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INKEDblog takes you beneath the skin of today's tattoo culture. Our mission is to celebrate tattooing as a modern art form which incorporates art, fashion, style, and pop culture. While paying homage and respect to the past, we look to present a contemporary take on the present and future of skin art.
Tuesday Dec 27, 2005
Every BODY Has A Story - Danny Rivoli
My first tattoo is of my first car, located on the inside of my forearm. No, I'm not a gear head or into cars or anything (It's just an '88 Ford Escort). You may not be able to see it in the picture but I have a long vertical scar that runs from my wrist (just under my palm) to the end of my wrist (there's a smaller vertical scar on the outside of my wrist). People think I tried to kill myself, but I didn't. It's a surgical scar (I always have fun explaining this)
During my freshman year of college, on a Sunday night, I was driving back to school on the Jersey Turnpike. I got into a car accident and broke my wrist. Rather than putting my broken wrist in a cast, they decided to perform surgery on it leaving me with a big, long scar.
In April of 2005 I got a tattoo of my first car, which is the reason why I have this permanent scar. Both the scar and the car are very important to me.
| Tuesday Dec 27, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
Wednesday Dec 21, 2005
Can't Get A Tattoo On The Bottom Of Your Foot? .... Jessica Lund Explains Why
Dear INKEDblog,
Hey, I've been struggling to find anyone who will tattoo the bottom of my foot. Am I going to have to leave the country to find that? I live in New York, just outside the city. I was wondering if you could recommend anyone. I'll travel to get it done. Thanks.
Eli
Dear Eli,
There are several places that many tattoo artists will often refuse to ink. Typically, these places are the parts of the body that are highly visible- the face and hands for example. This is often because the artist does not feel the client is ready for a tattoo of this nature, or does not understand the consequences of such a visible image. This goes double for people who do not have any prior tattoos: names, face and hands tend to be off limits.
Bottoms of the feet however? A completely different issue. Obviously, this isn’t because of visibility, or moral responsibility, but similarly to tattoos on the hands; foot tattoos are very very difficult to maintain. The feet sustain the greatest amount of friction and abrasion of all parts the body. During the course of a normal day, it would be nearly impossible to keep the skin on the bottoms of your feet from being abraded. Shoes and socks rub the skin, and even walking barefoot will harm the tattoo.
A quality tattoo artist guarantees his or her work for life, often giving free or reduced rate touch ups as the tattoo ages. This would be impossible on the bottoms of the feet.
Remember that it takes about three months for a tattoo to become completely healed with all the ink in the second layer of the epidermis. It would be possible to care for a tattoo of this nature, but it would be pretty challenging. You would need to be barefoot on a soft floor most of the time, and make sure to apply moisturizer to the area for a much longer amount of time than another tat placement.
That said, go to a tattoo studio and tell them that:
1. You will not hold them responsible for fading and distortion.
2. That you are educated about the care that a tattoo of this nature will require.
If you do this, it will be much more likely that you will find someone who will create this tattoo. It will not be easier outside New York than inside, but best of luck!..
... Jessica Lund
Monday Dec 19, 2005
INKEDblog Interviews Tattoo Artist Nate Parrish
Nate’s a Seattle-based artist with a genuine affinity for Japanese tats and the history that comes with. The bonus? He’s an extremely talented guy. Yet he’s also humble enough to cop to a difficulty with Celtic work and honest enough to send that work elsewhere. And for a guy who runs a one-man tat studio, passing on business of any sort is no small gesture. All of which makes Nate an ink slinger y’all should be happy to get to know.
--- Justin Pelegano
INKEDblog: When did your love for tattooing begin?
Nate: Like any kid, I was fascinated by tattoos at an early age. When I got my 1st tattoo at 17 I was already interested in the application & craft itself. I was lucky enough to find a good artist who didn't mind talking while he worked, so I hammered him with questions. When I decided it was what I wanted to do, I couldn't stop thinking about it...I literally stayed awake thinking about tattooing & talked about it constantly. Drawing's the most important part of tattooing, I've done that all my life.
INKEDblog: I checked out your paintings and your tat work. Really great stuff. What is it about the traditional Japanese designs that appeals to you so much?
Nate: Thanks, everything I do comes from somewhere else. Japan's where good tattoos started, centuries ago. We all know tattooing can be found worldwide, but when you compare flowing Japanese bodysuits to more primitive designs being done at the time by Islanders, Indians, & everyone else...it seems clear that Japanese woodblock designs work well in skin. It has to do with technique too; that hand-pushed style has a quality that isn't duplicated even by modern machine. It's more advanced than the hammer-and-chisel method used in Borneo or whatever. I also dig traditional Western-type tattoos, which were heavily influenced by Asian design.
