The Pain and Beauty of Memorial tattoos

Jan 19, 2017
1 min read

14 years ago today my dad died. He was 57 years young and our family was devastated. We weren't ready for him to go. I think on him everyday. I miss his physical presence and leadership in our 'Ohana (family).

Creating a memorial tattoo forces you to dig deep, connect to your memories and then visualize through art. The process is personal, spiritual and painful. I can't think of a more intimate or honorable way to embrace the grieving process than going through the physical pain and healing of a tattoo.

I have done more memorial tattoos than I can count and I don't see it ending any time soon. listening to the memories during the design process is one of the most honorable things I participate in as an artist. Pain + healing + Beauty, the end result, personal art that will keep you connected to your loved one. Here are a few of my favorites....