Tag Archives: tattoos - Page 4

Hidden in the Stars

Clover Star Sleeve Tattoo / Lacie Frain Phoenix Tattoo Clover Star Sleeve Tattoo / Lacie Frain Phoenix Tattoo

Clover Star sleeve tattoo. Eon had the clover tattoo for 3 to 5 years. It was just one small tattoo inside their arm. Eon went to a woman who fixed their other tattoo — Lacie Frain at Phoenix Tattoo, on Hillsborough St. in Raleigh, NC. Lasie had done a good job with the other tattoo. Eon told her to to fill out the clover with a sleeve. Eon did not have any ideas, and Lacie did not have any preconceived ideas. Lacie asked Eon to think about it. Eon said, “Let’s do it now!” Lacie came up with the surrounding. The only thing Eon knew they wanted was the star. Eon’s other tattoo has stars, and they wanted a star in this one as well. Lacie improvised and was creative with it. The clover is because Eon is Irish, though Eon is a lot of other things as well.

Bursting Sun Tattoo / Lacie Frain Phoenix Tattoo Bursting Sun Tattoo / Lacie Frain Phoenix Tattoo

Bursting Sun tattoo. This was the first tattoo Eon got. At first it was just the sun one star. Eon wanted more added to it. Eon showed Lacie the tattoo and ask if she could elaborate on it. Lacie added the burst of stars. She made it more of what Eon wanted it to be. Eon had originally dreamed up the tattoo, and knew it was going to come across their shoulder, and have a sun and stars.

Music for Life

Tree of Life Tattoo DJ Bassnectar symbol Tree of Life Tattoo DJ Bassnectar symbol Tree of Life Tattoo DJ Bassnectar symbol

Tree of Life tattoo, and DJ Bassnectar symbol. It’s the Buddhist tree of life. The DJ Bassnectar has been very influential and always talks about spreading love and about being good to others. Currently, this is Dupstep’s first and only tattoo, but Dupstep plans on getting more later.

Dupstep got this tattoo when they were having a bad time in life. Getting the tree of life symbolizes looking toward more love in life. It is also a symbol of being happy toward the rest of the world. Dupstep got the tattoo at “Ink In the Clink” in Mansfield, OH, at the Shawshank Redemption Jail Tattoo Convention. Dupstep met the artist. They drew it up, and did it.

Strength is Needed to Change

Heart Tattoo

This is a Heart tattoo. Knossos was in a 5-year-relationship where they lost themselves. Knossos promised themselves that upon leaving, they would find real love. Knossos did this tattoo. Knossos did this not because of feeling suicidal, but because they were lost in life. Knossos had lived 5 years for a person. The tattoo was a promise that love was still there. Their heart was empty, but eventually it will be full. When Knossos does find love, they will refill it with color.

Memento Vita tattoo

Memento Vita tattoo. This tattoo means life and death. Live in the moment, because you never know when it will end. Find beauty in all things, even death. People should learn to accept death and not be afraid of it. Live well, because death is not so bad. Appreciate everything, because you never know when it’s going to end. Death happens. Knossos had been in a place where they felt like life was shitty. Knossos saw beautiful things in life. Knossos had to learn how to appreciate the beautiful things and not bring themselves to a dark place.

Cherry Blossom Tattoo

Cherry Blossom Tattoo. It was supposed to be a cherry blossom tree. A lot of Knossos’s tattoos are about change. This tattoo represents growth. It ended up getting messed up because the artist relapsed when they did it. The tattoo took an excruciating 8 hours. Knossos likes the branch on it.

Swirl Tattoo

Swirl Tattoo. This tattoo is a symbol of change. Knossos got this when they were 18 or 19 years old, when life was crazy. Knossos needed change. Every time Knossos looked at the tattoo, the tattoo reminded them, “You can never stop growing and you can always change.”

