TRIBUTE TATTOOS
Fans Get Inked For Heath
written by: Phyllis
Friday, 29 February 2008


Heath LOVED his tattoos. He made them significant, to represent something he wanted to remember, that was close to his heart, or that signified growth and change in his life. He even loved the pain, and once described it as a "good pain." I remember him saying that whether or not they had to cover these tattoos for work didn't matter, because "life comes first.", adding that "these are mine."

Many fans of Heath's, even those who were never fans of tattoos, really appreciated and loved his. Some fans had already gotten inked in his honor or to represent him. Some of us (you know who you are) have merely been considering it, turning ideas over in our heads, or searching for the perfect design to represent who we are.

I was one of those. Never being able to quite get a handle on the perfect design that fit my heart. But after Heath left, all of a sudden I knew.

I'm not the only one. I've spoken to a handful more of Heath's women, and getting inked in his honor has occurred to many of us. When I was talking to one friend, she told me the same thing I had felt. "After Heath left, I knew! All of a sudden it hit." (She has not gotten hers yet, and has a different idea in mind.)

Well . . . tonight (Thurs. 28 Feb 2008) I took the leap. After so long, when I knew, I knew. It was right. This was it . . .

I chose a group of artists with a stellar reputation. Who have showcased their work on TV's tattoo show, been written about in tattoo magazines, and won numerous awards. But award winning artists, don't necessarily like you arguing with them once they've drawn up the design. (He actually said, "I've been doing this a long time. I am an artist. Let me do my job.") LOL . . .

There are places where it's not quite identical, but after going back and forth for 20 minutes, and making him redraw it I decided to not to push further. Two design aspects I should have pushed on because they're not quite right, and all I would have had to do is take the pen and draw it the way I wanted . . . but like I said, I had been a lot of trouble already and didn't want to further irritate the guy with the needles.

He did make two very good points:

#1 - It can't look the same on my wrist, because I have a different wrist from Heath.
and
#2 - Wrist tatts lose integrity quicker, because of the creases in your wrist. It causes the ink to bleed . . . so he moved it up a bit. It's not placed in the same location.

I think the artist really wanted to improve on the design, which from the looks of it was drawn directly on to Heath's wrist, instead of stenciled before inking. But all in all . . . I do love it. It's crisp and clear; it feels good (ok, it hurts like hell but oddly enough, still feels pretty good), and it looks good.

At first, my idea was to keep it private. Not post it on the board. But many of you have been asking me . . . "what is it?" "Show it!" And I'm happy with it. . . .

PLEASE KNOW THAT while Heath was here, I would NEVER have used this.
It was his.

But it was one of my faves, and I loved the meaning behind it. This is my way of carrying him with me forever. It's a tribute to him, and a piece of him.

One of my friends said: "It's like you're singing the same song, but in your different voices."

(In these photos, the tatt is less than 2 hours old. It's still swollen and red.)
Click to enlarge photo.





If any of you have been inked in Heath's memory and would like to share, post your pics here.

- - - - - - - - ADDENDUM: SUNDAY 02 MARCH 2008 (5:44 AM US EST) - - - - - - - -

(2 -1/2 days later.)

you've made me proud by taking plunge and getting inked.I love it.you already know this because I just got done talking to you

I guess Heath can even get me to put up with pain.

hi phyllis thanks for sharing that with us and the background behind it. it has a special meaning thats for sure. i havent had any tatt's done, i really want something special but havent decided what yet. the tattooists in the U.S seem a lot more lenient than those here in australia. my friend wanted one on her wrist and many tattooist's would NOT do it.

i think yours looks great

if you decide to get 1 make sure the place is clean and that you actually watch them work before getting it done because not all places are good clean places.

Good for you Phyllis. I know you have been thinking about doing it. It looks great. How did they copy Heath's signature? Sorry, I don't know anything about tatoos. But I was a fan of Heath's tatoos, they were all so special and really beautiful.

I can't wait to see what people get.

Thanks Katharine. Yeah, they warn you that wrist tatt's won't last as well and that the color bleeds and fades. After 7 years, Heath's had actually gotten fairly light and looked like a greenish/blue/grey color. But it was originally black tribal, just like this one. (I think Heath may have had his done in Prague, but don't know for sure.)

I simply could not get the artist to move it down to where Heath's was. And some artists won't do it, because they don't want their name attached to one that fades or won't look good in a couple of years. They have reputations in their own artistic circles to maintain.

