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.

“My Two Bills”

bill-murray-and-bill-cosby-tattoos.jpg

Owella writes of her two “Bills” caricatures by Saint Kele Idol at Aerochild Tattoos in Birmingham, Alabama,

People are gonna ask why… Mostly because they make me laugh.

Bill Cosby is the reason I understand the concept of time: around age three or four, on a car trip, I asked how much longer until we arrived to our destination. My mother told me it would be 30 minutes. I had no idea how long 30 minutes was, or what it felt like, so I asked her how long 30 minutes was. She responded: “one Cosby Show”, as it’s the show I watched the most as a child. The memories surrounding Mr. Cosby are part of a long list. All in all, his face makes me smile.

Bill Murray… he ended up being my all-time celebrity crush. He makes me laugh, he’s totally cute, and again, I’ve got tons of memories that he’s a part of. It just seemed right. And yes, they are going to remain in line-drawing form. No shading. That would look a tad too serious, I think!

Check out her amazing owl skeleton tattoo as well (which is still healing in this picture)… Even if you’re not into the tattoo above, I’m sure you’ll like that one, done by the same tattooist, but based on art by Chris Buzelli.

owl-skeleton.jpg

Comments

84 responses to ““My Two Bills””

  1. Hilikme Avatar

    Nice.

    And I seriously thought I was the only kid who used the TV show time telling method. For me it was more like:

    “How much longer till we’re there?”
    “3 Mr. Dress-up’s”

    Ah…childhood goodness.

  2. Hilikme Avatar

    Nice.

    And I seriously thought I was the only kid who used the TV show time telling method. For me it was more like:

    “How much longer till we’re there?”
    “3 Mr. Dress-up’s”

    Ah…childhood goodness.

  3. Owella Avatar
    Owella

    Ellie, I posted (on lj) about how I’d gotten this piece…and then someone else promptly got the piece shortly after I posted pictures of the b&w/outline.

    My owl is based on the original artwork by Chris Buzelli.

  4. Owella Avatar
    Owella

    Ellie, I posted (on lj) about how I’d gotten this piece…and then someone else promptly got the piece shortly after I posted pictures of the b&w/outline.

    My owl is based on the original artwork by Chris Buzelli.

  5. SpiraetSpera Avatar
    SpiraetSpera

    When I started reading the explanation about Cosby and the concept of time, I thought she was going to make a Picture Pages reference. Anybody else?

    Also, the owl is marvelous.

  6. SpiraetSpera Avatar
    SpiraetSpera

    When I started reading the explanation about Cosby and the concept of time, I thought she was going to make a Picture Pages reference. Anybody else?

    Also, the owl is marvelous.

  7. Marshall Avatar

    Best. Cosby. Tattoo. Ever.

    Until someone gets a full body Bill Cosby sweater tattoo, that is.

  8. Marshall Avatar

    Best. Cosby. Tattoo. Ever.

    Until someone gets a full body Bill Cosby sweater tattoo, that is.

  9. ellie Avatar
    ellie

    Awww, I’m sorry to hear that, Owella.

    That is seriously my biggest reason for not wanting to post my back tattoo on BME or on livejournal. I guess it wouldn’t totally kill my tattoo just because someone else has it too, but it’s original-ish and I kind of like it that way.

  10. ellie Avatar
    ellie

    Awww, I’m sorry to hear that, Owella.

    That is seriously my biggest reason for not wanting to post my back tattoo on BME or on livejournal. I guess it wouldn’t totally kill my tattoo just because someone else has it too, but it’s original-ish and I kind of like it that way.

  11. Xenobiologista Avatar

    I also think outline portraits are a good idea just from an aesthetic point of view, because a lot of shaded portrait tattoos just look strange. It’s not easy to do good chiaroscuro…

    Or maybe dotwork like those miniature portraits that the Wall STreet Journal has.

