Smutly's Blog

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Angelina Jolie’s tattoos may well be as interesting as the star herself. Every tattoo tells a story, every artwork has a secret – how interesting can a tattoo get? The super star is probably known for her superb interesting body work – as much as she is known for her seriously admirable acting skills. Needless to say, a good number of websites, as well as magazines, have highlighted her incredible collection. If you want to find out more about amazing Angelina Jolie tattoos, go ahead and read on.

• The Gothic script “Know your rights” tattoo located between Jolie’s shoulders is actually a song title lifted from Jolie’s favorite band.
• The weird lines on Angelina’s left shoulder blade are simply Buddhist Pali incantation. It is created in the shape of Khmer, Cambodia’s official language. The super star obtained the tattoo to provide protection for both her and Maddox, the child she adopted from Cambodia. The meaning of Angelina Jolie’s tattoo, the Buddhist Pali incantation, is:- May your enemies run away from you. If you acquire riches, may they remain yours always. Your beauty will be that of Apsara. Whenever you may go, many will attend, serve and protect you, surrounding you on all sides.
• The Arabic font tattoo seen on Jolie’s right arm caused quite a controversy. A lot of people disagree over what the tattoo’s definition. Is it “Strength of Will” or “Determination”? Whatever the keyword is, the said tattoo conceals the previous tattoo she made with then lover Billy Bob Thornton.
• The Roman number 13 can be seen on Angelina’s left underarm. She made the tattoo to in order to symbolize her cynicism towards belief on superstitions. Later, she added V MCMXL to the same tattoo in order to signify her reverence for the legendary Winston Churchill. 13 May 1940 symbolizes the occasion when Churchill proclaimed, “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.”
• On Jolie’s left arm though is Tennesee Williams’ legendary line, “A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages.” Angelina’s mother saw how the tattoo was done.
• Angelina’s cross tattoo is reported to be especially symbolic. Jolie created it before marrying her first husband, Jonny Lee Miller. The Latin phrase, “Quod me nutrit me destruit” is located near Jolie’s cross tattoo. It means “What nourishes me, destroys me” in english.
• On the super star’s wrist, a rune style tattoo can be seen. It is in letter h. Numerous people fight over what the letter h signifies. Does it mean Hutton for Jolie’s ex, Timothy Hutton, or is it Haven for James Haven, Angelina’s brother?
• There are also groups of numbers on Angelina’s skin, these happen to be the geographical sites where Angelina’s children first entered her life.
• The Bengal tiger tattoo on Jolie’s lower back acts as a celebratory mark to commemorate her latest Cambodian citizenship. Actress Angelina Jolie flashes her back to display her tattoos in a scene from the movie Wanted. She got the tiger tattoo on her lower back by a well-known local Thai tattoo artist named Sompong Kanphai during her visit to Bangkok on July 8, 2004, just after her 2 day visit to Cambodia.

It’s difficult to keep track of Angelina Jolie tattoos. The actress just keeps on obtaining one or removing another whenever she feels like it.

Nevertheless, her choice of body artwork will always be as interesting as she, herself, is.

Many of Angelina Jolie’s tattoos are masked with a tattoo concealer for her various movie roles.

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As an avid fan of the hit T.V. series N.C.I.S., I have watched Pauley Perrette (Abby) with a keen interest since very early in the piece. Maybe it’s because of my interest in tattoos, but I think it is equally because she has such a sexy nature.

Pauley is actually a natural blonde, some of her early T.V. and movie appearances were as a blonde before having her hair dyed to star in JAG, which led into her role as Abby Sciuto on N.C.I.S.

Pauley hates that Abby is referred to as “Goth”. In a recent interview on an Australian T.V. show she admitted to actually owning only 10 tattoos and went on to say that N.C.I.S. is the only job that she has ever worked at where the management actually gets excited when she has some more work done.

But I digress. So, which of her many tattoos are real?

Firstly, the awesome spider web on her neck – fake. Quite frankly I find that to be a crying shame – I really like that tattoo and believe the size and placement suits her pretty face perfectly.

