How to Build a Boat


As part of our ongoing effort to bring you the absolute best in both knuckle and cephalopod tattoos, here’s some hand-work by Asa Rogers at Art With Heart in Denver, Colorado. It’s common knowledge that I can’t help but find endearing stylistic mishmashes, and this Asian lettering/”Book Worm”/sea-creature battle just plain does it for me. (The brilliant coloring doesn’t hurt.)

And before anyone pipes in with a worry or complaint that they either (1) already have “Book Worm” on their knuckles or (2) were planning on getting it and this just ruins their day…cheer up. If there’s a fine club of which to be a part, I think this would be it. On that note, what’s everybody reading this summer? Let’s hear your recommendations, ModBloggers. Oh, and of course, the other hand of above set is conveniently placed after the jump.

94 thoughts on “How to Build a Boat

  1. Walk without rhythm and you wont attract the worm.

    thats it, even in the real world ;-))

  2. Walk without rhythm and you wont attract the worm.

    thats it, even in the real world ;-))

  3. Anyone else reminded of Stephen Kings The Langoliers here?
    Awesome tattoo btw.

  4. Anyone else reminded of Stephen Kings The Langoliers here?
    Awesome tattoo btw.

  5. I AM PLANNING ON READINGG THE QU’””RAN.
    ALSO, HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENZE PEOPLE.

  6. I AM PLANNING ON READINGG THE QU’””RAN.
    ALSO, HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENZE PEOPLE.

  7. Bam has book worm tattoos too….
    — love the 10,000 leagues though 🙂

    WOOT to the 19th century!

  8. Bam has book worm tattoos too….
    — love the 10,000 leagues though 🙂

    WOOT to the 19th century!

  9. the tattoos are well done. Where are the sleeves to go with those heavily tattooed hands?…i’m sure he will get to those after his huge neck piece

  10. the tattoos are well done. Where are the sleeves to go with those heavily tattooed hands?…i’m sure he will get to those after his huge neck piece

  11. If this man and my antiquarian printing themed sleeve ever meet, the world will explode in an orgy of book nerd tattoos.

  12. If this man and my antiquarian printing themed sleeve ever meet, the world will explode in an orgy of book nerd tattoos.

  13. i hate to be that gal, but its 20,000 leagues, not 10,000.
    I know because its sitting in front of me! thats my summer reading.
    And hopefully most of the Necronomicon collection by HP lovecraft.

    Gotta love a bookworm! especially one so willing to embrace it!

  14. i hate to be that gal, but its 20,000 leagues, not 10,000.
    I know because its sitting in front of me! thats my summer reading.
    And hopefully most of the Necronomicon collection by HP lovecraft.

    Gotta love a bookworm! especially one so willing to embrace it!

  15. the spice!
    nice coloring, and as a bookworm (who never quite finished Dune), I love it as well as the noble octopus.

  16. the spice!
    nice coloring, and as a bookworm (who never quite finished Dune), I love it as well as the noble octopus.

  17. if arm tattoos are called sleeves, I think hand tattoos should should be called gloves…

  18. if arm tattoos are called sleeves, I think hand tattoos should should be called gloves…

  19. WELL OF COARSE SOMEONE IS TRIEING TO MANIPULATE YOU PEOPLE INTO THINKING I, WARBORN(THE ORIGINAL), WOUILD READ THE KU’RAAN. I CHALLENGE WHOEVER YOU ARE TO A KNIFE FITE. I CAN TELL FROM ALL THE HULLABALOO YOU POEPLE LIKE SCARRS AND ALL THAT GROOVY SHIT. SO A KNIFE FITE WOULD BE FRUITFUL IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEEN(AND I THINK U DO) WE COULD VIDEO IT AND SELL IT AND GIVE THE PROFFITS TO THIS SITE SO THEY CAN HIRE BETTER POEPLE TO COMMENT ON THINGS SENCE EVERYONE IS SO NEGATIV ALL THE TIME.

