Chinese Letters Tattoos - Good Points to Consider

The art of making tattoos on a body is in no way recent. It has a history almost as old as man itself. This art has been kept alive since ancient times, and has gained popularity and widespread use in the modern age. Tattoo is made using a needle and ink. Needle is used to place the colored ink into the skin to make a design chosen by the person, to stay on the skin forever. This is a somewhat painful method, and the intensity of which depends on the sensitivity of the area where the tattoo is being made. This pain can stay with you for a few days. But if it's done right, the tattoos heal quickly leaving no pain behind.

Today, more and more people are opting for Chinese letters tattoos. The beautiful designs being the most common reason for the choice, even though most of the people who get Chinese letters tattoos don't really know what their tattoo means.

The Chinese letters tattoos have a charm and mystique that is all their own. No word or letter written in English can ever be comparable to the beauty Chinese letters have. It is due to this unique nature of Chinese letters that has made it one of the most popular choices in tattoo art.

However, choosing the right Chinese letters tattoo is the tricky part. As the tattoo is going to stay with you all your life, it is imperative that you find the perfect one for yourself. If you want your name written in Chinese letters, you will have to find someone to help who has a complete knowledge of the Chinese language. Since there are no alphabets in Chinese, you can not simply put your word into a converter and get the right Chinese translation. Chinese language is unique in the sense that a single letter of the language can mean many words, and convey a complete meaning, for example love, peace, and power can be said using a single Chinese letter.

To avoid the dissatisfaction of getting a tattoo in a hurry and then later finding a design that you liked better and wished you have gotten instead of the one you went ahead with, take your time and research carefully, exploring all the options and designs before selecting the one that you will like forever. It is in most cases like finding the perfect wedding dress, but in this case you are going to wear a tattoo forever.

There are over a hundred thousand Chinese symbols, each with a significant meaning to it, though most of them have become redundant in the present times. The most common Chinese signs are the signs for love, strength, power, luck, water, horse, cat, harmony, dragon, fire, fate, wind, heart, snake, eternity, life, music, hero and so many more. There are Chinese symbols for all the twelve zodiac signs as well.

Whatever you choose to get inked on you, make sure that it goes with your personality, and will remain the same for years to come. Get Chinese letters tattoos that you can cherish all life long.

hot girls with tribal tattoos-perfect tattoo ideas for sexy

The Tattoosday Book Review: 7 Tattoos

First and foremost, let me clear something up: 7 Tattoos by Peter Trachtenberg is a memoir and is not a book about tattoos. Oh, there are tattoos within, and stories about them and how they were obtained. But tattoos help form the context of the story within, and the ink is often secondary to the action at hand.

7 Tattoos is a riveting narrative, "a memoir in the flesh," about the author's inner struggles with his identity and the world around him. His tattoos form the structure of the book, serving as chapters around which Trachtenberg's life revolves.

Imagine a first tattoo: assuming that it wasn't inked on the fly, everyone's first tattoo comes with context. On Tattoosday, I try and tell the story behind the tattoo. But even I know that I am only scratching the surface of the narrative skin.

Each of the author's seven tattoos serves as a focal point out of which a life chapter spins.

From a tribal piece that is inspired by the ink of Southeast Asia (and subsequent trips there) to tattoos that mark chapters in a life punctuated by drug addiction and strained parental relationships, we are given a warts-and-all tour of Trachtenberg's life. As important as the tattoos may seem, they are really just sign-posts with memories in the ink.

Ultimately, 7 Tattoos is about relationships - Trachtenberg's relationships with women, his father, his mother and, ultimately, himself.

He is a writer and his skills show throughout as he describes tattoos with admirable simplicity:

"The tattoo Slam had given me was a drawing of a wrench placed diagonally between two gears. She'd rendered the spinner with punctilious thoroughness, down to the highlights on the chrome-plated shaft, while leaving the gears black silhouettes, and she'd unified the composition by framing wrench and gears with a red triangle that sat athwart my deltoid."

This passage describes the tattoo with political undertones, in a chapter entitled "I Keep the Red Flag Flying". He does a remarkable job taking a 1992 tattoo and narrating back twenty years earlier to 1972. Again, the tattoo anchors the chapter and is the glue that holds it together.

