nautical star pirate tattoos tattoo full sleeves chest pieces stomach tat ribbon kanji flames water lettering spiderweb cross tribal banner and heart

 

Show me a man with a tattoo and I'll show you a man with an interesting past.

~Jack London - 1883

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 

ABC-Channel 27 news video by Mitch Weber. Da Pirate getting tattooed  at Smooth Fx in Sauk City, WI

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Thank YOU! ;) People like you make the world a better place! Keep up the good work,
it's totally amazing!

Lots and lots of love! <3
~Sweden Ink

chest tattoos stomach tattoos full sleeves red ribbon pirate lettering banner carpe diem neck tats tat tribal wind bars fire water red rose kanji
Conform and be dull James Frank Dobie
 
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Pirate's Guestbook

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Bob,

My next piece i want done is "Carpe Diem" on my back with my dragon's........ I have to say I have never been so moved by another person's spirit as I have been with you. You are such a truly amazing and blessed "Angel PIRATE" and so I really want to get Carpe Diem .......... Have an amazing weekend

~Lisa
 
The Fire Within-Feature length documentary on HIV/AIDS survivor Bob Bowers-Rent it on NetFlix.com
 

View the film trailer to the
feature length documentary

"The Fire Within"

   
 

 

 

The Fire Within-HIV/AIDS documentary featuring Bob Bowers A.k.a. One Tough Pirate

Click to purchase the DVD from August Moon Entertainment

 
 

I had always been warned that the stomach was a sensitive area to be tattooed. Hearing stories of "grown men crying, not finishing their letters, etc." was a bit intimidating but a challenge I welcomed! Considering I'm fully sleeved, to my armpits no less, and the majority of my back and chest are covered in ink, I truly didn't think that I would actually experience pain in the true sense of the word. It was indeed a tough sit to say the very least! However, considering the red ribbon and "Never Forget" are to mark a QUARTER CENTURY of my living with HIV/AIDS, and to honor my many friends, and all that have passed from this disease, it was worth every ounce of pain and discomfort! Smooth did an incredible job per usual in helping to design and bring the tattoo to life! I have to thank Sean and Danielle for their input and moral support! The comic relief was greatly appreciated too! The red ribbon tattoo on my stomach will serve as my reminder to fight on in honor of many and to NEVER EVER FORGET!

May 14, 2008   red ribbon tattoo stomach lettering   tattooing the stomach letters stomach tattoo   tattoo pain stomach lower abdomen red ribbon lettering words never forget
  The outline is done...   Thumbs up on the letters...   Holy F#CK...Bring on da color

 

skull with flames flaming skull pirate logo OTP www.onetoughpirate.com One Tough Pirate

 

To honor my 24th year of LIVING with HIV/AIDS, I added "Carpe Diem" on my traps. 2007 was a remarkable year to say the very least! My speaking took me from Key West, Florida to Oregon. Our HIV/AIDS poster awareness campaign was launched and featured in POZ magazine, we launched our OTP and HIVictorious® clothing, my tattoo sleeves were completed, just to name a few of the highlights of the year.  Seize the day pretty well describes the theme of 2007!  Thank you to my friends, family, Smooth Fx, colleagues, and everyone who has so graciously supported our non-profit, HIVictorious, Inc.
FIGHT ON & NEVER F#CKING SURRENDER!!!

April 30, 2008   tattoo chair with smooth adding carpe diem tattoo   Smooth Fx in Sauk City Carpe Diem tat - Piercing and tattoos   neck tattoo cards dice carpe diem plain black font lettering shoulders traps pirate tattoo
  T'was good t' be back!   Smooth working his magic   Carpe Diem!
 

 

 

tattoo-tat-pirate tats-pirate tattoo-pirate tattoos full color sleeves Bob Bowers HIV AIDS survivor educator activist wisconsin madison

 
Smooth Fx custom tats-piercing-tattoos-tattoo in Sauk City, Wisconsin

A star is rising! Check out the beautiful and talented  Danielle from SmoothFx

Danielle of Smooth Fx custom tattoos-tattoo shop-tats-piercing
THE SLEEVES IN PROGRESS!

After 17 years of collecting tats that represent 'mile markers' for my survival, some that represent my personality, and a few ' just for the hell of it,' the tie in to my sleeve work continues moving forward with great precision and expertise from Smooth of Smooth Fx Tattoos in Sauk City, Wisconsin.  I'm grateful to everyone who has graced my body with their artistry! I have been tattooed in Wisconsin, Los Angeles, Portland Oregon, Atlantic City, New Jersey, Sturgis, South Dakota and San Diego, California. Stay tuned for more...I think I'm hooked. CARPE F#CKING DIEM!!!