Skull with Scissors and Comb tattoo Skull with Scissors and Comb tattoo

Skull with Scissors and Comb tattoo. This represents Knossos’s craft. Knossos is a hair stylist. The mouth is a comb, but it came out a little more evil-looking than Knossos wanted. This tattoo is full of things that Knossos loves. It says Mom and Dad. Also, Knossos always liked nautical stars, and wanted a nautical star on a tattoo.

Starry Night tattoo

Starry Night tattoo. In high school, Knossos was an oil painter. This reminded Knossos of Starry Night by Van Gogh. It will eventually go up their arm — it is not completed yet.

Chinese Kanji for Strength tattoo

Chinese Kanji for Strength. This is Knossos’s very first tattoo. It was done at a neighbor’s house. “I am a strong person and I don’t give up.”

Stick and Poke Skate Punk

mi vida loca tattoo

This tattoo means “Mi Vida Loca,” which is Spanish for, “My Crazy Life.” Permutation got it for their girlfriend. There is a movie called “Mi Vida Loca,” where everybody had the three dots tattoo. Permutation thinks Ice Cube has this tattoo. Permutation said their life is crazy.

Big Booty Judy Tattoo

This tattoo is a spooky lady that looks like Elvira. Permutation has always had a thing for eyeballs, and has multiple tattoos with eyeballs. Permutation cuts the tattoo artist’s son’s hair. Permutation told her, “I have the perfect idea for a tattoo. I want a spooky lady with big jugs and one eye.” She even put a little spider on the shoulder. The lady named the spider, “Big Booty Judy.”

Blank Blackout Vacant Tattoo

Blank Blackout Vacant Tattoo. This is the name of an album by a band called, “Poison Idea.” It’s Permutation’s favorite album by them. Permutation got it at a time where they felt those things. Permutation had just split up with a girlfriend who moved back to San Diego. Permutation got this tattoo at the same time as getting the Butthead tattoo.

Butthead GWAR tattoo

Butthead GWAR tattoo. Permutation got the Butthead tattoo because they thought that it would look funny. Typically in the old cartoons, Butthead has an AC/DC shirt on. In this one, Butthead is wearing a GWAR shirt. Coincidentally it was about the same time that the lead singer of GWAR passed away.

Seven Layer Burrito from Taco Bell Tattoo Seven Layer Burrito from Taco Bell Tattoo

Seven Layer Burrito from Taco Bell Tattoo. Just because Permutation likes seven layer burritos from Taco Bell.

Burger Tattoo

Burger Tattoo. This is a Friday the thirteenth tattoo because there are thirteen seeds on it. This is Permutation’s second food tattoo.

Pizza with Eye and Two Hockey Sticks Tattoo Pizza with Eye and Two Hockey Sticks Tattoo Pizza with Eye and Two Hockey Sticks Tattoo

Pizza with Eye and Two Hockey Sticks Tattoo. This was Permutation’s first food tattoo. Permutation’s dad used to take them to a lot of Hockey games when they were a kid. They used to always stop at Papa Gino’s before each game. The eyeball is supposed to be the All Seeing Slice, similar to the All Seeing Eye from the Illuminati.

#Bomb Tattoo

#Bomb Tattoo. This is a cover up tattoo. It was going to be Black Flag bars. The band’s logo is 4 black rectangles. The girl that was doing it did one rectangle. Permutation had to bring her home because her parents were going to get pissed. Permutation had a weird rectangle on their wrist for a few months, and then got the bomb to cover it up.

RAD! Tattoo

RAD! Tattoo. This was their second “stick and poke” tattoo. Permutation’s friend wanted to do a stick and poke on someone. Permutation said, “if you give me a stick and poke you have to buy me a 40 ounce beer.” He bought Permutation the 40-ounce beer and gave them the tattoo. He asked “what do you want tattooed?” Permutation wanted something simple that couldn’t get messed up. Permutation said just do “RAD,” cause it’s not gonna look too rad.

