Renee's Papal Insignia Challenges Her Beliefs

I met Renee in the Clark Street subway station in Brooklyn Heights recently, and we had a fascinating conversation.

We talked for a good bit, and actually spent more time time talking about her plans for new tattoos, as opposed to what she already had on her body. She has five tattoos, two of which she did herself. We ended up talking most about this one, on the middle finger of her right hand:


This is one of her self-inked tattoos which, she says, she did using "the prison method". This generally involves using a needle or a sharpened guitar string and dipping it in ink. Sometimes with, sometimes without, a jerry-rigged motor.

The design is based on the insignia of the Pope.

At the time that she did this, she felt a connection to the Catholic Church that was very strong. Religion was a "huge part of her childhood"

However, as anyone paying attention to the news recently is well aware, the Catholic Church has been under fire for quite some time due to its handling of internal matters regarding abuse among the clergy.

Renee finds that who she is now is "irreconcilable with the Catholic Church" and, as a result, she plans on having this finger tattoo covered up "as a statement" about her feelings and her conviction that this symbol is, in her words, "something I can't have anymore".

So today's post features a tattoo whose time is running out, which is not all that common here on the site. I have always maintained that the tattoos seen here aren't always the "best" in art, but rather, interesting encounters in New York with interesting people.

Thanks to Renee for being so forthcoming about her personal connection to tattooing, and for sharing this small, seemingly harmless tattoo, that carries with it such a weight, laden with meaning.

Japanese TATTOO Horimitsu style 額

本日一件目。フランスからのお客様。
いろいろな和のモチーフ。
突き直しなど。
次は6月。

The first of today. Customer from France.
Japanese motif of various .
June next.

El primero de hoy. Cliente de Francia.
Motivo japonés de varios.
Próximo de junio.

Richard's Cybernetic Tattoos

I met Richard in the Amtrak section of Penn Station, which I have found to be a wonderful place to find tattoos from all over the world.

He was in the New York area on business, having traveled from Oregon where he lives and runs his company, Out of the Box Mods, LLC.

His tattoos are directly related to his vocation of computer modding, which "involves making physical changes to a computer for aesthetic reasons or to improve the performance".

Here is the piece on his upper left arm:


Often, I will be sent, a better photo that was taken right after completion, or in better circumstances than my quick little snapshots in public. By comparing the photo I took with the one Richard sent, you get a better idea of how the tattoo artist envisioned the piece, down to the bruising of the skin around the torn flesh.


I also took a photo of a work-in-progress on his forearm:


The outline for the second piece is completed, for the most part, and it is soon to be colored.

This style of tattoo is often referred to as "torn flesh" and is marked by an added dimension of perspective. When done properly, the effect of the tattoo is unsettling, as if the skin of the tattooed person has been ripped away, exposing the workings within. The variance comes in what lies beneath the skin, which allows individuals to express more about their selves through their tattoo art. See some other examples of the torn flesh motif as seen on the site can be viewed here and here.

The machinery below Richard's outer layer of skin personifies that which drives him: mods.

The work shown is the creation of tattoo artist "Lil Kev" at Ink-Daddy's Tattoo in Salem, Oregon.

Richard tells me he's getting the forearm piece finished in a couple of days, so check back to see the link to the updated piece, once it's done.

Thanks again to Richard for his participation and cooperation in sharing his cool mod tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Japanese TATTOO Horimitsu style 鯉 カバーアップ

本日一件のみ。
鯉。
本日終了。

Only one today.
Carp.
Today's end.

Único hoy.
Carpa.
El fin de hoy.

Japanese TATTOO Horimitsu style 初代彫俊オフィシャルサイト

師匠の彫俊がホームページを作成しました。
すでに雑誌などでは紹介していますが、
改めてご紹介いたします。
私のホームページからリンクしようと思いましたが、
取り急ぎブログでリンク。関東彫 初代彫俊

Master HORITOSHI1 made the homepage.
I will introduce it again though it has already introduced in the magazine etc.
Though it was going to link from my homepage
It links hastily by the blog.
Horitoshi1

Amo HORITOSHI1 hizo los homepage.
Lo introduciré de nuevo aunque ya ha introducido en el etc de la revista. Aunque iba a unirse de mi homepage que se une apresuradamente por el blog.
Horitoshi1

Blocks of Lucky Ink: Heather's Tribute to Her Son

Heather has seven tattoos.

The one I noticed that led me to approach her is not the one you're about to see. It is on her foot and, in her opinion, slightly "flawed," so she chose to share one that is nearer and dearer to her heart:


The tattoo marks the birth date 3-28-99 and spells out the name Vegas, for her son.

What's particularly cool about this tattoo, which is on Heather's outer left forearm, is not just that she spells out her son's name in kids' building blocks, but that these blocks are also dice, which acknowledges the name Vegas, and its link to the city which is built on chance and luck.

Other images that ring the name are a slot machine, a horseshoe, and a hand of cards featuring four aces. The colorful dice/blocks also feature some traditional tattoo designs, including the standard "Mom" design (on the A block).

This great tattoo was completed in two sittings and was done by Baba, who works out of Vintage Tattoo Art Parlor in Los Angeles.

Heather also has a large back piece that she will hopefully share with us in the future,

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

Japanese TATTOO Horimitsu style 龍

本日一件目はお客様の都合によりキャンセル。
本日二件目。
胸割の龍。
これからよろしくお願いいたします。(^-^)
本日終了。
明日は定休日です。

The first is canceled by customer's circumstances today.
The second of today.
Dragon of MUNEWARI.
My best regards in the future. (^-^)
Today's end.
It is a regular holiday tomorrow.

El primero es cancelado por las circunstancias de cliente hoy.
El segundo de hoy.
Dragón de MUNEWARI.
Mi saludo en el futuro. (^ - ^) El fin de hoy.
Es una fiesta regular mañana.