Star-Inked: Tanabata 2007 [Now With 100% More Pictures]
Last Year's Tanabata entry, featuring a short retelling of the fairy tale behind the day.
This morning, I awoke entirely too early: just after 7 AM. However, this is what one must do in order to realize dreams! I dressed carefully and thematically: brown slacks and merlot camisole, star threader earrings and "Lotus Soup, Step 3: Burning the Moon" (the second a necklace, both pieces by elisem).
After rousing my brothers, meeting Andy, and double- (and triple- and quadruple-) checking that everything was in readiness, we embarked on our trip for Atlanta. As I drove along the Interstate, I observed the sky with a saddened eye. The entire horizon was overcast, thick gray clouds layering across the firmament. Drops of rain occasionally fell like tears. Things were not looking good for our dear star-lovers, Shokujo and Kengyu. Their bridge of wings could never form in such oppressive weather.
We reached Timeless Tattoo shortly after 12. Even though they'd opened less than twenty minutes before, they already had two to three people being tattooed and another two to three people waiting to be seen. Without hesitation, I bellied up to the counter and started trying to make eye contact with someone. (Also, I discreetly began examining all the tattooists in the front, trying to ID Rob.)
Finally, the nice blonde behind the counter asked me why I was there. I laughed at myself as I said, "Well... I'd like a tattoo." She yelled for Rob, and I called along, "Rob's the one I want!"
Rob was seemingly waiting for me (which I would hope so, after sending him three e-mails). Although there were so many people waiting to be seen, he hadn't taken anyone on yet. I brought out Stephanie's artwork and offered my thoughts on the execution (mainly that yes, that's the size I wanted and maybe the white parts should be my flesh instead of pigment. I'm just that white). He whisked my design away and set to making a transfer. I waited at the counter. Shelton and Douglas perused the flash art. Andy stood next to me and we observed what other people were in for: the daughter (late teens?) in with her mom, getting a Harry Potter tattoo. (She was getting HP, in the same font as the movie titles, where the P forks into lightning on the tail. Also, the P had a little Golden Snitch dancing above it.) There was another girl complaining about another shop not wanting to put a certain tattoo on her foot, and the artist telling her he could modify it for her foot.
Finally, it was time. I went back to the first room on the left. Before Rob could put the transfer on, I told him something I'd just thought. Happily, the star tattoo was in keeping with the theme I've started on my back: I mentioned that I'd also like the tattoos arranged in such a way as to create a visual line, leading the eye. He agreed. After a bit of verbal sparring on where it should be placed to accomplish that, he asked me to allow him to place it and then we could wrangle over it some more if I still didn't agree. So he did. He applied the transfer, handed me a hand mirror, and then we all stared at it in the full length mirror. And we all agreed that he was spot on.
That tattooing itself was curious. It hurt, but not unbearably so. The filling in hurt more than the outlining. I didn't meditate on the pain as much this time because there was no language barrier between me and my artist and I wasn't alone otherwise. We talked about Transformers, about Dawn, about the iPhone, about Steve Jobs and Pixar and tattoos (of paragraphs, of Tibetan prayers, of wings). Apparently Megan Fox (the chick from Transformers) has the following sentence tattooed down her ribcage: "There once was a little girl who never knew love until a boy broke her HEART." (I learn from the Internet that that's something she wrote herself. At least she has something from King Lear tattooed on her back: "We will all laugh at gilded butterflies.") Yeah.
Rob was a little abrasive or, rather, opinionated in that jarring way. He didn't entirely get along with Dawn, the artist of my first tattoo. However, he was also amusing and charismatic. Did I mention talented? Between him and Stephanie (and me, the progenitor), an amazing bit of work has been created.
The tattoo took maybe an hour to complete, even with breaks thrown in. Andy watched him outline it and took a few pictures. Then Shelton came in and watched as he began to fill it in, mentioning that he was thinking of getting a tattoo soon. When he left, Douglas came in and took a couple more pictures. He sat with me the longest, watching him fill in the rest of the tattoo. We talked about Douglas' tattoo ideas, which include a koi fish and the Rod of Aesculapius.
When Rob finished, he led me around the studio. (Which, come to think of it, Dawn also did. That must be why Rob said he remembered my tattoo from when Dawn finished it five years ago.) Each fellow tattooist scrutinized his work and uttered variations on "nice" and "cool." However, I have to say the words that thrilled me the most came from Cap Szumski (owner of the shop and master tattooist). He said, "Very nice." And went on to say I'd need to get my first tattoo touched up now and think about something for the other side (all of which I'd already thought).
Even more than this, however, was how pleased I was when I looked in the mirror: the work is amazing. I think the first word out of my mouth was "Wow," followed quickly by "awesome." I didn't want to stop looking at the ink. My face was flushed, my skin was tingling, my head wasn't entirely in sync with the rest of me. True otherspace moment.
