Tattoo #3 (Depiction of Angel Gabriel with family lions at her feet; right bicep and upper arm)

Shortly after Psalms 18 I decided I needed some guardian angels. Not only to watch over me in times of despair but also in times of joy. This particular tattoo is still my favorite. It is the first of many that I got once I moved up to NYC and was 2 blocks from my house. The artist and proprietor of the shop was named Eric and he had an art degree from NYU and named his shop Ink Stop Tattoo which was on the corner of 13th and Avenue A in Alphabet City, NY.

We bonded immediately and talked of politics and music, his love for his job which I dearly enjoyed listening too and most importantly we talked of family. I believe he had recently been married and had a baby girl. Over several other sessions I felt at home with Eric and even would stop in from time to time to say hello, feeling an instant bond with the one person whom had put my beautiful angel on. Gabriel, one of the archangels and seen in many faiths as the same as the holy spirit serves as my main guardian.

I speak to him often, in time of doubt and in time of great faith. I see him akin to God in that way. I am not a religious man but I am a man of faith and I truly believe there are consequences, good and bad for one’s behavior. I see to it often that I am on the good side of this angel.

Tattoo #4 (Depiction of Egyptian Angel; left arm)

My sister sketched this out for me and Eric put this on. My sister has a wonderful hand at art. She designs clothes, does oil on canvas and now I guess she can claim body art in her resume. Nonetheless, the main point was to have commonality on my arms. I love angels and always have and wanted at least a guardian angel on both arms.

The Egyptian face on the angel came from when I spent a few weeks in the valley of the kings and queens on the Nile River my junior year of college. I was blown away at the art in the tombs and wanted to depict the Egyptian influence in the face of the angel. The angel, of whom I never named, also is holding an Irish cross to give a little love to my native blood line.