Tattoosday (A Tattoo Blog): July 2019

Wednesday, July 31, 2019

A West Side Shark

It's Shark Week, folks, last week I spotted this fierce creature on the subway on the Upper West Side:

Like just seeing a fin in the water, this is only a part of the whole tattoo, which wraps fully around the host's upper right arm.

It was a quick subway encounter, but I was able to get the photo on the 72nd Street platform and identify the artist, Kurt, formerly of Lola's Tattoos (@lolastattoos) in Bogota, New Jersey. Kurt now runs Hommage Tattoo (@hommagetattoo) in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.

~~As for the woman who so graciously shared this fierce creature, I haven't heard back from her, so she will remain anonymous, for now.~~

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

Be safe out there, folks!

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Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Olenna Tyrell and a Glass of Wine (2019 NY Empire State Tattoo Expo)

Earlier this month, I met Jayne at the 2019 NY Empire State Tattoo Expo (@nyempirestatetattooexpo).

I was walking past the booths and stopped dead in my tracks. The tattoo Jayne was getting was still in progress, but we chatted and she sent me a photo of the finished product after the weekend was over.
This is the tattoo:

In case you don't know, this is a portrait of Olenna Tyrell, a much-beloved character, portrayed by Diana Rigg, on Game of Thrones.

Jayne summed up her experience of the tattoo:

Inspired by the grace, wit and grit of Lady Olenna Tyrell, I wanted a portrait of her for several years. I entrusted my vision to Francisco Sanchez (@franciscosanchez_tattoo), co-owner of Dark Age Studio (@darkagetattoostudio) in Denton, Texas, to design and ink the tattoo. The result, detailed black and gray with the pop of deep red, captures the badass Tyrell matriarch, always ready to share a glass of wine.

This is the tattoo in progress, when I first happened to meet Jayne:

Jayne also noted:

"The wine glass is straight. Just had my arm bent. Drives me crazy bc it looks like it's jacked and Frank did such a great job, I hate there to be any concerns with his work."

Thanks to Jayne for sharing her awesome tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Karen Dreams Big With This Cool Tattoo

One of my favorite tattoos from last weekend's 2019 Empire State Tattoo Expo (@nyempirestatetattooexpo) wasn't done at the show, but merely spotted there. I posted it on Instagram last Saturday, but because of the size, I couldn't really share it in all its glory.

This tattoo, shared by Karen, is just super fun!

The words "Dream Big" appear in the clouds as this magical cat, be-winged and sporting a horn like a unicorn, travels through rainbows and space. So fun!

This remarkable piece was done by Erica Flannes (@ericaflannes) from Red Rocket Tattoo (@redrockettattoo) in Manhattan.

Thanks to Karen for sharing this awesome tattoo with us on Tattoosday!

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Hannah's Floral Sleeve (2019 NY Empire State Tattoo Expo)

When you go to a big tattoo show, like last weekend's 2019 Empire State Tattoo Expo (@nyempirestatetattooexpo), you see a lot of big show-stopper pieces, but I also love the smaller things that jump out at me, like the sleeve of flowers I spotted on Hannah:

Hannah's sleeve consists of at least six different varieties of flowers, including peonies, violets, black-eyed Susans, daisies, lavender, forget-me-nots, and lilies-of-the-valley.

She credited the work to Rebeka Chase (@rebekatattoos) out of Brass & Briar Studios (@brassandbriar) in Portland, Maine.

Thanks to Hannah for sharing her floral sleeves with us here on Tattoosday!

Monday, July 22, 2019

Miguel Shares Two Amazing Tattoos (2019 NY Empire State Tattoo Expo)

I'm still unpacking all the amazing art from this past weekend's 2019 Empire State Tattoo Expo (@nyempirestatetattooexpo), so expect to see a lot of amazing work in the days to come.

Yesterday, I met Miguel, who shared these two astonishing pieces:

This is "Baby." How amazingly lifelike! This incredible piece was inked by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) from Lucky Style Tattoo in Russia and rests on Miguel's left arm.

