Beside Rose Tattoo Design

Beside Rose Tattoo Design

The Celtic tattoo design is multi-faceted. It can be in the form of a cross. It can also be in the design of a knot. These knots can be round, triangular, square or just about any other shape desired. But what makes it a Celtic design? We are going to explore this very popular and unusual tattoo design and discover the meaning (if any ) behind them.

Amy's Sugar Skull from New Orleans

Amy shared this sugar skull with me a week or so ago:


Clicking this link will display the vast range of sugar skulls that have appeared here on Tattoosday over the years.

They are one of my favorite types of tattoos to post, because they tend to vary from one to another and can be uniquely personalized.

Amy got this one on All Saints' Day, in honor of her grandfather.

She was at the New Orleans Voodoo Tattoo Convention and an artist named Joey just free-handed the drawing on her arm.

Thanks to Amy for sharing her sugar skull with us here on Tattoosday!

It's Henna Tattoo Time! Saturday 3.27.10 at The Midnight Sun

Spirit Vision Henna in Five Points is happy to announce that the weather is finally warm enough to make hanna paste. In fact, a lovely mixture is sitting in the afternoon sun, the dye has released, and everyone can enjoy fragrant, rich color in their first henna tattoo of the season.

Ann George and the artists of Spirit Vision Henna will offer tattoo at 1055 Park Street, in The Midnight Sun on Saturday 3.27.10. Please come by after 1PM to browse pattern books and pick your design. If this is your first henna experience.... please visit the FAQ page for answers to all your first time questions.

We specialize in traditional henna tattoo, but are available for special requests. You are welcome to call 904-993-7466 to schedule an appointment if you like. Henna will be offered Saturday on a first come, first served basis. Henna tattoo prices start at $15. The size and style of tattoo you choose determines the price.

As the weather warms up, henna may also be offered on Fridays by appointment. It takes at least 24 hours to create a good henna paste, so last minute henna requests are hard to fill. Please call ahead for henna on Fridays, or other days of the week.

If you would like to book Spirit Vision Henna for a private party, our artists are available to come to you. This year, we are pleased to announce that Arvid Smith, an accomplished sitar player, will be available to play for you if you would like to provide live music for your henna gathering.

Please note the image above is of henna paste on the skin... so the tattoo appears black. We do not offer black henna tattoo.. there is no such thing. We offer first quality henna paste made with Jamila henna powder, essential oils and traditional herbs and spices. The finished color will be some shade of reddish brown, or as dark as black cherry red if applied to the palms and properly cared for.

Henna tattoo will not look like inkwork.  Henna, or mehandi, is it's own unique art form, and our artists have studied and practiced to provide you a traditional henna experience.

After care information is online at Spirit Vision Henna. We hope you enjoy your visit to the site.

Renee's Papal Insignia Challenges Her Beliefs

I met Renee in the Clark Street subway station in Brooklyn Heights recently, and we had a fascinating conversation.

We talked for a good bit, and actually spent more time time talking about her plans for new tattoos, as opposed to what she already had on her body. She has five tattoos, two of which she did herself. We ended up talking most about this one, on the middle finger of her right hand:


This is one of her self-inked tattoos which, she says, she did using "the prison method". This generally involves using a needle or a sharpened guitar string and dipping it in ink. Sometimes with, sometimes without, a jerry-rigged motor.

The design is based on the insignia of the Pope.

At the time that she did this, she felt a connection to the Catholic Church that was very strong. Religion was a "huge part of her childhood"

However, as anyone paying attention to the news recently is well aware, the Catholic Church has been under fire for quite some time due to its handling of internal matters regarding abuse among the clergy.

Renee finds that who she is now is "irreconcilable with the Catholic Church" and, as a result, she plans on having this finger tattoo covered up "as a statement" about her feelings and her conviction that this symbol is, in her words, "something I can't have anymore".

So today's post features a tattoo whose time is running out, which is not all that common here on the site. I have always maintained that the tattoos seen here aren't always the "best" in art, but rather, interesting encounters in New York with interesting people.

Thanks to Renee for being so forthcoming about her personal connection to tattooing, and for sharing this small, seemingly harmless tattoo, that carries with it such a weight, laden with meaning.

Deer Tattoos

Deer Tattoos

This is a perfect example of a deer tattoo. It’s beauty and graceful nature is a siren call beckoning us to the wild. But, the deer is more then just a symbol of nature and in many cultures has a deep symbolism associated with it. China has many symbols for happiness and good fortune, and the deer is one of them. In fact, in Chinese, the words ‘deer’ and ‘abundance’ sound the same. Buddhists like to tell the story of their master’s first teaching, when his blissful presence attracted even the wild animals of the region, most notably the deer. And in both the Celtic and Native American cultures, the deer had a special talent for sniffing out medicinal herbs, earning it special respect and status in life and folklore. The image of a slain deer with herbs in its mouth has even assumed special significance in the art world as a symbol of unrequited love, lost love, or love sickness. And if a deer is seen trampling a snake under it’s hooves then it’s a symbol of overcoming personal temptation. So, as you can see getting a deer tattoo pronounces not only one’s love for the wild but also has a significant spiritual meaning.

