My tattoo collection

As someone with a robust tattoo collection, it’s hard to believe that there was once a time when my skin was bare (well, except for freckles) and I couldn’t imagine that changing. Tattoos weren’t on my to-do list, and frankly not even close to being on my radar.

During college, I began to see tattooed bodies regularly and spanning an incredible range of personalities and styles, which helped to break down my own quiet barriers and biases. I think that’s when I first realized that there was a world of creativity and art and individuality that I could step into and explore.

I never envisioned myself having ink. And now, my tattoo collection is up to thirteen pieces.

I added another to the list recently, and it has brought my journey from bare to decorated into focus, yet again. Curious about my ink? Great! Let’s explore that.

Here’ a tour of my current tattoo collection. 🙂

Savannah’s Tattoo Collection

We’ll go in chronological order, from latest to earliest.

13. Finger sparkle tattoo

Happy birthday to me! While celebrating in Nashville with a large group of my friends, we decided to get spontaneous walk-in tattoos. I was a little surprised that seven of us were down to do it! Plus, we walked into the downtown shop at 10:30 p.m.; we were all in-and-out by midnight, which still boggles my mind.

I didn’t have a great idea of what I wanted and the studio didn’t have any flash, so I went with the first thing that popped in my head. I’ve always been curious about a finger tattoo (and a little nervous that I couldn’t pull it off), but I seriously love the sparkle design.

This will always be such an incredibly special memory for me.

• Age: 30
• Year: 2025
• Tattoo artist: Jerod, Nashville Ink
• Location: Middle finger
• Design: Inspired by a Pinterest image, lol

12. Cowboy boot and cactus tattoo

Ever since I got “The Kiss” done by Angel of Xolo Tattoo, I’ve wanted more. More of his style, artwork, and ideas, specifically to build a half-sleeve with his work. With my latest piece, we’re on our way!

This year for Christmas, I asked for only one thing: money to go toward a tattoo. I finally got to cash it in! I chose one of Angel’s flash pieces: a prickly pear cactus emerging from a pair of cowboy boots. It’s fun, gorgeous, and has incredible shading detail. I love it as a nod to my western US roots, my love of western culture, and simply because it’s beautiful.

• Age: 29
• Year: 2025
• Tattoo artist: Angel Gonzales, owner of Xolo Tattoo in Milwaukee
• Location: Left upper arm
• Design: Angel’s flash – a cowboy boot with a cactus

11. 5-star wiffle ball tattoo

At the beginning of the wiffle ball season, my team was talking about how we were excited to continue our winning streak. I chimed in, saying I’d get a tattoo if we ended up winning a fifth championship.

Promises kept, promises delivered. Two days after we won the trophy, I got a fine line tattoo. This is probably my silliest, goofiest piece but I’ll love it forever.

• Age: 29
• Year: 2025
• Artist: Maddie, owner of Aligned Ink at GÄDIS Studio
• Location: Right arm
• Design: Five stars, representing five wiffle ball championships

10. AMOR tattoo

Well, we did it: Chad and I got matching tattoos.

This was spur of the moment, but so, so special. Around Valentine’s Day, I was scrolling through my Instagram feed and looked closely at a Nameless Creative Studios’ post: they were offering a heavily discounted love-themed flash event. Chad saw me inspecting the designs and casually asked if I liked any of them. After I pointed out the “AMOR” design, he shocked me with his response:

“Me too,” he said. “Do you want to get them together?”

So, we did! And let me remind you: Chad isn’t like me when it comes to tattoos. Prior to this, his own tattoo collection was at zero. Now, though, the two of us have beautiful matching tiny tattoos that represent love.

If you don’t know, now it’s forever inked on my arm: I love love, and I love ours the most.

• Age: 28
• Year: 2024
• Tattoo artist: Rebecca, owner of Nameless Creative Studios in Milwaukee
• Location: Upper right arm (above the knee for Chad)
• Design: Flash design – the Spanish word AMOR

9. “The Kiss” tattoo

My favorite painting is Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss.” I’ve loved it ever since my parents hung a print in my childhood home, when I’d stare at the intricate details and lines and wonder how something so abstract could capture such a real expression of love and tenderness.

I wanted some kind of tattoo version of “The Kiss” for a long time. However, it felt like I couldn’t find any design that I liked enough to move forward; most of the existing “Kiss” tattoos out there look pretty similar, and I don’t identify with them. Because I went to my former artists artists with my specific ideas already in place for all of my other tattoos, I waited—hoping I would find the design that spoke to me most.

Then, earlier this year, I found Angel’s work on Instagram and fell in love with his aesthetic and artistry. He has a mastery of fine line work and botanicals, plus history as a muralist, which inspired me to reach out.

I told him that I wanted his interpretation of the painting, with some kind of flower element. I was pretty vague, but trusted his creative eye based on his portfolio. And you know what? He knocked it out of the park! I love it. He brought everything I love about the painting to life on my arm, along with his own unique, signature twist.

Someday, I hope to build onto and around this design with more floral energy and Angel’s expertise.

So much appreciation for this piece and Angel’s artistry.

• Age: 28
• Year: 2023
• Tattoo artist: Angel Gonzales, owner of Xolo Tattoo in Milwaukee
• Location: Left upper arm
• Design: Angel’s interpretation of “The Kiss”

8. Best friend tattoo

This tattoo is an ode to my greatest friendship with my bestie for the restie, Alexis. We met in college when Alexis transferred to CU Denver and was placed in my dorm as a new suitemate during my freshman year of college. It turned into the best chance-meeting I could’ve dreamt of.