BTW – Has anyone else noticed that it is drawn differently now than it was in the first few episodes? Early on it was drawn with heavy lines and the centre point was much higher up behind the ear than it is now ( picture right ).

The newer version is much more believable in terms of line quality and general appearance and has had the placement changed to be more visually appealing ( picture below ). Pauley also prefers the feel of the new one, the original being a vinyl type temporary tattoo that she described as feeling wet and squishy.

Her second most obvious tattoo would have to be the large cross in the middle of her back. I believe this to be fake also, well at least I hope so, because the placement is all wrong ( picture below right ). A professional tattooist would never have placed it that low – surely. Please let me know if I am wrong.

Abby also has some tattoos on her forearms and, as far as I can discern, the infinity symbol on the inside of her right forearm is real. Again, let me know if I am wrong and I will update this post and give you an honorable mention for straightening me out.

Abby also has a smiley face on her right middle finger – fake, as far as I can tell.

She has a “P” on the inside of her right wrist which just may be real. Once again, feel free to correct me on that.

The 3 triangles on the inside of her left wrist are almost certainly fake.

She has the letters “R.I.P.” on her left inner forearm which I also understand are fake.

The stick-figure angel on her right shoulder-blade and a stick-figure devil on her left shoulder-blade I am not sure about. I think they may actually be real tattoos.

The flower on her upper back I believe to be real. Only because it doesn’t really fit with the character of Abby and is rarely shown as clearly as some of the other designs that make up the Goth ( sorry Pauley ) personality of Abby Sciuto.

The smiley face on her left inner ankle is almost certainly real as are the 3 dots on her right outer ankle.

So there you go, I have identified 7 tattoos that I believe are real. This means, if I am right, she has at least 3 more in positions that have been concealed on all episodes of the show. Hmmm, the only parts of her that have not seen the lights of the production studio would be the hips, lower belly, chest and bum.

Makes me kinda curious, how about you?

Whatever the case, great work Pauley – You are a STAR!

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These days, it is not uncommon for tattoos to be associated with other forms of body art.  In many areas, especially larger cities, tattoo studios are no longer solely tattoo studios, as they also offer piercings.  In combining these two, two issues frequently arise.  First, while many people consider tasteful, well-done tattoos to be a legitimate form of self-expression through artwork, a large number in this category also consider body piercing to be unacceptable;  or, at the very least, undesirable.  It is difficult to communicate this to young people, especially teenagers, when an increasing number of tattoo studios also offer body piercing.  Kids will naturally assume that if artwork is acceptable, acquiring holes and rings in various parts of their anatomies should also be acceptable.

A second important issue regarding this subject is that while states generally have strict regulations surrounding tattoos, that is not always the case with body piercing.  Even when tattooing is strictly regulated to the extent that minors cannot be tattooed, or, in some states, requiring the parent’s consent for the process, it is becoming an increasing problem in some areas that body piercing carries no such requirements.

There are a couple of serious repercussions to this fact.  First, many parents rightfully consider it to be a violation of parental rights to find that “piercing artists” can undermine their parental authority by putting piercings in their under-aged kids, not only without a parent’s consent but without their knowledge in advance.

Second, in the areas where this can legally be done, there is also the issue of health standards.  While the general rule is that a person is presented with risk factors in writing prior to getting a tattoo, piercing artists often allow minors to sign health waivers;  although this is illegal, it is sometimes done anyway.

This opens up a whole “can of worms” with both legal and health issues.  Legally, minors cannot sign such forms;  but the health aspect of it is also worth noting.  As body piercing carries much higher and more frequent risks of infection than tattoos, in signing these health waivers the teenager is rarely aware of how significant these risk factors actually are.  While the risk of infection from body piercing is high enough in general, it can become even more so depending on the location of the piercing.  Having piercings done in areas that are normally exposed to saliva, or airborne dirt, is simply asking for trouble.  Yet piercing artists are often more concerned about making money than they are about the potential health repercussions to their young clients.

In addition to these factors, there is also the factor of social stigma.  While youngsters may be accurate in assuming that acquiring body piercings will impress their teenage or other immature friends, it is not likely that it will impress anyone else.  Even if they withstand parental objections, and ignore the dismay of school staff and employers, they have yet to see that body piercings generally do not go over very well in “the real world”.

