Jessie Bates III reps Fort Wayne inspired tattoo in Super Bowl LVI

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Fort Wayne’s NBC) - A Fort Wayne tattoo artist created a Fort Wayne inspired tattoo that will make an appearance in Super Bowl LVI.

The Cincinnati Bengals take on the Los Angeles Rams Sunday for the long-awaited Super Bowl. A game where most NFL players dream of going to. Two Fort Wayne natives are set to take the field, Ram’s Ben Skowronek and Bengals’ Jessie Bates III. If you take a look at Bate’s tattoo, you’ll see a dedication to Fort Wayne.

Allen Bracknell, 35, is the one behind the tattoo. As a kid he used to doodle in his notebook in class, but then when he turned 15, he transferred it to permanent ink and a business. Bracknell’s work caught national attention from people across the state and country. From artists, to entrepreneurs, to NFL players, even one here in The Fort.

Bracknell has done a few of Bates tattoos including one with the word “Believe” with roses being it. Also, the one catching attention on Twitter, displaying the logo of Snider High School, TinCaps, I69 and part of the downtown skyline. Bracknell says Bates came to him a few years a go with the idea of making a tattoo inspired by different aspects of his home, the “260″.

He says making a tattoo is an intricate process where it includes working on digital platforms, not just a pen and paper. It involves applications like Photoshop and more.

“Clients will come in, they will give me an idea, things they have seen or liked. Then I just take a photo of their arm and then create my image on their through photoshop and the just build our own version of that.”

Bracknell tells us he is honored and excited to see a part of himself and his work displayed on the big screen at the Super Bowl.

To check out his work click here and to connect with Bracknell click here.

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