqz-_T5Gh8acRJ388N9zbtQ5HEOQ3-XX-9_tZcv9rcQvwhz6GkjYkSTisqX1yc9Xbv4VkTEtX6bY_-EPnMdJuUF6ZNVj/s1600/angel+middle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6NSYfxKQyI5utLxnBI2VVNpe7THn2eG5eue8JzngenUKfqz-_T5Gh8acRJ388N9zbtQ5HEOQ3-XX-9_tZcv9rcQvwhz6GkjYkSTisqX1yc9Xbv4VkTEtX6bY_-EPnMdJuUF6ZNVj/s640/angel+middle.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><br /><br />The tattoo, which took four hours to complete, is Lisa's guardian angel.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVgLQm0fiBUfxZC6c9e8Vs29fmGfYqWC51gNe08NaahPorLg4Z211fOT6xXd0xjiITYadZIvCOju4e-UeFiidFJgqHKls7Lu795w2X-UAbKEbpgStOPSbtSdnGbswv6xQZ6_YsSgS/s1600/angel+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVgLQm0fiBUfxZC6c9e8Vs29fmGfYqWC51gNe08NaahPorLg4Z211fOT6xXd0xjiITYadZIvCOju4e-UeFiidFJgqHKls7Lu795w2X-UAbKEbpgStOPSbtSdnGbswv6xQZ6_YsSgS/s400/angel+collage.jpg" width="393" /></a></div><br /><br />Lisa told me that this is a representation of her guardian angel, a "spiritual guide," although she emphasized that she's not religious.<br /><br />She had the basic idea for the tattoo and took it to Scott Campbell at <a href="http://www.savedtattoo.com/">Saved Tattoo</a> in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She pointed out that she absolutely loves the work he did with the shading in the tattoo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukr2FObr6OJUf8ZwPEmM7OsCjyK-UpQ-YZhkgpvPSPlWnvxj_X0OjPyIhCOp4E8UUA5m_gJWQdt1-Zwhq1GIyBQksZyaC20MajJG-ThC7KDTpzGyvIFZ9weXNksBHFbVWiEmSis73/s1600/Angel+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukr2FObr6OJUf8ZwPEmM7OsCjyK-UpQ-YZhkgpvPSPlWnvxj_X0OjPyIhCOp4E8UUA5m_gJWQdt1-Zwhq1GIyBQksZyaC20MajJG-ThC7KDTpzGyvIFZ9weXNksBHFbVWiEmSis73/s400/Angel+detail.jpg" width="352" /></a></div><br />Work from Saved has appeared previously on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Saved%20Tattoo">here</a>. This, however, is the first work we've seen by Scott Campbell in our travels.<br /><br />Thanks to Lisa for sharing her angelic tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Lisa's Guardian Angel

I met Lisa recently on the subway platform at West 4th Street. She had this cool tattoo on her right forearm: The tattoo, which took four ho...

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Chris Interprets Heaven and Hell

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrp-UUroYn-mFybYgPKr07fwBI4L7-aAPcH1i6dgU_nV-CCimeHAEgTepUAmSw7IxyTCKdKcuv8-T_wSiRwlpIfilNzLj7t0hluWSWXEiqyzj6-KqiwWykfZD8vK8AmclJ_OKi906e/s1600/heaven+hell+sleeve+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrp-UUroYn-mFybYgPKr07fwBI4L7-aAPcH1i6dgU_nV-CCimeHAEgTepUAmSw7IxyTCKdKcuv8-T_wSiRwlpIfilNzLj7t0hluWSWXEiqyzj6-KqiwWykfZD8vK8AmclJ_OKi906e/s640/heaven+hell+sleeve+1.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><br />Last month I met Chris, from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malden,_Massachusetts">Malden, Massachusetts</a>, and he shared this incredible sleeve, still in progress. He estimates that it represents 25 hours of tattooing.<br /><br />The overall motif of the sleeve is heaven and hell, and Chris was kind enough to address several elements in the design, many of which are deeply personal.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7hH3tnHhKq9mz75o4bepvBj6vkD7_xHg2rd73o__B9J3tA_00cpPuwdfPDIdfYx3SN61b51gGQ_V-OwGaciBpy1tA6IVrO7RfRf0hmHehwDiebbb2w3BS7qseS-FnL2szZTT-f0d/s1600/heaven+and+hell+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7hH3tnHhKq9mz75o4bepvBj6vkD7_xHg2rd73o__B9J3tA_00cpPuwdfPDIdfYx3SN61b51gGQ_V-OwGaciBpy1tA6IVrO7RfRf0hmHehwDiebbb2w3BS7qseS-FnL2szZTT-f0d/s400/heaven+and+hell+collage.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><br />Chris began this tattoo's journey to acknowledge his first year of sobriety from alcohol and drugs.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjig0M4cDPpug0jMNlQoyISDzhKdp-HuzHeFT2PIQCo0JuOVzif3kRbfCCp15Oug88oO0KlSd-_teBE_QoeakdEe9efVkgOWWyFMxo_jNgAPPlmrGmsH6dk5tpcdQ7I9xNk4GE9Wfl9/s1600/Hell+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjig0M4cDPpug0jMNlQoyISDzhKdp-HuzHeFT2PIQCo0JuOVzif3kRbfCCp15Oug88oO0KlSd-_teBE_QoeakdEe9efVkgOWWyFMxo_jNgAPPlmrGmsH6dk5tpcdQ7I9xNk4GE9Wfl9/s400/Hell+collage.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><br />It is an omnipresent reminder that "hell is always an arm's length away". The angel resides in heaven and the gates of heaven, on the inner arm, represent the goal, or entry into heaven. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrCfKo1aO_21UqFtxi-jkeEqVkhVtjk88S3LsYxptSOcwdZlOiqHtP7Me_UmOoYX7Md84dkmTb40sjj3fmIqLPY__MPM294hyApTmT9Pp0i8_wZv0kXnvh8qExiy7mP_hQsQ_hJvJ/s1600/heaven+hell+sleeve+gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrCfKo1aO_21UqFtxi-jkeEqVkhVtjk88S3LsYxptSOcwdZlOiqHtP7Me_UmOoYX7Md84dkmTb40sjj3fmIqLPY__MPM294hyApTmT9Pp0i8_wZv0kXnvh8qExiy7mP_hQsQ_hJvJ/s400/heaven+hell+sleeve+gate.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><br />Rising up toward heaven are two figures reaching toward this goal. The pair aiming for heaven represent two of Chris' friends, both who overdosed and died, having perished in the hell of addiction.<br /><br />Chris drew me attention to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebrus">Cerberus</a>, the three-headed dog that guards the gates of Hell. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0InlcY9ovGY39u3MQ-s_fd6_Z6z0J8DbAKlGVLLzw33ey4jxG1My-emP7sSG-RYxjcpwhKsXSzHhBk9e6cP0zdZGvXnu1pFnDnBwPv8fz2nTVZ3DIn5WV3He8AXSqg1TOvAcCmWM/s1600/cerebrus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0InlcY9ovGY39u3MQ-s_fd6_Z6z0J8DbAKlGVLLzw33ey4jxG1My-emP7sSG-RYxjcpwhKsXSzHhBk9e6cP0zdZGvXnu1pFnDnBwPv8fz2nTVZ3DIn5WV3He8AXSqg1TOvAcCmWM/s400/cerebrus.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />To him, the three heads of the hell-hound represent alcohol, opiates, and cocaine, the three substances to which he had been addicted.<br /><br />This sleeve is the work of the tattoo artist <a href="http://www.myspace.com/rafytat2">Rafael Serrano</a>, formerly of <a href="http://thepaintedbirdtattoo.com/raf.html">The Painted Bird</a>, in Medford, MA.<br /><br />Thanks to Chris for sharing this deeply personal tattoo in progress with us. We're hoping to get updates in the future when more work is done.<br /><br />We appreciate Chris' forthrightness and strength, and wish for his continued recovery.

Chris Interprets Heaven and Hell

Last month I met Chris, from Malden, Massachusetts , and he shared this incredible sleeve, still in progress. He estimates that it represent...

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