Tattoo Design

Nadine's Ankh and Orchids

I met Nadine last month and she was kind enough to share this beautiful floral piece with us:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_jUSgmTKHx9QReEY-BIjNJyBM5DrzT4sdV07Ce198dqyuDoI-eQm550e2I6D0gZ2Qwz2Y8D56-MKECovAMsYzAn4qBX2TZZU32jcBSM4shkUs4iOpztr-xQiJLAx932qVVjvdCUZ/s1600/ankh+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_jUSgmTKHx9QReEY-BIjNJyBM5DrzT4sdV07Ce198dqyuDoI-eQm550e2I6D0gZ2Qwz2Y8D56-MKECovAMsYzAn4qBX2TZZU32jcBSM4shkUs4iOpztr-xQiJLAx932qVVjvdCUZ/s640/ankh+front.jpg" width="330" /></a></div><br />The symbol in the foreground is her own "stylized version" of an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankh">ankh</a>, a symbol dating back to ancient Egypt which means eternal life.<br /><br />She has orchids added to the piece because her mother loves those flowers.The orchids were inked about five years ago which is remarkable because reds and yellows tend to fade more quickly on the skin and, Nadine notes, "so far my color has held true".<br /><br />The ankh took about 45 minutes to do while the rest of the tattoo took five and a half hours over two sittings.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxkWsZ9nWDtVmZlVpAQhKPcjP6ckifgP-1pR34cQ2IBYUonK6Sjlo5CgRAhPrk0iDbPKisSa9C6ib9ORuM2pPsg0RWAmZ4-wPNZG0_kFOdpgtGBEmKJ9RdhBjmGf0pykQUZRhsWiQ/s1600/Ankh+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxkWsZ9nWDtVmZlVpAQhKPcjP6ckifgP-1pR34cQ2IBYUonK6Sjlo5CgRAhPrk0iDbPKisSa9C6ib9ORuM2pPsg0RWAmZ4-wPNZG0_kFOdpgtGBEmKJ9RdhBjmGf0pykQUZRhsWiQ/s400/Ankh+collage.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br />She wanted to point out that the outline is done in purple ink, not black, a nice artistic touch that she convinced her artist was a good choice.<br /><br />This lovely tattoo was done at <a href="http://nyadorned.com/">New York Adorned</a>, by <a href="http://www.bryanrandolphtattoo.com/">Brian Randolph</a>.<br /><br />Work from NY Adorned has been posted previously <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/New%20York%20Adorned">here</a> (links to all posts tagged NY Adorned).<br /><br />Thanks again to Nadine for sharing this fantastic tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Nadine's Ankh and Orchids

I met Nadine last month and she was kind enough to share this beautiful floral piece with us: The symbol in the foreground is her own "...