Trachtenberg has skillfully built a personal history around seven works of art. It doesn't matter where they were inked or if any of them are "good" or not. Each piece is a jumping-off point that elevates the memoir above the standard personal history.

7 Tattoos was recommended to me last Spring when I was interviewing poets and writers for my Tattooed Poets Project. I wish I could remember who suggested I read it, because I would love to thank them.

The tattoos in the book are not at center stage, yet they manage to grab a hold of the imagination throughout as we are carried along by the story of Trachtenberg's life. It's an experience I would heartily recommend to anyone interested in good writing, with a penchant for ink.

Cody's Eagle Braves the Storm

On the day after Thanksgiving, I was passing through Penn Station and I spotted this tattoo:


This depiction of an eagle flying through a storm belongs to Cody, who was in town visiting from Key West, Florida.


This symbol of strength and courage enduring the dangers of a powerful storm is fitting, as Cody began work on the piece as a tribute to his father, serving in the Armed Forces in Afghanistan.

Cody has already had three sittings for this wonderful tattoo, and is close to finishing it with "Tattoo" Mike Haugh at Key West Tattoo Company.

Thanks to Cody for sharing this great tattoo! We look forward to seeing the final product!

Tattoos Of The Chinese Red Dragon - Looking For Chinese Red Dragon Tattoo Designs?

The Chinese red dragon has long been a symbol of power and supremacy in Chinese mythology. These dragons are usually depicted as long, snake-like creatures with four claws. Chinese dragons with five claws were imperial dragons typically reserved for emperors. Any person carrying the symbol of the five clawed dragon was treated with the utmost hospitality, kindness, and respect. However, anyone who wrongfully displayed the five clawed dragon would receive swift punishment. Chinese dragons are distinct from their western counterpart in that western dragons were usually represented as being evil.

Many people are attracted to the design and allure of these majestic creatures, yet few truly know what they symbolize. These designs can symbolize empowerment, beauty, wisdom, freedom, or a fire within oneself. The fire within could represent a passion or desire for something or someone, unique to the individual. In this way, tattoos of Chinese dragons have different, personal meanings for different people.

Chinese Dragon tattoos are well suited for entire body, full back, arm, and leg designs. These tattoos are commonly wrapped around the body, flattering the curves and contours. The most common place for a this tattoo however is the upper half of the arm. Here the body of the dragon wraps around the arm, with the head extending onto the chest or back region. Don't let these suggestions limit your ideas. Tattoos are as individual as the people they are imprinted on, and are meant as a form of art & expression. Express yourself in which ever manner you feel best suits you!

Tay's Angel Reminds Him of a Battle Won

There are many things to be thankful for on Thanksgiving. I know that may cliché , but at its core, there is the kernel of truth. All it takes to remember this is to cross paths with someone who has overcome the odds to prevail in life.

Yesterday I met Tay in the Borders on Penn Plaza, and he shared this tattoo:


Here's the complete piece:


Inked on his inner left forearm, this angelic image is a product of an idea of a spirit watching over him, He gathered a couple of photos for reference and presented them, along with a short written paragraph about the concept, to a tattoo artist at Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo in Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts. It was the tattooer who gave Tay the writing assignment. I am impressed that the artist would incorporate that into his creative process, and it makes perfect sense.

Although Tay is not religious, per se, he wanted something spiritual to remind him of his guardian angel that helped him overcome the mortal challenge of cancer.

As it turns out, Tay is a survivor, who has been cancer-free for ten years after a victory over acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Tay notes that, all it takes is a look down at his arm to remind him that he has come a long way from the lows of facing one's mortality at such an early age.

I want to thank Tay for sharing his tattoo with us here. And I wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all the Tattoosday readers!

Doug's Dragon

Back on July 13, I posted a photo of Doug's Geisha. Doug was waiting around the Penn Station area before heading down to see Horisei, at tattoo artist working out of Rising Dragon's Chelsea Tattoo Company.

Doug followed up his moment in the Tattoosday light by sending us photos of the work he had done that day. As would be expected from work by Horisei, the tattoo is beautifully done:






Work from Horisei has appeared previously on this site here.

