The Tattooed Poets Project: Noemi Soto

Today's tattooed poet is <a href="http://noemisoto.com/dreamland/">Noemi Soto</a>, who sent us this lovely, colorful photo of her tattoo:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMD52K7gGjedMTrrZgARySPOYgwmJyFWFIWBsGC4VzTlNclwNjEOPYTv2Hr-w9kzO-jvEhZkkvGsqyAH6lQN9AU8DQnxgJR5KN6MsHG8IoyhUlC5Xm96LlXEjB757qJO9FnSX6MB4h17c/s1600/HeartTattoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMD52K7gGjedMTrrZgARySPOYgwmJyFWFIWBsGC4VzTlNclwNjEOPYTv2Hr-w9kzO-jvEhZkkvGsqyAH6lQN9AU8DQnxgJR5KN6MsHG8IoyhUlC5Xm96LlXEjB757qJO9FnSX6MB4h17c/s400/HeartTattoo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of Noemi Soto</td></tr></tbody></table>Noemi explains:<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">"I designed the tattoo for myself during a pretty rough period after a major breakup about 6 years ago. I wanted it to represent the heartbreak that I was feeling at the time but still hold hope for the future. The artist who tattooed me was Danielle Distefano while she was working out of <a href="http://www.daredeviltattoo.com/">Dare DevilTattoo</a> on </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Ludlow Street</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> in </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Manhattan</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">." </span></div></blockquote></div>Danielle is currently tattooing out of <a href="http://www.onlyyoutattoo.com/">Only You Tattoo</a> in Atlanta, Georgia.<br /><br />Noemi offers up this poem:<br /><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Beginning is the End is the Beginning</span></u></b></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Back when I was younger<br />My mother tried to protect my heart<br />Always telling me to never bare my insides for a man<br />to never let him in fully so that he may devour what I hold dear<br />to not let a man do to me what had been done to her</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Her backbone used to show signs of strength but now lacks the stamina to withstand the battle<br />She was once a woman so strong in her will<br />but with every man in her life taking pieces of her for themselves<br />she has now become a mere shell of herself<br />The stink of her childhood still lingering in her hair</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">I was witness to the tug of war my father and her used to play<br />saw the push and pull of their hearts<br />there was nothing unconditional about their love<br />not even when it came to me<br />there is nothing sentimental and heartfelt in the throwing of pots, pans and fists<br />“I love you” cannot be said through the gnashing of one’s teeth</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">So when it came time for my will to be tested<br />I acted on what I saw and not what I was told<br />What I was shown was that to be a woman meant having to bend your spine so far back to please your man that you broke yourself in two<br />To stretch those parts of yourself out so that you may give him the smoothest of surfaces in which he may stomp your hopes and dreams into<br />To ignore his faults and accept them as your own<br />How dare you even think otherwise?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">I was taught that… to be a woman meant having to pick up the pieces that were left behind from his war path<br />making sure only your feet bled in the process to save his<br />Being a woman always meant never asking any questions<br />to let him roam and if he comes back … well… what more do you want?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">I followed all of these lessons very carefully<br />made sure I folded the laundry just right<br />had dinner ready when he came home<br />and always made sure to give him his space<br />only to find myself face down on the floor, arms pinned behind me, with all of his weight pressing his right knee into my back<br />I waited until he left the room to get up</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">I stayed in silence<br />still willing to be the woman behind the man<br />Still willing to be the glass which he slammed his fist against<br />shattering any sense of self worth I had just for him</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">I began to wonder if this really was what it meant to be a woman or just the kind of woman who was so lost in herself that she was willing to let a man tell her what she should be<br />and if it did …. Then I had to learn to become my own woman<br />and I couldn’t do that by being underneath his thumb</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">So I bent back each one of his fingers till they snapped at the joints to show him how serious I was<br />It was the only way to break free<br />and while he screamed in pain and cursed me for having been born</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><br />I cleared a way for myself through the broken home which I was sure would last forever<br />letting him know that he no longer had a hold on me<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Noemi Soto is a Brooklyn, New York native who was born and raised in Coney Island and is a recent transplant to Queens. Her poetry has been featured in a variety of publications such as <i><a href="http://www.acentosreview.com/Home.html">The Acentos Review</a></i>, <a href="http://theliteraryburlesque.com/"><i>The Literary Burlesque</i></a>, <a href="http://litupmagazine.wordpress.com/"><i>LitUp Magazine</i></a> & <a href="http://www.southjerseyunderground.com/"><i>South Jersey Underground</i></a>. She is a Pushcart Prize nominee and is currently working on her first book. You can read more of her work  at her website <a href="http://noemisoto.com/dreamland/">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks to Noemi for her contribution to the Tattooed Poets Project!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. The poem is reprinted here with the permission of the author.<br /><br />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 </span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><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>

