New Dawnii
Friday, April 3, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
The Tattooed Poets Project: Doug Anderson's Phoenix Soars
I first heard that Doug Anderson had an "amazing" tattoo via the poet Marilyn Nelson.
When I saw photos of it, I knew she wasn't exaggerating. Doug went in to Green Man Tattoo in West Hartford, Connecticut, and met the co-owner, Jon Elliot. He did what is considered ideal for a lot of tattoo artists: he gave him a kernel of an idea and "told him to do what he wanted as long as it was a phoenix". Doug notes, "I like to let artists do that because they always do their best work that way." Agreed, and the proof is in the end result.
The tattoo was completed in 2 two-and-a-half-hour sittings. Here's the basic piece before the color was added:
And then the final result:
The phoenix is a popular image in tattooing, yet one that you don't see too often, as they tend to be large, elaborate pieces. Doug elaborated a little as to why he wanted a phoenix:
Thanks to Doug for contributing to Tattoosday's celebration of National Poetry Month!
When I saw photos of it, I knew she wasn't exaggerating. Doug went in to Green Man Tattoo in West Hartford, Connecticut, and met the co-owner, Jon Elliot. He did what is considered ideal for a lot of tattoo artists: he gave him a kernel of an idea and "told him to do what he wanted as long as it was a phoenix". Doug notes, "I like to let artists do that because they always do their best work that way." Agreed, and the proof is in the end result.
The tattoo was completed in 2 two-and-a-half-hour sittings. Here's the basic piece before the color was added:
And then the final result:
The phoenix is a popular image in tattooing, yet one that you don't see too often, as they tend to be large, elaborate pieces. Doug elaborated a little as to why he wanted a phoenix:
"The phoenix, of course, is a symbol of rebirth from the ashes, a story that matters to me because it describes my life. I began writing late in life and very nearly did not survive my early life."Be sure to head on over to BillyBlog and read one of Doug's poems.
Thanks to Doug for contributing to Tattoosday's celebration of National Poetry Month!
The Tattooed Poets Project: Doug Anderson's Phoenix Soars
I first heard that Doug Anderson had an "amazing" tattoo via the poet Marilyn Nelson.
When I saw photos of it, I knew she wasn't exaggerating. Doug went in to Green Man Tattoo in West Hartford, Connecticut, and met the co-owner, Jon Elliot. He did what is considered ideal for a lot of tattoo artists: he gave him a kernel of an idea and "told him to do what he wanted as long as it was a phoenix". Doug notes, "I like to let artists do that because they always do their best work that way." Agreed, and the proof is in the end result.
The tattoo was completed in 2 two-and-a-half-hour sittings. Here's the basic piece before the color was added:
And then the final result:
The phoenix is a popular image in tattooing, yet one that you don't see too often, as they tend to be large, elaborate pieces. Doug elaborated a little as to why he wanted a phoenix:
Thanks to Doug for contributing to Tattoosday's celebration of National Poetry Month!
When I saw photos of it, I knew she wasn't exaggerating. Doug went in to Green Man Tattoo in West Hartford, Connecticut, and met the co-owner, Jon Elliot. He did what is considered ideal for a lot of tattoo artists: he gave him a kernel of an idea and "told him to do what he wanted as long as it was a phoenix". Doug notes, "I like to let artists do that because they always do their best work that way." Agreed, and the proof is in the end result.
The tattoo was completed in 2 two-and-a-half-hour sittings. Here's the basic piece before the color was added:
And then the final result:
The phoenix is a popular image in tattooing, yet one that you don't see too often, as they tend to be large, elaborate pieces. Doug elaborated a little as to why he wanted a phoenix:
"The phoenix, of course, is a symbol of rebirth from the ashes, a story that matters to me because it describes my life. I began writing late in life and very nearly did not survive my early life."Be sure to head on over to BillyBlog and read one of Doug's poems.
Thanks to Doug for contributing to Tattoosday's celebration of National Poetry Month!
Soto far, Soto Good
Inspired by the earlier post of Ruben's tattoos, I thought I'd profile some of Steve Soto's other fabulous pinups...
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The Tattooed Poets Project: Kim Addonizio's Blue Roses
When first embarking on this tattoo project, nearly everyone I asked referred me to Kim Addonizio. I'd venture to say she is the poet most well-known as "tattoo-friendly". In part, this is due to her editing an anthology called Dorothy Parker's Elbow: Tattoos on Writers, Writers on Tattoos.
Graciously, Kim accepted my invitation to participate in Tattoosday's National Poetry Month project. She sent me the photo above, her fourth tattoo. I love the blue roses that set this piece apart from most lower back tribal tattoos.
Kim told me:
"The piece was done ... in Santa Barbara. It was the worst tattoo experience I ever had. (I have five tattoos). In the middle of it [the artist] took a phone call, saying, "Oh, hi. I'm tattooing a crack." I like the tattoo, though. There wasn't any particular significance to the design, for me, though afterwards I thought about Laura Wingfield in Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie being called Blue Roses by her Gentleman Caller, and so it's become a bit of a reminder to myself, when I'm feeling fragile, to take a risk rather than withdraw."
She had this tattooed in 1994 and has added one more to her collection since then.
Be sure to head on over to BillyBlog to read one of Kim's poems. And although not every poem written by an inked poet appearing on BillyBlog this month is tattoo-related, Kim's is.
Thanks very much to Kim Addonizio for sharing her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!
The Tattooed Poets Project: Kim Addonizio's Blue Roses
When first embarking on this tattoo project, nearly everyone I asked referred me to Kim Addonizio. I'd venture to say she is the poet most well-known as "tattoo-friendly". In part, this is due to her editing an anthology called Dorothy Parker's Elbow: Tattoos on Writers, Writers on Tattoos.
Graciously, Kim accepted my invitation to participate in Tattoosday's National Poetry Month project. She sent me the photo above, her fourth tattoo. I love the blue roses that set this piece apart from most lower back tribal tattoos.
Kim told me:
"The piece was done ... in Santa Barbara. It was the worst tattoo experience I ever had. (I have five tattoos). In the middle of it [the artist] took a phone call, saying, "Oh, hi. I'm tattooing a crack." I like the tattoo, though. There wasn't any particular significance to the design, for me, though afterwards I thought about Laura Wingfield in Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie being called Blue Roses by her Gentleman Caller, and so it's become a bit of a reminder to myself, when I'm feeling fragile, to take a risk rather than withdraw."
She had this tattooed in 1994 and has added one more to her collection since then.
Be sure to head on over to BillyBlog to read one of Kim's poems. And although not every poem written by an inked poet appearing on BillyBlog this month is tattoo-related, Kim's is.
Thanks very much to Kim Addonizio for sharing her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!
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