Guardian I - The Demon

ARTIST'S NOTE:

We all  have them.

But they can become our protector rather than our tormentor. It's all about how we navigate our own shadows.

I have on my right shoulder a tattoo of a demonic clown. For obvious reasons I call him Joker. Joker was a part of me that had taken over in some periods of my life. They are times that I needed to escape, move beyond. I had to confront that demon, understand his roots and exorcise him, not literally, and harness the positive energy that came from that encounter. Our demons can help us understand our deepest needs, though their untamed expression can be highly destructive.

Getting that tattoo is a constant reminder of Joker, but he now lies outside of me, not within.

- Steve Stone