Happy Halloween from Tattoosday!

Here at Tattoosday, we're celebrating Halloween by posting the spookiest tattoo seen in the last month or so. Well, maybe not the spookiest, but certainly the most holiday-related tattoo:

This was offered up by Robert, who I met in Borders Penn Plaza last month. And yes, your eyes are not deceiving you, that is Frankenstein driving a Chevy (that's the stick shift he's gripping). Robert credits Adel at Addiction NYC with this tattoo.

Thanks to Robert for helping us celebrate Halloween here on Tattoosday!

Ashlee Channels Snow White

This work in progress is on Ashlee's arm:

The tattoo features Snow White at the top of the arm, with the witch's hand proffering an apple, wrapping around the arm:

Ashlee explained that the tattoo is commenting on how superficial the world is and how the idea of Beauty was the downfall of the title character, at least until she was rescued from her poison-induced slumber.

The tattoo is the work of Eric at King Pin Tattoos in Harker Heights, Texas. Work from Kingpin appeared previously in August 2008 on Tattoosday here.

Thanks to Ashlee for sharing her work with us here on Tattoosday!

Good Is A Girls With Colour Tattoo

Traci jupelerance

Ketty Margalerado

Most Beautfiul Form of Body Art - Tattoo Designs

If you are serious about getting your skin imprinted

with a permanent tattoo, it is important that you select just the right kind of tattoo design for yourself, one that fulfills the following very important requirements.

The tattoos design that you select should be - exactly and only - the one that you were looking for. See that you do not compromise on the shape, size and pattern of the tattoo design, due to any reason at all, for then you are bound to regret getting it done in the first place.


Apart from the pattern of the tattoo design, the colors and hues that you want your tattoo to display should also be the ones of your choice, and preferably ones that suit your skin tone.

It is extremely important that you remember the main reason behind getting the tattoo, and hence, also see that the tattoo design you select portrays the emotions behind it correctly. If it is for mere fashion, you could choose a trendy tribal tattoo design, or a symbolic and stunningly exquisite butterfly tattoo design.

Other than the requirements of the tattoo design that you choose, there are some that you as a purchaser need to consider, while looking for the perfect one. Here are the steps that you need to follow:

First, see that you look through all the available tattoo designs based on your chosen concept, present in various galleries on the internet, or with professional tattoo artists, and only then make your choice. If you want to bear a unique tattoo design, you could ask an artist to create one for you. Also keep in mind where exactly you you’re your tattoo to be situated on your body, and pick accordingly. Remember to keep the budget in mind too.

Next, you ought to find just the right tattoo artist, who will imprint the design onto your skin. You need to be careful while choosing one; see that he or she is a legitimate and expert flash artist.

Make sure that the needles and instruments used by the artist are sterile, you don’t want to end up with any kind of troubles due to it.

Once you have had your spectacular flash art inked into your skin, you will be ready to show it off to jealous viewers, and look gorgeous altogether. However, do remember to be absolutely certain that you want the tattoo, first of all, and also of the design that you select, for the simple reason that if you regret it later, the process of removal will not only be painful, but also very expensive. So choose wisely.

Nesting Dolls and a Zombie, Courtesy of Kristin

Last month, I ran into Kristin at the Penn Plaza Borders store.

She has ten tattoos, but the piece on her shin was the first one I spotted:

These Russian nesting dolls represents the friendship Kristin has with her friend Kyle (thus, the merging of their names into "Kryle").

It was tattooed by Bret from Electric Tattoo in Pasadena, Maryland.

Kristin also shared another tattoo, one certainly more appropriate for our current season. Check out this amazing tattoo:

This cool zombie piece was inked by Kike Castillo at Timmy Tattoo in Huntington, New York.

Kristin says that Kike is one of her favorite artists and she is happy for him to provide her with great body art. "He needed someone," she told me, referring to this particular tattoo, and "I'm always game". Tattoo artists love clients that let them do their thing, and you can tell with this great piece of art.

Thanks to Kristin for sharing her cool tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Tribal dragon tattoo

Tribal dragon tattoo on a male's chest whose body full of tattoo

Chinese Dragon Tattoo

Beauty Body Tattoo

Amanda's Phoenix

Amanda has two tattoos, one of which she shared with me at the end of August in the Penn Plaza Borders store.

This is the tattoo she designed:

Amanda was inspired by the "compelling mythology of phoenixes" and had Bobby at Modern Age Tattoo in Nanuet, New York, translate the design into the final product.

The quote, in Latin, "post tenebras lux" means "After darkness, light". This mirrors the life cycle of the mythological phoenix who dies, bound in flame, only to be reborn from the ashes. Clicking here will display the vast array of phoenixes that have appeared on Tattoosday previously.

In other words, even when things appear their darkest, affirmation is just within reach.