Deer Tattoos

Many people consider a deer tattoo to be a design that only belongs on hunters or nature lovers. But, did you know that deer tattoos have symbolic significance in many different cultures and mythologies? A deer is not only symbolic of luck for Asian cultures but it is also a symbol for abundance. And it’s a symbol for abundance in not just the East but in almost every civilization that the creature is prevalent in. To native Americans, the deer was also a symbol for rebirth. It’s arrival often signally the start of spring or the end of summer. Also, in some cultures deer are synonymous for virtue and on occasion passion. The deer tattoo can also have a meaning associated with love, believe it or not. A deer tattoo with a branch or thistles in it’s mouth is symbolic of forlorn love. The deer tattoo in the picture is a cross between a naturalistic depiction of this animal and a tribal design. I really like how the whole motif flows and still retains the characteristics of this beautiful and peaceful creature of nature. This is a design that can be blended into almost any body of tattoo work.

Japanese Dragon Tattoo

Japanese Dragon Tattoo

This is one of my favorite Japanese dragon tattoos. I like the way it wraps from his shoulder blade, up around the shoulder and down the front of the chest. This Japanese dragon tattoo also has a very sad look on it’s face like it had just been defeated in battle or something. And though I wasn’t sure about it when I first saw it, I eventually came to realize that I really liked the monotone color of this design. I believe this Japanese dragon tattoo to be a symbol of luck and wisdom. Of course all tattoos are about personal expression and therefore the meaning of any tattoo is really derived by the person wearing the tattoo. There are not any hard and fast rules that a tattoo must always represent just one thing. Instead each tattoo and tattoo design will mean something unique and different to the bearer of the tattoo. Therefore any discussion of the symbolism or meaning of a dragon tattoo must be taken in that light. As is the case with any tattoo, the bearer is the one who makes the design special and unique. It should be a personal representation of the person.

Japanese Dragon Tattoo

Japanese dragon tattoos can be beautiful additions to any collection of body art. But, if your looking for an authentic Japanese dragon tattoo then that can require a little bit of research. And that’s because there is very little known about the Japanese dragon and there are very few good examples available online. But, with a little patience and fore knowledge you can find a design that’s not only beautiful but one that is also to the Japanese dragon motif. The first thing to look for when finding the appropriate dragon is the number of claws on it’s feet. Chinese dragons have four claws, but Japanese dragons only have three. Another thing to consider is that in Japanese dragon tattoos, the dragons are much more slender and serpent like then in other cultures. Many of the famous Japanese dragons can be seen in the picture. From left to right they are Ka Riu, Han Riu and Kanji Ryu. That’s the perfect start from which you can find the design that your looking. And as you can plainly see, a Japanese dragon tattoo can not only be dazzling but also rich in symbolic meaning. So, why not start your quest for one today.

Foot Tattoo

Foot Tattoo

A foot tattoo can look quite striking. There’s no question that one peeking out of a sexy shoe of a woman can be very attractive. And it just so happens that they are the most popular among women. Quite possibly for that very reason. The only thing a woman needs to decide is what she would like to see on her foot. Flowers tend to be the most popular design but there are certainly many other designs which someone can be very happy with. There could be stars or clouds, a koi fish, a dragon or just about anything the imagination can come up with. If you or your artist can draw it, then it can be tattooed onto your foot.

But before you get a foot tattoo there are a few drawbacks that you need to know about. Foot tattoos tend to be much more painful than most others because the skin is so close to bone. In fact, some tattoo artists won’t even do foot tattoos for this very reason. Also, if you grit your teeth and get the foot tattoo the initial care of it takes a bit more effort than a normal tattoo does. It’s not that big of deal but it needs to be said up front and you need to be aware of it.

Foot Tattoo

Foot tattoos can often be beautiful pieces of art. Just take a look at the cartoon sparrow in the picture. It looks real good on the top of this person’s foot, but you know that it really had to hurt. Especially with all the color shading. And another problem with a foot tattoo is that they require a lot of care. So, let’s take a quick look at what’s required to maintain a foot tattoo so that it keeps it’s color and sheen. After getting your foot tattoo make sure that you let it breathe. It’s going to need plenty of air, so either go without shoes or at the very least wear sandals. The more air you let your foot tattoo get the quicker the design will heal. The next step, keep your foot elevated while you sleep to relieve some of the swelling. It is completely normal for your foot to swell. How large it swells up depends on how much you are on your feet each day. Step number three; Your tattoo artist will recommend an antibiotic cream to apply to your foot tattoo for the first few days. And the final piece of advice. Do not under any circumstances pick at the foot tattoo. This can cause pitting or scarring so be careful. If you follow these guidelines you will have a piece of art you can enjoy a lifetime.