I got my knuckles done by Sam at Artistic Skin Studios in Mesa. I got TRUE LOVE on my knuckles because I was moving to Chicago to try and apprentice to be an artist out there. All of my best friends live in AZ, so I wouldn’t really be able to see them a lot when I left. My best friend Cassie bought me my knuckles as a going away present. I really do love her, she has always been there for me. So everytime I look at my knuckles, no matter where life takes me, I think about her and all of my friends. Thats my story and Im stickin to it………..
I don’t think there’s anything particularly unique about my experience. When I started getting tattooed I got all tough guy shit: Bulldogs, the “crews” I belonged to, that kind of shit. Then I went through this working class political phase (John Henry on my left forearm for instance). Then I had a moment of lucidity. I woke up and realized I didn’t know shit and had spent entirely too much time in my life trying to make people take me as serious as I took myself. Now my tattoos tend to be funny in a self-effacing kinda way. I’m a welder, but I’m wasting an MFA in Creative Writing/Poetry. If you’ve known me for any amount of time “READ MORE” is the only tattoo I should ever have on my digits. It’s funny, but still kind of arrogant and preachy…
These knuckles come courtesy of Abe N, an artist hailing from Portland, OR. He is a great example of what is making this project so much fun for me. I’m getting to great people who are dedicated to what they do. People who are living the lives they chose for themselves rather than what society thought they should do. You can see examples of his art at Abe’s Tarot Cards.
This is what he sent with the picture of his knuckles:
I’m an artist, and this is my daily reminder to set aside other things, stay
on track and focus on what I need to get done to make me feel complete and
happy everyday. It’s an outward show of the commitment to my art. I got the inspiration of “just draw” from my Mom, who has a “take no prisoners”
punk-like attitude towards her performance art. She would call me up and
tell me about a show and I’d hang-up afterwards and be like “Thats insane!
How the eff can I top THAT!!”… this was just my no-holds-barred way to
inspire too, not just my Mom but myself and other fellow artists.
It was the one spot that when i was thinking of a spot I said ” Not the
knuckles., Not the knuckles..you can never ‘go back’ if you get a knuckle
tat” the more that my conservitive side said “no” the more I knew they had
to be done…
You know the thing of it is, I KNEW it had to be done there, I just HAD to
let everyone know that I’m not some college kid thats just effin’ around
with his life, this is who I am and this is what I do…dont wait around for
me to change into something more respectible. It’s the one spot I couldnt
hide myself away and everyone inludining me had to deal with who I am no
matter the situation…I guess I just wanted to ‘come-out’ as an artist
permenently…knuckles seemed the most ‘in your face’ way to say it.
I do have other tats, �about five, including a �sleeved leg… the knuckles
are by far my fav (they were my third tattoo).
Well I have been getting tattooed for 10 years and my artist said it was time to cross the line. All of my tattoos are related to devils and the evil side of life so I had to go with HELL BENT for my tattoo. It compliments my sleeves and chest piece very well.
STAY DOWN has always been one of my favorite knuckle tattoo ideas. And here it is on the hands of Turk V. Dayton, Ohio:
This is my knuckle tattoo. They need to be touched up since they are a few years old but they are mine and I love them. The story is that I was a bouncer/head of security for multiple clubs and bars for 13 years. Fighting has always been a part of my life and now I am training to fight MMA.
Today’s knuckles come all the way from Santa Clara, CA, courtesy of Nicole S. When I asked her why she picked FUCK LOVE this is what she told me:
I picked FUCK LOVE because of everything I have loved that fucked me over in return. Plus I just had a really bad breakup and was over the pain that love seems to bring me.
These knuckles come to us all the way from Kari in Germany:
Maybe a little overdone, I know, but I’m seriously a lucky girl! It’s my way of remembering how blessed I am to have such wonderful people in my life and to have the opportunities to live and love that I’ve encountered. <3
I went to see Social Distortion play at Stubb’s Wednesday night. Mike Ness of course put on a hell of a show, all pouting and chewing gum and rocking out. My girl was up against the front barrier and spent most of the show slapping crowd surfers in the head as they passed over her and enjoying the show. As it turns out, the gal next to her had these beautiful knuckles that read SICK CHIC.
We caught up with Audra after the show, while waiting in line to shake Mr. Ness’ hand. She said that the story was Mike Ness. He inspired the tattoos, and this was actually her first time seeing him perform in person. Audra works at the Firing Line tattoo shop in Tyler, Texas.
Mr. Ness himself declined having his knuckle tattoos photographed. He was tired after a long show. Hopefully one day, right? Until then I’ve still got the deviant art photo of his knuckles.
