Tattoo Tool: 2010-09-19

Adam Lambert Tattoos

Adam Lambert is an American singer-songwriter who is best known as the runner-up on the eighth season of television talent show American Idol.

Adam Lambert currently has two tattoos, both of which are located on his inner right wrist, including an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection and royal power, which is called Eye of Horus.

The other wrist tattoo design is a symbol which is called infinity, and is used in mathematics and physics, representing quantity without bound or end.

Some people believe that the infinity design symbolizes an everlasting life cycle, similar to eternal life granted by God for our good deeds on earth.

Lorenzo Lamas Tattoos

Lorenzo Lamas is an American actor, featured on the television show Falcon Crest and Renegade.

Lorenzo Lamas has quite a few tattoos which we've spotted, and the pictures below pretty much cover all his designs.

Woman riding fantasy Pegasus horse, located on upper back.

The actor has a winged eagle crest tattoo on his right shoulder.

Closeup picture of back artwork.

Lorenzo Lamas has chest piece which connects to a design on his arm, containing several skulls and other designs which aren't quite clear.

Another view of his skull head arm tattoo.

Danny's Koi Struggles Upstream

I met Danny in Penn Station early in August just as he was about to board a train.

Before he headed to his platform, however, he allowed me to take this photo of his tattoo-in-progress on his upper right arm:

He explained that the koi swimming upward on his bicep represented that he was still moving upstream, that is, he was "still overcoming struggles, trials and tribulations". He added that he would get another koi on his left arm, facing downstream, when he had completed his struggle in life.

Before we could talk further, however, he had to run for his train. Fortunately for me (and for you, dear Readers), he e-mailed me shortly thereafter with some more details:

"The leaves are Japanese maples...Everyone gets the traditional lotus flowers, etc. But I chose a leaf that represents no religion or significant meaning to it. I would have gone with the Korean national flower [Hibiscus syriacus] but that, too, had meaning behind it. Many flowers that are traditionally on bodies are either Buddhist or Catholic, etc. Coming from a Christian background, I chose one without any meaning. How can I live with a Buddhist lotus on my arm?

At the time I got the tattoo I was confused with life... Direction, purpose, goals, meaning.. I had obstacles and self goals I had to achieve and was in a standstill (not drug-related or any of that sort). I looked to the pain tattooing offers and how it puts your mind in a zoned-out state, which I now thrive for when I'm stressed. It's therapy to me. I'll update you when I find an artist to finish this tattoo. The windbars were left open to expand."

The tattoo was done by Lee at Infinity Tattoo in Manhattan.

Thanks again yo Danny for sharing his koi with us here at Tattoosday!

Lady Gaga Tattoos

Lady Gaga is an American recording artist, known for such songs as Poker Face and Paparazzi.

Lady Gaga has quite a gallery of tattoos on her body, including a rather long poem on her inner left arm, which is a tribute to her favorite writer. In her own words...

"That one commemorates my favorite writer, Rainer Maria Rilke, a poet and romantic philosopher," "In German he writes, 'Confess to yourself in the deepest hour of the night whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write. Dig deep into your heart, where the answer spreads its roots in your being, and ask yourself solemnly, Must I write?' ".

Pictures of her poetic tribute, plus a piece sign tattoo on her left wrist.

In the act of getting tattooed in Tokyo Japan.

Closeup pic of inner bicep artwork.

Lady Gaga has three lily flowers, along with some mysterious scribblings that read "Tokyo Love", located on her back left shoulder. She also elaborated on this design, saying...

"That was to celebrate the Haus’s collaboration with legendary Japanese photographer Araki. I was bound by Araki’s personal bondage artist, by several ropes and Japanese knots … Araki photographed me, using a series of several cameras. He did not photograph my image; he photographed my soul. We spent the night with Araki and his friends at a members' only bar he’s owned for more than 20 years, where he displays his work. Here, he painted me and took Polaroids through the night. I was honored to be the first American woman he's photographed, and only the second pop artist, in the company of Björk. He signed the Polaroids 'Tokyo Love,' and the Haus got tattoos of his marking in celebration."

The artist also has another flower themed tattoo, which is a patch of six roses with a lot vines that covers areas of her lower back and hip. This tattoo was designed by famous artist Kat Von D.

And finally, Lady Gaga's most recent tattoo is of a unicorn with an extra long horn, which has a banner wrapped with the title of her upcoming album "Born This Way".

Steve's Sleeve of Leaves Ushers in the Fall Season

Earlier this month, I met Steve on the D train, as we headed home to Brooklyn.

He had a veritable panorama of fall foliage on his left arm and he happily shared his autumnal tattoos with us here at Tattoosday.

It only seemed fitting that, as summer has ended, we celebrate the new season with some fall colors.

Behold, Steve's sleeve o' leaves:

The eleven maple leaves on Steve's arm were all inked free hand by Mark Harada at Manhattan's East Side Ink over four sittings.