Whether one is most concerned with the potential health risks of body piercing, or the general consensus of the population, body piercing has a long way to go before it is considered an acceptable practice.  Tattoos carry some degree of valid purpose;  in the opinion of  most adults, body piercing has no value other than for its owner to appear less than respectable.

Other forms of body art can include branding and scarification, although deemed to be equally “non-conformist” these forms of body modification are seeing an increase in popularity in recent times.

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No matter what you may hear, there really is no way to accurately predict the amount of pain that you’ll experience when getting a tattoo.  If you arrive with determination and the right frame of mind, it may not hurt you as much as you thought.  On the other hand, if you arrive at the studio scared half to death – it will more than likely hurt you more than you thought possible.

Tattoos involve piercing into skin, which almost always involves pain.  No matter how big or how small the tattoo may be or where it is located, you can expect to feel some level of pain.  The overall amount of pain you experience though, all depends on your tolerance.  If you have a high pain tolerance, you may feel next to nothing during the entire process.

When you get a tattoo, the needles will puncture your skin at very fast rates and variable depths.  The outline of the tattoo is easily the most painful, as the needles will be used to create a black line that will stand out on the tattoo.  This part needs to be inserted fairly deeply and carefully to ensure that it’s done correctly.  Your body will begin to produce endorphins during the outline process and you will notice a significant reduction in pain after a few minutes. The shading of the tattoo normally isn’t as painful, although it depends on the penetration depth and effect that you desire.

Normally, the pain you feel is a slight burn or scratching feeling.  If the tattoo is going to be on an area where there is less muscle and tissue such as the wrist, ankle or lower back, the pain will be a bit more intense.  Areas like the arms and legs however, normally aren’t that painful.  Areas such as these have more tissue and muscle, which will lessen the amount of pain you feel because the nerve endings are not as close to the surface of the skin.

Even though some pain is to be expected, there are ways that you can minimize the pain.  Below are some tips that will help you deal with the pain.

1. Never show up to a get a tattoo on drugs or drunk.  This will thin out your blood, causing you to bleed more.
2. Always choose a tattoo artist that you are comfortable around.  If you have confidence in your artist you can minimize the pain a great deal.
3. Show up at the studio with sheer determination.  You should accept the fact that the tattoo will take time.  Quality work is an art – and should never be rushed.
4. If the pain becomes too much to bear, you should let your tattoo artist know immediately.  He/she will allow you to take a break, or stop and come back later.  You can always break up your sessions, as tattoos don’t need to be finished immediately.
5. To ease your mind, listen to music.  This way, you can take your mind to a different place and focus on something other than the tattoo. Tattoo pain, like any other pain, will seem amplified if you focus on it.
6. A new product that goes by the name of Dr. Numb is supposed to help reduce the pain endured when getting a tattoo. This product is widely available in the States but, being from Australia, I have had no personal experience with the product and can not verify its effectiveness.

"Save money on tattoo removal - Try a temporary tattoo from The Temporary Tattoo Factory first."

I found this story on InkArtTattoos.com and just had to add my opinion.

The original story goes like this:-

Three years ago, Kim Mordue lost her son Lloyd to a fatal run in with the party drug GHB. Kim’s husband runs a tattoo parlor, and together they’ve found a way to deal with her grief with ink. Lloyd’s ashes have been mixed with tattoo ink, and used to give Kim a new tat. When asked about the tattoo, she had the following to say:

“As soon as I knew it was possible, I wanted to have the ashes tattoos as a tribute to him. Now, he’ll be with me for the rest of my life.”

The tattoo shows a cabala tree, an angel, and a poem dedicated to Lloyd’s memory. We’re honestly not sure whether this is a touching story, or a slightly morbid one… or maybe both. What do you think?

Well, for what it’s worth, here is my take on it…

While some may find this a little creepy, I can appreciate the sentiment. I however would have used the ink in a slightly different manner. I would have sought out the best ‘portrait’ tattooist in my area ( eg. Kat Von D if I lived in L.A. ) and used the photograph the lady is holding in this picture to have a wicked portrait done somewhere prominent, using the ink with the boys ashes in it.