4:16 AM

Tattoosday Goes To Hawai'i: Mark's Sleeve Pays Tribute to East and West

I spent a good chunk of time at <a href="http://www.alamoanacenter.com/">Ala Moana Center</a> one of the days I was in Hawai'i. Even in paradise, malls are great places for inkspotting.<br /><br />It was there that I met Mark, who had a full sleeve to offer up.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyR7WWcJejZ1IIi2XTpnc7cZYsvlPx-RYGDv5VzeZc5NycXCMzoMeqROfKn-_aNpY77-6YhBxBrxCNuzHasZty93_Nt_Tyd1BBkNshZVJvmGY0nPKhyphenhyphenvJxjm7F1bWiqJyUHpISwNO/s1600/Mark+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/AVvXsEgWyR7WWcJejZ1IIi2XTpnc7cZYsvlPx-RYGDv5VzeZc5NycXCMzoMeqROfKn-_aNpY77-6YhBxBrxCNuzHasZty93_Nt_Tyd1BBkNshZVJvmGY0nPKhyphenhyphenvJxjm7F1bWiqJyUHpISwNO/s640/Mark+sleeve+1.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />Now, before we begin, let me just say that I generally shy away from featuring full sleeves here on Tattoosday, out of respect to the host, the artist and, most of all, the tattoo. A work of art laid across flesh is often difficult to express in two-dimensional photos on a computer screen.<br /><br />But Mark's sleeve was exceptional and I loved the color detail in the work. So let's check it out....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAZZImG-nkGen25mLO4bkuSCltjl7zwwS-0CGXONPUgUsG7HDSp362xVyLcX03yeXsd2R7o0-PX8xr7fjVPLUaamEAbdR2gDRmDWO3tFBiMf3vFc-PulxNePp3cVHZGsiRWIPQon2/s1600/Mark+Lower+Sleeve+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAZZImG-nkGen25mLO4bkuSCltjl7zwwS-0CGXONPUgUsG7HDSp362xVyLcX03yeXsd2R7o0-PX8xr7fjVPLUaamEAbdR2gDRmDWO3tFBiMf3vFc-PulxNePp3cVHZGsiRWIPQon2/s400/Mark+Lower+Sleeve+Collage.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><br />Items to note in this work:<br /><br />Mark was born in the year of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_%28zodiac%29">Snake</a>, which explains the serpent.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsTbsVYUBK0Dit59Ft9JWitrFUV6amqAq2BHKpCLYz8RUSSY9sQvKoiDB1EbNtYe68lmKJe7dGodzgm514ckB-73m4ZVdM-5ZuB6YLgd4m1ufz1-QsmdNxjgRZ3-s0Ng_f02jqze3/s1600/Mark+snake+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsTbsVYUBK0Dit59Ft9JWitrFUV6amqAq2BHKpCLYz8RUSSY9sQvKoiDB1EbNtYe68lmKJe7dGodzgm514ckB-73m4ZVdM-5ZuB6YLgd4m1ufz1-QsmdNxjgRZ3-s0Ng_f02jqze3/s640/Mark+snake+detail.jpg" width="364" /></a></div><br />He was also born during Autumn, which is why the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_maple">Japanese Maple</a> leaves are sporting fall colors.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBjhWwFNTA0BoxvPvQjLALrwAO2JW8SOaujz1evJRWmn9pRT-HT-faNp48ccL36AC5bbZcmhG-OGwUkZQd6OjArfHkJCXybydBucCfw_DZt5X0K8wUsoxeEgC0lCrI8WSfJ49JuZs/s1600/Mark+rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBjhWwFNTA0BoxvPvQjLALrwAO2JW8SOaujz1evJRWmn9pRT-HT-faNp48ccL36AC5bbZcmhG-OGwUkZQd6OjArfHkJCXybydBucCfw_DZt5X0K8wUsoxeEgC0lCrI8WSfJ49JuZs/s320/Mark+rose.jpg" /></a></div><br />It's also generally non-traditional to see a bright red rose in a sleeve that is predominantly Japanese. He incorporated because he is, as he described it, "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapa_haole">hapa</a>," a shortened form of "hapa <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haole">haole</a>," or a person of mixed heritage, part of which is Caucasian. To make a long story short, the red rose is a nod to the "Western" aspect of his lineage, as it is more a traditional element in tattoos in the west. The rose is complimented by the chrysanthemum, which is a more traditional Japanese flower design.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNqbcIl0y6wsU2uVF-XGoio_IB7tdQ5T_w0k2CLu2nMe5P2ycWYPTadcHj2q-hkH8l6UtS3NueS4e2qxKev5EgB3uoY4xpRx20nv8DlHDwLQjdbjKZnpwj69L2uiM44yuj0PffHLW/s1600/Mark+Upper+Sleeve+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNqbcIl0y6wsU2uVF-XGoio_IB7tdQ5T_w0k2CLu2nMe5P2ycWYPTadcHj2q-hkH8l6UtS3NueS4e2qxKev5EgB3uoY4xpRx20nv8DlHDwLQjdbjKZnpwj69L2uiM44yuj0PffHLW/s320/Mark+Upper+Sleeve+Collage.jpg" /></a></div><br />Similarly, the skull element at the top of the arm is more of a Western flavor, juxtaposed nicely with another chrysanthemum. <br /><br />I also love the multicolored pebbles in the design. They really pop out, especially among the milder tones of the autumn leaves and snake scales.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioP74aZhprHi4OV2_xRWRkyONEZjdHM3RLhbt8paQ6gtZUyoWizGywg0x7lKOmFUINtDZ-IYOEaLF6Z0otCG24kMi2SAa_Ut_R3FIpJWUnj4559ovZ5pCwFt9Wq9KUFUrRLJX5LH5B/s1600/Mark+color+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioP74aZhprHi4OV2_xRWRkyONEZjdHM3RLhbt8paQ6gtZUyoWizGywg0x7lKOmFUINtDZ-IYOEaLF6Z0otCG24kMi2SAa_Ut_R3FIpJWUnj4559ovZ5pCwFt9Wq9KUFUrRLJX5LH5B/s320/Mark+color+detail.jpg" /></a></div><br />Mark informed me that the whole sleeve was completed in five or six sittings by <a href="http://soulsignaturetattoo.com/?page_id=95">Lucky Olelo</a> at <a href="http://soulsignaturetattoo.com/">Soul Signature Tattoo</a> in Honolulu.<br /><br />Thanks to Mark for sharing his amazing work with us here on Tattoosday!

Tattoosday Goes To Hawai'i: Mark's Sleeve Pays Tribute to East and West

I spent a good chunk of time at Ala Moana Center one of the days I was in Hawai'i. Even in paradise, malls are great places for inkspot...

