The Tattooed Poet's Project, Jillian Brall's Love of Trees Manifests Itself in a Back Piece

In April, we featured 31 tattooed poets in honor of National Poetry Month. But we had some late entries who missed the cut-off and, well, we just plum ran out of days. Nonetheless, we have decided to continue the feature as an occasional treat for those lovers of tattoos and poetry who frequent Tattoosday.

First, the tattoo:


The owner of this piece elaborates:

My name is Jillian Brall. I am receiving my MFA in Poetry from The New School this May. I am also a collage artist and saxophonist. I live and work in Brooklyn (Bushwick)...On my back is a bare black and grey tone tree that I drew. I have been drawing trees like this one since I was a little girl. Drawing them makes me feel calm and focused. I love seeing the skeleton of the tree, not veiled by leaves. I love that every time I draw one it is completely unique from all the others I have or ever will draw...different numbers of branches, different sizes, different positions, different light sources guiding the shading of the trees.

Jillian had this tattooed in February 2007 at R&D Tattooing in Queens, Rich Fie is the tattoo artist. She adds, "the tree was definitely not his typical street style tattoo, but I drew the sketch and he traced it and did a really beautiful job with it!"

When I asked Jillian for a poem, she not only offered up a poem, but she presented a photo of one of the collages she created:


And, a short poem from Jillian, as well:

To Lose Myself

At night in bed, I hear my neighbor's heaving music

through the concrete wall. In this pale red light

the music is supposed to inspire me to lose myself.

It is supposed to aid me in losing myself.

But I turn my head and there is a bookshelf, with my books in it.

I turn my head and there is the off-white circular rug.

I'm not lost.

Someone threw it out in the hallway, and after scrutinizing and cleaning it,

I brought it into my room.

I turn my head and there is a pen I took from the bank.

And there is a bottle of diet coke,

not an angel, an object without angles.

I turn my head and there is my laundry bag,

not the underworld.

Thanks to Jillian for sharing her tattoo, her collage and her poem! The Tattooed Poets project can be seen its entirety if you click on the tag at the bottom of the post.

009

Date: May 29, 2009

Tattoo: Hawk, designed by me

Needles: 5RL | 13M

I think it could've been better. But it gave me another chance to familiarize myself with shading. And with tattoo placement, weird angles...

I learned that the neck/collar bone area doesn't take too well to ink. Had to go over the lines.

Aaron's Skater Days Represented in Ink

Aaron has this very unusal piece tattooed on the back of his right bicep:


When I stopped to speak to him on 7th Avenue in Manhattan, I was happy to hear this tattoo, along with many of his nine others, were inked by Peter Cavorsi at Body Art Studios in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Peter has done three tattoos on my wife and me and he comes highly recommended by us. To see all of Peter's work that has appeared on Tattoosday, click here.

This particular tattoo is based on work entitled "Shater Days" by the professional skateboarder and artist Ed Templeton. Templeton designs and sells skateboard products through his website Toy Machine.

Aaron felt that the design was perfect for a skater, with the image of a helmeted person hitting himself over the head with his board.

The inner skater never goes away, even as one gets older and spends less time on the board. The inner persona still courses under the skin and this particular art piece, can be, like all art, interpreted in different ways.

The act of hitting oneself over the head with one's skateboard is the ultimate expression of frustration, a sentiment that doesn't go away in life.

There are always people and things that frustrate individuals. I like how this specific work of art speaks not only to Aaron, but spoke to me as well.

Thanks to Aaron for sharing this unusual tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

008

Date: May 28, 2009

Tattoo: Client wanted Jack Skeleton (nightmare before christmas). But I convinced him to do a custom piece influenced by Jack and the client. He liked it, so...

Needles: 3L | 5L | 7M

Self Review: I think I messed up the line work in a few places. But I'm growing accustomed to a technique with shading I like: Treat it like a brush, and make sure the power supply is set high.