Thanks again to Doug for sharing his new tattoo work with us here on Tattoosday!

Chinese Tattoo Designs Are More Accepted Today Than Ever Before

Back in the day, it was thought that you were connected with the mob or in criminal activity if you had a Chinese tattoo design. Thanks to the popularity of tattoos by professional athletes, rap artists, celebrities and everyday people, tattoos and especially Chinese tattoos are becoming more accepted and even admired in this day and age. Needless to say, these tattoos have become very fascinating and are some of the most searched for tattoo designs on the internet today. As the different cultures continue to blend in this melting pot of people, more and more people are searching for information on authentic Chinese tattoo designs.

The great interest with Chinese tattoos is the artistic value along with the mystery of people not knowing exactly what your tattoo represents. Every time I see someone with a Chinese tattoo, I wonder what their tattoo means. It can very well be an ice breaker in any situation, your job or even social events as people will start to have conversation with you about your amazing tattoo.

Most people will decide to get a tattoo that represents something important to them such as their values, beliefs, goals in life, happiness, peace and even losing a loved one. That's why Chinese tattoos are such a popular choice because you can accomplish this with such a small artistic display compared to writing out what you're trying to say or having several pictures to get your point across.

You must do your homework and do your due research if this is something you think you might like to have. You definitely don't want to be misled or get the wrong information about what your Chinese tattoo translates into. You want a source that you can trust so that you won't get a tattoo that you think means peace and love, then you find out later on it means something totally different. How embarrassing and upsetting would that be. Be very careful and very diligent with your research. There are several tattoo websites that will give you an accurate definition of your Chinese tattoo.

Remember that there are many slightly different meanings and the smallest change can result in your Chinese tattoo meaning something totally different than what you want to display. You don't want your lack of research on something like this to last you a whole life time. You'll end up regretting and second guessing your decision to even get a tattoo.

If at all possible try to speak with someone that actually speaks Chinese so that you can have the correct interpretation and you can know exactly what each symbol means before you get your tattoo.

Get unlimited access to thousands of the latest and hottest tattoo designs including Chinese tattoos, tribal, skulls, flowers, celtic, hearts and much more. You'll also discover a discussion forum, video vault area for members only and much more.

cute flower tattoos on breast girls

Mike Shares Some More Ink

Back in May, I met a guy named Mike outside of Penn Station and he shared this tattoo with us.

Occasionally, contributors who I have met on the street will send me a follow-up of additional tattoos that I didn't photograph the first time I met them. Mike was generous enough with his time and energy to do just that.

First is a piece that was done around the same time that the lion-skeleton tattoo, featured back in May, was completed, back in 1995:

This, like the previous work featured from Mike, was inked by Doug White at the Ink Spot in Linden, New Jersey.

Mike also sent along this snake:



I love the cross-hatch patterns on the back of the snake. The lines are so finely drawn, I am impressed by the amount of patience it must have taken to get these tiny details just right.

Mike also sent a photo of this gargoyle on his back:


These last two pieces were inked at Tattoo Lou's in Babylon, New York back in 2000. Work from Tattoo Lou's has appeared previously on Tattoosday here.

Thanks again to Mike for sharing more of his ink with us here on Tattoosday!

Male Tattoos With Upper Back Tribal Tattoo Design Picture

Male Tattoos With Upper Back Tribal Tattoo Design Picture 1

Male Tattoos With Upper Back Tribal Tattoo Design Picture 2

Name Upper Back Tattoo And Tribal Upper Back Tattoo DesignPicture

Sexy Women Tattoo With Name Upper Back tattoo Picture

Male Tattoo With Upper BAck Tribal Tattoo Design

Two Eclectic Tattoos from TG

I will pace subway platforms, while waiting for my train, so that I may exercise a bit, and, let's face it, spot the occasional tattoo.

After meeting TG on the 59th Street platform in Brooklyn, and talking tattoo with him all the way to 95th Street, he told me I was lucky he had removed his sweater back on 59th.

For it was there that I spotted his tattoos. First I noticed this one:


That is a brontosaurus, which is on his left arm. It was an impulse decision and serves solely as a decorative reminder of a moment in time. TG had just left work with a paycheck and wandered into Rising Dragon Tattoos in their (relatively) new 14th Street location.

