Today’s featured tattoo was created by artist Jason Stephan of King Street Body Gallery in Cocoa, FL. We’ll talk about it more later on though.
(Editor) I’m going to take a break from my normal discussion of an aircraft’s lineage or history and how it relates to the tattoo featured, and instead I am going to talk a little about the devotion a person feels for a certain subject — in this case, aviation — to have a significant tattoo permanently added to their body. Call it my early post for Valentine’s Day, professing my love for flying. It’s fitting the tattoo we feature today has the “heart” to help me out don’t you think? Oh yeah, and the tattoo at the left isn’t mine…
For me, aviation has been as much a part of my identity as my hair, or the small freckle I have over my lip. People know me by my love for the sky — despite the fact I don’t have as many hours of flight time in my logbook as many others nor have I flown a great number of aircraft.
What I DO know is that I have traveled hundreds and thousands of miles to see an airshow or airplane. I have trusted people who were strangers only hours before to take me flying in an airplane I know little about. When I’m driving, I plot my route to pass as many airports as I can and have been known to drive the perimeter at many to catch a peek at what surprises may have in store. I have read thousands of books, magazines, and websites filled with facts, figures and stories on a wide range of flying-related topics. I work in aviation, I dream in aviation, I LIVE in aviation.
And as a result, I display that love upon the one canvas that will stay with me through my living days, never needs a wall to hang upon or a frame to live within. My gallery, or rather, my tribute to a life aloft is permanently recorded on my skin. I have devoted my back and my left thigh to it thus far — and I have plans for many more hours under the needle to expand it.
Just as men coming of age were heavily tattooed in tribal cultures in the South Pacific or New Zealand, or warriors in feudal Japan endured hours of horimono-style tattooing — I too venture down a similar path. Their tattoos documented their life and their culture mixed with images to inspire or honor, both personally and publicly. My images honor aviators past, present, and future as well as mythological stories connected with man’s desire to fly. Though I realize I am a far cry from a tribal leader or an experienced warrior, and certainly large-scale tattooing is not common in the conservative world of aviation, I still felt my experiences thus far and my passion for all-things aviation could be perfectly expressed with tattoo work where all images in some way related to aviation or flying.
So, for Valentine’s Day, I am going to sit down with a local artist I have researched and determined is a great fit for me, and discuss the next step in my flying tattoo project.
Since I moved to Arizona in September 2007, I have been very impressed with the amazing artwork flowing from the extremely talented artists at Divinity Tattoo in Scottsdale. Though I have only visited the studio in person once; that one visit amazed me. I have rarely encountered artists and employees that come close to the friendliness and enthusiasm that everyone at Divinity display on that one visit — a perfect fit!
The addition I am planning for now is a right half-sleeve and upper chest and shoulder panel featuring the colorful and classic aircraft of the First World War. In other words, dogfighting Fokker DR.I’s, Sopwith Camels, Albatros D-II’s, and more for the primary imagery. Of course it’ll be more than just planes and will connect with my backpiece and the sky currently ending at my Lilienthal glider. A lot of it will at the direction of my artist in the end…
Though I wasn’t able to meet him that day, Erick “Dub” Weir seems to be the best artist who’s style best fits my existing work and where I want to go. He responded promptly and seemed excited when I emailed him about my concept. I’ll be meeting him sometime this week in person and I can’t wait!
Of course, this project will cost a bit… and I have committed to only use funds above and beyond my salary that we live off — so income from this website and other writing projects will make the “sleeve come true”! Please visit my “Help Tattoos In Flight” page for a whole bunch of ways to help out. Click on my ads – that helps a lot too! With any luck, it’ll help grease the wheels on the tattoo project and I’ll start documenting the journey here on Tattoos In Flight.
Again, visit the “Help Tattoos In Flight” page if you’d like to help!
So, how about we talk about the tattoo featured today huh?
This colorful chestpiece, featuring approximate illustrations of Republic P-47 Thunderbolt and Grumman F4F Wildcat type aircraft (though a real F4F has a three-bladed propeller), was created by tattoo artist Jason Stephan of King Street Body Gallery in Cocoa, FL.
Please click on the image below for a larger image.
Click the above image for the full-size photo.
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