  20. WELL OF COARSE SOMEONE IS TRIEING TO MANIPULATE YOU PEOPLE INTO THINKING I, WARBORN(THE ORIGINAL), WOUILD READ THE KU’RAAN. I CHALLENGE WHOEVER YOU ARE TO A KNIFE FITE. I CAN TELL FROM ALL THE HULLABALOO YOU POEPLE LIKE SCARRS AND ALL THAT GROOVY SHIT. SO A KNIFE FITE WOULD BE FRUITFUL IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEEN(AND I THINK U DO) WE COULD VIDEO IT AND SELL IT AND GIVE THE PROFFITS TO THIS SITE SO THEY CAN HIRE BETTER POEPLE TO COMMENT ON THINGS SENCE EVERYONE IS SO NEGATIV ALL THE TIME.

  21. STRONGLY recommend that if you have not read/finished Dune, do it. Last year i read all 6 of the original books and they are a contender for my all time favorite, it will take over your life. Also, Im reading American Gods right now by Neil Gaiman

  22. STRONGLY recommend that if you have not read/finished Dune, do it. Last year i read all 6 of the original books and they are a contender for my all time favorite, it will take over your life. Also, Im reading American Gods right now by Neil Gaiman

  23. Ooooh American Gods is amazing! Neil Gaiman is one of my favourite writers.

    Jealous.Wish I had a nerdy book tattoo.

  24. Ooooh American Gods is amazing! Neil Gaiman is one of my favourite writers.

    Jealous.Wish I had a nerdy book tattoo.

  25. CoreyVictorious….if the wearer just wants his or her hands done, if thats what makes them truly happy and more comfortable in their own skin, then awesome! I have met a handful of people lately with just neck tattoos and ask them why that area to start with….”why would i want a tattoo where nobody can see it”…..is that what tattoos are now? The latest trend?

  26. CoreyVictorious….if the wearer just wants his or her hands done, if thats what makes them truly happy and more comfortable in their own skin, then awesome! I have met a handful of people lately with just neck tattoos and ask them why that area to start with….”why would i want a tattoo where nobody can see it”…..is that what tattoos are now? The latest trend?

  27. I’m a huge fan o’ Palahnuik, as well as gaiman…I probly will add Dune tothe summer reading.
    and, I think “gloves” are a great term for such ink.

  28. I’m a huge fan o’ Palahnuik, as well as gaiman…I probly will add Dune tothe summer reading.
    and, I think “gloves” are a great term for such ink.

  29. Refering to the coment about getting tattoos in places where people can see them, who cares, i mean i have tattoos where nobody will see them unless i am in a bikini kinda thing, but i also dont want all of my tattoos to be completely hidden. I dont think its a trend i think its identity.

  30. Refering to the coment about getting tattoos in places where people can see them, who cares, i mean i have tattoos where nobody will see them unless i am in a bikini kinda thing, but i also dont want all of my tattoos to be completely hidden. I dont think its a trend i think its identity.

  31. 1.) my squid tattoo could beat up your squid tattoo
    2.) me and my squid tattoo also demand pictures of an antiquarian printing themed sleeve
    3.) the gents at my tattoo parlour refer to tattoos that begin at the wrist/hand and end at t-shirt sleeve height as “lady gloves” [ yes, derisively ].

  32. 1.) my squid tattoo could beat up your squid tattoo
    2.) me and my squid tattoo also demand pictures of an antiquarian printing themed sleeve
    3.) the gents at my tattoo parlour refer to tattoos that begin at the wrist/hand and end at t-shirt sleeve height as “lady gloves” [ yes, derisively ].

  33. I like this a lot more than knuckle text tattoos on their own. Nice work!

    Zombi… get a grip and put things in perspective. Why do you even care if tattooing becomes ‘trendy’? Does it make you feel less special? If so, then maybe you should re-evaluate YOUR motivations for getting tattooed before judging everyone else.

