Derek Powazek - Self-Portrait with Squid

Self-Portrait with Squid

In Life, Photos on 24 July 2008 with 11 comments

About a month after I started the process, and a couple weeks since Jason at Cyclops did the shading (less painful getting, more painful healing), my first tattoo is done. I’m still startled when I see him in the mirror first thing in the morning, but I think we’re gonna be friends.

Additions to my ever-growing list of answers to the “Why a squid?” questions:

Because the chicken was too expensive.
Because I’m a multi-tentacled creature of the deep.
Because squid are smarter than dolphins.

In other squid-related news, I saw a nature documentary the other day that featured a little squid with a brown bottle on the ocean floor. He carried it around in his tentacles wherever he went. And when he was tired, he crawled inside. It was a tiny cephalopod mobile home.

There’s a metaphor in there somewhere that I really like.

11 Comments

I think it’s safe to say this is one of the coolest tattoos ever.

Ever.

Posted by Joey on 24 July 2008 @ 4pm

Freakin’ sweet, D.

Posted by Geoffrey on 24 July 2008 @ 4pm

I was disappointed you were not at the haus party. I’d hoped to see the squid in real life then.

Posted by ByJane on 24 July 2008 @ 5pm

You make a much better home for a squid than a brown bottle.
And that tattoo is almost as gorgeous as your face. Rock on.

Posted by Coyote on 24 July 2008 @ 6pm

oh wow. the shading is fantastic. (because the chicken was too expensive? that’s hilarious)

Posted by myla on 24 July 2008 @ 9pm

that is a very cool tattoo - the shading really works a treat. congratulations, sir.

Posted by Ollie Thurley on 24 July 2008 @ 9pm

One wonders which of the Squid’s children will get the bottle when he dies. If we toss a few more bottles down there, would the children’s children also fight over bottles?

Posted by Joshua Allen on 25 July 2008 @ 3pm

Hey, I met you at a chihuahua cha cha years ago, and had no idea you were internet royalty–you just seemed like a nice guy with a cute calendar. I follow both you and Heather on flickr and twitter now; not so much b/c of your royal status as the fact that we both have two chihuahuas, and I like the updates (both photographic and poopic) on your pair. Anyway, love the new tattoo–congrats! Have you seen the Selby? It’s a website with pictures of arty people’s places, and Adam Wallacavage seems to have a squidly jones that’s worth a look for a cephalopodded gentleman such as yourself: http://www.theselby.com/7_25_08_adam_wallacavage/index.html

BTW, that brown bottle story breaks my heart.

Posted by The Subtle Rudder on 26 July 2008 @ 5am

I wish I had had a chance to see you, Heather, and your beautiful tattoos in person while I was (finally, at last) in SF last week. Alas, it was not meant to be. Hopefully, next time.

I’m still giggling, either from the tiny squid with his own mobile home or the chicken comment. Not sure which one.

Posted by Christine on 28 July 2008 @ 9pm

Nice work…
Tattoos are weird possessions, maybe marking events or turning points in your life.
Mine have kind of followed change or have followed after change.
Fitting with the ‘right of passage’ and ‘coming of age’, and A little artistic pain isn’t a bad thing so long as you are happy with the results :)

Tattoos are easy to forget you have them, but its nice to find you’ve still got them from time to time when having a shower! :)

Posted by pdtnc on 29 July 2008 @ 12pm

beautiful.

Posted by Kateco on 5 August 2008 @ 3pm

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