New York City Tattoo Convention, Part 2: Amazing Tattoos from North of the Border

Lost in the post-euphoric haze of the tattoo orgy known as a tattoo convention, was an encounter I had with several Canadians, one of which is a talented artist.

This was, of course, the New York City Tattoo Convention, which I attended a couple weeks ago (see the brief recap here).

Having decided not to collect many posts and photos for the blog (I had settled on this one), I found myself chatting with Phil, a co-worker of mine, after he spotted me among the masses.

It was while we were chatting, adjacent to the snack area, that I noticed we were being watched. Just to our right, this image greeted us:


This is Janet Leigh, in her iconic role in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. Not only is this a masterful portrait, but it was framed beautifully by the cut-out portion of the dress worn by the woman who had this tattoo. It was as if the artist had positioned the tattoo with this dress in mind.


So I introduced myself to the woman who owns this piece. Her name is Marie and she is from Montreal. She got this tattoo because she liked the picture. And that's all that I got from her.
I would have learned more, but the room was loud and I had trouble understanding her. Her English was certainly better than my rudimentary high school French, but the environment made it difficult to pick up what she was saying.

However, shortly after our conversation began, a couple of gentleman rejoined her and one happened to be the artist of the tattoo in question.

His name is Stéphane Bérubé and he is an artist out of a shop called Tatouages Libre Expression, in Saint-Eustache, a northern suburb of Montreal, Quebec.

He was very friendly and introduced me to the other person he was with, who was one of his clients as well.

With little prompting, this guy rolled up his left pant leg to reveal a sleeve Stéphane had done, comprised of bright, multi-colored cartoon panels:





The owner of the tattoos explained that he had brought a graphic novel to Stéphane, telling him it was one of his favorite books growing up. They extracted different panels to make a cohesive combination of segments that make up the whole of the sleeve.

It is phenomenal work and I thank Stéphane and his friends for allowing me to photograph their tattoos!

Tattoorism: Erika's Yellow Rose

I've been remiss in sharing Erika's tattoo, which she sent me almost two months ago. So let's have a visit from her lovely rose tattoo:


I'll let Erika explain the artowork:

"...[this] was done at Miami Ink [actually called Love Hate Tattoo Studios]. Not by anyone on the show, as they only tattoo for the show, but they have a group of very talented artists who are not featured. This tattoo has a very personal meaning for me. My mother's favorite flower is the yellow rose, so the rose represents her. I have a very close bond with my mother and tell her absolutely everything, and she means a lot to me. As for the two thorns? Representing me and my sister. Yes, we are the thorns in her side, but we also protect her.

I went into Miami Ink with a couple of pictures of yellow roses, as I wanted it to be just going into bloom (that's when I think roses are at their most beautiful) and told them I wanted it to curve around my ankle bone. They drew up a design in an hour and I liked the very first thing they showed me. I always get comments on it when it's exposed, and it remains my favorite of my 6 tattoos. They did such a lovely job with the shading and I think it's beautiful!

And for the record, it's the only tattoo I have that my mom kind of likes."

Here's a shot of the tattoo, just after it was completed. You can see the source material in the background:


Erika followed up with more information:

"James [Hamilton] (pictured below with Erika) was the artist and he was great. I was in Miami over Spring Break in March 2007 and that's when it was done. Ami James was hanging around the shop when I went, so I got to meet him as well..."

Thanks so much to Erika for sharing her rose tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Tattoo Highway Contest!

Win Prizes from the New A&E Real Life Series TATTOO HIGHWAY, PREMIERING WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 AT 10/9C.

Tattoo Highway follows 15-year tattoo veteran and star of former A&E hit “Inked,” Thomas Pendelton as he takes his tattoo parlor on the road to cities like Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Salt Lake City to transform personal stories into living art. Pendelton and his business partner and wife Monica have transformed a 1970s tour bus into a tattoo parlor on wheels, featuring a swanky interior and top-of-the-line tattooing equipment. It’s a tattoo shop that can tattoo anyone, anywhere. Ride along as emotional limits and friendships are challenged and the persistent mechanical problems of a vintage bus are tested on the road, as “Tattoo Highway” proves to be one bumpy ride. Tattoo Highway premieres Wednesday May 27th at 10/9C on A&E!