Not only would it be used for a more relevant tattoo, it would serve the purpose of celebrating the boy in a way that did not require as much explanation as the ‘tree, angel and poem’. People would see the boys face, ask about it and it would be fairly simple to explain the process and sentiment behind the job.

That’s Smutly’s opinion…why not leave your opinion…

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Much thought should be put into getting a tattoo because it is designed to be a mark for life.  The design should be something that will not be outgrown or outdated.  Regardless of how much thought is actually put into it, sometimes the tattoo ends up not being “ideal” and the question arises – do I have it repaired or do I have it covered up?

Cover ups are done for several reasons.  One of the most common reasons is to give the tattoo a fresh, new look.  Tattoos that have faded over time can be touched up to make them look as if they are brand new.  Newly applied crisp lines can clean up any blurring around the edges.  Additional color can be put on to brighten up the design.

At times, the original tattoo needs to be brightened up due to fading but can be achieved with the addition of more color and design aspects.  A black tattoo can be brightened up by adding more detail, as a background in color.  Many colors can be applied over the old black ink with a nice effect as well.

Tattoo cover ups are often done when the previous design is no longer accurate for the customer.  For example, a woman may have a tattoo applied sporting the name of her boyfriend.  Years later, the relationship no longer exists but the tattoo remains for life.  Cover ups can completely change the look of the tattoo making parts of it, that are no longer desirable, appear to have disappeared.

Tattoo cover ups are also needed when the original tattoo is of poor quality.  Prison tattoos are often presented for cover ups.  Tattoos that were done by amateurs are also commonly covered up.  These old tattoos are often small or done with thin lines that are easily covered.

Even when there isn’t a previous tattoo, a cover up is still needed at times.  These are the cases when scars are to be covered with art.  Millions have tattoos applied to cover scars that they no longer wish to see or feel they aren’t very pleasing to look at.  Unless the scars are large and have caused extensive damage to the skin, typically a cover up can be done.  Even on very large scars, many good tattoo artists can still design something to work with.

When a tattoo cover up is required, it is most important to search for an experienced and talented tattoo artist.  A tattoo artist who can design a great picture for the original tattoo is good.  A tattoo artist who can design a tattoo to cover up an existing tattoo with a new and different design is the kind of talented artist you need for a successful cover up.

Most tattoo artists do not have samples of cover ups they have done on display.  To see these you’ll often have to ask specifically for them.  Pay close attention to the detail of the cover ups and compare the old tattoo to the new.  A large solid tattoo should not be applied over a smaller tattoo as the old one will easily show through.

Although tattoos are permanent, they can be covered up and touched up.  Touch ups have been reported as being a slight bit more painful and often repeat visits are needed to fully complete the design.  The option is there however and, if an excellent artist is found, the end result should be stunning.  As a last resort, you could also consider tattoo removal procedures.

"Save money on tattoo removal - Try a temporary tattoo from The Temporary Tattoo Factory first."

As with most things in life, changing times signals new improvements, and tattoos are not an exception.  The process itself has come a long way since people had no choice but to use crude homemade instruments to force equally-crude variations of ink into their skins.  People these days also do not need to resort to regular needles and either ashes or bottles of India ink, because most have clean, sterile tattoo studios and licensed, reputable artists readily available.  For a practice that has been around nearly since the beginning of time, such factors as health, safety, and procedure are relatively modern.

Since South Carolina lifted its ban against tattooing in 2004, which required eleven years of failed attempts before its eventual success, the state of Oklahoma remained the sole hold-out in banning tattoos until that ban also was finally lifted at the end of 2006.  Currently, tattooing is legal in all states of the United States, each with its own set of laws, some of which are governed by the state itself, others which have left the matter in the hands of city or other local governments.

Laws and regulations covering tattooing are varied on a state by state basis.  If you’re considering going into the tattoo business yourself, it is wise to familiarize yourself with what is required in the state where you live.  One key point is that if you have received a tattoo license in one state, it is not necessarily valid in another state. An unusual exception to state laws is that it is becoming a common practice for parents to take their teenagers to a nearby state where tattooing minors is legal with parental consent, even though they reside in a state where it cannot be done.  Crossing state borders in order to get a tattoo may appear extreme, but it happens quite frequently.  However, this has produced difficulties in some instances where school districts have implemented policies forbidding their students from having visible tattoos.

