HAPPY ONE YEAR FROM ME AND CURLY YOU AMAZING WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING! I'M PROUD OF YOU AND I LOVE YOU AND I REALLY HOPE I"LL BE SENDING IN A SIMILAR MESSAGE 365 DAYS FROM NOW BC YOUR AN AMAZING WRITER AND LIP IS A WONDERFUL CHARACTER AND I LOVE YOU BOTH TO BITS!!
GOD THANK YOU SO MUCH ANGEL THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH ND YOU AND CURLY BETTER BE AROUND IN 365 TO SEND US ANOTHER MESSAGE OR ELSE.
“yooo, thank you, this is awesome fuck i’m fucking STOKED about this, i love you both too.”
ONE YEAR!!!! IM SO PROUD OF BOTH YOU YOU'VE COME A FAR WAY!!! I CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU BOTH GROW EVEN MORE AND DIKDKSLLA ANYWAY HAPPY 1 YEAR LOVE U BOTH :DDD <33
LITERALL YHATE YOU AND LOVE YOU MORE THAN WORDS CAN DESCRIBE THANK YOU SWEET ANGEL KEEP DOIN ALL THE AMAZING THINGS YOU DO BC U KNOW YOU DESERVE IT.
“bitch i knew i could do it... -- joking, but thank you assface you better still be here next year when we’re celebrating again.”
CONGRATULATIONS ON ONEYEAR AND FROM ME AND LILA WE HOPE BOTH OF YOU HERE FOR A LONG TKME. LIKE A RLLY LONG TIME BC YALL ARE SPECTACULAR! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 😚🎉😍❤️🙃
FFHHHH THANK YOU SO MUCH YOU”RE A FUCKING DREAM AND I LOVE YOU SO MUCH I’LL SEE U AND LILA IN A YEAR, RIGHT. WE’LL ALL BE HERE 2k17
lip hawthorne ft. social media: HIGH TIMES. ** SPECIAL 1 YEAR EDITION.
“If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,'
then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”
-- Vincent Van Gogh
When my editor told me about this article I wasn’t so sure it was actually worth it. I mean, who would want to actually go interview someone who’s name made you immediately think of some sort of STD? not to mention, he was a tattoo artist in THE CITY, god only knew what kind of chaos would unfold if I were to actually sit down with this man. But despite my protests, and constant bribes I had given in and ventured my way into the big city. Nerves had pulsed through my veins like mad as I approached Lucille’s Parlor, from the outside it was everything one would expect a tattoo parlor to look at.
The ground was nicely swept, and the lighting and signs weren’t so flashy, but something that had stood out were the curtains in front of the large bay windows. Of course this only spiked my curiosity as I pushed through the door and heard that usual chirp. The scent of cannabis and cologne had filled my nostrils as the sound of buzzing needles filled my ears. There was no doubt about it, I was in a tattoo parlor. As I walked up to the counter I was greeted by a woman who had a sour look on her face. Lips curled into a permanent frown. There was no hello, just a demanding “we don’t take walk ins.”
Of course, this made me uncomfortable and for the first time since I entered the shop, I wasn’t feeling all that welcome. But before I could even respond the curtain behind the counter had been drawn, and I had laid eyes on the man behind the parlor for the first time. The moment I laid eyes on him I had immediately changed my opinion on coming. He had this almost calming energy about him, and once I explained my story he immediately took me into the back of the parlor, being sure to give me the tour along the way before promising to make this as fast as possible, seeing as though he could sense my anxiety in a way.
Before I started with the questions that not only my manager had set up for me, but the questions we received from his fan base, I had an inquiry of my own. But it took a few minutes to really get warmed up to him. It wasn’t entirely him that was hard to connect with, but he hadn’t been fitting my expectations at all. When you think of a tattoo artist in New York City, you imagine someone who is probably dirty, or even frustrating or stand offish. But he was far from that, the man towering over me resembled an almost friendly giant, and a definite story behind those eyes.
