An airbrushed "tattoo" on a five-year-old Tauranga boy has become an internet phenomenon that has now bought smiles to the faces of children at Starship Hospital.
Artist Benjamin Lloyd was hoping for 50 likes when he Facebooked his indian ink freestyle painting on the body of Jin, the son of Tauranga lawyer Simon Whitehead but by last night he already had 275,000 likes and more than 143,000 shares.
Mr Lloyd promised free airbrushing of children at Starship if his posting attracted 50 likes. "I got 50 likes in 30 seconds."
It took him less than 10 minutes on Sunday to airbrush Jin and a few minutes more to post the photos onto his Facebook page. And while he peacefully slumbered on Sunday night, the posting went viral around the world.
"I woke up to six million hits. Once it starts to avalanche, things go nuts."
He put the massive popularity of the posting down to people's attention being captured by the images of a "tattooed" kid. "They think, what is this."
Mr Lloyd believed the other reason it went viral was his offer to airbrush children at Starship if he got 50 likes.
He has been painting the children of friends and family for years using non-toxic indian ink that washed off in the shower. "The kids are so amazed. As soon as they get the tattoo it boosts their confidence."