And thanks. I'm glad you like it.



I took a copy of his autograph in. And they traced it onto a stencil. It looks identical to the original.

I decided that instead of his name plainly, I'd use his signature as it was more individual, and because if one is not a Heath fan, they can't read it. Not just anyone will know what it is; some will just think it's a squiggly design. Just like him, I have the text facing me so I can read it, but others will be looking at it upside down. (That's not really the right way to do it. LOL But it's not for anyone else. It's for me. )

Show show . . . I know for a fact (because you've shared) that at least 2 or 3 of you are inked in Heath's honor.

hi phyllis,
it's so cool you finally did it! i love it! funny tho, after i got mine i was thinking of having heath's sig inked on me too...just can't decide yet on where to put it lol...but yeah, that is so cool ... it feels good huh!?
next step is an inked portrait...gotta reach l.a. first lol...
heath probably is blushing right now with a wide grin on his face seeing that!



hehe...love it love it love it!

Thanks, Kaye . . . Feels good? Yeah . . . in a sense. But also hurts like . . . well yanno.

A BIG NOPE on the portrait!!! Nope nope nope. That might be a tad too far.

You gonna show us yours? or is it hidden in a place we shouldn't see?


btw: Where did you get that photo? I recognize it from Berlin in 2006, but I don't think I have that particular one.

Wow Phyllis.
It's really nicely done! And you are right, those that don't know that it is his autograph don't even know the special meaning behind it. I love it! haha and i agree the portrait thing doesn't work for me either. (sorry karenina) Thanks for sharing! And now just wait for the rest over here to post the pictures of their tattoo for Heath. Can't wait! ( i love the idea myself and i wanted one for years. But i still have to do my permanent make up again and that was really painful the first times. So that made me chicken out ...because it wasn't even the same as a real tattoo. But okey it is in my face and a tattoo isn't so maybe i just have to go for it... )

It's more uncomfortable to me to put this gross greasy stuff on it every 2 hours than it was to get inked to begin with.

So . . . . Just do it.

Heath would.

hi phyllis,

i still need to sit down and get a picture to post here...been busy with my kid's upcoming graduation ugh & i have been scouting around for a good school, grade 1

getting a portrait done is a big feat...i love tattoos, got 5 of them, & i am getting more when the time is right ( design, location, artist, etc )...i know it's not for everyone, i do respect that, but as for me, it's another form of art & a way of expressing one's self & it represents every important detail in my life...i am inlove with it funny...my mom...every time she sees me with a new one she goes crazy "kaye! what are you doing to yourself? are you planning on being the sunday cartoon page? " lol sheesh ....

the picture i posted of heath, yeah, it is from 2006...i honestly forgot where i got it but surely i got it from the internet....i got this folder full of heath's pictures lol...i have this "need- to- save -every -picture -of -heath" syndrome lol...

your skin where that tat is, will shed in a couple of days, just let it, don't peel the skin off, for maximum great outcome

well you guys have a cool weekend...it's friday night from where i am at lol...gotta put the baby to bed real soon

take care & be safe...

That's strange. Of all the tattoo sites I went to, it was mostly the American sites that warned against tattoos on the wrist, hands and feet. In the past most refused to do them in those areas but these days they seem to be more willing do them.

I had my first tattoo done on my foot last November. My tattooist advised me to change my mind about the location only because some of the tatt would have been on the side of my foot, below the ankle. He didn't want to do it there because my shoe would rub against it and he said that would cause it to spread. I know if I pushed him, he would have gave in and did it but I decided to listen to him.



A tatt will only bleed during the healing process. After the scab comes off it should be ok. Don't pick or rub the scab. Let it fall off by itself or it will scab up again and pull more ink out with it. Over time your tatt will spread and fade. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do to stop it spreading. As for fading, you should always use sunscreen on it. Tatts that are exposed to sunlight will fade quite quickly. Eventually it will not look as clear but you can have it touched up and it will look like a new tatt again. I have seen some examples of touch ups and they look great.

Nice tatt, BTW. You are brave getting it there. I would never get one on a place where it can't be hidden only because of the stigma attached to tattoos. Shame really because I like tattoos on the wrist.

I´m really impressed Phyllis. It looks great, and I think the place the inker choose is perfect, as it looks a bit like a bangle. Congratulations !
Also Heath´ name is very very perfect, because nobody can´t recognize it, who isn´t a Heath fan and it just looks so well balanced and placed. The form is amazing.

