West Coast Ink Issue 1 - 2012 | Page 19

KatiE Jones Photographer : Julia Loglisci W est coast local, Katie Jones, believes that tattoos are a form of self-therapy. For numerous reasons, Katie always finds a meaningful motive for her next tattoo. She inks herself in memory of something important that needs to not be forgotten. Katie tattoos her body as a reminder of the life learning experiences she is constantly going through. “I get a tattoo to start over - a new beginning - which represents my strength,” she says. “I have the words Love is Blind written in an Arabic font under my left arm. I believe that love is blind, 100%. Whether it’s good love or bad love, it can always be blinding.” To say Katie has a few tattoos is an understatement. If you take a closer look, you can see she is covered from head to toe. “My OBSESSION is tattoos,” says Katie. “I think everyone who has them would agree with me in saying they’re addicting.” One of her tattoos is of a naked girl wrapped in vines on her left rib cage. “A naked woman represents beauty; inside and out,” Katie says. On her right rib cage, again in Arabic script, reads a quote that Katie lives by: “Be different, be brave, be true, be great, have dreams, have courage, have strength, be someone, be you, let me be me.” “These are great words to live by,” says Katie, “and sometimes I need a little reminder of that.” Katie’s first tattoo was of a baby dragonfly on