Thanks to Amanda for sharing this cool tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

best piercing and full body tattoo

No Limits To Tattooing

The lower back tattoo became the “tramp stamp” as almost every women had one and people began craving for something unique. Freehand designs were introduced, along with complex art involving different styles and colours. And now, with tattooing being so popular, people are becoming human canvasses and artists are working with a “no limit” mindset. Enthusiasts are following bodyart religiously and giving their bodies as a gallery for beautiful art. We’ve seen eye tattoos, tooth tattoos, head tattoos, face tattoos and even brand endorsements!

Gary's Three Knuckles Speak Volumes

I spotted Gary standing at the top of some escalators in Penn Station. As I passed him, I noticed he had knuckle tattoos so I stopped to ask him about them:

Gary explained that they are Korean characters

that translate to "Soo Bahk Do," or "The Way of the Striking Hand".

Soo Bahk Do is a form of martial arts that originated in Korea.

This unassuming gentleman has studied the form for seventeen years and is a third degree black belt. Gary studied at East Winds Karate in Port St. John, Florida.

The tattoo was inked at a shop on Eight Avenue in Bayonne, New Jersey.

Thanks to Gary for sharing his "striking" tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Full Back Maori Tattoo Designs For Mens

Full Back Maori Tattoo Designs For Mens

Accentuate Your Body With a Sexy Tattoo Design

Style Body Tattoo

Tattoos, which are largely popular today can be an accessory to spice up one's looks. Women, in particular, are often closely associated with sexy tattoo designs. These designs are tattooed in various parts of the body - some exposed to the public eye while other sexy tat designs are tattooed discreetly in parts that remain shielded from the prying eyes.

The options are aplenty where sexy tat designs are concerned. Still, the crop of women tend to largely associate tat designs that are colored with sexiness. For instance, a large rose tattoo with bright red colors on its petals, green for its leaves and brown/black for its stem/thorns is widely regarded as sexy. Having mentioned that, where sexy tattoo designs are concerned, many have the notion that apart from the designs in itself, the placement of these tattoos in itself are equally important.

As we mentioned earlier, sexy tattoos that are tattooed on different parts of the body will give out different messages or different levels of sexiness for that matter. As an example, women who choose to get tattoos on their breast and chest are are said to be romantic. On the other hand, tattoos that are done on the more intimate areas of the woman's body such as the inner thigh is said to ooze high in the level of sexiness. The reason for this is, as we mentioned early in the article, rarely seen by most people other than those that have c close, intimate and sexy relationship.

What this means is the issue of sexy tat designs is largely debatable and one that largely depends on the individual getting the tattoo. It comes down to the choice of whether the bearer intends the sexy tat design to be appreciated by the public or reserved for a special someone.

In addition, as sexy tat designs becomes increasingly popular and complement a host of different popular fashion, style and trends, more women are getting these tattoos to go with their hair, top, handbag and other fashionable accessories. With that in mind, an experience tattoo artist will be able to give suggestions and recommendations regarding the perfect sexy tattoo designs to obtain in order to complement a specific fashion, style or/and trend that is currently hot.

The above is only a guide for you to get your sexy tattoo designs that would suit you most. Getting the perfect sexy tattoo design will accentuate your body features and can make you look sexier than you would otherwise be without them.

The Tattoosday Book Review: Kat Von D's The Tattoo Chronicles

You can say a lot of things about Kat Von D. She is arguably one of the most well-known tattoo artists in the United States, if not the world. This fact, to old school tattoo enthusiasts, is not necessarily a good thing. She is the star of the hit "reality" series, L.A. Ink, has her own make-up line at Sephora, and on October 26, her second book, The Tattoo Chronicles, is being released by HarperCollins Design. And whether you love her or hate her, it's hard to argue the fact that this book, like its predecessor High Voltage Tattoo, is a lovely effort that looks and feels amazing.

Like her first book (reviewed last year on Tattoosday here), Kat Von D lets you into her world, with glossy detailed photos of her work and clients. But whereas her first book shows mostly her public persona, the new effort gives us an inside look at the inner thoughts and feelings of someone who is portrayed very much as a "character" on her television show.

It is L.A. Ink that has brought her fame, yet also the scorn and scrutiny of her detractors. The new book lets us peek behind the scenes and, if you didn't realize this already, the Kat Von D you see on the show is not the whole package. Through a diary/journal format, the reader is granted greater access to Kat's true emotions and feelings. We finally get to peek behind the character Kat Von D and meet the person.

It was on Page 44 where I first felt the facade truly come down. She talks about getting booed in the shop by "fans" who resent that she won't drop what she's doing to pose for photos for them, and there is the matter of the stalker who freaked everyone out in the shop. Granted, these are consequences nowadays for success of her order, but you certainly believe that such consequences were not anticipated when she headed down the road to fame.

It is also fascinating to read Kat's frustration with the onset of another season of L.A. Ink. If you're looking for validation that the only thing real on the show is the tattoos, it's here. I was reminded of Charles Bukowski's strong aversion to poetry readings. He despised them, yet they were often necessary as sources of income. The spectacle often outshone the poems. Similarly, L.A. Ink's forced drama often swallows up the tattoos, yet the drama drives ratings, which lets the series continue to showcase tattoos, which is why many of us tune in in the first place.

Whereas I found her journal entries fascinating, as I am sure most readers who are fans of the show will as well, there are still pages and pages of photographs featuring her work (drawings, sketches, and of course, tattoos) that are breath-taking in their beauty.

Viewers of the show  know that this book has been in the making for a while and it has found its way into plot points as well. Fans will also note that the author's relationship with Nikki Sixx, bassist for Mötley Crüe, runs throughout the volume (as it has in the reality series). However, 2010 has been a tumultuous year for the couple, having broken up, and then, quite recently, reportedly gotten back together. All that said, it's very interesting to read about the relationship with a future perspective.

Or, it isn't. If you're not interested in Kat's "personal" life, then perhaps you should pass on this book. I can see her detractors poring over the text, looking for evidence that reinforces their negative image of the artist, one that has been honed by the one-dimensional portrayal of her reality show and the tabloids.

For fans however, and the followers of Kat Von D's career, The Tattoo Chronicles, will be a treat, to be savored, an all-access pass to a window of her life, with a stunning visual guidebook to pore over, with evidence enough to back up her on-air claim of being so busy all the time.

My one criticism would be that we don't see enough of her tattoos, which is really what she is all about. I mean, sure it's interesting to see a full-page shot of her stuffed albino squirrels, but is it really necessary? I would have rather seen more art that she created, rather than collected.

However, in the end, I was delighted with the book. It really adds dimensions to one of the more dynamic celebrities in the tattoo industry. I doubt that it will turn detractors into fans, or fans into detractors, but it certainly provides those who admire Kat Von D for her art, a little more validation that she is a talented, complicated individual that can not only create amazing body art, but knows how to wow us with her pen, as well.

Missy's Initials, Illustrated by Gorey

I met Missy on the corner of 23rd and 7th back in the beginning of September and she shared her two tattoos, on both biceps.Her right arm bears this piece:

and her left shoulder hosts this cool image:

 

These images may seem familiar, because they are based on Edward Gorey's Alphabet.

Missy has the two pieces representing her initials, M and N. The right arm represents "M": 

And the left arm represents the "N" for her last initial:

Missy got these tattoos in Santa Cruz about ten years ago.

Thanks to Missy for sharing her cool Gorey tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

body tattoo

body tattoo

sexy girl tattoo in greyscale

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sexy girl tattoo in greyscale

sexy back tattoo girl

Heart Not Time

"I do not like the concept of linear time," Fredrika said to me, "moments and feelings should be more important".

This was her thought behind this tattoo:

I met Fredrika in Penn Station last month and she was kind enough to share this tattoo on her forearm.

She has a lot of ink, but this is her favorite piece.

Fredrika hails from Hamburg, where she is lead singer for a band called Jaguar of My Dreams.

Thanks to Fredrika for sharing with us here on Tattoosday!

Popular Tattoos For Women - Sexy, Not Shocking

Femininity of design is usually the norm of popular tattoos for women and such artful conceptions lean towards delicate charm and sophistication. In the infancy of tattooing as an art form, mainstream society revealed few women bearing tattoos and those who dared engrave their innocent bodies earned reputations as "undesired rebels" loitering out on the fringes of society. Alas, times have changed! Just over twenty years ago, tattooing hitched a ride in the fast lane to widespread social acceptance, in particular with the rise of celebrities exhibiting captivating body art. The difference was, not all these celebrities were men. Leading female celebrities broke the norm and the common woman soon followed.

Fast forward to modern society where cosmopolitan cultures reign and you will glimpse the raw power of attraction and playfulness wrapped up in the most popular tattoos for women. It is a rarity indeed, to find those who might find such artistic creations, offensive. While that is the consensus, there are still some things that just die-hard. More men still opt for a tattoo and social rebellion still favors the decision for some women to enlist the ravenous works of a tattoo artist. More often though, most women seek tattoo designs to compliment their femininity rather than make social statements. Nevertheless, in today's society, it is simply politically incorrect, to judge a woman's character based on her body art.

The physical make-up of women is inclined to represent delicate accents. From such perspectives, popular tattoos for women often are modestly dainty when compared with tattoos worn by men. It is rare indeed to see a woman with tattoos covering an entire limb; rather feminine tattoos tend toward isolation of specific body zones such as the lower back or the foot, ankles or wrists. They tend to function more as accessories. Women often prefer tattoos that are less boisterous and refraining from aggressiveness, where men's tattoos aim for the opposite effects. Women's tattoos are usually comprised of thinner lines, but it is worth noting there are always exceptions to such generalizations.

