September 8th, 2021

Teddy Bear Tattoos

Why leave your first best friend in the attic when you can carry them with you as a tattoo?

Everybody remembers their very first teddy bear. Mine was a relatively flat fella named Hug Me. Why was he named Hug Me? Because that’s what it said on his shirt and I was a remarkably unimaginative child when it came to naming stuffed animals, most of whom were simply called by the type of animal they were with a “y” pinned to the end like Eeyore’s tail. Liony, Dragony and Doggy joined Hug Me to create the Mt. Rushmore of stuffed animals in my household.

Like most beloved teddy bears, by the time Hug Me hit retirement he looked pretty rough. My mother liked to say that he was “well-loved,” but I know the truth, I put that bear through some serious shit. I dragged him everywhere with me and never really put much thought into his well-being. If I was playing in a mud puddle, he was with me. If I was climbing a tree, he was with me. If I was in some sort of fight with a friend of mine, he was not only with me, but he was likely being used as a weapon.

Hug Me was decapitated at least twice. He had so many unidentifiable stains it was impossible to keep count. Stuffing trickled between the seams holding together his feet. The cloth that served as his skin was so threadbare it was almost translucent.

I may be a grown-ass man as I write this but I’m certainly not above getting teary-eyed over my old pal Hug Me. He was the best companion a socially awkward only child could have.

Clearly I’m not the only person to feel a certain affinity for their teddy bear as a ton of folks have gotten tattoos to memorialize their childhood companions. Some of them are sickeningly sweet, others have a harder edge, but you can tell all of these teddy bear tattoos come from a place of love.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by BK (@bk_tattooer)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Andrew London (@alondontattoo)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by C A S S O (@casso_tattoo)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Monny – Monika Koch (@monny636)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by KOI TATTOO (@koitattooil)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by STUDIOBYSOL_Ori (@o.ri_tattoo)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by SOL TATTOO STUDIO (@studiobysol)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 팔레트 (@palette.tt)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by tattooist Tasha (@tattsha_)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nandostudio (@nandostudios)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jerzey Ink (@jerzeyinktattoo)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sean Gardner (@seangardnerisawesome)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by KARINA KOMAROVSKA (@karinako_tattoo)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by tattooist Tasha (@tattsha_)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by tattooist Tasha (@tattsha_)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Silvia Damiano (@silvia_tattooartist)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ♥️ʜᴀɴᴇʏ (@heart.haney)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Brittany Mater (@tattoobrittany)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Alicia Casale (@alicia_casale)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by (@tayong.tattoo)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by SOL TATTOO STUDIO (@studiobysol)

Editor's Picks

Art
The Ultimate Jurassic World Tattoo Roundup: Just in Time for the New Film

With our fan-familiar dinos back on the big screen, the excitement of the newly released Jurassic World: Rebirth has brought the prehistoric to the present, one tattoo at a time.

Art
Inked & Adorable: Meet Hunter, the Artist Tattooing Labubus One Toy at a Time

What started as a fun surprise for his boyfriend has turned into one of the most unexpected and addictive trends in the tattoo world.

Culture
The Story Behind Nonlee’s Signature Tattoo Style

Nonlee Ink merges fine art with tattooing in a style she calls “Realistic Impressionism”.

InkedMagCover