  12. Xenobiologista Avatar

    I also think outline portraits are a good idea just from an aesthetic point of view, because a lot of shaded portrait tattoos just look strange. It’s not easy to do good chiaroscuro…

    Or maybe dotwork like those miniature portraits that the Wall STreet Journal has.

  13. She Dreams of Ink Avatar
    She Dreams of Ink

    I absolutely adore the Bills portraits! I certainly agree that keeping them as line drawings is the best way to go. It’s perfect just the way it is. And kudos to the tattoo artist for doing excellent work; it’s so much better than the bungled tattoo portrait that Shannon posted a week or so back.

    Oh, and great bird too! I enjoy how the bird is sharply in focus, while the background trees are less defined and more subtle.

  14. She Dreams of Ink Avatar
    She Dreams of Ink

    I absolutely adore the Bills portraits! I certainly agree that keeping them as line drawings is the best way to go. It’s perfect just the way it is. And kudos to the tattoo artist for doing excellent work; it’s so much better than the bungled tattoo portrait that Shannon posted a week or so back.

    Oh, and great bird too! I enjoy how the bird is sharply in focus, while the background trees are less defined and more subtle.

  15. nyne Avatar

    I love the owl! Owls are the cutest birds ever 🙂

  16. nyne Avatar

    I love the owl! Owls are the cutest birds ever 🙂

  17. DANxCORE Avatar

    haha my mom used to do the same thing! except with muppet babies episodes

  18. DANxCORE Avatar

    haha my mom used to do the same thing! except with muppet babies episodes

  19. Nico Avatar
    Nico

    I said it on LJ and I will say it again: Awesome!

  20. Nico Avatar
    Nico

    I said it on LJ and I will say it again: Awesome!

  21. Tyl Avatar

    The two Bills is genius.

  22. Tyl Avatar

    The two Bills is genius.

  23. Martin Avatar
    Martin

    The Bills look like clipart, or maybe it’s just me. The lack of shading really brings them out well.

  24. Martin Avatar
    Martin

    The Bills look like clipart, or maybe it’s just me. The lack of shading really brings them out well.

  25. Owella Avatar
    Owella

    Martin–
    Cosby was found on a CW website (oddly enough) and Bill Murray was traced from the poster image from “Stripes”…

  26. Owella Avatar
    Owella

    Martin–
    Cosby was found on a CW website (oddly enough) and Bill Murray was traced from the poster image from “Stripes”…

  27. Owella Avatar
    Owella

    Thanks for all the kind words, everybody!
    I’m glad the Bills make you smile like they make me smile. :0)
    And for those who prefer the owl, he’s my very favorite tattoo I’ve got. His name is Roy G. Biv.

    Thanks again!

  28. Owella Avatar
    Owella

    Thanks for all the kind words, everybody!
    I’m glad the Bills make you smile like they make me smile. :0)
    And for those who prefer the owl, he’s my very favorite tattoo I’ve got. His name is Roy G. Biv.

    Thanks again!

  29. FuckingClassy Avatar

    My friend Fiasco’s Response to the Bill Tattoos:
    (And yes, Fiasco’s his last name)
    “so thats what bill cosby would like like white!”

  30. FuckingClassy Avatar

    My friend Fiasco’s Response to the Bill Tattoos:
    (And yes, Fiasco’s his last name)
    “so thats what bill cosby would like like white!”

  31. ken barlow Avatar
    ken barlow

    Wow, the owl is unreal, that’s a shoulder to be proud of! And thanks for the Chris Buzelli tip off.

  32. ken barlow Avatar
    ken barlow

    Wow, the owl is unreal, that’s a shoulder to be proud of! And thanks for the Chris Buzelli tip off.

  33. simon Avatar
    simon

    that owl freaks me out big time.
    seriously creepy bird.living birds are scary, dead birds are scarier than living ones and living dead ones is the creepiest thing ever.

  34. simon Avatar
    simon

    that owl freaks me out big time.
    seriously creepy bird.living birds are scary, dead birds are scarier than living ones and living dead ones is the creepiest thing ever.

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