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 -
