Show us ya' ink!

Inked magazine approached Patrick and I to do a cover story on our tattoos for their current issue- so flattered! Jason Ierace took the incredible Moulin Rouge-inspired photos and sweetheart Vanessa Morgan did the following interview that accompanied. x


A model life… Tiah
While she certainly didn't lose out in the genetic lottery, Tiah Eckhardt proves beauty need not only be skin deep. She carries a smile as she and her husband, Patrick Delaney, watch their one-year-old daughter playing at a shoot. Born in Perth, Tiah's face and body have been the focus of numerous photographic campaigns, but often concealed are her tattoos: the cherries behind her ear, the pinup girl on her leg, and the delicately painted nickname on her wrist which translates to 'non-conventional beauty'.
Inked: Is there a part of you that is still that 14-year-old girl that started modelling in Perth?
Tiah: No, I don't think so. I mean, my personal life, my family, where I'm from, that will never change. But I think I'm an entirely different person to the one I would be if I hadn't modelled. Sometimes I think maybe I'd be saner and more secure, but I can't help but be grateful for everything my career has given me. On top of travelling and earning a living, I think I'm a much stronger person because of it. I have thicker skin, and I can put things to do with self-image - something I think all women deal with - into greater perspective.
Tell us about your first tattoo - what was it and where did you get it done? The first tattoo I had done was the 'Belle-Laide' on my wrist. Someone used it to describe me and I identified, so it kind of stuck in my head and eventually I decided to get it tattooed. That and the pinup girl on my ankle were done at Tatudharma in Chippendale.
I read that when you and Patrick first met at a shoot, you didn't get along. Is that true? It's not that we didn't get along, it's that we didn't even speak! I had a boyfriend at the time and just didn't even look at other guys, especially male models. I never normally get put with a guy on shoots so I was kind of uncomfortable. And Patrick had been chatting about metal bands to my boyfriend who had brought me McDonalds and hung around for a while. I don't think either of us were comfortable being forced to act all sexy together. Anyway, two years later when I was living in New York he came up to me in a bar, spent half an hour trying to convince me we'd actually met before, and then I remembered and it turned out we had heaps of mutual acquaintances and even lived on the same street, two blocks apart. We pretty much moved in together straight away after that.
Are the two of you competitive? No, not competitive. But we're definitely both very argumentative, stubborn and hate being wrong. So I guess we compete to win debates a lot!
Do you egg each other on to get new tattoos or does it just happen organically? No, we just let each other do what the other wants in that regard. But I especially supported him when he tattooed our daughter's name on his own arm.
Do you have to worry more about placement of your tattoos due to modelling? I've always thought the sexiest tattoos on girls were on limbs or kind of sensual places, so that's why I have mine where I do. Granted, they are in places that are pretty easy to hide, but that didn't affect my decisions.
Have you ever found yourself saying no to what a photographer asks you to do on a shoot? Never on any professional shoot. In castings or some publicity shots I have, if I think they've been inappropriate or not conducive to the professional reputation I'd like to have. But I think that any photographer that's not a moron usually realises within five minutes I'm not the kind of girl that'll be pushed around. It's worked for and against me… but mostly for. At least at the end of the day I've got my self-respect, something a lot of girls who go into this industry don't manage to come out with intact.
Now that you're a mum has much changed for you? Oh, so much. Everything! Day-to-day life, the way I see the world, the way I see other people, my priorities, and the perspective I have on life in general. So little really matters in the world compared to your child and you understand that nearly everyone who has their own feels the same way. The second she was born, so much clicked.
You're studying acting. Was this a natural progression for you? What drew you to it? I started dance when I was three and theatre when I was four and I graduated from a performing arts high school in WA, so it's always something I've done. I've always thought of modelling as sort of a well-paid laymen's bastard of dance and acting. I kept going to auditions for TV commercials and getting the job, so I figured I should brush up and started studying at NIDA part-time.
When not in front of the camera, what is life like? Probably most people's idea of boring. I don't go out - we kind of just hang out at home, do things like go to the park or to the beach. It's nice. Our schedules, though at times busy, are also flexible and we get to spend a lot of time together as a family.
Who are your tattoo artists, and are there plans for more work? Josh Roelink (Tatudharma) is amazing - he's my favourite. But I don't have any plans for anything new at the moment. I want them all to be good, so I normally stew over them for a long time before getting them.

What about the following…
Love… Is everything. My family, my friends, my husband, my daughter - it rules every decision I make.
Nudity… Is awesome in the right context.
Fashion… Is like fire: a great servant and a terrible master. Make it work for you and it can be great, let it rule you and it will destroy you.
Art… Is Patrick's forté, not mine. I'm clueless and tend not to care
Travel… Is so much fun but after a while can be exhausting.

The leading man... Patrick
When it came down to it, Patrick chose tattoos over modelling - but with tattoos increasing in popularity since around the time that decision was made, it sure as hell hasn't stopped him from getting work. Having modelled for some of the biggest names in fashion, including Terry Richardson, Marc Jacobs and Dolce & Gabbana, the husband to Tiah and father to Finley has left New York behind in order to make a home for his family in Sydney. Decorated with ink from a dream list of tattooists, Patrick is ready to gain some new art. Artists, line up!
Inked: What started you down the path of getting tattooed? Was there someone you knew, or was it something to do with the look that captured your attention?
Patrick: My older sister's boyfriend was covered in tattoos, and I always envied the fact he was collecting artwork that he would have for the rest of his life. No one could take it away from him.
What was your first piece and how did it come about? My first piece was the geisha on my arm. It's a Sailor Jerry tattoo, but the Japanese geisha is wearing a Chinese dress. I love the American World War II ignorance of the piece. My mum got it for me for Christmas when I was 18.
Is there a theme through your tattoos? The only theme would be that there is no theme.
Was there a moment when you thought that you would have to choose between tattoos and your career? I did. I quit modelling and started working in the art world instead and got as many tattoos as I wanted. So yeah, I chose tattoos.
Who have you collected body art from and who was the most inspirational tattoo artist so far? I have been tattooed by some of the greatest, but that's all I'll say. No need to name drop. But if I had to plug a contemporary artist that has done work on me, I would say Charlie Foos, from Read Street Tattoo Parlour. If you find yourself in Baltimore wanting a new tattoo, I highly recommend him.
Nowadays, even Chanel has temporary tattoos as part of its range. When did you start to see a change towards the attitude of tattoos in modelling? I would say about three years ago. I went into this industry as a 22-year-old with tattoos and got noticed by Hedi Slimane, when he was the head of Dior. He's really the one who made it cool and acceptable in fashion. Then it kind of filtered down, and by 2007, Tiah and I were in London and there were all these 18-year-old kids willing to go get sleeves so they could book a Levi's campaign or something and be considered 'edgy'.
Are the two of you competitive? No, not at all. But stubborn as all hell.
When not in front of the camera what is life like? And how has Sydney changed this? If I'm not modelling, I'm looking after my daughter while Tiah is, or I'm designing new pieces of furniture. Leaving the hustle and bustle of New York and landing on this large island where things seem to move at half-speed has been a big shock. But it's definitely made a healthy impact on my life.
Any plans for tattoos in Sydney? Yes. Anyone reading this that owns a tattoo parlour and wants to tattoo me for free, please do!

What about the following…
Love? Need it.
Nudity? Love it.
Fashion? Whatever.
Art? Live it.
Travel? Miss it.