I couldn't afford to tip Rob and felt like I left a bit abruptly after he finished his work. However, we did shake hands and he gave me my little pack (with antibacterial ointment and a lollipop! along with his business card), so our transaction really was completed. I'm just a lingering goodbye-type person, which is silly for someone I hardly know. So! We left. And I skipped stopping by either Starship, Inserection, or Poster Hut in the interest of getting us all food.
Sadly, food (at R. Thomas Deluxe Grill) didn't turn out that great. It was too expensive and rather below average. Still, it filled our bellies. Afterward, we made our way to the Mall of Georgia (with much cursing at traffic). I managed to finagle a trip to Borders out of a mis-turn and Douglas' need to urinate, which I mark down as a win in my book. In the beautiful Borders, I abused my credit card a tiny bit more and purchased another anthology: Shadows Over Baker Street, ed. by Michael Reaves and John Pelan. (Yes, that's the anthology of crossover stories between Sherlock Holmes and the Lovecraftian mythos. After reading "A Study in Emerald," I couldn't help myself.)
After Borders, we went over to the proper side of the street. We visited the Games Workshop store in the mall (our primary focus), missed the iPod vending machine (our secondary focus), and secured Cinnabons (not even a tertiary focus, just a perk). We were on the road by 4:30 Central time and home before 8.
Now I am tired. I feel a bit odd, out of sync. The weather never did clear up: in fact, it's been raining up until a moment ago. However, earlier, before the rain, I went outside to get "Palimpsest" (by yuki_onna) out of the car. The warm night enveloped me, a breeze tangling my hair and the leaves of the trees above. I looked up at the cloud-streaked sky, straining my eyes against the deeper black showing through. Finally, finally, I saw a star.
Happy 07/07/07, everyone! The poor Weaver Girl and Herder Boy may not have met today, but I wrought their promise into my flesh. (For, yes, that is part of the meaning of my tattoo: fulfillment after trial, hope, separation, movement, the power of fairy tales, the beauty of stars, moving together but apart in light... all this and more.) Hopefully, this is enough.
Now with 100% more pictures!
Rob talks about shading and I agree with him.
We're probably talking about female tattooists here.
The outline and shading are done.
After realizing I was right about not needing white pigment, Rob pronounces it done.
And now for a side-by-side comparison:
All of these pics, along with concept sketches, can be found in my Tanabata 2007 Tattoo gallery.
This morning, I awoke entirely too early: just after 7 AM. However, this is what one must do in order to realize dreams! I dressed carefully and thematically: brown slacks and merlot camisole, star threader earrings and "Lotus Soup, Step 3: Burning the Moon" (the second a necklace, both pieces by elisem).
After rousing my brothers, meeting Andy, and double- (and triple- and quadruple-) checking that everything was in readiness, we embarked on our trip for Atlanta. As I drove along the Interstate, I observed the sky with a saddened eye. The entire horizon was overcast, thick gray clouds layering across the firmament. Drops of rain occasionally fell like tears. Things were not looking good for our dear star-lovers, Shokujo and Kengyu. Their bridge of wings could never form in such oppressive weather.
We reached Timeless Tattoo shortly after 12. Even though they'd opened less than twenty minutes before, they already had two to three people being tattooed and another two to three people waiting to be seen. Without hesitation, I bellied up to the counter and started trying to make eye contact with someone. (Also, I discreetly began examining all the tattooists in the front, trying to ID Rob.)
Finally, the nice blonde behind the counter asked me why I was there. I laughed at myself as I said, "Well... I'd like a tattoo." She yelled for Rob, and I called along, "Rob's the one I want!"
Rob was seemingly waiting for me (which I would hope so, after sending him three e-mails). Although there were so many people waiting to be seen, he hadn't taken anyone on yet. I brought out Stephanie's artwork and offered my thoughts on the execution (mainly that yes, that's the size I wanted and maybe the white parts should be my flesh instead of pigment. I'm just that white). He whisked my design away and set to making a transfer. I waited at the counter. Shelton and Douglas perused the flash art. Andy stood next to me and we observed what other people were in for: the daughter (late teens?) in with her mom, getting a Harry Potter tattoo. (She was getting HP, in the same font as the movie titles, where the P forks into lightning on the tail. Also, the P had a little Golden Snitch dancing above it.) There was another girl complaining about another shop not wanting to put a certain tattoo on her foot, and the artist telling her he could modify it for her foot.
