tattoo of the week: spooked out for halloween

Tomorrow Dixon

32

RVA (Richmond)

Job seeking student

Good question. The two tats on my right arm kinda incorporated into a sleeve, so I really count that entire arm as one piece. I have four on my right arm, and at least 6 ideas for more floating around in my brain.

It’s a tie really. I <3 my owl tattoo, but I also really love my Vincent Price portrait.

I got the owl in 2008 and Vincent Price was . . . this year or last. I have a terrible memory. I got pretty much all but one small tattoo done at Salvation Tattoo Gallery in RVA.

What does it mean to you?

The owl was a memorial tattoo for my mother, who collected owls, so of course it means a lot. The Vincent Price was because I love Vincent Price, especially his Roger Corman films. I found out later that the first horror movie my mom ever went to was House on Haunted Hill, so now it’s doubly special.

How old were you when you got your first tattoo?

Nineteen. It was 2 Egyptian style cats and an Om symbol which many people think is a ‘3’.

What is the biggest misconception people have about you because of your tattoos?

That I’m unapproachable. It was bad enough that my height is intimidating, but add the ink, and people tend to give me weird looks and veer away. Their loss, I’m rad.

Because I love my ink, and everyone else should too. Haha.

Do you have a particular tattoo artist you go to?

More like a particular shop. Matt Brotka and Mike Moses did most of my work, and the teapot is by Fred Pinckard. They’re all at Salvation.

Have you ever received a tattoo under the influence of drugs or alcohol?

Not unless you count prescription Ibuprofen. I take it about 20 minutes before a tattoo because my skin swells up a lot.

Do you regret any tattoos you have?

I don’t regret any of my actual work. I do regret the placement of my first tattoo.