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Asher’s Star Tattoo

When I was 13 I really started to have problems with depression and mood swings and I was diagnosed as being Manic-Bipolar. I started struggling with school and family and friends. In my freshman year in Highschool, I hit rock bottom and turned to cutting to help relieve the stress and pain I was feeling. No one seemed to understand so it became my own secret.

Over the years, I have been working on overcoming this choice or release. I needed to find something that would help me stay away from hurting myself. I started sketching and came up with this design. I chose the star design because of my love for celestial things and the colors are my favorite, red and black. I decided to put it on my left wrist because that was my arm that is the most scarred, that way I could look at it whenever I was feeling down or depressed.

The spiral stands for the path that I don’t want to go down again. To me, it’s a downward spiral that I’ve fallen down before and I know that I’m strong enough to handle my depression. So now, if I ever get the urge to hurt myself or I get really down, I can look at my wrist and know that I can over come it.

- Asher

Tattoo artist: “M” at Aftershock Tattoo in Olathe, KS

Dragonfly Tattoo with Tribal Markings

I have always been fond of Dragonflies ever since I was a child. their free spirited movements, lust for life and never-ending vast array of color and structure always mystified me.

A few years ago I experienced a life changing event and realized that unbeknownst to me, I truly was a dragonfly at heart. I decided to tribute this piece to myself and my new life. I am an emerging free spirit with a zest  for life and change.

The artist-ink pusher is Pike, and at the time he was at Shivas in Ybor City, Tampa FL.

Death Tattoo inspired by The Sandman

This lil ink blotch was probably around ten years in the making. It has been in my mind in some form for at least that long. About a year ago I decided to put things into motion and finally commit to getting it done.

I had originally intended to do the art myself but my once upon a time talent has over many years of neglect and un-use eroded away like a sand castle at high tide. I spent a few days doing very rough sketches and jotting down notes in the margins trying to get all the info from lo those many years onto the paper so I could hand it off to another more capable illustrator to bring to life.

I then put together a very short list of artists who had worked on The Sandman that I thought would be right for the job. I settled on Richard Case (remembered most for his classic run on Doom Patrol) for many reasons including a) He’s a super nice guy. b) He’s a fellow NCer. c) He worked on one of my fav arcs of Sandman. d) His style is very similar to where my own style was headed. and e) His art looked like it would translate well to being tattooed.

Rich took my sketches and notes and did an amazing job. There was very little that I asked him to change from his earliest sketches. I took his finished art and laid out the text in a graphics program myself.

Last but not least was the search for a Tattoo artist that I thought was good enough to do the work. No hacks for me, only true artists. My first choice fell through. He’s a busy, busy man. I settled on Sarah Peacock of Artfuel.inc studios in Wilmington, NC a lovely and talented British lady. She did a marvelous job, especially in helping me add a touch of color to the piece which I really wanted.

Eventually it will be a half sleeve but I’m still working on what I want as the background. Then I will book more time with Sarah. There is loads of symbolism packed into the design including a Blue Jay perched on the cross that is in memory of my Dad whose name was Jay. When Mom passes a Bumble Bee will be added to honor her, her name is Bea.

It’s all about the yin and yang of life and death, light and dark and how they balance and define each other. The Gaelic on the base of the cross is roughly translated as “My heart is within you”. All comments are welcome and appreciated.

Thanx.

Ivory

Design: Ivory, Richard Case
Tattoo Artist: Sarah Peacock, Artfuel.inc studios, Wilmington, NC

Elza’s Fairy Tattoo

This is my fourth tattoo. It is a fairy tattoo - I got it as a birthday present for myself. The original plan was to have it on my belly but since I wanted the details as much as possible, I decided to put her on my hip.

I always wanted a fairy tattoo. All my other tattoos have been about something symbolic and simple (an infinity symbol on my lower back and my initial on my right foot), and one was to cover a scar (a flower on my left leg above the ankle).

To have this piece of art work on my body strengthens my love for tattoos. The process took about four hours and yes, it was painful. I can’t stop admiring this one and it feels good knowing that I now have my own fairy to keep me safe.

-Elza

Tattoo artist: Clay McKay from Anonymous Tattoo, Savannah, GA

Michael’s Sandman Tattoo

My Sandman tattoo - this piece of art from Neil Gaiman - as I’ve read it the first time about 10 years ago I absorbed it completely. Wikipedia says about it:

“The Sandman’s main character is Dream, who is essentially the god of dreams, but is displayed as being the personification of all sentient beings’ collective ability to dream and tell stories”

The wish to get a tattoo of Dream or Sandman as I like to call him grew over time but I was feeling unsure where to go and I wanted a particular picture of him as a tattoo. The breakthrough came in May 2006 as i met with some of my schoolfellows and one of them had a nice Tribal one his arm. I asked him where he’d got it from and some time later I sent an e-mail to www.gecko-tattoo.de and asked them if they could complete my picture of Sandman so I would get a full picture of Sandman to put on my chest.

We arranged a date and a few days later I went to Gecko Tattoo. It took 2.5 hours for Salva (specialised in Freehand) to complete it and everytime I look at I smile. Everytime I hear “Tear In Your Hand” by Tori Amos that got a reference to Neil Gaiman:

“..if you need me, me and neil’ll be hangin’ out with the DREAM KING.

Neil says hi by the way”

I feel good to have Sandman on my body and in a way in my soul.

Inshallah

Michael