I had a friend of mine who had a full sleeve of colorful tattoos that I always admired. I didn't find out until later that he got them to hide his track marks. He shot heroin and due to the closeted upbringing that I had, I just had no clue until I saw my friend really sick. I tried to help him get off heroin. Unfortunately, the heroin won, and I lost my friend. I still have fond memories of him and his vespa... even if that seems a lot time ago now.
I still had it in my head that I wanted a sleeve but after a failed tattoo in color, I decided I looked better in gray-work. I also wasn't ready to commit to a full sleeve. I ventured back to my original tattoo artist. I have always loved Victorian wrought iron work - you used to see a lot of it here in Chicago. Not so much now, which is a real shame. Anyway, he drew up the plans and we had my first half sleeve done 6 weeks later.
Time gets rusty, sometimes. I don't know when I exactly did the other half sleeve. I do know that it was at a time when I was really dealing with some issues with my parents and I suppose the final, snarky, personality that you see today came out. I ended up going back to that tattooist and telling him to do my other arm. I supposed he found it amusing that the chick who was bitching about wanting that small tattoo was now about to have two half sleeves. I really trusted him at this point and I told him that he could do it freehand. What I wanted was thorns done in a negative. I didn't want to lose my dragon. Why did I choose thorns? I think because it to me represents my personality. I don't trust people at all, for the most part. I would rather they stay away until I can sort if they are friend or foe... or if I even like them at all. He got that tattoo completed in about a month. I was still in college at the time.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Eric Olsen
Lord, girl.
2 - Ms Tek
*laughs*
Yes, Eric... I already know what you think... But I still like ya! ;)
3 - Al Barger
Damn it woman, do you want to come over here and clean my keyboard now?
4 - Eric Olsen
As a father, I can understand his discomfort with all of this and I can hear the words, "But you're such a pretty girl, why do this to yourself?" But on the other hand, I wouldn't disown you either.
5 - BRICKLAYER
Whoa Nelly, the back shot filled me with such warm thoughts that it made me feel like I was cheating on Mrs. Bricklayer. I'm off to confession.
6 - Craig Lyndall
I am not down with the whole tattoos thing for myself, but I certainly don't care what anyone else does. One observation though. I know more older people who wish they didn't have their tattoos than people who are proud of them into middle and old age.
7 - Ms. Tek
I can understand a lot of older people feeling that way. If you don't take care of your tattoos and sit in the sun all the time, or get designs that have no meaning for you and based on spur of the moment things, I can totally understand why people would end up not liking them
I know one guy who is in his late 50's however and he got a parrot when he was in the Navy. He was smart, however... he always kept it covered under sunblock. It looks as fresh as the day he got it. He loves to talk about it and how old it is. He has every right to. He took good care of it and it looks great on him. =)
8 - JR
Yeah, but parrots normally have long lifespans anyway.
9 - jadester
wow, nice designs! The "belt" bit must've stung like hell
i currently only have two - small one on my left upper-arm and medium one on my upper-right back/edge of shoulder.
The worst thing about tattoos though is the cost - even at a good, fair-priced parlour it can set you back £50+ (about $70+)
I'm curious as to how you decided where to have the shooting star done - did you decide beforehand, or on the day?
also, I hope you have better luck now with your career!
10 - Ms. Tek
I knew I always wanted a wrist tattoo. =) At that point in time, I also didn't foresee the job market crashing as bad as it did. I was a person in technology... there would always be lots of jobs for me, tattoos or no.
At least that was in my mind at that time.
11 - TDavid
Probably going to offend you since you yourself indicated that 'this is personal' but my initial reaction was probably as close-minded as your dad's.
Small private, personal located tattoos are cool and I like those but the illustrated man look, er, woman in this case ... in 99.9% of the people I've met or seen it doesn't work for me (sorry).
With that personal prejudice aside, which I freely admit to being my problem and not yours, I am conflicted in the sense that I'm also fascinated by tattoos from an artistic point of view.
I enjoy viewing art and I see them as creative expression and appreciate those who share their art in this way.
I guess I just have a problem with the human body being the canvas. Almost any human body, really.
Also, it looks like you went through some serious pain to get those tats and the tats themselves are very cool looking and well-illustrated. Your commentary in the article about the origins of the tats is interesting and I thank you for sharing.
I know many people who got tats when younger and then regretted them later as Craig pointed out and it is good to know that you are up on how to keep them looking sharp so they don't become sagging and faded.
As for the prejudices in the work environment, I'd say that this comes with the territory unfortunately :( Burning them off and additional (and probably expensive) plastic surgery is likely not a viable option as it might leave ugly scarring.
The problem with tats, I think, is their permanent nature and the fact that at one time they might seem the coolest thing in the world and many years later the opposite could be true.
Thanks for sharing though, this is certainly a very brave and revealing piece.
12 - jadester
There're probably also quite a few common misconceptions about tattoos.
Also, i'm not sure how many people realise that you can get "5 year" tattoos (that use a different ink i believe) if you're only semi-certain you want a tattoo/what you want for a tattoo/where you want a tattoo.
