MURKADO

What motivated you to get tattooed in the first place?

• J: I always knew that I wanted a tattoo ever since my brother asked our parents if they were cool with it. Turns out they were very cool with it, and actually started getting some of their own. I'm pretty sure they've got more tattoos than me now.

• R: I love the idea of how a tattoo is something that you could personally choose, to customize the way you looked.

How many tattoos do you currently have?

• J: Five :(

• R: I have seven tattoos.

  
  

What was your first tattoo and how did you select the design? Who was the artist? How old were you?

• J: Tattoo #1 is a pineapple with "Shaka" written on it - meaning hang loose & take it easy. I was 24, and not much thought went into this first one. I was just in Hawaii with my dearest Roxanne, riding that vacation high. Upon reaching the last day of our trip, to encapsulate the crater hikes, shark cage swimming, and beach bumming, we decided to do one last thing, wacky and last minute. This is so disrespectful but I don't know who did this tattoo lol. It was a walk-in to the closest tattoo parlour around us!

• R: I saw the design somewhere online and I loved how simple and cute it was. I believe I went to Showdown and kinda just went with whoever was available. I unfortunately don't remember the artist’s name. I think I was 21?

How do you decide on what type of tattoo design(s) to get prior to booking an appointment?

• J: Most of the time an idea that holds some symbolism to me will pop into my head, and I'll jot it down on my phone - thinking "dang, this is a really cool one, I'm going to get this tattooed someday". So, over time I've accumulated a nice number of ideas but have yet to act on them. Thank goodness for cloud backup! Sometimes though, I'll revisit a few of those notes and think "dang, this one's kinda laaame", being glad I didn't commit so fast. What can I say - I've got some bad ideas!

• R: Lately I have really been into flash work. I started following a bunch of tattoo artists on Instagram and I just fell in love with all the different styles and ideas people had. Now I kinda just look and see what artists have for flash work and if I like it, then I'll book my appointment. :)

Do you think you'll stop getting tattooed at some point?

• J: Nah. At my rate of around one tattoo per year, I will have plenty of real estate to work with till I'm old. I'll probably skip a few years here and there, but with my bad phone ideas I'll always have an itch to get tattooed.

• R: Like I mentioned above, if I like it...I'll get it haha so who knows!

What were some of the most painful spots to get tattooed for you?

• J: I think the inside of the bicep was the worst so far. They were my first two tattoo spots, and very tender. But hell, they're all painful. I always forget how much they actually hurt until I'm in front of the needle.

• R: Definitely my inner right arm. I actually had to focus on my breathing during that one.

Do you have any favourite tattoos?

• J: This cut-open skull with a maze inside. The skull doesn't really represent death or morbidity for me. Instead, beyond our skin and fleshy bits, we're all looking pretty much the same; so it's a symbol of all people for me - and we've all got complex thoughts and complex problems (mazes!) to deal with. After close inspection though, the maze isn't very difficult lol. Maybe that's another meaning?? Maybe we're making things harder than they need to be. Also, obligatory Casper Day tattoo because that's our frickin' band and we ROCK.

• R: I think my favourite right now is my fan on my right arm. It's my first coloured piece! I never thought I would get colour, but I'm glad I did. It's the tattoo that made me feel more comfortable with myself; I got it at a time when I finally got a chance to focus on me and prioritize my well-being.

Who are some of the artists that you've gotten tattooed by? Do you have any artists that you go to repeatedly?

• J: Shoutout to @toastsing, @adriennetattoos, @jwcandlish, and the mystery Hawaii tattoo artist.

• R: I've gotten tattooed by Ryan B at Showdown, some dude at a random tattoo shop in Montreal, another guy at a random tattoo shop in Hawaii, AJ (@richardsontattoos), Jannae (@pokedbynae), and Emily (@pukedirt.tattoo) at Plshurtme. Emily just recently gave me my last two tattoos, I love her style.

What do you like about the particular style(s) of tattoos that you've chosen to get done?

• J: Hard to say, but they're mostly quite traditional in black ink, and they're all pretty hidden. I like 'em lowkey.

• R: I’ve noticed that all my tattoos have a different style. I think it shows what I'm feeling for that time, a growth for exploring who I am. I started with super simple black line work and moved on to more intricate coloured work. I guess it kinda represents me going from being reserved and insecure, to being a lot more comfortable with who I am and just saying fuck yea I’m all goood.

What artist(s) would you like to get tattooed by in the future?

• J: Henry Hablak (@hhablak)! I've hung a few of his prints around my place. I can still sit in front of them, in awe of their mystery, and try to create my own meaning for them.

• R: I would loved to get tattooed by Rebecca Rose (@wild_rose_thorn) from Vancouver, BC.