The Tattooed Poets Project: Noemi Soto

Today's tattooed poet is Noemi Soto , who sent us this lovely, colorful photo of her tattoo: Photo Courtesy of Noemi Soto Noemi explains...

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Christmas House Cleaning

Regular readers of Tattoosday will notice that, although I generally follow a chronological order when I share tattoos I have encountered.<br /><br />However, certain pieces, for various and sundry reasons, have been bypassed, and haven't made it to the blog, until now.<br /><br />I was originally going to post a dozen to represent the Twelve Days of Christmas, but I settled for eight. For the nights of Chanukah, perhaps?<br /><br />Without intending to offend anyone for not receiving a post all to themselves, I have lumped these tattoos, spanning from late August to late October, in one post.<br /><br />These are the neglected tattoo pictures that are just a little off, some not through the fault of the contributor, but for reasons beyond their control.<br /><br />The quality of the photo may not be ideal, or the host and I faced a language barrier that prevented a good back story from emerging, or I didn't find the story behind the tattoo especially compelling. And then<br />there's what is likely one of the poorest tattoos I have seen, but the story behind it is somewhat compelling.<br /><br />So, without further ado, here is a Christmas cleaning, eight posts rolled together into one gigantic one.<br /><br />~~~<br /><br />First up, we have Esteban, who shared his sleeve when I met him in September, at <a href="http://www.fairwaymarket.com/Directions/redhookdirections.html">Fairway</a> in Red Hook:<br /><br />Alas, I was still using a borrowed camera, and several shots were over-exposed and/or blurry, but I was able to salvage this one:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCKpO9H6mA_MZ5ou0CpD-J2GxeRk5BO22IgXm2D1q3nv-aiJZciRF6GQkQT9zEvURzPbrUADwkMXgWYESPM5JR0zCNFWBvDeNtpGFrQz8ko2I5vsCK6glxYHmWQCxHF4MN3EYkBj4m4Q/s1600/esteban.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCKpO9H6mA_MZ5ou0CpD-J2GxeRk5BO22IgXm2D1q3nv-aiJZciRF6GQkQT9zEvURzPbrUADwkMXgWYESPM5JR0zCNFWBvDeNtpGFrQz8ko2I5vsCK6glxYHmWQCxHF4MN3EYkBj4m4Q/s640/esteban.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br />The artwork is pre-Colombian in its inspiration, and is part of a larger tropical motif. <br /><br />Next up we have Dave, who I met in Penn Station. He has over 25 tattoos and selected this one to share:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivUYW36jsOIdEdy7Br_K51DbhbKVpJZeviRPRK6c-dv9bN7PoJzWNGOq4cjBho_9y2pwP2dw78jJb83c9WIIRagbp5oqwOcoAIEC6y4dr-kPO0yq4sGALADusGIlFL2l3zzTknV1E_iw/s1600/United+and+Strong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivUYW36jsOIdEdy7Br_K51DbhbKVpJZeviRPRK6c-dv9bN7PoJzWNGOq4cjBho_9y2pwP2dw78jJb83c9WIIRagbp5oqwOcoAIEC6y4dr-kPO0yq4sGALADusGIlFL2l3zzTknV1E_iw/s400/United+and+Strong.