Saturday, February 27, 2010

Tattoos I Know: Anna's Culinary Ink

Several months ago, one of my co-workers, Anna, wanted to commemorate the completion of her externship from culinary school.

It was funny, because at the time, she didn't realize I wrote Tattoosday and then discovered the site through googling. She stumbled upon this post that featured a chef's knife.

Anna liked the idea of using a knife, but wanted a whisk too. She spotted this piece and met with Vinny Romanelli at Red Rocket Tattoo in Manhattan, giving him the several source images she had found and explaining what she wanted.

He designed this for her and then completed the tattoo for her in about twenty minutes. She had him stick with black and gray and wanted him to emphasize the shading. This is the end result, positioned just above her ankle:


Other work from Red Rocket has appeared on Tattoosday here.

Thanks again to Anna for sharing her culinary ink with us here on Tattoosday!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

lowerback japanese tattoo

Male Tattoo Pictures - Ideas For Men


Everywhere you will read about girl tattoo pictures. Tattoos with female attributes, represents female beauty and their character. Girl tattoo lists are available in abundance. But what about males? Are there some tattoos especially for us...tattoos that will symbolize the character and quality of men? Their masculinity! Yes there are plenty of them.

There are not many exclusive tattoo pictures for men like flowers and fairies like for females, but there are few which can be ideal for you guys so you can show your man power and strength.

new bull yin yang tattoo

Bob marley tattoo

Then there are not so popular demon tattoo pictures. Girls don't like to be demons as they love fairies, tiny cute little fairies....not huge evil demons.
You can even look at your favorite male celebrity for some other great ideas for male tattoo pictures!

Girl Tattoos

Then there is tiger tattoo pictures. It is the symbol of power which can capture and defeat anyone else. It is also ferocious and fast. IT is also sometimes considered as cruel on its prey. Now wouldn't a man like to be so powerful to defeat anyone else?

Then there are Celtic tattoos. It is believed that the Celt warriors had tattoos of different designs of knots. All of them had significance of its own. Even the nobles and knights including famous king Arthur are Celts. So many of the Celtic tattoo pictures are from the manuscripts which has its link to warriors. They stand for noble, strong and powerful men who were highly respected in their times.

Girls rarely sport

The most popular is a fire dragon. Girls rarely sport fire dragon pictures. They are mostly preferred by men. They stand for heroism. It is said that only the strongest can capture the fire dragon. So to show that power and strength men have fire dragon tattoos. Also in Chinese culture it was believed that that fire dragon served the king and protected him so it also shows you as the great king.

Cool dragon tattoos for girl

Do you love the dragon tattoos? There are western and eastern dragon tattoos, no matter what they mean, but these kind of tattoos are really awesome! Men do love Dragon tattoos.

For men, most of dragon tattoo designs do not include color—mostly because men tend to believe that adding color makes the tattoo less masculine and more feminine. There are different dragon tattoo designs in color that can be for both men and women.
dragon tattoo designs for men

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Neal's Foo Dog

This winter has been an especially cold one here in New York and, as any loyal reader can confirm, I haven't reported on many tattoos that I have glimpsed in the city.

However, last night at the grocery store around the corner, I met Neal, who let me take a quick snapshot of his foo dog on the left side of his neck:


Foo dogs are traditional Asian-style tattoo designs, and have various meanings and interpretations. Click here to see some other posts on the site that have featured foo dog designs.

Neal told me that this was inked by Koji at Studio Engima on Avenue U in Brooklyn many years ago. Work from Studio Engima has appeared previously on Tattoosday here.

Thanks to Neal for sharing his foo dog with us here on Tattoosday!

Monday, February 15, 2010

Tattoos I Love: Sweethearts for My Sweetheart

So what does an inkblogger get his sweetheart on Valentine's Day?

Why, a love-themed tattoo, of course.

Lucky me, the good folks over at Thicker than Water Tattoo had a Cupid special, $14 tattoos on February 14.


A lot like the Dare Devil Tattoo Friday the 13th Special (one of which is documented here), the lucky tattoo recipient can choose from an assortment of day-themed flash.


Here's what my lovely bride Melanie had to choose from:


When we got to the shop, Melanie signed in #53, and they were averaging a dozen or so per hour, so we knew we had a little bit of a wait.

I specifically selected Shon Lindauer, since he did such an awesome job with my tiger tattoo.

It was nice that Melanie got to meet Shon and the piece she selected was one that he had drawn up.

He tattooed her in the middle of the back and took just about fifteen minutes:


She was very happy with the end result:


When we left around 3:45, the waiting list was over a hundred, so they looked like they had a long night ahead of them.

Thanks to Shon and the staff at Thicker Than Water for another great tattoo experience!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Anna Nicole Smith Tattoo Design

Anna Nicole Smith Tattoo Design
Anna Nicole Smith Tattoo Design

lindsay lohan tattoo la bella Design

lindsay lohan tattoo la bella Design
lindsay lohan tattoo la bella
Lindsay Lohan has a total of seven tattoo designs scattered about her body, including a quote by Marilyn Monroe which reads "Everyone's a star and deserves the right to twinkle" with small blue, green and yellow stars.

Tattoos I Know: Paul's Love, Over His Heart

On this Valentine's Day, I'm sharing a tattoo that my friend Paul had recently done. He showed me when I was taking the latest set of photos on the cover-up her is working on.

He pulled down the top of his shirt to reveal this simple message:


Paul's message to his wife is simple, but it is what is not spoken that is most remarklable. Paul always swore up and down that he would never ink a woman's name on his body. When he showed me this, I was surprised, but love can make us express ourselves in such ways, especially when we love getting tattooed.

