Ashley's Ink: On Her Own Two Feet

I met Ashley in the <a href="http://www.njtransit.com/hp/hp_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=HomePageTo">New Jersey Transit</a> section of Penn Station last week after I spotted this tattoo on her right foot:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEt-IW17msnPzGHpR1gKaXr_v_9-OgSvuD7MkX5eDjLzPBLVBT2fk2Py6xPGSGeBB_SO2GgUTQ8evRaOIvrioZZ1-N4GCfpOQGRVLh_VLMGb9BOcYTa_0qxjf9VNQVc-pR3x56CT_D8AU/s1600/patronus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEt-IW17msnPzGHpR1gKaXr_v_9-OgSvuD7MkX5eDjLzPBLVBT2fk2Py6xPGSGeBB_SO2GgUTQ8evRaOIvrioZZ1-N4GCfpOQGRVLh_VLMGb9BOcYTa_0qxjf9VNQVc-pR3x56CT_D8AU/s640/patronus.jpg" width="334" /></a></div><br />Now, if you've not read the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter">Harry Potter</a> series, perhaps it is best to skip the rest of the post, because it might not make a lot of sense.<br /><br />Those in the know will understand what I mean when I explain that the ghostly creature on the top of Ashley's foot is the <a href="http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Patronus_Charm">patronus</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severus_Snape">Severus Snape</a>, as described in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_and_the_Deathly_Hallows">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</a>, the final installment of the seven-part series by <a href="http://www.jkrowling.com/">J.K. Rowling</a>. The patronus takes the shape of a doe.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://harrypotter.wikia.com/index.php?title=Patronus_Charm&image=Silverdoe-jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="313" src="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080605175252/harrypotter/images/thumb/1/1d/Silverdoe.jpg/253px-Silverdoe.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><br /><br />The quote above the doe is "It's real for us..." as remembered by Snape when speaking with <a href="http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Lily_Evans">Lily Evans</a>, the girl at <a href="http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Hogwarts_School_of_Witchcraft_and_Wizardry">Hogwarts</a> who became Harry's mother. Identical creatures appear when they cast the patronus charm.<br /><br />Ashley's friend drew it up and she had the piece done at <a href="http://www.tattoonationonline.com/">Tattoo Nation</a> in Wayne, New Jersey by <a href="http://tattoonationonline.com/montleon.html">Matt "Monty" Montleon</a>.<br /><br />This is one of two tattoos that Ashley has. The other resides on her left foot:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjk2vWzj_Vt1lFF0Qx1M207Mb4n46LR581uUw63BprQscExcMSpqBkf7K2Qs6zdgV6lRhUFV8TtKpqVmie6CrPvw4g6eDEDsnm2660vthzvEtjBk8Mq6rLiDb_HgtrEonraZBeLEPbZus/s1600/snowflake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjk2vWzj_Vt1lFF0Qx1M207Mb4n46LR581uUw63BprQscExcMSpqBkf7K2Qs6zdgV6lRhUFV8TtKpqVmie6CrPvw4g6eDEDsnm2660vthzvEtjBk8Mq6rLiDb_HgtrEonraZBeLEPbZus/s320/snowflake.jpg" width="186" /></a></div><br />The snowflake was also inked by Monty and is a memorial to Ashley's grandmother, whose last name was Snow.<br /><br />Thanks to Ashley for sharing her two tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Ashley's Ink: On Her Own Two Feet

I met Ashley in the New Jersey Transit section of Penn Station last week after I spotted this tattoo on her right foot: Now, if you've ...

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A Bright Spot in December: A Phoenix and a Pin-Up