D.I. Tattoo

D.I. Tattoo. This was Permutation first tattoo. Permutation has always been into music. The original design was white, but D.I. had an album called “Tragedy Again” where the dog was blue. Permutation wanted to get it blue. Permutation thought it would look cool as a tattoo. It is one of their favorite bands. Permutation got it at age 18.

Black Panther Tattoo

Black Panther Tattoo. The was another cover up tattoo. Permutation had a tattoo of a “P and D,” which is the symbol for an old skateboarding crew called Piss Drunx. It looked terrible. Permutation got the panther to cover it up because it was heavy, black, and Permutation likes panthers.

Drunk Clown Tattoo

Drunk Clown Tattoo. The clown was a Halloween tattoo from the same artist who did the burrito and pizza slice. The artist drew up a whole sheet of tattoo flash. Permutation wanted an obnoxious tattoo that no one else would get. The artist said, “let’s do this drunk clown tattoo!”

Girl Smoking a cigarette and drinking a cocktail tattoo Girl Smoking a cigarette and drinking a cocktail tattoo

Girl smoking a cigarette and drinking a cocktail tattoo. It’s based on the punk band, Social Distortion. Their logo is a skeleton wearing a fedora, smoking a cigarette, with a martini. Permutation wanted to translate that into a tattoo. The artist drew this up. Permutation liked it and went with it. This was the quickest tattoo Permutation ever got: it only took 45 minutes.

Big-Boys tattoo

Big-Boys tattoo. Permutation had a tattoo gun for a short while. That was the only tattoo Permutation did while they had it. Big-Boys is a punk band from Texas. Right under the Big-Boys is a skate board. That was the only thing Permutation could think of that would fit there.

Felix tattoo

Felix tattoo. Son’s name and date of birth, 04.02.13. Permutation’s most meaningful tattoo.

Smile Tattoo

Smile Tattoo. This was Permutation’s first stick and poke tattoo (but second actual tattoo). One of their old friends did it. Permutation was messed up and wanted a tattoo. She asked what Permutation wanted. Permutation said, “I wanted a dead smiley face.”

Eye of Horus tattoo

Eye of Horus tattoo. Started out as stick and poke. It was just a triangle. Permutation did the triangle.  Permutation’s friend went in and fixed it up, while working on another filler tattoo. This was the only thing that would translate well.

Cross Tattoo

Cross Tattoo. Upside down because Permutation is kind of unsure about their faith.

Powell Ripper Skull tattoo

Powell Ripper Skull tattoo. Permutation paid their buddy $20 and a Monster drink to do it. He did it in Permutation’s living room. He didn’t put the hands on it ripping out of anything. So it just this weird green skull. Permutation wanted to get the ripper skull because they really like skateboarding.

Dead Fish Tattoo

Dead Fish Tattoo. Permutation’s best friend did this stick and poke. It was the longest Permutation ever sat for a tattoo. Best friend and Permutation met when they were 13. Permutation had always wanted a tattoo from him. He would say, “No I am not going to do that you shouldn’t trust me with that.” One day when they were 22, Permutation finally convinced him.

Bones Brigade Rat Skull tattoo

Bones Brigade Rat Skull tattoo. It has a 13 for the ears because it’s a “Friday the Thirteenth” tattoo. Bones Brigade was an early skate crew that had people like Tony Hawk and Steve Caballero in it. Permutation thought, “I can get this tattoo for $31.”

HOLA Nacho tattoo

HOLA Nacho tattoo. The Hola was a stick and poke. Permutation didn’t really know what they were doing so they did a heart. Permutation was drunk so did the H,L and A. The same guy that did the green skull asked if Permutation had any tattoos they wanted fixed. Permutation was like, “Yeah, I got this crappy tattoo.” He went over the letters. Then he started doing something above it. He tattooed a nacho wearing a sombrero. It was just a surprise tattoo, with the spectacular food theme that Pemutation loves.

