Tag Archives: tattoos - Page 3

Tattoo Artist Shows First Rose

Posted by on October 7, 2018 No comments

Rose Tattoo by Jorge at The Focus Tattoo Parlour

Rose tattoo. This was the first tattoo that Jorge ever did on human skin. For their first tattoo, Jorge tattooed a girl who had graduated from the same mentor. She did her second tattoo on Jorge. The promise was this: Jorge would do their first tattoo on her. The night before, Jorge consumed a 2-for-1 drink special at Chili’s. Jorge thought if they do it on themselves and it looks ok, Jorge won’t mess her up to bad. Jorge left Chili’s, went to the shop, and did the rose on themselves, and then tattooed her the next morning. They have matching tattoos.

Jorge is a tattoo artist at The Focus Tattoo Parlour in Warrenton, NC.

 

Jumps and Flies Free

Posted by on September 30, 2018 No comments

Frog Tattoo

Frog tattoo. Abah and their best friend had box seats to watch the Hornets play in the new arena. They were underage, and thought they could drink without getting carded. This was because they had club seats. They did not get to drink. They were just watching the game, bored, and said, “let’s go get tattoos.” They each got frogs.

Flower Tattoo

Flower Tattoo. Abah was cleaning up after a shift at the restaurant they work at. Jorge walked by and Abah asked, “Do you want to do a tattoo tonight?” Jorge was like, “Sure, no problem.”  Abah went online found a design they liked. Jorge did it in just 15 minutes.

Feather With Brave Wings She Flies Tattoo

Feather With Brave Wings She Flies tattoo. Abah was in an abusive relationship. Abah had to get a restraining order, and it was a really difficult time. After everything was done with the relationship, Abah got the tattoo to remind themselves, “You do not need anything. You can take care of you, be brave and you can fly.”

Star Tattoo

Star tattoo. Abah got it cause they liked it.

Angel Tattoo

Angel Tattoo. Abah grew up Catholic and went to a Catholic school. When Abah went to collage they went to a liberal arts school. The school really opened Abah’s eyes a lot. Abah saw a lot of things with Catholicism they did not not agree with. Their way as in the tattoo. The tattoo is an angel with her back to you and a rosary down her back. Abah is still very religious but not in the strict confines of the Catholic faith. This tattoo respresented Abah turning their back on religion. It’s still there and Abah still has their beliefs. Abah kind of believes in a, “what would Jesus do” path. Abah believes in being a good person and doing the right thing. Abah stated, “as long as you do what you honestly believe to be a good person, that is all you need to be. You don’t need to prove yourself to anybody else or any church. Your relationship with god and Jesus Christ is your own.”

Family with a Bat

Posted by on September 23, 2018 No comments

Bat Climbing Shoulder tattoo
Bat Climbing Shoulder tattoo
Bat Climbing Shoulder tattoo

Bat Climbing Shoulder tattoo. The bat was BDM’s first tattoo. The entire tattoo was done by five different artists. They never exactly created what BDM wanted. The bat was a family crest kind of thing. The rest is supposed to be nautical vines. The tattoo is supposed to be a connecting piece for all the other tattoos they have eventually. The bat is to represent a group of people “that did stuff that does not happen anymore.”

BDM Initials Tattoo

BDM tattoo. Both BDM’s and their son’s initials are BDM. They got this tattoo on their leg because their son is their reason for standing.

Phoenix tattoo Phoenix tattoo

Phoenix tattoo. This is for their daughter. In the tail is their daughter’s initials, EJM. The Phoenix is for her name, which is Ember (Emberlynn). BDM chose the Phoenix as they felt it best represented her. BDM got the tattoo on their ribs because, “I breathe for my daughter.”

First Insanity then Chaos Follows

Posted by on September 16, 2018 No comments

Chinese Kanji for Insanity surrounded by a Chaos symbol tattoo

Chinese Kanji for Insanity surrounded by a chaos symbol tattoo. Sammy and their girlfriend at time were getting tattoos. Sammy thought the Chinese symbol for insanity would make a cool tattoo. Sammy did verify that the symbol was correct.  The first one looked small, so they decided to put something around it. The Chinese was done in San Diego. Years later, the Chaos was done in Pittsburgh.  Sammy figured chaos and insanity summed up their life.

2010 GWARbq tattoo 2012 GWARbq tattoo

2010 and 2012 GWAR B-Q tattoos. Sammy is not sure if they had one for 2011. The other years Sammy went, they were either too drunk or too grimy to get a tattoo. Sammy was going to get all of them, “but got lazy.” Sammy should have at least 4 more.

