Staff Tattoos

As we say goodbye to the freezing temperatures of the winter, it’s time to show off some skin! Tattoos used to be taboo, but have become increasingly more common. Here is a spotlight on some of your coworker’s unique body art and the stories that inspired them.

By Jessica Ashcraft

The inspiration: The tattoo:

On Dec. 20, 1999, my then-sister-in-law brought a little black puppy to my office in Craig. He was wrapped in a red bow that was almost as big as he was. I named him Boris, and he was the dog of my heart, seeing me through a rotten divorce, a couple of graduate degrees, illness, an evacuation by helicopter... all the things. Boris was named for Boris Pasternak, whose family were Ukrainian Jews. The name Boris comes from Saint Boris, who in 864 AD adopted Christianity and converted Bulgaria. My Boris died in 2016, but his warrior heart will always remain with my own.

-Karen Bowen

The inspiration:

The tattoos:

When I first moved to Colorado a little over a year ago, I only had 2 small tattoos Since living here, I’ve acquired 13 more! I love my tattoos because they feel like they allow me to express myself as my truest form Some of my tattoos represent my bookish librarian side, like my original sketch of Paddington drawn by Peggy Fortnum, and a Pride and Prejudice quote. I also have nerd tattoos, like my Princess Leia and Jiji from Kiki’s Delivery Service. My tattoos make me feel like a walking art gallery, full of everything that's important to me.

-Jessica Ashcraft

The tattoo:

The inspiration:

-Melissa Holladay