Visit http://www.aetv.com/tattoo-highway for more information.


Here at Tattoosday, we've partnered with A&E to help promote this exciting new show. Here's how our contest is going to work:

Tattoosday is all about stories behind the tattoos and how each piece of body art resonates with the individual. To be entered into the contest, simply watch the first episode (Wednesday, May 27th at 10:00 PM Eastern/9:00 PM Central) and then write a little something in the comments section of this post. Tell us what tattoo that you saw on the premiere episode was your favorite, and why you liked it. Winners will be chosen randomly among the entries and you could win:

a Tattoo Highway iPod Skin OR

a Tattoo Highway Aluminum Water Bottle OR

a Tattoo Highway Tank.

Watch and enjoy! Winners will be announced on the site by Monday, June 1.

Tattoo Exhilarating Sensuality

Vanda indeed not personally, in the Motherland had Melanie Subono that liked to use his body as the medium to keep the memory was proper for the photograph album. Tato-tato that clung to his body had the story separately. For the daughter promoter Adrie Subono this, tato was the marker of his life trip. "Beginning with the birth, the marriage, the divorce, all had Lambangnya take the form of tato," he said. A representation of the trip himself till at this time, was poured in the shape one tato the butterfly in pergelangan left him. Indeed, most tato him illustrated the butterfly, there are those that also that was illustrated the F key, as the shape passion him in the world of music. The butterfly, according to Melanie, was the symbol of the struggle for the life. The butterfly was beauty that bermetamorfosis from the caterpillar, became the chrysalis, until changing into the butterfly. The choice of the picture more or less menunjukan the identity of the owner tato, a fairy also the fashion that had "your" creed "are what you wear". Also should not be surprised katau had certain people that wrote the name of his sweetheart in the form of tato on the body. Only, before broke menato the body, psychological readiness , moreover if we chose tato permanent - that if telanjur clung will be difficult to be removed, if in afterwards the day evidently did not like.

Indeed, with the art expansion tato, currently was found by the safer new ink kind was used and far more was easy to be eliminated when in the future evidently you felt wrong the picture. As far as this is concerned did not yet have the standard of the security for dye that was used in art depicted the body, even the Urusan Makanan Body and the US Medicine (FDA) then. Tato usually uses materials like black carbon, metal salts, and the other material that also were used in the printing house and the car painting. "In fact heavy metals and the available toxic material could in this dye enter the lymph gland system," said Martin Schmieg, the discoverer of safe ink to tato. The president of the company Freedom-2 in Philadelphia this currently was introducing a series of dye product that was agreed to by FDA to be used in the world of cosmetics, food, medicine, and the medical device - that definitely safe to tato.

This dye indeed had never been used to menato beforehand because his characteristics were easy to be absorbed the body. To overcome him, an expert from the Massachusetts Public Hospital, Boston, developed the method of covering this dye in items polymer that his diameter of only 1-3 micrometers. This made him quite small to be able to be put in skin and be absorbed the set of skin in the form of colours tato. If in his life trip of an owner tato did not like tato him, he could eliminate him easily with the laser. Be enough very much the shooting, items polymer in this skin pigment will be open and dye will be absorbed to datam the cell, and tato will be lost. This was different from dye tato that uptil now was known by us, although already dilaser ten times could not be lost fully.

