My first tattoos

Jun 23

Written By DARRAN Petty

In the first photo I am 15 years old.. I just sat through my second tattoo.

I have never told this story on social media but I have told in my school talks, it’s an important message.

When I look at this photo I remember being hungry & alone.

I was broke, “living on “Living away from allowance” (Centrelink) by memory I think it was about $315 a fortnight.

I could not afford rent let alone tattoos.

I was living from friends to friends houses, hiding from parents & drinking… A LOT.

I lived on toast, two minute noodles, alcohol & drugs.

But.. this is where I became an entrepreneur.

I wanted tattoos so badly, I wanted so badly to look like Anthony Kiedis from the Res Hot Chilli Peppers.

But here was no way I could afford it, so I taught myself to draw.

I would go from tattooist to tattooist asking them to trade my drawings for tattoos. The guy in the photo (Cookie) accepted my offer and here I am sitting in the chair.

I remember one night at 16 years old being drunk out of my mind and drawing a tattoo on scalp paper, the next day I went to the tattooist & asked for it to be put on my next. Lucky my mate at the time walked in & said NO Fkn way.. I thank him to this day that tattoo is the second pictured..

My message is simple.. If you are a struggling youth & want something bad enough.. You will find a way.

Also.. When I was 15, everyone counted me out & there was no internet or YouTube.. Now days you can learn ANYTHING on the internet. So get busy learning.

I learnt drums on a chair, I taught myself to play basketball throwing a ball into the gutter of my roof, I taught myself about bodybuilding etc etc etc.

These days people ask me how I get do good at what I do & I laugh… It’s so easy to learn, Google it

The only thing that you have to add is hard work.. That’s the secret

Honestly though I think the tattooist, saw my work ethic & felt sorry for me. Look into my eyes in this photo & you will see I’m hungry, not just for food but life.

*Maybe I should start drawing tattoos again I know there a lot of people out there with my designs on there skin from back in the day