Alyssa's Arabic Ink

It wasn't Alyssa I approached on a Friday afternoon outside of Madison Square Garden, but her friend, who had several visible tattoos.

However, the friend was unhappy with all of her ink, so I asked if anyone else standing with her if they had work they'd like to share.

Alyssa offered up this Arabic tattoo, behind her right ear:


The script is the transliteration of her name, Alyssa, which she said means "flourishing" in Greek.


Definitions I have found point to it meaning "rational," or "noble," rather than "flourishing". Nonetheless, it is widely regarded as a very pretty name.

This was tattooed at Crazy Fantasy Tattoo in Manhattan. Work from that shop previously posted on Tattoosday can be seen here.

It just so happened I recently read the book Arabic Tattoos compiled by Jon Udelson. It's an interesting look at the phenomenon of the increase in popularity of Arabic script tattoos, and well worth a gander.

My favorite Arabic tattoo that has appeared on Tattoosday is this one.

Thanks to Alyssa for sharing her tattoo with us here on the site!

Tattoorism: Brian's Ohm

This was sent to me by Brian, in Southern California, who's celebrating his birthday today. It's a stunning black and gray tattoo and well worth sharing here on Tattoosday:


Brian explains:

"This is my first tattoo and [it] meant a lot to me. It's an ohm, which is sort of a Buddhist peace symbol. It's sort of a reminder to me about what I have to do.


I wake up and see it, and it reminds me how to live my life and how to interact with others. Behind the symbol is a copy of my thumb print, just to make it a little more personal and how it pertains to my life...The artist is Placaso at Lowrider Tattoo in Orange, CA."

Thanks to Brian for sharing this amazing tattoo with us here on Tattoosday! And Happy Birthday, Brian!

Nature and Quality of Tattoos

Nature and Quality of Tattoos


There is no nation on Earth that does not know this phenomenon of tattooing (Darwin).

Tattooing does not raise questions about tattoo techniques, but rather of the meaning and purpose of tattooing. Techniques of tattooing in fact throughout history have not changed significantly. The differences are only on quality of tattoos, as instruments for tattooing improves all the time.
Tattoos may reflect victory or defeat, joy or sorrow, may be part of the ceremonies or rituals, expressing different human characteristics and feelings such as pleasure, sadism, etc...

Nature and Quality of Tattoos


Some types of tattoos were representing the successful hunt, while others have emerged on religious basis, because people in this way wanted to ensure a place in heaven. They served as a medical treatment of headaches, eye diseases and rheumatic diseases.
Tattoos may function as non-verbal communication, since the images can tells us stories from the lives of earlier peoples.
The next aspect of the tattoos is erotic, because it makes our body more sex interesting, attractive, and shows the human sexual preference.

Nature and Quality of Tattoos


Other tattoos may reflect personal views, such as love and friendship on the one hand and the opposite of social conformity and the shock of most people on the other side.
Tattoos also marked the important events and dates of the soldiers and sailors, who are on their way goes trough many experiences.
In conclusion, I can say that the nature and quality of tattoos depends on the social and cultural level of economic development.

Nature and Quality of Tattoos

We Pause Today for a Moment....

Technical problems today on the home computer, so instead, here's a great story on the Las Vegas Tattoo Convention last weekend.

Missy Needs a Miracle

I met Missy last month in Penn Station and she shared this, her first tattoo:


This is also the first Icelandic tattoo on Tattoosday!

The phrase in Icelandic, "Mér vartar kraftaverk" , Missy loosely translated as "I need a miracle". It is a memorial tattoo for a friend of hers who was killed after being hit by a car.

This tattoo not only serves as a memorial (she needs a miracle to bring her friend back), but also provides strength and prayers for any future challenges she may face in life.

The phrase was inked by Chi Chi Gunz at Silk City Tattoo in Hawthorne, New Jersey. Work from Silk City has appeared previously on our site here.

Thanks to Missy for sharing her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Tattoo Designs-Animal Tattoo Designs

Tattoo Designs-Animal Tattoo Designs


Choose your unique tattoo. Currently the most popular motifs used when creating tattoos are tribal, the trend in the tattoo world there are already many years. It can be abstract or meaning, mostly symbolically represents the fictitious creature or concept. Probably you have often been able to see tattoo motives of girls, men, saints, etc., and this are tattoos, that have to be very realistic work done, in which the tattoo artist talent inserted most noted and most come to the fore. More realistic it is, of course, more beautiful is tattoo. Animals, especially wild cats, spiders, dolphins, butterflies, etc. are also motives, that often reflect and are required, many animals carry a widely accepted symbolism, whether it comes to strength, loyalty, happiness, love, etc.

Tattoo Designs-Animal Tattoo Designs


Lion is one of the most used animals motive, probably because of the complexity that eventually gives fantastic results. If someone wants to have a discrete tattoo, usually decides for the butterflies or other miniature animals, and these tattoos always look great on woman's body. Abstract tattoos are also very popular, and can satisfy a wide range of tastes. Usually work in black and white drawings and in the case of minor or moderately tattoos on specific parts of the body, such as the navel, neck, lower back or upper arm portion. Celebrities tattoos; are there any celebrity star, which is not tattooed? The fact is, that tattooing, especially in America is very popular and probably many celebrities gave important contribution to that.