He was interesting, and almost intimidating with how kind he was. It was evident he didn’t want to hurt me but I had this feeling in the pit of my stomach that if I got too close, he’d wind up doing something. So I couldn’t stop myself from asking three words he’d use to describe himself. He genuinely had to take a few minutes to answer my question, but soon he had responded with “tall, destructive and misunderstood.”
Now I must warn you, what unfolded during the interview can be seen as raunchy, and even disturbing so I ask if you’re weak hearted, you do not go further.
Q. You probably get this a lot, but I think this is the best place to start, why do you go by the name lip instead of something like, phil, or just phillip?
A. haha, it’s funny that I knew you were going to ask that. yeah, I get it sometimes. I get sh*t on it for a lot too, but I don’t know. When I was younger, no one called me Lip. It was always Phil or Phillip but then I moved out here and my mentor actually started with the whole “Lip” concept. He sort of created Lip and now when people ask it’s sort of like, that kid before isn’t me not anymore that’s some f*cked up kid from California, and that’s not me. We’re not the same, not anymore. I definitely like it, though. despite how much sh*t I get for it.
Q. Speaking of you when you were a kid, I’ve done some research and is it true your father is Chip Hawthorne, and your oldest brother is Ethan Hawthorne, the one who worked the Bronson case?
A. Done your research? Cute. But, yeah.
Q. What made you go in the direction you went, when your brothers and father clearly went in an entirely different direction? Did it cause any problems at home?
A. I guess I just always had this in me. It’s not that I saw my family going down this path and I was like f*ck that, I’m doing this. It wasn’t like that at all. I actually didn’t ever think I’d be running a parlor one day. All my life my dad wanted me to be just like him. Follow his guidance and be a perfect little soldier. I was actually going to college to become a doctor, but I gave that all up when I finally found my true passion.
Q. That actually brings me to my next question, what would you be doing if you weren’t a tattoo artist?
A. I’ve thought about this all my life, honestly. I think I would have become a doctor for kids with terminal illness. I always felt the most connected to children, and I always felt the worst for them and feel like they need the most attention, you know? I mean, working in the pediatric unit would probably be the hardest but at the same time, those kids are so full of light man.
Q. Do you have any children or do you want any?
A. I thought you did your research -- yes, I do have a daughter, her name’s Quinn. She’s my entire world, and I’d f*cking love to have another in the future.
From this point on, I had told him we actually received some messages from a few of his fans, it was obvious he was nervous at this point -- and he had every reason to be. ONCE MORE i’d like to state that what is going to follow is NOT SAFE FOR WORK content, and do not read further if you’re not ready.
Q. To my surprise, when we first posted about the interview we received a lot of questions but the number one question asked, was well, do you eat ass?
A. ( after a string of various profanities and uncontrollable laughter, he finally collected himself and was able to answer the question ) NO, I don’t eat ass. I don’t at all. This is so stupid and I KNEW someone was going to ask that.
Q. when you love someone, do you put your all into them?
A. Bit of a loaded question, don’t you think? I mean, it depends on where I am or who they are. When I’m in love with them I’ll do anything and everything for them. But if I just love them, then I mean... I don’t know, I don’t think i’ve just platonically loved anyone in a while.
Q. would you date an alien?
A. ( with a look of surprise, he begins to nervously laugh. ) Uh, I don’t know, would you date an alien? i mean. if they have like weird faces or something that actually scares the shit out of me, then nah. But I mean, what the hell is this question?
Q. if you were given a chance to change anything about your life, would you take it?
A. Yes.
Q. everybody has an inspiration/role-model or at least something close, who do you consider to be yours? do you have more than one?
A. My biggest role model has to be my mentor, Chad. Props to him, because through everything he saw me as something bigger than what I was, you know? he was a good dude, and taught me a lot.
Q. what is your earliest memory of your mother? what about your father?
A. Uh, my mother? Probably my fifth birthday, I remember I woke up to my room filled with gifts and balloons. I remember I overslept, and that had to be the first time I had actually slept later than ten. I remember... pancakes, and bacon. I remember laughing, and getting my first sketchbook... and my father? no comment.
