Put On Your Dancing Shoes: Meet the New Cast of DWTS
First Up ... The Women:
Audrina Patridge
Brandy
Bristol Palin
Florence Henderson
Jennifer Grey
Margaret Cho
And Now ... The Men:
David Hasselhoff
Kurt Warner
Kyle Massey
Michael Bolton
Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino
Rick Fox
Getty
Two Segements of Renae's Arm
Let's deconstruct:
The first part of this tattoo is the dark heart on the inner part of the forearm. Renae attributes this to Rob at the Orlando branch of Hart and Huntington. In over three years of inkspotting, this is the first piece on Tattoosday that has been credited to one of their shops.
Renae, who has "no idea" how many tattoos she has (which is synonymous for "too many to count"), wanted to add to her arm, so she headed to Brooklyn Ink in Bay Ridge.
Alex Franklin was given free reign, according to Renae. Her exact quote was "use your imagination and run," which must be music to many a tattooists ears.
Alex did the flourishes around the original tattoo, along with the phrase "gutta cavat lapidem," a Latin phrase by Ovid which translates to "dripping water hollows out a stone," which is a shortened version of the line "Dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through persistence." This quote is known to many New Yorkers who have seen it inscribed underground here (with a broader description here).
And he tattooed the piece on the other side of the arm:
Work from Brooklyn Ink (and a lot by Alex) has appeared previously on Tattoosday here.
Thanks to Renae for sharing her tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!
FINISHED PIECE OF ANOTHER PLACE AND TIME
IF I HAD SPACE LEFT ON ME ....ID GET THE SAME PIECE. THIS WAS ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES I EVER WENT THRU AND WILL NEVER FORGET
2010 Emmy Awards: Glamour Girls
These glamour girls look radiant and ravishing on the red carpet. Eva, Lea, January, and our other famous small-screen stars certainly made a big impression at the 2010 Emmy Awards.
Claire Danes
Lea Michele
January Jones
Jayma Mays
Eva Longoria
Keri Russell
Kyra Sedgwick
Brooke Burke
*Photos Courtesy: Getty Images
John's Root People
I had been admiring his sleeve on the train, but didn't have the opportunity to speak to him about it until after he got off the subway.
He referred to these creatures as "Root People":
It's an abstract collaboration with the artist, Rickett, at The Ruby Lantern in Carson City, Nevada.
They started working together in January of this year, and they're not yet finished with the whole sleeve. As you can tell, it's very unusual and has a very unique approach.
These designs are all on John's right arm, and I am particular to the female tree person above on his inner forearm.
Thanks to John for sharing his Root People here with us on Tattoosday!
Gina's Phoenix
Alas, like so many folks to whom I give fliers, I didn't receive any emails or photos. But a month passed and one day I was pleasantly surprised to see an email from Gina, with the following photos of her phoenix tattoo:
I'll let her explain the rest:
"... I had completely forgotten [about sending in the photo] until I found the picture I took for you on my camera... This was done by Junii at the Diamond Club in San Francisco. [Bill Salmon, Junii's husband, is the studio owner]. She does amazing line work. She's also incredibly conscientious about design and her clients. For both my tattoos, she spend a lot of time talking with me, looking at the 20 pictures I had brought in of bits or aspects of what I wanted, then went off and did her own research, always coming back with exactly the right drawing.
This one - I got it after a really, really difficult year. So, obviously, not the deepest symbolism - just wanted to remind myself of the possibility of renewal."
Thanks to Gina for sharing her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!
Alex Shares a Floral Tattoo, Roots and All
Back in July, for example, I approached a guy on the West 4th Street subway platform to ask him about this tattoo on his right forearm:
It was only after I said hello to him that I realized he was someone named Alex who lives in my neighborhood in Brooklyn.
In fact, Alex had a tattoo featured here back in 2009, after I stopped him in the laundromat.
This floral tattoo is a representation of how a flower overcomes obstacles and pain to lay down roots, rises up, and blooms.
He draws the comparison to life, as nothing comes without hard work and bypassing obstacles.
The tattoo was created by Shon Lindauer at Thicker Than Water in Manhattan. Shon is the same artist that did the tiger on my calf. Other work from Thicker Than Water has appeared previously on Tattoosday here.
Thanks to Alex for once again sharing his work with us here on Tattoosday!
Kevin's Gravitational Tattoo
He explained that he enrolled in school not knowing for sure what he wanted to do. He was on a path for a career in finance, but also has a keen interest in art and graphic design.
He says that the tattoo is a reminder that, although gravity is all around us, and pulling us toward the status quo, he should stay true to himself and never give up his interest in art.
He had this done by Betty Rose at Red Rocket Tattoo in Manhattan. Work from Red Rocket has appeared previously on Tattoosday here.
Thanks to Kevin for sharing his Gravity with us here on Tattoosday!
It’s going to be a boy for the Travolta family!
It’s going to be a boy for the Travolta family!
E! Online reported that a rep for actors John Travolta and Kelly Preston confirmed that the couple is having a son.
Read The Full Story: John Travolta, Kelly Preston Having A Boy – IndyPosted
A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists. — Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard
Travis and Another Perspective of Ganesh
But there are always exceptions.