Tattoo Designs-Animal Tattoo Designs

James Shares His Love of The Nightmare Before Christmas

I saw The Nightmare Before Christmas when it first came out in theaters and it instantly became one of my favorite movies.

I am certainly not alone in this sentiment.

I had always wanted a Nightmare tattoo, as many may agree, the artistic style of the film lends itself splendidly to a tattoo motif. The appeal is widespread, as evidenced by the popularity of the characters Jack Skellington and his girlfriend Sally in ink.

The style was most likely seen by the most people on the left arm of Daisy de la Hoya, one of the contestants on VH1's Rock of Love 2 "reality" show (and the subsequent spin-off, "Daisy of Love").

Nonetheless, despite the popularity of these tattoos, I will still happily post them here, when I find them, and they are offered. See these previous examples.

Several weeks ago, by the James A. Farley Post Office on 31st Street in Manhattan, I met James, who had this Nightmare sleeve:




James has liked the movie since he was young (which made me feel old) and is a huge fan. He has seven tattoos, but this piece, which was inked in five sittings, is the centerpiece of his collection.


The was inked at Whatever Tattoo in Manhattan. Work from Whatever has appeared previously on Tattoosday here.

Say what you want about the "trendiness" of Nightmare Before Christmas tattoos, but I think that their popularity stems not only from the love of the film, but the macabre side of traditional "dark" tattoos, softened by the warmth of a film that many associate with youth and innocence.

Thanks to James for sharing his tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Lady Miscue of Delight

This was almost an orphan post, but I have enough to make it work.

Last month, I boarded the 2 train, downtown, and was standing next to a young lady with a colorful fairy on her upper right arm:


The woman's name was Elura, and she had this done at Daredevil Tattoo in Manhattan. Other work from Daredevil has appeared on Tattoosday previously here.

Alas, the train was noisy, and Elura was getting off at 14th Street, one station away. I asked her what the fairy was about, and she said, "She's Lady Miscue of Delight".

I scribbled that down and Elura said she would e-mail me with more detail. She never did and, try as I might, I couldn't figure out what looks like a fairy, and sounds like "Lady Miscue of Delight".

So that is what I will call her, until I have been corrected.

Regardless, thanks to Elura for sharing her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

UPDATE:

Jeremy, below, in the comments, suggested that perhaps Elura meant, Lady Miss Kier, of the musical group Deee-lite:



The photo indicates that may be correct. Thanks Jeremy!

Magie's Unique Sugar Skull, Inked by Big Ant (1978-2008)

I was a happy little inkblogger last Friday night when I made it to the 4th anniversary group art show at Tattoo Culture in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Happy, because I got to meet the awesome Marisa Kakoulas from the fabulous Needles and Sins tattoo blog, along with the equally-cool Brian Grosz, who is also a major creative force behind the site.

And happy because I was in a bright room with art on the walls, created by talented tattooists, and I was surrounded by people with incredible body art.

But therein lies the conundrum: great tattoos, in a hip tattoo setting, are top quality and, despite Tattoosday's success, I am still reluctant to whip out the Polaroid digital camera when, for all I know, the ink around me may have been professionally photographed and featured in glossy tattoo magazines.

So I had resigned myself to leave sans photos, knowing I had a groovy time and was able to meet other tattoo writers, when I noticed a very interesting sugar skull on the back of a young woman's right arm. Voila:


Of course I chatted a long time with Magie before I asked her if I could snap a picture, so I learned a bit about the tattoo before I asked.

Magie Serpica is an artist and tattooist who works at the newly-opened Bound for Glory Tattoo Studio in Staten Island.


The shop was co-founded by Nick Caruso who also tattoos at Flyrite Studio in Brooklyn. One of Nick's tattoos appeared here back in July on Tattoosday.

One of Magie's paintings was hanging on the wall at Tattoo Culture:

(reprinted with permission of the artist)

We talked at length about tattoos, what she called an under-served market on Staten Island (they are the first full-custom shop) in the borough (no flash on the walls, please) and have a promising future ahead.

We also discussed how difficult it has been in the past to be a female tattoo artist, how frustrating it is not to be taken seriously, and how Kat Von D. and the multitude of tattoo reality shows have helped break down the stereotypes and allowed Magie, as a female artist, to receive more respect as an artist.

Like most tattoo artists, Magie is covered in ink, with no idea how many tattoos she has ("If you can still see skin, it's not enough").

The sugar skull in question was tattooed by Anthony Gregory, aka Big Ant, a Staten Island artist who tragically passed away last year after falling ill in Las Vegas (see the sad news reported here).


She had asked him to give her a sugar skull and she had a general idea about his style, so she gave him total artistic freedom. The end result was fascinating - a unique, almost post-modern interpretation of a classic tattoo design. The angled perspective and the depth to the eyes give this tattoo a greater three-dimensional feel than your standard sugar skull.