But such was, tato indeed the choice. Sebetum broke put on tato on the body, someone must think ten times. Moreover for the artist tato I Gusti Ngurah Awijaya, sebetum menorehkan the picture to the body petanggan him, he must discuss old, "don't the drunk pass, or in the impulsive psychological situation." When realised evidently he did not like his picture, would be able to berabe, he said. Indeed, for the safest beginner was made tato temporarily previously. That had also been carried out by Djenar Maesa Ayu. The writer of the celebrity initially used tato temporary that only could remain a month when going on holiday in Bali. It was following that he also merajah his body - also temporary - as accessories, that were matched with the fashion that he with. Old kelamanaan he fell in love with this art, and around 2003 he broke to menato his body in a permanen. manner La chose the picture of the butterfly, in the small measurement, on shoulders. Following Is menato all over the of his back.

TATTOO AURA - More Than Fashion

Tatto that in recent times increasingly was accepted in various circles and to the product fashion. Evidently on the other side had the function as the opener aura. TATTO was the old work of art that could in encountered in various parts of the world. Tatto increasingly the day increasingly was enjoyed by the lovers fashion. In fact art merajah this body earlier had tight relationship to the criminal actors. At this time penggila tato available was dominated by the woman

Monkey Like Tattoos

The caretaker of the animal was in the Netherlands made confused with the behaviour of a male orang-utan named Sibu. The typical Indonesian primate reluctantly married his peer, but apparently precisely was interested to the woman that had tato. In fact, his presence in the Primata Apenhaul Garden it was hoped became the stud that fertilised the female forest orang-utan as an effort to conservation. However, what the power if Sibu precisely more was interested to humankind especially the hairy woman blonde (young chocolate) and bertato. "He chased or refused them and he did not know what ought to be done," said this spokesperson of the primate garden. On the other hand he was passionate to caretakers of the hairy woman blonde. The behaviour was like this in fact often was encountered to the orang-utan but Sibu really was interested to the hairy woman blonde that bertato. He became passionate when saw tato on his caretaker's arms. According to the side of the primate garden, the orang-utan generally indeed had ketertarikan especially tehadap the certain subject and Sibu apparently be crazy about to tato. Nevertheless, the primate garden did not surrender and Sibu that Be crazy about to tato. Nevertheless, the primate garden did not surrender and Sibu that currently is 31 years old will continue to be maintained. Precisely in the near future will be brought in by the female orang-utan just from England. Sibu apparently was attracted by this female orang-utan during together in a primate garden in Chester England and it was hoped agreed when being brought again together in the Netherlands.

Fahrani Increasingly Interesting With Tattoos

The film star's body and the Fahrani model were filled tato. Not Fahrani frightened because tato-tato him that men moved further away from him? “Justru guys were happy if seeing me tatoan,” he replied. On the Fahrani body was approximately 20 tato. This Tato was spread from beginning arms until the female calf had exotic skin that. “Udah like the sticker then, very small. ” said Fa, just as Fahrani is normally greeted when being met in Senayan City, Southern Jakarta, on Wednesday (19/11/2008). Fa indeed really enjoyed tato. Tato could according to him make someone appear pretty and the self-confidence. “Kalau in one room, the person that bertato precisely more menarik,” like that the actor's Jani words in the film ‘Radit and Jani’. With tato him that so many, Fa evidently also did not lose the work offer in the world of the model. Even tato made him increasingly quick-selling.

Landon's Sugar Skull

One of my favorite tattoos to feature here on Tattoosday are sugar skulls. Clicking here (or on the tag at the bottom of the post) will display all of the sugar skulls featured on the site and, undoubtedly, demonstrate that, like snowflakes, no two sugar skull tattoos are the same.

I met Landon last week on Broadway during the lunch hour. He has thirteen tattoos in all, and he offered up this piece, on the back side of his right biceps, to share:


To Landon, there is no hidden meaning behind the tattoo, it is more decorative in its purpose.

The tattoo artist responsible is Jamie Ruth, who inked this at Dare Devil Tattoo, but is moving to London, and has been guest tattooing here and there.

Thanks to Landon for sharing his sugar skull with us here on Tattoosday!

