Senin, 11 Juli 2011

museum of art tattoo

 
 Tatau (Tatoo): Throughout Samoan history, tatau (tattoo) seems to epitomize the importance of the dressed Samoan body. Tattoo is, after all, unique in its permanency, as the inked designs fuse with the body. However, tattoo has also proven to be fluid and dynamic, continually defying one-dimensional definitions and singular meaning throughout its history. Thus, tattoo must be interpreted on an individual basis, and situated within its broader historic milieu. In the past, tatau was a spiritual process and a cultural requirement for those wishing to hold various positions within society. These traditional tattoos continue to be worn, often with changed, but still potent, meaning. In addition to the traditional tatau, many Samoans wear a more contemporary form of tattoo that draws upon traditional Samoan and contemporary Western motifs. Contemporary tattoo artists and their clients have developed a new and exciting Samoan design vocabulary, rooted in tradition, to express specific personal, family, regional, social and/or cultural statements. Samoan tattoo, both traditional and contemporary, allows the wearer to artistically explore and announce his or her Samoan heritage, and acts as a strongly voiced and permanent display of cultural pride, especially by those living in the Samoan diaspora.

body tatoo for girl

Minggu, 10 Juli 2011

AIR FORCE BODYPAINT

AIR FORCE BODYPAINT

AIR FORCE BODYPAINT

AIR FORCE BODYPAINT

AIR FORCE BODYPAINT

COAST GUARD BODYPAINT

COAST GUARD BODYPAINT

COAST GUARD BODYPAINT

COAST GUARD BODYPAINT

COAST GUARD BODYPAINT

Marine Corps Body Paint

Marine Corps Body Paint

Marine Corps Body Paint

Marine Corps Body Paint

Marine Corps Body Paint

Marine Corps Body Paint

Marine Corps Body Paint

LINGERIE BODYPAINT

LINGERIE BODYPAINT

LINGERIE BODYPAINT

LINGERIE BODYPAINT

LINGERIE BODYPAINT

LINGERIE BODYPAINT

LINGERIE BODYPAINT

Matthew Shares Two Tattoo, from Thailand and French Polynesia (by way of Biarritz, France)

I generally do not ask people about tribal designs because they are not particularly interesting to me. That is not to say they are not good, just that thy are not my cup of tea. But occasionally, an exception will come along, and I will be more than pleasantly surprised.

Take Matthew, for example. I spotted him sitting on Penn Plaza early last month, and something about his tribal piece on his left calf intrigued me:


Matthew, who is French, explained:
"I got it in Thailand in Ko Chang, which is an island at the frontier of Cambodia and Thailand ... it was done by a guy named 'Chung' - it was done in the old way of traditional Thai tattoo, which is with bamboo. So, basically, it lasts four hours and ... he put the bamboo in the ink ... between the thumb and the index [finger and] ... just tattooed ... three, four hours, all traditional.

I went there and I already had the symbol in my head. I wanted a little rooster face here (because I'm French, I like the rooster) ... then he first designed it with a pen and we agreed on the drawing ... then he began it and four hours later I had it and I don't regret it."
Then, Matthew totally blew me away when he raised his shirt to show me his other tattoo:



Matthew explained this amazing piece of tattoo craftsmanship:

"It was done in France just a few months ago by a guy who is from Wallis and Futuna, which is islands in French Polynesia l’OcĂ©anie polynĂ©sienne...  So, it's a symbol of a family, so here you see too little men [at center]:


that's my brother and my sister ... This is the symbol of the god ...


...which represents the man's strength. This is a ... lizard:



which, in the Polynesian culture, is a messenger of God, which looks behind you, in case of any danger."

Matthew also noted that the top section of the tattoo is in the shape of a silver fern, which is symbolic of New Zealand, and Maori tattoo traditions:



He also pointed out the traditional shark's teeth, which is a popular element in traditional Polynesian tattoo:


The Polynesian artist credited by Matthew for this tattoo is Soane Paninia, who works out of Polynesian Cultural in Biarritz, France.

Matthew also told me that "normally, the traditional Polynesian tattoo are much more thicker, but through the Western influence, they now are very thin ... I asked for a thinner one, because I preferred this way."

A very special "merci beaucoup" to Matthew for taking the time to show and explain his tattoos to me. I may have missed an element of two, but nonetheless, both pieces are spectacular in their own ways.

FTW


☠ Saints of Los Angeles by Roos Apparel Inc. ☠

Sabtu, 09 Juli 2011

The Tattoosday Book Review: Ink Flamingos


Full disclosure: Ink Flamingos, by Karen E. Olson, features a tattoo blogger who is an instrumental figure in the narrative. I also have it on good authority that Tattoosday was, in part, inspiration for this plot point. And yes, Ms. Olson thanks me in the acknowledgements, much more profusely than I anticipated. All that being said, skeptics might argue that there was a snowball’s chance in hell that, here on Tattoosday, you’d see a negative review of this, the fourth installment in the Tattoo Shop Mystery series.