Q. who was your first love? what was he/she like?
A. ( he sang justin bieber’s baby’s chorus maybe three times before finally answering. ) Ah, okay I’m here. Okay, well, it really depends on when you’re talking about, or what kind of love. My first real crush was on a girl who had blonde hair. I don’t remember her name, I just remember she was the first person to actually give a shit about me. We didn’t amount to much, though. She moved away the following summer but she was the first person to really make me feel something... But when it comes to real, raw love -- that has to go to a man who had taken me by storm when I moved to New York. I was working in my mentor’s parlor, and he was a boxer. It was definitely... something, he made me feel different than any other partner I’ve ever had. It was real love, that. He was someone who really made me feel safe for the first time, and gave me the strength to fight any battle I faced.
Q. you have three wishes, what are they? why?
A. Nice, okay well first off I wish my daughter would have nothing but happiness for all her life, because that’s all a parent really wants for their child. I just want her to know life is good, and only get the best. Next I’d wish for my mother’s sanity (*), because she is so strong and deserves much better than that. And lastly, I’d wish for my own life to sort itself out, simply because this roller coaster life isn’t doing it for me.
Q. when did you lose your virginity? what was it like?
A. Fifteen, -- forced.
Q. can you recall your nightmares/dreams upon waking up? if so, what's your most memorable nightmare? what about dream?
A. Depends on how I went to bed. If I don’t take my medication, there’s a strong chance i’ll have a nightmare and it will be remembered. It’s not like there are various dreams and they’re easily forgotten, though. As for my most memorable nightmare there are a few that stand out, but one more than the other’s... It’s a bit personal, so I’d prefer not to share the entire story but over all it’s me, running from someone who is going to hurt me after finding out I had lost someone important to me. Dreams, though, are something I have not been able to capture and remember. Most nights it’s just black, until I wake up.
Q. if you can go back in time to a decade before your birth, which one would you choose? why?
A. Oh man, I’d probably go back to the 60′s, just because i’d be able to do my thing. but i’d want to skip the 80′s and 90′s and get back to today. just wanna visit the 60′s you feel?
Q. what is your biggest goal in life? do you feel like you'll be successful in accomplishing that goal?
A. No comment on what the goal is, but I know I’ll never be able to properly receive it. (*)
Q. why do you cheat?
A. Uh, well, I don’t know how to answer this question, because I don’t know. It just... happens, something I don’t know I’m doing until after it’s over and it’s almost scary. I don’t think, I just act.
Q. what subject did you excel the most at in school?
A. English, honestly. Sure I did well in art class but that was a pass fail course, no real grades... But in english I was able to excel, I would write a lot when I wasn’t able to paint, and I could grasp a literature’s meaning relatively well.
Q. lip, if you were a disney princess then what disney princess would you be?!
A. I’m not a goddamn princess, I’m the queen, Elsa... No, but my daughter does say I’m the perfect Prince Kristoff so.
Q. would you kill someone for a million dollars?
A. No.
Q. what are your favorite tattoos?
A. Hahaha, I was hoping someone would ask this. My favorite tattoo is definitely my Lisa Simpson tat on my foot, I relate to her a lot, even though I’m the real life Homer Simpson.
(*) In moments where this arrived, Phillip had fallen silent for a great deal of time, or requested a break where he retreated to his flat upstairs and didn’t return for almost twenty minutes. When he came back, he seemed to smell of cannabis and his eyes were dilated.
Also after doing some research, I came to find his mother had passed a few years ago but he still refers to her as if she were still alive. I found this immensely interesting, so I had sought out his co-workers in hopes to get a bit more information on Phillip. But to my surprise, not many people had anything to say about him other than the fact he was a great boss, and a good friend.