3:26 AM

Tines for the Memories

In what can only be described as a true New York City moment, the poor luck of a glitch on my tax refunds, which required me mailing amended returns, which precipitated me popping into the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Farley_Post_Office">James Farley Post Office</a>, led to my spotting the following tattoo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBZdHUUeyGoDHiZlOgm_PnNFPOOFuaPoifdfMtdDGFvNLrQ7i_UrKukJKyQs-WjnWiQ6UOLOpUwXXRbuhmlcdpIP1NTJo_8Z7YMUXhSotIJ_b_sMHJIOpcauphY1J9XhDGzE28Wwf/s1600/fork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBZdHUUeyGoDHiZlOgm_PnNFPOOFuaPoifdfMtdDGFvNLrQ7i_UrKukJKyQs-WjnWiQ6UOLOpUwXXRbuhmlcdpIP1NTJo_8Z7YMUXhSotIJ_b_sMHJIOpcauphY1J9XhDGzE28Wwf/s640/fork.jpg" width="379" /></a></div><br />Of course, I had to ask.<br /><br />This ink is sported by Michael, an actor-chef who is in town performing, through the end of May, in the off-Broadway production of <a href="http://theater.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/theater/reviews/07bloody.html">Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson</a> at the <a href="http://www.publictheater.org/">Public Theater</a>. Michael is in the role of Calhoun.<br /><br />The tattoo represents a three-tined fork which, Michael asserts, is "the best kind of fork because you get less metal in your mouth". He also indicated that it carried a second meaning, in that it also represented <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neptune_%28mythology%29">Neptune's</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trident">trident</a>, which is significant in that he is a <a href="http://www.pisces.com/">Pisces</a>, a water-based astrological sign.<br /><br />Host of four tattoos, this one was obtained as part of a two-day bachelor party he threw for a friend. The main focus of day one was getting inked. Day two was for, well, more traditional bachelor party fare.The artist was "Eric the Sandman".<br /><br />Thanks to Michael for sharing his fork with us here on Tattoosday. Be sure to catch him at the Public Theater before the show closes at the end of May!

Tines for the Memories

In what can only be described as a true New York City moment, the poor luck of a glitch on my tax refunds, which required me mailing amended...

3:19 AM

Dan Hosts Lady Liberty Like You've Never Seen Her

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvNBUauW_vSxCvxGJ_r4s5YIMjZHLC_VrTSwzj0Ky1EU3LNHokiwJWqwru3HxrD-mibP8HR156qsBBWiDd537Pm6FMlcpnkO-M_AuzE9ojRnozla4vAFp-IfQ4zQf-cb9MavIkdtT/s1600/Lady+Liberty+Dead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvNBUauW_vSxCvxGJ_r4s5YIMjZHLC_VrTSwzj0Ky1EU3LNHokiwJWqwru3HxrD-mibP8HR156qsBBWiDd537Pm6FMlcpnkO-M_AuzE9ojRnozla4vAFp-IfQ4zQf-cb9MavIkdtT/s400/Lady+Liberty+Dead.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>As a New Yorker, how could one not appreciate this dark take on our beloved Statue of Liberty?<br /><br />This skeletal tattoo is worn by Dan on his inner right forearm. It is a collaboration between him and his cousin, Guido Baldini, aka <a href="http://lostcowboytattoo.com/">Lost Cowboy</a>, a tattoo artist who occasionally works <a href="http://fourstartattoo.com/home.html">Four Star Tattoo</a> in Santa Fe, New Mexico.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhrC9_si_HnN7ffsTsUSzP6eGoyEJUJHTmpH_iN2U5UFZdmIH3bqDS7h3xvsYSCUCZ3LH9LcP4X1MrNETSzCcobZ55RaVTPbchPSZH-ahDI2GjmIP4Yitef92KIXYtkESTr0irwSe/s1600/Liberty+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhrC9_si_HnN7ffsTsUSzP6eGoyEJUJHTmpH_iN2U5UFZdmIH3bqDS7h3xvsYSCUCZ3LH9LcP4X1MrNETSzCcobZ55RaVTPbchPSZH-ahDI2GjmIP4Yitef92KIXYtkESTr0irwSe/s400/Liberty+detail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Dan was out West, visiting family, and this piece was done with a little bit of longing for the Big Apple in his heart.<br /><br />He was paying homage to that "New York State of Mind".<br /><br />Missing in the collage above is the great detail in the torch:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8v-haGqjcNVZJeJspGBlPDJojf38xUa1lTWDvv4fBBDfzO2t0AsDbKbPaSdlHUAU-zBxomNh60-PVjKPcLqEkRWX2p7W_wAl7q54A9yuKKZL6Zi7D7qAdLTwWHKOzBy3cFkfVPbf/s1600/Liberty+Torch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8v-haGqjcNVZJeJspGBlPDJojf38xUa1lTWDvv4fBBDfzO2t0AsDbKbPaSdlHUAU-zBxomNh60-PVjKPcLqEkRWX2p7W_wAl7q54A9yuKKZL6Zi7D7qAdLTwWHKOzBy3cFkfVPbf/s320/Liberty+Torch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />I did question the presence of the pentagram on the book that the statue is holding, only because I'm sure that comments might be made.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWwFPoM17WD5W-e_g7jOMyVh0mmfyNJ5ZVkSK3sxmhwXgOXCOtNmiPAz53wm6DbvfqtmD9kcx1tbC4Xg54a-ViKaN-MB-SlVlc1RwC0jZ5Pl6-MIdLT3JMzfVMPhhDWNM9wsTe8H7/s1600/Liberty+Book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWwFPoM17WD5W-e_g7jOMyVh0mmfyNJ5ZVkSK3sxmhwXgOXCOtNmiPAz53wm6DbvfqtmD9kcx1tbC4Xg54a-ViKaN-MB-SlVlc1RwC0jZ5Pl6-MIdLT3JMzfVMPhhDWNM9wsTe8H7/s320/Liberty+Book.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />He clarified the design, noting that, to him, the pentagram represents power, and is not meant to symbolize anything evil.<br /><br />Thanks to Dan for sharing this tattoo with attitude here on Tattoosday.

