Matasaqqor Tattoo Gallery: May 2010

Friday, May 28, 2010

Chest Tattoos

Much like back tattoos, its relatively common to see tattoos on the chest as well, some of which are small tattoo designs but more commonly you will see a large piece of tattoo artwork or numerous collaborated tattoo designs on a chest.

Checkout these celebrities with tattoos on their chest, Robbie Williams has the phrase "chacun à son goût", Ozzy Osbourne has a dragon and a skull on his chest, Lenny Kravitz also has a rather large dragon and Dennis Rodman has two bulls and some tribal tattoos on his chest.

See these pictures of chest tattoos below.

Some other famous people with chest tattoos include, Pete Doherty with "Baby ---" on his chest, Marc Anthony has small cowboy design, Eve has two well placed paw prints, and Tommy Lee has two large tribal lion tattoos on his chest.

Both NBA superstars Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James have several tattoos on their chest, Joan Jett has a unique Y shaped tattoo on her chest and Billie Joe Armstrong has a car, skull and other tattoos on his chest.

I hope you enjoy these great pictures of famous people who have chest tattoos.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Back Tattoos

The back is an excellent location to get a tattoo, and seeing how it's the largest piece of real estate on the human body, many people choose to get very extensive tattoos on the back.

Many celebrities have tattoo designs on their back, checkout LeBron James who has the phrase "Chosen 1" on his back, rock star Tommy Lee has a tremendous amount of tribal artwork on his back, Jesse James has a 100 dollar bill with flames and David Beckham has several tattoos on his back including a crucifixion scene with the names of his 3 sons.

Checkout some pictures of back tattoos.

Nicole Richie has a cute pair of angel wings tattooed on her back, Megan Fox has a short poem that reads "We will all laugh at the gilded butterflies" on her back, Victoria Beckham has a quote from the Song of Solomon 6:3 "I am my love’s and my love is mine, who browses among the lilies." and rapper 50 Cent has "South Side" and a giant number 50 tattooed on his back.

Other famous people with back tattoos include, Ja Rule with crosses and angel wings, Davey Havok has large angel wings which covers his entire back, Josh Hartnett has a Celtic knot, Brandon Boyd has a pyramid with eye and wings tattooed on his back, basketball player Tim Duncan has a jester tattoo design, NBA player Carlos Boozer has a large archangel on his back, Chester Bennington has two dragons and the name of his band, and David Blaine has the "Christ of Saint John of the Cross" artwork tattooed on his back.

Epidermal Engravings

As a kid, I always knew my grandfather, Harry Robinson, was a print-maker. I didn't really understand what that meant until I found myself pursuing a degree in graphic design years later. By that time I was already tattooing and knew it was what I would be doing for the rest of my life, but for some reason getting that degree was important. The way I learned to manipulate type and images was so different than what he did. Everything I did and knew was digital, on a computer. I worked with fonts. He made his own type. Actually poured the lead.

Harry (in the middle)

I took a letterpress class the other day and this is one of the Vandercooks at the studio. I love the container that says "Various Tools".

I took this picture during my letterpress class. I'm pretty sure the press in the background (you can barely see it) is the same as the one that's pictured with the man on the right above this photo.

My mom grew up in his studio. She talked about skating on the concrete floors and the big machines and their noises. I couldn't appreciate that memory as much as a child as I do now. I sure wish I could dive into these photos I've dug out and hang out with them, watch them work. Harry was a pretty special man and printmaking was only a small part of the long life he lived. A navy man, a mailman, a musician, woodworker, loving father, married 3 times (that I know of), a photographer, artist, he lived to be 93 and loved email and his digital camera and his treadmill. And he made a wicked pizzelle. Yum!!

Harry and his violin

Harry and my mom in the shop

I found this when I was looking for the picture of Harry with his press. Sadly for me these photos are of my older sister and not me. I didn't realize he still had the shop at this point in time. I thought it was long gone before us. I think my mom is pregnant with me in the bottom right. I want that chair my sister's sitting on.

One of Harry's illustrations. It makes me think of the older tattoo photos you'll see of girls in their undies posing for a picture of their new ankle tattoo. ha!

um. ahem. Isaac posing for an ankle shot? eh....

I showed my grandfather my tattoo portfolio years ago. He loved the tattoos and asked his wife (# 3) if he could get one. He called them "epidermal engravings". I put that on one of my first business cards. She said no, by the way.

His first wife, Helen, my mom's mom. I never met her but judging by all these pictures I've been looking through tonight, it's her warbly knees I see when I look in the mirror.

Helen and Harry

I owe so much of who I am today to him. And as I use his tools (that all wreak of mothballs) for my own printmaking projects I feel closer to him. And I miss him very much.

And when I find pictures like this in his photo albums, of women who are not any of my grandmothers (my mom is going to kill me for posting this! ha...sorry!), I feel a connection I can't deny and wonder if I'd be doing what I do today if it weren't for him. I'm so curious about this woman! He lived in Huntington Beach at this time, I think early/mid 70s maybe? Anybody have any idea who might have done these tattoos? The flowers look like something Iggy would do.

By the way: