Unreality’s World Exclusive Interview with Avatar Tattoo Guy
You all know him, and don’t fully understand him. We’ve featured him for months on the site now, his love for Avatar’s Neytiri growning ever more since that film’s release. His dedication has led him to EIGHT Avatar tattoos on his back, seven of which are of Neytiri, and the question has always been “why?” Why? He’s Avatar Tattoo Guy! That’s why.
Well, recently I discovered that the man himself reads our site, and follows our coverage of his tattoo progress. Gleaning his e-mail address from his comments, I decided to ask him if he’d talk a little about Avatar, internet fame, total fan devotion and of course, the lovely Neytiri.
His answers? Well, they’re what you might expect coming from a man with eight tattoos of a fictional alien woman on his back, but he doesn’t care what you think about him. And if you think he’s hopelessly in love with her, and can’t have a normal life, news flash, he’s actually married with a daughter.
Check out the full interview below, along with new exclusive pics that show his Neytiri devotion extends beyond his skin. I thought it best to preserve his answers in their original form, so no spelling or grammar edits have been made.
Meet Raymond Knowles, Avatar Tattoo Guy:
Unreality Magazine: So you currently have eight Avatar tattoos on your back, seven of them being Neytiri from the film. Why so much focus on her? What does she mean to you?
Avatar Tattoo Guy: It all started after the first time i seen the movie just when i first seen her NEYTIRI that is it was like love at first cite type of feeling .I can’t explain it but its a feeling one gettswell i plan on gettinng more done . I still have more room for atleast 2 more on my back .It doesn’t matter in what scene of the movie she is in NEYTIRI just has that something that gets to me in a way that i cant explain .My wife thinks its the eyes and i think so also big and beautiful, her voice that accent . Its like some people say that the french accent is sexxy ,well that goes for me in reguards to neytiri . To me NEYTIRI is just simply BEAUTIFUL. Shes 9 feet tall,athletic,slenderand she can really handle herself when the going gets tough oh and did i meantion that blue is my favorite color( SEXXY BLUE ).
When i first saw the movie way back on the first day it came out i was hooked.I was in awww with everything the movie just blew me away just like the millions of other avatar fans .When i seen her ,NEYTIRI that is she was the most beautiful/sexxy creature/person i have ever seen that when i knew i wanted to get a tatttoo of her and then another an so on .I have devoted my skin , my truck and even have pictures of her all over the house.basically she is just BEAUTIFUL.
UM: When did you learn that you’d become something of an internet celebrity for these tattoos? What was your reaction?
ATG: To be honest i was putting tattoos of her on my for me so show her off .It wasn,t until the third one that people from the avatar site that im into were telling me that i was getting popular around the internet.You know at first i was surprized. Over what—- some tattoos common .I didn’t believe it at first but as time went on more and more people were checking me out. Mind you 90% of the people who made comments ,well they were negative about what i have done but i dont care about all that, its me and my body so whatever. Even now with tat #8 and more to go and decals on my truck im being talked about everywhere mostly on webs sites around the world ,even on locate radio stations in my city.I never thought that for something that was for me– to say hey -NEYTIRI is beautiful and this is how i feel about her.
UM: I believe I saw a wedding ring on your hand there. Are you married? If so, what does your wife think about all this? Or your other family and friends?
ATG: Yes i am married.Well at first my wife didnt like what i did .Now when i got the second one done she like it better than the first. After the third one well to be honest i cant remember what she said. For my friends and family there is mixed feelings of what im doing some love it and some hate it as it is with everything .
UM: How many more tattoos do you think you’re going to get? If so, where? You’re running out of room. And would they be more Neytiri, or are you branching out?
ATG: I plan on getting atleast 2 more of NEYTIRI on my back.I’ve started back at the gym to lose those awful love handles so i can get them done on my lower back –left and right sides. After that im not sure ,at first i was going to do 7 of NEYTIRI portraits and then do the back grown so i would have any white left showing . I started thinking that if i started doing the back ground was worried that it would disstort the images of NEYTIRI and i didnt want that to happen so to quote a friend “it is what it is ” and more of her to follow. Yes im thinking of other things as well ,of what i have no idea yet ,people will just have to keep checking up with production i guess.