I think we realized pretty quickly that Alexis and I were something of twin flames. We have the same kind of morals, humor, background, and even similar long-lasting relationships (we’ve had so many conversations about how Alexis, Jessica, Chad, Savannah think and feel and act and it’s crazy how we’ve identified with each other in many ways). We’ve been through a lot of weird shit, and through all of life’s stages I’m always so thankful to have the kind of friendship where when you reunite, it’s as though no time has passed.

Early on, Alexis and I both started saying “same” (like, same here), about nearly everything (making fun of the shorthand at first, until it actually became an unironic part of our language). Add a little bit of internet culture into the mix, and we have the second part, “life” spelled with a little pizzaz.

And like I’ll love Chad 5ever, I’ll always keep Alexis in my heart and now on my inner bicep, 5Lyfe. (Jessica, we need to think of something too.) (Love you both.)

• Age: 27
• Year: 2022
• Tattoo artist: Dustin Nelson at Gemstone Tattoo & Piercing in Grand Junction, CO
• Location: Right bicep
• Design: Me and Alexis, babyy

7. VENI VIDI AMAVI tattoo

Several years ago, I saw a tattoo idea that I just couldn’t get out of my head: a Latin phrase, in Times New Roman font, with a twist on Julius Caesar’s famous quote, “veni vidi vici,” which means “I saw, I came, I conquered.”

Mine is “veni vidi amavi,” which instead translates to “I saw, I came, I loved.”

I love the phrase as a guiding reminder, and I’m so happy I went to Tia for my first additions to my tattoo collection since moving to Milwaukee!

• Age: 27
• Year: 2022
• Tattoo artist: Stella Luna Ink (Tia) at Majestik Tattoo Studio, West Allis, WI
• Location: Lower right wrist
• Design: not sure!

6. Squiggly wave tattoo

On my chest, I have a tiny squiggly line. It’s a loose interpretation of a wave, because I’ve realized how much water means to me. Whether it’s Lake Michigan or the ocean or my parent’s pool, I’m carrying the waves with me always.

• Age: 27
• Year: 2022
• Tattoo artist: Stella Luna Ink (Tia) at Majestik Tattoo Studio, West Allis, WI
• Location: Upper right chest
• Design: Pinterest, lol

5. Wildflower bouquet tattoo

Though it’s not very visible, one of my tattoos is a stunning wildflower bouquet on my ribcage area, otherwise known as the side boob (for lack of better words).

It’s cute and lovely and adds a little something special to my collection.

• Age: 27
• Year: 2022
• Tattoo artist: Stella Luna Ink (Tia) at Majestik Tattoo Studio, West Allis, WI
• Location: Rib cage
• Design: Pinterest, lol

4. Minimalist sun tattoo

Ahhh, my cute little minimalist sun tattoo. I love it so much. As you can surmise, sunshine means a lot to me and carries a lot of my joy. Now, I carry it with me always.

Fun fact: I scheduled this appointment as a birthday present to myself. And you know what happened? That first initial Covid shutdown, where things were truly, actually, very much closed. My tattoo was delayed for several months, which was a huge bummer, but also gave me something to look forward to. As soon as I could, I went in on my own, mask-and-all, and was Kat’s first client back.

• Age: 25
• Year: 2020
• Tattoo artist: Kat Maxman Fishbein, Hole in the Wall Tattoos, Glenwood Springs, CO
• Location: Right forearm
• Design: inspired by Hilary Duff’s sun piece (lol)

3. Floral arm wrap tattoo

Recently, I realized that my approach to tattoos has radically changed. I used to plan and map out designs and try to connect some meaning to justify my choice. Now, it’s much more casual. If I see something I like, that’s it. It’s art. My body is literally home to pieces I like and feel a connection to.

This floral wrap on my arm is the ultimate representation of that: I like it, so I got it. It was a little spontaneous, and Kat eyed an inspiration pic before hand-drawing her own version on my arm. And, though I love every tattoo, it’s my favorite piece.

Note: if a stranger compliments anything from my tattoo collection, it’s always this one. Always.

• Age: 25
• Year: 2020
• Tattoo artist: Kat Maxman Fishbein, Hole in the Wall Tattoos, Glenwood Springs, CO
• Location: Left forearm
• Design: Kat Maxman Fishbein

2. Mountains tattoo

I think maybe a mountain tattoo is the modern version of your average Colorado kid’s coming of age story. It’s part of mine, at least.

My mountains are on my back shoulder, surrounded by clouds of freckles. They kinda look like a Coors Light advertisement, and I’m okay with that too.

• Age: 24
• Year: 2019
• Tattoo artist: Kat Maxman Fishbein, Hole in the Wall Tattoos, Glenwood Springs, CO
• Location: shoulder
• Design: composite of different mountain designs

1. Bunch of arrows tattoo

Ahhh, my very first tattoo. It took me about three years of waiting, looking through Pinterest designs, and researching before I decided to schedule an appointment. I was so nervous, and went back-and-forth on the permanence of ink for a very long time. 

This tattoo came to fruition on a spring break trip to Santa Fe with my mom. Not only did she design the tattoo, but she also kindly paid for my session as a birthday gift.

I tried to come up with an intricate reason behind the arrows, with something about “moving forward through struggle.” Truthfully, I really just liked the aesthetic of arrows, which was a trendy tattoo idea at the time.

Back then, I thought I needed justification for a tattoo I simply liked. Overall, this tattoo will always hold a special piece of my heart because of its connection to my mom and her art.

• Age: 21
• Year: 2016
• Tattoo artist: Spex Tattoos, Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Location: lower side of the back
• Design: by my Mom, Michelle Nelson 🙂

What’s next?

Hard to say! All I know is that my body continues to have plenty of room to add some more art to my growing tattoo collection. Stay tuned. 😉