INKEDblog: Is there a tat style that you won't go near -- one that doesn't interest you as an artist?
Nate: I'm terrible at Celtic. To me, it's like tattooing barcodes...very technical & anal. My heritage is Celtic, but I've never had much interest in the art. Their animal designs are great, & there's folks who can do knot work really well, but for me it feels limited, not loose. Every style has limits, but I'd rather send Celtic work to someone who loves it.
INKEDblog: You're working out of Seattle. Is the tat community tight out there? What I mean is, is it a small world where all the artists sort of inspire each other? Or are we talking cutthroat competition?
Nate: I'm not a competitive person. Seattle's mellow. It's one of the tattoo capitals, but the downside is there's a s--- load of shops. Same as anywhere...and I contribute to the problem by having a shop myself. Customers tend to have a know-it-all attitude & want to design their own tattoos, which is usually disastrous. So basically, everyone's an artist, or thinks they are. Tattooers get along mostly. Many shops run multiple locations & most have 5 or 8 artists. It's crazy. I might be the only one-man shop in the city.
INKEDblog: How far would you like to take your tattooing? What is your ink dream, if you will?
Nate: I'm not sure anyone's capable of taking it further than it's been taken. I'm happy working within the parameters of what works. I don't have dreams about tattoos. I'm mostly interested in drawing & sleep deprivation. I want to learn more & get more done.
For more on Nate’s work, check out his site www.nateparrish.com
Thursday Dec 15, 2005
INKEDblog Interviews Tattoo John
Tattoo John’s been inking for a good long time. And amen to that. He’s seen a lot of changes in the industry, and he’s got some great stories to boot. He’s a true original, and he was kind enough to take some time recently and talk to me about where he got his start, his favorite tat styles, and yup…even his haunted shop. Let’s get old school…
– Justin Pelegano
INKEDblog: You've been tattooing for 34 years --where'd it all begin for you?
Tattoo John: I STARTED TATTOOING WHEN I WAS 16. I WAS WORKING AT CHOPPER SHOP HERE IN SAN JOSE AS A GOFER. I DROPED OUT OF SCHOOL AND WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO WITH MY LIFE. I HAD GOTTEN A COUPLE OF TATTOOS AND WAS FASCINATED BY IT. I BUILT MY FIRST TATTOO MACHINE WHILE WORKING AT THE CHOP SHOP. I BUILT A RACK TO HOLD MY GUNS THAT I STILL USE TO THIS DAY. I PRACTICED ON BIKERS, DRUNKS, PUNKS,WHORES, DRUG ADDICTS, WINOS… SAME CREW I WORK ON NOW. JUST KIDDING. THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH PROGRAM PAID ME TO TAKE A SMALL ENGINE COURSE SO I COULD WORK ON MOTORCYCLES. I USED THE MONEY TO OPEN MY FIRST TATTOO SHOP IN REDWOOD CITY. IT’S BETWEEN SAN JOSE AND SAN FRANCISCO. SINCE THEN I’VE HAD SHOPS IN SAN CARLOS ,SAN MATEO,SANTA CLARA BUT MOST OF IT HERE IN SAN JOSE. SAN JOSE’S OLDEST TATTOO BUSINESS…OVER 25 YRS.
INKEDblog: After all this time, what keeps it fresh for you...in other words, what keeps you going? Does surrounding yourself with younger artists help fuel the fire?
Tattoo John: TATTOOING IS WHAT I DO. ITS ME. TATTOOING MADE ME SOMEBODY I’M TATTOO JOHN. THE COMPETITION KEEPS YOU ON YOUR TOES. IT’S AMAZING WHAT PEOPLE PUT ON THEMSELVES NOW DAYS. SOMEDAYS ARE GOLD DAYS WHERE EVERYTHING GOES RIGHT. OTHER DAY ARE LEAD WHERE NOTHING GOES RIGHT.
INKEDblog: What changes have you seen in the tattoo scene over the years? Do you ever find yourself longing for the good ole days, before the whole ink thing blew up and turned into a phenomenon of sorts?