I´m still thinking about it, even if my mother would kill me ( yeah yeah i´m 34 !!) so I search for the right place and the right thing. But as soon as I get it- you´ll get the pictures!

Britta

Even though I got mine done in honor of Heath long before he passed I'm posting mine anyway because I did it because of my love and admiration of Heath and because Heath was my hero. I picked a tat that he himself had because 1. I loved the design and 2. It was my way of thanking Heath for being the sweet,kind person he was.

I got this tat on July,16,2006. the pic was taken when the tat was only 10 days old.

I was going to a concert that night.

WOW Phyllis! That's so precious and moving! I love it!!!

I completely understand your feeling about having like a piece of him on your body. And we know how deeply respectful you are and that it's all that has happened that made you chose one that you wouldn't have chosen before.

I love what your friend said about singing the same song but in your different voices! That could be like a motto for this forum... Finding our own ways to sing Heath's song, in all our different voices.

I'm so happy for you, that you got it done! And I'm really grateful that you decided to share it with us.



Your tatoo is awesome, Wendy! I saw it in another picture of you a while back, and I should have said it then! I can absolutely understand why you chose it. It's a great tatoo, with great symbolism. It must be lovely to have that with you always...

Hugs!! //Nina

Phyllis the tattoo looks lovely and I am glad you used Heath's signature. It is so much more personal that way. And like you said unless you know it's Heath's signature you would think it's just a squggly line

Is the design tribal? I know what the KAOS means but the lines surrounding his wrist, were they meant to depict how he carried his family with him wherever he was in the world?

and Wendy your tattoo looks lovely too. I won't be getting a permanent tattoo but I would love to find a temp of a dragonfly.

Linda

my tattoo artist told me when I got mine that ALL all black tats are considered tribal.

Phylls,

I am so proud of you!!!!!!!!!! It looks just wonderful..I know exactly what you are saying when you explain,how you would never had even thought of getting that one, because it belonged to Heath, but I will be honest, right after he passed, my mind clicked on getting one...and the wrist one was so cool, because I love wearing leather beacelets etc, and I knew I would like it...and it would always be there to remind me, of him...Thank you for eccouraging me...You should be very proud of yourself

Thank you for posting yours, Wendy. I had hoped that everyone would share, because I know that several of you are inked for Heath. (What would the poor man think!?!? LOL )


Hurry hurry. Are the kids really more important than us? (just kidding. )


LMAO

Yup, me too. . . You wanna job sorting?


Thanks, they did not tell me that.


Yeah, mine said that

1. The skin on the wrist is very leathery (to protect the veins and because you bend your wrist so much), and it makes it hard to get the ink in. He would run the needle over, wipe, and say, "See? Nothing. Didn't even go in." So he'd have to go over it more than once to get it to go in. He said the elbows and neck are the same way.
2. And the biggest reason he argued was because of the wrinkles at the beginning of your wrist. They cause the ink to bleed when you're being inked, and fade later from bending and using the wrist so much.

He refused to duplicate a couple of aspects of Heath's tatt, because he just plain did not like the design, to be honest. So it's not perfect in my eyes (design-wise), but the workmanship is very high-grade.


Hmmm I don't understand. I was told not to let it scab at all. That the reason to keep it moist with the vitamin ointment was to keep it from scabbing, because scabs pull up the ink and cause splotchy places.

So you're saying that it will start looking weird in the next few days, and I should not worry, because it's supposed to do that, right? Will it begin to look like it's fading?


I thought of that. As I'm about to apply for a new job as a photographer. But I decided that it can be covered with a thick "slave band" bracelet or leather wristband. Also, the plus side of the artist moving this tatt up a bit is that it can be completely covered by long sleeves. (As I proved tonight when I went to dinner with my parents. My minister father does not yet know I have one, and didn't appear to notice, in spite of the fact that my cuffs were not buttoned.)

Thank you, Britta & Linda.
I am really proud of the signature . . . It's perfect.



Linda, a tribal tatt is one that is only black ink. It got it's name because the primitive tribes, when they'd ink themselves it would be from homemade inks and plain black tattoos. So it's just a way to describe a plain black one.

I'm sure I remember Heath calling his wrist design a lariat. The lariat connected his physical person with the initials of his mom and sisters, binding or tying them together. Symbolically, of course.

Mine does not look quite as much like a lariat, but it's the same concept. It ties me together with the name on my wrist . . . Heath.


