Alright, let me walk you through how I ended up getting this Charles Oliveira tattoo. I’ve followed his career for a long time, you know? Just watching him fight, the ups and downs, becoming the champ. The guy’s got heart, serious heart. That whole “Do Bronx” story, it just resonates. So, the idea started brewing – I wanted something permanent to kind of honor that spirit.
First off, I spent a good chunk of time just thinking about what it should be. I looked at Oliveira’s own ink, like that big lion he has. Pretty cool, but I didn’t want to just copy his stuff directly. Felt a bit weird. I thought more about what he represents to me. Resilience, right? Coming from tough beginnings and reaching the top. Maybe something related to “Iluminado” – the enlightened one. Or just something symbolizing that relentless pressure he puts on opponents.
Finding the Right Person for the Job
Once I had a rough direction, the next step was finding an artist. This was important. You don’t just walk into any shop for something meaningful, at least I don’t. I started searching online, looking through local artists’ portfolios. Instagram is pretty good for that these days. I was looking for someone whose style felt like it matched the vibe – maybe someone good with bold lines, or maybe more detailed stuff, I wasn’t sure yet. After scrolling through countless profiles, I found this one artist whose work just clicked. It had a certain grit but was also really clean.
I booked a consultation. Went down to the shop, met the artist. Super chill person. I didn’t have a finished picture or anything. I just started talking about Oliveira, his fights, the feeling I wanted the tattoo to convey. Showed him a few photos of Oliveira, talked about the lion symbolism again, but maybe interpreted differently. We bounced ideas back and forth. He got out his tablet and started sketching right there. That was cool to see. He listened, suggested some placements, and drew up a concept that combined a couple of the themes we discussed. It wasn’t exactly like Oliveira’s own, but it definitely captured that energy.
Getting It Done
Appointment day arrived. You always get that little mix of excitement and nerves, right? Got comfy in the chair. The artist prepped the area, put the stencil on. We checked the placement in the mirror one last time. Looked good. Then came the buzz of the machine. Honestly, it’s not the worst pain, more like a constant, annoying scratch for me, especially on certain spots. But you kind of get used to it. We chatted a bit during the session, mostly about MMA, music, random stuff. Took a few hours, with a couple of short breaks.
Finally, he finished up, wiped it all down. That first look in the mirror… yeah, it hit right. It looked even better on skin than the sketch. Sharp lines, good shading. Felt really solid, like we nailed what I was hoping for.
Healing Up
Then came the aftercare routine. The artist wrapped it up, gave me the instructions. You know the drill – keep it clean, wash gently, apply the ointment or lotion they recommend. Peeling stage is always weird, looks kinda gross for a bit, haha. But you gotta stick with it to make sure it heals properly and looks good long-term. No scratching!
Now it’s fully healed, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. It’s a cool piece, and for me, it’s a constant reminder of that fighting spirit, that resilience. Not just Oliveira’s, but maybe a bit for myself too. Just a little piece of inspiration I carry around now.