Mike's Marine: A Tattoo for Memorial Day

It only seemed fitting that, on this Memorial Day, we feature a tattoo that honors are men and women in uniform.

A week ago, I was fresh off of my experience at the New York City Tattoo Convention, and everything I saw on the street was uninteresting. Until I passed by Mike and did a double-take.

This is the tattoo on Mike's inner right forearm:


Mike explained that, as a United States Marine, he was choosing to honor the corps by building a sleeve of iconic military photographs.

If you think this is an impressive tattoo (which it is), seeing the source material further magnifies how phenomenal a replica the artist has created on Mike's flesh:


A page on About.com explains this image further:

"While units of the U.S. Far East Air Forces Combat Cargo Command made an all-out effort to aid embattled units of the First Marine Division and Seventh Infantry Division, the men fighting in Korea were trying desperately to link up in their battle for survival. This marine is shown just as he reached the crest of the ridge at the link-up point. Wet, stinging snow and ice made the operation the most difficult sort, as unleashed hordes of communist troops charge again and again into the United Nations forces. (circa December 1950) "

In addition to this tattoo, Mike has a Vietnam-era photo of a Marine sniper inked on his right biceps.

This astonishing tattoo was created by Randy Prause at Permanent Buzz Tattoo, in Denville, New Jersey.

A hearty thanks to Mike for sharing this tattoo with us here on Memorial Day. More importantly, Tattoosday expresses even more gratitude to Mike and all his fellow soldiers and who have so bravely served our country to ensure the freedoms we enjoy each day.

Have a safe and pleasant Memorial Day!

10 Celebrities With Tatoo most Sexy

If Cecilia Chung have 3 tatoo on his body, and possibly he including the actress was sexiest had tatoo in Asia. According to the survey of the site listaholic, there were the 'white person's' 10 celebrities with tatoo that most hot, anyone please? For the moment, the woman had tatoo not again strange scenery. Art illustrated the body for some women (especially the 'white person') could be still being the modern lifestyle. If in Indonesia had some people regarded tatoo still the taboo, and usually only was carried out by the thug or the former prisoner. Generally tatoo was used to attract attention of the person, especially for the woman who indeed liked to be paid attention to by the person. Tatoo the section was really liked by a woman, and along with 10 celebrities with tatoo sexiest:

1.The actress/the Angie Everhart model was the noose that liked made kontrovesi with tatoo the small dragon at the bottom of his back. Had been reported went out with Joe Pesci, was engaged with Sylvester Stallone, through to close to Prince Albert (Monaco) and Prince Andrew (one of the United Kingdom members). Had appeared with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Last Action Hero film, and emerged in the Playboy magazine the edition in February in 2000. Angie also entered among 100 sexiest women the FHM version in the place to 98 during 2003.








2.Tiffani could be famous after playing in serial the 'Saved By The Bell' TV and 'Beverly Hills, 90210'. Had several tatoo on his body like that was seen the small flower, and that was not seen the picture of the green heart (close to his stomach), as well as the picture of the sunflower (under his waist).

3.The singer who was not better known in America this, but quite successful in Europe, Latin America, Asia and South Africa, had tatoo the Arabian symbol old on his back.

4.Had appeared in serial the Beverly Hills TV 90210 and Las Vegas. Had tatoo the symbol that interpreted peacefulness and the love. Vanessa's latest news throw away tatoo him this.

















5.That one definitely all has known yes... Reportedly Pamela began liked tatoo since playing as Barb Wire.










6.One of the personal Sugababes (at this time has dispersed) was known by the collection hobby tatoo. Tatoo the rose must on his right-hand chest attract attention of the guy tuh... ^o^




















7.The model from Brazil this had tatoo that hot on his waist. Had appeared in the advertisement Victorian Secret, Guess, Chanel and proudk fashion Jennifer Lopez apostr s JLo.




















8.Alyssa was one of the actresses that indeed like tatoo. Apart from tatoo the cross necklace, he was still having several tatoo 'veiled' on his body.




















