Kelsey’s Coldplay Tattoo

Me and my best friend decided to get the same tattoo a few years back, so we got a few stars on our wrist. I’d also gotten a butterfly on my arm after snapping up a cancellation while my friend was getting one done.

I decided I was going to get something in between both and was just going to get stars. I looked around a few places but hadn’t chosen a design or an artist yet. My dad used to sing Coldplay – Yellow to me when it first came out and I’ve always being a huge Coldplay fan. My dad passed away but instead of just getting ‘Dad’ I decided to get something that means something to me.

So here is my tattoo! I’m constantly getting compliments about it which are forwarded to my amazing artist. After a month or so I still can’t stop staring at it, its magical and I love it. To everyone else its just lyrics but to me it matters the most ;D

-Kelsey

Tattoo Artist: Julie
Tattoo Studio: Sacred Fortune, Allerton Road, Liverpool

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Kara’s Yellow and Bluebird Tattoo

I got this tattoo in two parts. The first part was the quote, which reads “wine, poetry, or virtue, as you wish, but be drunk”, which is a quote from the French poet Charles Baudelaire. It was all about self-indulgence to the point of happiness because my grandfather had just passed away, and it made me realize the value of our time.

The next summer I got the birds. The bluebird is from Charles Bukowski’s “Bluebird”, and is a symbol of finding a vulnerability and true goodness within the self. The yellow bird is a concept from the Bright Eyes album, I’m Wide Awake and It’s Morning, and serves as a symbol for a hopefulness in another person. The blue bird is slightly lower on my body to show that you have to love yourself first, and the flowers in the yellow birds mouth are three zinnias, which show constancy and remembrance and are dedicated to the three closest people in my life.

- Kara

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Molly’s Hummingbird Shoulder Tattoo

I grew up without a father and the next best thing i had was my grandfather. I was closer to him than anyone else in my family.

In spring of 2003 when i was 13 and in the 6th grade he was rushed to the hospital with pneumonia, he was in the hospital for three weeks before he passed away. I didn’t know what to do or how to feel. I never cried and i felt like i was in an episode of the Twilight Zone. Later that spring our backyard was full of hummingbirds i don’t know why, we didn’t have any flowers that attracted them we only had one little hummingbird feeder that hadn’t gotten any birds at all that spring.

Earlier that day my Grandmother was watching The Montel Williams show with famous psychic Sylvia Browne, Sylvia had said that those who have passed often send signs to loved ones. So my grandma, feeling sure of herself said “O.k. Don, if you are around keeping an eye on us send some hummingbirds to our feeder.” Just as soon as she was done saying that we had 3 birds at our feeder.

Now whenever i see a hummingbird i am reminded that my grandpa is with me and watching over me, and because of my tattoo i will always be reminded of it.

- Molly

Tattoo Artist: Aaron
Tattoo Studio: Arron is currently working at Scuttlebutt Tattoo.

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Danny’s Fish Pin Tattoo Story

This tattoo is an image of a silver pin (a Georg Jensen design) that my great aunt got in Denmark in the 1930s. She had it made into a money clip which she gave my to my dad – who carried all through France & Germany during WWII and back home again until he lost it.

When I was born (1952) my mom found a duplicate pin at the Georg Jensen store in NYC and had it made into a money clip which she gave to my dad – when I was two he bought an identical pin and gave it (somewhat O’Henry-like) to mom. He carried that money clip until he died in 1992 – and then it was mine. I carried it until 2005 until I lost it. Last year mom gave me her pin — which we turned into a money clip that I carry with me today.

I got the tattoo to keep my dad close and so as to never lose it again. I just recently bought the very same pin on ebay and plan to give it to mom for Xmas this year.

-Danny

Tattoo Artist: The design was drawn and executed by João Paulo Rodrigues at Rising Dragon Tattoos. It was at 230 W. 23rd St. btwn 7th & 8th Aves. in NYC but that’s now Chelsea Tattoo Co. Rising Dragon is now at 51 West 14th St. 2nd Floor, btwn 5 & 6 Aves.
Tattoo Studio: Rising Dragon Tattoos

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Carleah’s Tim Burton Cats Tattoo Story

Besides my fear of needles, I always wanted tattoos but I could never decide what to get. I kept putting it off. Being a cat lover, they obviously had to be cats, but I didn’t want anything cutesy. I have always been a Tim Burton fan and finally at the age of 24 I decided to get the cat in the opening credits of his short film Vincent. I had finally decided… and then I had a stroke.

