Tucson Tattoo Artist
Personal writings from David Meek, businessman, tattoo artist and all around great guy
The first round of voting for Best of Tucson is in and Im blown away. For the second year in a row Ive been nominated for Best Tattoo Artist in Tucson. Thanks to all who nominated me! Its a huge honor to be be in the top 5… Im happy to just make good tattoos for my amazing clientele, but a little recognition aint gonna kill me haha. So again a huge thank you to all that have gotten me this far and trust me year after year to make tattoos for you.
The time is upon us. The Tucson Weekly’s Best of Tucson 2019 voting has begun. Last year I was so very fortunate to have so many wonderful people put my name and my private studio in the ring for Best Tattoo Artist as well as Best Tattoo Shop in Tucson. It was such an honor to have the trust and votes from so many. My goal has always been to make tattoos that stand the test of time, are applied with clean crisp technique, in a clean and relaxingly comfortable studio…. So, as far as that goes, Ive been a winner for along time in that competition.
But… The competitor in me always wants a little more haha. So last year was only the first year my studio was open, and I was a finalist for Best Tattoo Artist and the studio was a finalist for Best Tattoo Shop. Amazing. But I think we can do a bit better this year.
This first round is for nominations. So please take a moment to go the the link and show some love for your favorite things in Tucson.
Best tattoo artist – David Meek Best Tattoo shop – David Meek Tattoos, Best Hot Dog- You Sly Dog, Best radio or morning show hosts – Cyndi and Chris, Best Hamburger- Molecular Munchies, Best brewery-Dilinger Brewing Co Best Yoga Studio- Yoga Oasis… these are just a few of my friends that deserve some recognition and a nomination!
Thanks for taking the time to support local tucson businesses!
Dave Meek
Hey everyone, it happened… The Tucson Weekly Best of Tucson finalists are officially in… And even more exciting, I have been nominated for Best Tattoo Artist (David Meek) as well as Best Tattoo Shop (David Meek Tattoos). This is an incredible honor and I have to thank all of the people that have allowed me to tattoo them. The only thing is… We Need to Win. So here is the link to head back to ballot and let Tucson KNOW who is the best. Im also happy to report some of my close friends have also made it in the finals Best Food Truck ( You Sly Dog) Best Brewery (Borderlands) Best Neighborhood Bar and Best Beer Selection ( Tucson Hop Shop) just to name a few.
Here is the link for you to cast your votes for the Best in Tucson.
Im so excited. Thanks so much… and you can bet money we will have a celebration when we win!!
Dave
The Tucson Weekly best of Tucson primary voting is underway til June 17th and there is no better time to let your favorite Tucson establishment know how you feel about them. Categories include best Food Truck (You Sly Dog) or best radio host (Cyndi from 92.9) to best art gallery (MOCA) or best yoga studio (yoga oasis). I love being able to participate and support my favorite things about Tucson. From Roccos little chicagos wings to renting movies at Casa Video or grabbing a beer at Borderlands Brewery it makes me feel good how awesome our local stuff is.
Click THIS LINK to go to the Tucson Weekly Best of Tucson Voting page to get started.
And support all your favorite local stuff including best tattoo artist ( ME!) and tattoo shop (David Meek Tattoos)
Thanks everyone, Im really excited to see how this goes..
Dave
This past weekend the family and I went down to one of Tucsons best traditions. The 4th Avenue Street Fair. I have been going to this event on and off for the last decade or so and it never dissapoints. Well maybe because I never have any real agenda other than to see the community come hang out in the streets for a few days. Beers in hand, roasted corn in the air and all the classic pop up carnival food tents in the background. And at center stage you have vendors and vendors and vendors galore. All hoping to share their unique little gifts on to the world. From homemade to repurposed and even some thoughtfully manufactured items can be found. Local artists in varying mediums from paints to yarn to sealife… Its so cool to look at.
I found myself enjoying a pineapple cocktail for most of the day. and Yes, it was an actual pineapple that I continued to refill with only adult libations. And with that pineapple I discovered a really cool fact. If you want to make friends, carry around a pineapple with a straw and some garnish. Everybody wants to know the guy with a pineapple drink. If only for the moment they need to ask him where he got it… Instant ice breaker. People seem to lower their guard when talking to a man holding a pineapple drink. Im going to continue this experiment and carry a pineapple around wherever I go. Just to see if my hypothesis holds true.
So considering all the cool stuff I got to see and the people I got to watch. This year was just as good as any other year. We also brought home some new friends. 4 new red little shrimp that contain themselves in their own ecosystem. SO meditative to watch these little creatures swim and eat and eat and swim. They are a welcome addition to our home and we all love towatch them just be.
And Oh yes lets not forget the title of this little bloggy thing. Im moving… DUN DUN DUUUUUN. haha . Not to worry, Im just experiencing a little domestic relocation. The stresses that go along with a move are quite unique and tiresome and to be honest, I wish I was a minimalist everytime. But we will overcome.
So no need to worry I was just sharing some life happenings.
Its hard to do but its such a healthy neceesity to shed the past from your present. Going through ol boxes, being reminded of some great memories. And other items you come across may have now meaning at all. So why the hell do I have this…. Donate. Moving gives us an opportuninty to purge our collections that we seem to cherish until its time to relocate them.