I also like how the rose is just as important as the skull, its stem wrapping around it and adding another layer of depth.

I thank the good people at Tattoo Culture for opening their doors and allowing me the opportunity to meet some great people.

A special thanks to Magie for sharing her awesome tattoo with us here on Tattoosday. Be sure to visit her in the new shop, Bound for Glory, in Staten Island.

Here's hoping we'll see more of their work in the future!

Brooke Shows Off Her Zombie Ninja Poo

On a sunny September afternoon, I met Brooke outside of Penn Station.

She had several interesting tattoos, and she offered this one:


She referred to it as "Zombie Ninja Poo".

On the inside of her right wrist, this tattoo was inspired by the goofy video droppings of the ninja characters in one of her son's video games, Ninjatown.

She exercised a little creative license and zombified the design. The result was an undead mass of animated, um, turds.

Thanks to Brooke for sharing this unusual tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Tattoos and Piercing

Worship Tattoos


If you are a supporter of free life, if in your veins flows the rough blood and love for motorcycles, rock and heavy metal music, then it is completely natural to you, that you do not mind having eternal drawing on the body - a tattoo or puncture the soft parts of the body, popularly called piercing. Tattooing is a permanent inclination of the natural pigment in the skin. In this way the tattoo master creates the image on the skin at the desired subjects. But how a man, who is not from these story and dealing with an entirely different things and have other preferences, to convince the tattoo and piercing are not a synonym for something dirty and evil and that it is a way of worshiping the body, represented in all cultures and civilizations for centuries back. A tattoo is part of the religious act in many cultures, and the piercing is well-known ritual detail of many tribal peoples. People have always tended to mark them in a peculiar manner and thus differ from each other. Tattooing is now very widespread in Western Europe and in the America.

Worship Tattoos

¡Squirrel Libre!

I spotted Eliza at the Atlantic Avenue subway station several Saturdays ago.

She has several tattoos, but this one, on her right arm, seemed the most appropriate to share:


This is, of course, a squirrel, which was chosen because Eliza has the nickname of Squirrel.

Why Squirrel?

Eliza grew up in rural Arkansas in the Ozark Mountains. "When I was younger," she told me, "I hunted and shot squirrel".

Of course, I had to ask what squirrel tasted like. "Like chicken," she answered, and then clarified, "the dark meat".

As for the head of the squirrel, Eliza confirmed what I thought, the tattoo sports a Lucha Libre Mexican-style wrestling mask.


Eliza explained that she wanted the squirrel to be like her, kind of "sassafrass". I thought I knew what she meant, but not being familiar with rural American dialect, I asked her to clarify. "Sassafrass," she smiled, "is sorta wild and crazy".

The piece was inked at Southside Tattoo in Austin, Texas, by Michael Norris.

A hearty thanks to Eliza and her cool squirrel tattoo from us here at Tattoosday!

Annie Cherry and Bindlestiff Willy in New York City

I met Annie Cherry outside of Penn Station in early September. She was talking with Bindlestiff Willy. She had visible tattoos. He did not.

I approached them and introduced myself.

This is Annie:


And here is Bindlestiff Willy:


Both perform with a group called the Kansas City Society of Burlesque.

They had been in New York City performing out on Coney Island the previous weekend and were heading home.

Annie graciously allowed to photograph her two tattoos, juxtaposed nicely on her inner forearms:


She explained the one on her left arm, saying it was a shooting star, about to be launched from a slingshot. She said the tattoo represents creative inspiration and that it reminds her "not to take herself too seriously".


Incidentally, several weeks later, I met a woman with a similar tattoo, only justaposed differently on the left arm. I was shocked to see it, but she explained that it was also a band logo for the group Gogol Bordello.


The snake on her left arm represents knowledge to Annie, and a reminder that the destination is not always reached by taking the straight path.


Both tattoos were inked by Chet Duvenci at The Mercy Seat Tattoo & Art Gallery in Kansas City.

After talking about her tattoos, Annie informed me that her traveling companion Bindelestiff Willy had a couple of great tattoos, as well. They were inked at The Mercy Seat also, but by different artists.

Damian removed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves to reveal the tattoos on his upper arms.

The first is on his upper left arm:


If this classic pin-up girl looks familiar, scroll up to the top of the post and take another gander at the photo of Annie.



The tattoo is modeled after her. The phrase "Clowns need love too" is self-referential. This piece was inked by Scott Shickman.

Damian, who performs under the name of "Bindlestiff Willy," is a pantomime specialist who does a great Charlie Chaplin routine. The pun in his stage name combines the "bindle stick" commonly carried by hobos and tramps (in the Chaplinesque sense) and the raunchiness of "stiff Willy".

His second tattoo, on the right arm, is a portrait of Charlie Chaplin's "Little Tramp" were he still alive. Of course, as the 1889 implies, Chaplin is a skeleton today, so the traditional tattoo takes a macabre turn.


This piece was done by John Monk.

A big thanks to Annie and Willy for sharing their awesome tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!