The clock struck midnight and the perfect subject for my twelfth tattoo popped into my mind.
This piece would also happen to be my first video game-inspired tattoo.


I have had the intention to ink an owl on me since I started getting tattooed.
It was only a matter of time until I decided on what & where I wanted my owl to be.


His name is Kaepora Gaebora, more commonly known as the Owl of the Zelda series.



[That music that played when the owl from Ocarina of Time loomed over will never leave me!]


“They say that the owl named Kaepora Gaebora is the reincarnation of an ancient sage.”
These words were spoken by one of the Gossip Stones, those one-eyed round rocks that gave wisdom, info and help to Link throughout the game.

According to this Zeldapedia:

‘Some believe that Kaepora Gaebora is a form of Rauru, the Sage of Light, who also helps Link as one of the Seven Sages in Ocarina of Time.’

A compass was an element that I was going to place in my left sleeve somehow.

As the owl was a wise guide through Zelda, I thought it’d be fitting for him to be helping hold up this guiding tool for me.


My friend Holly, one of my favorite tattoo artists, was already famous for her owl tattoo designs.



[Holly & I taking a break outside the shop last spring during a session]


She’d even given me the most fantastic owl necklace she handmade & gave to me to get me through on one of my tattoo sessions.

Obviously, she was my choice when it came time to nail down an artist to draw up this design for me.



[Yes, his eyes ARE cut from out of old viewfinder slide films. You can see why I like this lady’s style]


So, Holly drew up the owl of my dreams.

The only tweak I needed was to change his head from an owl-like curiously-crooked into being turned totally upside down.

His head twirling was my favorite of his attributes and I wanted him to face me when I held up my arm and looked down at him.


When she asked if I wanted him to be his standard color, just browns, I could swear she had a smirk of knowing how we both wanted it.

I told her to pick the bright colors she was feeling and felt fitting in my sleeve; she’s got such great tastes in color.

She laid the stencil on me, laid out orange, peach, teal and blue for colors and I loved the looks of it and gave her my go!

[Freshly finished at the shop, and now home after about 2 weeks of healing- see some newer stuff nearby him]


I’ll have a few more pieces then he can find a home in some night sky shading when I get a background going soon.

I love how my owl brings me warm fuzzy memories of wasting the days away in Ocarina of Time. Shouting out a big thanks to my girl Holly!

<3 Glitch out!