Tattoo John: THINGS HAVE CHANGED WITH THE CUSTOMERS NOW [THAT] THEY’VE GOT MORE MONEY. NOW DAYS WE DONT WORK ON DRUNKS OR STONED PEOPLE. IN THE OLD DAYS THEY ALL WERE HIGH…ME TOO…THAT WAS PART OF THE LIFE STYLE. I’VE BEEN STRAIGHT FOR 14 YRS. BUT SOMETIMES LATE AT NIGHT WHEN THE CITY STREETS ARE EMPTY, I MISS THOSE ALL NIGHT TATTOO SESSIONS – SEEIN’ THE SUN COME UP WHILE YOU’RE STILL TATTING AWAY.
INKEDblog: Tell me a little about the shop. I read on your site that you only take walk-ins. No appointments? Why go that route?
Tattoo John: MY SHOP IS STILL A STREET SHOP, A REAL TATTOO SHOP. THE REASON I DON’T DO APPOINTMENTS IS SOME OF MY CUSTOMERS ARE FLAKY. THEY HAVE ENOUGH TROUBLE MAKING THEIR MIND UP LET ALONE KEEPING AN APPOINTMENT A COUPLE OF DAYS AWAY. PLUS, I LIKE TO JUST SAY F--- IT AND TAKE OFF [ON] MY BIKE AND GO RIDING FOR THE DAY. NO APPOINTMENTS, NO PROBLEMS.
INKEDblog: I ask a lot of tat artists this question, and they tend to not wanna offend potential customers so they say, "oh, I like doing all kinds of tattoos." I don't really buy it. And I have this gut feeling you'll tell it like it is: what style of tattooing speaks to you most? And is it important for you to dig the particular piece you're putting on someone?
Tattoo John: I LIKE DOING PAUL BOOTH STYLE WORK -- MOSTLY BLACK AND GRAY. I LOVE FLAMES. ILL BE IN THE BACK ROOM AND SOMEONE WILL ASK WHAT SHOULD I ADD TO THIS AND WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING I’LL YELL OUT, “FLAMES!” AND MOST OF THE TIME THEY GO FOR IT. MAYBE I SHOULD YELL OUT TURDS AND SEE IF THEY’D GO FOR IT. I LIKE DOING SMALL OVERPRICED TATTOOS; I DO THIS FOR A LIVING REMEMBER. I LIKE DOING LARGER TATTS THAT TAKE HOURS, MAKE MY MONEY AND LET EVERYBODY ELSE DEAL WITH THE OTHER CUSTOMERS.
INKEDblog: And finally, I have to ask...where'd you guys get the hearse [that is parked in front of the shop]?
Tattoo John: THE HEARSE BELONGS TO DANNY, ONE OF THOSE YOUNG GUNS. HE BOUGHT IT FROM A LOCAL MORTUARY, [AND IT] CAME WITH SPIRITS. DID U KNOW THE SHOP IS HAUNTED BY THE SPIRIT OF AN INDIAN FRIEND WHO SPENT 15 YRS HANGING OUT AT THE SHOP? HE PASSED AWAY 2 YEARS AGO, BUT HE HASN’T LEFT YET. BUT THAT’S ANOTHER STORY.
Check out Tattoo John’s tat work and shop at www.SANJOSETATTOO.NET
Wednesday Dec 14, 2005
In Defense of Tribals
From an Inkedblog reader:
"I love your site. I'm pretty obsessed with tattoos. I only have one, but I look at photos of them for hours, contemplating what next.
I know neotribal style was a huge trend in the 90s -- when I got mine. In a real typical place, my lower back. And now we have the backlash, beause SO many people got them unthinkingly. The part of me that is still attached to trendiness is the part that goes -- cover it! People think it's lame! But here's the thing.
I picked the tribal design I did because it is meaningful to me. So, to me, it transcends the superficiality of the trend. The design resembles an angel with unfurling, swirling wings. Though abstract, when I tell people how to look at it they see it too. I didn't WANT to get a realistic tattoo of an angel. I was afraid I would tire of the image; and I personally prefer bold, black tattoos with a strong abstract design element. I wanted something flowing and symbolic, whose meaning could change over time. The concept of having an angel "watching my back" is very personal to me -- so personal that I am glad that if a stranger asks me what my tattoo means, I can just say, "Nothing, it's just a design I liked." Because it's none of their business. And while tattoos can be fashion and beauty statements, they are also spiritual and represent a rite of passage in the wearer's life.
So -- just because there are lots of dudes out there who get tribal armbands for no real reason, and chicks who just slap a tribal over their ass because it's "sexy"...don't assume that's true of all of us!