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />The phrase "Uniting the Strong" is the title of a song from <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victim_in_Pain">Victim in Pain</a></i>, the second album from the band <a href="http://www.agnosticfront.com/">Agnostic Front</a>. This is a friendship tattoo that stresses unity and the host's nod to the hardcore punk scene.<br /><br />Dave credits Jelena at <a href="http://www.lonewolftattoo.com/">Lone Wolf Tattoo</a> in Bellmore, New York with this piece.<br /><br />~~~<br /><br />Next we have Orlando, a Fine Arts student at <a href="http://www.fitnyc.edu/">FIT</a>, where I met him outside while walking toward 23rd Street on my lunch break, also in September.<br /><br />This ship tattoo is an homage to his father, who served in the navy for thirty years. He wanted a "classic look" in the Sailor Jerry style.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0f_MXKN9uSjgLjcday1WfHZN1TZSdu2fRosiuhNWHNcnHsbuMf69hOk3WvRa0TpmTaeTwHemlJSbsx-iavyVZVmgEthqjSm4ZPOSm3ivAxyf4zMkEFd4mWqMDaxFGsII4m_z29TW1StQ/s1600/Orlando+Ship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0f_MXKN9uSjgLjcday1WfHZN1TZSdu2fRosiuhNWHNcnHsbuMf69hOk3WvRa0TpmTaeTwHemlJSbsx-iavyVZVmgEthqjSm4ZPOSm3ivAxyf4zMkEFd4mWqMDaxFGsII4m_z29TW1StQ/s400/Orlando+Ship.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><br />Orlando confirmed for me that his dad loves the tattoo.<br /><br />It was inked at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/crazy-fantasy-tattoo-new-york">Crazy Fantasy Tattoo</a> in Manhattan by an artist named Antonio.<br /><br />[Update: I got a better, crisper picture from Orlando of the ship tattoo in May 2011:]<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXuKT0m7hHLVSvg4hcB4lChONTyq6mAC6bl2w7Do8p_j0wS9DaVXTGrI3YJGxXwQATLk9GJNzuWE6Kafg9b3YmujeAmfHBZq-OSsc54qNKLBwhyphenhyphenbdREno1tdPBnXga6HtWT0KJWab7wI/s1600/Orlando+Ship+2011_picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXuKT0m7hHLVSvg4hcB4lChONTyq6mAC6bl2w7Do8p_j0wS9DaVXTGrI3YJGxXwQATLk9GJNzuWE6Kafg9b3YmujeAmfHBZq-OSsc54qNKLBwhyphenhyphenbdREno1tdPBnXga6HtWT0KJWab7wI/s400/Orlando+Ship+2011_picnik.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br />Orlando has seven tattoos in all [in May 2011, he updated this number to ten], and shared this one, as well, inked at <a href="http://www.daredeviltattoo.com/">Dare Devil Tattoo</a> on the Lower East Side.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZZvCEjXPnsUIZo5PVmbnlgU5aTF1FXanSPmRG1RnmRhHCfY6hdMuejtxSu5VKPGL3NUoGVfNX7f8-r9MAu_izIL8oxI0YofyOis2GFZ4TDf2e-Uv9MwjoOagh9SwEpSBsyu1p_ZDwiY/s1600/Orlando+Bon+Iver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZZvCEjXPnsUIZo5PVmbnlgU5aTF1FXanSPmRG1RnmRhHCfY6hdMuejtxSu5VKPGL3NUoGVfNX7f8-r9MAu_izIL8oxI0YofyOis2GFZ4TDf2e-Uv9MwjoOagh9SwEpSBsyu1p_ZDwiY/s400/Orlando+Bon+Iver.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><br />The quote, "<span id="search" style="visibility: visible;">This my excavation and today<i></i> is Kumran"</span> is from a song called "re: Stacks" by <a href="http://www.boniver.org/">Bon Iver</a>.