Cool Head Luke (Guest Post Kuckle Tattoos)

Lucas sends us this set of knuckles:

The story behind my knuckles is nothing more than self expression. I’ve grown up with many nicknames, an one always stood out to me. Cool Hand Luke, an over the past two years I’ve been throwing This idea around. So I’ve finally decided to make my move, I’m an up and coming bartender in Brooklyn, an soon to be a barber. So with that, I'm able to be tattooed from head to toe. There simply is no better way I can represent who I am, better than what my knuckles present. I’m not afraid of 50 eggs nor can I pass up a challenge. My knuckles represent, the concept of never giving up, an also showing off my humor, in other words. I couldn’t be happier. Check out the real irie tribe ink tattoo shop. The end.

Ink a Difference (Nicole's Tattoo Story)

My tattoo is the Japanese kanji symbol for "to be different" (above the slipknot symbol, on the back of my neck). I got this tattoo because i've always been on my own path, a little different than all the girls in my family, a little to boyish for the girls and to girly for the boys. My life has taken me on a crazy ride that has set me apart from most people, so i found this tattoo to be a very short and sweet motto if you will for myself.

--Nicole Estep

A Touch of Gypsy Blood (Ursala's Tattoo Story)

I have a feather tattoo on my inner left arm to remind me that “birds of a feather flock together,” as the saying goes. This is the handiwork of a good friend of mine, and I get compliments on it all the time.

In fact, I just was on a trip in India and came across a bunch of traveling gypsies who were of course covered in tattoos with a lot of birds and feathers. One of their friends asked me, “Are you part of this family?” I smiled, and she said, “you probably are because you have that feather tattoo on your arm.” I may have gypsy blood, but I'm not full on gypsy.

It's interesting how we attach meaning to images, and others may have a different idea when they see my feather. It's another way for me to explore why I was drawn to this image when other people comment on it.

--Ursala Garbrecht

Finally a story from Oregon. I know there are more good ones out there.

Blog moving Soon

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Love is of Demon Tattoo is of Photoshop (Guest Post)

Gabriela sends us this these knuckles and the story:

Hi,my name is Gabriela and I’m from Brazil. the history of my knuckle tattoo is: My parents are very religious, and I hate religion . For my parents all things that I love is of demon, like rock, tattoos, among others. I don’t believe in demon or god, but I decided tattoo, as a form of revolt, the name of the beast on my fingers, a prominent place. They never tried forced me to go to church again, now they are ashamed of my tattoo, and don’t want what the priest see it .

Nice story. Anton Levey would be proud.

Tattooed Web Fonts SUCK

Get Hand Lettering or No Lettering at All

I'm f%$&* sick of seeing Web Fonts as tattoos. Unless you're going for a typewriter effect or something very particular, Fonts look like sh*! as tattoos. It's "near beer" instead of a fine Oregon brewed porter. Most shops should have an assortment of good tattoo lettering. If they don't have references or don't just freehand it on, go somewhere else.

Lettering is among the MOST TECHNICALLY DIFFICULT and UNFORGIVING tattoos to get. Make sure your artist is up to the task.

Four Letters, Four Fingers, One Word Down

I made a list of four letter words. Then let fate choose which one when I rolled the dice.
Thought I crapped out at first, but it's perfect. This Tattoo is sharply sarcastic.

Broken Hope Fixes Herself

Miss Hope sends us these knuckles and a story:

Hey my name is Hope.This was my very first tattoo. I got it done when I was 15 being punk in golden gate park. My friend needed alcohol and I needed some tattoos. Jim Beam for tats. I will definitely never forget that day. I have other tattoos now but these are still ghetto . Maybe one day I will get them fixed. Hopeful is with one L not two but I didn’t want to leave that one pinky lonely. It was actually going to be Hope Less but I had an odd feeling that would make me even more hopeless then I was at the time.

Read My Fists (Half Assed Guest Post)

Savannah sends us this set of knuckles:

i am a reading addict. i started reading at the age of 5, and have more or less never put the book down since. my personal library contains about 400 books or so. i have yet to meet a single person who doesnt like this tattoo.

none of the hundreds of books i read taught me how to capitalize or use apostrophes.
i should have read how 2 check a tattoo artist's portfolio b4 i got his tattoo because the line-work sucks.