Pictured: tattoo on Lucas’ arm. PHOTO CREDIT: Lucas DeWitt
For some tattoos are saturated in meaning, for others they are a spur-of-the-moment decision, for Lucas DeWitt, there is a healthy balance between the two.
DeWitt, a current graduate student in the College Student Personnel Program, got his first tattoo during his first semester of college at The University of Iowa.
“I knew exactly what I wanted to get,” DeWitt said. “It’s a caricature that my great grandpa would draw for birthday and Christmas cards and that was the last of his handwriting too because he passed away that same semester.”
He said his parents have been supportive of his tattoo journey, just maybe not the location of his first one.
“My mom was really pissed because she works at a health department back in my hometown,” DeWitt said. “She was like Lucas, I know the people that inspect the tattoo shops and you got it in a kitchen.”
Fast forward to April 2022 when DeWitt has gotten nine more tattoos in just under a year. His second tattoo carries on meaning being the Iowa State Bird, The Goldfinch in memory of his grandmother.
“I really love my Goldfinch,” DeWitt said when asked about his personal favorite tattoo. “It’s just so beautifully done and I love the placement.”
Other favorites include a cornstalk on his forearm, Baby Yoda on his thigh and a dagger also on his arm.
DeWitt particularly lucked out on his tattoo journey as he found a tattoo apprentice which creates a unique experience for the both of them. Apprentice Sarah Parent from 1001 Troubles Tattoo in Warren, Rhode Island has done most of DeWitt’s recent pieces.
“She’s amazing, she’s incredible, she does wonders,” DeWitt said. You can check out Sarah’s work @sarahparental on Instagram. DeWitt also has work from Jess Spousta who can be found @toon_buffoon_ on Instagram.
As a graduate student looking to work in the higher education field, DeWitt has no concern regarding his tattoos affecting his professionalism.
“I think for my professors, and my parents they’ve just come to accept it. I am just going to keep getting tattoos and there is not a lot they can say about it” DeWitt said, as long as there are no neck tattoos according to his mom.
When it comes to deeper meaning DeWitt brings a unique perspective.
“I definitely started out with two tattoos that had a deeper meaning to me, but I’ve since navigated to it being a form of self-expression,” DeWitt said. “It’s like you’re a canvas displaying the work of the tattoo artist.”
The only problem that comes up with the tattoo process is the time of year.
“I like my tattoos, just not during the winter,” DeWitt said. “I wear sleeves and nobody knows I am silly, goofy and quirky.”
DeWitt’s tattoo journey is not close to concluding by any means as he plans to continue getting more in the future including mirroring the cornstalk on his other arm and filling out both sleeves.