And, on his right arm, is this beautiful tattoo:

This piece is by Denys Sivak (@sivak_) from L.O.V.E.machine (@l_o_v_e_machine) in New York City.

Thanks to Miguel for sharing these two incredible tattoos on Tattoosday!

Sunday, July 21, 2019

"Eve" by Tony ViLella at the 2018 Empire State Tattoo Expo

Today is the closing day of he 2019 Empire State Tattoo Expo (@nyempirestatetattooexpo) at the Midtown Hilton here in New York City!

As the Big Apple bakes, come inside to the air-conditioned venue and see some amazing tattoo artists at work.

Last year, "Best in Show" went to this piece on Greg, who spent 16 hours committed to this piece on his side he called "Eve":

This was the handiwork of Brazilian artist Tony ViLella (@tonyvilella).

Tony ViLella hoists the 2018 Best in Show Trophy for his work, "Eve," on Greg.

Thanks to Greg for sharing this last year!

The Expo starts today at Noon and closes out at 7pm at the Midtown Hilton (1335 Avenue of the Americas).

See you there!

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Josh's Astonishing Back Piece from the NY Empire State Tattoo Expo in 2018

The 2019 Empire State Tattoo Expo (@nyempirestatetattooexpo) continues today and runs through Sunday at the Midtown Hilton here in New York City!

The Hilton has A/C and it will be a great way to beat the heat, all while seeing amazing tattoo practitioners from around the world!

One of my favorites from last year was this amazing tiger back piece on Josh:

This was done by the talented Jon Davis (@jondavistattoo) out of Vessel Tattoo (@vesseltattoo) in Syracuse, New York.

Thanks to Josh for sharing this last year!

The Expo starts today at Noon and runs through Sunday at 7pm, all at the Midtown Hilton (1335 Avenue of the Americas).

Don't miss it!

Friday, July 19, 2019

2019 Empire State Tattoo Expo Begins Today!

The 2019 Empire State Tattoo Expo (@nyempirestatetattooexpo) begins today and runs through the weekend at the Midtown Hilton here in New York City!

Be sure to get your tickets and maybe you'll run into me!

One thing is guaranteed, you'll see some phenomenal art being created.

Take, for example, this back piece on Alissa:

Last year, Alissa "sat like a champ," as two amazing artists, Jhon Campuzano (@jhoncampuzanotattoo), co-owner of Focused on Creation (@focusedoncreation) and Andres Jaramillo (@andresjaramillotattoo) SIMULTANEOUSLY worked on this piece throughout the weekend as astonished convention-goers passed by and checked on the progress being made.

By the end of the weekend, Alissa had this amazing back piece to show for her patience and pain.

Thanks to Alissa for sharing last year and to Jhon and Andres for their amazing work.

The Expo starts today at 4pm and runs through Sunday at 7pm, all at the Midtown Hilton (1335 Avenue of the Americas). It's going to be a scorcher this weekend, so what better way to cool off, but to check out some great tattoos!?

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Natalee Sports Two of One Hundred Horses

Late last summer, on a journey to Washington, D.C., I met Natalee at the National Portrait Gallery and asked her about the tattoos on her arms:

Natalee explained that these amazing tattoos (look at the detail) were done by Richard Warnock (@warnocktattoo), a New Zealand artist who works out of Two Hands Tattoo (@twohandstattoo) in Auckland.

The art is inspired by the work of Lining Shang, who was born, Giuseppe Castiglione, namely his One Hundred Horses, which she had seen in a museum in Taipei, Taiwan. The scroll, considered one of the masterpieces of Chinese art, dates back to 1728m and features, as the name would imply, one hundred horses in various states.

Natalee elected two images from the work to adorn her arms, telling me that she her grandmother, who had suffered a stroke, was part of the inspiration behind these tattoos. They were done in tribute to her.

Thanks to Natalee for sharing these amazing tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Thursday, July 11, 2019

Destiny's Death Cupid

Back at the end of May, I was strolling through Battery Park on my lunch break, when I spotted Destiny, who shared this cool tattoo with us:

Destiny got this tattoo on a trip to Panama. She wandered into Rock Spot Tattoo & Gallery (@therockspot) in Panama City and was looking at some designs. She told me that she gravitated to this design, which she referred to as a sort of "Death Cupid."

