skate related tattoos

Who doesn’t have a tattoo these days, right?

Well, maybe you, but let’s take a step back into a time when only bikers, sailors, and criminals displayed them proudly.

Only a handful of skateboarders were getting tattoos in the early 80s.

These damn punk rockers started bringing their style and fashion to the forefront of skateboarding right in front of our eyes, and I thank them for this!

Collector Spanky Artist Chad Hartman
Collector Spanky / Artist Chad Hartman

We seen them in magazines, and videos slashing grinds, and throwing airs higher than giraffe pussy while we got glimpse of their artwork on their skin flashing by.

Sims Eric Nash Lizard Tattoo
Sims Eric Nash Lizard Tattoo / Collector Scott McDowell

I’m talking about the legends of today, Art and Steve Godoy, Salba, Jason Jessee, Jeff Grosso and Duane Peters just to name a few of the guys we seen in the mags showcasing their artwork.

I remember getting the Thrasher magazine that featured the Godoys in and they were showing their tattoos, I knew then I wanted to get tattooed! Little did I know I would become a tattoo artist in the mid 90’s as well and be able to create skate tattoos on clients for years, crazy how things come full circle.

Ray Barbee Spitfire Tattoo / Collector Christoper Brewster. Artist Tim Worthen

So anyways, back to whatever the hell I was talking about…

O yeah skate related tattoos!

So that being said, most of us have followed in the footsteps of these legends and have gotten tattoos of skate-related images or your favorite old skate graphic.

CollectorScott Moritz / Artist unknown

My first skate-related tattoo I got when I was 16 and was the Grosso elephant on top of his bad trip deck from Lucero Ltd, which later I added the bottom graphic to this, and they just kept growing one by one, you know how it goes… “one-and-done, and forget about it!”

So this leads us to showcase some skate-related tattoo collectors from around the world and the artist that did them! So here are a few for you to check out, and don’t forget to read the Art and Steve Godoy interview I did with them in the section ” Behind the Graphic.”

Collector Vince Canfora / Artist Mark G.
CollectorTravis Johnston / Artist Robert Grapes
Collector Richard Rosen / Artist Cole Lyons
tony hawk tattoo
Tony Hawk Tattoo
Collector Brad Johnson / Artist Jason Kramer (RIP)

Just a small sample of some awesome skate-related tattoos for your viewing pleasure! Much love to everyone that sent photos to be used, Thanks, guys!