Thank you. Right, I would not have taken Heath's design if he were here. It was his.


You're welcome. Have a go . . .

I am proud. Thank you. But it also feels odd.

This is going to sound weird, but it was cathartic . . . which is something I was hoping for.

When Heath was here, I always felt some sort of connection to him, even if he was nowhere near me. When he passed, that connection was completely severed. Gone. And although I will never stop feeling his loss, now some of my emotional pain has been lessened by this act of marking myself.

This was like a primitive form catharsis.

And whether it's real or not, I feel him just a tiny bit, again.

If he told you not to let it scab at all then he is wrong. All tattoos form a scab. It's unavoidable. The purpose of the after care cream is to keep the scabbing to a minimum. A properly cared for tattoo should only scab once. Did he tell you things like don't let anything rub against a fresh tattoo? Did he tell you not to get it wet? You can get it wet to wash it but swimming or soaking in the bathtub is not recommended. If the scab is allowed to get soft from over-exposure to water, it will fall off prematurely and form a second scab. That is what you must avoid. a second scab. Every time a scab forms it pulls out more ink.



No, not at all but it will change over the years depending on you. Everyone is different and tattoos wear different on different people. After your tat is completely healed always put on sunscreen to protect it when you go out in the sun. The sun will lighten it if not protected. Mine is 4 months old and looks the same as it did when first done. It will spread over the years and I will need to have it touched up.



In my line of work I couldn't get away with a tattoo on my wrist. I must wear short sleeves and am not allowed to wear any jewellery to hide it. Bummer! I'll have to stick to tattoos on my feet or ankles.

This is some advice my tattooist gave me

Taken from their website:

During the healing process can I :

go swimming?

No. Swimming can expose your new tattoo to elements that are harmful to the healing process eg: chlorine (this is a bleaching agent and can drastically increase color loss), salt water (dries the skin and can lead to heavy scab formation and loss of color), bacteria (your new tattoo should be treated like a wound, exposure to bacteria can lead to infection).

get in the sun?

No. Exposure to direct sunlight is extremely bad for a new tattoo and can cause the exposed area to burn (much like a sun burn) which can lead to infection and color loss.

go to the gym?

Yes, however due care should be taken to keep the area clean and to avoid rubbing or chafing the area. You should also take a shower and apply an after care lotion immediately after your work out. Some sports where you are likely to be exposed to dirt, blood, sports injury lotions, chlorinated water or direct sunlight may require you to wait till the off-season before getting a new tattoo. If unsure then you should consult your tattooist or a medical practitioner.

go to work?

This depends on what type of occupation you have. If you have a particularly dirty job we recommend you wait until you have holidays (at least a three week period). You should always wear clean, loose, cotton clothing over a new tattoo. If you think that there is a chance you may be exposed to a dirty environment then we recommend that you wear an open weave crepe bandage over the freshly tattooed area whilst in this environment.

take showers, baths or spas?

We encourage you to shower regularly during the healing process in order to keep the tattoo clean. You should use an anti-bacterial wash (not a soap) and gently lather the area by hand (ensure that your hands are clean first) before rinsing with warm water. Do not use any type of scrubber and ensure that you pat the area dry (not rub) with a clean towel after shower.

You should not take spas or baths. Soaking can soften the scab formation and can lead to it falling off prematurely which in turn can cause a second scab to form.

Thanks, D.


I think I just did not understand the difference between the first scab and the second. I'm sure he meant the second. He did say that all tatts bleed, even though I did not actually see any blood (except in one small place) during the process.



I think the majority of their customers are repeat and people who have tattoo experience already. Here's what the paperwork I was given says:

HEALING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Approximately two hours after receiving your tattoo , remove bandage (if applicable), and wash with antibacterial soap. Wash every two hours for the next 48 hours. When wasshing, use only your hand and a light amount of anti-bacterial soap. Do not over soak the tattoo. When drying, pat dry. Do not let air dry!
2. Immediately after washing, medicate tattoo. We recommend Ink Fixx Ointment or Aquaphor. Do this for the next 2-3 fdays or until redness is gone.
3. After washing, lightly cover the tattoo with Ink Fixx Ointment (Vitamin A & D) or Aquaphor. Use a thin enough coat to lightly cover the tattoo and keep it moist. Do not over medicate. (If Ointment bubbles or appears shiny, you are over medicating.) To remove excess medication, BLOT off with paper towel.
4. After the next 2-3 days, switch from ointment to color free/ fragrance free lotion.
5. For the next 6 - 8 days, keep the tattoo moist at all times (with ointment or lotion). If tattoo dries out, scabbing will occur.
6. If possible, wear only white cotton over the tattoo for the next few days.
7. Keep tattoo out of the sun for the next two weeks to obtain proper healing time.
8. After your tattoo heals, remember to put a sunblock with at least SPF #50 on it. This will keep your tattoo from fading out.