<br /><br />Orlando explained that he interprets this quote as a reminder that "every day has the ability to make you or break you. It just depends on what you do with it." Other interpretations are <a href="http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858674649/">here</a>.<br /><br />For the record, I did email Orlando to ask for an opportunity to get clearer pictures, but I did not hear back from him.<br /><br />~~~<br /><br />I met Farkas in <a href="http://www.unionsquarenyc.org/">Union Square</a> back in October. He had this wolf on his right arm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMA9a9FQPdqfB8UFR6MAWlhxzNETG9XACGNz2uBX5BnprYOKwltlwngCfa1eSaHky1albtHSpBK726mOjzqOuhHZH5VGXhXv0WovIhOrBI5x1v-oSb86MIz0V0Wp7w5ryBG8Q0qU9QRLg/s1600/Farkas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMA9a9FQPdqfB8UFR6MAWlhxzNETG9XACGNz2uBX5BnprYOKwltlwngCfa1eSaHky1albtHSpBK726mOjzqOuhHZH5VGXhXv0WovIhOrBI5x1v-oSb86MIz0V0Wp7w5ryBG8Q0qU9QRLg/s400/Farkas.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />He explained that his name means "wolf" in Hungarian, and that one of his friends in Hungary did this tattoo for him.<br /><br />~~~<br /><br />A couple days after meeting Farkas, I met an Israeli named Ran on 34th Street across from <a href="http://www.macys.com/">Macy*s</a>. He shared this iguana on his right leg:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHj2VounzL4T6Mx3cKaxi-zeRl040YaomM-YqtDCvi8VRfCmdpZHf74w8Ryg1n3rXY3p5vJ6azsEr4mCA1u8BlpJOoKnIYTP1QrFdKgLCxLdZrPl7RSC62Id019VaFMOnZhDff55WnuM/s1600/Iguana_picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHj2VounzL4T6Mx3cKaxi-zeRl040YaomM-YqtDCvi8VRfCmdpZHf74w8Ryg1n3rXY3p5vJ6azsEr4mCA1u8BlpJOoKnIYTP1QrFdKgLCxLdZrPl7RSC62Id019VaFMOnZhDff55WnuM/s640/Iguana_picnik.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><br /><br />It's a pretty nice tattoo, but he hasn't sent me any further details about it.<br /><br />~~~<br /><br />A couple weeks later, I was in the West Village before a concert, and met Carlos, a manager at the <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&expIds=17259,27342,27642,28067&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&cp=9&qe=cWRvYmEgMTAwMA&qesig=ioAfmDfQL9io8qJXivfDRw&pkc=AFgZ2tn4CORECvVIyeLyU2neM3rYho1uXF-JgkCMN3WPXIASZMzsBqf9zoXZYVCZMemdAnlBQwpPIUCXg07_bR4jmJS4wGewDw&client=firefox-a&hs=mBF&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=qdoba+10001&fb=1&gl=us&hq=qdoba&hnear=New+York+10001&ei=-DoWTejMIM6s8AaP58W7Dg&sa=X&oi=local_group&ct=image&resnum=2&sqi=2&ved=0CAQQtgMwAQ&iwloc=3378200444570630634">Qdoba Mexican Grill</a> where we were having a quick bite before the show. He shared this intricate tattoo on his right arm:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8KUnEG425eSfjpANGwbxuUSu-w2jJZCT2xzDpA4H05-MXMrw9ZIyOZFF6rYlCx-rPDwnSqfT526k8_7fsGRDjTcesXnP7Lqr3eVmI9FzLCIiNFq4d4G1cp4Utm8VK7bE7CIf_TZjsTE/s1600/puzzle+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8KUnEG425eSfjpANGwbxuUSu-w2jJZCT2xzDpA4H05-MXMrw9ZIyOZFF6rYlCx-rPDwnSqfT526k8_7fsGRDjTcesXnP7Lqr3eVmI9FzLCIiNFq4d4G1cp4Utm8VK7bE7CIf_TZjsTE/s640/puzzle+wm.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><br />He and friend collaborated on this tattoo together. He told me that, when he was little, he did jigsaw puzzles with his mother a lot. The tattoo reminds him of those fun times growing up.<br /><br />~~~<br /><br />The following week, I ran into Iancu in Penn Station, and he shared this piece on his upper left arm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEila4qrxm6SgDAx48PTDTSd93tZiNLvZrZ9pm02Xr9fGp-SM7AgtwiL9L7_1pCHfJCb0Kxw6ebhkEV4I7M83bq-zVJszsVpRh0Mmk6PcVWqjXMAOBL2M58lp2qjTTUkY2KIXQnZBqSM404/s1600/guns+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEila4qrxm6SgDAx48PTDTSd93tZiNLvZrZ9pm02Xr9fGp-SM7AgtwiL9L7_1pCHfJCb0Kxw6ebhkEV4I7M83bq-zVJszsVpRh0Mmk6PcVWqjXMAOBL2M58lp2qjTTUkY2KIXQnZBqSM404/s400/guns+roses.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />Iancu told me he came to the artist, Rico, formerly of <a href="http://www.risingdragon.com/">Rising Dragon</a> in Manhattan, who was initially unwilling to do the tattoo. However, he convinced him to do it. It's basically a <a href="http://web.gunsnroses.com/index.jsp">Guns N' Roses</a> tribute although, he<br />noted, the guns were added about a year and a half after the original design was inked.<br /><br />~~~<br /><br />And finally, I must first say that  it is very rare that I ever criticize the quality of a tattoo.<br /><br />Even if it is inferior to the work of much better artists, I always like to believe there are some redeeming qualities in a tattoo.<br /><br />Which is why I struggled with this next tattoo, which I photographer back in August, and which I have included in this odds and ends post in December.<br /><br />I approached a guy named Danny who had a lot of interestingly-tattooed words and such on his arms.<br /><br />However, he offered to remove his shirt in Penn Station so I could photograph this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tErFkoR-1ZguP7shaYccHEfl1TmXehyphenhyphenugnQkyYRXSAx4R84vjq09C4-v26HETL4z79Ge7O81RmsTALz7RTgEW9cH0hwgqzjM856GwE8X6K-lO8T62RVUcJ7ht-yM4F-dGyMqxnvqPjs/s1600/diamonds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tErFkoR-1ZguP7shaYccHEfl1TmXehyphenhyphenugnQkyYRXSAx4R84vjq09C4-v26HETL4z79Ge7O81RmsTALz7RTgEW9cH0hwgqzjM856GwE8X6K-lO8T62RVUcJ7ht-yM4F-dGyMqxnvqPjs/s400/diamonds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Um, yeah.<br /><br />If this was done by an experienced artist, I would likely not have posted it. Despite its obvious flaws, it is compelling, in my opinion, because Danny told me, like all his tattoos (15 or 16, he told me), this one was<br />self-inked. Now, I can see tattooing one's arm or leg, but I cannot even fathom how challenging it would be to self-tattoo your chest. He estimated this took one and a half hours to do.<br /><br />The message is "Diamonds Aren't Forever," or, in  Danny's words, "don't take what you have for granted".<br /><br />~~~<br /><br />So there you have it, a Spring Cleaning for Christmas.<br /><br />I do sincerely thank the individuals who shared their tattoos in this entry. Happy Holidays, y'all!