Surviving with a Butterfly

Butterfly Tattoo

Butterfly Tattoo. This was Polygonia‘s first tattoo. Polygonia used to collect dead butterflies. Polygonia has always loved butterflies.

Irish Clover and Breast Cancer Awareness tattoo

Irish Clover and Breast Cancer Awareness tattoo. Polygonia is a breast cancer survivor. Polygonia had the tattoo made custom when they were finished with all their radiation. They had the tattoo done about a month later. The clover is connected to the band, My Three Kilts, which their husband was in. Also, Polygonia said, “I have all the luck of the Irish.”

Shinshoku Tattoos

water dragon tattoo water dragon tattoo

These are mirror image tattoos. The tattoos line up with the Oni Gate. They were assigned to Professor in 1985. In 1985, Professor moved to NC. Professor was always meeting with instructors that trained in the Kroi (Ancient Style). Professor was always asking questions about the Shinto.

Professor’s second dojo was for training in traditional koru dojo. When you do this you are given the title of Shinshoku.

On July 7, 1985, Professor had progressed to the point where the Hagakaru said, “you think like us.” Professor said, “the Haga gave me the ritual and made me a Shinto Shinshoku (a shrine care taker). This from a dojo aspect, not from a public aspect. I was given a few artifacts that made the dojo koru.”

They picked this symbol because it stands for water dragon in Chinese. “I was a water fighter — very fluid, but I fought like a dragon.” Professor is not sure on why, but thought it looked cool. It is Professor’s personal Kamon, which is very much like a signature.

Professor originally had it tattooed in white, but it looked like a scar. “I did this because you could not have a tattoo as a police officer. If you look at the right one, some of it is still white.”

Honor the Family

Teresa Tattoo

Teresa Tattoo. This is Sempie’s wife’s name. Sempie’s wife has their name on her.

Karate Kanji Tattoo

Karate Kanji Tattoo. This is the Japanese kanji for empty hand. This was Sempie’s first tattoo.

Hagakure Tattoo

Hagakure Tattoo. The meaning of this is “Hidden Behind the Leaves.” This symbol is connected to a very old Japanese sect. The last Khan took the teachings of the Hagakure and almost concurred Asia. Sempie just tells everybody its the Japaneses version of the Masons.

Badge Number tattoo

332 Tattoo. Badge number when Sampie was a Police Officer in Bristol, TN.

Kempo Tattoo

Kanji for Kempo Tattoo. Sampie trains in Kempo martial arts.

Harley Davidson Shield Tattoo

Harley Davidson Shield Tattoo. Just a love Harley Davidson Motorcycles.

Tamoui Tattoo

Tamoui Tattoo. Sampie used to call it the Japanese pin wheel. This is Sampie’s Mon for the shrine. The symbol is a personal Mon for the shrine. This is Sampie’s crest that they chose. Sampie wears this symbol in 3 places.

Torii Gate tattoo

Torii Gate tattoo. This is the for the Shinto part of Kempo. The torii gate also means member of the family.

Willie G Skull tattoo

Willie G Skull tattoo. Willie G Davidson’s was one of the grandsons of the original Harley Davidson’s. Willie G was the VP of marketing at Harley Davidson’s. They call this a Willie G Skull.

 

A Tribute to Bowie and the Inner Demon

David Bowie Tattoo

David Bowie Tattoo. He was Baal’s favorite musician. When Baal was the weird person in high school, Bowie made them feel ok being different, and that being different was something to celebrate. David Bowie has always been Baal’s idol. When Bowie died, Baal decided to tribute their whole back to Bowie. The stars underneath the portrait is for Bowie’s last album, Blackstar. That album was intensely meaningful to Baal, because it is Bowie’s legacy. Baal said Bowie speaks about his death before it happened in this album. He passed 3 days after Blackstar was released. Baal stated, “It’s really powerful to me.”

Vinyl Records tattoo

Vinyl Records tattoo. This is what got Baal’s music taste going. Baal’s dad gave them his vinyl collection and now they collect vinyls. This is really important to Baal.

