For Steven Robinson, the journey of getting tattoos brings his family together.

The senior art education major’s first piece was initials on both of his biceps. “I’m named after my dad,” Robinson said. “Initials have always been a big thing for me.”

Since then, concepts for new pieces have flooded his mind.

A family friend at a Boston tattoo parlor called Fat Ram’s Pumpkin Tattoo did the second piece, which pays homage to his family. Robinson and his sister got the tattoos done together. His span across his shoulder blades, while hers trail down her ribcage. They are roman numerals which signify their birth dates, and their mother’s, all of which fall in the same month.

From left to right, the numerals display their dates of birth: his sister born March 1, 1988, his mother March 5, 1969 and his on March 20, 1991.

“My mom loved that we did it. My whole family is about it. My grandmother actually took my sister to get her first one,” Robinson said.

His third piece, inked by the same artist, is of Fly Theory, the logo of a clothing line Robinson runs with his friend. It is on his bicep.

He draws a close correlation between his studying of the arts and appreciation of tattoo culture.

“Each tattoo means something at a point in your life. It’s a way to put it into art so you’ll always have it,” he said.

Robinson plans to get more pieces once he is able to soundly invest in them. He even has plans to get a piece done with his grandmother, who already has four tattoos of her own.

He has a brutally honest reflection on his experiences under the needle.

“Everyone asks me does it hurt, and I’m like, ‘Of course it hurts.’ Anyone who says tattoos don’t hurt is a liar,” Robinson said.

Published on February 24, 2014 at 10:37 pm

Contact Naomi: ncfalk@syr.edu