9.Not the secret again if the Angie indeed liked same tatoo. The picture of the tiger on the back was the work materpiece and powerful high art.

















10.Appear in the film 'XxX' with Vin Diesel, this Italia birth actress could jump his popularity, although the success was not followed by the further film. With tatoo the angel under his navel, made him the celebrity with tatoo sexiest.

Tatto firearms decorated the Rihanna Body

TATO was the normal matter for the celebrities Hollywood, including Rihanna. There was again one tato was carved on his body illustrated firearms. As being quoted by Daily Mail, when visiting Los Angeles, Rihanna Made use of himself met tattoo artist BangBang. Rihanna chose tato illustrated firearms, respectively one on right and left arms, as well as by his breasts. Like that was known by us, tato this not tato first that decorated the Rihanna body because beforehand has been tato illustrated the beam note in the eyes of foot, the symbol of the Pisces zodiac behind right ears, a star in the left ears interior, roman numerals on the left shoulder, the Sanskrit prayer on the hip, tato and the star collection in his neck. In fact, the sweetheart Chris Brown this not want to placed tato in the important part his body until being seen clear by the other person, related the work contract by some brand make up famous, Cover Girl. In blog personal him BangBang said, "I really want to placed tato the firearms" But, this Cover Girl icon did not like that like him and he hurried to pay his bill.

"Possibly tato just this had his relations with the necklace berliontin firearms that often the use in various opportunities?"

Rihanna Tattoos

Because of liked with tato, Rihanna had several tato on his body, like tato illustrated the beam note in the ankle part. The picture of the Pisces zodiac was located dibagian behind his right ears. Rihanna also menato the picture of a star in his left ears interior. Tato roman numerals was in the left part his shoulder, the Sanskrit prayer in the hip part and the collection of stars in tato in his neck. Moreover recently, Rihanna also made tato illustrated geometrik that on his right waist. �? Tato was illustrated ethnic and symbolised the strength but also cinta,�? Said Rihanna when coming in the annual Snowflake Lighting UNICEF agenda that was held in Grand Army Plaza in New York. As for Rihanna claimed if tato just him that terinspirasi during himself was in New Zealand when entertaining his lovers there.

Lily Allen Tattoo

Only just because of broke made tato during in the drunk situation, Lily Allen finally felt regretted. Not the reason for results tato him was seen ugly, but evidently tato that he for already more previously was made by Rihanna. Lily regretted because originally he thought tato that will be his typical characteristics. After a party in Los Angeles, Lily Allen and Lindsay Lohan broke made tato on their index finger in writing shhh.... Lily not realise that Rihanna already more previously made tato that was same. "Since I tau that Rihanna also had tato that was same, I so seldom regretted." Not Rihanna not cool, but initially I felt that this will be a kind of typical characteristic, said Lily. Several close friends Lindsay Lohan personally considered Lily was the bad influence for Lindsay. Samantha Ronson was sorry for introducing Lily to Lindsay. Samantha had known Lily Allen since Lily co-operated with Mark Ronson Samantha's older brother to Lily's first album some time before.

Lindsay Lohan Make New Tattoo

Possibly not the secret if Lindsay Lohan was fans heavy Marilyn Monroe. Last year he could in fact be stylish in the style of the legendary actress in a photography for the magazine. Currently he increasingly showed that he was Marilyn's heavy admirer with made tato in writing from Marilyn's words when he was still living first. During the period of his life, Marilyn Monroe could say, "Everyone apostr s a cataracts and deserves the right to twinkle". The sentence approximately meant "Everyone was the" star "and had the right to" shine"." And these words that apparently left a trace strong in Lindsay's memory as far as him determined made tato on his wrist in writing this. Round the article had several pictures of the coloured star yellow, blue and green. Could be this only one of his amazement expression to the Hollywood star the 50 's that. But could also this was an available expression his connection with his separation with Samantha Ronson.