Richard Clark

My dad passed away when I was younger and he used to claim to be stronger than a bear. My brother and I always looked up to how strong he was and I ended up getting a cartoon bear holding a red bull and chips with his tongue out. It's actually my favorite one. I think he’d find it funny.

It would speak about someone who started covering his body in ink due to being bullied as a kid for having red hair and freckles. I became super self conscious as I grew up. How along the process it stopped being about hiding my skin complexion and more about showing my personality and becoming comfortable in my own skin. It also shows my journey from years at war, getting waves tattooed to remind me of home, to the lifestyle I live now.

I would do the feature in inked mag for free to bring the California surf culture and ink culture together. However, If I had to take it I would give it to my mom. She has always been there for me and I would love to give back anything that could make her life easier. O and I need a new board. I smashed into some rocks during king tide out here and broke it.