Tattoo Design for Jeremy
Tree with Geometry
POSITION: Right Upper Arm
DESCRIPTION: Jeremy, from Colorado, wanted to cover up an old shoulder / upper-arm tattoo he got at 17, a piece that no longer reflected who he is today. I don’t usually take on cover-ups, since my style doesn’t lend itself well to them, but I made an exception for Jeremy. He placed a lot of trust in me, offered full creative freedom, and his existing tattoo was small enough that I felt I could work with it without compromising the design.
Cover-ups are always challenging because they restrict and complicate the design process. The existing tattoo dictates what can or can’t happen, forcing the new piece to work around it. That naturally interrupts the creative flow and limits certain artistic choices.
Jeremy gave me a lot of space to explore, only providing a handful of meaningful themes and elements to help guide the direction. He mentioned his Colorado roots, specifically the mountains, with five peaks to symbolize his family’s foundation. He shared his dream of one day walking away from everything to live a simple, modest life on an island. A tree to represent his family’s growth. The night sky and stars as symbols of significant losses. His love for travel. The contrast between an outwardly “perfect” life and internal struggles. And the Summer Solstice of 1982 at Point Nemo — the most remote spot on Earth — representing isolation as well as transformation.
The centerpiece of the design is the tree he requested. Behind it sits a mountain range with five distinct peaks, representing his Colorado roots and his mother, brother, and three sisters. The tree is rooted on a small island in a body of water; this darker landmass serves as the cover-up for the old tattoo. It also echoes his longing for that quiet island life he hopes to embrace one day.
The reflections in the water, along with the upright and inverted triangles, reference the idea of the outer world versus the inner one: what we present on the surface versus what’s happening beneath it.
At the top of the composition is the star constellation of the Summer Solstice of 1982, carrying the symbolism Jeremy shared. Above that, a globe-like structure and a minimal compass represent his love for travel. These circular shapes also work great with the anatomy of the shoulder, enhancing the natural flow of the upper arm.
The diagonal geometric lines throughout the piece create contrast and depth while following the musculature of Jeremy’s arm, making the tattoo feel integrated with his body rather than looking “superimposed” on it.
For Inquiries, please feel free to reach out via email: contact@danielmeyertattoo.com
I look forward to working with you on your next story.
