Like Father, Like Sleeve: Getting Tattooed by Russ Abbott
For most people, a first tattoo is a milestone. For Jonah Abbott, it was something more: a deeply personal rite of passage, and a way to carry a piece of his family with him forever. Getting tattooed by his dad, Russ Abbott, wasn’t just about the finished sleeve. It was about the process, the trust, and the time spent together.
Now 20, Jonah decided he was ready at age 19. Growing up around tattooing meant he was never in a rush to get something just for the sake of it. Instead, he waited until the idea felt meaningful. The motivation wasn’t social media, trends, or peer pressure, but reverence. He wanted something that honored his dad’s work and the role tattooing had played in his life.
“A part of him is always a part of me,” he explained, describing the significance behind choosing his dad as his first artist.
Russ and Jonah Abbott display finished Kumiko sleeve
Growing Up Abbott
Jonah’s perception of tattoos was shaped early, and very differently than most. Some of his earliest memories were at his dad’s shop, where tattooing and body modification were completely normalized. What might surprise others just felt like everyday life.
One story sums it up perfectly:
“My dad had a friend with inked out eyes knock on my door and I went to answer it and immediately just go ‘are you here for my dad?’”
Moments like that made tattoo culture feel natural from the start. It also meant it took him longer than most to realize just how influential his dad really was. That perspective began to shift when he was around age 10 and strangers started recognizing Russ in public on a family trip to New York City. Seeing people stop his dad, combined with the release of Russ’s ornamental design book, helped him understand the scope of his dad’s impact as an artist and mentor.
Letting Dad Do His Thing
When it came time to design the sleeve, Jonah intentionally gave very little direction, and didn’t want to control the design. The goal was simple: let his dad do what he does best and create freely.
The biggest inspiration came from the ornamental leg sleeves worn by Ryan Stancill, a previous Ink & Dagger Client of the Month. Jonah remembered seeing them and thinking they felt especially unique and striking. Russ took that inspiration and pushed it further, designing a continuous ornamental sleeve with transparent scrollwork flowing seamlessly around the arm.
“My dad was able to let loose and do exactly what he wanted to do,” he said. That freedom became the most meaningful part of the project.
The process was meticulous. Much of the sleeve was drawn directly on the skin, erased, redrawn, and refined repeatedly until everything flowed perfectly. It was an intensive approach that relied heavily on their trust and familiarity, something that made the project feel even more personal.
More Than Just a Tattoo
The experience also deepened their relationship. After leaving for college, Jonah noticed the natural shift that happens when kids move out like less daily contact, fewer shared routines. The tattoo sessions became a new way to reconnect, offering dedicated time together and a closer look into his dad’s world at the shop.
There were also plenty of small, funny moments that made the experience uniquely theirs. Before every session, they had a ritual of getting the exact same burrito from the same place. Sometimes Jonah would make fun of his dad’s music. Other times, they’d sit quietly, both focused on the session. Both were able to just spend hours together in a way that doesn’t happen often once you’re grown.
Watching It Come Together
The sleeve was completed across about seven sessions over six months. The first session felt like the biggest leap, but after that, the progression felt smooth and natural. Within days, the tattoo already felt like part of him.
He also quickly discovered something unexpected: tattoos start conversations - a lot of them.
“Sometimes I go to the gym and people will comment a lot. As a socially awkward gen z teenager I have to actually discover techniques on how to convey a message as quickly.”
Even beyond casual conversations, the sleeve connected him back to the tattoo world he grew up in.
“My bio professor at GA Tech recognized me from the Instagram videos my dad has been posting about the tattoo and I thought that was wild. People I meet on a daily basis, even some of them have been tattooed at Ink & Dagger.”
Dad Didn’t Go Easy
If anyone thought Russ might take it easy on his son, they’d be wrong.
Harder. Definitely harder.
“There are some sucky places like my armpit or my chest area. He started right on the collarbone. The first day he completely avoided the easy parts of my arm. He told me later he did that on purpose.”
Classic dad move.
Advice For First Time Tattoo Clients
Having started with a full sleeve, Jonah’s perspective on first tattoos is thoughtful and measured. His biggest advice? Do the research, choose the right artist, and don’t compromise if the idea deserves to be large.
“If your idea would be better as a bigger piece, do it,” he explained. “If it’s within your means, try not to compromise.”
That mindset reflects the philosophy behind his own tattoo: intentional, meaningful, and built to last.
A Permanent Collection
Starting with a full sleeve sets the tone for how Jonah approaches tattoos going forward. He plans to continue with larger projects rather than smaller pieces, keeping the same mindset he started with.
More than anything, the sleeve represents something deeper than just the artwork. It’s time spent together, trust in the process, and a shared creative experience between father and son.
Getting tattooed by your dad is rare. Getting a full sleeve from him, even more so. For Jonah, it became a meaningful milestone that reflects both where he came from and who he’s becoming.
“Getting tattooed was a great experience. It's a permanent change to your body but that doesn't mean it's a permanent change of who you are. Don't let fear guide you.”