Chaos Tattoo Cory Smoot

Chaos tattoo. Cory Smoot was a guitarist for GWAR. He passed away a couple of years ago. They did a memorial show for Cory. The show was to raise money for Cory’s wife and unborn child. This was the logo Cory came up with for his solo project. They were doing these tattoos as part of the fundraiser.

Umlaut Improv Team tattoo

Umlaut Improv Team tattoo. Originally, the team was named, “Sock Monkey Murder Farm.” They had to come up with a better name. Out of a list of 200 names, Umlaut won. All of the vowels of the umlaut have the umlaut over them. All of the members of the team had the umlaut tattoo except for Greg, who did not want a tattoo. Only 4 other people that Sammy know of have this tattoo.

Dragon tattoo. In the 1990’s, Sammy got a dragon tattoo. This was because it was the 90’s and Sammy thought it would be a cool thing to do. Sammy always liked dragons. Sammy’s Chinese zodiac symbol is the dragon. Sammy now feels the tattoo is too small. Sammy stated, “It needs more stuff to it.”

T Shirt Becomes a Tattoo

Posted by on September 9, 2018 No comments

Ed Big Daddy Roth Rat Fink Tattoo Ed Big Daddy Roth Rat Fink Tattoo

When they were very young, they lived near Lincoln, NE. Back then, it was difficult to find a t-shirt with a design on it. The only place you could find a t-shirt with a design was at a car show, where people created airbrushed t-shirts. (The artist, Ed Big Daddy Roth, was the creator of the Rat Fink character.) They really liked these images. They would make t-shirts in the neighborhood. They would go to craft stores and get markers and make these t-shirts. They got this tattoo on their 60th birthday as a present from their daughter and son.

Yoga Teacher and Four Birds

Posted by on September 2, 2018 No comments

Tree of Life Tattoo

They got this tattoo after they went through yoga teacher training and read a book called, “The Tree of Life.” The tree has 4 birds on it, which represent their 4 kids. The tree of life has always been a grounding base for them.

Experiencing Memories and Friendships

Posted by on August 26, 2018 No comments

Dragon Tattoo

Dragon tattoo. This was Usus’s first tattoo that their mother bought it for them on their 18th birthday, in Long Island, NY.

Greek Change Tattoo

Greek Change tattoo. This is the Greek symbol for change.  Usus bought this with their friend Brenda Roberts in Arlington Virginia. They got drink one night and figured they would get the “best tattoos in the world!” Usus got this tattoo. They were both making changes in their lives, and they wanted to celebrate it with tattoos.

Hindi Tattoo

Hindi Tattoo. This is Usus’s last name in Hindi spelled wrong. Hoffie is the Hindi of their last name Hoppie. Usus was drinking one day in Greenville, NC, at Sup Dogs. They were talking with an Indian guy, and asked what their last name was in Hindi. The Hindi guy said this is what it would look like. Usus went across the street, and for $20 got that scribbled on their wrist about 20 years ago.

LYYFF tattoo

LYYFF tattoo. Usus was dating a guy at the time and they got matching tattoos. They used to say to each other, “Love You, You Fucking Fucker.” Since they are not together any more, the tattoo is now means, “Loath You, You Fucking Fuckface.”

Ruined Chinese Kangi Tattoo Haughty Chinese Kangi Tattoo

Ruined and Haughty Chinese Kanji tattoo. This was from a drunken stupor in Myrtle Beach about 18 years ago. The one of the left is Ruined and the one on the right in the middle of a cover up is Haughty. Haughty like snob. The reason why they are faded is when Usus got them, Usus fell a sleep and got the sheets stuck to them. When Usus woke they snatched the sheet and pulled up the scab. Most of the ink came with it. The tattoo represents the emotions Usus was going through. Usus was in a bad place in their life. Usus said, “When you grow up, you figure stuff out.” Usus made sure all of their tattoos were easily covered with a long sleeve shirt.

initials tattoo

BMK Tattoo. Usus’s best friend is Barbara Marie Kruger. She was doing travel nursing in Spokane Washington. Usus flew up there for about 6 months. One night Usus decided to get a tattoo of their best friend. Usus put her initials on the back of their arm.

Date tattoo

Six months after the BMK tattoo, Usus got their mothers birthday, 2-15-45, tattooed on their other arm.