Wednesday Dec 14, 2005
Okkie's Best of 2005
FAVORTITE TREND IN TATTOOING OF 2005
Letters and amazing new colouring.
LEAST FAVORITE TREND IN TATTOOING N 2005
Too small work on newbies.
BEST TATTOO SHOP
25 To Life and the Inkstitution, both in Rotterdam NL
BEST TATTOO ARTIST
Errol (the Inkstitution)
and Lionel (Out of Step Tattoo, France).
FAVORITE TATTOO SEEN THIS YEAR
My new tattoo by Errol, a recordplayer which i got yesterday and my tattoo from Lionel, who was working for a week in SlickNick's 25 To Life shop in Rotterdam. Also a tattoo from Pete Schroder (Shipwreck Tattoo Rotterdam) who made a jesus with a crown of chrismaslights, that one is mindblowing! I include my octopus tat from Pete, however that one is 5 years old.
BEST TATTOO RESOURCE (ONLINE)
inkedblog.
Tuesday Dec 13, 2005
Roselly's Best of 2005
Favorite Trend in Tattooing of 2005: Most likely anything being done on the underside of the wrists.
Least Favorite Trend in Tattoing of 2005: Lower backs for sure, full skin tattoos on the ass and the entire back. Somehow those just don't look right to me.
Best Tattoo Shop: I've only been to one my whole life, it would be at Glen's Tattoo on Main street in Carrboro, NC.
Favorite Tattoo Seen this Year: definitely this one
Best Tattoo Resource: Definitely you so far, I've seen alot in my search for my "perfect" tattoo but I've gotten ALOT of ideas from you so far! YAY for Inked Blog!
What;s your "Best of 2005" list? Send it to us at getinked@inkedblog.com
Tuesday Dec 13, 2005
Rutger Betlem's Best of 2005
FAVORTITE TREND IN TATTOOING OF 2005: Urban art
LEAST FAVORITE TREND IN TATTOOING N 2005: anything celtic or tribals As well as tattoos on lower back
BEST TATTOO SHOP:
Marco Bratt
BEST TATTOO ARTIST:
Filip Leu
BEST TATTOO RESOURCE (ONLINE): Well that's gotta be you
Tuesday Dec 13, 2005
Paul Pattee's Choice for Best Tattoo Artist of 2005 - Andrea Ottlewski - Slave to the Needle, Seattle
You can see more of Andrea's work here.
Tuesday Dec 13, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
More from Mark here.
Monday Dec 12, 2005
Best of 2005 - Submit Your Entries
In the coming weeks, we'll be publishing our "Best of 2005" lists. For this feature we want your input. Drop us a note at getinked@inkedblog.com with the answers to the following qustions....
1. FAVORTITE TREND IN TATTOOING OF 2005
2. LEAST FAVORITE TREND IN TATTOOING N 2005
3. BEST TATTOO SHOP
4. BEST TATTOO ARTIST
5. FAVORITE TATTOO SEEN THIS YEAR
6. BEST TATTOO RESOURCE (ONLINE)
Friday Dec 09, 2005
Every BODY Has A Story - Gary Gertz
"My tattoo is based on the theme of transformation, and the act of getting needled is in itself a transformation.
I took along time to find an inker who understood that I did not want some "flash". and I did not want a copy of an existing piece of art on my skin. (I talked about the transformation using MC Escher as an example of what I wanted, many people offered to transfer an Escher to my skin - no thanks).
Finally I met someone (Jason Riddick - A.R.T. Studio Tattoos, Long Beach Island, NJ) who was interested in doing some creative work and we looked at Escher's big Metamorphosis piece and picked out the theme - Bees on my arm change to Butterflies on my chest & back and I
started the work.
There is a ton more to do, we will be adding a Sky Background with a Sun on my chest and Moon on my back - the piece is still transforming, so am I, so are we all.
Friday Dec 09, 2005
My Secret Tattoo?.... by Dr.Schnuggles
"I am now 20yo and had my first tattoo done at the age of 17. my parents wouldn't allow me gettng one, but my dad inked his forearm by himself when he was in my age (today it's lasered away) and so i started to tattoo myself. just to check if it would work. i made an L under my left heel and an R under my right one. some days later i got it redrawn in a professional studio, but unfortunately it didn't last that long because of the too thick skin there. my parents do not yet know about that one...