Although i'd say if you are only semi-certain you're best of waiting until you are sure either way and then getting a permanent one (or not) as it's only one tattoo you have to pay for.
As for the pain, my personal experience, which the two tattooists i've been to back up, is that any part of the body where the skin is close to the bone is more painful. the base of the spine is supposed to be the most painful because it has the most nerve endings (and, interestingly, is where more women tend to get their first tattoo done than blokes. Are women actually harder than men? =+)
Where my back tattoo goes over the bony areas of my shoulder blade was the most painful. the one on my arm was a deal less painful.
The only other factor, not often thought about so much as others, is that for any good-sized tattoo you'll have to sit as still as possible for at least an hour. Some people may have a problem doing this.
13 - Jim Carruthers
I've had tattoos for about 20 years and haven't regretted them. Though only my shoulders and upper arms are tattooed, so with most clothing, they are private. Which is what they should be, expressions of a person.
To borrow from Henry Rollins, just think a couple of times before getting an Adam and the Ants quarter sleeve, okay?
14 - Eric Olsen
My daughter has a small tattoo she designed just above her bikini line. Since I don't see it very often, I always forget she has it and it startles the hell out of me when I do see it.
15 - frost
I have 3 tattoos (and will have more as the cash flows a bit more freely).
All of my tattoos have personal meaning to me, and I don't regret any of them.
As to the 'you'll regret them when you're older' argument; when I'm old and wrinkled and my tattoos don't look as pristine as when I got them... all of my friends will be old and wrinkled and I really don't think I'll care that much.
Much can be learned from Tony Danza's "Keep on Truckin'" tattoo.
16 - Jonathan
I'm working on building up my tatoos :) I got my first one maybe 7 months ago, It took me a long time to think of it and I'm not sure I quite like it. But I was on drugs at the time so I'll blame it on that. I got the word DUSK tatood on my left forearm.. it's pretty cool.
I'm getting my eyebrow pierced this weekend.
17 - Jonathan
Forgot to say I adore your tatoos, They are very very cool.
18 - TDavid
Jonathon - I'm just curious. Why would you want to get your eyebrow pierced? Is that an 'in' thing these days or what? I'm not trashing on you or being sarcastic, but I am curious what on earth could be the interest in doing this kind of thing?
Suddenly, I'm feeling very old LOL
19 - jadester
at least here in england, eyebrow piercing is...kinda "in"
Although i must admit i personally do not like it. The only piercing i'd consider is lower lip, something like what Disturbed's frontman has.
there's also a wholely strange fashion thing to shave (well, using electric clippers) a thin line in one eyebrow. it's so strange because everyone that has it done goes and pays about £10+ at a hairdresser's to get it done! (no kidding). That might be more amongst Londoners though (who in general are used to stupidly high prices =+)
20 - Jonathan
I suppose it's kind've the 'in' thing. I really just like the way they look and would love to have one..
Also.. women love them man :)
21 - Eric Olsen
Though Ms. Tek has delved deeply into the intersection of skin and ink, she appears blessedly free of holes. I salute thee!
My son, who is 16, wants to do his eyebrow or lip, but I have said no. We'll see what he does when he's 18 - he has two earrings.
22 - Ms. Tek
*winks*
I have piercings. And I have had facial piercings. All of my piercings now are of the kind that are socially acceptable (multiple earrings), barely noticeable (tragus ring and tongue ring) or invisible (I'll let you wonder about that).
I took out my eyebrow ring because I started to train people in Taiwan. In taiwan, even with all my clothes on, I look very interesting and they want to ask me for hours about my hair or if I am really as old as I say I am (they told me that Asians think that white people look much older than their ages. Was an interesting insight). So put my tattoos or piercings on top of that, we'd never have gotten any work done.
As far as lip-rings. I would LOVE one. I think they are terribly sexy. But I can't get one. As far as your son... a piercing can come out and then you might end up with a little scar.
A tattoo is far more expensive to be rid of.
;)
And I am not sure if someone mentioned this but in answer to the question I got somewhere:
No, I don't regret my tattoos. No, I don't want them removed. It's never crossed my mind. To me, they are a part of me, they make me, me. That would be to me like wanting to remove a finger, or a mole. =)
23 - Jonathan
Tongue rings are so hot, they really make a difference in kissing and uh.. other..things..
24 - lindsay
hey i read your story and to me and my friends it sounds like you were trying to make your self look cool but realy it made you look like a fool....thats so discusting....why sont you get them all removed...its better than you having to wake up every morning to see that shit...sorry just telling how i see it
25 - JDawnB
Hey, Just like to say I adore your tattoos, and personally I can see where you are coming from, each tattoo having a special meaning to you. I have five earrings and eventually I want to get a lip ring, which I think personally is the sexiest thing ever. But I was wondering, because I, too want a tattoo when I'm older though i have not decided what yet. But how do you personally respond to people insulting you because of your body art? I have been called a 'punk' many times by my family members just because I listen to violent music, wear black constantly, and I cringe at the sight of giggly girly-girls. So, yeah. How do you react to your friends/family when they just cannot accept you for your style?