Laman

THE PASSION

THIS IS ONE OF THE HOMIES WHO WANTED TO DEDICATE HIS BACK TO THE PASSION AND CENTER IT WITH THE SACRIFICIAL CROSS TOPPED WITH A CROWN OF THORNS AND FRAMED WITH ANGELIC CLOUDS TO ENHANCE ITS SIGNIFICANCE. YOU CAN NEVER GO WRONG WITH DOING A PIECE THAT CAPTURES YOUR BELIEFS.

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PROFILE: DANNY D & BUGS GONZALES

WE BROUGHT YOU FLICKS OF BUGS AND DANNY D'S TOOLS OF THEIR TRADE.. HERE IS A PROFILE SHOT OF THEM AND A COUPLE OF ONE OF "THE MANY" THEY HAVE COLLABORATED ON. THEY HAVE ALSO COLLABORATED ON STORE FRONT PIECES FOR UNDEFEATED, SUPREME, STUSSY AND THE "LAST LAUGH" WHICH I HAVE FEATURED ON MY BLOG BEFORE...





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MERRY CHRISTMAS...

I JUST WANT TO WISH YOU ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING THE TIME WITH YOUR LOVED ONES. AS YOU KNOW "THE LAST LAUGH" WAS OPEN ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND THE "FINELINE" T-SHIRT HIT THE SHELVES. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU WHO CAME OUT TO PICK IT UP, IF YOU HAVEN'T PICKED UP DON'T SLEEP CAUSE THEY ARE GOING FAST. I HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING ON A FEW "TOP SECRET" ITEMS FOR YOU LOYAL ONES, SO STAY ToONd FOR THE UPDATES..



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A Knight to Remember: Veronica Shares Her Ink

I received a pleasant surprise yesterday, just before leaving work, when Brooke (see her tattoos here and here) introduced me to her friend Veronica, who was visiting her in the office.

Veronica enjoyed the posts on Brooke's ink, and was willing to share her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday:


I correctly identified the tattoo, on the left side of her back shoulder, as the chess piece known as the Knight.

Although it is a horse, Veronica noted, most people who see it don't realize at first that it is a chess piece.

So why a chess knight?

Several years ago, Veronica went on a date with a guy who had a similar tattoo. Not only had he been a chess player, but his nickname in the military had been "Crazy Horse". He had designed the tattoo himself and Veronica was drawn to it. She knew she wanted one just like it, but they both agreed, as their relationship progressed, that it would only be appropriate if they were married.

Well, we all know where this is heading. When the time was right, Veronica's boyfriend didn't pop the question, he popped the suggestion, "Let's go get that tattoo". Which she did, customizing his original design by making it a little smaller, and adding a feminine curl to the front of the Knight's mane. They went to a shop on Broadway in Santa Maria, California. There are three shops currently on Broadway, so I can't give proper credit to the shop or artist at this time.

The formal proposal came shortly after the engagement was "inked".

Veronica married the man with the matching tattoo but, as life would have it, they split up amicably after three years.

Her ex-husband-to-be told her that he wouldn't be offended if she decided to cover the chess piece up, but the thought never crossed Veronica's mind. She wasn't worried about future girlfriends (or wives) getting the same tattoo. She recognizes it as a unique symbol of a past chapter in her life of which she has little regret.

Oftentimes, people are remorseful about their ink, especially when the piece is tied to a relationship that no longer exists. It is always nice to see a tattoo that holds great meaning, even while transcending a bond that has broken.

So the chess piece remains, and we here at Tattoosday extend our thanks to Veronica for sharing this part of her personal history with us.
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LOST ART

I JUST VISITED MY CLUB BROTHERS AND LONG TIME FRIENDS DANNY D AND BUGS GONZALES. NOT ONLY ARE THEY CUSTOM CAR PAINTERS THEY BOTH HAVE BEEN STRIPING FOR 20 PLUS YEARS. ITS ALWAYS GOOD TO BE ABLE TO MEET UP AND DISCUSS THE SCIENCE OF LOWRIDING. I WAS ABLE TO GET A FEW GOOD FLIKS OF THEM AT WORK AND SOME DETAIL SHOTS OF SOME OF THE TOOLS. WE ARE CURRENTLY COLLABORATING ON A COUPLE TOP SECRET PROJECTS AND I WILL BE BRINGING YOU SOME FLIKS AS WE MOVE FORWARD...





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JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS!!




HERE IS A THE NEW DESIGN I DROPPED JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS. YOU CAN COME PICK IT UP OVER AT THE LAST LAUGH. WE ARE OPEN ON TUESDAY 12/23 AND ON CHRISTMAS EVE 12/24. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL THE STORE AT
213.488.0313
THE LAST LAUGH
129 E 6TH ST
LOS ANGELES, CA 90014
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Tattoos I Know: Mary-Lee's Paternal Inscription


I'm particularly proud of this particular tattoo story because it hatched out of Tattoosday itself, in a roundabout way.

The signature above is a freshly-inked autograph of a man who has been dead over forty years. It graces the back of Mary-Lee, who I have known and worked with for a decade. The signature is that of her father.

Earlier this year, Mary-Lee, who has regarded the Tattoosday hobby of mine with a curious amusement, was moved by the story of Kate's tattoos (here), especially the one of her twin sister's signature. Kate's sister had died in a car crash the previous year, and the name of her sister, in her own handwriting, is a touching and beautiful memorial.

Upon hearing this tale, and seeing this tattoo, Mary-Lee began thinking of a similar tribute, made all the more remarkable by the way the stars lined up to make this happen.

Her father died at the age of 53, when Mary-Lee was only eleven years old. She was a typical Daddy's Girl, and has never forgotten the sudden nature of his passing, and the absence of closure, as she was not allowed to go to his funeral.

So, as the anniversary of his death approached on December 4, and she realized that this anniversary was special in that she is the same age as he was that he died, she decided it was only fitting to get her first tattoo, honoring her dad, at the same age as he was on the day he died.

The final question was, would she be able to get it inked after 6pm on the anniversary? She doesn't know the exact time he left this world, only that it was after 6pm.

She started looking for a reputable shop in the area, and stumbled upon Red Rocket Tattoo, located between work and her home in Manhattan. She booked an appointment after 6pm on December 4 with Betty Rose well in advance. As if the kismet of the dates lining up wasn't enough, Red Rocket is where our friend and co-worker Paul (see his ink here) had his work done, and Betty Rose was the girlfriend of Chris (see his ink here) with whom I served a brief stint of jury duty over the summer.


When December 4 rolled around, everything went smoothly. Betty Rose had lifted the signature from the old ssocial security card that Mary-Lee still had in her possession, enlarged it, and placed the stencil in the perfect spot on the first attempt.

She is very pleased with how the nuances of the signature were picked up in the process, and loves how the inked reproduction is tilted "upwards, toward heaven".

And, whether it is the physical fineness of the lines and minimal surface area the tattoo affects, or whether there is a paternal heavenly influence with its hand in the process, Mary-Lee has marveled that she has experienced none of the typical symptoms that come with a healing tattoo.

This lack of self-consciousness about the ink, combined with the minimal pain and aftercare required, has validated for her the transcendent healing nature of her tattoo.

And it has helped her obtain another level of closure that she never received when she lost her father at the age of eleven.

Thanks to Mary-lee for sharing her tattoo and its story here with us on Tattoosday!
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NO BLUES

CHECK OUT THIS PIECE I DID ON SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER ATIBA. HIS TATTOOS REFLECT SOME OF HIS INFLUENCES AND HIS LOYALTY. THE LATEST PIECE WAS OF THE LATE GREAT MILES DAVIS.

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