Flash Giveaway: Who’s Ready for a Free Tacoma Tattoo?
Update: Congratulations to Erin Shadensack, whose comment was chosen at random as the winner! Unless she has a change of heart we’ll be seeing that octopus and Narrows Bridges design tattooed real soon.
Thanks to everyone who entered, and don’t forget all of this artwork is available to be tattooed at Homage. Just stop on by and tell them you’re interested in the Grit City Magazine flash sheet.
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Tacoma has no shortage of tattoo shops but if you’re into classic American style tattoos, Homage is one of the best.
That’s why, when we decided a custom flash sheet of Tacoma-themed tattoos was what we wanted for the poster that comes along with the second hard copy of our print magazine, we headed for their shop on South Tacoma Way.
Walking around the shop is like visiting a tattoo museum. Original pieces from local and nationally known artists from the last 100 years adorn the walls. The owners have studied with some of the best artists ever to put needles to skin, including San Francisco legend, Lyle Tuttle.
They take tattooing seriously but know how to have fun. Currently Melissa and Matt are in a contest through the end of the year to see who can ink the most giraffe tattoos. The loser has to get one themselves.
Why giraffes? Because the pair used to tease anyone getting a tattoo on their back (or location they couldn’t see) by saying, “Oh, sweet giraffe tattoo!” just to mess with them. Then Melissa and Matt realized they very rarely, if ever, actually did any giraffe work.
Current tally: Melissa—17, Matt—7.
They also have artwork on a dartboard that changes regularly, and for $100 you can toss a dart at it. “What you land on is what you get!”
When we asked the Homage team to create a sheet of Tacoma flash art, we got more than just some cute Tacoma pictures; we got a piece of artwork created by experts whose passion for this city perhaps exceeds our own.
The final product is, as we learned, known as a pork chop sheet. The exact origin of the name is unclear but the concept is as old as tattooing in the western world.
Old school tattoo artists would note their most popular designs and collect them onto one sheet to show off to future customers. Since the art was one-of-a-kind, they would often wrap the edges in tape and install grommets to help preserve the art while displaying it in various locations.
Once the sheet was complete, the artist would write prices next to each piece. If you look at old pork chop sheets, you can see stickers placed on top of old ones when it came time to update prices. The team priced each of these according to what you’d see in a tattoo shop from the heyday of American style tattoos.
Do us a favor and go show the Homage Tattoo team some love. If you Instagram you can follow Matt, Kirk, and Melissa (as well as the shop as a whole) via the links here.
If you’re more of a Facebook kind of person, this is the link for you.
They deserve it, because not only did they put many hours into creating this visual lovefest for our city, they’ve agreed to give away a tattoo of any one piece from this sheet to a lucky winner!
Here’s the detail stuff:
- Must be over 18 years of age to enter. Sorry kiddos, no tats for you.
- One entry per person. Be cool.
- Enter by leaving a comment on this story telling us which tattoo you want to get off of this flash sheet. Use an email address you actually check.
- No purchase necessary.
- Prize has no cash value. Don’t punk out on getting inked and expect to get moolah instead.
- Entries close Tuesday, November 27, at noon PST. At that time a winner will be drawn at random and contacted via email. Winner must claim prize by email reply within 24 hours or another winner will be drawn.
- Winner will contact Homage Tattoo to arrange appointment time to get inked.
- Winner agrees to allow Grit City Magazine and Homage Tattoo to photograph/video the tattoo session and use the material on their respective sites and social media channels.
Want a print of this Tacoma tattoo flash art for yourself? We’re including an 11×17 poster with every copy of our fall 2018 issue. Here’s where to preorder yours before the cutoff date of December 2.
And of course, if you can’t wait for the winner to be named or don’t end up being the lucky one, this artwork is still available to purchase as a tattoo. Just pop into Homage and ask for whatever piece is your favorite. Tell the crew we said hi.
Photos by Sierra Hartman
I like the galloping gerty!!!!
Knife and heart
Because I love tacoma but I also want to stab it
Tacoma isnt where I was raised, but I defiantly grew up here. Love the Galloping Gerry or Tacoma Aroma(as the Aroma was what I 1st met when coming out here for the 1st time.
Tacoma Narrows Bridge and Octopus
Tacoma Narrows Bridge and Octopus
The java jive looks amazing, but I think I’d want the dome & the mountain
These are all great! I’d proudly wear any. My favorite 3 are: 1)the narrows octopus, 2)Tacoma dome mount tahoma, and 3)the heart and dagger. I’d let the artist choose. Tacoma Tattoo Roulette
I absolutely love the Java Jive!! The Rainier dome is my second favorite.