Paul had this done by Pierre at Fort Apache Tattoo Studio, just around the corner from where we work in Manhattan.

Happy Valentine's Day from Tattoosday to Paul and Ana. Stay tunde, as there may be more Valentine's ink on the horizon!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Markjames' Knuckles

Last week I posted this great owl tattoo belonging to Markjames, a Pennsylvania-based tattoo artist.

Prior to sharing it, however, I also snapped his knuckles:


When I asked what this meant, he said "just a feeling". What is particularly cool about these knuckles are the traditional anchor and horseshoe standing in for the letters "T" and "U", respectively.

These were inked by Russell Kelley at Silk City Tattoo in Hawthorne, New Jersey. Work from the shop has appeared multiple times before and can all be seen under Silk City's Tattoosday label here.

Thanks again to Markjames for sharing his work with us here on Tattoosday!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Tattoos I Know: Paul, Part 5 or, The Great Cover-Up of 2008, continued...

In December 2008, we posted about our friend Paul getting some cover-up work done on his upper right arm. Revisit the report here.

We checked in with Paul again this past November to see the progress (here). And, just last Friday, he updated us again on the latest efforts by Horisei, who has one more session before this cover-up is done:


Horisei tattoos out of the Chelsea Tattoo Company, formerly the home of Rising Dragon.

Thanks again to Paul for sharing. I'm guessing we'll see the finished product later in 2010!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Two Tattoos From John: One for Superstition, One for Courage

Last Friday, I met John, who was in Penn Station in a t-shirt and shorts, certainly brave, considering the cold temperature outside.

He has four tattoos, and shared two with us. First, a four-leaf clover on his right elbow, which he got because he is superstitious:


And this Latin phrase "sine metu," which means "Without Fear" on his left forearm:


Both tattoos were inked by Eric Barrett, who currently works at Orange Tattoo Company in Annapolis, Maryland. Please note, I previously attributed this to a different artists named Eric in Annapolis. My apologies for the mix-up.

Thanks to John for sharing his tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Temporary Tattoos

This day and age, more and more people are deciding to get permanent tattoos, leaving their mark of choice on their skin.  If the tattoo is applied by an experienced artist, the risk involved will be minimal.  As sad as it is however, many people who get tattoos end up going to studios that use unsanitary equipment - resulting in infections or other serious problems.

Years ago, temporary tattoos were found in quarter machines, bubble gum wrappers, and even toy sections of the local store.  Children loved to get these temporary tattoos, as they presented a way for children to have a tattoo - one that was completely safe and would wash off.  Now days, even adults are beginning to think that this is the right idea.  The temporary tattoos of today are no longer just for children, as most last a long time - making them perfect for adults.

The best thing about temporary tattoos, is the fact that they are indeed temporary.  With temporary tattoos, you don’t have to worry about infections or unsanitary equipment, as there is no piercing of the skin involved.  Temporary tattoos are safe, and remove easily with soap and water.  This is very cost friendly as well - as permanent tattoos require surgery to remove.

If you have been thinking about getting a permanent tattoo, you should first give a temporary tattoo a try.  Tattoos that are temporary provide an excellent way to test out designs, and see if a tattoo is right for you.  If you don’t like it, all you have to do is wash it off.  Then, you can purchase another one and see if you like it better.  There are literally thousands of temporary tattoos out there, with designs that are sure to please everyone.

If you decide to get a permanent tattoo instead, you are pretty much stuck with it.  To get rid of a permanent tattoo, you’ll need to have it surgically removed, which can cost you thousands of dollars. You’ll also face the risk of infection, along with a permanent scar. Permanent tattoos are great though - providing you are happy with the tattoo.

In most cases, temporary tattoos look just like a permanent tattoo.  To use them, simply lick the tattoo or use water and apply to your skin.  When you have it where you want it, simply apply pressure for a few seconds.  They are easy to apply, and last until you wash them off.  If you decide to get a longer lasting temporary tattoo, it will last for a longer period of time.  This way, you can decide if a permanent tattoo is going to be worth the investment.

You can find temporary tattoos in local stores or on the Internet.  They are very affordable as well, even cheaper if you buy them in bulk.  Tattoo artists also sell them, and normally have a large selection on hand.  This way, you can look through the available selections and find the tattoo that best fits your style.

All in all, temporary tattoos are easier to apply than permanent tattoos and they pose no risk to your skin or your health.  Those that are afraid of needles tend to like them as well, as they give you the chance to have a tattoo without going under the needle. Before you rush out and get a tattoo, you should instead give permanent tattoos a try.  They won’t cost you a lot of money - yet they will give you the chance to see how you look with a tattoo - and decide if a permanent tattoo is really something you want.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Markjames Helps Start February with a Hoot

February 1st found me scowling optimistically.

I was pondering how I had managed, since Christmas Eve, to only post ink-spotted tattoos only twice. Some days over the summer I easily eclipse that total on my lunch break.

But this is the heart of winter and, when the temperatures haven't been cooperating, things go slowly.

I was passing through the New Jersey Transit section of Penn Station and was about to head back to the office when I spotted Markjames.

He had tattoos on his hands, neck, and head and answered affirmatively whenI asked if he was a tattoo artist.

After taking a picture of his knuckles to share with the good folks at KnuckleTattoos.com, he offered up this wonderful neck piece:


He wanted a bird of some sort on his throat and collaborated with the artist Matt Rosenthal at Tattoo Nation in Wayne, New Jersey. Work from Tattoo Nation has appeared previously on the site here.

The owl as a symbol of wisdom is a popular tattoo motif, as is evident from the folks over at Owl Tattoos and their site dedicated solely to owl ink.

Markjames works out of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and will be tattooing at Triple VI Tattoos, beginning in April.

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