Angelos French Body Suit Tattoo

Angelo – Pueblo, Colorado, USA

Though he’s almost done with his French body suit (i.e. full-torso tattoo from neck to wrists, down to knees), many of Angelo’s co-workers do not know he has tattoos. With a Masters in Computer Information Systems, this storage engineer for Hewlett-Packard in southern Colorado wears long sleeve shirts so no one considers him unprofessional. Unfortunately, he states, many in our culture still see tattoos as trashy. “So they don’t see past it.” Sadly, he adds, “Some of the younger generation don’t give them any reason to counter that idea. So many kids now have tattoos on their necks and their knuckles.

They’re doing it to be cool because that’s what the culture has, but I think back to what happens when you get out of your adolescent years and you want to get a career in something.” Angelo is a big fan of tattoos, but believes in being thoughtful and purposeful about the decisions. “I see a big trend where a lot of artists will start in one shop and then they’ll go open up their own. They’re trying to get the work done, so you’ll see just a lot of kids getting it done. My issue with that is you see a lot of kids who just get it for the value; I mean just because ‘I got a tattoo.’ They don’t put a lot of time or effort or thought into the process of what they’re going to get. I mean, I did the same thing when I was young, too. I just found a tattoo. I didn’t think here was much difference between one artist or another. But, the more I got until I found my current artist….well, you know, I see there’s a big difference in it.” In fact, all of Angelo’s original tattoos – which began with a simple rose in 1985 – have all been covered over.

Another reason Angelo keeps his tattoos under wraps is because they are a major investment. “I never see the light of day with them. I always wear a jacket outside. I’ve invested a lot of money in these, so I keep them covered. Most people are pretty much shocked on just how nice they are.” That investment has paid off. Angelo’s artwork has won approximately 35 awards, including a 2000 award for “best back piece” at an international competition hosting a dozen countries.

The back piece is a mural of himself and his three oldest daughters, Jessica, Amanda, and Vanessa. The back piece portrays Angelo as an archangel looking after his children. It fits with his vision of the complete design – an epic battle between heaven and hell, between St. Michael and the Devil. Baby Samantha will get a starring role as a cherub on his upper chest.

“The biggest positive is when they see my back. They’re very shocked that that can be done for a tattoo. Most people you see, tattoos are dragons, butterflies, stuff like that. So when they see an actual family portrait of that size, they’re quite in awe.”

The rest of Angelo’s tattoos represent the fact that he has Native American blood. The artwork reflects various spirits and strengths. He has eagles to represent our heritage and perseverance. A cougar for cunning. A bear for strength. An owl for wisdom. He also has more traditional Native American images, such as a tribal chief and a dreamcatcher. His totem, however, is a buffalo …a white buffalo. “They’re very rare; you don’t see them a lot. I felt I’d located something more, what it meant to me.”

He hopes his daughters put in the same kind of thought and research should they decide someday to get tattoos. “I’m not going to be a hypocrite and tell them they can’t get them. But I have asked them, when it comes time for them to get a tattoo, to get me involved so we can research it. I don’t want them to be a statistic where they’re older and regret it.”

Only time will tell whether or not Angelo will give his daughters the same advice he gave Tattoo Meanings: “My advice to people looking for tattoos is they’ve got to think of the long term. My theory is also, ‘Go Big or Go Home.’”

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