The artist was Davide, who hails from Italy, and was most likely a guest tattooer at the time.

TG sings his praises as he took a relatively simple design and gave it his all, down to the shading of the dinosaur's eyes and toe nails.

An even more compelling tattoo is this line-drawn piece:


The caption under the robot and the bear reads "Go for the knees! Bears are known for weak knees!"

This refers to a brief snippet of dialogue in Season 1, Episode 3 ("Blind Date") of the NBC sitcom 30 Rock. The line is uttered by the character Frank, who is played by actor/comedian Judah Friedlander.

The absurdity of the line made it memorable to TG, who chose to immortalize it on his right forearm.

The tattoo was inked by Mike at Mad Pup's Tattooing in Plattsburgh, New York.

Thanks to TG for sharing his two eclectic tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Dragon Tattoo Art - Finding Printable Designs For Your Dragon Tattoos

Dragon tattoo art has been one of the most sought after designs especially among male tat enthusiasts. The creature, although mythical and non-existent has strong symbolism attached to it, not to mention the artistic appeal it has when inked on one's body.

Dragon tattoos can represent two different meanings depending on how they are portrayed. In the West, they are regarded as an evil and mean winged creature who breathes fire and guards caves with golds and jewels. Those who want to get these treasures have to slay the dragon first. In this case, dragon tattoos can mean fearless, power, courage and strong will.

The other symbolism of dragon tattoo art is good luck, fortune and wisdom as how they are look upon in the East. In China, they are the main symbol during the celebration of Chinese New Year as they are believed to bring prosperity, benevolence and good will. As a tattoo design, they can mean intelligence, protection, balance and harmony.

Dragon tattoo designs are very adaptable and flexible body art and looks great on large areas of the body such as the arm, rib cage, chest, back and shoulder blade. They can be seen inked in colors such as red and green while others opt for the plain black ink with some tribal touch. They can be portrayed as terrifying or monster-like, charming and kind and even small and innocent. It all depends on what kind of message the person sporting the tattoo wants to portray.

When it comes to resources for design of dragon tattoo art, its always best to do your research first before purchasing one. Read reviews online of the tattoo gallery membership being promoted and see which one best suit your need.

The Tattoosday Book Review: Tattoo Machine by Jeff Johnson

First, a point of clarification. I write blog posts with the ideal blog reader in mind. The ideal blog reader being me. And what I have noticed over the years is, despite the interest in the subject matter, it is rare that a blog post will hold my attention longer than a few paragraphs. This is why Tattoosday posts are generally brief, not drawn out, and some times split into multiple parts.

Similarly, my attempts at literary criticism are not as in-depth as many may like. I acknowledge that shortcoming while noting, for many, this is actually a plus.

That said, I am long overdue in reviewing Tattoo Machine: Tall Tales, True Stories, and My Life in Ink by Jeff Johnson.

Johnson is a tattoo artist and owner of the Sea Tramp Tattoo Company in Portland, Oregon.

As anyone in America can tell you, the rise in popularity of the art of tattooing has skyrocketed in the last twenty years, and the first decade of the 21st century has seen the acceptance of body art increase exponentially.

Johnson's book is not your typical tattoo primer (the fanciest of which has been Kat Von D's immensely successful High Voltage), but rather, a memoir of his life and experiences as a tattoo artist.

What separates Johnson from other tattoo writers is that he has a true gift for prose, a writing skill that eclipses the efforts of your standard "all about tattooing" books. As a result, the reader is sitting there in the shop with Jeff, listening to his story. I could hear the buzzing of machines and taste the neon in the air.

Case in point, a paragraph from Johnson's introduction:

"This isn't simply a memoir. It is also a personal look at the people behind an art form that has undergone a rebirth and is shaking the natal mucus from its drying wings as a new pool of exciting, schooled, and committed artists take their places. This is also a book about street shops and the artists that flourished or inexcusably withered in those fertile grounds. I want to give the reader a more complete picture of a tattoo artist's life and the lessons learned along the way, the things a TV show or a visit to your local establishment can't capture, the things people wonder about when they look through the window the first time and ask themselves What's really going on in there? This is what I've seen. You might not want to get a tattoo from me after reading this, but there you go..."

