Blake Patterson
Blake Patterson of Alexandria, Virginia, is a web developer
who credits his career path to the influence of Apple and
Jobs. He got his first taste of computer science in school
with the Apple IIc, but the high-resolution Macintosh in 1984
blew his mind and steered him into a career in technology.
Patterson went on to be an early developer of the Mac
Rumors website and became a co-owner of Touch Arcade.
He felt deeply sad when Jobs passed and knew he wanted a
lasting tribute.
As an ode to the first Macintosh that inspired him to
start a career in technology, Patterson chose a pixel portrait of
a young Jobs designed by Susan Kare, an early Apple designer
who created many of the fonts and icons that Apple fans grew
up with.
“I am a fan of pixel art, and it seemed like a great
tribute to wear on my arm,” Patterson said. “I wanted it
visible so people would ask me about [it]. It’s been nice
to chat about how he shaped my career and interests.”
This tattoo of a young, pixelated Jobs covers two and
a half square inches on Patterson’s skin. He sent a picture of
the finished tattoo to Kare, who reportedly incorporated it
into her presentations to design classes and other audiences.
iDan
iDan didn’t care if friends thought he was crazy when he
showed up to band practice sporting a black-and-white,
richly graphic face of Steve Jobs on his arm. He settled on
the Albert Watson portrait because the gaze in the photo
reminded him that Jobs was a “modern-day pirate.” He was
tatted by artist Ted Mendoza of Coral Springs, Florida.
iDan worked for Apple while Jobs was alive and
may have been one of the first to get a tattoo of the tech
guru, six months before his passing. Although they worked
in the same building, iDan never got to meet his hero.
“I was a 19-year-old kid walking into Apple two months
after the iPhone came out,” iDan said. “It was a dream come
true. I couldn’t believe it.”
Inspired by Jobs and his bold initiatives, iDan even-
tually left Apple to tour with his band, Stellar Revival. While
in Vancouver, he got the news of Jobs’s passing. He cried
and went to an Apple Store to be with other Apple fans.
He wrote a song called “The Crazy Ones” as a tribute
to Jobs. Although his band got opening gigs for acts like
Ozzy Osbourne and Hoobastank, their record label eventu-
ally dropped the group. He went on to manage bands and
take a job that precluded him from using his full name.
“I feel like I am following my own spiritual path like
Steve did things totally in his own way,” iDan said. “Apple is a
perfect example of how great things can happen [when you
do that].”
◄
(PAGE 38) A pixel portrait of Jobs designed by
former Apple icon and font artist Susan Kare
◄
(PAGE 39) iDan may have been one of the first
to get a Jobs tattoo. This was inked six months
before Jobs passed. PHOTO: iDan
..................Content has been hidden....................
You can't read the all page of ebook, please click here login for view all page.