Fortunately for me, I have no moral dilemma, as Ink Flamingos is, like its predecessors, a great read. All bloggy plot points aside, I can whole-heartedly recommend not just the book, but all four volumes. They are consistently fun, humorous, exciting and, quite importantly, respectful to the tattoo industry and the good people therein.

Before I continue, however, I’ll point you to my previous reviews of  Driven to Ink, Pretty in Ink, and The Missing Ink for the whole suite of opinions on Ms. Olson’s tattoo-themed work. Click on the titles to be transported back in time to my reviews.

As flattering as it was to learn that I helped, in part, inspire the blogging aspect of this latest volume in the series, I took pause when I learned that the blogger was not a benign presence in the novel. Fortunately, Olson’s easy-going narrative style, transported me past my initial misgivings, and into the brisk current of the story. 

Despite the presence of the blogger, the real meat of the mystery derives from the dead rock singer, who appears to have been the victim of a an allergic reaction to some color ink, and a doppelganger/impersonator of our heroine, tattooist Brett Cavanaugh, that shines the spotlight on her as a suspect, at least in the eyes of some.

The whole cast of characters is back, as we watch Brett go very easily from being determined to not getting involved to rapid ascension into the thick of police matters. We get a little less Bitsy and Dr. Bixby, and a little more Joel this time around. But fans of Brett Cavanaugh's stormy love-him-or-hate-him relationship with her peer, Murder Ink's Jeff Coleman, will not be disappointed.

And, as always, the city of Las Vegas plays an important part, as well. With Brett Cavanaugh's shop being based in an upscale casino, the character of the city in the dessert is omnipresent.

Karen Olson continues to develop her characters and feature the art of tattooing at the forefront of her plot lines which, for me, is always entertaining. We've come far beyond the days of tattoos being nothing more than part of a murder suspect's characteristics, and tattoo artists being portrayed as suspects on the fringe of society.

If you are reading this and just learning about the series, head on back to book 1 and start from the beginning.

The series is fun and light, and treats tattooers and the tattoo industry with the respect and dignity it deserves. Remember, folks, these are murder mysteries, and their purpose is to entertain. Present volume included, Brett Cavanaugh has never bored me, and Olson knows how to spin a tale efficiently and with a sense of humor, as well.

Ink Flamingos is the latest journey into the world of Brett Cavanaugh, the best damn fictional tattoo artist I know. It's always a pleasure to join her as she unravels some mess, and I encourage Tattoosday readers to check out her shop in the pages of Karen E. Olson's books. It's a whole lot of fun and costs a lot less than getting a new tattoo.

Jumat, 08 Juli 2011

Mariam's Brooklyn Bridge is with Her Forever

I ran into Mariam on the subway platform at 36th Street in Brooklyn a few Saturday nights ago. She shared this tattoo, much to my delight:


This piece, on her upper right arm, depicts the world-famous Brooklyn Bridge. Mariam explained that the view is from DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Underpass, to you non-New Yorkers).

Everyone usually has a refuge to which they can retreat to meditate and be alone. Mariam says that she will occasionally wander in Brooklyn Bridge Park, with its spectacular views of  lower Manhattan, and that this is the place she goes to clear her mind. This is why, on the rocks along the water, the words "for ever" are tattooed.


Mariam credited Alex at Stylez Barber Shop in Brooklyn as the artist who inked this tattoo. There's not a lot of info about this shop on the web, but they are located at 54th Street and 4th Avenue.

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

Kamis, 07 Juli 2011

Lindsay's Two-Wheeled Tattoo

Bike messengers are daily presences in Manhattan and, in the summer, if you are lucky enough to spot one that is not whizzing by on the street, you can see some pretty interesting ink. In almost four years of Tattoosday's existence, I don't think I've ever featured a tattoo on a bike messenger, as they tend to be at work and/or in motion whenever I feel inclined to stop one.

However, last month, I was fortunate enough to catch Lindsay in the lobby of my office building and she shared this tattoo on the outside of her right calf:


This is one of nine tattoos that Lindsay has, and it seemed most appropriate to share, under the circumstances.


She says that this is a complete piece, despite many people mistakenly thinking it's not finished. She found the art on which it is based in an issue of Dirt Rag magazine. She explained that she worked with her friend Shawn Ramsey, who helped her take the original image and convert it into a tattoo:
"I worked in a printing shop at the time, so I printed this on a 8 by 10 to scale it so you could see how it fit in a magazine ... then [Shawn] finished it and it became a full color piece ... I really liked the sketch."
Lindsay also wanted to give a shout-out to Kenny Brown at Jack Brown's Tattoo Revival in Fredericksburg, Virginia, who she called her "favorite artist ever".Work from that shop has appeared once before on Tattoosday, here. Check it out, it's an awesome tattoo.

Thanks to Lindsay for sharing her cool tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!


This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday.



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