He did say it was ok to get it wet, but not to immerse it or soak it. I think a newbie just didn't know whether to ask any more specific questions.

I think in the first 24 hours, I slabbed way too much of that ointment on . . . I hope I didn't fade it.



I figure they'll not know until after I'm hired. I do not want to ever have to go back into corporate America or the business world. Maybe this is my way of ensuring it. LOL Screw em. Once Heath said (about producers complaining about having to cover his art), "Who cares? Life comes first. These are mine."

Of course, he was in a more advantageous position to have that attitude. LOL

Ah, ok. It can be confusing when getting information on tatts. There is so much to take in. Mine didn't bleed much from what I could see but it sure hurt like hell.



LOL, I ask too many questions sometimes. Some instructions tell you what not to do but they don't tell you why. I am a "why?" kind of person. I often drive people nuts with the word "why?"



It should be ok. How it looks now is how it will look when it is healed. The scab should start coming away approx on day 10. Mine started coming off in pieces, not all at once and was completely gone after 12 days. Yours is mostly fine lines which heal easier.



LOL, yeah once they hire you, too bad.

I wish I could afford to have that attitude. It sucks when you can't express yourself the way you want because society says so! If I was in a more advantageous position, I would have a more "who cares" attitude.

That is wonderful, Phyllis! I am glad you did this! Very happy for you!

Hi Wendy,

It´s really great. It looks very balanced and just fits perfect. Often you see people getting inked with tatt´s that are really primitive and just don´t fit to their type and body....like these sculls...I personally hate them, the tribals are also very popular, around the upper arm, and sometimes they just look ridiculous. You are a well proportioned lady, hope you don´t mind me saying this- I´m well proportioned too and this design fits perfect.
What exactly does it symbolize?

Britta-still deliberating about the perfect place for a tattoo. And how to avoid MOTHERS seeing it

it stands for the sun,earth and moon. the reason Heath got it I don't have a clue.I do know that Heath designed it.

the tattoo artist used stencils to get it just right.

i have the drawing that the tattoo artist did. i carry it in my purse. There is also a pic of the tat at the tattoo shop. the pic I posted my sister took it. we were going to the Cinderella/Poison concert.

it was an awesome concert.

That is beautiful, Phyllis! A great way to remember Heath.

I've had an idea forming for some kind of one for myself but I'm kind of worried about getting an infection and the reaction of my family. But I'm feeling more encouraged seeing the tats you guys have had done.

as long as you follow the care instructions it will be just fine.

Phyllis, sorry it took me so long to comment after your response to my post, I was Disneyland yesterday. It looks like everyone was actively posting though. It has taken me a hour to read and catch up on all the news.

Anyway, I love that you used his signature. It's perfect, looks beautiful and is so special. It was definitely the right choice. Like you, I would have placed his name so I could read it too. It is cool.

BTW - At Disneyland I kept thinking of him and his family visiting there last summer and the memories of the happy times they must have had there together. It made me sad and happy at the same time.

Thanks!

Phyllis!!!!
You've made me proud! I have always told my kids NOT to get tatooed. Well they did. And I"ve had to just stop saying anything about them. Since Heath died...I've been thinking of getting a dragonfly on my ankle. ONe like his on his arm...but flying upward. I have dragonflys all over the place...I will also have initials placed in the wings. A C on one and H L on the other. My son's Austin and Cameron and Heath will be represented!
I hope to have the guy in Brooklyn who did Heath's tatts do mine. We'll see....and of course...he's probably very expensive, especially now.

Yup, me too. I actually need to know why in order for things to make sense to me, and sometimes even for me to bother following directions. LOL


Good to know! Thanks.


Thanks, Steve. You next.


Thanks, Miranda. I wasn't worried about infection because I found the tattoo parlour ahead of time, and it was one with a very good reputation. Kinda hip, but like a nice salon, instead of a hole in the wall.

As for family . . . well, my family is fundamentalist Christian; we're in the Bible belt, and my father is a minister . . . If I can get away with it . . .

(Of course, good ol' Dad hasn't actually noticed, yet. )


I hope you had a really nice time. Here's something for you to commemorate:





Thanks so much. Yes, the signature is very special to me. I'm very pleased that it turned out exactly as it was written by Heath himself. I think the siggy might just mean more to me thatn the lariat.


Do it; Do it!!

I love your idea. (One of our mods also decided on a version of a dragonfly after Heath's passing, modified to fit her own style and own meaning.) Actually, I have several dragonfly patterns that I can send you. They have four wings, like Heath's. So you could put an initial on each wing. I love the idea of initials. That's awesome. And no one else would know who they're for.

I never liked tattoos at all until Heath's. I had a pre-conceived image of inked people.

When I first became a fan of his, and saw he was inked, I will admit I cringed. I thought . . . "Oh boy, this is not the "type" of man I usually go for." ROFL . . . Turns out, he was exactly the kind of man I had been looking for all my life.

(I also thought, "And he's sooo young!" Well the chronological age wasn't a factor for very long. Instead of a 20'something guy, he was just Heath. A man. But I digress . . . Doncha hate people who say that? )

I began to see him openly expressing parts of himself that had been parts of me, as well. Parts that I had pushed down deep inside me and surpressed for years because of anxiety, fear of humiliation and looking like a fool, lack of self confidence in my ability to compete with people better than me, and a restlessness to "get on with life and make a living". Yet here this man was openly expressing the same parts of myself that I had almost forgotten how to access.

Heath took those interests and qualities and lived them out loud. He expressed interest in things (the same music, art, photography, hobbies, such as painting and chess) that made me yell, "ME TOO!!! I'VE ALWAYS..."

I had never even learned to "fly", yet He flew completely free every day.

Long before I paid Heath much notice, I had been miserable in a 8 to 5 corporate existance, devoid of creativity, waiting for the time when I said I'd go back and do the things I wanted to do. I had tried to fool myself into taking that safe route . . . that guaranteed income because I knew I was good and capable in a corporate environment. It's easy. I knew I could make a living and survive doing that. Turns out, I could make a living . . . but not survive.

I had already begun to realize that I could not be happy in that life. It wasn't me. It never was. What I was faced with at that point was HOW . . . how do I get the confidence to make a break? To take the leap? How do I start?

Heath made me began to dig deep in to my soul and pull out those things that I had hidden, that I had always wanted to pursue and forced me to face them. He was motivation and inspiration. He was courageous and strong and fearless. I knew that he had fear; I knew he had insecurities, but he always took that leap if he wanted something. He was a guidance to me.

When he expressed his feelings about his tattoos, (LOL I loved how he prounounced it "ta-dooos", with a short ta and a longer dooo. LOL) I began to realize how beautiful they were. They were not the sign of 18 year old recklessness, or trying to be cool, or trying to thumb his nose at a "straight-laced" society. They were sacred. Meaningful. Self-designed specifically to express a part of his soul. And that's when I began to understand more . . .

I still don't like them all. Actually, I don't like most of them. But these small tribal ones . . . his meaningful ones . . . the sacredness . . . I like them.

I feel different now. I can't describe how. . . . The process was cathartic. The image of Heath's tattoo and signature with me always, giving me some of the same strength that Heath sent when he was here. It can't replace him, but nothing ever will. It can just patch the hole a little bit.

I do wonder what Heath would think, though. If he knew all this. Of the strength he gave people. The inspiration. People commemorating him with ink . . . (LOL)



Wow, this is long. . . You'll fall asleep reading it.

I had always planned on getting a tattoo symbolizing each of my girls. I know what I want to get for 2 of the 3. The 3rd one is just not being revealed to me in any way. One of these days I will go ahead and start getting the ones I know I want to get.

You CAN'T leave one out!!! She'll have her feelings hurt!

You have to get all three at one time.

I'm telling you, a gardenia.

It's a love bloom. Here:

Gardenia 1
Gardenia 2
Gardenia 3
Gardenia 4
GardeniaWinter Gardenia

One of my favorite flowers. Matter of fact, if I ever have another tatt . . . (I CAN'T BELIEVE I JUST SAID THAT!! ) it might be a gardenia.

Girlfriend, you got more guts than I do! It looks fantastic!

I don't know that I would get all three of them at once. That might be to expensive.

