Each bird represents one of their kids. Five kids, so five birds.

A tattoo of lilies. This was the start of a big piece when they were dating a tattoo artist.

Lotus tattoo. They got this tattoo for 18th birthday. The Lotus symbolizes balance and adaptability. The lotus can grow anywhere. They stated, “It’s a good reminder.”

Nook’s last name is Hawk. The Hawk tattoo represents their family name. Nook has a brother with a version of the Hawk tattoo.

The RNH is Nook’s fathers initials. The graveyard is connected to the ancestors, that the Hawk is watching over.

Due to the awkward location of the interview, I did not get much information on the “H.” I am guessing the H represents the Hawk family.

Little Nook got this tattoo to follow in the in the family line of Hawk tattoos. The idea was keep the tattoo going in the family.

The Hawk family is from Kentucky. The Hawk is placed on Little Nook to watch over Kentucky.

I was unable to get the meaning of I-XXI. I believe it is referring to Job 1:21 — “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

The angel tattoo on Sakura’s back was the first piece they ever got. The tattoo is a fallen angel bound at the hands. The metal pieces on his shoulders those are what bind his wings. Sakura loves the angle’s emo hair. Sakura got this while in the Marines during Comm School in 29 Palms.

Sakura was raised in a very Christian household, but values had never aligned with the church on a lot of big issues. From the time they were young, until they became an adult. Sakura used to have terrifying nightmares of being sent to hell. They wouid wake up screaming at least once or twice a week. No one in their family really asked them why. After being on their own as an adult for a bit. Sakura said fuck it I want to fall and did. This tattoo may have come from a dark place. As Sakura has gotten older they find it more and more beautiful.

Sakura’ said would like to  have it touched up soon. Maybe next year.

The Wolf Sigil tattoo. Sakura got this tattoo while stationed in MCAS Miramar. Sakura and their brothers wanted to get “wolfpack” tattoos with our friends after one of the hangover movies came out. Sakura chose this design because of the video game character Cloud from Final Fantasy 7 who wore it on his armor in the movie Final Fantasy 7 Advent Children. Sakura always identified with Cloud who dealt with schizophrenic like symptoms, hallucinations, false memories, and not knowing who he was. That really resonated with them even before they were diagnosed as Schizoaffective Bipolar. They remember having this desire to find themselves, and overcome their battles. At the time Sakura drank heavily every night, and was losing time. They would  black out and couldn’t remember where they were becoming periodically catatonic. Sakura could not get a good night sleep to save their life. This tattoo came during that time which was shortly before they decided they wanted to kill themselves. It gave them the courage to call their Gunnery Sgt and tell him something was wrong. Sakura was sent to mental health where they started their journey to getting better.

The “You Cant Die Yet” tattoo is made to look like self mutilation wounds that are closed with stitches. On top of each stitch is the initials of one of their family members, and on the last stitch are Sakura’s initials. Down the center are the words “You can’t die yet”. Sakura got this after getting out of the hospital for suicidal ideation. Sakura thinks the meaning speaks for itself. Made more of an effort to connect with their family because they needed their support. Sakura said as they get older sometimes they wish they could change the initials to people who are more family, than their actual family. At the time this tattoo was exactly what they needed it to be. Sakura wouldn’t go through with changing them, although they might add one or two more if possible.

The Shell tattoo is for the Camino de Santiago, which is a pre-Christian pilgrimage route. This route goes from the Pyrenees in France to Compostela. The Christians have taken this route over as the place were St. James went after the crucifixion. This is also the furthest point west in Europe. This route is significant for many different religions. 

Finisterre biked from Irun to Santiago de Compostela. This took 11 days and 911 kilometers. Each town on the way has a different shell emblem embedded in their stones and concrete. These shells are to lead people on the path.

This shell for the tattoo is the final destination path shell. Finisterre went alone. It was something they wanted to do and liked challenges. The idea was go to a foreign country, buy a bike a go. This tattoo was earned. It is a badge of honer.

Finisterre had looked up some Camino tattoos as there is a big fraternity of people that have done this pilgrimage. They were not able to find any with a symbol like this one.