...or about the other one: I had some money (no one knows how) and wanted to gain scene-points, so i had "xveganx" pricked on the inside of my underlip. and if I start eating meat one day... no one will notice that i was veganstraightedge as long as i don't make any grimaces"
Do you have a secret tattoo? If so, drop us a note at getinked@inkedblog.com
Thursday Dec 08, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
More from Mark here.
Thursday Dec 08, 2005
My Orko Tattoo by SOAP
Once upon a time, in a sixth form far away there was a gothic (SOAP) and a boy who thought wearing bowties to school was cool (Orko), they’d known of each other since the second year of secondary school. But they’d never hung out even though they were both considered a bit too (insert naïve confused adjective here) by the rest of the school. So skip a few years, shake off some angst, let the jeans get baggy, start skateboarding together and flavour with hiphoppunkcountrybreakbeatdiscodrum’n’bassfolkfusion. Then the two get ripping it up for six months in Australia, sharing some hilarity, hi-jinx and heartache. The two become brothers from different mothers.
Life then separates them for a while to see each develop their solo skills. One day SOAP got his first peek at Orko’s artwork – it’s love at first sight, truly fallen into a ring of fire. More and more days pass, many long-haul flights later. SOAP tells anyone who’ll listen that he wants to get an Orko tattoo. Orko agrees to do an exclusive design for SOAP, after all SOAP wants something special. Skip another year, still no design, so SOAP just tweaks an existing Orko design and strolls into Frith Street Tattoo. After spending two hours, including spliff breaks, getting the word ‘LOYALTY’ inked from elbow to wrist on the underside of his right arm, SOAP finally gets the first ink done for his Orko tattoo on his left upper arm. He couldn’t wipe the smile off his face even though he’d spent over two hours in the chair. Now Orko has to work out the colour scheme and do a couple more characters because SOAP wants to make it a half sleeve. The work in progress continues, watch this space…
Wednesday Dec 07, 2005
Baby Devil Tattoo
You can learn more about Numskull, who created the baby devil stencil here.
Monday Dec 05, 2005
INKEDblog Interviews Cara, the “Tattooed Teacher”
"Cara’s got some major ink – 18 tats to be exact. And she ain’t stoppin’ there. The really cool part? She’s also an NYC school teacher. If only my teachers had rocked that hard, I might have actually gone to class. Cara recently took some time to talk with me about her ink and the reactions she’s gotten on the job. What she has to say is definitely worth a read, no doubt. "
– Justin Pelegano
INKEDblog: You got your first tat at 16...what was the occassion?
Cara: My best friend and I were the "bad ass" kinda Catholic school girls that hung with these skeevy dudes that knew how to tattoo so we decided to get tattooed in her boyfriend's bedroom one day. I sat backwards on a chair and held onto a baseball bat while they smoked cigarettes and watched me get my "sweet tribal" which was oh so cool in ‘96. It was above my ass and I thought I was the hottest with my new tatt and Jnco's. (I have since covered it). I got the whole tattoo and I was pretty proud because when it came to be my friend's turn she got 2 lines and then chickened out.
INKEDblog: Which is your favorite piece?
Cara: My favorite tattoo so far would have to be my chest/shoulders. I think it's the prettiest and I was able to take part in the design. I have a star/flower theme so this one incorporates the two.
INKEDblog: And now you're addicted! I sort of love to hear that -- I mean, considering the addictions out there...an ink addiction ain't that bad...and makes for some amazing art. What inspires you to choose a certain design?
Cara: The majority of my tattoos are flowers and stars. I really like them. I have stars and flowers all throughout my apt and my classroom. I have a few tattoos that don’t fit the theme, but eventually I will become a botanical garden.
INKEDblog: “The Tattooed Teacher” -- that's some nickname. What do your students think about your tattoos? Do you think it changes they way they perceive you in the classroom?
Cara: Only a few of my tattoos show when I go to work. Some of my students have made comments about it but I just pretend that they're seeing things or deny having a tattoo. They giggle and I call them crazy. It's cute. Tattoos are becoming so common now that it's not THAT big of a deal to them. I still run a tight ship and they see me as their teacher and not some tattooed freak. One time I had a tattoo that got infected. I had to walk with a cane. So when my students asked what happened I didn’t want them to know that I had an infected tattoo. Instead, I told them that I fell into the bear pit at the Bronx Zoo and got bit by a bear cub. By the end of the day the whole school thought I was bitten.
INKEDblog: The principal [of your school] and the superintendent...what are their worries about the ink? Do you sense an unfair bias towards you because of your tats.
