A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Now that’s an explicit tattoo!

Well, I think my tattoo has healed enough and is close enough to done that I can post it here. This was done over four sessions by Shane Faulkner at King of Fools in Toronto (an amazing tattoo artist that’s done almost all of my work), and is based on a Tom of Finland painting combined with several pieces of artwork from BME/HARD as well. Anyway, it’s kind of tricky to take a picture of your own chest, but here you go:

cbt-tattoo-blurred.jpg

Yes, I am also a fan of gay mermen

ModBlog returns for real tomorrow or Tuesday. I hope everyone had as fun a weekend as the dudes in my chestpiece!

Comments

322 responses to “Now that’s an explicit tattoo!”

  1. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    (On the other hand, I kind of agree with Em as well, that one should be able to find beauty in expression of many different kinds, especially sexual expression — even if you don’t want to do the act yourself).

  2. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    (On the other hand, I kind of agree with Em as well, that one should be able to find beauty in expression of many different kinds, especially sexual expression — even if you don’t want to do the act yourself).

  3. Rich Avatar
    Rich

    its an excellent tattoo, but I can’t help but wince when I look at it >

  4. Rich Avatar
    Rich

    its an excellent tattoo, but I can’t help but wince when I look at it >

  5. Bloodflower Avatar
    Bloodflower

    Well I like it! The colors are beautiful and it rocks.

  6. Bloodflower Avatar
    Bloodflower

    Well I like it! The colors are beautiful and it rocks.

  7. Leroy Avatar

    It’s a nice tattoo and well done, but I can’t help think that the over whelming positive feedback is mostly because it’s Shannon’s tattoo.

    If it was anyone else….

  8. Leroy Avatar

    It’s a nice tattoo and well done, but I can’t help think that the over whelming positive feedback is mostly because it’s Shannon’s tattoo.

    If it was anyone else….

  9. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    Leroy – I’ve occasionally posted stuff of mine anonymously to test that theory… I guess in this case we’ll wait for the tattoo to show up on some EN site and see how they respond!

  10. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    Leroy – I’ve occasionally posted stuff of mine anonymously to test that theory… I guess in this case we’ll wait for the tattoo to show up on some EN site and see how they respond!

  11. fuus Avatar
    fuus

    Shannon: this might be quite a personal question, but it’s something I’ve been wondering for quite a while about your tattoo, and I think it’s quite relevant.

    Is this tattoo simply a celebration of alternative sexual lifestyles, an artistic depiction of your fight for autonomy and freedom to do with our bodies as we wish? Or is CBT something you’re actually into yourself?

  12. fuus Avatar
    fuus

    Shannon: this might be quite a personal question, but it’s something I’ve been wondering for quite a while about your tattoo, and I think it’s quite relevant.

    Is this tattoo simply a celebration of alternative sexual lifestyles, an artistic depiction of your fight for autonomy and freedom to do with our bodies as we wish? Or is CBT something you’re actually into yourself?

  13. frzamonkey Avatar
    frzamonkey

    i love the colors. I hope my sleeve is that bright. 🙂

  14. frzamonkey Avatar
    frzamonkey

    i love the colors. I hope my sleeve is that bright. 🙂

  15. TheWomanMonster Avatar
    TheWomanMonster

    I like the negative space around the nipples and at the ‘collar’ of the black work tattoo.

    I really really adore this tattoo, I probably already said that but fuckit.

  16. TheWomanMonster Avatar
    TheWomanMonster

    I like the negative space around the nipples and at the ‘collar’ of the black work tattoo.

    I really really adore this tattoo, I probably already said that but fuckit.

  17. ALex Avatar
    ALex

    i love the art in this but have 2 questions
    1. whats the big red line coming form the man in the foreground, is that blood or some kind of cathider(sp?)
    2. way way way in the back ground there is a jar on a shelf, whats in that jar???

    great tattoo i am glad that it makes “YOU” happy =)

  18. ALex Avatar
    ALex

    i love the art in this but have 2 questions
    1. whats the big red line coming form the man in the foreground, is that blood or some kind of cathider(sp?)
    2. way way way in the back ground there is a jar on a shelf, whats in that jar???

    great tattoo i am glad that it makes “YOU” happy =)

  19. mimibeth Avatar
    mimibeth

    i like the yellow.

    that’s it.

  20. mimibeth Avatar
    mimibeth

    i like the yellow.

    that’s it.

  21. Kuja Avatar
    Kuja

    As for all the people complaining about how he could possibly raise a child?

    It’s not THAT hard to keep your shirt on around your family. In fact I remember Shannon specifically mentioning that he was wearing his shirt in some of the Winter Swim pictures because his daughter was there and he didn’t want her to see it yet.

    Any situation can be handled with some responsibility

  22. Kuja Avatar
    Kuja

    As for all the people complaining about how he could possibly raise a child?

    It’s not THAT hard to keep your shirt on around your family. In fact I remember Shannon specifically mentioning that he was wearing his shirt in some of the Winter Swim pictures because his daughter was there and he didn’t want her to see it yet.

