There’s nothing objectively wrong with showing off your love of the Grand Canyon state by getting its outline inked in your skin, but it isn’t a terribly original idea. I would know – I got the outline tattooed on my left collar bone in 2016 on a whim. Since then, I’ve had some time to consider what other Arizona-inspired tattoo options are out there.
For the sports enthusiast:
Arizona has a team to represent it in almost every major arena, including the Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), Arizona Cardinals (NFL), Phoenix Suns (NBA) and the Arizona Coyotes (NHL).
These teams are so beloved that many fans have gotten their logos etched into their skin – but that’s not the only way fans memorialize sports love on your bodies. Find something unique about the team and have a tattoo artist build upon that idea. One local artist, Paul Ski, created a tattoo of a rattler for one Diamondback fan at Golden Rule Tattoo in Phoenix.
For the Nature Lover:
One of the most cherished aspects of life in Arizona is all the opportunities to spend quality time outdoors: Even when it’s 120 degrees in the Valley, cooler temperatures are only a few hours away.
Many outdoors enthusiasts with a profound appreciation for Arizona’s beautifully diverse landscape show off their pride with a tattoo, like this one by Bob Gibson at Golden Rule Tattoo that captures the state’s distinctive terrain.
For the Southwest Obsessed:
Climate and nature aren’t the only facets of Arizona that make the state so unique: the culture and deep, rich history have also inspired residents for decades.
If you’re all about the Southwest vibes and are inspired by the pure beauty of the state, consider a uniquely Arizona design like these by Justin Oriani at Grape Ape Tattoo in Tucson.
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For the B E L I E V E R:
The Valley has had an illustrious history with supernatural events. The Phoenix Lights sparked state-wide astonishment as people across the city spotted a series of unidentified flying objects, or UFOs, in 1997.
Are you an Arizona native believer? Consider a creative tattoo like this by Oriani that both embraces the icon of the saguaro with the mystery of the supernatural.
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