The narrative wends its way through Johnson's past to his present, getting the reader to appreciate the journey that led the author to the helm of the Sea Tramp.

He tells it like it is, warts and all. On shows like L.A. Ink, you don't get to see the unsavory characters that are often hindrances to a tattoo business. We get that here.

Part One, Dial Tone, dwells on the business side of tattooing, from employees and scheduling, to flash art and drawing, signs of a good shop, and shop lingo.

Part Two, Man's Ruin, provides a primer on the big problems confronting the business: drugs, criminals, scams and oddities. The oddities section certainly opened my eyes and made me realize any good artist wouldn't bat an eye lash over a mild case of psoriasis.

Part Three, Love and Hate, talks about the emotional journey that the author has taken.

Part Four, Wine, Song and Your Mama, deals with success.

Part Five, Tiny Revolutions, revisits the technical aspects of tattooing and spends a nice amount of time discussing the politics of tattooing and the regulation of the industry.

And the final section, Part 6, Smile Now, Cry Later discusses pranks, rivalries, and the life cycles of a couple of shops. Johnson does a nice job addressing that aching question: how does an artist feel when a great tattoo dies along with its host.

Ultimately, Tattoo Machine, despite its meandering, is a thoughtful, humorous and well-written volume on the life of a tattoo artist. Is it every tattooer's experience? Probably not. But I'd be surprised to find an artist who would read this book and not relate to anything between the covers.