After the stroke I underwent a multitude of procedures including surgery to close a hole in my heart. For two years I had to be on blood thinners and could therefore not get tattooed.

When I was finally taken off the blood thinners my plans were back in motion. My fear of needles had been abolished by the legions of needles I’d had by the end of the whole experience.

I took stills from the movie and traced the cat twice to be positioned symmetrically on my lower back. I had the tattoos done almost right away. It obviously didn’t start out this way, but for me the tattoo signifies the welcomed end of a negative life experience.

- Carleah

Tattoo Artist: Jeff
Tattoo Studio: Anchor’s Tattoo Studio

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Alex’s Swallow Tattoo

Here’s the story behind the swallow tattoo on my shoulder. I am an avian veterinarian, so, I love birds, all kinds of birds, but I’ve always had an speccial feeling for swallows. In Mexico, migratory swallows return on may, and I was born on may.

When I was 4 years old, my mother wrote a poem to me, and it began like this: “you came on may like the swallows…” My mom also had a summer house in the countryside, where I spent the happiest moments of my childhood. In this house, swallows used to build their nests under the corner of the roof and the wall, so you where able to see them very close. Then I grew up, and I had a hard time.. I was into drugs and alcohol, I was always drunk at school, and I was sexually abused by my boyfriend’s best friend. Then, my boyfriend left me. I was very depressed and I tried to commit suicide. I was taken to a mental hospital, and those were the darkest days of my life.

I came back to school, and with the support of my friends, that had always been like my family for me, and with the help of God, I recovered hope in life and I recovered the strenght and the courage to keep on… I wanted to do something that reminded me everyday what I have been, and what I could become into… something to represent that I was brave enough to fight for me, for my life and for my freedom.

-Alex

Tattoo Artist: Roy
Tattoo Studio: Evolution Tattoo, in Mexico City

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Agamid’s Lizard Leg Tattoo

This is my second Tattoo. I got it as in memorial to my first and most favourite lizard – Tubby – who helped me though chemotherapy when i was little and then died from a really nasty flesh-eating infection. The only two of her children that i kept have recently died too, so when i have the money I’m going to have them tattooed down my other leg. The tattoo was drawn from a photograph of Tubby when she was about 3. One of her front legs was hidden in the photo and my artist had to free-hand it.

- agamid

Tattoo Artist: Loz
Tattoo Studio: Westside Tattoo, Westend, Brisbane, Australia

Agamid’s Other Tattoos: Lizard Arm Tattoo Story, Tolkien Tattoo Story

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Agamid’s Lizard Arm Tattoo

I have three tattoos, tattoo one (the lizard on my arm) I’ve wanted to get since i was eight. My dad came back from Woodford (a massive music festival) and told me about this fantastic lizard tattoo he saw on some guy’s arm.

The tattoo itself is copied from a photograph of one of my old lizards when he was a baby. If you look closely you can see he has a drop shadow and claw marks from sliding down my arm.

- agamid

Tattoo Artist: Loz
Tattoo Studio: Westside Tattoo, Westend, Brisbane, Australia

Agamid’s Other Tattoos: Leg Lizard Tattoo Story, Tolkien Tattoo Story

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Jennifer’s Dragonfly Tattoo

I went and got my first and only tattoo for my 30th birthday last year (07). The dragonfly represents my grandmother who absolutely adored the dragonflies.

After she passed away my family would always say that every time they saw one flying around that it was her. So this is why I wanted the dragonfly. I also wanted to have it look as if it had just landed on my shoulder, hence the shadowing.

- Jennifer

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Israel’s “Kid” Memorial Tattoo

This tattoo is a memorial tattoo. It is two doves holding a banner with the word “kid” on it. On December 7th, 2006 a great person left this place. My girlfriend’s 15 year old sister passed away. She was an awesome kid much wiser than her years. We were real close. Because of her sickness she couldn’t go to school so my girlfriend would bring her along when we would run our errands. I still think I am a kid at heart so I get along with kids I know how to joke around so we got along great.

As if having her wasn’t great enough she has a twin sister just as beautiful and just as amazing. Anyways, after she passed away I went to my tattoo artist and gave him an idea of what I wanted, trusting him I let him do whatever he wanted with the idea and he did. He freehanded the banner and the word. Kid is what I called her so I wanted to get Kid instead of her name because I wanted it to be more personal. Anyways I hope you enjoy it. R.I.P. Kid Love You.

-Israel

Also check out Israel’s Virgen De Guadalupe tattoo.