 

 

October 11, 2007
I'm thrilled t' say that da left sleeve is COMPLETE!!! After a 5 hour sit with the MASTER of ink, I have a full sleeve of amazing and vibrant ink! We added a few more leaves on the Red Rose and the green is awesome against the black wind bars. To my surprise, it was painless as the needles filled in next to my armpit! I think that also speaks mounds to the smooth precision and steady hand of Smooth. My Guardian Wench on my right arm also got a kick ass makeover.
She is now anatomically enhanced in a vibrant purple!

June 8, 2007

Another 4 hour sit and Smooth finished the color on the flame and nautical star (left upper arm) that was his original design. He also colored some older flames and my 'heart on my sleeve' that I've had for some years. He added some new black tribal to my right arm as well.

April 12, 2007

Back in da chair again! 5 more hours of ink was acquired recently. Per usual, I let Smooth know my vision and his skill and artistry translated into a wicked left upper arm tie-in for da sleeve. With great skill and flawless precision, Smooth added black wind bars, a new flame and nautical star. Stay tuned as it will be continued soon!

February 17, 2007
After a whoppin' 8 hour sit, the right sleeve is nearly complete! We added water and blue wind bars/water around the
Mako Shark and upper arm. Per usual, Smooth has done an amazing job of bringing the pieces together into
an awesome sleeve. We still have more water to add and some coloring on a few original pieces. Stay tuned...

January 6, 2007
A red rose is added for my Dad who passed away in 2005, da bluebird receives much deserved
color and da cherries (one ripe and one rotten) are completed!

 

 

 
October 11, 2007   Pirate sleeves tattoo black wind bars on left arm   tattoo ink on left sleeve wind bars black   tattoos of red rose,cherries,bluebird,ahnk,pirate skull and cutlass,spider web,green leaves,dad,hot rod flames,bulldog,pirate flag,skull,heart,barbwire,jolly roger flag,dice and cards on full sleeve
    Da underarm in progress   Da Harley tat gets a makeover   At long last a color sleeve...
April 12, 2007   Black wind bars-tattoo sleeve left arm   adding black wind bars to upper left arm sleeve work,red rose,rotten cherry,pirate skull,in memory of dad   Smooth completing black work on left sleeve,black and white nautical star,phoenix back piece
    Addin black wind bars   Da ever evolving sleeve work   Completion of da wind bars
 

February 17, 2007

shades of green nautical stars on sleeve hot rod flames water angel wings in memory of mom mako shark

Transition from fire to water

shades of blue water and wind bars exploding skull phoenix pirate wench full sleeves

Water and wind bars go in

right full sleeve water mako shark flames nautical stars cross and banner hot rode flames yellow orange red

8 hours later...Da shark swims

 

June 8, 2007   nautical star on full sleeve red heart barb wire smooth fx tats tattoos   left arm full sleeve spirit and soul kanji fire flames tribal pirate tattoo   courage heart red skull with dagger horseshoe cards and dice
   

Addin da yellow flame

  Addin white in da nautical star   I know why his name is Smooth!
January 6, 2007   rose tattoo in memory of Dad with green leaves and harley davidson emblem   bluebird tattoo adding colors in memory of those lost in the fight   ripe and rotten red cherries tattoo tat on left sleeve
   

Start of da rose for my Dad

 

Da Bluebird receives color!

  Da cherries receive color
skull tattoos pirate wench flames kanji fire water web tats stone cross neck tattoo stomach tattooe  

The world is divided into two kinds of people: those who have tattoos, and those who are afraid of people with tattoos.

~Author Unknown

 
 
Witness some of da evolution of Da Pirate's sleeves by Smooth of Smooth Fx Tattoo's in Sauk City, Wisconsin. Smooth has done a flawless job of taking once all black and gray tats and bringing them into living color. Da 4 nautical stars, da two cherries, da rose, da pirate skull and knife, wind bars, da intensive flame work, water and phoenix are all his original work. He is without a doubt, "SMOOTH!"

Stay tuned for more photos coming soon!

Please visit da master of ink at:

www.smoothfx.com

 

 

 

flaming skull with flames onetoughpirate.com OTP One Tough Pirate Bob Bowers Madison Wisconsin

 
THE PHOENIX SOARS!

