Fourth-year student Caitlyn Arnone got a total of 11 tattoos in six months. Whether it’s a tiny duck or her family’s birth years, Arnone said heavy consideration was put into each tattoo. They represent something meaningful in her life.
Five on each arm and one on her thigh totals to 11 times in the tattoo chair. Her first tattoo is her dad’s handwriting, reading “I love you” with a smiley face. It was done near her hometown in Norwalk, Connecticut.
“My dad is probably one of the most important people in my life,” said Arnone.
Arnone said she knew she wanted her dad’s handwriting as a tattoo for years. Due to health issues, her father started to lose his hand-writing abilities 10 years ago. She found the phrase in past-written cards. Her brother, then, got the same tattoo.
“He copied me on two tattoos,” said Arnone.
They also share a shamrock drawn with one line, representing their family’s Irish heritage.
Her bicep has a motorcycle drawn with one line, showcasing her love for riding. Arnone bought her first motorcycle in August of 2022. She rode with her aunt, for the first time, at 10 years old.
“The motorcycle is one of my favorites,” said Arnone. “I think it’s really cool.”
Her left tricep represents her love for the sun. Depending on how you look at the image, the sun can be interpreted as a sunset and sunrise.
Alluding to who she is, Arnone also has a rainbow on her left wrist representing her sexuality.
“It’s a big part of my life,” said Arnone. “I just like having [the rainbow] where everyone can see.”
A large part of her life is Winnie the Pooh, located on her right arm. He’s laying on his back while eating a pot of honey. Arnone said her childhood room was Winnie the Pooh-themed with walls hand-painted by her godmother.
“For the first 18 years of my life, I saw Winnie the Pooh every single day,” said Arnone. “It reminds me of being a kid.”
A family of four ducks, waddling in one line, is located on the inside of her left elbow. Arnone said this tattoo is a fan favorite.
“The [leading] duck has footprints,” said Arnone. “I like to say this guy’s out of the water.”
The leading duck represents moving forward. The following ducks represent other generations looking ahead. Arnone says it represents the meaning of family.
On her left arm, her and her three siblings’ birth years are stacked on top of one another. Hand-drawn hearts for each sibling are placed next to their birth-year, including her own.
Her family is also represented on her left tricep. Her mother’s, her grandmother’s and her own birth flower are sketched into a bouquet.
“It’s the three generations of women on my mom’s side,” said Arnone.
Two years after her grandmother passed, she got the bouquet tattoo. Under the flowers are numbers, reading “333.” These are angel numbers, which are numbers noticed repetitively that represent a divine meaning. Arnone said she noticed them often after her grandma’s passing.
Her grandmother’s handwriting reads “Love, Nana ” on her right forearm. Arnone said she’s always loved her grandmother’s handwriting, so she tatted it soon after her grandmother passed.
The phrase “XOXO” in her friend’s handwriting, who she’s known since middle school, is on Arnone’s left thigh. This is also her most recent and first colored tattoo. Arnone wrote the same phrase for her friend to tattoo as well. They got them done together, making that the first tattoo on someone’s body that’s in honor of Arnone.
“I was very excited that someone would have a tattoo that’s for me,” said Arnone.
Arnone recommends tattoos for anyone, but the motorcycle image on her bicep was the most painful. Most pain is bearable and subsides ten minutes into the session, according to Arnone. Arnone plans to get a tattoo for her mom, who is a very important person in her life.
Eight out of 11 tattoos were done locally at Black Lotus in South Kingstown. Arnone recommends Austin, who is her go-to artist.
Arnone chose her body art in only 11 months. The tattoos inspired by her family members are a way for Arnone to show their importance to her. The future holds more tattoos and a journey to self-understanding for Arnone.