The Experience of Being Tattooed
I absolutely LOVE being tattooed. The bigger the piece and the more meaning behind it, the better the process and the pain.
I'll explain my latest addition.
My Great Nana was an amazing woman. She survied several different cancers and died at a very old age (in 2005). 10 years ago I began planning a big project. I knew I wanted to incorporate angels into it because it was meant to represent a belief that my family always presented to me when I was younger about us each having angels watching over us. My Great Nana loved to give those little angel pins for every occasion. Bdays, christmas, get well soon. Twas a reminder that God is with us. Last Christmas I found the perfect gift for my Nana (my Great Nana's daughter). It was a large angel pin with red gemmed accents. I gave it to her on Christmas Eve during that fam get together and guess what? It matched her outfit perfectly (the shade of red did). After my Great Nana died was when I started to think of wings instead of an angel. A great amount of planning then went into finding the right spot, size, and form. Ed, my artist, drew up a set of wings for me a few months ago. To be honest I was nervous about starting it and that is why we didnt start until yesterday. So much time spent wanting and planning these wings that to actually be starting them had at that point become like a mythical creature.
So yesterday we started around 3:15. Its a tattoo so yes it hurt a bit. But I didnt focus on that. I usually never do. The pain was part of the process of getting this image, this part of me and my family, tattooed where it is visable to others. Ed said I was amazing at the sitting. Most people would not have been able to get as much as I got done at one time. Apparently people have a habit of squriming. I have never done that and the reason is simply this " The man next to me has a tattoo gun and a needle in his hand, with ink in it. One slight move from me while he is tattooing will probably equal more pain and a screw up on my tattoo." as a result of that I breathe and adjust when he has the gun away and is getting more ink for the needle. However I would advise most people to remain breathing slowly through out the process, especially if there is a large amount of pain, to avoid a higher chance of passing out.
All the line work is done and next sitting there will be the viens and feather details. Then after that the shading. We're looking at anywhere between 3-5 more sittings easy before the wings are done. Then there is also the spinal piece to do. Ed is taking pics (and so am I) so that when its finished we can look back at all the steps!
The final finished piece is just a part of getting a tattoo and the tattoo experience. There's also the planning, the pain, the after care, the different steps of getting line work, adding detail, adding shading, and then the final piece. When getting a tattoo I always believed it should have meaning. And to me the more pain, the deeper the meaning. Dont ask how that makes sense, might have something to do with my masochist sub nature. When I truely care about a piece the longer it takes, the amount of effort and design and pain and process is invaluable.
And yes, the fact that my shirt was bloody and stuck to my back all the way home, gooey from triple anti, and burning every time I moved is also a part of that process. I definately wish it was summer so I could have just worn my bathing suit top. But at the same time, fresh tattoos should be kept out of sunlight and to prevent fading you're not suppose to swim for two weeks so I am glad its winter. Because I love me some swim time! Except in lakes. The fact I cant see the bottom freaks me out. I do go swimming in lakes but I like pools ALOT more.
I'll explain my latest addition.
My Great Nana was an amazing woman. She survied several different cancers and died at a very old age (in 2005). 10 years ago I began planning a big project. I knew I wanted to incorporate angels into it because it was meant to represent a belief that my family always presented to me when I was younger about us each having angels watching over us. My Great Nana loved to give those little angel pins for every occasion. Bdays, christmas, get well soon. Twas a reminder that God is with us. Last Christmas I found the perfect gift for my Nana (my Great Nana's daughter). It was a large angel pin with red gemmed accents. I gave it to her on Christmas Eve during that fam get together and guess what? It matched her outfit perfectly (the shade of red did). After my Great Nana died was when I started to think of wings instead of an angel. A great amount of planning then went into finding the right spot, size, and form. Ed, my artist, drew up a set of wings for me a few months ago. To be honest I was nervous about starting it and that is why we didnt start until yesterday. So much time spent wanting and planning these wings that to actually be starting them had at that point become like a mythical creature.
So yesterday we started around 3:15. Its a tattoo so yes it hurt a bit. But I didnt focus on that. I usually never do. The pain was part of the process of getting this image, this part of me and my family, tattooed where it is visable to others. Ed said I was amazing at the sitting. Most people would not have been able to get as much as I got done at one time. Apparently people have a habit of squriming. I have never done that and the reason is simply this " The man next to me has a tattoo gun and a needle in his hand, with ink in it. One slight move from me while he is tattooing will probably equal more pain and a screw up on my tattoo." as a result of that I breathe and adjust when he has the gun away and is getting more ink for the needle. However I would advise most people to remain breathing slowly through out the process, especially if there is a large amount of pain, to avoid a higher chance of passing out.
All the line work is done and next sitting there will be the viens and feather details. Then after that the shading. We're looking at anywhere between 3-5 more sittings easy before the wings are done. Then there is also the spinal piece to do. Ed is taking pics (and so am I) so that when its finished we can look back at all the steps!
The final finished piece is just a part of getting a tattoo and the tattoo experience. There's also the planning, the pain, the after care, the different steps of getting line work, adding detail, adding shading, and then the final piece. When getting a tattoo I always believed it should have meaning. And to me the more pain, the deeper the meaning. Dont ask how that makes sense, might have something to do with my masochist sub nature. When I truely care about a piece the longer it takes, the amount of effort and design and pain and process is invaluable.
And yes, the fact that my shirt was bloody and stuck to my back all the way home, gooey from triple anti, and burning every time I moved is also a part of that process. I definately wish it was summer so I could have just worn my bathing suit top. But at the same time, fresh tattoos should be kept out of sunlight and to prevent fading you're not suppose to swim for two weeks so I am glad its winter. Because I love me some swim time! Except in lakes. The fact I cant see the bottom freaks me out. I do go swimming in lakes but I like pools ALOT more.