As tattoos as a basic form of artwork and self-expression have expanded, so has another aspect of tattooing which has its roots in ancient history but until quite recently was not widespread in modern times.  Many women, the famous and the average alike, are now opting for tattoos as a form of permanent cosmetics.  No longer needing to apply such things as eyeliner or lipstick on a daily basis, a more permanent form of these previously-temporary cosmetics are made by tattooing in a manner quite similar to the more well-known types of tattoos.  Getting these types of tattoos not only requires careful consideration on the part of the client, but skill and professionalism on the part of the artist.

Especially since HIV and AIDS became a life-threatening risk, reputable tattoo artists have become even more conscientious in taking health precautions for both their own and their customers’ sake.  In addition to keeping their studios clean in general, there is a large focus on such practices as using disposable tattooing needles, throwing away unused inks, and wearing gloves.  Prior to this problem, while most artists did take a reasonable amount of care during tattoo procedures, it was not nearly as important as it is today.  While keeping tattoo studios under the jurisdiction of the state, city, or county Board of Health may be an intense measure, it is good to know that reputable tattoo artists consider it to be important, necessary, and worthwhile.

"Save money on tattoo removal - Try a temporary tattoo from The Temporary Tattoo Factory first."

Are you fairly interested in having your own tattoo? Do you want to be a part of the trend? Are you struggling to find a cool idea? To spice up your quest, you may consider different styles that range from the historical up to the modern and newer ideas. Here are some suggestions for you to consider.

The sailor tattoos. They have never been forgotten all throughout the years. Although they may be a bit common to possess yet they bear a strong sense of symbolism. The nautical star is one of the best designs ever that is classically believed to bring forth guidance and strength.

The dragon tattoos. Again, they are one of the most ordinarily used emblems. The striking and bold dragon tattoos stand for strength and power. Their styles range from the classic ones up to the modern choices. For the women, the dragon design produces a sexy appeal while never setting aside the embodiment of the strong female strength and other related dominating qualities.

The modern designs. Indeed, a number of unique and new designs have come about. Included are the butterfly, flowers, and other personalized crafts. In fact if you are creative enough, you may come up with your own design and hand it over to the artist who is assigned to do the job on you.

The Best Source of Ideas.

The first source for tattoo designs is your own creative inclination. Think about a cartoon character or a certain concept. With your creative juices pouring out, you may generate a sweet, sexy, strong, or tough impression depending on the design that you decide to get tattooed on your skin.

The next source is the tattoo library. You will find a lot of online websites that store as much as 10,000 and above designs from the classic up to the contemporary. Some of the websites allow free access whereas some others ask for a small fee.

Of course, you may browse through the tattoo artists’ catalogs too. If you are lucky enough, you may spot their personal creations.

There are lots of tattoo ideas to choose from. You may opt for something romantic, something that is tough, or something that simply defines your hidden side. Your decision greatly depends on the image that you want to project. Hence, you must be wise enough to pick out the right design and scout for the best resources that come available.

"Save money on tattoo removal - Try a temporary tattoo from The Temporary Tattoo Factory first."

A simple search on the Internet will show a vast array of all different kinds, sizes and colors of tattoos.  Sometimes the mere decision on the final design is a big enough task in and of itself.  Even if a sample is copied, it can be altered in just about any way giving even more options.

The biggest variation among tattoos is size.  Tattoos can be very tiny or very large.  Tattoos might be as tiny as a single small letter, a minuscule flower or a dinky symbol.  Tiny tattoos aren’t always the easiest, however as they can prove quite difficult if more detail is involved in such a small space.

Large tattoos are very commonly seen.  Tattoos stretching down the entire back, all the way across the chest and even full sleeves are regularly found among tattoo enthusiasts.  Perhaps the biggest of them all are the full body tattoos, which aren’t uncommon.