I am in love with the Tacoma Dome backed by Mt. Rainier coming out of the clouds. This is one of my favorite views and one of the many pics I have and continue to take. I have spent most of my life in Tacoma and really would never leave. We have an eclectic group of people, great places to see, and an array of views that are just breathtaking. Tacoma is my home, my kids home, and Homage Tattoo is an amazing shop. Mimi is on it and totally nailed my tat design just from a brief conversation.
The Java Jive is where it’s at! Karaoke nights are the best!
The eagle with Tacoma tattooed on its tail feathers.
The Heidelbeg beer mug is awesome! My grandfather worked there for 25 years. Would be a great tribute to him.
Definitely the narrows bridge and octopus!
I LOVE the Tacoma Aroma with the skunk, I would so rawk that one!!!!!! ❤️
I love the Bob’s Java Juve tat!
I would get the Tacoma Dome!!!
I love the Dome and mountains, would totally get that done!
I nominate my husband Angus Wolfe. He’s a part of the local music scene and huge lover and supporter of his city. His band even has a song called grit city. I think he’d either like the narrows bridge or the dome and mountain piece.
I instantly fell in love with the octopus and the narrows!
The heart with the knife going through it! I recently moved to Tacoma and love it here 🙂
I love the Narrows with the Giant octo! I love Tacoma and proud to call it home and this project and magazine brings me so much joy, plus I love a good tattoo! I already rep the 253 with a Mt Rainier tattoo and this would fit perfectly right next to it!
I think I’d have to go with the skunk, Aroma of Tacoma is classic, though the octopus is really rad, and Java Jive is iconic. It’s so hard to choose!
Oh dude. The java jive! Love passing the kettle on my way home from work everyday 🙂
Man! These are all so sweet! I love the Octo and Gertie, the Aroma of Tacoma skunk, the acorn, the Java Jive, and the frothy beer mug. Hard to choose just one!
Tacoma Aroma skunk keeps stinking in my mind ha ha pun intended…love the Tac tatts another would be awesome!
Tacoma is where I found myself. I’ve been wanting a tac town tattoo for a long while now. My favorites are the galloping gerty, aroma of Tacoma, and the dome. I would love for the artist to decide which one I get.
I’d love to get the Mt Rainier/Tacoma Dome one! My parents drug me up here from Northern California 35 years ago. I was a very unhappy 15 year old at the time but I guess T-town grew on me because I never left. My first memories are of the Dome and “The Mountain”. My very first concert was Judas Priest at the Dome in 1984 for my 16th birthday. For the last five years I had the joy of seeing that view from work. Sadly, the office closed recently and I really miss that view. Hopefully I will be the lucky winner and will have that view etched into my skin forever. Thank you, Homage and Grit City for this awesome opportunity!
The octopus for sure, it’s so cute! I grew up in Gig Harbor, so it makes sense for me!
I’d get the octopus tattoo! Definitely a Tacoma staple, and I love the design.
The java jive is so cute!! Definitely that one 💖
I’d love to get that lil Tacoma aroma skunk 💟💟✨
I would get the narrows with the octopus a just calling out to me along with Tacoma aroma They’re all amazing artist should be so proud of the work they have presented
They all are cool. Love Tacoma and would be honored to have one to represent.
I would love that Java Jive Tattoo, born and raised, south end girl, would love to be my first tattoo❤️
I love them all! Artists choice
I would get the octopus! 🐙
Octopus bridge one!
Tac heart and dagger!! Yes please!!
I found myself in Tacoma!
I would go with the Java Jive. As a little girl when we would drive by I would always tell my dad that I wanted to go in there and have tea!!
He would have to tell me it was only a place for grown ups to have tea.
We moved to Tacoma 6 months ago and it has basically saved my life. I am going to get some Tacoma-centric tats – and ANY of these would be excellent choices. Thanks for everything – you guys are doing amazing work!
I would definitely do the dome it’s iconic
That is some GREAT flash!! Saw it in person at the Tacoma Night Market!!
That eagle or the octopus with the narrows bridge, both are looking real nice! Even if i dont win id pay to one of those done.
I would love the tacoma aroma one 😊
That eagle or octopus with the narrows bridge is looking real nice! Id pay to get eaither one done even if im not a winner.
I love Mt Rainier and the Tacoma Dome! My family owned multiple grocery stores in the 20’s & 30’s downtown and in McKinley. My great grandpa was the horticulturist at Pt Defiance in the 50’s-70’s but I hadn’t experienced Tacoma until I moved here a year ago. It has felt more like home than anywhere else I have lived. I would love that tattoo to carry on the family history of Tacoma.
Love the octopus!
Always wanted a octopus and love the bridges
Game on
I’d get the eagle with the Tacoma banner, for sure
Definitely the Tacoma Dome!
The narrows and octopus