Take, for example, Travis, who I met on Monday near the corner of 32nd and 8th Avenue waiting for a bus.
Under normal circumstances, you'd have seen Travis's tattoo in September but, the next day, I got the following mysterious tweet: "@Tattoosday post pictures of that guys tattoos- you were talking to him yesterday outside MSG plzz! *stalker*".
What?
Well, a little bit of digging, and I discovered that the source of the message was Hannah, who appeared last month on Tattoosday here. 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:
Travis's tattoo depicts the Hindu deity Ganesh. However, unlike this Ganesh tattoo, this one has a twist.
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.
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.
The "F.I.A." on the banner stand for "Fuck It All".
Travis has eight tattoos, which includes a full sleeve, all by artist Brad Stevens at Dare Devil Tattoo in New York City.
Thanks to Travis for sharing this interesting interpretation of Ganesh with us here on Tattoosday!
to: tiangotlost@gmail.com
date: Tue, Aug 24, 2010 at 11:31 AM
subject: Kanji translations
Hey there! I totally LOVE your blog!
ok, so I have 2 different Kanji tattoos. I researched them myself, and was after the Japanese meanings of the characters. I didn't trust a tattoo shop book for either one. The fire/Ice tattoo is supposed to me "to be devoted". The kanji is composed out of the negative space. I was after a verb form, and I am most worried about this one.
Tell me I did it right!! Otherwise, back to the needle I go!
Thanks,
A
Granted this tattoo intended to be read from Japanese perspective, but 沒頭 literally means "no head" in Chinese, in other words "lack of common sense".
Alan has the following to add:
The tattoo is evidently 没頭る, which appears to be a "slangy" way of writing the Japanese verb "hamaru" which in itself is a slang way to say "be a fan of," "be absorbed in" or maybe "be devoted to" something like a rock band or a manga or some other pop culture phenomenon.
Originally, the verb hamaru was written 嵌る or 填る (or sometimes ハマる), but evidently due to the influence of the noun 没頭 [bottō], which means "devotion to" or "absorption in" something, people started writing the word like 没頭る but still pronouncing it hamaru. Perhaps one reason why people started writing the word with these new characters is because both of the old ones 嵌 and 填 were removed from common use in Japanese.
This use of different characters to write words is called 当て字 (ateji) in Japanese. These 当て字 can be used on a whim and there are no particular rules except what becomes popular.
Without common sense, indeed!
to: tiangotlost@gmail.com
date: Wed, Aug 25, 2010 at 5:53 AM
subject: My husband's old tattoo!
I stumbled across your blog and have had a great time reading it!!
My husband is an unfortunate teenage tattoo victim. He very proudly displays this tattoo on his shoulder blade which he swears means "dragon". However I've looked up the character for dragon and it is nothing like his tattoo!
Does his tattoo have any meaning or is it an attack of gibberish?
Thank you!
Sarah
辰 represents the fifth zodiac year which happens to be "the year of dragon", not the actual dragon. However the tattooed character has an unnecessary extra bit at left upper corner.
Dragon is typically 龍 (or 龙) in Chinese, and 竜 in Japanese.
Small World, Tattoosday-Style
The gentleman asked who the artist was and mentioned his son was an artist as well. "Who?" I asked, and he told me, Mike Perfetto, aka Designs by Michael Angelo in Brooklyn. I gave him a flier and he introduced himself as Ralph Perfetto, our Democratic District Leader here in Bay Ridge.
I know you're likely thinking, "Nice story, Bill, but is it really that much of a small world coincidence?" Actually, yes, because my backlog had brought me to posting a couple of tattoos on Peter, who I had last seen at the Matty No Times benefit back on July 17. One of those tattoos, you guessed it, is by Mike Perfetto.
Let's take a look:
Pete also shared a tattoo on his leg by legendary Brooklyn artist Tony Polito. As you can see, Pete has quite a collection of ink, and he takes pride in the work he has from "old school" New York artists tattooing in the American Traditional style.
Pete explained that "Old Calcutta" was a nickname for Tony's shop from the early '80s to the mid '90s because of the high intensity atmosphere of the shop and the people who were there.
Thanks to Peter for sharing his tattoos with us here on Tattoosday (again and again). Peter has been working hard at New York Hardcore Tattoo on Stanton Street. They have recently remodeled the shop and are working hard on producing quality art on the denizens of New York City. Be sure to stop in and meet their crew.
Nick Hogan!
to: tiangotlost@gmail.com
date: Tue, Aug 24, 2010 at 11:21 AM
subject: A promise to my Mom
Hi,
I got this tattoo to honor my Mom after she died from early onset Alzheimer's. At the time, I went back to school while I took care of her and got a degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The location has a special meaning to me and the characters were written for me by one of my teachers.
The two characters are supposed to read "Ma Carol" and the squired symbol then makes it Ma Ma and Carol Carol (my Mom's name and my middle name). Also, I believe the characters can be read as "path" and "promise" as in I promised to help care for others on my new path as a healer.
However, I'm embarrassed to say I've forgotten which character is which and also want to find about about other possible interpretations.
Thanks in advance,
Maija M.
Top character 媽 is correct for "mother".
However tattooed character is not 路, which means "road / path".
FILLING IN TO FINISH UP....
THIS WAS SOME FINISHING TOUCHES TO THIS SLEEVE THAT HAS A LARGE PIECE OF ME, A PIECE OF MR. CARTOONS AND A LARGE PIECE OF JACK RUDY'S. ALL TO MAKE A HELL OF A COLLECTION ON THE HOMIE QUITO
Under One Small Star - Two Tattoos from Anna
I love seeing ink that is new and original, and I had never seen a line of anything run up the length of a leg like this.
Anna explained that this was a line of poetry that reads "My apologies to time for all the world I overlook each second" that she heard on a trip to Cambodia. Her group leader, Jan, had shared the poem, "Under One Small Star" by Polish Nobel Laureate Wislawa Szymborska, and the verse meant a lot to her during her trip there. This one specific line really resounded with her, so she first "paid a Khmer translation site and then had a friend [she] made in Cambodia, Ponheary, check the translation just to make sure it was correct".
I love the international flavor of this tattoo - a poem originally in Polish, translated to English, then re-translated to Khmer, transcribed in flesh in America!
The line runs from top to bottom and was inked by Jason at Powerhouse Tattoo Company in Montclair, New Jersey.
The poem is reprinted in its entirety at the end of this post.
Since it is Tat-Tuesday, let's look at a second tattoo from Anna, this one on the back side of her right arm:
This is Joan of Arc, "a hero of mine," says Anna, who admires her from the feminist perspective and finds her an "unbelievably inspirational" historical figure.
This piece was tattooed by the wonderful Stephanie Tamez at New York Adorned. Stephanie's work has appeared previously on Tattoosday here.
Thanks again to Anna for sharing these two of her seven tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!
Under One Small Star
My apologies to chance for calling it necessity.
My apologies to necessity if I'm mistaken, after all.
Please, don't be angry, happiness, that I take you as my due.
May my dead be patient with the way my memories fade.
My apologies to time for all the world I overlook each second.
My apologies to past loves for thinking that the latest is the first.
Forgive me, distant wars, for bringing flowers home.
Forgive me, open wounds, for pricking my finger.
I apologize for my record of minuets to those who cry from the depths.
I apologize to those who wait in railway stations for being asleep
today at five a.m.
Pardon me, hounded hope, for laughing from time to time.
Pardon me, deserts, that I don't rush to you bearing a spoonful of water.
And you, falcon, unchanging year after year, always in the same cage,
your gaze always fixed on the same point in space,
forgive me, even if it turns out you were stuffed.
My apologies to the felled tree for the table's four legs.
My apologies to great questions for small answers.
Truth, please don't pay me much attention.
Dignity, please be magnanimous.
Bear with me, O mystery of existence, as I pluck the occasional thread
from your train.
Soul, don't take offense that I've only got you now and then.
My apologies to everything that I can't be everywhere at once.
My apologies to everyone that I can't be each woman and each man.
I know I won't be justified as long as I live,
since I myself stand in my own way.
Don't bear me ill will, speech, that I borrow weighty words,
then labor heavily so that they may seem light.
--Wislawa Szymborska
One Funny Man!
Here's one of my favorites:
You can also see him here in one of the Scientology public service announcements about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
And in the video: What Scientologists Say about Scientology:
He also does a lot of work for Galaxy Press, which publishes the fiction works of L. Ron Hubbard. He regularly appears in the Golden Age Story presentations, held at Author Services Inc. in Hollywood.
A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dream
The Box-Office Beat: The Expendables Takes the Top Spot
Stallone and his brawny pals brought in the big bucks this weekend at the box office. See what other movies made lots of money ...
1 - The Expendables: $16.5 M
2 - Vampires Suck: $12.2 M
3 - Eat Pray Love: $12 M
4 - Lottery Ticket: $11.1 M
5 - The Ohter Guys: $10.1 M
6 - Piranha 3D: $10 M
7 - Nanny McPhee Returns: $8.3 M
8 - The Switch: $8.1 M
9 - Inception: $7.7 M
10 - Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: $5 M
Caitlin's Pin-up with a Heart on the Sleeve
She obliged, selecting this, her most recent tattoo:
This is based on the artwork of the pin-up stylings of Baron von Lind. I believe the piece that this is replicating is his work "Daphne":
I wish I could give proper credit to the artist, but it was a noisy train platform, and I scribbled down Willie Childress, Asheville, North Carolina. If anyone knows who this is, or what shop he belongs to, please let me know so I can give the artist his proper due.
Thanks to Caitlin for sharing her pin-up with us here on Tattoosday!
Be sure to head over to the Baron von Lind website to see more of his art.
Open!
So what am i talking about here?
The shop open/closed sign, that's what!
I finally finished the sign that i have been working on for months.
We still don't have an actual shop sign, and we really don't plan on getting one, but now people will at least be able to see when we're open.
In the beginning i used a pattern, but the closed sign i pretty much made it up as i went along.
And considering that this is only my second cross-stitch project (the first finished one is this), i think it turned out pretty well.
Hope y'all like it!