UM: How many times have you seen the movie to date? What about it makes you this dedicated to it?
ATG: I have seen the movie 18 times in the imax theatre and 3 times in regular theatre all in 3D of course and about 20 times at home ,just cant get enough . One of my friends said now what happens when all of a sudden im not into NEYTIRI and avatar any more and look back on what i have do to myself .The answer is well i’ll never stop loving the movie. Yes there is more to the movie than just NEYTIRI i know, there are things in the movie that is related to what we are doing to our own planet as what was going on on PANDORA. I shouldnt have to get into all that cause the message is plain and clear. Sorry for getting off track here ..I have explained why NEYTIRI means so much to me in earlier questions. What does she mean to me ,well outside my wife and my daughter is is my MISTRESS as my wife calls her and every time i want to see her i just have to look in the mirror.
Thanks to Raymond for talking to us and sending these pictures. I say keep doing what makes you happy man, and we’ll keep reporting until your entire body is head to toe Neytiris if that’s what you so desire.
Dude, a real interview with the infamous Avatar Tattoo Guy! Nice job pulling that one off! For some reason I always thought he was in his early 20’s. In any case, nice interview!
Well, now I know he reads the site I won’t start flaming on his tattoos. But I still don’t get why so many? One I could understand, but 10?
We need a guy like him for every movie.
Can we has ask what HIGHEST education he was ?
Sorry but this guy makes me sad.
Why not ask him why he couldn’t at least have found a better tattoo artist? Given that he somehow wants seven Neytiri tattoos, there are plenty of people out there who could have at least given him seven good Naytiri tattoos. The amateur work absolutely covering his back is the most sad thing about this. He’s obviously got money to spend on his obsession.
So is he from Calgary, Edmonton or Fort Mac?
This is the future of America. A nation of INDIVIDUALS (not a nation of people or communities) where everyone does what they want, regardless of what others think, and they simply don’t care. And of course, we’re all supposed to be understanding of each other. even if it lowers quality of life for everyone else.
As teenagers: I can’t learn anything, and I don’t care what you think.
As young adults: I can’t hold a job and have no idea how to support or take care of myself, and I don’t care what you think.
As adults: I have kids, yet I can’t raise or support a family, and I don’t care what you think.
As middle aged adults; I’m 46 and I act and think like I’m still 19, and I don’t care what you think.
And eventually as old people: I’m 76 and I still act and think like I’m 19, and I don’t care what you think.
I propose we change the name of our country to “The United States of Narcissists”.
@ Steve: The guy is Canadian. Not American. Fail.
The best part of this is the abbreviation of Unreality Mag to “UM” because then it seems like Paul is going “Um…” before every question. Because seriously dude, um…. WHAT.
is it me, or does Raymond look oddly like Jesse the body Ventura?
This guy needs spell check.
If this guy wants all those tattoos, let him. We all have our passions that we dont care if others judge us for, this is his.
Mine is cycling. I currently have 4 bicycles, all serve a different style of riding and I would like to have at least 3 more, again, all for a different riding experience. the average cost of these bikes is around $1,000 but thats my money to spend as I want.
If this guy wants to spend his hard earned cash on his passion, let him do it free of judgement. Besides, isnt it hypocritical to praise and ogle hot 20-something girl with Star Wars tats ( http://www.geekstir.com/star-wars-girl ) while mocking this guy?
Sorry for the double. Just some stuff i forgot to add.
Congrats on the weight loss man. You can definitely see a difference from the first tattoos to now.
I would like to know if he had any other tattoos before this.
It is awesome the Neytiri with a bow is on his lower back. Its like saying, “I dare you to call it a tramp stamp!”
i thank you all for the comments good and bad i was drinking at the time of answering the question in which i shouldn’t have done and second i did’n t proof read everything before posting . but you know im not an english major IM JUST HUMAN just saying
oh and yes i have lost 8 lbs and trying to lose more . cause i think ill be showing my tattoos more often now i think many 10 more lbs to go i have seen my abs in 15 years. hoping to see them again by next summer
@ steve makes me wander whats on your mine what i said in this interview was what i think of me and what im doing . you have your beliefs and what ever this is mine so chill man just saying
for a follow up interview ask him about Zoe Saldaña, her being the face behind Neytiri he must have some opinion/fascination with her
i think there are thousands of people out there that think the same way about NEYTIRI and are affraid to say what they think cause of what others think .you know who cares what other think it what you think and believe in and are passionate about so speak of what you think its a free country well last time i looked it
@Javier
Good question.
