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NY INK Interview & Taping

I auditioned "on-camera" this Thursday, September 22nd, 2011 for the 2nd Season of NY Ink.  I will find out in 2 weeks if they want to use me.  I signed tons of paper work and put my signature in alot of places, a little un-nerving.   After all of that, I thought it went well.  I wrote to the show after seeing Megan's dog piece that she did for a friend last season.  I have thought about an idea to honor my first pet, Lefty - the one-eyed wonder. After seeing that episode, I wanted to get it done sooner rather than later.  Lefty has been there with with me through alot, an I feel like we have come out of darkness together.  I love that cat, even though I wouldn't consider myself an animal lover.  She won me over with her 1-eyed handi-cat ways!  Anyway, I am anxiously awaiting the notification - it would be really cool to be on the show - I mean really cool!

UPDATE:

I just got a call that I made it to the final round of casting!  It is still possible that my tattoo won't make it to an episode, but I am filming this Monday, October 3rd!
Fingers Crossed! XXX

Erica

Fuck Yeah, Tattoos!

Featured on Fuck Yeah, Tattoos!  8.27.2011

New Yorkers Show Off Their Tattoos, NYTimes

I was reading this article, Thursday evening on NYTimes.com -

It was just a brief interview and story about the Season Finale of NY Ink, the spin-off to Ami James's Miami Ink show on TLC that would be airing later that night. There was a related questionnaire: New Yorkers, Show Off Your Ink! I decided to answer 2 or 3 questions, submit my favorite photo of my own New York Pride, one of my 2 Rotten Apples I got done in Seattle, WA by Thomas Graham @ SuperGenius, and thought nothing of it. The following Sunday, The New York Times ran this on its website,and a short related article in the Metropolitan Section, Page 8. As you can see, my photo was top pick, along with two others for the print article! Now when I go back to the original online article - I am the thumbnail to the Multimedia page & it's also on the NY/Region homepage! So exciting! 

Sunday July 24, 2011 - NYT Section MB Pg 8

I give alot of credit to the photographer, although I never got his name.  I think it was chosen because of the contrasting background, and high resolution.  He was a film student and nephew to a friend, visiting from LA 2 summers ago.  He sent me this photo after a fun night of BBQ-ing and drinking!

My Swallows: Brooklyn, where I found home

 

I met my tattoo artist in 2002, when he was working at New York Adorned in the East Village.  Since then, Tom Yak has opened his own shop, Electric Tattoo in Bradley Beach a few miles from Asbury Park, NJ.  I am devoted to his classic artwork and solid lines, and wanted to keep my right arm consistent.

Fresh out of the shop - April 23, 2011

The swallow is related to sailing and is on earliest record in the 1500's, though it probably has more ancient roots.  As sailors travled by sea, swallows were seen flying above when land came closer. So a swallow in flight is a sign of land ahead or "safe return home". 

I hadn't earned the stripes to wear these birds until I traveled to Europe for the first time last year.  Since, I'm not a sailor, nor are we in WWI a simple trip across the pond was my own modern right of passage.  When I returned home, I realized that Brooklyn had become my home where I found my true love and plan to grow my roots. 

Thank you Tom -

Paper Dolls Under the Stars

The first piece done on my right arm, by Tom Yak in 2002.

Est. 1978

est. 1978 Birthday Tattoo by Amanda Wachob
@ Daredevil Tattoo

New York Yankee Pride

I intend to devote alot of my work to the city I love.  I was also raised a die-hard NY Yankee fan, and didn't have much of a choice in the matter.  So on a whim & on my own one summer afternoon, I walked into the new tattoo shop in my Park Slope neighborhood, (not really known for their shops) Hand of Glory Tattoo.  I like to support local business, and didnt think this one could be messed up too bad.  Little did I know years later the guy I went to, Chris Torres would become the character everyone loves to hate on the reality show NY Ink. 

Not sure where the actual idea came from, and I didn't think twice about it being my first unconcealable ink.  It's subtle, but not subtle at all.  You know where I stand when it comes to baseball & you know what city i rep - no question.  There isn't much more to it than that - I fuckin love it.  That's it.  

knuckletattoos.com

Anatomical Heart/Padlock

Inner right arm, Tom Yak.

SuperGenius - Seattle, WA

There is nothing cooler than being used for an artist's portfolio, but even better was being surprised to find it!  I returned to the shop in Seattle where I got my New York City Tribute, Rotten Apples, 2 years later and found that my artist Thomas Graham had displayed his work on my chest in his portfolio in 8x10 print - 3rd page!

13 Years...

Although this is not a picture of my first tattoo, I thought I would start here.  This was taken by a film student from LA visiting my neighbor in the summer of '09.  He had a small BBQ in his backyard & I had been out in the sun all day.  That summer was the 13th anniversary of my residency in the greatest city in the world, and coincidentally, also a year when Friday the 13th occurred 3 different times.