We here at Tattoosday give Jeff Johnson's memoir a big thumbs up and a hearty recommendation.

~~~~~~~

Here's some more on Tattoo Machine.

And here's a real treat, a clip featuring Jeff and a discussion of Sea Tramp Tattoo Company:

Shom's Chakra

I met Shom very briefly as he was about to board a train at Penn Station.

Aside from shoulder pieces and Sanskrit text circling his upper left arm, he has a couple of other tattoos, including this one on his inner left forearm:


This piece represents one of the many chakra for meditation.

It was inked at Jinx Proof Tattoo in Washington, D.C. Work from that shop has appeared previously here.

Shom had to board his train before I could get more information, but I express sincere thanks for his brief participation here on Tattoosday!

Drew's Samoan Circle

I met Drew in Penn Station and he shared this, one of his two tattoos:


It's a cool design that he saw in an encyclopedia and took to an artist at State of the Art Tattooing in Southampton, New Jersey.

Drew ascribed his own meanings to the piece, creating his own interpretation of the designs.

The main circles he regards as two pinwheels, spinning in different directions. These two, as a whole, represent progression, as life moves forward.

Also, along the edges, in addition to some traditional design aspects, Drew pointed out two half-circles and four quarter-circles. These fragmented wholes represent the realms of dreams and realities.

By ascribing his own meaning and understanding of the tattoo and its elements, Drew makes the impersonal design (out of a book) more personal and special.

Thanks to Drew for sharing his tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

cross tattoos for back shoulder girls

Get Your Ultimate Buddha Tattoo Designs

Want to know why Buddha tattoos are popular tattoo designs?

Buddhism is one of the foremost religions in Asian countries including China, Thailand, and India. Since I'll be discussing about Buddha tattoos, let me tell you about the foundation of Buddhism and how it came about.

Buddha

Would you believe that Buddha was a prince? His name was Siddhartha Gautama. He was born a prince and even then one of the philosophers who witnessed the prince's birth already saw greatness in him. He was believed to go beyond any noble power, a 'supreme knowledge.'

The prince was referred to as Buddha, thus, Buddhism was named after him. Buddha introduced the noble truths which he based from on he saw - the truth behind human subsistence and why people have little control of their fates.

Buddha Tattoos

When one thinks of a tattoo with Buddha design, one would instantly think of the Buddha image. It is the most popular among Buddha designs, which connotes faith and loyalty to Buddha.

You can also find colorful cartoon versions, or the dancing and laughing Buddha. You can also look for designs depicting a lion, a begging bowl, Buddha footprints, an empty throne, or the Bodhi Tree (a significant symbol where Buddha accomplished enlightenment).

The traditional Thai Buddha design represents luck, wealth, and blessings.

Although there are various other Buddha tattoos that can be used for the design, still the Buddha image remains as the first choice. No matter how Buddha is represented in a tattoo design including his mood depictions or the colors of his clothes, those who follow the prince will always look at theaw tattoos as symbols of enlightenment, strength of character, and greatness.

Rebecca's Reiki Symbols of Healing

Last week I met Rebecca, who was waiting for an Amtrak train in Penn Station.

She had these tattoos on her inner wrists:


I recognized that they were kanji, but I didn't know that they were reiki symbols.

Reiki is a Japanese healing art, and Rebecca is a certified reiki practitioner.

As part of her certification and training, she studied enough to know that these symbols are accurate and refer to graphic representations of healing. Her right wrist speaks to long distance healing, and her left wrist refers to balance and healing.

Since reiki practitioners work with their hands, it seemed fitting that she had these symbols on her wrists.

She noted, as my wife has told me about her wrist tattoo, that the pain was very intense on this part of her body and that she passed out not once, but twice, in the course of having these tattoos inked over two sittings.

The tattoos were done at Gothic Tattoo & Body Piercing in New Hampshire.

Thanks to Rebecca for sharing her healing tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

The Return of Sal's Ink - A Teacher's Inspiring Words

Once in a while I check in with old Tattoosday contributors and I recently revisited Sal, who works at a video store (Mr. Video III) in Brooklyn Heights. You may recall his Guns 'N Roses tattoo (here).

Earlier this year, he had this inscription tattooed on his inner right forearm:


The phrase "not a moment for granted" is inked in tribute to his late acting teacher Fred Kareman, who inspired and taught Sal, not to mention countless others.

Sal explained that Kareman instructed in the Meisner Technique, which he described as an "in the moment" method.

This phrase can be further applied to life, in general, reminding Sal and anyone who sees the tattoo that every moment is precious, and should be savored like a treasure.

The design and tattooing was done by the incomparable Mark Harada at East Side Ink. You can see other pieces by Harada featured here on Tattoosday. Similarly, clicking the East Side Ink tag reveals other fine work done at the shop.

Thanks to Sal for once again sharing a part of his body's canvas with us here on Tattoosday!

yesus tattoos on side body girls

Camila's Salute to Her Heritage and Her Home Town of Rio

Back in August, I met Camila in Penn Station after spotting an amazing tattoo wrapping around her lower left calf.

The piece was still in progress, however, so we posted this tattoo instead.

Over this past weekend I was pleasantly surprised when Camila sent me photos of her finished leg piece. Behold:




Camila's tattoo celebrates her Brazilian heritage. The woman is holding two guns and represents female empowerment. The cityscape behind is a Brazilian favela, or tenement, representing her homeland, in addition to the Christ the Redeemer statue, perched high above Rio de Janeiro.



It's completely black and gray, save for the red in the lips of the woman and the lone kite flying above the favela. The red represents the colors of the carioca, or the greater metropolitan area of Rio.

Truly a marvelous tribute to one's homeland and culture!

The tattoo was done by Camila's friend Daniel.

