Matthew Nielson

Connect What inspired your most recent tattoo?

My most recent tattoo was a part of me growing with the apprentice who has been tattooing my thigh. Originally I wanted to get a black widow with a heart instead of an hourglass, because of time restraints this was too much. After looking through his flash I found a spiderweb design that I then asked if he could do a heart in the center (the new spider) with an red hourglass like a black widow. This idea of the black widow came from a history of toxic relationships showing how toxic love can be.

If your ink could speak, what would it say?

My ink shows a story of family ties and experiences. My chest and arm being the main canvas displays a large amount of ink designed to represent my personal beliefs along with ties to my family, whether that be the lady bug for my uncle who passed from a brain tumor, the american traditional version of my mother in the Navy, or the several tattoos to represent my grandfather who passed in 2018. There is also some spur of the moment "therapy" tattoos to help me fill in my sleeve.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would mainly use the $25,000 to help me pay off my student loans while I am in the search of finding my career after college. Being a recent Marketing graduate of December 2024 from The Ohio State university. I am about to start feeling the impact of my student loans while I am currently searching for a start in my Marketing career, even though the current job market is proving to be as challenging as the schooling itself. I would also use part of it on getting a more reliable car.