Dan Hosts Lady Liberty Like You've Never Seen Her

As a New Yorker, how could one not appreciate this dark take on our beloved Statue of Liberty? This skeletal tattoo is worn by Dan on his in...

6:13 AM

The Tattoosday Event and Book Review - Body Type 2: More Typographic Tattoos

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPtEZ6-yNJ0CHq5IAz9piJLzEjhVx7OOYfUhEYFmWW6CcXoRmnKk0yLVjibnGM8XtUpU6TcLSIpxqmFuRv5LhyUpXcsi_o61xTc5y5f5HbMNeHHnIM6Q7WprsJWZOWoIoEtvYWnK2/s1600/body+type+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468702197383484066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPtEZ6-yNJ0CHq5IAz9piJLzEjhVx7OOYfUhEYFmWW6CcXoRmnKk0yLVjibnGM8XtUpU6TcLSIpxqmFuRv5LhyUpXcsi_o61xTc5y5f5HbMNeHHnIM6Q7WprsJWZOWoIoEtvYWnK2/s400/body+type+2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />I'll be honest with you. Last year at this time, I had no idea who <a href="http://www.bodytypebook.com/ina/index.html">Ina Saltz</a> was, nor had I ever seen her book <a href="http://www.bodytypebook.com/about/index.html">Body Type</a>, a volume dedicated to typographic tattoos.<br /><br />Then, I met <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/09/elizabeths-alphabetical-ink.html">Elizabeth</a>, a typographer who has all twenty-six letters of the English alphabet tattooed on her body in random spots. The day I met her, she was planning on meeting Ms. Saltz to discuss her work. Her lettered ink also reacquainted me with the talents of <a href="http://stephanietamez.com/">Stephanie Tamez</a>, a tattoo artist, who is regarded by many, including Ms. Saltz, as one of the best at inking words, although that's certainly not her only strength as a tattooist.<br /><br />Meeting someone so passionate about typography and ink prompted me to go out and get a copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0810970503?ie=UTF8&tag=bodytype-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0810970503">Body Type</a> and I loved it. As you'd imagine, I was thrilled to see <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Body-Type-More-Typographic-Tattoos/dp/0810982765/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b">its sequel</a> in stores recently. And when I was alerted by the <a href="http://www.needlesandsins.com/2010/04/body-type-2-more-typographic-tattoos.html">Needles and Sins blog</a> to Ms. Saltz's upcoming appearance at a Manhattan bookstore, I jumped at the opportunity to go.<br /><br />After a slight detour to the wrong Barnes & Noble (fortunately only 13 blocks away), I found my way to the store's event area and found a seat. I chatted briefly with a student of Ms. Saltz, who wears two Arabic script tattoos on the inside of both wrists. However, I noticed that, as the room filled, the audience appeared (key word <span style="font-style: italic;">appeared</span>) slightly less inked than I would have imagined. I later learned that there were many of the author's colleagues from <a href="http://www1.ccny.cuny.edu/">City College</a> in attendance and that there were also quite a few tattoos tucked away under clothing.<br /><br />Ms. Saltz was introduced and gave a brief twenty-minute presentation. She discussed the book and showed slides of many of the tattoos, and some others, that have appeared in the two books.<br /><br />A Q & A session followed, revealing that many in the audience were not all well-versed in the art of tattoo. There were questions about permanence, the <span style="font-style: italic;">whys</span> of tattooing (including one asking why Ms. Saltz had no tattoos - the answer: she doesn't like needles) and one gentleman's inquiry about how to find a good tattoo artist. <u>Body Type</u> certainly has a broad appeal, drawing in typographers, graphic designers and other "type geeks".<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiURZAPQYUVNttDLOpH5rHUitZtlpR0EOXDnBBhn85QRXFv7q-EQEYqa4hI0Gb1QOSiwBXW2UHL0bjxyc8Q6bVT_QGxWigrdPCZvi0AOQZz8EMeLC37xX9_f9ful7pKbCgR8obbXo/s1600/aOhYouWhom.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468752503554915026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiURZAPQYUVNttDLOpH5rHUitZtlpR0EOXDnBBhn85QRXFv7q-EQEYqa4hI0Gb1QOSiwBXW2UHL0bjxyc8Q6bVT_QGxWigrdPCZvi0AOQZz8EMeLC37xX9_f9ful7pKbCgR8obbXo/s400/aOhYouWhom.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 349px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 78%;">Photo © 2010 Ina Saltz</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ms. Saltz talk went over many of the "types" of type tattoos - the literary (like the Walt Whitman excerpt, above), <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/03/tattoosdays-first-ambigram-tattoo.html">ambigrams</a>, and ink that focused on fonts, just to name a few. She emphasized that possessors of type tattoos tended to all have some level of college education, holding degrees, or even advanced degrees. The implication, and a fair one I think, is that such tattoos are more intellectual in nature than, say, a half-sleeve of flowers or grinning skulls.<br /><br />But as passionate as she is about fonts and designs, the audience could certainly tell that the stories behind the tattoos were a bonus that infused them with a much greater emotional weight.<br /><br />Take this example:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2lAYjpoGcNMExA9_rWenQn8kVJT_3V_gdr1Ru9tcfy1k72p0kcdSQLqc5u4c2NVnRN46oM6hvOIIOU3YMfVUCECZixt_MmgdB5YYnCzRnmG6P1U593jTqbY6_4Lmm9CsGlfoiJxy/s1600/AndIBelieve.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468713852691848242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2lAYjpoGcNMExA9_rWenQn8kVJT_3V_gdr1Ru9tcfy1k72p0kcdSQLqc5u4c2NVnRN46oM6hvOIIOU3YMfVUCECZixt_MmgdB5YYnCzRnmG6P1U593jTqbY6_4Lmm9CsGlfoiJxy/s400/AndIBelieve.