Steve acknowledges that the leaves changing colors represent a change, and these colorful symbols remind him that change is good.

Happy Autumn to all! And thanks to Steve for sharing his fallen maple leaves with us here on Tattoosday!

Nick Lachey Tattoos

Nick Lachey is an American singer-songwriter, actor, producer and television personality, best known as a member of the pop group 98 Degrees.

Nick Lachey has three confirmed tattoos on his body, including a tribal armband around his right bicep, a tribal inspired phoenix on his upper back, and finally a large sun with the 98° group logo in the middle, however he has since added color to the sun and covered up the 98°.

Sara's Psalm Speaks to the Desires of Her Heart

I met Sara on the 36th Street subway platform in Brooklyn last month during the late afternoon rush hour commute.

What can I say? I'm a sucker for words and this tattoo looked poetic:

Sara filled me in. She has three tattoos and this passage "spoke to her". She wanted something religious for her 30th birthday.

This is an excerpt (verse 4) from Psalm 37 in the Bible.

The verse reads "Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" [King James Version]. Sara changed the thee and thine to read me and my, respectively, making the verse more personal.

This was tattooed by Alex Franklin at Brooklyn Ink in Bay Ridge. Work from Brooklyn Ink (and much from Alex) can be seen on this Tattoosday label here.

Thanks to Sara for sharing her source of inspiration with us here on Tattoosday!

Khalil's Organic Biomechanical Arm

One thing regular readers may notice is that I tend to prefer singular tattoos, as opposed to larger "concept" pieces. This preference is what you see illustrated here on Tattoosday.

However, once in a while, I see work that, although atypical of our content, is irresistible.

Just check out Khalil's sleeve, which I captured one day after work in Penn Station:

Representing thirty-two hours of work by Mike Boissoneault at Black Lotus Tattoo Studios, in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, Khalil explained that this vision represents a spin on a biomechanical design, "but more organic".

To him, in a world in which people are becoming less human, this tattoo reminds him to be human.

Here's a "fresher" shot from the Black Lotus website:

Thanks again to Khalil for sharing this amazing work with us here on Tattoosday!

Friendship Tattoos

Remember in the past, when people would demonstrate their love for one another with a high five or perhaps a friendship bracelet? Well those days are history and its becoming increasingly more popular to showcase you're friendship with a tattoo design.

Friendship tattoos are when two or more pals get the exact same design, often in the very same location on each others body. And while this practice is quite clever, we've noticed that a few people are taking this idea one step further and selecting "half" designs, which combined to form one complete tattoo.

Checkout this neat picture gallery of some superb ideas for your very own piece of artwork.

Friendship tattoos aren't just for the ladies, in fact they are quite common among guys, as well as boyfriend and girlfriend, however with any relationship artwork you are most certainly treading on dangerous grounds, with the possibility of a breakup.

It seems like some of the most popular areas of the body for these tattoos include the ankle, foot and wrist, followed by the forearm area.

Like with any body art, its essential to fully think though the design and location, plus when you're dealing with a possible friendship tattoo, you better make darn sure that the partnership is pure and true, because the last thing you want is a constant reminder of some evildoer stamped on your body...

Christina's Owl and Lighthouse

I met Christina one day after work while walking outside of Madison Square Garden.

She had this incredible tattoo, which she gladly shared with us here on Tattoosday:

This tattoo that covers her upper left arm was actually done in two segments by artist Orrin Hurley, who currently tattoos at Dare Devil Tattoo in Manhattan.

As for the source material behind this beautiful tattoo, Christina chose a piece of art by Frances Olive Esme Eve:

A closer look at the tattooed owl shows how it was changed, but you can still see that there is still a lot from the original design:

The lighthouse was inspired by the Portland Head Light on Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

Thanks to Christina for sharing her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday.

Stacy's Amigo Tugs Her Back to Milwaukee

At the end of July, I ran into Stacy waiting for the F train at West 4th Street in Manhattan.

She had a panther peeking out from under her shirt on her back, but we couldn't get the whole tattoo in a shot, so she offered up this piece on her right arm:

Stacy is a poet and the Artistic Director of The Poetry Project at St. Mark's Church in New York City. She has been here five years and originally hails from Milwaukee.

Living next to Lake Michigan has many benefits. Having always lived in a location near a large body of water, I can relate to her admiration for the beauty of a seascape, whether it be an ocean or a great lake.

Stacy told me she enjoyed watching the tugboats in her home town, and that these small vessels are a "connective image" that draws her back to her original home.

This tattoo was designed and inked by Stephanie Tamez at New York Adorned. Work from Stephanie on Tattoosday can be viewed here.

This is also the second tugboat of the summer. The first one is here.

Thanks to Stacy for sharing her tugboat with us here at Tattoosday. Perhaps we'll see her panther when the Tattooed Poets Project returns next April for its third year!

Tattoo Tool

Laman