It seems every time I fall off from updating this site i have some big change happening in my work life. Most recently i decided to change jobs and now, on the eve of starting, I’m trying to get back to what I love.

If you know me, you know I’ve become a little more cavalier with getting tattoos lately. The spontaneity of rolling into a foreign (to me) shop, picking something off the wall, and waiting (im)patiently for the next artist to be available is so liberating. The idea of just enjoying life and letting go. This is most difficult for an over-thinker like myself but the addictive personality i also employ turns tattooing into collecting. With that said, here’s the most recent ink.

The Master Sword is the least impulsive of the bunch, I’d always planned on getting this somewhere. With Majora’s Mask Skull Kid on my forearm it was a no-brainer to continue the theme. The sword is wrapped in vines and sports a Silent Princess flower to mirror the tattoo ZombieFish got recently.

The most ‘out-of-nowhere’ tattoo is Death from Darksiders 2. As one of my favourite games I’d dipped into the original artist’s work and found his original sketch of Death’s mask. I fell in love instantly and it was quickly added to my “Tattoo Idea” album. Well, a trip to PEI for Lizzy’s tattoo appointment had me itching for my own. Another shop on the Island was having a walk-in Saturday and I decided to take a chance. Not knowing what to expect we were quickly greeted by the an artist that asked what I wanted and where. I had the idea that I would be sitting and consulting with an artist first, so when I was put on the spot I opened my ideas album and the last image was the mask sketch. I stuttered “uh, I guess this one?” which was quickly followed by “and where do you want it?”. Again, an indecisive “uh” escaped my lips and I pointed to my stomach just below my belly button. Sure, I’d been entertaining a “womb” tattoo (ZombieFIsh’s words, not mine) but hadn’t locked-in on anything. Well, that was that. I was told to return in the afternoon and I wandered out of the shop wondering what the hell just happened.

Fast-forward to the finished product. It might just be my favourite piece. Firstly, it’s a comic book artist piece, right up my alley. Secondly, secondly?… the tattooer immediately recognized that I would want this re-created exactly. No artistic re-interpretation, just a copy. And he nailed it!

The last batch was a semi-impulsive Canada Day walk-in tattoo. Ok, it was actually three. Flash sheets were previewed on social media a couple of days before the announced event. LIzzy and I arrived 15 minutes before the shop opened and were only preceded by two couples. Within two hours we’d collected five new tattoos between us and were off to get some much needed food.

I knew I’d wanted the Koopa shell and the kunai, which I consider inspired by our time watching Naruto, was equally nerdy. Then a sheet, not posted on socials, surprised us with larger pieces than a micro-day typically offers. A series of frogs in outfits from samurai to viking warriors tempted me. And then I zeroed in on the plague doctor. The rest is history.

I’m thrilled with my additions to my arm this past year and am looking forward to another large piece to finish this sleeve.

EDIT: ok, so I’ve got so much ink lately I forgot that I grabbed a small Mario-ish ghost at East Coast Comic Con. The eyes are a little different than the traditional Boo but I love him as a filler. No regrets and a great story.

That’s all for now. As always, thanks for reading!

The (so far) final product.

I’ve loved tattoos since I was a kid. Not sure what specifically drew me to them but by 17 I got my first. I thought it would be fun to post about some of my favourites here.

These are from the last 10 years. I’ll update in the future with my older ones but for now it’s a fun place to share.

Just found a pic of my very first tattoo.

As always, thanks for reading.