In celebration of my 23rd year of living with HIV/AIDS and my 43rd birthday, I have gotten my Phoenix at last! Smooth Fx consulted with me and custom designed this most remarkable back piece. It covers the majority of my back has taken multiple sittings. Thus far, I have 20 hours into it and counting... For me, the Phoenix symbolizes life, rising up to fight and my will to survive. It is a strong and poignant tribute to honor all those who have blessed my journey and continue to watch over me from above. Thank you to Rebecca Venn for instilling in me such a remarkable life lesson! Thank you to my friends who also contributed to making this piece possible, I am eternally grateful. Thank you to "Smooth" for bringing this vision to life in grand fashion!

FIGHT ON and NEVER EVER SURRENDER!!!

 

 

 
Bob, thanks a lot for coming to speak with us. Friday after school I saw
you already had our pictures up on your sites. Your personal site is
awesome, very cool tattoo pictures! Thanks again and maybe I'll see ya
this summer.

 ~Brett

HIV AIDS education activist prevention advocacy long term survivor Bob Bowers OTP One Tough Pirate skull flames logo FIGHT ON www.onetoughpirate.com

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Pirate fire flaming Phoenix rising tattoo back piece in honor of lost friends back tattoos

Da Pirate enjoyin some sun and surf in Key West, Florida
May, 2007

 
Hi Bob,

I just wanted to say thank you SO MUCH for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come & visit me on Saturday. I'm so glad the weather was nice, and I had SUCH a great time. I had forgotten what a playful and fun person you are. We used to have so much fun in the WOW class with you, I remember being so bummed when you left. But I'm really glad that we have stayed in touch and I'm even more thrilled that things are going well for you, and you're feeling good.
tattoo magazine cover photo-tats Y'know, I had wanted to tell you this before, but we were gabbing about so many things. Have you ever heard that country song by Tim McGraw, where he sings about being diagnosed with cancer, and how that prompted him to 'live' more? Do you know that song? It reminds me of you every time I hear it. You are the epitome of the chorus he sings "I went skydiving, I went Rocky Mountain climbing, I went 6.2 on a bull named Fu Man Chu............. I hope someday you get the chance to live like you were dying." Did he ever meet you? I think he wrote that song for you. = )

You are a reminder to everyone you meet how precious and tenuous every day we have on earth. Your energy, enthusiasm, and positivity are truly contagious. I wish there were more people in the world with a heart as big as yours. You really are an amazing person, and I am so blessed to know you and call you friend.

Love & Peace,
Heather

 

Pirate tattoos full sleeves backpiece flaming skull nautical star horseshoe knife barbwire tattoo courage heart otp tats
 
 

Click here to see our complete online merchandise

All proceeds directly benefit HIVictorious' HIV/AIDS prevention and education

 

U R A VERY STRONG PERSON. ITS TAKES ALL I HAVE TO DISCUSS THIS WITH MY KIDS. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A FOSTER PARENT THE 3 CHILDREN INFECTED WITH AIDS. THEY WERE SO STRONG AND LIVED EVERY DAY TO ITS FULLEST. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK SO WE CAN EDUCATE THE WORLD. THEY NEED TO KNOW THE SERIOUS OF SAFE SEX AND THAT HIV IS NOT CAUGHT BY TOUCHING SOMEONE OR GETTING CLOSE TO THEM AND CARING. GOOD LUCK IN YOUR JOURNEY.  KATE

 
old school nurse tattoo with cross and syringe

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It's truly an honor to become a friend! Thank you for your tireless effort and commitment to raising awareness and opening up a can o'whoopass on HIV/AIDS! You have my support, Mate!!.

Respectfully,

~kimmie

 
 

mako shark custom tattoo

Bluebird and rose tat in memory of those who've died

The Mako shark is in memory of my friend and shark fishing buddy, Steve Feder who passed away from AIDS

The bluebird marked the 20th Anniversary of AIDS and all who have died from this dreadful pandemic,
 including my friends! R.I.P.

 

One Tough Pirate Da Pirate www.onetoughpirate.com Bob Bowers skull flames glow pirate

 
 
 

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The webs are symbolic of my 'time' with HIV/AIDS

Also, my 'Guardian Wench' and the  Kanji for Warrior on my 17th year

 
 

"Compassion is our cure." ~Bob Bowers

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