Johnny Depp Tattoos

Posted by Kieran in Celebs on June 30, 2008 | one response

(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

Loading ...

In keeping with his quirky personality and rebel image, Johnny Depp has been an ink aficionado for the better part of his life, getting his first tattoo at the age seventeen. Most of his tattoos are sentimental reminders of the people and places encountered in his journey through life.

“My body is a journal in a way. It’s like what sailors used to do, where every tattoo meant something, a specific time in your life when you make a mark on yourself, whether you do it yourself with a knife or with a professional tattoo artist.” Johnny Depp.

Many of Depp’s tattoos were inked by New York tattooist Jonathan Shaw who acted as a tattoo artist in Clint Eastwood’s movie titled Tightrope.

He now has at least thirteen known tattoos, with most of the best known ones listed below:-

Wino Forever - located on his right upper arm this banner tattoo originally read “Winona Forever” in honor of his relationship with actress Winona Ryder, however, as is often the case, the tattoos lasted longer than the relationship. After the breakup of the relationship the tattoo was laser edited to read “Wino Forever”.

Cherokee Indian chief - located below the Wino Forever tattoo, this tattoo reflects his ancestral heritage, being a tribute to his Cherokee great-great-grandmother.

Brave Symbol – located on the inside of his right arm and is from his movie The Brave.

The Swallow or Flying Bird – located on his right forearm, this tattoo is taken from the Pirates of the Carribbean movie. Often a swallow was the first sign to sailors that they were nearing land and indicated a “safe return home” for the sailor. The swallow was oriented to face Depp and his son’s name jack was added below the bird.

Inverted Triangle – located on the upper left arm, it is believed to be a universal symbol of the feminine and an expression of love.

Betty Sue – located below the Triangle, this is a memorial tattoo, comprising a heart with a ribbon banner through it, bearing the name of his mother. This is the style of tattoo often favoured by servicemen in the second world war. The design has been further embellished with some tribal markings.

Silence Exile Cunning – located on Johhny’s, this poignant message has a deeper meaning , it is a quote from the James Joyce’s book “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man”. At five pages of the end of the book, we can find this quote, from the main character Stephen:

“I will tell you what I will do and what I will not do. I will not serve that in which I no longer believe, whether it call itself my home, my fatherland, or my church: and I will try to express myself in some mode of life or art as freely as I can and as wholly as I can, using for my defense the only arms I allow myself to use – silence, exile, and cunning”