I one final thought in tats on general. you can't get just 1 because they are addictive. I have 2 and I want more.

Phyllis, thanks for posting the pic. It is one of my favorites!!!

We had a great day.

Oh my God! Phyllis your new tattoo looks amazing! It really really does. They did a great job. I have no tattoos so i don't think i'll be making an ink tribute but i am really considering naming my son (if i ever have a son in the future) Heath because its such a great name!

Kudos to your new tat and the artist.

Please don't tell me that. My brother has two very nice ones on his calves (or in that general location) and one on his arm. You mean he is going to get more!

Phyllis, I love the tat; it was a wonderful tribute and definitely special for you.

I have been thinking about getting a tattoo, but am still undecided as to what. I am hoping to find what I want before November (months away) since I plan on visiting my brother on the West Coast; his girlfriend , who works at a tattoo shop, can help me design the tattoo.

Debbie

Thanks. Violet

Actually, I had no tatt's either. This was my first. . . I don't plan on anymore. (Although Debbie, I have also been told they're addictive.)

I also plan on naming my son Heath. But I had planned that anyway. Atlhough at my age, it looks like I may never have the opportunity. You'll have your little Heathy before I do. LOL

Hi phyllis,

Look's great! the tatoo guy did a great job.
Hope to get one some day, deciding what picture to choose that's an other issue, has to be like your's is to you, meaningfull! In your case that probably was easy (I think)
Meaning; being the Heath fan you are, and managing this site for so long.

Have a spouse who's not in to tatoo's (I know, I know, It's my body) but It's nice if you're other halve like's what you've got drawn on your body,

But hé it's not major important so, you'l never know.
enjoy your new tatoo, you'll never know it may be the first of many or already is?

Thanks, WC. Well . . . Yeah, your body is yours, but I actually believe that your body is your spouses, and theirs is yours, as well. Sooo . . . prob best to get a consensus. Of course, you do accept the person unconditionally, whether they grow a beard you hate, go bald, get fat, get tattoo'd . . . you know . . .

Good luck finding one that fits you.

(And no, this is the only one I have!)

If I ever have a son his name will be Gabriel Heath because of 2 reasons

1. the first time I ever layed eyes on Heath was when he played Gabriel
2. it's one of thew few names that sounds good with Heath as a middle name.

When I was pregnant a couple years ago I actually had my husband talked into the name Ledger for a boy. We had a girl though and I couldn't figure out how to work that into a girl's name. Lol.

LOL I just found your post! That's awesome. . . .
You could have named your girl Leddy or Leddie. LOL Leddie Bluepaw has a nice ring to it.

But imagine: 9 months to a year from now how many Heath's are going to be born around the world? It'll go from a rare name to the most common name of the newest generation.

And yes, I also intend to use the name Ledger for a middle name for my baby Heathy. If I ever get to have one.

This has moved from tribute tattoos, to tribute baby names. Just don't name your kid Roast or Beef. (I do not know what that is about! LOL)


Now . . . it has been reported that even the artist, Vincent Fantauzzo, who painted Heath's portrait in December and has been friends with him for about 5 years, had one of Heath's recent tatts inked on himself about 4 days ago.

Vincent was inked with this one as a tribute of Heath and as a thank you to Heath for allowing him in his life.


Concentric circles and circles in threes seems to be a reocurring motif in Heathy's tattoos. I wonder what this one meant to him?

Vincent probably knows, as it would make sense that an artist, trying not only to capture a person's likeness, but his essense, would very well ask.

Well this is it mates...

One of these should be inked soon...

Problem is, l'm still in doubt as to IF and WHERE and WHICH ... So l'm asking you all for advice on this because l'm kind of lost. Which would you like best ... which is the best to be inked ??

Well for me, it's that one, for sure. And it's a perfect idea.

That is how he looked his last month. It is not Heath the golden boy, but it's Heath the man. And that's how I preferred him.

Is that the size you're going to get it? I think that's the perfect size . . . not overwhelming.

Where will you put it?

Girl, if you hadn't thought of that first!



ooh btw: I got an email from a fan in Germany, who had the same idea I did and got the identical tatt I did, about 2 days before me. (Well, I don't know if she has text underneath, but she has the wrist lariat.) Her artist followed Heath's more closely than mine did. Makes me regret not walking out and choosing another artist. Her's is beautiful. . . . I'm trying to get her to post a pic.

Tink, make sure you let us know when you get it and show it off.