When Chris Nanco walked into the local tattoo shop in Syracuse, it was something that naturally appeared to him. The medium provided the Bethlehem Steel FC midfielder a way to express not only his love of art but for his family.

Tattoos have always been something Nanco had wanted to get. Growing up with three older brothers that had tattoos, it just made him want them even more. But for his first tattoo, Nanco’s inspiration was closer to home. The 23-year-old has always had a deep interest in art, sketching regularly in his free time. After the passing of his grandmother, he took to drawing once again.

“The first tattoo I got was one that I drew myself,” Nanco said. “It says in loving memory and it’s for my grandmother that passed away in 2010. It’s a cross around my elbow and has two doves as well. I drew it myself, brought it to the tattoo shop in Syracuse and got it done.”

With an idea on a sheet of paper, Nanco was ready for his first tattoo but was encouraged even more by the artist taking time to work with his idea.

“Tattoos artists want to make each one unique and create a story behind every piece so coming into the shop and telling him my story and why I wanted to get that specific tattoo,” Nanco said. “He worked with me and helped me tweak it so it fits me and it just shows that they care about  what you’re putting into it as much as what they are putting into it.”

Since his first visit, Nanco has used the medium as his roadmap in life. After getting his first one while at Syracuse, he has gotten three in his hometown of Toronto while adding one recently in Pennsylvania.

“When you look at different tattoo artists, they each have their own style. I’ve noticed in my travels that tattoos are different in Toronto compared to Syracuse or tattoos in Philadelphia and it’s just something that I love seeing it.”

One commonality in all of Nanco’s art is his love of family and his religion. With a prayer on his left side, the winger has incorporated both aspects of his left arm.

“It reminds me to keep being the person that I am, the person that my mom raised me to be which is a kind and caring person,” Nanco said. “Having him with me to protect me but also incorporated with the tattoos of my family shows that I have him watching over them as well.”

With five pieces already done, Nanco is already looking down the road for his next sessions though the final number is still fluid.

“I have all my tattoos planned out. I have two or three more but I say that now and it might end up being five or six but I have the next two or three planned out.”