Snake & Apple

This gorgeous snake with the apple comes from Robin; she is the 15th person to submit art to NeoPagan Ink!! Yay! This tattoo was done by Teri at House of Ink in Venice Beach, California. Robin has this to say about her tattoo:

I have a thing about only letting womyn tattoo me. She is not only talented but gorgeous as well with a gentle hand. When I told the staff I wanted a snake wrapped around an apple as a symbol of womyns power and wisdom, with the snake protecting the apple, many wanted to make the snake all fangs out and mean, but she really got it when she drew it out.

Thanks to Robin for sharing her ink with us!!!

Call for Suggestions; Updates

As my regular readers know I've recently started a new category: Body Mod in Pagan Art. I was really excited about it at first as I figured I'd find lots of examples. Well, either I'm not using the right search terms or I'm not into the right artists or something because I'm having a much tougher time of it than I thought I would. So, I'm putting out a call for pagan-themed art that includes body modification. Now, I don't necessarily mean your own personal, original art (although that would be cool too) but professional or really good amateur examples that you find online. This could include paintings, drawings, digital art, photography, etc. I'm not too picky as long as it's got a pagan-y or magical theme, includes body mod of some sort and is of a pretty good quality. So come on folks and share some art with me! To do so just suggest an artist, send a link or image (with the name of the artist of course) to: neopaganink@gmail.com

Thanks in advance!

Also, in recent weeks I've made a concerted effort to include more of the mythological history and folklore behind many of the images featured here on NeoPagan Ink. I hope you noticed and enjoy these bits of background; I would love some feedback about it.

Lastly, I'm sorta kinda considering changing the blog template (that's the background and colors) not because I dislike the current look but because I love tinkering with my blogs. I've only had this blog up and running since July and the current template was installed within weeks of the first post so it hasn't really been that long. Now, so far I haven't found another suitable template but I'm still looking. At any rate, I'd like to know your thoughts about it: should I change the template or stick with it for a while longer? Or are you ready for a new color scheme and background? If so could you recommend a new look or template?

As always, I'm fishing for feedback as I consider this a blog for all neopagan tattoo enthusiasts and not just for me. I've always wanted this to be a resource for anyone of the pagan-y persuasion to see the great art to be found on pagan bodies. With your help and input I hope to continue showcasing great tattoos for a long time to come.

A Moon on a Hip

This is another great tattoo from Kim and this is what she says about it:

The tattoo on my hip is a crescent moon with three raindrops falling from it. I first had this tattoo done ten years ago, but was never completely happy with it. My astrological symbol (Cancer) is nestled inside the crescent. I had it redone by KC at the same time he did my pentagram.

Calling the Storm

This nifty painting was created by artist Jasmine Beckett-Griffith. Be sure to visit her site and gallery to view, and possibly buy, her great gothic, fantasy and fairy art.

Pentagram, Ivy and Dragonfly

This awesome tattoo comes from Kim; she is the 14th person to submit her art to NeoPagan Ink! Yay! This tattoo is her own original design and was inked by KC at Marks of Art out of San Jose, California. Kim had this to say about her tattoo:

The Celtic knotwork pentagram came from a pendant I found online. I’ve seen it used as a tattoo motif on your blog before. I first got the idea of using it as a tattoo six years ago, but didn’t get it inked until November/07. The pendant had flowers around it, but I felt that the vines and berries would work better as a tattoo. To me, they represent growth (the vines) and beginnings (the berries). The dragonfly represents change.

Thanks to Kim for sharing her art!!

Newgrange Spirals

The tattoo image comes from here. I honestly don't remember where the photo of the original Newgrange spirals comes from, sorry 'bout that. Anyway, Newgrange is a fascinating monument in Ireland that is older than Stonehenge by some 500 years. At about 5000 years of age it is older than the Great Pyramids of Egypt. But all that aside, it's an amazing place that I'd dearly love to visit someday (if I ever get rich, that is). On the morning before, of and after the winter solstice the light of the rising sun hits these spirals and other symbols deep within the structure. At no other time of the year does this phenomena occur so we know the ancient builders purposely aligned Newgrange with the solstice. I guess I should have posted this about a week ago but I digress. Pretty cool, eh?

Janus

I found this amazing Janus on BritishInk's Flickrstream. Janus is the Roman god of beginnings and endings, a liminal being of the sowing and harvesting of crops, of birth and death, of youths growing into adults, etc. He is nearly always shown with two faces pointing in opposite directions and is most popularly known for lending his name to our month of January.

Chicken Hoot

Another Suzi Q owl

Cappy Christmas!

Joe Capobianco isn't just one of the most well-known pinup tattoo artists, but my personal favourite. So for Christmas, I thought I'd show a few of his early works, to get that festive spirit into you! Happy Christmas!

Stin City

These wonderful ladies were done by Stina Nyman. Wow!

Hoot To Trot

Random pic found on Inked Nation. Wicked chestpiece.

And Happy Christmas from Owl Tattoos!

Hoot-chie Coochie Man

The above tattoo is on a lady called Michelle, and was brought to my attention by Bill Cohen, who runs the Tattoosday blog, and describes it thus: "The concept behind Tattoosday is the majority of ink being spotted randomly in the streets of New York." There's some really interesting stuff on there, I recommend you check it out. The direct link to the owl post is here.

Hoot & Run

Alison Manners

Given The Hoot

Tyler James Densley, again.

Everything's Coming Up Roses

And finally for today, a thing of pure beauty from Valerie Vargas.

The Dark Ages

The picture quality isn't up to snuff, but I'm too big a fan of Derek Noble's Old School work to not post these...

Someone who'll rattle the cages.

Best Batman yet, I'd say...Joshua Carlton.

You are part of the night, just like me. We're not afraid of the dark--we come alive in it.

Jani

Nurse-At-Sea

Nice mer-nurse from Chad Stone.

Hoot Beer

A tattoist submission, from Conor Blue Eyes, good enough to be done on his wife!

Solstice Sun

This tattoo comes from Everything Tattoo and was done at Xtreme Xpressions. Notice the facial tattoos and lip piercings.

Happy Solstice folks!

Red Devil

A classic Elvgren interpretation, by Jani.

One Hoot Wonder

'Fergus' was sent in by Jackie, and done by Ashley Weisel. Thanks!

I'll Eat My Hoot

Tattoo Andy

Go!

That's better. Galen McHatton.

Apologies in advance...

Thoroughly NSFW....














Poison Ivy & Harley Quinn.

Apparently.

Vamp Collector

Paul Acker's realistic vampires are a touch good, no? Wonderful use of colour, although I suppose I'm straining to call them pin-ups, perhaps.

Beady Ess Em

Such a fantastic tattoo, by Galen McHatton, although its fair to say a touch unconventional too.

Gypo!

New Dawnii pin-up!

The Hootchikers Guide To The Galaxy

...and yet another tattoist submission, one of the best yet by Joshua Bowers.

(links to artists websites and full portfolios can always be found on the right, by the way..)

Razorblade Hootcase

A tattooist submission, by Sonny Buick.

Hooty Shakin'

A barn-storming (sorry) reader submission, by Joshua Pleasant.

Winter Sun

This tattoo comes from here. I think this is a fitting sun for the time of year. It's got some dark blue winter colors and a third eye representing the introspection of the season.

He Sees Himself As The Lord Of Misrule

Another take on the Arkham Asylum Joker, from Mariusz of East Side Ink.

Woot! We also got mentioned on uber-bat-blog, The Gotham Knight. Check it out!

Special Ranch

On the farm with some new Jime Litwalk pinups.