Thursday, October 11, 2012

Tom Shares His Escher and Hokusai-Inspired Sleeves

Back in June, I rode my bike out to the Coney Island boardwalk and did a little inkspotting. One of the several tattooed individuals I met was Tom, who had some cool work to share.

It was his M.C. Escher-inspired sleeve that first caught my attention:


Among the designs from which Tom drew inspiration were Escher's "12 Birds"


and his "Lizard."


Tom credited his artist Haun Duong, located in Queens, with this work.

His other arm has a compilation of the works of the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai:


This is based primarily on his most recognizable work, The Great Wave of Kanagawa:


Tom told me that the koi fish represent the fact that he is a Pisces and that he has a twin sister. And there are additional elements from the Japanese master lower on the arm that represent him and his wife, along with three turtles (not pictured) which represent his kids. And inside the bicep:


The falcon and the snake represent the good and the bad within him.

Thanks to Tom for sharing his great work with us here on Tattoosday!

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I love this tattoo and all the vibrant colors, but, especially what symbolism that it represents for Tom.