Thanks to Camila for sending me the updated photos!

The Tattoosday Book Review: The Missing Ink

As tattooing has skyrocketed in popularity, the number of ink-related books hitting the shelves has multiplied like rabbits. I picked up a copy of Kat Von D.'s book at Borders the other day (read my review here) and was astonished to see it was in its eighth printing.

A fresh tattoo-related title emerged earlier this year, and it wasn't in the Health/Beauty/Appearance category, as you would expect. Rather, it's jumping out in the Mystery category.


Karen E. Olson released The Missing Ink, introducing a new protagonist to the literary world. Brett Kavanaugh is a Las Vegas-based tattoo artist who gets caught up in a murder mystery. Behold: a new series is born.

Ms. Olson is currently at work on book three in the series. The second title, Pretty in Ink, is due out in March.


And I can hardly wait.

All judging of books by their covers jokes aside, don't let the art gracing The Missing Ink fool you: this is not "chick lit". Brett Kavanaugh is not looking for love, Manolo Blahniks, or the man of her dreams. She's a career-driven tattooist committed to her art and running her business respectably, as much as can be expected in a Vegas casino.

I'm not saying it doesn't have a feminine touch, Brett is still a beautiful woman, with a soft spot for nice clothing and a blazing crush on one of the mysterious characters in the narrative, but she also wolfs down In-N-Out burgers and doesn't back down from her role in a profession that has been traditionally male-dominated. There are notable exceptions to this, of course, but it has only been in the last ten years that we have seen the elevation of the female tattoo artist joining the ranks of their male peers as acknowledged masters of the art form.

What The Missing Ink has is a plot that keeps us interested, with characters that are believable and entertaining. Her hefty sidekick, Joel, and diminutive employee, Bitsy, are just two of my favorite characters who are a pleasure to behold on the page.

The story wends its way through a maze of a murder that links Brett by virtue of a tattoo she designed but never inked. We get a taste of Vegas that takes us behind the scenes at a casino and even brings us to a wonderfully evocative setting of an Elvis karaoke bar.

I can see tattoo purists rolling their eyes at this book because it is a whimsical murder mystery that doesn't necessarily put the art at the forefront of the action. But it's not intended to. Ink is discussed and we often see Bret at work, but the plot often pulls her away from the job.

But this, after all, is fiction: a creation of the author that has been carefully researched and presented respectfully in regard to the tattoo industry. For more realism, I'd recommend Jeff Johnson's Tattoo Machine: Tall Tales, True Stories, and My Life in Ink, which also came out this summer (a review is forthcoming).

It's fun to dive into a murder mystery every so often and even more fun to do so when you're interested in ink and the main character is an artist. It's refreshing to read a work of fiction that is centered around the modern tattoo industry and just doesn't use tattoos as clues or signifiers on a character's body.

Ms. Olson has created a character that is believable and entertaining. Although I am unlikely to fly off to Vegas and seek out a tattoo at the hotel, I certainly look forward to the Spring when Bret Kavanaugh returns to further grace us with her presence!

Here's another review, and another, if you'd like some more opinions.

Daring to Have Tribal Dragon Tattoos

No one would ever dare to explain why a Dragon, a legendary creature, has created a huge impact in the lives of people today. Is it because people have heard a lot of stories about it, which makes it real? Or is it because the stories that were told since long time ago have been embodied by the people, made these affect their lives and daily living?

The answer may be vague, but the again, dragons, although mythical creatures, have existed in the minds of every person, and will continue to play in the imagination of the future generations.

A legendary creature made into symbols

Since no one would ever dare to prove the existence of dragons, people since the ancient times have created an image to portray how the legendary creature looks like. Based on stories passed from one generation to the other that would often describe the physical attributes of the creature, people saw the real image of a dragon.

They made sketches, and formed sculptures of a huge animal. The size would often be described similarly, but other attributes are different. Chinese dragons are longer, swims on air, and would often symbolize kindness and goodwill. On the other hand, Japanese dragons do not have wings, love the water, and have three claws.

Dragons from Europe are usually depicted of having three heads, aggressive, and burns villages. There are other illustrations of dragons, depending on a certain culture. In general, there are cultures that would portray their dragon as virtuous, but there are also cultures that would label dragons as ghastly elements.

Dragon symbols made into body art

After several pictures of dragons sprouted out, people used the symbolism for themselves. In the form of tribal dragon tattoos, people from different cultures have radiated their might to their enemies. In fact, several tribes would often paint their bodies with a dragon design before going to war. This is to show to their enemies that they are tough and fearless.

But tribal dragon tattoos do not usually mean the same thing. There are also cultures that would place these on their bodies as a sign of good luck, good health, and good fortune. These are commonly seen on Chinese cultures. Aside from body art, Chinese dragons are also a usual subject on paintings, pottery and embroidery.

However, there are cultures that used creature as a symbol of their deviancy to their religion. For instance, those who are against the Christian religion, would place dragon symbols around themselves and worship this mythical creature. They would often attack the church of Christ with this symbol, since it was mentioned in the bible that dragons are creatures from the underworld.

Dragon Tattoos today

A lot of people love tribal dragon tattoos, not only because of the unique design, but because of their legendary significance and symbolism. Tattoo artists have also crafted the design to make it more modern and attractive. Some would combine colors of red, yellow, and green to make the tattoo radiant and eye-catching.