Christmas House Cleaning

Regular readers of Tattoosday will notice that, although I generally follow a chronological order when I share tattoos I have encountered. H...

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Jackie's Vintage Postcard

I caught up to Jackie after she passed me in Penn Station and I was delighted when she agreed to share her tattoo with us:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsv6ugr0v_vqFa9DZ-YJSFxg_oRjJzPTYoUHCqkO1eKgQTTZZjH_Z8fiUMYA-6iRaQ8wmmvvJcc0rEbzaPEU1teP2K5R75PM9uBE-wEVbK1qezyzyPAauC9ZumXsQT8aDwEva-WFg/s1600/peacock+postcard+main+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsv6ugr0v_vqFa9DZ-YJSFxg_oRjJzPTYoUHCqkO1eKgQTTZZjH_Z8fiUMYA-6iRaQ8wmmvvJcc0rEbzaPEU1teP2K5R75PM9uBE-wEVbK1qezyzyPAauC9ZumXsQT8aDwEva-WFg/s640/peacock+postcard+main+wm.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><br />It's a truly remarkable piece, and I was thrilled to hear it was tattooed by the amazingly talented <a href="http://amandawachobtattoo.com/">Amanda Wachob</a> at <a href="http://www.daredeviltattoo.com/">Dare Devil Tattoo</a> in New York City. She is well-known for an amazing eye for detail for tattoos that appear as if they were just painted on. I mean, look at this delicate touch on the back side of the piece:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81k_cwq_gPn9q1ShPm4SdQJM9Y-dADCLMDVjJKCPk7SdLBY9ob_1HlyZJa6UTYkUnRbG_opxq1h8r8g1l6kiERty18TKOo1kWOaOsPjKfDchKYM3mNRVLQJVPdhhx-tvCsPOVuI9r/s1600/peacock+postcard+back+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81k_cwq_gPn9q1ShPm4SdQJM9Y-dADCLMDVjJKCPk7SdLBY9ob_1HlyZJa6UTYkUnRbG_opxq1h8r8g1l6kiERty18TKOo1kWOaOsPjKfDchKYM3mNRVLQJVPdhhx-tvCsPOVuI9r/s640/peacock+postcard+back+wm.jpg" width="372" /></a></div><br />Jackie explained that the tattoo is inspired by art in a book of vintage, early 1900's postcards that she found from <a href="http://www.pleiadespress.com/pp/default.asp">Pleiades Press</a>. She credited S. Solomko as the artist who created the original piece which inspired this tattoo.<br /><br />She loved the vintage appearance of the original and Asked Amanda to recreate that feel.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU758fa2sbMUPOe-rG4jg069lSLQ0bcmRWUR72CH7sta9gJ_7pKlD7fni0UwSFwOj8wLkvneeVjIkLxGUqFDzp-1VXQdksVrr59ZqmYNpNBGnaX-T-M4TU07bydR-DDogIM2LRRv3I/s1600/peacock+postcard+head+detail+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU758fa2sbMUPOe-rG4jg069lSLQ0bcmRWUR72CH7sta9gJ_7pKlD7fni0UwSFwOj8wLkvneeVjIkLxGUqFDzp-1VXQdksVrr59ZqmYNpNBGnaX-T-M4TU07bydR-DDogIM2LRRv3I/s400/peacock+postcard+head+detail+wm.jpg" width="327" /></a></div><br />She also loves, from an artistic perspective, the female form, and the sensuality of the peacock feathers fanning out at the bottom of the tattoo. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKJCy7Qx29Bl3uT_VPSz04bjQSIEAyfTozeOLwIZ1BnJa6-YRLKO640ae-HQjrI6m27Qj4ruQCUZ3B6D2bkX8qyLNn0uzQ1OIBU6fSaFRAEJ_FMmXnoI5S-NEOPw4faRZNN1kcmq6/s1600/peacock+postcard+bottom+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKJCy7Qx29Bl3uT_VPSz04bjQSIEAyfTozeOLwIZ1BnJa6-YRLKO640ae-HQjrI6m27Qj4ruQCUZ3B6D2bkX8qyLNn0uzQ1OIBU6fSaFRAEJ_FMmXnoI5S-NEOPw4faRZNN1kcmq6/s640/peacock+postcard+bottom+wm.jpg" width="300" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Again, I can't help but marvel at Amanda's artistry and how she paints on a tattoo:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FvuG6lktnLYN4ljD3YokIP4MCgwuqSP4QhZImi1cZaNbllxT6ik6nrjAtlw8fOX6L5HZcD2ZxQgQjWBQxmtuHudKREO5c8QERmIdcscFEn-DUNrK22s6kUdFOhFkm9408A3uGLGq/s1600/peacock+postcard+bottom+detail+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FvuG6lktnLYN4ljD3YokIP4MCgwuqSP4QhZImi1cZaNbllxT6ik6nrjAtlw8fOX6L5HZcD2ZxQgQjWBQxmtuHudKREO5c8QERmIdcscFEn-DUNrK22s6kUdFOhFkm9408A3uGLGq/s400/peacock+postcard+bottom+detail+wm.jpg" width="343" /></a></div><br />Thanks again to Jackie for sharing her amazing tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Jackie's Vintage Postcard

