Inked in NYC

This weekend I took time to spot catchy tattoos and businesess in Downtown Manhattan. There's always great stuff to look at especially when it comes to Body Modification. New York City has an amazing amount of Tattoo businesess and the shops don't limit themselves to just tattoos.

Anything you want to do or add to your body can be found anywhere among the five boroughs, from scarification, implants and other things that normally one can't find just anywhere.

I'm always busy walking around the city as well as visiting other areas, states, etc. There is so much to talk about and many things to share. Each bourough in the city is full of amazing, talented and skilled artists in this field and the diversity can be broader that in many other states.

I recently got some fresh Ink and even though is the size of a quarter it is something I wanted to get tattooed on for a very long time. I'm not really into showing tattoos during the "ugly stage" of it and I rather to be patient and wait till it heals properly so I can proudly show it. I will keep you posted.

Om Tattoo

Om or Aum is of paramount importance in Hinduism. This symbol is a sacred syllable representing Brahman, the impersonal Absolute of Hinduism — omnipotent, omnipresent, and the source of all manifest existence. Brahman, in itself, is incomprehensible; so a symbol becomes mandatory to help us realize the Unknowable. Om, therefore, represents both the unmanifest (nirguna) and manifest (saguna) aspects of God. That is why it is called pranava, to mean that it pervades life and runs through our prana or breath.

Om in Daily Life

Although Om symbolizes the most profound concepts of Hindu belief, it is in use daily. The Hindus begin their day or any work or a journey by uttering Om. The sacred symbol is often found at the head of letters, at the beginning of examination papers and so on. Many Hindus, as an expression of spiritual perfection, wear the sign of Om as a pendant. This symbol is enshrined in every Hindu temple premise or in some form or another on family shrines.

It is interesting to note that a newly born child is ushered into the world with this holy sign. After birth, the child is ritually cleansed and the sacred syllable Om is written on its tongue with honey. Thus right at the time of birth the syllable Om is initiated into the life of a Hindu and ever remains with him as the symbol of piety. Om is also a popular symbol used in contemporary body art and tattoos.

The Eternal Syllable

According to the Mandukya Upanishad, "Om is the one eternal syllable of which all that exists is but the development. The past, the present, and the future are all included in this one sound, and all that exists beyond the three forms of time is also implied in it".

The Music of Om

Om is not a word but rather an intonation, which, like music, transcends the barriers of age, race, culture and even species. It is made up of three Sanskrit letters, aa, au and ma which, when combined together, make the sound Aum or Om. It is believed to be the basic sound of the world and to contain all other sounds. It is a mantra or prayer in itself. If repeated with the correct intonation, it can resonate throughout the body so that the sound penetrates to the centre of one's being, the atman or soul.

There is harmony, peace and bliss in this simple but deeply philosophical sound. By vibrating the sacred syllable Om, the supreme combination of letters, if one thinks of the Ultimate Personality of Godhead and quits his body, he will certainly reach the highest state of "stateless" eternity, states the Bhagavad Gita.

The Vision of Om

Om provides a dualistic viewpoint. On one hand, it projects the mind beyond the immediate to what is abstract and inexpressible. On the other hand, it makes the absolute more tangible and comprehensive. It encompasses all potentialities and possibilities; it is everything that was, is, or can yet be. It is omnipotent and likewise remains undefined.

The Power of Om

During meditation, when we chant Om, we create within ourselves a vibration that attunes sympathy with the cosmic vibration and we start thinking universally. The momentary silence between each chant becomes palpable. Mind moves between the opposites of sound and silence until, at last, it ceases the sound. In the silence, the single thought—Om—is quenched; there is no thought. This is the state of trance, where the mind and the intellect are transcended as the individual self merges with the Infinite Self in the pious moment of realization. It is a moment when the petty worldly affairs are lost in the desire for the universal. Such is the immeasurable power of Om.

Frankie Oneshot - Oneshot Ink

Oneshot Ink

Frankie started tattooing full-time in Nov. 2009 at a shop in Queens NY.

"I am pretty much self-taught, kinda just picked up machine and went
to work..." Frankie Oneshot

About Frankie

Frankie has had the confidence to be proud and open about his work.

Frankie: "A friend of mine gave me my first machine, I had it about 2 yrs before I went out and bought the rest of equipment to start tattooing. I started getting tattooed at age 15 when it was still underground and illegal in nyc, pretty much fell in love with the art at that point.

