As a 34-year-old native Austinite, I’ve seen the rise in acceptance of tattoos. I was a child who was appreciative of alternative culture. I adored the artistry of the vibrant colors and the cool designs. Growing up, it was impressed upon me that carrying a tattoo or h...

Tattoos are a manifestation of our identities; they represent our passions, life events, and communities. Librarians are trusted knowledge keepers and community experts; they connect us to information and to each other. And the rising sub-culture of tattooed librarians...

I once thought it a fine act of marksmanship to fire a round down an empty bullet casing at close range. Don’t judge. I was drunk. I was rewarded with a spray of lead and powder to the face that was most embarrassing. I was able to dig the big chunk of lead out of my n...

I am in TDCJ, arguably the harshest prison system in the United States. Tattooing is most definitely against the rules here, but it is an everyday thing in every unit in every state in the country and probably the world. We work under the risk of getting caught and sub...

My name is Adam Garrison, I’m a local artist born and raised here in Galveston Texas. I’ve always loved art of all kinds and the many diverse ways in which it can be applied. I enjoy learning about the materials used and admiring the final outcome of someone’s creativi...

“When you do a bad tattoo, people hate you for the rest of your life,” said Mel Black, a musician and tattoo artist working out of Flying Squid Ink in Houston. 

“But you know what? Bread and butter: fixing bad tattoos. All day.

I could have an entire portfolio of just r...