I caught up to Jackie after she passed me in Penn Station and I was delighted when she agreed to share her tattoo with us: It's a truly ...

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Christina's Owl and Lighthouse

I met Christina one day after work while walking outside of Madison Square Garden.<br /><br />She had this incredible tattoo, which she gladly shared with us here on Tattoosday:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FjAsN6fQi-2nYnYL8ug5bRm4EAOPhbUEpEEpNf2y7vn9nVnbsDF1ckHphbc_16FGI4Nd6rYOVsuiWuoP6BiBuong8e0x9G-r1R3_BtV8_-r97xTzxos5d6AyDJFAVbvOb7GqN-HY/s1600/owl+lighthouse+collage+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FjAsN6fQi-2nYnYL8ug5bRm4EAOPhbUEpEEpNf2y7vn9nVnbsDF1ckHphbc_16FGI4Nd6rYOVsuiWuoP6BiBuong8e0x9G-r1R3_BtV8_-r97xTzxos5d6AyDJFAVbvOb7GqN-HY/s640/owl+lighthouse+collage+wm.jpg" width="324" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This tattoo that covers her upper left arm was actually done in two segments by artist <a href="http://www.orrinhurleytattoo.com/">Orrin Hurley</a>, who currently tattoos at <a href="http://www.daredeviltattoo.com/">Dare Devil Tattoo</a> in Manhattan.<br /><br />As for the source material behind this beautiful tattoo, Christina chose a piece of art by <a href="http://www.theburtongallery.co.uk/site/artists.php?prod_id=45">Frances Olive Esme Eve</a>:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTLqI7TbrTWvVm_8u5jIdaDLGfid83GGWoY5GXqkPcumVhDb7VcYfkq3g_-Hx9Bs9s7SoECbpm3gYEjh8uXcF4pPVchhiZ3Po2JNBfpZ2wsFNRotd8MBhh3KOlPKk7Osz7XoiYUzM/s1600/EsmeOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTLqI7TbrTWvVm_8u5jIdaDLGfid83GGWoY5GXqkPcumVhDb7VcYfkq3g_-Hx9Bs9s7SoECbpm3gYEjh8uXcF4pPVchhiZ3Po2JNBfpZ2wsFNRotd8MBhh3KOlPKk7Osz7XoiYUzM/s400/EsmeOwl.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />A closer look at the tattooed owl shows how it was changed, but you can still see that there is still a lot from the original design:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLT9dbbzsMPLewSvFNnDD-lxMeLA1nk7Zo0MtvLc-3k82I_lG_l7E_eLTwRnNIPlvUgf95Iyf_435iGI5VZzFlSpE3cn8NaMcRO0KwFyKQBOzfv_qTG6CerlnNUlN7zBA8Pptm-6b/s1600/Owl+Detail+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLT9dbbzsMPLewSvFNnDD-lxMeLA1nk7Zo0MtvLc-3k82I_lG_l7E_eLTwRnNIPlvUgf95Iyf_435iGI5VZzFlSpE3cn8NaMcRO0KwFyKQBOzfv_qTG6CerlnNUlN7zBA8Pptm-6b/s640/Owl+Detail+wm.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><br />The lighthouse was inspired by the <a href="http://www.portlandheadlight.com/home.html">Portland Head Light</a> on Cape Elizabeth, Maine.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIJSZ99zHEb4fqq298uJMy5_gliwVZFWXLZg2Vz8iqK0D-VcEo0H70U2y-BqjylQr8Wvd8ZPaU5pLcvgCdPY86F0UyWdbId5rX688UJD9D4Y2IfRikTgmYu-x2oKgXRlbM6FNBoZ8/s1600/Lighthouse+detail+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIJSZ99zHEb4fqq298uJMy5_gliwVZFWXLZg2Vz8iqK0D-VcEo0H70U2y-BqjylQr8Wvd8ZPaU5pLcvgCdPY86F0UyWdbId5rX688UJD9D4Y2IfRikTgmYu-x2oKgXRlbM6FNBoZ8/s640/Lighthouse+detail+wm.jpg" width="156" /></a></div><br />Thanks to Christina for sharing her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday.