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />Ms. Saltz related the tale of an Australian woman who came to New York in 2006 to meet her at a book signing at <a href="http://www.cooper.edu/">Cooper Union</a>. The individual was battling cancer and had tattooed song lyrics on her forearm in a beautiful script. Ms. Saltz's voice strained with emotion as she recalled how the woman had warmly thanked her for writing the first <a href="http://www.blogger.com/Body%20Type">Body Type</a> book, which gave her strength as she struggled with the disease. The accompanying text from the book delves deeper:<br /><blockquote>“This is from the Lou Reed song, ‘I Believe in Love.’ I love music and I love red. Three months after I got this tattoo I was diagnosed with breast cancer and two months later I found out I have secondary cancer in my bones, which is incurable. I have up to eight years left, so everything in my life has been put into sharper focus. I live life now; that’s my job. Now, looking back, my tattoos seem almost like a premonition, ‘music, music, music, it’ll satisfy your soul . . . ’ is a permanent marker of what is important to me and a reminder to follow my heart’s desires.”</blockquote><div id="caption-copyright" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Text and Photo © 2010 Ina Saltz</span></div><div class="clear"></div><br />Such passion, not just for the tattoos, but for the motives that drive people to decorate their skin, appeal to me as someone who appreciates a tattoo much more knowing what has inspired it.<br /><br />After the presentation, the audience lined up and my friend Janet joined me. Janet is an early subject of Tattoosday, and even has a type-ish tattoo (see her post <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2007/09/tattoos-i-know-janets-tat-trick.html">here</a>). A tattooed woman named Izzy in front of us overheard me talking to Janet about Tattoosday and we quickly struck up a discussion.<br /><br />Izzy is working on a fascinating project in which she is hoping to catalog tattoos with the <a href="http://www.loc.gov/index.html">Library of Congress</a>. Fascinating and certainly quite ambitious! We spoke at great length, both before and after meeting Ms. Saltz, discussing tattoos and our respective endeavors.<br /><br />When it was my turn to meet Ms. Saltz and have her sign my copy of <u>Body Type 2</u>, I introduced myself and told her about Tattoosday.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOfqmXRCLpMsd5nXfXa2MC92YchOFfk22VIpXPC3FVHwTT9NzZ32n9mKel-6eLXKwmy-rmgFg-XXO7GhIshHMzwUv416pClxxvN_ghjlJC-sdZ1Uc2ql4Ot5eV7vz0145EySfZEWL/s1600/Ina+Saltz+and+Bill+Cohen.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468919439580386034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOfqmXRCLpMsd5nXfXa2MC92YchOFfk22VIpXPC3FVHwTT9NzZ32n9mKel-6eLXKwmy-rmgFg-XXO7GhIshHMzwUv416pClxxvN_ghjlJC-sdZ1Uc2ql4Ot5eV7vz0145EySfZEWL/s400/Ina+Saltz+and+Bill+Cohen.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 78%;">Photo by Janet Loder-Berthelon</span></div><br />She was happy to hear I had heard about her through Elizabeth and how difficult it would be to include all of her typographical tattoo, <u>all</u> twenty-six parts of it, in a book form.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvHI0J8S84IpSiam5AqtJiUalU6XshqWUUMX5UpMMKSKAyhdGA2YTZtZRAydxSiKTsjndiXmeaIlOkWvhgXGvjUUGo_NQx3Jb5bzFCHm2nEPENQurTfruAI51zx9EeAa5_7aLFhUT/s1600/type.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468753698106460114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvHI0J8S84IpSiam5AqtJiUalU6XshqWUUMX5UpMMKSKAyhdGA2YTZtZRAydxSiKTsjndiXmeaIlOkWvhgXGvjUUGo_NQx3Jb5bzFCHm2nEPENQurTfruAI51zx9EeAa5_7aLFhUT/s400/type.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 78%;">© 2009 Tattoosday</span></div></div><br />It was wonderful meeting the author whose books originated a lot like Tattoosday's first inspiration. She saw the word "happy" in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helvetica">Helvetica</a> typeface on a crosstown bus; I was haunted by a woman's gorgeous <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Haring">Keith Haring</a> chest piece at the <a href="http://siren.villagevoice.com/2007/">2007 Siren Festival</a> on <a href="http://www.coneyisland.com/">Coney Island</a>.<br /><br />I recalled one of my favorite tattoos from the new collection:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFujCMY1WsVgAHxt3fBQVod6mI_OZ-i7Ajg7Jbr1yQuPGgjZBtA5NtbfaebxGDQVCiLgD-xHs72072zF1nhMuqb-1GYgdpqhoAcSdORFSWI6qVt5xq6eYc05mFsATVuP50unBYVnH/s1600/scan0005.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468923605039060466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFujCMY1WsVgAHxt3fBQVod6mI_OZ-i7Ajg7Jbr1yQuPGgjZBtA5NtbfaebxGDQVCiLgD-xHs72072zF1nhMuqb-1GYgdpqhoAcSdORFSWI6qVt5xq6eYc05mFsATVuP50unBYVnH/s400/scan0005.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 337px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 78%;">© 2010 Ina Saltz</span></div><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span>Toward the end of her talk, Ina Saltz thanked many of her subjects who were in attendance that evening. One gentleman, smartly attired in a sport coat waved from the back of the room. Ina's face lit up and she identified him as the bearer of the tattoo seen earlier in her slide show, the owner of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Sexton">Ann Sexton</a> poem, excerpted on his biceps. "See," Ms. Saltz proclaimed, "looking at him, you wouldn't know he had a tattoo, would you?"<br /><br />The crowd murmured its assent. I sighed, wishing he had been wearing a t-shirt so we could all see the poem again.<br /><br />If you aren't familiar with <a href="http://www.bodytypebook.com/about/index.html">The Body Type</a> books, you are missing out on something special. They're lovely volumes dedicated to the wordy tattoos that I love so much.<br /><br />And as a bonus, clicking <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Words">here</a> will show you a few dozen Tattoosday with the label "words".<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=bill03-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=0810970503" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=bill03-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=0810982765" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>