Raymond, since you seem to be hanging around at the moment, any comment on Zoe Saldana herself?
well paul , first of all thank you for everything and being the first to contact me . Zoe is beautiful simply goergious and when she trans forms herself into the character NEYTIRI she is just inhancing herself to an ever higher form of beauty . LIKE i said in the interview NEYTIRI is one hot 9 feet sexxy goddess and i bet there are thousands upon thousand of people out there that would agree with me
@ FRIKKENKIDS well i love the work that my artist has done and ill recommend him to any one believe me there are FAR worse tats out there and better ones than mine but I LOVE WHAT I GOT and they are beautiful
Thanks for the interview Ray, and good work with the weight-loss/gym. I agree that filling in the background could take away from the actual images, so that’s a tough call.
As far as room for the next two tattoos. I say you get one of NEYTIRI crouching in a pose. That would look cool next to the archer picture.
Ray’s from Edmonton, I see his truck at Tim Horton’s Ellerslie now and again.
Wow! Raymund is better looking that I thought he’d be, (attractive, I daresay), and he seems like a lovely man (personality-wise).
@Sara C.
I thought the same thing..”Um…”
# Nate Cantrol
“Can we has ask what HIGHEST education he was ?
Sorry but this guy makes me sad.”
And what exactly is the highest education one can be?
The irony kills me.
Addiction is a problem.
If it wasn’t Avatard, then it’d be heroin or booze.
Still, just as sad.
listen people i was having a few and i didnt proof ready what i wrote.SORRY for being so imperfect as if yous all are.I have grad 12 and had 84 high school average ,not the best and not the worst either so chill on the spelling
you know if you want to see all photos of me check out facebook
Raymond, some people are just grammar nazis. I admit I can be one as well.
Even still I want to thank you for doing this interview. You seem like a nice and all around cool guy. I hope you continue to pursue your hobby/passion without deterrence from the negativity of others.
I hope the negative comments dont make you regret this interview or keep you from doing interviews in the future, be it for this website or another. I enjoyed reading what you had to say and hope to read more, should Paul decide to do a follow-up.
well thx john . i enjoyed doing the interview and yes i dont mine doing future ones weither it be for paul or someone else . people just have to ask me. my back tats have been seen all around the world and have had some dandy comments good and bad . i said it before they dont bother me cause this my passion and will always be so thx again and tc
http://avatarblog.typepad.com/avatar-blog/2010/12/ultimate-avatar-fans.html
Um… NO – these are crappy tattoos based on a stupid movie and John is a dumbass. “let him do it free of JUDGMENT (no E)” – sorry, nothing on the internet is free of judgment, and “I dare you to call it a tramp stamp” is the gayest thing I’ve ever heard anyone, even a gay man, say. I’m guessing you’re a man based on the whole “John” name. I could be wrong……. but only about you being a man.
Someone should let this poor fool know that Avatar was the worst piece of garbage to ever plague American cinema. Avatar is the kid Plan 9 and Troll 2 beat up in high school.
Well, you must be really passionate about the girl (Neytiri) that’s all I can say.
Calling the film crap (James) is just disrespectful to the people who worked so hard for twelve years to make it. Of course it won’t be for everybody but to call it garbage is just infantile.
I hope you don’t get fed up with her! (Neytiri that is) as you will be in trouble if you do….those tats are there to stay.
I love Neytiri too, although you are clearly more devoted.
I think the film is great, possibly a victim of it’s own hype at first, but just so good when watched for what it is….lovely fantasy.
We all have our loves and hates. I can understand wanting to show your “fan-pride” with the tattoos etc, but even I, with my unhealthy doses of fan-obsession, find this a bit excessive. If you MUST cover yourself with the face character over and over again, shop around, find and artist who actually knows how to use ink. They could have been breathtaking – the subject matter is, so shouldn’t the art? and to the post above me. I’ll take the giant fantastic mural over multiple poorly done tattoos. If you gotta go big, go big, beautiful, and bold.