Dragon tattoo

Dragon tattoo. Usus got that while they were living in Rocky Mount, NC, in 1997. Usus’s mother got that for them for their 23rd or 24th birthday. There was a lot of orange in that tattoo that has since faded over time.

Tribal tattoo

“Basic white guy tribal tattoo.” Usus does not regret this tattoo. It is just a tribal tattoo that means nothing. It was on sale for $40, and Usus decided to get it.

Perry the Platypus Tattoo

Perry the Platypus tattoo. Phineas and Ferb the cartoon on Cartoon Network. About 6 months ago, a whole bunch of them went to New Orleans. Usus loves platypuses, and likes the cartoon. Usus went to a tattoo shop in the French Quarter, and said “I want a tattoo of Perry the Platypus.” This particular tattoo is on their butt.

Eye of Ri Tattoo

Eye of Ri Tattoo. Usus was in Egypt for about 3 months. It is illegal to have tattoos in Egypt. Usus had this tattoo illegally done in Cairo. Usus got it just say, “I got an illegal tattoo in Cairo!”

Buddhist Prayer Tattoo Buddhist Prayer Tattoo

Buddhist Prayer Tattoo.  this is a Buddhist prayer. Usus was living in Thailand for about 4 months. When you stay for a long time in Thailand you have to know a family. The family holds certain properties. This is basically like a tour guide. One of these people’s sons was a tattoo artist. Usus stated they wanted a tattoo. The son started doing the tattoo with the original bamboo in Usus’s hotel room. This was too much pain. The son finally got out the tattoo gun and finished it off. The symbol is Buddhist prayers. The reason they are up high is they have to be above your heart to praise Buddha. The tattoo is a protections spell. It is kind of like the Jewish Mezuzah. When you go into a dwelling, the symbols protects you in that dwelling.

Phra Phrom Tattoo

Phra Phrom Tattoo. Usus got this done in Meeting Street in right outside Jump 10 Beach. It is the street were all the tourist go. The tattoo artist had just won the award for Thailand’s best tattoo artist. He drew this tattoo freehand. Usus said they maybe paid $12 USD for this. Usus did the tattoo just to do it. Usus was experiencing the culture and the memory. Usus was getting things tattooed on their body to remind themselves of these memories.

Koi Fish tattoo Koi Fish tattoo Koi Fish tattoo

Koi Fish tattoo. Usus recently lost 227 pounds. Usus is very proud of this. Usus said, “I feel good. I look good. I am very happy. I love orange. I love Koi Fish. I love the Japanese design.” Usus said they will be making their whole arm a sleeve. It will be a fishing village. The green dragon will be covered up with a mountain scene, junkets, with a village in the back as a theme.

Kitties and Sun

Posted by on August 19, 2018 No comments

Little Slice of Sunshine Tattoo

Little Slice of Sunshine tattoo. This was so they could have a little sun while they lived in Seattle. There’s not much sun in Seattle — it’s know for being rainy. They got this tattoo at age 40.

Cat Paws Heart Tattoo

Cat Paws Heart Tattoo. The pink paw is for their girl cat and the blue is for their boy cat. The heart partly around the pink is in remembrance of the girl cat that passed away. When the boy cat passes away they will do the other side of the heart.

Ohana Tattoo

Ohana Tattoo. Ohana stands for “family” in Hawaiian. Family is important and they like Hawaii.

Mantras of Fighting Cancer

Posted by on August 12, 2018 No comments

God is Greater then Highs and Lows Tattoo

God is Greater than Highs and Lows Tattoo. They are a breast cancer survivor.

"I loved you at your darkest" tattoo Romans 5:8

“I loved you at your darkest” tattoo, Romans 5:8. Another cancer tattoo. They got this when they were going through chemo.

Choose to Fight Choose to Live Tattoo

Choose to Fight/Choose to Live tattoo. Stuart Scott on ESPN said that this was his mantra. It also covers a chemo port scar. This was their first tattoo.
*Side Note: I also noticed later there was 7-14 on the tattoo. They did not give me the story about this.

Pebbles in the Water

Posted by on August 5, 2018 No comments

Pebbles Tattoo

Pebbles Tattoo. This is a friendship tattoo with their best friend, who has Bambam. When they were little they went by Pebbles and Bambam from the Flintstones. One spring break, they got the tattoos. They believe that their friendship was meant to be, due to this congruence.

Perseverance and Strength tattoos

Perseverance and Strength tattoos. They symbolize life in general. You need these two traits together to move on. The tattoo is especially about mental strength and perseverance.