  34. I like this a lot more than knuckle text tattoos on their own. Nice work!

    Zombi… get a grip and put things in perspective. Why do you even care if tattooing becomes ‘trendy’? Does it make you feel less special? If so, then maybe you should re-evaluate YOUR motivations for getting tattooed before judging everyone else.

  35. I have a list of about a dozen books that I’m planning on reading during the summer, including Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein, The Age of American Unreason by Susan Jacoby and the Iliad (by Homer). Oh, and rereading at least the Silmarillion (Tolkien) :p
    And now I might have to add a book by Gaiman (seen his works, heard praise about them, but never read one myself).

    Nice to see some none-traditional knuckle work.

  36. I have a list of about a dozen books that I’m planning on reading during the summer, including Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein, The Age of American Unreason by Susan Jacoby and the Iliad (by Homer). Oh, and rereading at least the Silmarillion (Tolkien) :p
    And now I might have to add a book by Gaiman (seen his works, heard praise about them, but never read one myself).

    Nice to see some none-traditional knuckle work.

  37. Pretty. If I were to get a book related tattoo….hmm. It’d probably be some dark landscape from Cormac McCarthy. Or something hilarious from “Geek Love”. Maybe thats because I read them lately and loved both.

  38. Pretty. If I were to get a book related tattoo….hmm. It’d probably be some dark landscape from Cormac McCarthy. Or something hilarious from “Geek Love”. Maybe thats because I read them lately and loved both.

  39. Almaxaquotal….thanks for trying to put words in my mouth….but it doesn’t make me feel less special at all, i love my mods and what they mean to me. I would rather see and talk to people who get modifications because they love the experience and the journey of modifying their body…..not because its ‘trendy’ or ‘cool’.
    so maybe YOU should re-evaluate your motivations for getting your mods

  40. Almaxaquotal….thanks for trying to put words in my mouth….but it doesn’t make me feel less special at all, i love my mods and what they mean to me. I would rather see and talk to people who get modifications because they love the experience and the journey of modifying their body…..not because its ‘trendy’ or ‘cool’.
    so maybe YOU should re-evaluate your motivations for getting your mods

  41. Books I’d like to have done (or started) by the end of summer:

    The God Delusion – Richard Dawkins
    On the Shoulders of Giants – Stephen Hawking
    Godel, Escher, Bach – Douglas R. Hofstadter

  42. Books I’d like to have done (or started) by the end of summer:

    The God Delusion – Richard Dawkins
    On the Shoulders of Giants – Stephen Hawking
    Godel, Escher, Bach – Douglas R. Hofstadter

  43. zombi – i bring it up because i get that comment a lot. ive got my hands done and my neck done and not so much else. i dont care its where people can see them, its just that i had solid ideas for those places and decided to start there. interestingly, by having my hands done i was able to formulate my ideas for how i wanted my sleeve to look on one side (part of my hand tattoo goes past the wrist onto my arm and now flows into the start of my sleeve).

    Plus, that is some amazingggg work that this person has on their hands so at the very least we should just enjoy that 🙂

  44. zombi – i bring it up because i get that comment a lot. ive got my hands done and my neck done and not so much else. i dont care its where people can see them, its just that i had solid ideas for those places and decided to start there. interestingly, by having my hands done i was able to formulate my ideas for how i wanted my sleeve to look on one side (part of my hand tattoo goes past the wrist onto my arm and now flows into the start of my sleeve).

    Plus, that is some amazingggg work that this person has on their hands so at the very least we should just enjoy that 🙂

  45. #16 – Absolutely; I’ve already started mine. ^__^

    Gorgeous work, and on the hands nonetheless. Perhaps it’s just me, but I love seeing the whole space utilized and this is a fine example.

  46. #16 – Absolutely; I’ve already started mine. ^__^

    Gorgeous work, and on the hands nonetheless. Perhaps it’s just me, but I love seeing the whole space utilized and this is a fine example.

