Sailor with Tattoos – Screen Print

by Daniel Mackie November 28, 2012

sailor with tattoos screen printThis is a three colour screen print This is an Edition of 36 printed on japanese Atsukuchi paper, which is only 57gsm. Light but very strong. Print size 485mm x 320mm.

As you may have noticed if you read this blog I am a fan of tattoos, they have been a big influence in shaping my style. The home of the tattoo is on the sailor and the sailors tattoo is the swallow. Historical, swallows were symbols of a sailors experience, if a sailor were to have a tattoo of one swallow if would indicate he had traveled 5000 nautical miles, two swallows, 10000 nautical miles, which in the early days of sailing was no mean feat! So the swallow tattoos denoted a very experienced and valuable sailor.
Swallows later came to mean other things as well, if you drowned your swallows would raise your soul to heaven. They have also become symbols of hope.
One of the most recognisable names in Tattooing is sailor jerry, who amongst other things was a sailor and a tattooist and you can read about him here.

Buy cards and prints at Daniels shop, The DM Collection.


 



Daniel Mackie
Daniel Mackie

Author



Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up.


Also in News / Work in progress / Mythology

Kingfisher - Halcyon Days

by Daniel Mackie March 12, 2021

In Greek mythology, Halcyone and Ceyx were lovers who incurred the wrath of the god Zeus by mocking him and his wife. Angered, Zeus killed Ceyx.

Read More

Belling The Cat- Aesop's Fable

by Daniel Mackie December 30, 2020

Ideas are nothing, execution is everything.
Belling the Cat is a fable first recored in the 12th ceuntry. A group of mice debate plans to neutralise the threat of a marauding cat. One of them has an idea of placing a bell around its neck, so that they will be warned of its approach. The others applaud the plan, until one mouse asks who will volunteer to place the bell on the cat. All of them make excuses!

Read More

Tiger in Buckinghamsire!

by Daniel Mackie June 14, 2020

This is Mack's Tiger. It was part of a school project based on my work and a theme of animals in the natural habitat.  Mack created this on Procreate on his mums iPad

Read More