Cara: My principal is very conservative and I was worried that she would give me sh-- for having tattoos. Legally she can't. When I first got hired she noticed a tattoo when I bent over and reminded me to keep it covered. Since then I have proven to her that I do my job well and now she loves me. I feel as though I might have changed her opinion on tattooed people or at least broke the stereotype. She's never had anything bad to say about the ones that show, but she almost had a heart attack when I showed her my chest and back. I keep those covered at work and surprisingly enough, she has actually made me show a few of my superiors. She has me show them after they observe me doing a lesson. I usually get the "great lesson and oh my, what pretty tattoos" response. Which makes me think that they're thinking... "wow a tattooed person can actually do a great job"
One time in the teacher's lounge the topic of tattoos came up. I was fairly new at the school and didn’t’ know everyone. This particular day none of my tatts were visible. A teacher started going on about people with tattoos. He called them lowlifes and said that they never amount to anything. He said that people with tattoos are idiots because they can’t get a career and all they do is drink and listen to "that punk rock music". I kept my mouth shut and just listened to his opinions and then I asked him what made him feel that way and he could only say that he would never get a tattoo so he doesn’t get it. I simply said that I know several people in various professions that are covered in tattoos, showed him some of mine, said I wasn’t stupid or a low life and then walked out of the teacher's room. He now kisses my ass.
INKEDblog: If you had to give up getting ink to keep on teaching...would it be a no-brainer or a difficult decision?
Cara: At this point I have plenty of space left so I think that I will be getting tattooed for awhile. However, I don’t like cluttered tattoos so I place them strategically enough so that they're not taking over each other or highly visible. Do I want half sleeves? Sure do.. but I work in an unairconditioned classroom and having to wear long sleeves in sept and june would just kill me. I am addicted, I do love tattoos but I'm also highly educated and far from stupid. I'm not gonna lose my job because I want to decorate myself more. That’s why I will one day find that rockstar husband that will support me so that I can be covered! Ha. Yeah right.
Monday Dec 05, 2005
"Seen At The Clubs" - Photos by Mark The Cobrasnake
More from Mark here.
Monday Dec 05, 2005
SesMan's NBA2K6 Tattoos Photos
How lifelike are the graphics on the new Xbox 360? Check out these player tattoos photos taken by SesMan while playing NBA 2K6 on the Xbox 360.
Marcus Canby
Kenyon Martin
Carmelo Anthony
Friday Dec 02, 2005
Every BODY Has A Story - Heather
"The idea of a Tattoo started as a birthday gift certificate present from my husband. It was my first tattoo. I agonized for months over what picture to have done. I knew I didn't want flash, and I didn't want something very small. This tattoo takes up most of my upper thigh, probably about 8 inches wide... I searched the internet for pictures and found the artist Julie Bell. I had a fascination with the Marvel comics X-men and the earlier art was done by Julie and her husband Boris Vallejo (popular sci-fi). Julie had a series of "chrome" art she had drawn. This was one of her drawings and was also featured on the cover of Heavy Metal magazine. I love the water and this was kind of edgy so I printed it out and set it on my desk for several months. I never got tired of looking at it so I decided this was it. I wanted it in a location that I could enjoy seeing it, and was not always visible to public unless I wanted it to be. I get a lot of comments on it. The tattoo artist is Steve at House of Tattoo in Tacoma Washington. It took 2 3-hour sessions to finish. I think he did a good job of trying to capture the chrome look of the shark."
Thursday Dec 01, 2005
Every BODY Has A Story - Tyler's "Secret" Whale Tattoo
"The whale on my right hip usually gets laughs when I show it (to very few people). "Free Willy?" Ha they say. "A Whale? Why would you get a whale?" Well, here is why:
When I was 12 my sister died of Cystic Fibrosis (a terminal lung and liver disease). In the last months of her life she was supposed to go in for a routine surgery and afterwards we were going to take a trip to Alaska to see the whales run. My sister loved whales. She was secretly jealous of their freedom and ability to breathe, something she herself was not able to do because of her disease. Her routine surgery had complications and three months later, she died at our house. One year later my family and I went to Alaska to see the whales run in her memory. Upon returning home, my mother decided to start a nonprofit organization in her memory and used the whale on my hip as the logo. I mulled over getting tattoos for years and in a grand epiphany on the 10 year anniversary of my sisters death, nothing seemed more fitting than to have a permanent reminder of my sister on my hip for me to see every day. Hidden right below my pants line it is rarely seen by anyone but me."
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