"I started getting heavily tattooed around the age of 17. I always enjoyed watching the process of getting tattooed and pretty much went from there. I have been drawing my whole life but since age of 12 I got into electrical work, after school and shit at first, and then full time."

By the age of 17 I was a foreman and by age of 21 I was a project manager. I was so spoiled at my company, got what I wanted when and how I wanted it... The money was crazy but I always felt something was missing. In 2008 I started tattooing myself and friends, like a whenever I had time kinda thing.

In November 2009 one of my best friends and owner of the electrical company I was working with passed away, and at that time we closed company. I had 100's of offers to go and do electrical work and just didnt wanna do it anymore, so I said fuck it and started tattooing full time. A friend of mine and tattoo artist at the time saw talent and allowed me work in his shop.

I worked there for about 7 months and left to go work at another shop.
Worked there about 2 months with the intention on moving to Florida and work at a tattoo shop. Then out of nowhere I was confronted with the opportunity to buy the shop I was working at, and here I am. Took over the shop in November 2010 and went crazy getting it to be what I wanted it to be..."

Frankie worked hard to rebuild the shop and show that finally quality work is being done at the location.

Frankie: "The shop before was putting out horrible work, so it was killa
trying to re-build location. But I did what I had to and now people are coming to really take to my work..." I have the satisfaction of seeing my work out there and proudly say I did that piece.

I have only worked 1 convention so far which was Inkfest Live in Charlotte, N.C. February of this year and will be doing another convention with them again in Washington D.C. in November later this year. This time I plan on entering a few pieces for contest and hopefully I will be able to walk away with my 1st trophy... We shall see..."

"As far as my nickname "Oneshot" it comes from when I was younger it was a nickname I was given from fighting and I just kept it... Now less then a year into this I own my own shop "Oneshot Ink" in Richmond hills, N.Y."

"I couldnt be happier with my decision to become a tattoo artist... It has definitely been a struggle, but im in it cause I fuckin love it..."

Frankie Oneshot

Frankie keeps it real by being open about the amount of time he has invested as a tattoo artist which in my opinion gives customers the confidence to trust him, not only because of his honesty but by looking at his awesome work as well.


Oneshot Ink is located at: 113-18 Atlantic Avenue, Richmond Hill, N.Y. 11419
Phone: 718.312.9399
Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Email: oneshot104@aol.com

Visit the website: www.OneshotINK.com

God, Saints and Deities

Religious tattoos can take many forms, including images of saints, religious symbols and figures, scenes of religious history and quotations from ancient texts. In many ways, the tattoos are a form of identity used in this case they are used to display and affirm their religious beliefs. Below is some information about the prospects for religious tattoos and how they allow people to give a certain image of themselves and their spirituality.

A common choice for those with Religion is a religious symbol of a strong sense for them to choose. Religion plays an important role in the lives of believers. For this reason, many of them choose a religious symbol or a figure for a tattoo. Some opt for pictures of people, like the Virgin Mary or Buddha, while others choose symbols like the cross, a Star of David or other image that they find persuasive. Other select pieces of text, such as verses from the basic text of their religion, as the Bible, the Koran, the sutras, or other religious text.

No matter how it is shown that religion is often used in the art of tattooing. Some people think it is very important to them and if they show their religiosity on their bodies. In a way, the body is a vehicle for religious ideologies.

Some may be from the perspective of religious tattoo evangelize through their tattoos, while others are present, the tattoos remain a tool of inspiration to focus on what is most important to them. It is not only a permanent marker to show commitment to their bodies, their faith, but it can be seen by others and show their beliefs as part of their identity.

This tattoo religious perspectives offer people a means by which they can foster a distinctive identity as a pious person. This is very important for believers, religion serves as a central element in what they are.

Religious tattoos show identity and show others that they believe in a particular religious system, whatever it be. Some people get tattooed by devotion, a saint or deity, often painful process of tattooing as a sacrifice in honor of the saint or deity can be used.

Some people tattoo themselves with religious imagery to get them, how they want to live their lives to remember. Whatever the reasons, the prospects for religious tattoo a popular phenomenon.

Even people without religion can take over her life for inspiration a religious figure, and the feeling that a tattoo is permanent features of his art and help them stay by the figure or symbol inspired.

Angel or Cherub?

For religious reasons or because they are cute, many people choose to have a tattoo of one of them.

There are many ways to interpret what we say or what each person means to have one of these. As long as you have in mind to find an artist who can design reflect the message we want to give. 

It is not difficult to find the design and the important thing is to have an accurate creation of what is desired.