That actually might be my new mantra when buying something. Do I want to pack this up and move this? Instead of this is so cool I need this so bad…
Well thatll do for now. What do you think of community street fairs and moving? Leave a comment
and if you are interested in any of my tattoo work fear not I will still be working at Fast Lane Tattoo on Oracele Rd in Tucson.
Its been a crazy couple of weeks finishing up february and beginning March. Crazy in its type of activities rather than crazy in volume of activities, which is usually the case.
But maybe I should back up.
The last 8 months or so I’ve found myself being more deliberate with my time. My one most valuable asset. I’ve spent way more time being with my family rather than away and the feeling of gratitude is surging!
Ill have to post about my new adventures in meditation, running, reading(usually disney bio related or self educations.), floating, music, art and even hang gliding!
So back to my deliberate use of time.
I have spent years trading time for money. And I’ve learned that that is not a bad thing. It was the precise thing I needed to be doing. Especially since have a family that I am most certainly a part of. And part of those responsibilities include financial contributions. So work work work. Well maybe more tattoo tattoo tattoo.
And if you think for a second I don’t love what I do, you’re crazy. I’m a punk rock kid at heart. I had a mohawk at my daughters first birthday. I’ve had jobs before tattooing. I made damn good money. But being able to do things the way I want has always been part of the plan. Want a mohawk? Wear one. Want to be tattooed? Be tattooed.
So as fate would have it, Tattooing showed it lovely face in my life.
Now, the mantra of MY WAY has been poking around again. I’ve put my pole in the pond from sunup to sundown and sometimes longer to make tattoos on some of the raddest people I could ever expect to meet. And as I grow skill, they grow in styles and size!
My appointment book has been steadily filling with more and more tattoos that really are some incredibly fun pieces. And I have been been practicing how to deliberately use my time.
I also gave myself the most enduring test of physical stress and mental stress by signing up to do a Half Maration (13.1 miles) in Mesa Arizona. I gave myself an official training season of 6 days. Now I clearly would never recommend that to anyone, and I know I’ll never ask that of me again. But the commitiment to participate for 5 years and I can’t fail myself. So this year, six days it was, and next year at least 3 months.
It’s late. I dont care why I’m writing. All I know is Im enjoying it. I think I need to do a few more posts to get used to the directio of this. I wonder if I really show how the sausage is made, in my shop anyways, there could be some small benefit to the tattoo world or the world in general.
I kind of feel like these article s need to be longer. Or maybe I should ramble more, or no. Thats a bad idea. They will be as long as they need to be and nothing more.
I am looking forward to this being my personal account of life as an evergrowing artist of life, tattooing, and creation be it art, memories, humans, and anything that Isn’t already here.
I look forward to hearing from anyone that has some good books films unrelated reccomendations, comments, feedback, encouragement, or usable criticsims!
Im just about ready to launch my summer tattoo contest. Now is a great time to sign up for my list if you havent already. Its the only way you can be eligible to win let alone know when its gonna be. Checkout my Client Exclusives to learn a bit more.
Well after many trials and formulas we have finally come up with a cosmetic tattoo coverup. I have personally been working on finding the right system for covering a tattoo for work, for performing or for whatever you may need to conceal your tattoo for. It may seem wierd that a tattoo artist would promote covering tattoos but the reason is simple. I love tattoos. I love them so much that when somebody says they can’t get one, it makes me want them to have one even more. Usually its the people that just want a little something on their wrist or hand but occasionally you get those that want their necks tattooed. With this tattoo concealer you can get all the tattoos you dont want anyone to know about.
I have put it through some grueling tests and with many failures, Finally there is something I can be proud of. Feel free to check out the link and browse the products. www.inognitotattooconcealer.com. If you have any questions regarding shades or shipping send us an email at info@inkognitoconcealer.com
I hope this new project is able to help those that thought getting a tattoo was hopeless. For the entrepreneurs that will work for themselves one day but today they need to cover. For the actors that have roles that may be better played with your tattoo hidden. For the bride whose decision to get a tattoo of the Mickeys Hornet on your shoulder when she was 18 may not match your elegant strapless dress. For the felon that wants to start over… Weve got you covered.
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Im giving away a free painting!!! For those that have been asking I have finally decided to have a contest… Please follow me on Intstagram, and Repost the pic with #davidmeektattoos to enter. Ill pick the winner(or winners hehe) on May 1st 2015… Good luck and thanks for checking!
Dave
Today is Sailor Jerry’s birthday. A legend among tattooers and a rum-maker amongst the rest of the world. I am lucky enough to have my own piece of Jerry’s history with a handcut acetate stencil I received from Shanghai Kate. The history of this little piece of plastic is more vast than I could ever know. How may sailors did it rest upon for a brief moment before the adrenaline and alcohol kick in. I’ve tattooed this stencil the way it was meant to be tattooed and Ive had it tattooed on me in the same fashion. Vaseline and carbon powder. Enough said. No sissy stencil papers and stencil solutions. Things were much different back then. Heres a peek for the know-it-alls that think Norman Keith Collins was a rum maker and Ed Hardy is a shirt designer! Youre Welcome
get your hands on a hard copy
David Meek
Fast Lane Tattoo
3801 N Oracle rd
Tucson Az
(520)-388-8282