A Memorial Tattoo for Her Father Took This Woman to the Inked Originals Quarterfinals

From Tribute to Triumph: Her Tattoo for Dad Is Now a National Finalist.

Some people keep a photo of a loved one. Others wear a pendant with initials. But for Heidi Herman from Loveland, Colorado, the tribute is far more visible — an entire sleeve tattoo capturing the spirit of her late father, from motorcycles and mountains to cherry blossoms and a bear.

And it’s not just personal anymore — this striking piece has now pushed her into the quarterfinals of the Inked Originals contest, a national competition hosted by Inked Magazine for everyday people with extraordinary ink.

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What’s on the Tattoo?

It’s a visual love letter to her father.

A bear, his lifelong nickname.
A Harley-Davidson-style logo with “Herman” replacing the brand name.
Mountain landscapes and a silhouette of the Twin Sisters Peaks.
A hawk, a bluebird, and delicate cherry blossoms to balance the power with beauty.

It sounds like a chaotic mix, but tattoo artist Heide Unger (yes, same first name) turned it into a beautifully cohesive sleeve.

“I told her, ‘I know this sounds super masculine and like a big pile of random stuff, but I want it to be beautiful too,’” Herman recalls. “And she just said, ‘I can make it pretty.’ And she did.”

The Tattoo Took Time — and Heart

Heidi spent years thinking about the design. When she was finally ready, she went to Unger, co-owner of Millennium Gallery of Living Art, a family-run studio in Fort Collins operating since 1995.

It took four sessions, each eight hours long, to complete the piece.
The result? A sleeve that not only carries deep emotional meaning but also receives daily compliments for its intricate detail and clean line work.

“I get compliments all the time — especially about the fine lines,” Herman says. “It turned out even better than I imagined.”

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About the Contest

The Inked Originals contest is based on public voting and also raises money for the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, which supports families of children with cancer and funds pediatric cancer research.

You can vote once a day for free, or buy extra votes — the money goes to charity.

Herman is currently sixth in her group, hoping to make it to the semifinals this week. The final round wraps up on July 10.

What Happens If She Wins?

$25,000
A feature on the cover of Inked Magazine
A free tattoo

And she already knows what she’ll get: her youngest daughter’s name.

“My 18- and 16-year-old kids already have their names on my body,” she says with a laugh. “But the 6-year-old doesn’t yet — and her siblings keep warning me: ‘She’s gonna find out one day, Mom. You better fix that.’”

More Than Just a Tattoo

“I never thought I’d get this far,” Heidi admits. “But it means so much that something so deeply personal to me is now being seen and appreciated by so many others.” “It’s not just art — it’s living memory. And I love that people recognize that.”