But it wasn’t until I finally got my hands on Chad, his mentor, did the truth begin to show. I never expected I’d go this deep into a story about a tattoo artist in New York, but after sitting down with him I felt like there was just something missing from this story. I remember calling Chad, and at first he wanted nothing to do with me. He had actually screened most of my calls until one night I had texted him that the reason I wanted to meet with him was Lip, and eventually he sat down for a coffee with me. Upon meeting him I was beyond scared. He had given off this vibe that he wanted nothing to do with me, or what I was doing. But after a few warm up questions things became more evident and clear.
Chad had requested that I refrained from using his actual terms, or even try polishing them up for him seeing as though his grammar and vocabulary mirrored that of a sophomore in highschool level. But over all, here’s what I learned from my discussion with Chad.
Chad had fallen in love with Phillip’s work far before their first meeting, he had gotten one of his pieces from a client, and he knew from the beginning his freehand was a talent. One that did need a little assistance and with time would soon strengthen into something much bigger than Phillip had ever expected. “I knew this all before I even met the kid.” he said, ( almost six times. ) “But once I met the face behind the art, it was some strange sh*t.” He then went on to explain that what he was confronted with was nothing more than a small statured, thin, insecure individual. One who even refused to accept his compliments.
"I had to help him,” he admitted, before turning to explain that what he sensed with Phillip was something similar to a father-son bond. He went on to explain about how his own family had been ripped away from him by the government when he was younger, and how Phillip seemed to come into his life at the perfect moment for him to really be saved. “He was my saving grace, I asked for an angel and then something’ somewhere brought this kid to me and it just, brought me back from some fucked up sh*t.” From what I understand, Chad had been toying with drugs that were far too strong and the day he met Phillip, he was headed toward an overdose. But he saw something in Phillip that suggested they could help one another.
“Kid has my face, you know? maybe i’m his real dad after all,” Chad had a slight sparkle in his eye when he discussed Phillip, but once I began to ask him about the young man’s mother that sparkle seemed to dwindle. That was when he asked me to take him off record entirely, and refrain from referring to Lucille ever toward him again. This astonished me. But the story that unfolded had truly surprised me.
After that, Chad had grown a bit tired of my company and requested I had left him. I had felt this sensation that I almost didn’t want to leave. It was bizarre, how I had come to meet two individuals who I thought I’d never want to meet in a thousand years only to feel drawn to them in a way I could never describe. Before them, I never thought to look at people and really see them. Everyone had just one dimension, they were what they were, but now I realize that you can’t, for everyone has their own story.
I didn't think it'd end like this. We've known each other for about what, FIVE years now? 2 and a half of those years, we were best friends. The other 2 and a half years? It was spent with the awkwardness I put on for the both of us. The 2 and a half years, I developed some LOTS of feelings for you and they never did leave, up til this day. I just never did want to let go.. Every single night, before I sleep, I think of "what if's", like what if you secretly fell for me, the way I fell for you? Is that a possibility? probably not, right? Well, NOW, it's like we're complete strangers. We haven't seen each other in awhile, and we for sure haven't talked in awhile. </3 I miss you, mainly as a friend. But I don't think I can just be friends with you, cos whenever we attempt to try being friends, it involves talking and communication. Communication with you brings back all the feelings, the memories, everything. I don't think I will ever be fully over you. That is why I say that I fell for my bestfriend. You WERE my best friend, but we're not anymore. We're friends, that are complete strangers. I think my best friend was my first. I'm somewhat glad because I knew you very well, but not glad because of my feelings, we drifted apart and we're never gonna be the best friends we once were. (Probably.) I wish we still were good friends. Being that we were best friends and had a strong bond, you'd think we could be back to somewhat normal, but no. We're complete strangers. I would LOVE to try to be [best] friends with you again, but then.. the feelings would probably come rushing back to me, the moment we talk, which would mean last year all. over. again. "/ I just wish up to this day, we still talked, had inside jokes that my friend and you have, and that we were best friends again. I really miss the memories and laughs we shared, our friendship. But the most important thing is, I miss you.. still and always will.