The piece, Destiny told me, represented to her a "juxtaposition of love and death" and is on her "dark arm," the arm where she has some more of the darker images tattooed on her. She also noted that this piece, located on her left arm with the arrow aimed curving around the back of her biceps, has Death Cupid targeting her heart, biologically speaking.

Based on what she told me, I believe this to be the work of Damiani (@damiani_tattoo) at the Rock Spot.

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

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Jenna's Ship, Anchor and All

Last month in Brooklyn, I was enjoying some amazing beer at Other Half Brewing, when I spotted a woman with a really cool tattoo on the back of her leg:

Jenna explained that she was looking to get a tattoo and was researching on the web and googled the expression "A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are built for." One of the top image hits was this:

The rest, as they say, is history. She took the design to a shop in Washington D.C., and sailed away with the tattoo on her leg.

It's a cool concept and a great tattoo!

Thanks to Jenna for sharing her ship with us here on Tattoosday!

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

A Triple Shot of Kings Avenue Greatness

When I run into a tattoo artist in public, it's always a treat. Last week I spotted a gentleman with his baby outside of Federal Hall in lower Manhattan and lo, and behold, it was someone I knew.

I didn't recognize him, at first, but when I asked first if he was a tattoo artist and second, where he worked, I knew that when he said Kings Avenue Tattoo (@kingsavetattoo) on Bowery, that I probably already knew him.

I had run into Jason June (@jasonjunetattoos), whose work I have been familiar with ever since he first inscribed a "13" on my wife Melanie on a cold Friday the 13th back in 2009 at Daredevil Tattoo (@daredeviltattoo).

I have since featured a lot of work by Jason on Tattoosday, most recently this amazing lobster.

The tables were turned and I asked if he wouldn't mind sharing some of the work others had inked on him. He was more than happy to oblige and I pointed out this piece which had jumped out at me:

This stunning koi was inked by Will Lollie (@williamlollie) at the Kings Ave shop.

He also offered up these two pieces behind his knees, in the "ditches," as they say:

The piece on the left was done my the heart behind Kings Avenue, shop founder Mike Rubendall (@mikerubendall). The piece on the right was tattooed by the insanely talented Chris O'Donnell (@codonnell_nyc).

It is rare that I get such a veritable treat of outstanding work outside of a convention, so I was truly thankful that Jason was kind enough to share this work with me.

The amazing thing is that Kings Ave is PACKED with insanely talented artists. If you're unfamiliar with the shop, please check them out and follow them on all media social. You can also click here to see all of the work from the studio that has appeared on Tattoosday over the years.

Thanks again, Jason, for taking the time to share the amazing work with us here on Tattoosday!

Friday, July 5, 2019

Alina's Tarot Card on the High Line

Just last month, I visited The High Line (@highlinenyc) for the very first time, and I spotted this cool tattoo on Alina:

Alina explained that she got this tattoo, located on the back of her thigh, along with a friend, who got the same one. They are both Geminis, so the twin nature of this tarot card spoke to them.

She credited the work to Scott at Stiehl's Body Modification Station (@stiehlsbodymod) in Ithaca, New York.

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

UPDATE:
Alina's friend Katerina sent along her matching tattoo.....

Monday, July 1, 2019

Jessyca's Awesome Family Tree

A couple of summers ago, I met Jessyca near the New York Stock Exchange, and she shared this amazing tree on the back of her leg:

She called this her "family tree," as it is inhabited by creatures representing members of her family. The raccoon peering out from the center of the tree symbolizes her father.

The cardinal is one of her brothers and the fox represents her mother.

The husky at the bottom of the tree represents another brother, the heron is her sister, and she is the iguana.

She credited the work to an artist named Stephanie, who did this at Brass Anchor Tattoo Lounge (@brassanchortattoolounge) in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Thanks to Jessyca for sharing her awesome family tree with us here on Tattoosday!

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