The Tattoosday Event and Book Review - Body Type 2: More Typographic Tattoos

I'll be honest with you. Last year at this time, I had no idea who Ina Saltz was, nor had I ever seen her book Body Type , a volume ded...

8:45 AM

Gabby Celebrates the Beautiful Life

I met Gabby in the laundromat down the street.<br /><br />She had this lovely tattoo at the base of her neck:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiW86lS8oPBmWVCPbcup1cj_korGg-u_RL1oySYlV8O6vJ64PUs2uM84xd2rvkh2K6jqUqhb0FoaXFYHbVU5IXx-yhqwi1X6NSPEHBgo3fKZOys5zUQBtdiUHkui6uILQuQ1bwyyh4/s1600/La+Bella+Vita.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468718663455805810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiW86lS8oPBmWVCPbcup1cj_korGg-u_RL1oySYlV8O6vJ64PUs2uM84xd2rvkh2K6jqUqhb0FoaXFYHbVU5IXx-yhqwi1X6NSPEHBgo3fKZOys5zUQBtdiUHkui6uILQuQ1bwyyh4/s400/La+Bella+Vita.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />This translates, in the Italian, to "the beautiful life".<br /><br />Simply, Gabby has Italian heritage and she had this done at <a href="http://psychotats.com/">Psycho Tattoo</a> in Georgia at a particularly "good time in [her] life".<br /><br />Thanks to Gabby for sharing her three words with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br />UPDATE: Right around the time I posted this, I had heard Ina Saltz discuss typographic tattoos (see my recap <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/05/tattoosday-event-and-book-review-body.html">here</a>). I have since discovered a cool website tool called <a href="http://new.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/">WhatTheFont</a> which helps identify typefaces based on samples that can be uploaded. Using this new tool, I have identified the font in Gabby's tattoo as <a href="http://new.myfonts.com/fonts/agfa/commercial-script/commercial-script/"><i>Commerical Script Regular</i></a>. That probably doesn't mean much to a lot of people, but it's pretty neat for those who may be interested.

Gabby Celebrates the Beautiful Life

I met Gabby in the laundromat down the street. She had this lovely tattoo at the base of her neck: This translates, in the Italian, to ...

3:54 AM

Tattoosday Goes to Hawai'i: Jolie's Archipelago

It was the first episode of <a href="http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/miami-ink/miami-ink.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Miami Ink</span></a> in which <a href="http://www.amijames.com/">Ami James</a> tattooed a huge piece on surfer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunny_Garcia">Sunny Garcia's</a> mid-section. The subject: the distinct pattern representing the view of the Hawaiian islands (video <a href="http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/miami-ink-sonny-garcia.html">here</a>).<br /><br />It wouldn't surprise me if everyone from Hawai'i who has spent time away from "home" has, at some time, if they have a penchant for ink, considered such a tattoo. I know I have.<br /><br />During my brief stay on <a href="http://www.gohawaii.com/oahu">Oahu</a> recently, I saw several people with Hawai'i tattoos. But I only took a picture of one, the first I saw, on the calf of Jolie, while I milled about <a href="http://www.alamoanacenter.com/">Ala Moana Center</a>:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhyphenhyphenyccVh3Nw2m4p18FQef6z7-iuPYwDJUPt7f7QFPqivaXerHMo0Ya2Gs3zBeafsmFSq4ApGsUi2oNnZI2bAFykZfXSUyglSAk0OvfWcWCRyRo_UKAiDwQPno7QFsfnuFH6r_5HK7/s1600/Hawaii+Tattoo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468469533762196530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhyphenhyphenyccVh3Nw2m4p18FQef6z7-iuPYwDJUPt7f7QFPqivaXerHMo0Ya2Gs3zBeafsmFSq4ApGsUi2oNnZI2bAFykZfXSUyglSAk0OvfWcWCRyRo_UKAiDwQPno7QFsfnuFH6r_5HK7/s400/Hawaii+Tattoo.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><br />It seemed fitting to me that Jolie's island chain tattoo was inked not in the Aloha State, but across the Pacific, in Las Vegas, where she was living at the time.<br /><br />A friend of hers there was tattooing out of a studio in his house and she got this piece because, in her words, "I missed home". Of course, I nodded in understanding.<br /><br />A hearty <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mahalo_nui_loa"><span style="font-style: italic;">mahalo nui loa</span></a> to Jolie for sharing her Hawai'i tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Tattoosday Goes to Hawai'i: Jolie's Archipelago

It was the first episode of Miami Ink in which Ami James tattooed a huge piece on surfer Sunny Garcia's mid-section. The subject: the...

12:00 PM

Mandy's Leopard Stars

I spotted Mandy on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan last month and I had to stop her to ask about this, one of her three tattoos:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauDddK9jjpOljB0toF1ohozEk098sKpWC1zqBkpU4PmlRJX3Y2QoS7MJGc_T18dsrHm3BVFUB4MjbBRQiK75XAnEe-JZMO77a7MY-jZSBRJDl_jVYS8MvDcd0Ge5ElGHeSsB4_KlJ/s1600/Mandy+Leopard+Stars+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468465133350278834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauDddK9jjpOljB0toF1ohozEk098sKpWC1zqBkpU4PmlRJX3Y2QoS7MJGc_T18dsrHm3BVFUB4MjbBRQiK75XAnEe-JZMO77a7MY-jZSBRJDl_jVYS8MvDcd0Ge5ElGHeSsB4_KlJ/s400/Mandy+Leopard+Stars+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 380px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />She came up with the design and made sure to include the leopard print that she likes so much.<br /><br />She credits the artist <a href="http://inkxpression.com/preview_003.htm">Eric Newby</a> at <a href="http://inkxpression.com/">Ink Xpressions</a> on Ringgold Road in East Ridge (Chattanooga), Tennessee.<br /><br />You may notice another tattoo peeking into the picture, so let me show you the larger perspective and a glimpse of the piece to the left of the stars:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSjt7FE853OWyouRsEo-2HDhuoJbrX6k7siHm3Wg5eOPSgCWFPJGt5mjEyJ3MPxwOY8r3d1IIN_JAgTJDstLKv117QSmP6Hay2kWnMVVujqboC2v-Ms6m39jGhmX4et6nUjGrKDMI/s1600/Mandy+Leopard+Stars.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468465052413726930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSjt7FE853OWyouRsEo-2HDhuoJbrX6k7siHm3Wg5eOPSgCWFPJGt5mjEyJ3MPxwOY8r3d1IIN_JAgTJDstLKv117QSmP6Hay2kWnMVVujqboC2v-Ms6m39jGhmX4et6nUjGrKDMI/s400/Mandy+Leopard+Stars.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" /></a><br />Mandy informed me later, via e-mail, that the floral piece<br /><blockquote>"was actually a stencil I found, and I really liked the design a lot.  I had two black and white tattoos, so I wanted bright colors and we decided no outlines would look cool.  It was a long process to get the colors I wanted to absorb, but it was well worth it in the end.  The artist was <a href="http://www.myspace.com/shanehartlinetattoos">Shane Hartline</a> at <a href="http://www.evermoregalleries.com/">Evermore Galleries</a> in Chattanooga".</blockquote>Thanks to Mandy for sharing these tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Mandy's Leopard Stars

I spotted Mandy on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan last month and I had to stop her to ask about this, one of her three tattoos: She came up wit...

2:59 AM

Tattoosday Goes to Hawaii: A Floral Sneak Peak @ O'Hare, Courtesy of Jennifer

When I first booked my trip to Honolulu and saw I had a brief layover in Chicago, I challenged myself to find at least one cool tattoo at the <a href="http://www.ohare.com/">airport</a>.<br /><br />Lucky for me, I found Jennifer from Portland, Maine, sporting this lovely <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscus">hibiscus</a> foot tattoo:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XDI0W7RzMkDrGBPAd5ebM4YtjOdeZxyr4uV1ArrEq6avnrbq0zm8zW76UyXQhRiJRiOMwVFhwPNjzYy3UcaSpuOSIoNPL8FUuZDZhbv0-iwsAYXKiznZgJzAj4J2qXG-QN8Oi3Ia/s1600/Hibiscus+Foot.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468112947019529954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XDI0W7RzMkDrGBPAd5ebM4YtjOdeZxyr4uV1ArrEq6avnrbq0zm8zW76UyXQhRiJRiOMwVFhwPNjzYy3UcaSpuOSIoNPL8FUuZDZhbv0-iwsAYXKiznZgJzAj4J2qXG-QN8Oi3Ia/s400/Hibiscus+Foot.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The hibiscus being the state flower of Hawai'i, I saw this as a good omen.<br /><br />Jennifer explained that she based the design for this tattoo on a photo in a magazine.<br /><br />Why the foot? She had one tattoo on her back and "wanted one she could see".<br /><br />This floral piece was inked in about two and a half hours at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/pinsandneedlesportland">Pins and Needles Tattoo</a> at home in Portland. Work from Pins and Needles has appeared previously on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/08/ben-commemorates-cat-and-tree.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Jennifer for humoring this traveling inkspotter and sharing her hibiscus with us here on Tattoosday!

Tattoosday Goes to Hawaii: A Floral Sneak Peak @ O'Hare, Courtesy of Jennifer

When I first booked my trip to Honolulu and saw I had a brief layover in Chicago, I challenged myself to find at least one cool tattoo at th...

12:00 PM

Mike & Norma Share Some of Their Ink

I met Mike and Norma at a local drugstore in Brooklyn in early April and they both had amazing work they were willing to share.<br /><br />Their post was preempted by the <a href="http://tattooedpoets.blogspot.com/2010/03/index-of-tattooed-poets.html">Tattooed Poets Project</a>, so I thank them in advance for their patience.<br /><br />Mike shared this enormous black panther tattoo that covered a huge section of his left calf:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcsFGsK84jA2BUKJGmhh0BXAQoG-kY6Hol5lrJsIrtiL_ie2-WzY8BBqibF1QrWzi8kFEIG2upbsGSlpX9Gmo7-45iYPdNrXDNjZb4tIcCT7LI_dMC2A_VDQSQ2wpuXzXRYHTNuYK/s1600/panther+and+roses.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467944127351104098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcsFGsK84jA2BUKJGmhh0BXAQoG-kY6Hol5lrJsIrtiL_ie2-WzY8BBqibF1QrWzi8kFEIG2upbsGSlpX9Gmo7-45iYPdNrXDNjZb4tIcCT7LI_dMC2A_VDQSQ2wpuXzXRYHTNuYK/s400/panther+and+roses.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Mike, who estimates he has about 15% coverage, also told me that this was a cover-up. "What did you cover?" I asked. "A dolphin with a tribal design," he replied. Norma indicated that covering that tattoo had been an excellent aesthetic choice.<br /><br />Mike credits <a href="http://www.myspace.com/cs1976">Chad Smith</a> at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/screaminmimitattoo">Screamin Mimi Tattoo</a> in Amarillo, Texas with this piece.<br /><br />I then turned to Norma, who was gracious enough to share this incredibly beautiful geisha tattoo on her left calf:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCQCvt8dGYLAzjewgprLBXqI5PuZkpF_dkh9CGVPJwbEp7ObsmGuq6xLid7lhbm53NhyphenhyphenV3AWyM0Q7pH00GxQAn1z_8uUYc6Psii9jDTYUtvjIKzYujsBRNQ3WT-yyGgFAEw-_-I6F/s1600/Geisha.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467944029705186898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCQCvt8dGYLAzjewgprLBXqI5PuZkpF_dkh9CGVPJwbEp7ObsmGuq6xLid7lhbm53NhyphenhyphenV3AWyM0Q7pH00GxQAn1z_8uUYc6Psii9jDTYUtvjIKzYujsBRNQ3WT-yyGgFAEw-_-I6F/s320/Geisha.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 320px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://elitetattoogallery.com/section/4128_Roxxy_s_Tattoos.html">Roxxy</a>, an artist at <a href="http://elitetattoogallery.com/home.html">Elite Tattoo Gallery</a> in Fort Worth, Texas, free-handed the design. The Japanese characters form a haiku, the meaning of which Norma didn't have with her. Regardless, it's a stunning work of art.<br /><br />Thanks to Mike and Norma for sharing a little bit of their extensive ink with us here on Tattoosday!

Mike & Norma Share Some of Their Ink

I met Mike and Norma at a local drugstore in Brooklyn in early April and they both had amazing work they were willing to share. Their post w...

4:03 AM

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