    Any situation can be handled with some responsibility

  23. Jay.O Avatar
    Jay.O

    the colors are amazing!

  24. Jay.O Avatar
    Jay.O

    the colors are amazing!

  25. Esmerelda Avatar

    … I actually quite like how it looks with the nipple showing. It kind of bothers me when you can’t see people’s nipples, rather like when when you photoshop someon’s bellybutton out.
    Awesome piece, as well. I specially love the light+silhouette at the door.

  26. Esmerelda Avatar

    … I actually quite like how it looks with the nipple showing. It kind of bothers me when you can’t see people’s nipples, rather like when when you photoshop someon’s bellybutton out.
    Awesome piece, as well. I specially love the light+silhouette at the door.

  27. AJ Avatar
    AJ

    Thats is brilliant Mr Larratt…

  28. AJ Avatar
    AJ

    Thats is brilliant Mr Larratt…

  29. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    fuus – Yes to all.

    ALex – Yeah, it’s a stylized blood arc, and the jar is part of a trophy collection.

  30. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    fuus – Yes to all.

    ALex – Yeah, it’s a stylized blood arc, and the jar is part of a trophy collection.

  31. Gina Avatar
    Gina

    Gorgeous. Even if the subject matter is irksome to some, its a really well done tattoo.
    Cheers!

  32. Gina Avatar
    Gina

    Gorgeous. Even if the subject matter is irksome to some, its a really well done tattoo.
    Cheers!

  33. trinityva Avatar
    trinityva

    that is awesome.

  34. trinityva Avatar
    trinityva

    that is awesome.

  35. trinityva Avatar
    trinityva

    As far as sexual orientation goes, I’ve noticed that SMers can often be pretty flexible about who they do SM with. I know lot of people who identify as straight who will play with people of the same gender.

    In my own case, I can’t really speak too much to this phenomenon since I’m bisexual. But I’ve always thought that my real orientation, the real thing that actually matters, is that I’m sadomasochistic and a top. Everything else is pretty much window dressing.

  36. trinityva Avatar
    trinityva

    As far as sexual orientation goes, I’ve noticed that SMers can often be pretty flexible about who they do SM with. I know lot of people who identify as straight who will play with people of the same gender.

    In my own case, I can’t really speak too much to this phenomenon since I’m bisexual. But I’ve always thought that my real orientation, the real thing that actually matters, is that I’m sadomasochistic and a top. Everything else is pretty much window dressing.

  37. Eric Avatar

    It’s awful perty dude.

  38. Eric Avatar

    It’s awful perty dude.

  39. nicole Avatar
    nicole

    It’s a great piece, not my cup of tea, but I can really appreciate it. It’s cool that you’re that passionate about it. Your tattoo artist is amazing.

    Just curious though… what would a lot people be saying if it WAS NOT Shannon Larratt’s piece?
    Not to start anything, but it seems like on any other post on Modblog there is a handful of negative comments, why not this one?

  40. nicole Avatar
    nicole

    It’s a great piece, not my cup of tea, but I can really appreciate it. It’s cool that you’re that passionate about it. Your tattoo artist is amazing.

    Just curious though… what would a lot people be saying if it WAS NOT Shannon Larratt’s piece?
    Not to start anything, but it seems like on any other post on Modblog there is a handful of negative comments, why not this one?

  41. ArEsOne Avatar
    ArEsOne

    Not to me liking at all but hey ho, each to their own.

  42. ArEsOne Avatar
    ArEsOne

    Not to me liking at all but hey ho, each to their own.

  43. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    nicole – I’d like to think that’s because it’s a well done tattoo and most people understand the tattoos context? (As you pretty much said!)

    I don’t personally think that this tattoo would get a very different response if it had someone else’s name on it.

  44. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    nicole – I’d like to think that’s because it’s a well done tattoo and most people understand the tattoos context? (As you pretty much said!)

    I don’t personally think that this tattoo would get a very different response if it had someone else’s name on it.

  45. rori Avatar

    You know I was just thinking….I’m not catholic but have two catholic art tattoos because I really really enjoy their art….I think this is pretty similar. Shannon, or anyone for that matter, doesn’t have to be or do what their tattoos depict if they just truly appreciate the beauty of it all.

  46. rori Avatar

    You know I was just thinking….I’m not catholic but have two catholic art tattoos because I really really enjoy their art….I think this is pretty similar. Shannon, or anyone for that matter, doesn’t have to be or do what their tattoos depict if they just truly appreciate the beauty of it all.

  47. bob Avatar
    bob

    Its a really nice piece, but i wonder how long it will take for it to show up on stile project. lol

  48. bob Avatar
    bob

    Its a really nice piece, but i wonder how long it will take for it to show up on stile project. lol

  49. Bradly Avatar
    Bradly

    This is Shannon’s bullshit attempt to try and make the rest of the world gay around him … ~_0

  50. Bradly Avatar
    Bradly

    This is Shannon’s bullshit attempt to try and make the rest of the world gay around him … ~_0

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