The emblem underneath the shell is a time stamp. There was an art exhibit in Paris when they left. The symbol was created by Michelangelo Basel. He used this symbol to show the fantasy of man vs. the reality of man. Somewhere in the middle is what we experience. Finisterre experienced this right before they left. Took it as part of the experience for this trip.

Crunk wants their body to be a canvas to tell a story. The tattoos tell the story of their life.

This Tattoo is a cover up of tattoo that was a symbol from a cult book for anti-justice. Later in life it looked stupid. Replaced it with a five claw Chinese dragon for good luck. The tattoo came out of a book, and was a good cover up.

This tattoo is a medieval dragon.  This tattoo was also a cover up. That was a heart with Crunk’s initials and first wife’s initials in it. She ended up being a horrible person.  When people ask Crunk what is it or why they got it, Crunk states, “It is a portrait of my ex-wife”.

This is a self motivational piece. It’s not going to happen unless they start today.

This is a portrait of first daughter. The most important people in their life is their daughters.

This is Crunk’s second daughter. It’s only fair to do both.

FGT stated “All my tattoos are like, ‘Aye, let’s get tattoos.” “They are really retarded.”

FTG like snakes has them as pets sometimes. Wanted a snake tattoo.

DRI logo because like the band DRI.

FTG got this tattoo cause they live in NC. It was a charity tattoo and was a premade design. All proceeds went to suicide prevention.

Got an eagle tattoo. Wife has an eagle tattoo also. They got them in Winston-Salem. It was Heavy Rebel Weekend, 4th of July. They both got America themed tattoos.

Very first tattoo. FTG got this because it was the the name of a circle jerk song “Live Fast Die Young”.

This is a Descendent’s Milo tattoo. FGT likes the band Descendents.

FTG went to Australia for honeymoon. The Kangaroo is for Australia. Everyone there told them, “no worries” all the time. No one says “good day, mate.” Everybody across the board says “no worries.”

Just a good old skateboarding tattoo.

FTG likes to think they live the life of a punk, but said, “I don’t really think I live the punk life anymore.”

This is a picture of both Edwin’s and Edwin’s sister’s tattoos.

Edwin and sister both liked watching the Toy Story movie. It’s a reminder that though they fight, they always come together without regret, or being sick of each other. It is also a reminder that when they are apart, they are always together, when on vacation, visiting someone, or even moving to another city.

The birds and paper are plain tattoos. It’s also connected to the idea of being there for each other no matter the distance. The quickest way to overcome distance is flying. They each have a tattoo to symbolize this idea.

The flying birds for Edwin’s sister. She sometimes has a fairytail/ romantic view of the world. This is also connected to the Disney movies were little birds help Cinderella or Snow White.

The paper airplane for Edwin: this is because they enjoy creating and building things like little origami planes, cranes, etc…

Leptotila noted that all tattoos represent times of change or document a big occasion in life.

Leptotila’s first tattoo is a Dragon coming over the mountains surrounded by Celtic knots. Leptotila had just moved to North Carolina. Leptotila met James Vaugn working in Clayton, NC. James was driving front loader/back hoe, taking trash off of work sites. Leptotila liked what James was doing and had never seen good tattoo work. Likes to think their conversations helped to start James’s career in tattoos.

This tattoo is about heritage. Leptotila had wanted a dragon and thinks this is their worst tattoo. The ink has faded quite a bit over the years. It is a memory of James.

This is a tattoo of a fallen angel done by James Vaughn. The angel is above the next two tattoos.

This is a Hell scene. It is Paul Booth’s artwork. It is a picture of Skulls on strings.

Leptotila really liked Paul Booth’s artwork. Leptotila paid James for this tattoo with a pair of blue Doc Martins.

Tattoo of skull with tubes. It is connected to the Hell scene.

Leptotila took James down to Jacksonville, NC for his first tattoo job. Jacksonville was the place for tattoos at the time, in North Carolina. James got the job. Leptotila went there a week after he started. James had some free time and did the tattoo.