Finally, it was time. I went back to the first room on the left. Before Rob could put the transfer on, I told him something I'd just thought. Happily, the star tattoo was in keeping with the theme I've started on my back: I mentioned that I'd also like the tattoos arranged in such a way as to create a visual line, leading the eye. He agreed. After a bit of verbal sparring on where it should be placed to accomplish that, he asked me to allow him to place it and then we could wrangle over it some more if I still didn't agree. So he did. He applied the transfer, handed me a hand mirror, and then we all stared at it in the full length mirror. And we all agreed that he was spot on.
That tattooing itself was curious. It hurt, but not unbearably so. The filling in hurt more than the outlining. I didn't meditate on the pain as much this time because there was no language barrier between me and my artist and I wasn't alone otherwise. We talked about Transformers, about Dawn, about the iPhone, about Steve Jobs and Pixar and tattoos (of paragraphs, of Tibetan prayers, of wings). Apparently Megan Fox (the chick from Transformers) has the following sentence tattooed down her ribcage: "There once was a little girl who never knew love until a boy broke her HEART." (I learn from the Internet that that's something she wrote herself. At least she has something from King Lear tattooed on her back: "We will all laugh at gilded butterflies.") Yeah.
Rob was a little abrasive or, rather, opinionated in that jarring way. He didn't entirely get along with Dawn, the artist of my first tattoo. However, he was also amusing and charismatic. Did I mention talented? Between him and Stephanie (and me, the progenitor), an amazing bit of work has been created.
The tattoo took maybe an hour to complete, even with breaks thrown in. Andy watched him outline it and took a few pictures. Then Shelton came in and watched as he began to fill it in, mentioning that he was thinking of getting a tattoo soon. When he left, Douglas came in and took a couple more pictures. He sat with me the longest, watching him fill in the rest of the tattoo. We talked about Douglas' tattoo ideas, which include a koi fish and the Rod of Aesculapius.
When Rob finished, he led me around the studio. (Which, come to think of it, Dawn also did. That must be why Rob said he remembered my tattoo from when Dawn finished it five years ago.) Each fellow tattooist scrutinized his work and uttered variations on "nice" and "cool." However, I have to say the words that thrilled me the most came from Cap Szumski (owner of the shop and master tattooist). He said, "Very nice." And went on to say I'd need to get my first tattoo touched up now and think about something for the other side (all of which I'd already thought).
Even more than this, however, was how pleased I was when I looked in the mirror: the work is amazing. I think the first word out of my mouth was "Wow," followed quickly by "awesome." I didn't want to stop looking at the ink. My face was flushed, my skin was tingling, my head wasn't entirely in sync with the rest of me. True otherspace moment.
I couldn't afford to tip Rob and felt like I left a bit abruptly after he finished his work. However, we did shake hands and he gave me my little pack (with antibacterial ointment and a lollipop! along with his business card), so our transaction really was completed. I'm just a lingering goodbye-type person, which is silly for someone I hardly know. So! We left. And I skipped stopping by either Starship, Inserection, or Poster Hut in the interest of getting us all food.
Sadly, food (at R. Thomas Deluxe Grill) didn't turn out that great. It was too expensive and rather below average. Still, it filled our bellies. Afterward, we made our way to the Mall of Georgia (with much cursing at traffic). I managed to finagle a trip to Borders out of a mis-turn and Douglas' need to urinate, which I mark down as a win in my book. In the beautiful Borders, I abused my credit card a tiny bit more and purchased another anthology: Shadows Over Baker Street, ed. by Michael Reaves and John Pelan. (Yes, that's the anthology of crossover stories between Sherlock Holmes and the Lovecraftian mythos. After reading "A Study in Emerald," I couldn't help myself.)
After Borders, we went over to the proper side of the street. We visited the Games Workshop store in the mall (our primary focus), missed the iPod vending machine (our secondary focus), and secured Cinnabons (not even a tertiary focus, just a perk). We were on the road by 4:30 Central time and home before 8.
Now I am tired. I feel a bit odd, out of sync. The weather never did clear up: in fact, it's been raining up until a moment ago. However, earlier, before the rain, I went outside to get "Palimpsest" (by yuki_onna) out of the car. The warm night enveloped me, a breeze tangling my hair and the leaves of the trees above. I looked up at the cloud-streaked sky, straining my eyes against the deeper black showing through. Finally, finally, I saw a star.
Happy 07/07/07, everyone! The poor Weaver Girl and Herder Boy may not have met today, but I wrought their promise into my flesh. (For, yes, that is part of the meaning of my tattoo: fulfillment after trial, hope, separation, movement, the power of fairy tales, the beauty of stars, moving together but apart in light... all this and more.) Hopefully, this is enough.
Now with 100% more pictures!
Rob talks about shading and I agree with him.
We're probably talking about female tattooists here.
The outline and shading are done.
After realizing I was right about not needing white pigment, Rob pronounces it done.
And now for a side-by-side comparison:
All of these pics, along with concept sketches, can be found in my Tanabata 2007 Tattoo gallery.