Israel’s Virgen de Guadalupe Tattoo

This was my first tattoo. As soon as I turned 18 I new I was going to get tattooed. For years I knew I wanted to get the image of the Virgen De Guadalupe somewhere on my body for life. I grew up in a catholic family going to church and all that good stuff. I always loved catholic art and the Virgen just seemed to draw me in.

Here in Escondido, CA we have about 7 or 8 tattoo shops. I knew most of the shop owners and their staff but I chose a hispanic/aztec tattoo shop, there I met Dominic Vasquez I told about what I wanted to get and he was excited because he said that he hadnt done one in color and done one so big before. I chose to get it from my wrist to the inner bend of my elbow.

I went in for 3, 2 hour sessions and in that time Dominic and I spoke a lot about everything from then on we became friends and to this day he is the only artist I let tattoo me. I have complete confidence in him. Even though he has moved multiple times I still get my ink done by him.

-Israel

Also check out Israel’s “Kid” Memorial Tattoo

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

This is my 3rd and most recent tattoo. Even though I don’t practice Judaism anymore I do still feel it is a part of me. I was raised Jewish and went to a Jewish private school for a long time. I had the whole Bat Mitzvah and everything. My parents gave me the name Chayah (as it is in Hebrew in my tattoo), which means life or living thing. I will always feel Chayah is part of me and I wanted to get a tattoo for that.

Ironically I didn’t realize that the place I had design and do my Hebrew tattoo had a business card with Hitler on it. Go figure.

-Robin

More Hebrew Tattoos