Christina's Owl and Lighthouse

I met Christina one day after work while walking outside of Madison Square Garden. She had this incredible tattoo, which she gladly shared w...

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Travis and Another Perspective of Ganesh

People who are familiar with being featured here on Tattoosday know that there is a process, in which I generally go chronologically, and it often can be several weeks before I post their work.<br /><br />But there are always exceptions.<br /><br />Take, for example, Travis, who I met on Monday near the corner of 32nd and 8th Avenue waiting for a bus.<br /><br />Under normal circumstances, you'd have seen Travis's tattoo in September but, the next day, I got the following mysterious tweet: "<span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/Tattoosday" rel="nofollow">Tattoosday</a> post pictures of that guys tattoos- you were talking to him yesterday outside MSG plzz! *stalker*".</span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">What?</span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Well, a little bit of digging, and I discovered that the source of the message was Hannah, who appeared last month on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/07/sugar-skull-sunday-hannah-and-her.html">here</a>.</span></span></span> And since I'm a sucker for my fans, I'll gladly oblige and share Travis's tattoo with us here today. Here it is:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPCir8RANHUqzr9xXahxd2XR-qev1HetZicLaIvydCVBkmjfjHnVHZqj35vRUZezSnsa9vIcwfn5Pu7d0HQyhfF1iCGbyQluLnfWFrRh71fG5RiLznY6oHQBhFvzUgqFXEcubXgLa/s1600/Ganesh+Travis+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPCir8RANHUqzr9xXahxd2XR-qev1HetZicLaIvydCVBkmjfjHnVHZqj35vRUZezSnsa9vIcwfn5Pu7d0HQyhfF1iCGbyQluLnfWFrRh71fG5RiLznY6oHQBhFvzUgqFXEcubXgLa/s640/Ganesh+Travis+wm.jpg" width="404" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Travis's tattoo depicts the Hindu deity <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesha">Ganesh</a>. However, unlike <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/06/ganesh-waits-for-a-train.html">this Ganesh tattoo</a>, this one has a twist.<br /><br />Travis explained that one of the common beliefs is that Ganesh was born with a human head, but that he was beheaded as a boy, and his head was replaced with that of an elephant. He obtained a third eye so that he could make sure he was never betrayed again.<br /><br />Travis says that he often feels "too aware" of others, to the point that it detracts from his enjoyment of life. Thus, his tattoo of Ganesh has him literally slicing off the third eye, wielding a sword with his trunk, which metaphorically translates to Travis "cooling out" and being less aware so that he can enjoy life more.<br /><br />The "F.I.A." on the banner stand for "Fuck It All".<br /><br />Travis has eight tattoos, which includes a full sleeve, all by artist <a href="http://www.daredeviltattoo.com/component/option,com_gallery2/Itemid,26/?g2_itemId=2142">Brad Stevens</a> at <a href="http://www.daredeviltattoo.com/">Dare Devil Tattoo</a> in New York City.<br /><br />Thanks to Travis for sharing this interesting interpretation of Ganesh with us here on Tattoosday!

Travis and Another Perspective of Ganesh

People who are familiar with being featured here on Tattoosday know that there is a process, in which I generally go chronologically, and it...

Read more »