Another variation in tattoos is color.  Many people prefer the look of a tattoo in a single color. Typically, this color is black. Tribal, symbolic and word tattoos are often found as a solid black.  These are often more commonly encountered than colorful tattoos.

Colored tattoos aren’t rare, however.  Just about any color imaginable can be used on a tattoo.  Inks can even be mixed to create a specific color.  Brightly colored tattoos can be made in as many designs as black tattoos.  Certain colors may be used resembling something sentimental, important or simply a favorite color.

Shading can be a variation in tattoos as well.  Shading differs from color variances.  A black tattoo can be made more intricate by creating a shading effect.  Shading can also be done with colored tattoos.  As the tattoo is created by a series of dots, the more spread apart the dots are, the lighter the ink will appear, creating a shading effect.

Many times, a tattoo artist will offer advice for decisions on the design of the tattoo.  Shading may be recommended in the place of color, at times.  It can be one way to provide more effect within the design without adding a bunch of, or any, color.

Style is an excellent variation in tattoos.  They can be found in just about any style imaginable, and if an example cannot be located on paper or in the tattoo parlor, your tattoo artist may be able to create something for you.  Symbols can easily be created.  Characters can resemble cartoons or animated creatures.  Realistic drawings of people can also be created as a tattoo.

For example, if you want a cartoon of an elephant, the tattoo artist can create it.  If you want a tattoo resembling a real elephant, in the Savannah in Africa, he or she can most likely do that as well.  If you want a tribal-influenced design representing the sign of an elephant, you’re likely to find it.

Tattoos can be created to resemble anything that can be drawn, painted or photographed.  Creating tattoos is an art.  Tattoo artists are just that, creative artists with their own method of providing designs that help others express themselves on their own bodies.

The most important factor to grasp from all this is individualism. Make your piece unique, regardless of the design or style of tattoo you choose. For tattoo reference, I have provided you with over 7,000 free designs to help you choose your new piece. Use them for reference and alter them to make them unique and special to you.

"Save money on tattoo removal - Try a temporary tattoo from The Temporary Tattoo Factory first."

This post should have been titled “Fuckwit of the Week”.

A LOUISVILLE man “thought it was a good idea” to tattoo a 19-month-old girl on her bottom.

Police and a judge disagreed, slapping Lee M Deitrick, 20, with a three-year prison sentence.

It has been reported that Lee Deitrick, 20, is accused of putting the non-removable tattoo on the child’s backside while she was visiting his house with a female relative in November.

Mr Deitrick is not the girl’s father.

Deitrick pleaded guilty in Stark County Common Pleas Court to two felony child endangering charges as part of a plea deal with county prosecutors, the site said.

He reportedly tattooed the outline of the letter “A” on the child’s buttock. The mark covered about 1.25cm.

Assistant Stark County prosecutor Katie Chawla said the mother, who was a friend of Deitrick’s, left her daughter at Deitrick’s home for a few hours on November 7 to visit a friend in hospital.

A relative, Brandi Nelson, 17, held the girl across her lap, Ms Chawla said.

“I don’t know whose idea it was. It was late in the evening and apparently somebody thought it was a good idea,” Ms Chawla said.

County prosecutors maintain the tattooing caused the girl serious, permanent disfigurement and involved sharp and or prolonged pain. Deitrick had the tattoo equipment and has given tattoos to others, Chawla said.

Defence lawyer Eugene O’Byrne told the judge Deitrick watched the child often.

“There was no malice,” he said. “More of an error in judgment.”

This begs the question – How many joints does it take to make this seem like a good idea?

What a moron! This is only one of many reasons why tattooing equipment should NOT be freely available. Any fool with a credit card can mail order tattooing equipment and do stupid shit like this. These are the sort of actions that give tattooing and tattooists a bad rap. The general public remembers shit like this for years and it casts a cloud over the whole tattooing community for as long as people are discussing these types of screw-ups.

But that is just Smutly’s Opinion.

P.S. I cannot seem to find any information about why Brandi Nelson is not up on charges also – Shouldn’t she be at least partly accountable? Is it proper to give Mr. Deitrick 3 years and let his assistant walk away?