Accentuate Your Body With a Sexy Tattoo Design

Tattoos, which are largely popular today can be an accessory to spice up one's looks. Women, in particular, are often closely associated with sexy tattoo designs. These designs are tattooed in various parts of the body - some exposed to the public eye while other sexy tat designs are tattooed discreetly in parts that remain shielded from the prying eyes.

The options are aplenty where sexy tat designs are concerned. Still, the crop of women tend to largely associate tat designs that are colored with sexiness. For instance, a large rose tattoo with bright red colors on its petals, green for its leaves and brown/black for its stem/thorns is widely regarded as sexy. Having mentioned that, where sexy tattoo designs are concerned, many have the notion that apart from the designs in itself, the placement of these tattoos in itself are equally important.

As we mentioned earlier, sexy tattoos that are tattooed on different parts of the body will give out different messages or different levels of sexiness for that matter. As an example, women who choose to get tattoos on their breast and chest are are said to be romantic. On the other hand, tattoos that are done on the more intimate areas of the woman's body such as the inner thigh is said to ooze high in the level of sexiness. The reason for this is, as we mentioned early in the article, rarely seen by most people other than those that have c close, intimate and sexy relationship.

What this means is the issue of sexy tat designs is largely debatable and one that largely depends on the individual getting the tattoo. It comes down to the choice of whether the bearer intends the sexy tat design to be appreciated by the public or reserved for a special someone.

In addition, as sexy tat designs becomes increasingly popular and complement a host of different popular fashion, style and trends, more women are getting these tattoos to go with their hair, top, handbag and other fashionable accessories. With that in mind, an experience tattoo artist will be able to give suggestions and recommendations regarding the perfect sexy tattoo designs to obtain in order to complement a specific fashion, style or/and trend that is currently hot.

Rune's Viking Reflects His Cultural Pride

On a Friday last month, I ran into a couple from Denmark near Herald Square in the pedestrian median between Broadway and 6th Avenue.

The gentleman had a lot of work done on his legs, so I approached and introduced myself. Rune was kind enough to not only share a tattoo, but to pull up his shorts a bit to reveal this tattoo that ran from his mid-thigh down to his calf:

 

Rune explained that this Viking tattoo reflects the pride he has in the old history of the Norsemen that inhabited Scandinavia in the earliest part of the last millenium.

Rune credits Frans at Hugo Tattoo with this wonderful work.

Thanks to Rune for sharing this cool tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Bird and Flower Tattoo on Back Body of Girl

Amazing Tattoo Girl

Tattoo on Body Canvas

Amazing tattoo designs wrapped over this beautiful body

sexy girl with celtic tattoo on thigh picture

sexy girl with celtic tattoo

Best Sexy Girl Back Tattoos Specially Japanese Koi Tattoo Designs Pictures

Tattoo Designs Pictures

sexy hot girl back body tattoo very beautiful

sexy hot girl back body tattoo very beautiful

Shauncey's Pantherabbit

Last month in Penn Station, I ran into a gentleman who was covered with tattoos and was happy to share one with us here on Tattoosday.

As luck would have it, he was a tattoo artist himself, up from Florida, biding his time as he waited for his train to arrive.

As tattooists generally have a lot of work to share, it is always interesting to see what one piece they will offer up, and Shauncey Fury, of Ocala Tattoo & Piercing in Ocala, Florida, shared this whimsical piece:

 

Your eyes do not deceive you, that is a bad-ass panther wearing bunny ears.

Shauncey explained that he went to Mike Wilson, an artist at Inksmith & Rogers, in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, who is known for, among other things, his panther tattoos. They thought they'd "mix it up a bit" and added the rabbit ears for comedic effect. The result is a whimsical tattoo that is certainly a conversation piece!

Shauncey has been tattooing for five years and gravitates toward portraits and American traditional-style tattoos. You can see a sampling of his work here 

Thanks to Shauncey for sharing this cool tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Waiter, There's a Marlin in My Cactus!

Believe it or not, I still have a couple of lingering pre-September tattoo encounters to write about, one of which is this bizarre tattoo I spotted two months ago today:

This tattoo on Michael's right ankle is one of three that he has. He explained that it is an interpretation of a painting that hung in Flaco's Cuban Bakery in Gainesville, Florida where he played in the house band, Michael Claytor & His Friends.

The band played there for two years and, as a tribute to the experience, Michael had this tattooed to honor the experience.

This was inked by Mike Salay at Anthem Tattoo in Gainesville.

Thanks again to Michael for sharing this cool and unusual tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

And a little Michael Claytor bonus: