Two sets of four letters. Solid.
Andrew S. lives just outside of Chicago. He got ODDS and ENDS done because one man’s trash is another man’s treasures. He has early memories of going with his dad to garage sales and flea markets, and these are in tribute to that.
Troy recently moved to Austin. He says that he got his knuckles done for the Magic the Gathering card “Time Walk”. Time Walk is consdiered one of the “Power Nine” cards, or cards from the first three editions of the game that were distinctly overpowered. It allows you to take a second immediately after the current one.
The next row down are the card suits and a pair of flies to go with TIME.
[Side note: I actually had a beta edition Time Walk that I sold for $150 back in the day. Worth four times that now. Bastards]
This is Mick Metal of Wayne, New Jersey. His newest tattoo is a reminder of where he is from and where he is going. In his own words:
Well the Long Road tattoo Means a whole lot. Through my life things have change time and time again the journey is a long road. I have move around alot first because I was in the US Air Force. while in the Air Force I got married and soon after getting out I got a divorce. then moving around trying to find home as a body Piercer. Finally ending up at Shotsie’s Tattoo Shotsie Gorman asked me to apprentice under him and make on of my long time dreams come true. Now that I have found my home and my career I am sure life will still take me through the next journey as it should.
This is Adam J. of Austin, Texas. He says that TATE is the name of his 3 year old son, and that LUCK is because Tate has cystic fibrosis.
Ray from Austin tells us that he reversed the traditional GOOD and EVIL because “You always fuck up and have to kiss up later.” He also told me about getting them done. He worked at a restaurant as a cook and was told no tattoos visible at work. He eventually was made manager and went to get these knuckle tattoos done that day. He worked there until they had to close the Austin location.
My camera is stuffed with amazing knuckles that’ll be posting over the next few days – but I thought I would start with the hands of a master craftsman. I caught up with Chris Trevino at the Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival yesterday. He tattoos out of Perfection Tattoo in Austin, TX. You can see examples of his work on his website. Also if you were at the event you also saw his amazing mural paintings around the sides of the event.
My pal Seth Johnson from AustinSkateNotes.org found these beauties floating around Emo’s Lounge here in Austin a few months back. I don’t know who they are attached to or what the story is, but you know how much I like the GAME OVER knuckles.
These came courtesy of Roy, but I’ll let him tell his story:
“Roy’s Keen” is a Morrissey song, I have many Morrissey/The Smiths related tattoos but this one carries a bit more meaning. I am Roy Dean Woods III, my father passed while I was a very young age, my grandfather shorty after. Its a tribute to them, as well as to Morrissey.
The picture above was recently featured on BoingBoing.org and I knew I had to catch up with the lady pictured. According to her MySpace, she is the first lady of nerdcore. It makes me shiver with geek pride to be able to add her to this this project. Here is what she has to say about her knuckles:
i uh got geek life on my knucks because im proud of being and living the geek life that i do.
and what society looks down on, i hold on a pedastal so its basically an imagery tattoo of my geek pride and a peep into my life.
And in case you were curious here is an example of her work:
[audio:Emulation_Station___1337_G33K_B3AT.mp3]
These knuckles come to us via Killick H. in Athens, GA. Here is his story:
Font geeks’ll notice the American Typewriter font. The ‘j’ is formed by a rope that spills from my hand. The story behind the word readjust has a few layers. I’m a musician interested in issues of transformation, and being more of the moment. Readjust is a gentle reminder for me to adapt and be flexible, be like water. Broken up, it’s also read and just. The ‘read’ works for me since I’m definitely a word stickler and actually have made a living reading English language proficiency test papers for the state of Georgia. The ‘just’ ties in with my wife’s social justice vocation and my belief in unqualified human rights for all. And, switched around, it’s ‘just read’, never a bad thing.
(Extra knuckles after the jump)