Gina Shares Two Works of Art by Mark Ryden

I wanted to start off the new week after the holiday by showing off some amazing tattoos that I was fortunate enough to encounter last week.

I met Gina in Penn Station and she offered up these beauties, which are tattooed in her ditches (inside of her elbows), in what many consider to be one of the more painful places to be inked:

There are two artists behind these tattoos. First is the painter Mark Ryden, upon whose work these tattoos were based. Next is the master craftsman Tim Kern, from Tribulation Tattoo, whose work appeared last on Tattoosday here.

No big story, just incredible body art.

Thanks to Gina for sharing these incredible tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Sarah's Chrysanthemum

I spotted this lovely flower on Sarah while she was waiting for her train in Penn Station:

This chrysanthemum is her first tattoo and sits on her upper left arm. Sarah is a big fan of Eastern art and understands that chrysanthemums are symbols of joy (except in Germany, she noted). She feels that Russell Kelley at Silk City Tattoo in Hawthorne, New Jersey did a nice job of merging Eastern and Old School styles on this beautiful flower. Work from Silk City has appeared multiple times before and can all be seen under Silk City's Tattoosday label here.

Thanks to Sarah for sharing her tattoo with us, and Happy Labor Day from us here at Tattoosday!

Hawai'i and Germany Meet Halfway in Manhattan

Last Sunday, I found myself unexpectedly in my weekday stomping grounds, outside of Penn Station. I saw a couple sitting on the steps in Penn Plaza and noticed the gentleman had a remarkable tattoo on his outer left calf.

We had a slight language barrier, as they were tourists from Europe. But Rico agreed to let me take the photo:

The tattoo was done by Tom at Stechwerk Tattoo Studio in Kempten, Germany.

Rico said he just liked the design and that Hawai'i is somewhere he hopes to visit one day. The surfboard and the archipelago outline are symbolic of our fiftieth state, and the yellow hibiscus is the state flower.

Danke schön to Rico for sharing this cool Hawai'i-themed tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Gretchen's Shrine for Federico

I spotted Gretchen in the Penn Plaza Borders and asked if she'd share the tattoo on her upper left arm. She gladly agreed:

This piece is an homage to grandfather Federico. She remembers that he introduced her to nature, so she included natural elements like plants and butterflies. Gretchen also added a replica of her grandfather's tattoo, which was inked with the name of her grandmother, Hermes.

This is one of about  ten tattoos Gretchen has, and she had this done at Liquid Skin Studio, in Inwood, on the north end of Manhattan.

Gretchen is an artist that works with craft and jewelery. You can see her website here.

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

Dave's Portrait of His Great-Grandfather

I spotted Dave at the end of July while picking something up at the 34th Street K-Mart.

He kindly shared this wonderful portrait of his Great-Grandfather, tattooed on his forearm:

His grandfather was originally from Cuba, immigrating to the United States in the 1930s.

And although he passed in 1994, Dave recalls something his grandfather always said: "it's never too late, until you're dead".

Tattooed by Lalo Yunda at Sacred Tattoo NYC, Dave has the pleasure of carrying his very important ancestor with him, wherever he goes.

Thanks to Dave for sharing his inked family heritage with us here on Tattoosday!

Edward Gorey's Insect God Graces Katie's Arm

So yesterday I met someone with two lovely tattoos based on the art of Edward Gorey, but you're going to have to wait to see them.

Rather, meeting those tattoos reminded me I had another Gorey tattoo to share, one that I met a month ago today in Penn Station.

Katie has seven tattoos and is a fan of Mr. Gorey. It was this piece on her right bicep that caught my attention:

From the Gorey book of the same name, this is the "Insect God". This cool tattoo was inked by Chrys Goldberg at Bushido Tattoo Studio, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Thanks again to Katie for sharing her insect deity with us here on Tattoosday!

Tony's Celtic Fish, Swimming Up His Calf

Last month, I spotted Tony on the R train after leaving the 14th Street/Union Square station.

About thirteen years ago, his girlfriend was getting a Celtic dog tattoo, and he decided to get inked as well:

These works of art on his left leg derive, he told me, were inspired by illustrations from the Book of Kells.

Book/Manuscript: Book of Kells
VII Century, Ireland / ScotlandPage (Folio): 188v
initial letter I with lion and fish
(from http://www.art-imagery.com/)

Tony explained that he is a SCUBA instructor, so these fish from the mackerel family are a nice link to that vocation.

Not only have these tattoos held up over the years, they are noteworthy because they were inked by Pat Fish in Santa Barbara, who is regarded as one of the premiere artists working with Celtic designs.

I also love the coincidental nature of Fish by Fish.

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