Venus and Taurus tattoo

Venus and Taurus tattoo that is Baal’s Zodiac sign. This was an impulsive tattoo.

GRL PWR tattoo

GRL PWR tattoo. The girl power tattoo was their first tattoo. Baal kinda always wanted to get this tattoo, because Baal was super-feminist. Baal says they still are but… in politics it has been misrepresented. There are so many branches now, and more fighting than anything with it. Ball stated, “I still love grls, equal rights, and all that.”

Mushroom tattoo

Mushroom tattoo is a matching tattoo with a girl that Baal did mushrooms with. A few days after eating mushrooms, they got the tattoos.  Baal says the tattoo is just cause they like mushrooms.

Polly Nor Inner Demon tattoo

Inner demon tattoo. This tattoo is Baal’s inner demon. The picture is by the artist Polly Nor. Polly draws women and their demons. Polly is a British artist and Baal loves her work. Baal got the inner demon tattoo to remind them of when they get in places that not the greatest. Baal used to smoke both things, and does not anymore.

Ziggy Stardust Lightning Bolt tattoo

Ziggy Stardust Lightning Bolt tattoo. Ziggy was one of the personas of David Bowie with glam rock, way back in the day.

Hammers not meant for a Boat

Gladiolus flower and ball peen hammer tattoo

Gladiolus flower and Ball-peen hammer tattoo. The gladiolus flower represents strength in adversity, overcoming obstacles, not succumbing to weakness, and having tenacity and endurance when you are faced with really difficult challenges. The Ball-peen hammer is used for welding and metalworking. It’s not meant for building houses or destroying things. The hammer is really for specific craftsmanship. It came from the idea they really like that iron forges iron to make something new, different, or stronger. It works itself. They like the idea of consistently becoming a new person, or strengthening yourself from your own inner strength through the difficult times you endured.

 

Man on a boat tattoo

Man on a boat tattoo. A little man on a sinking ship. The words “But oh! But oh! How very blue the sea is.” This is the last line from a poem from the book, Abarat, by Clive Barker. The complete poem is:

“Life is short
And pleasures few
And holed the ship
And drowned the crew
But o! But o!
How very blue
the sea is.”

When everything is absolutely fucked, there is are still things. Don’t make your situation of suffering mean that you have to suffer through it. There is always some sort of beauty around you even in the worst possible circumstances. The man in the boat is about to drown but he is still looking at the sunset. It’s a poem that does not connect to the rest of the book at all. It’s just sort of an illustration and it’s whimsical.

 

The Moon Starts a Metamorphosis

gladiolus flower tattoo

Gladiolus Flower tattoo. One of Psyche’s favorite flowers because it symbolizes being strong in adversity.

metamorphosis tattoo

Metamorphosis tattoo. This tattoo is connected to the metamorphosis. On the left the chrysalis is growing and becoming a butterfly. It is the story of transformation. The branch is a Dogwood tree. Psyche feels like they went through all of these stages in North Carolina. The Dogwood is state tree of North Carolina.

Pelvis tattoo with rose in it

Pelvis tattoo with rose in it. Reminder that their strength is in their pelvis. It is also a symbol of being a survivor of abuse.

A woman with a wolf over her head tattoo

A woman with a wolf over her head tattoo.  Psyche’s favorite metaphor of the wild woman. The tattoo is based off a book by Clarissa Pinkola Estés called Women Who Run with the Wolves. This is Psyche’s go-to book for spiritual road map.

butterfly tattoo

Butterfly tattoo. Psyche got this tattoo the day after getting divorced.  It is their divorce tattoo, because Psyche thinks of themselves as the butterfly.

Moon tattoo

Moon tattoo. First tattoo Psyche ever got. Boyfriend got it for Psyche, then Psyche dumped him. Psyche kept getting tattoos after this. Physic feels connected to moon, and paints the moon in their artwork.