As one would expect, inkspotting is tough during December. Here we are at the end of the month, and I have only interviewed three people since the 1st. There were a few times over the summer when I interviewed three contributors during my lunch hour!<br /><br />The last person whose work I photographed was Megan, who I found upstairs at the <a href="http://www.borders.com/online/store/StoreDetailView_582">Penn Plaza Borders</a> store.<br /><br />Megan has seventeen tattoos, but it was this one that caught my eye:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDI5zJQ7u2OEUeGHcZ9KMurA2o8adsHtE8R0LVWRmdqaN2L2dTg2yrULImowLK_hSQeXQWDneyy1zJs8hmlgY9gi9l4ZQ4T8nLRysS9HvapKyaORJzRmJphRfNeiREET75vIN1jsVX0LI/s1600/phoenix+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDI5zJQ7u2OEUeGHcZ9KMurA2o8adsHtE8R0LVWRmdqaN2L2dTg2yrULImowLK_hSQeXQWDneyy1zJs8hmlgY9gi9l4ZQ4T8nLRysS9HvapKyaORJzRmJphRfNeiREET75vIN1jsVX0LI/s640/phoenix+collage.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />This is a phoenix, of course, but fewer people may recognize it as <a href="http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Fawkes">Fawkes</a>, the phoenix of <a href="http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Albus_Dumbledore">Professor Albus Dumbledore</a>, in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_and_the_Order_of_the_Phoenix">Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjt_lrUAxHfVxqr_-0Gt52mR3J_dXnUmgG42KDYUI4s9m3bjQEoFJEHLqba-KY6wLvzumjJTOjDlafdvLsp7-fsfWzcLPJqP3il7LwkpbBLCyigpa5V62X1vpFmkhxguniuznzcs8LpMY/s1600/phoenix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjt_lrUAxHfVxqr_-0Gt52mR3J_dXnUmgG42KDYUI4s9m3bjQEoFJEHLqba-KY6wLvzumjJTOjDlafdvLsp7-fsfWzcLPJqP3il7LwkpbBLCyigpa5V62X1vpFmkhxguniuznzcs8LpMY/s640/phoenix.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br />The artwork is based on the illustration by <a href="http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Jason_Cockcroft">Jason Cockcroft</a> on the cover of the UK edition of the aforementioned book.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZCRp1f_biHF4O9LXGdU-FgNY-2EMWKjTVQQjlimlA4IcA1heDbvdJuwXsFNMUggIzsILRVkD4447r7wpFNCMYTOxnHVVVHgpz7RbkL703sVPzrZyedt53qD8_FtFhuV7FYw7TkYAAYA/s1600/order.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZCRp1f_biHF4O9LXGdU-FgNY-2EMWKjTVQQjlimlA4IcA1heDbvdJuwXsFNMUggIzsILRVkD4447r7wpFNCMYTOxnHVVVHgpz7RbkL703sVPzrZyedt53qD8_FtFhuV7FYw7TkYAAYA/s320/order.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br />The tattooist Jamie Nichols at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gargoyle-Tattoo/278773049770">Gargoyle Tattoo</a> in Aberdeen, Washington, completed this piece in about eight hours over two sittings.<br /><br />Megan also has this pinup on her upper left arm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxn1-b902cp2-yjYuFciUgKt5TA5BXWGtzQPJn0Jf_vRodFViB-6VJtfdqVdtJzCd7pwb6zacrlNJ3o3MMPk312xrxNUweBpAjHcJ1i7GYgyk0NYSYGkak7_WdYIY3mISp7jXCEHYVv2Y/s1600/pinup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxn1-b902cp2-yjYuFciUgKt5TA5BXWGtzQPJn0Jf_vRodFViB-6VJtfdqVdtJzCd7pwb6zacrlNJ3o3MMPk312xrxNUweBpAjHcJ1i7GYgyk0NYSYGkak7_WdYIY3mISp7jXCEHYVv2Y/s640/pinup.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br />The use of negative space for the bombs is pretty cool.<br /><br />Marcus was the artist at Gargoyle that Megan credited for creating this piece..<br /><br />Thanks to Megan for taking the time to speak to me about her cool tattoos!

A Bright Spot in December: A Phoenix and a Pin-Up

As one would expect, inkspotting is tough during December. Here we are at the end of the month, and I have only interviewed three people si...

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Two for Tattuesday Saturday: Wanderful Love Under the Cherry Blossoms

In honor of the release of <a href="http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/harrypotterandthedeathlyhallows/mainsite/index.html">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1)</a> , we're sharing this tattoo, which I spotted back in September:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzxBXWYvbpaHEut2ur5YUqoofXINr8whHYojPtyvwPol7IwZGFYELRTazss2TiYAycauqZ706An13_IJdAz6Z0Vm0_2qc_MfklQlM29VeB_3G8B5axpDDlHthCS3QgTv56-uEftbbOXw/s1600/wand+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzxBXWYvbpaHEut2ur5YUqoofXINr8whHYojPtyvwPol7IwZGFYELRTazss2TiYAycauqZ706An13_IJdAz6Z0Vm0_2qc_MfklQlM29VeB_3G8B5axpDDlHthCS3QgTv56-uEftbbOXw/s640/wand+wm.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><br />This belongs to Rich, a musician and rap artist. He's a big <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter">Harry Potter</a> fan, as exemplified by the magic wand. The snake at the base of the wand not only symbolizes infinity, it is a nod to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severus_Snape">Severus Snape</a>, a character associated with the House of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slytherin#Slytherin">Slytherin</a>, of which the serpent is the mascot.<br /><br />The concept of the tattoo is exemplified by the music coming out of the wand, illustrating that sounds can be magical and that Rich is under music's spell.<br /><br />The piece was inked by Chris at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/ladylucktattoostudio">Lady Luck Tattoo Studio</a> in Montville, Connecticut.<br /><br />When I met Rich, he was sitting with his girlfriend in Penn Station. She introduced herself as Kytti, and asked if I wanted to see her tattoo.<br /><br />But of course!<br /><br />She actually has two tattoos, but lifted up her shirt to show me this beautiful design:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPm6HEBiQMoqvBUWa2xZuD5l3Guu0zPB71uzquk1YWjGSSvonoSYbOASTozqjvRxAddvNOhwX2bRXkgGPADVrV8Bxpwjz-BYdP82Hz8WQ765G-jrdnYKfKZAZXNjqugtcYNMbvqIfHsI/s1600/Japan+love+wm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPm6HEBiQMoqvBUWa2xZuD5l3Guu0zPB71uzquk1YWjGSSvonoSYbOASTozqjvRxAddvNOhwX2bRXkgGPADVrV8Bxpwjz-BYdP82Hz8WQ765G-jrdnYKfKZAZXNjqugtcYNMbvqIfHsI/s640/Japan+love+wm2.jpg" width="406" /></a></div><br />Kytti explained that this represents her and Rich together in Japan. They've been together for over a year and they'd both love to go there together and experience the culture. The tree is filled with cherry blossoms, a flower often associated with Japan.<br /><br />Chris at Lady Luck also was the artist behind this tattoo.<br /><br />Thanks to Rich and Kytti for sharing their magical and romantic tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Two for Tattuesday Saturday: Wanderful Love Under the Cherry Blossoms

In honor of the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1) , we're sharing this tattoo, which I spotted back in September...

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