Leather Jackets, Tattoos and Psychic Armor

Pandemic · Feb 1, 2026

Tom71 said:
My wife claims to like my tats but regularly makes sure that “now it’s enough“. Strange, isn’t it?!

Be that as it may, while I do have ideas for two or three additional pieces, I am largely done. Only thing that is really “missing” are the forearms, but I’ve decided that these would stay off limits until retirement, so that’s that.

My wife is a product of our generation- she still associates tattoos with bikers and criminals, and thinks crude skulls, daggers and pin-up girls.

I think a colourful and super realistic and artistic floral piece is going to be more acceptable to her.

She sort of accepts the two I already have as the baggage of a misspent youth, but I know she will say a new one is ‘setting a bad example for the kids’. But marriage is all about weighing that disapproval with one’s own desires, right?

My others aren’t visible with a t-shirt on, so this would be the first that the public would get a (slight) glimpse of.

thekiyote · Feb 1, 2026

Pandemic said:
My wife is a product of our generation- she still associates tattoos with bikers and criminals, and thinks crude skulls, daggers and pin-up girls.

I think a colourful and super realistic and artistic floral piece is going to be more acceptable to her.

She sort of accepts the two I already have as the baggage of a misspent youth, but I know she will say a new one is ‘setting a bad example for the kids’. But marriage is all about weighing that disapproval with one’s own desires, right?

My others aren’t visible with a t-shirt on, so this would be the first that the public would get a (slight) glimpse of.

Man, this is one of those generational things that I find myself doing a double-take on over and over. Tattoos are so ubiquitous among millennials that I frequently forget that older generations have hang-ups over them (my parents excluded). I have friends who will happily show off new pieces they have or talk about going to shows/traveling to get ones done by specific artists, and we're all fairly white collar people, in our 40s, a lot of us with kids.

My wife's whole opinion is it's my body, she doesn't care, then jokes at the rate I'm going (usually one every 10ish years, all on my left arm), I'm going to have a full sleeve by the time I'm 90! xD

Joseph Hill · Feb 2, 2026

My buddies Great Grandfather owned the pub across the road from ****nals original pitch in Woolwich. This was late 1800s before Highbury. He was the local bookmaker, and 'collector of what's owed'. When someone would come to the bar to make a wager, he'd have his sleeves rolled up, and lean forward with his knuckles against the bar. Up each forearm was a rather large black panther. Apparantly it was quite intimidating, and he didn't have to 'go collect' very often.

JasonY · Feb 13, 2026

I referenced Ed Hardy at the beginning of this thread and I'm going to shift to the other end of the tattoo esthetic with Duncan X. I watched an interview of him on YouTube as he memorably described tattoos as both "the acceptable face of self harm" and "a suit of armor" while also giving consideration to the changing nature and acceptance of publicly visible ink over the course of his lifetime. High art and folk art. Two masters of their craft that seem quite different superficially, but with a lot of philosophical similarities and a shared understanding of people. I don't think many people would have been intimidated or put off by Ed Hardy's work even back then, but I'm sure much of Duncan X's work, even now, requires a pretty open mind.

Pandemic · Mar 24, 2026

Pandemic said:
Seriously! This thread sent me down the rabbit hole and now I’m selling stuff to finance a tattoo and reaching out to potential artist.

I came close like this about four years ago, but decided my wife’s disapproval was stronger than my own desire. We’ll see about this time, hahah.

Well, I did it. Now I just need to tell my wife…

Pandemic · 2026-06-13T14:09:34+0100

Still healing so I won’t add pics yet, but I added two more native Australian flowers (bottle brush and a flowering gum tree) to the above piece. Now I want to add a small local bird (blue fairy wren) and another flower (wattle). I’m slowly building a half sleeve of Australian flora and fauna as a tribute to my home back in Aus.

Right now, everything is pretty much to scale. I’d like to add a black swan behind the shoulder. I think that will finish it but I do have a few other ideas if I’m not ready to stop there.

Bfd70 · 2026-06-13T15:16:04+0100

I now have enough that i can’t count how many with my eyes closed. I think i’m done.

Herrvallmo · 2026-06-13T16:18:03+0100

Bfd70 said:
I now have enough that i can’t count how many with my eyes closed. I think i’m done.

Hmm, I think tattoos are similar to example leather jackets and you're never REALLY done haha.

Cheers mate and have a great weekend!

Bfd70 · 2026-06-14T02:35:26+0100

Herrvallmo said:
Hmm, I think tattoos are similar to example leather jackets and you're never REALLY done haha.

Cheers mate and have a great weekend!

I’ve saved room for grandchildren. Other than that if i’ve had a few cocktails i might get a 2 headed racoon.

Leather Jackets, Tattoos and Psychic Armor

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I'll Lock Up

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One Too Many

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