James moved to Greensboro, NC and opened a new tattoo shop called Emerald Dragon. Leptotila would head to the shop on weekends, and work in the shop. Helped James price tattoos, manage the clientele, and anything else. Leptotila assisted with repairing flooring, and making the place look nice.

A guy living down there was named Dave Kruseman. Dave had just moved there from California, and became James’s apprentice. James ran the Emerald Dragon for a couple of years.

This tattoo is a old 45 fire record insert done by Dave Kruseman. It’s a reminder of being a kid and listening to Disney records, or whatever music the family had. It’s an adapter for when the whole was to big for the record. Statement of music and youth.

Some people thought it was Neo Nazi symbol. It’s not.

Leptotila moved to Greensboro, NC, and lived with some buddies: Little Tommy and Brad. They were local legends, people who everyone knows, and likes.

Big Tommy lived behind them. There was lots of drugs and partying.

Dave and Big Tommy on Fridays nights would have thousands in their pockets. They all would go out to the strip clubs. Then they owned the strip clubs. All the girls knew Dave and Big Tommy had money. Leptotila was just along for the ride. Leptotila said, “It was a fun ride.”

This is a tattoo of a Sacred Heart with a Crown. Leptotila always liked the Catholic Jesus portrait of a sacred heart with a crown of thorns. Leptotila liked the imagery, but never liked religion. Wanted something on these lines. Big Tommy did the tattoo perfectly.

Big Tommy did this tattoo machine tattoo as well. It’s a reminder of friendship with Big Tommy.

Leptotila had always wanted Tommy to complete the whole chest by starting with big pieces and filling in background. Tommy died before chest could be finished.

Leptotila left there and moved to Chapel Hill, NC. Leptotila met Bruce White, Bruce’s boyfriend Leslie, and Jonas. Jonas ended up being Leptotila’s best friend. Jonas wanted to be a tattoo artist. He would draw pictures he saw in magazines. Jonas would make these pictures his own. Jonas became really good friend with Bruce. Bruce took Jonas under his wing and apprenticed him.

Bruce White did the cherry tattoo. There’s no deep story behind the cherries.

The One Life tattoo. Went hiking in the woods with girlfriend. She had an epileptic seizure while driving the car. She drove them off a mountain. When Leptotila got home he got this tattoo.

This was a fun time in life. This was supposed to be the “I” awakener. Leptotila had kind of slept through it. Stated “Didn’t listen, whatever is was all a party back then”.

The blue birds: During times of war, blue birds are tattooed for good luck. One to take them away, and one to bring them home safely. Leptotila did a lot of traveling back then.

Leptotila had wanted to do more tattoos with Bruce. Never had the time or money. Just talked a big game, could not come up with the cash flow to get started.

Skeleton Key Tattoo. Moved to Alabama for a year. Came back and had Jonas do this tattoo. It is the key to life/the key that unlocks all of the doors, and pathways.

Message in a Bottle/Whiskey Bottle tattoo. This was done by Daredevil tattoo in Asheville NC. This tattoo is also connected to the car wreck. During the car crash, a gin bottle came out of a backpack and hit girlfriend in the back of head.

The tattoo is connected to sailing through life. You have one life to live. You are searching for help. The message in a bottle is a cry for help.

Nautical wheel and North Star tattoo. This is connected to the two tattoos above. Its meaning is sailing through the seas of life.

Kraken sea monster tattoo. This monster has a third eye. It symbolizes obstacles in life.

Anima girl tattoo. Leptotila was really into anima. Met Dave Scearce at Asylum Charlotte, NC. Once it was done everyone said it looked like Leptotila’s girlfriend. Was not the intent when getting the tattoo. It does look like her, but it is not her.

–

FTW (Fuck The World) Bomb tattoo. Leptotila was living in Apex\ Holly Springs. Hard chapter in life. Had gotten over a bunch of hurdles. Looking like was going to get head out of ass. Wanted to document this change in life. Wanted Jonas to do it. It was fun.

Don Hardy Green Dragon water spray tattoo. Did not got this tattoo finished. Needed to be somewhere, and it was taking longer then they thought. It needs to be cleaned up. Had wanted a traditional tattoo piece, a three color dragon. A traditional drawing from a legend in tattoos.