  47. lol i think it would be fun to see someone with non-tattooed arms but heavily tattooed hands. not sleeves, but GLOVES. lol

  48. lol i think it would be fun to see someone with non-tattooed arms but heavily tattooed hands. not sleeves, but GLOVES. lol

  49. I’m a proud member of the NERD PRIDE club, probably gonna read some more china meveille books this summer along with more phalnuik,vonnegut (hoosier pride bitches!), and some more randoms

  50. I’m a proud member of the NERD PRIDE club, probably gonna read some more china meveille books this summer along with more phalnuik,vonnegut (hoosier pride bitches!), and some more randoms

  51. Alex – UGH I hate myself right now.
    — poor Verne must be rolling in his grave; I totally left my mind when writting that comment, as TWENTY thousand leagues is definitely one of my favorites….

    Definitely an amazing tattoo though – nerds unite!

  52. Alex – UGH I hate myself right now.
    — poor Verne must be rolling in his grave; I totally left my mind when writting that comment, as TWENTY thousand leagues is definitely one of my favorites….

    Definitely an amazing tattoo though – nerds unite!

  53. dennis- I bought the god delusion soo long ago but I still haven’t gotten around to reading it. -_-

  54. dennis- I bought the god delusion soo long ago but I still haven’t gotten around to reading it. -_-

  55. Currently reading Brave New World, as well as Walden, and got about 15,000,000 other books lying around I need to get into it!

  56. Currently reading Brave New World, as well as Walden, and got about 15,000,000 other books lying around I need to get into it!

  57. d’oh! i think i’ve restarted dune about nine different times. i always get bored when they end up in the desert… which really isn’t that far into the book. fear is the mindkiller, indeed. 50 pages discussing the importance of reclaiming one’s sweat so they don’t dehydrate is the mindkiller.

    other than my prejudices towards dune (and my family very nearly disowned me over it), i like the tattoos.

    and i also thought his hands looked rather knuckless, but i think part of it might be the intense coloring makes them look a little flatter…

  58. d’oh! i think i’ve restarted dune about nine different times. i always get bored when they end up in the desert… which really isn’t that far into the book. fear is the mindkiller, indeed. 50 pages discussing the importance of reclaiming one’s sweat so they don’t dehydrate is the mindkiller.

    other than my prejudices towards dune (and my family very nearly disowned me over it), i like the tattoos.

    and i also thought his hands looked rather knuckless, but i think part of it might be the intense coloring makes them look a little flatter…

  59. I’m reading The Picture of Dorian Grey and The Little Friend right now…on-deck is Slaughterhouse Five and Frankenstein….I really should be reading Only Revolutions, but it’s a really weird book to keep into. I might reread House of Leaves again, and I’m constantly rereading Alice In Wonderland/Through the Looking-Glass, A.A. Milne, and Beatrix Potter as some sort of counter-therapy to the last time I read it.

    I’d totally high-five anyone with book worm knuckles/gloves.

  60. I’m reading The Picture of Dorian Grey and The Little Friend right now…on-deck is Slaughterhouse Five and Frankenstein….I really should be reading Only Revolutions, but it’s a really weird book to keep into. I might reread House of Leaves again, and I’m constantly rereading Alice In Wonderland/Through the Looking-Glass, A.A. Milne, and Beatrix Potter as some sort of counter-therapy to the last time I read it.

    I’d totally high-five anyone with book worm knuckles/gloves.

  61. Oh hey, my hands.

    Yes I have knuckles. And, the sleeves are underway. I just figured I’d do them backwards. Everyone always layers down. I prefer to do the opposite.

    And the lower knuckles aren’t asian lettering. It’s graffiti. You have to lace the fingers to read it.

    But hey, thanks for the kind words!

  62. Oh hey, my hands.

    Yes I have knuckles. And, the sleeves are underway. I just figured I’d do them backwards. Everyone always layers down. I prefer to do the opposite.

    And the lower knuckles aren’t asian lettering. It’s graffiti. You have to lace the fingers to read it.

    But hey, thanks for the kind words!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *