Paul Reubens Instagram – Edmonton tattoo artist and lifelong Pee-wee fan, Brent Smith (@Brent_smith_tattoos), shares his story this #TattooTuesday, highlighting how Pee-wee influenced his life and career.
😈 Brent’s first memory of Pee-wee dates back to a late-night rerun in the early ’80s. He reminisces, “One night I saw the David Letterman show… I was way too young to be watching it, let alone out of bed at that hour. It was a Halloween episode, which are always the best episodes of any TV show. His guest was Mr. Pee-wee Herman. I was mesmerized immediately. He was weird in all the best possible ways, a little mischievous and possibly dangerous, but behind it all was a kindness.”
🏴☠️ At age 5, he saw a trailer for “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” and thought, “Hey, it’s that weird pirate guy from TV!”
But later that year, Brent’s life took a dramatic turn following a life-threatening accident. He recalls, “So I sat, I drew pictures, I made up stories, my imagination was out of hand.”
🎨 During the long recovery, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” became crucial to him: “What I wasn’t ready for was how life changing this show would be…He was my imagination, manifested as a real-life person.”
💡 Now, as an adult, Brent reflects, “I’m 43, and I get to make art for a living…A complete stranger is one of my biggest influences…I’m surrounded by him in my home, at work, he’s a constant inspiration.”
🙏 He concludes with gratitude, “Thank you, and thank you to everyone who brought the show to life and worked on the Playhouse.”
Brent shares his sketch of Pee-wee, drawn after learning about Paul’s passing, and a photo of a Pee-wee tattoo he recently did for his friend Pam (@instapamgrams).
Today’s Secret Word, as picked by Brent is #Imagination! You know what to do when anyone says the Secret Word, right? Use your imagination! 😱
#PeeweeForever | Posted on 09/Jan/2024 17:30:43
