Photo of the Day: Tattooed Artist and Musician Draws Stares on Mission Street

It was hard not to pull over the car and ask Sam Medeiros what was up with his totally covered face when he was walking on Mission Street heading to Burger King.

There are plenty of tattoos in the Cruz, but few with this kind of lifelong commitment.

Medeiros, 40, is an artist and musician who has been living in Portland for 15 years and has returned to Santa Cruz to study anthropology at Cabrillo College.

He started getting body art here 16 or 17 years ago and adds two tattoos a year. The face work was done in Portland.

Patch asked him some questions.

Why did you cover your whole face?

"It's who I am."

Was it a hard decision?

"Yes, of course. You should think seriously about all tattoos."

What was the toughest part?

"Having the balls to do it."

How have the responses been?

"Mostly positive."

What has been the most negative response you've gotten?

"Rednecks yelling faggot out of their trucks. Normal stupid stuff."

What's been the most positive?

"Getting laid."

Will you cover every inch of your body?

"I'm working on it, if I live that long."