I think it was around my 45^th birthday when I had finally made the decision to get a tattoo. I’d been wanting to for a while, but first couldn’t decide what I wanted, but then I was always worried about any possible issues at work, since I did work in an office. Years ago, that would have been highly frowned upon but that dramatically lessened over the years. Plus, at that point in my life, I just didn’t care anymore. So, I got my first one, I think around 2010. Then for the next 9 years, I would go to a friend’s house for a tattoo party and add another one. From simple stitches around my wrist, to Italian horror, Hammer, and of course, Paul Naschy! But then I stopped, for a variety of reasons. But the itch to get more was always there.

Then at a local movie marathon, I met artist Aaron Stockwell, whose paintings just blew me away. It was his piece from Lamberto Bava’s Demons (1985), of a closeup of the shiny mask from the film that I just couldn’t believe he did with paint. It really looked like metal, with the shine and reflections. Just incredible piece of work. Over the years, his work has impressed me more and more. In fact, at one show where he was set up, I ended up buying this original piece from him, Dario Argento’s Suspiria, which is still hanging in my office.

At some point, I discovered that Aaron is also a tattoo artist, and knowing how amazing his painting is, I knew that when it was time for another tattoo, Aaron would be the guy. It seems that every time I would have the money set aside, some other issue would arise, like furnace issues, car repairs, or any other number of normal things that life throws at you, so there went the money. But then 2020, the stars aligned, and I had Aaron recreate the medallion from Mariano Baino’s Dark Waters (1993) on my calf. Again, even with all the details of the artwork, Aaron pulled off.

Jump ahead 4 more years, and since I knew I was going to be off that whole last week of October, and had some extra cash, I asked Aaron if he had any open slots on that Wednesday to finally get another piece done. When he said he did, it was yet another day of my “relaxing time” where something was planned. And that day, there was very little “relaxing”!

I knew for some time that I wanted to get a nice piece from Frankenstein (1931), of the creature, since it remains one of my favorites, but also means a lot to me on a more personal level. I picked the shot where the ceiling door was opening, and the creature starts to look up at this light coming from above him. Not only was it one that I hadn’t seen all over the place in tattoo form, but in a moment of reflection, I felt that it showed the creature looking up towards the light. Meaning that no matter what your situation, no matter how dark things might be, there is always a brighter side to it. Pretty deep, huh?

Needless to say, after 5 ½ hours, Aaron completely knocked it out of the park. Granted, anybody that has gotten a tattoo that requires a lot of shading knows, especially the last hour or so, it feels like a cheese grater just running back and forth over your skin. Good times!

I’ve never had regrets over any of the pieces that I’ve gotten and know that every time I look down at the creature on my arm, it will remind me that no matter what, there is still some bit of goodness in the world. You just have to look for it. Sounds a little cheesy, I know, but us horror fans know that even in the darkest of moments, you can find a positive element, even in a horror film. You just need to look and be open to see it.

You can see Aaron’s work and contact him through his website HERE.

And yes, I’ve already planned out what my next piece is.

Up Next . . . Monster Bash!