The Great Da'oud

On warm days, The Great Da'oud, as he refers to himself, sells henna tattoos outside of Tadpole Playground at the Boston Common. He works alongside 4 different balloon artists, who work on different days of the week. The balloon artists are more competitive amongst one another but "I'm exclusive in what I do," said the Great Da'oud. He helps the different artists by bringing them sandwiches and selling their balloons after the sun sets. "You can't do henna unless the sun is out because you need skin to be showing," he said.

Sept. 20, 2013 – An artist who goes by the stage name The Great Da'oud and declined to provide his real name takes a sip of water while selling henna tattoos outside of Tadpole Playground at the Boston Common in Boston, Mass. Photo by Rebecca Shinners.

Sept. 20, 2013 – An artist who goes by the stage name The Great Da'oud and declined to provide his real name sets up to sell henna tattoos outside of Tadpole Playground at the Boston Common in Boston, Mass. Photo by Rebecca Shinners.

Sept. 20, 2013 – Marty B. twists balloon into different shapes across from an artist who calls himself The Great Da'oud selling henna tattoos outside of Tadpole Playground at the Boston Common in Boston, Mass. “It’s been a slow day,” he said. Photo by Rebecca Shinners.

Sept. 18, 2013 – A young girl (name withheld) looks out, over her stroller at the flower shaped balloons being sold outside Tadpole Playground by an artist who calls himself The Great Da’oud at the Boston Common in Boston, Mass. Photo by Rebecca Shinners.

Sept. 18, 2013 – An artist who goes by the stage name The Great Da'oud and declined to provide his real name sells flower balloons for Larry (last name withheld), a balloon artist, outside of Tadpole Playground at the Boston Common in Boston, Mass. He usually sells henna tattoos and then sells balloons for whichever balloon artist working that day leaves, he said. Photo by Rebecca Shinners.