Tattoo-Allure or Animosity

photo by Flickr user mre770

Imagine standing at the grocery store checkout counter loading fruit, cat food and toilet paper onto the conveyor when a girl approaches and asks if it is OK to look at your tattoos, adding rather boldly “I guess that’s why you got them in the first place, huh?” Many people assume that enthusiasts get tattooed so that others will look at them. This would be an incorrect assumption. Even though there are as many different reasons for getting a tattoo as there are people who have them, more often than not it has less to do with ‘other people seeing it’ than most people realize.

Tattoos are intensely personal, including the actual experience of having them done. Each one has special meaning and symbolism, perhaps representing transitions in one’s life, important people, spirituality or accomplishments. Tattoos can be more lighthearted, too, carrying less emotional weight, but the knowledge that something is going to be on your body for the rest of your life tends to force you to pay attention to your reasons for choosing it.

For the most part, society no longer demonizes tattoos or the people who choose to wear them, though there are still many naysayers who continue to live in a closed-minded fugue where those who seem radically different from themselves are feared, or at the very least, written off. Getting tattooed is certainly not for everyone. People who are afraid of the judgments of others are less likely to be tattooed than people who aren’t easily swayed by others viewpoints and opinions.

Tattooed individuals may be considered wild or masochistic, brave or daring, but rarely are they branded as thieves or ‘bad people’ anymore. Some may consider those with tattoos as being rebellious or just plain crazy, but it seems that with the steady stream of quality tattoos showing up in movies, television and on the backs and arms of celebrities, the association of the art form to the criminal element has been largely abandoned.

Photo by Flickr user bucaorg

Tattoos have become an accepted art form, and a beloved art form to those who create them and those who choose to spend their lives wearing them. Tattoos have become so popular in recent years that snubbing an individual who has tattoos might mean snubbing your doctor, or your child’s magnificent third grade teacher. People from all professions and all socioeconomic classes have gone under the gun.

So many people love and appreciate tattoos as works of art, that being treated with derision for having tattoos is becoming much less common than being greeted with curiosity and even admiration for the fact that you have made such a decisive and permanent statement with your body. Because of the allure of tattoos, most people look, some ask questions, but all are somewhat intrigued.

Is It A Sparrow Or A Swallow?

photo by Flickr user iwillnotsuccumb

There seems to be some confusion amongst tattoo aficionados in regards to the distinction between swallows and sparrows. Most people, even some tattoo artists, tend to use the terms interchangeably. It is very common for someone to come into a tattoo shop asking for a sparrow tattoo when what they are really wanting is a swallow. Swallow tattoos are making a huge comeback, and they are one of the most popular tattoo designs being requested today. However, many people still mistakenly refer to them as sparrows.

In nature, the two species of birds are very different, and look nothing like each other. A sparrow is a small bird with a gray underbelly and brown and black feathers with accents of white. It has a short grey beak and rather stubby tail feathers. The swallow, however, has delicately forked tail feathers that are long and graceful-looking, and it boasts beautiful blue, bright yellow and rusty red colored feathers. Typically, what people refer to as sparrows are actually swallows.

sparrow photo by Flickr user foxypar4

Historically, sailors would get tattoos as symbols of their accomplishments, in honor of loved ones, or memorializing someone after death. In those days, setting sail on a long sea voyage was very dangerous, as they were literally sailing off into uncharted territories. The sailors did not have the immense technological advantages that today’s sailors posses, and leaving their families behind offered no promise of return. Swallows were a common tattoo for sea bound young men because of the many things that they represented at that time.

Swallows are well known for returning to their original nesting place every year without fail. They always return home. Having a swallow tattooed on one’s body was symbolic of the sailors promise to himself and to his family that he would return home, too. Swallows were also tattooed upon the bodies of sailors as bragging rights for the distances that one had sailed. It is said that for every 5000 nautical miles sailed, a sailor would receive one swallow on his chest. The more swallows, the more experienced and seasoned the sailor. Swallows, as a whole, symbolize good luck, accomplishment and returning home safely from a long and perilous voyage.

barn swallow photo by Flickr user scubapup

Both swallows and sparrows are monogamous birds. They keep the same mate until they or their mate dies. It is fair to say that both species, as tattoos, could symbolize loyalty and true love, and these are some of the main reasons why many people opt for two swallows rather than one, as a gesture of the promise of fidelity. These swallows often have banners clenched in their beaks that reflect personal sentiments or names.

Tattoos, being such an individual art form, can be shaded, colored, customized and personalized to suit the person who wears them. The coloring, design and texture of the piece are completely up to you. Colors can be altered, feathers can be ruffled or flat. Wings can be pointed or more rounded. An obvious distinction to make when discerning a swallow tattoo from a sparrow tattoo is that a long, clearly forked tail feather denotes the swallow. It is helpful to make the distinction, especially if you plan on getting one.

Tattoos Challenges Both Wearer And Observer

We all begin our ‘life with tattoos’ differently. Some of us go all out right from the start, big and bold with no regrets. Others are more conservative, settling on a small tattoo in some inconspicuous place, such as the shoulder blade, ankle, lower back, or below the bikini line. At some point, often immediately after that fateful first tattoo, the decision is made that yes, we would consider doing it again, or no, one tattoo is enough.

Many people are happy with their one and only tattoo. It was a unique experience, and they feel like they are complete with it. On the other hand, some people enjoy the sensation of getting a tattoo and the result of having it so much that they will often begin planning their next tattoo before the scabs heal on the one they just received.

The second tattoo is almost always bigger than the first, and usually in a location that is more noticeable. The back is a good place for a larger tattoo that can either be seen or covered relatively easily. The upper arm begins to be viewed as a good canvas for a large, prominent design. After all, we reason, we can cover it up if we have to. As the attitude that tattoos must be concealable begins to wane, unless we have specific reasons for needing to cover them, the ‘hide-ability’ factor seems to matter less and less with each tattoo that we get.

Even so, moving down to the forearm seems to be a defining moment for many people, because tattoos in this location are visible all of the time in casual clothing. Unless you are wearing long sleeves in the middle of the summer, virtually everywhere you go people will see your ink. That’s not a problem for most people, most of the time, but if your job prohibits visible tattoos, lower down on the arm might not be the best location for one.

For some people, at least, the transition to the forearm pretty much means that there’s no going back. They are who they are, they like what they like, and the rest of the world can just… Well, I’m sure you get the idea.

There is something seductive about being openly tattooed and completely unconcerned about it. You become someone that draws the eyes of just about everyone who passes you, instead of just being a person walking through a store or attending a school play. Peoples eyes automatically look towards your tattoos, without them even realizing that they are staring. You get used to it, after a while. Tattoos challenge the wearer to be more tolerant of the gazes of others just as they challenge the observer to be less judgmental towards the person who has them.

The Symbolism of Skulls

photo by Flickr user ragz1138

The imagery of a skull tattoo can be regarded as beautiful, disturbing, angry, rebellious or even devotional. Throughout the ages, the image of the human skull has typically represented danger and the dark, hidden elements of our fragile human life. The empty gaze sees nothing, revealing the common thread that has us woven into the one inescapable journey that we will all eventually take.

The shape and structure of the human skull is immediately recognizable, evoking a sense of humility and power; a knowingness that death is a fate that we all share. Gazing into it’s dark, hollow eye sockets, we are humbled by the realization that we, too, are fleeting. For this reason, skulls have been seen as symbolic of death even though we each walk through our entire lives with our own skulls functioning as the core of our expressive and animated faces. They are the foundation of every smile, every spoken word. To fear the skull is to deny your life, for without it, what would you be?

Perhaps this strange duality is one of the reasons why skull designs are some of the most popular tattoos chosen. Grim reapers are often seen as somewhat demonic and more macabre, leaning towards the understanding that we all will die and garnering an acceptance of that simple truth. But skulls can also be representative of the end of a relationship, or of a phase of one’s life that has come to fruition.

photo by Flickr user miss birdnest hair

Though skull tattoos can be symbolic of endings, specifically the ending of life, they certainly are not limited in the way that they are viewed. They can also represent the new beginning that comes with the casting off of ones physical constraints. Calaveras, as they are called in Mexico, are revered and used as memorials to those who have been loved and lost. Whimsical skulls are created out of sugar and decorated with bright colors and designs. These ’sugar skulls’ are then offered with song and joyfulness to relatives and friends who have made the transition out of earthly life and into the realm of the spirit.

Skull tattoos have taken root in every tattoo style. You will find them in color, in black and gray, simple or complex, with expressions that are as varied as the human emotions themselves. Whether they represent one’s affinity for the darker side of life or have been chosen in honor of someone who has left their physical body but remains firmly embedded in the heart and memories of the wearer, the skull design brings us face to bony face with our own mortality and gives us pause to reflect upon how we are choosing to spend our brief time while we are here.

Are Tattoos Addictive?

It’s a common exchange played out hundreds, even thousands of times per day. Someone compliments another persons tattoo, and then expresses their desire or plans for a tattoo as well. Invariably, the one with the ink will say something along the lines of “Once you get one, you’ll want another. Tattoos are addictive!” What makes so many people say such a thing, and why is it that so many people that have gotten one tattoo will turn right around and immediately plan for their next one?

photo by Flickr user illryion

We live in a world that is full of addictions, some of which we don’t even realize that we have. While some of these addictions can be harmful and even deadly, not all of them are bad. Think about the fluttering in your stomach that happens when you are about to meet up with a new lover. Excitement, nervousness and desire course throughout your body in anticipation of seeing them again. It’s what fuels the relationship, in the beginning at least. It’s quite a physical addiction, and very powerful. It changes lives.

Our bodies are amazing machines, capable of producing billions of different chemical combinations. Endorphins are one such substance. These narcotic-like chemicals are produced by the pituitary gland and function as stress relievers and pain killers. Like opiates, they affect our level of happiness, changing our mood, bringing contentment and a positive attitude. So what triggers these endorphins? Strenuous exercise has been found to kick the endorphins into overdrive, as do pain and excitement.

Getting tattooed is exciting and it is painful. Both of these triggers can jump start the production of endorphins in your brain before the tattoo machine is even turned on. The actual risk of danger in getting a tattoo is very low. The equipment used is brand new, sterilized and sealed for your protection. Even so, having someone hunched over you who is most likely covered from head to toe in tattoos themselves and who is repeatedly puncturing your skin with needles containing ink that will be on your skin forever can be slightly intimidating, at least the first time. It is most likely the fear and excitement of the unknown that triggers the endorphins during your first tattoo, along with the pain of the experience. But whatever it is, those natural narcotics kick in and by the time your tattoo is done, you feel joyful and amazing. Perhaps it’s because you just got a great tattoo. Perhaps it’s because your body is reeling with endorphins. Perhaps it’s both.

photo by Flickr user ste3ve

The feeling may not last forever, but the artwork does. Once you get a taste of living with some truly incredible artwork on your body, you realize quite quickly that you have already broken the seal, so to speak. You’re now a person with tattoos, so you may as well get another one. You’ve crossed some kind of invisible line, and there is no going back.

Remembering the excitement of getting your tattoo and the sensation of it, painful yet somehow comforting, combined with the appreciation that you have of the art form and your growing love for the pictures that grace your own skin, you’re very likely to end up right back in the same chair a few months down the road, adding to your collection. If tattoos are addictive, then let it be so, for the world needs the artful displays of living, breathing canvases adding interest, color and whimsy to our societal landscape.

Defining One’s Dome - Tattooing the Head

photo by Flickr user sky mitch

The amount of skin available for tattooing is considerable. There are plenty of body parts to choose from and people have tattooed them all. While it is becoming more common to see people with tattoos on their heads, many people still take issue with them. There are a couple of things to consider if your intention is to have your head tattooed, as the head seems to be one of the hot spots of debate amongst tattoo artists.

Some ‘old school’ tattoo artists, who’ve been in the business twenty years or more and have basically seen it all, refuse to tattoo a head, simply because the head replenishes it’s skin cells more often than other parts of the body (think dandruff) and the tattoo doesn’t wear as well over time. Other artists will tattoo a persons head if they have quite a few tattoos already and they understand exactly what they are getting into. Still other tattoo artists will tattoo you wherever you want, since it is your body and you are the one that has to live with it.

Having your head tattooed requires you to continue shaving the scalp in order for your tattoo to be visible, unless you are already bald. The plus side is that if your tattoo does fare poorly over time, you can grow your hair back out over the tattoo without any difficulty. My first tattoo was actually done on my head, by an artist that probably should have known better than to tattoo a 20 year old girl directly below the hair line as her first tattoo. He did, in his defense, advise against it, but I was full of confidence in my decision (and full of other things, too…) and very persistent, and seeing my fierce determination, he relented. At that young age, I never once though about the possibility of my hair thinning as I got older. I should have.

photo by Flickr user rubybgold

When it comes to pain, the head can go either way. Since the skin is directly over the bony skull, rather than muscle, it can be easier to deal with, but there are millions of nerve endings on the head, making it a very sensitive area for many people, especially right around the temples and just above the nape of the neck.

Tattoos on the head will heal without incident, but you want to refrain from shaving your head until the tattoo is completely healed, at least four weeks or so. Sunlight is a tattoos mortal enemy, so if you want to show off your tattooed head, no matter if it is a sunny day or a gloomy one, at least put sunscreen on it.

Individuality is important when it comes to tattoos. Though my hair has grown out and the tattoos on my head are no longer visible without some knowledge of them being there, I still appreciate where I was in life when I had them done. If I had to make the decision to have my head tattoos be magically absent or to have to go through the entire process again, I’d do it again. The only thing that I would change would be the time and effort that I put into considering who the artist would be. If you are going to get tattooed, no matter where on your body you intend to put it, do your research, and choose an artist that is worthy of marking you for life, rather than whomever just happens to be in the local tattoo shop on that given day. Years down the road, you’ll be glad you did.

The Biggest Canvas

photo by Flickr user wolf94114

The back is undoubtedly the largest canvas for a tattoo on the body, capable of showcasing a wide range of tattoo sizes, whether you start small on a shoulder blade, go medium across the upper or lower back or have a custom designed full back piece planned. If you have any interest at all in incorporating a large tattoo on your back, then it might be a good idea to keep the space open until you decide what your back piece will be.

Merging smaller tattoos within a new back piece is possible, but the color quality may be different, due to age of the original tattoo and the inks used. Also, the initial tattoo may not be compatible, design wise, with a chosen back piece design. For the sake of continuity, save your back for a back piece if you think there is any chance that you may ever want one.

photo by Flickr user skalas2

People have different pain thresholds, and what may be excruciating for one person is tolerable for another. People often say that when the needle hits the bone, such as directly on top of the shoulder blades or the spinal column, the pain is more intense. Of course, the larger the tattoo that you are having done, the more irritated and raw the area is going to be, hence the greater the pain.

Opting for a larger tattoo may require you to plan for more than one sitting, having the outline done first and then once that is healed going back for the coloring and shading. If your intention is a full back piece, you may as well assume at least a half dozen or more sittings may be necessary before the tattoo is completed. Since the space on the back is so large, it really is the perfect location for a well designed, intensely detailed tattoo, a show piece of talent and beauty, whatever the content of the images you have chosen.

yakuza in asakusa japan

yakuza in asakusa japan
Yakuza-members at the Sanja Festival, Asakusa, Tokyo, May 21, 2006. The Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa is one of the biggest festivals in Tokyo. Asakusa is one of the oldest parts of Tokyo, and also home to quite a few Japanese mafia (Yakuza) members, who at this festival come out to show their colours

yakuza japan tattoo gallery com
foto de enero 2006? algo asi

zen tattoo japan
Model - Chris Photographed by me

Pre

boobies tattoo japan

boobies tattoo japan
The name says it all....and no, I didn't take their suggestion. English is used commonly in Japan in strange and non-sensical ways, and the results are amusing and confusing. Sometimes I think the advertisers don't understand exactly what the English words imply, like here (or maybe they do). Nagoya, summer 2005.

carpa japan tatto

drago japan

dragon tattoo japan
Segunda e terceira sessão: escamas, total de quase 6 horas...

eccentric tattoo japan
Featuring Eccentric tattoo, Nagoya

free japan feet

full sleeve japan

geisha japan tatoo
Fotografías tomadas el 21 de Junio, en Pinto-Madrid, por Iris Laguna. Model: Eva www.flickr.com/photos/toolera/ Make up: Natalia Barrios www.myspace.com/natybodypainting Photographer: Me (Iris Laguna)

japan clouds tattoo

japan clouds tattoo

japan draw dragon tattoo free
Bushidō es un término que proviene del idioma japonés, que se puede traducir como “el camino del guerrero”. Se trata de un estricto código de ética y conducta que regía a la casta Samurai en el antiguo Japón del Shogunato. Se basa en un conjunto de principios que deben regir la vida del guerrero; los cuales no se encuentran codificados en texto o manual alguno, pues poseen un carácter consuetudinario. Los principios del código pueden ser resumidos en las denominadas “siete virtudes” cardinales que debe poseer todo Samurai. Occidente ve con romanticismo esta filosofía así como lo hace con muchas otras nacidas en oriente (el budismo bajo muchas de sus formas y escuelas). No obstante, muchos maestros de hoy ven el bushido actual como una forma evolucionada de su original propósito guerrero; el maestro Morihei Ueshiba, también conocido como O'Sensei divulgó un nu

japan legs gallery
Thanks for looking at this photo of a pretty girl ... now PLEASE check my other photos out as I'm sure you'll like them. My friend of many years Alsion is on the right. Photographed with her gorgeous work mate while out on the town! Then featured on a website called dontstayin.com . Video of some sexy promo ladies I made Or Watch this video, it's well funny....a cat that thinks it's a dog.... www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlkTMPZPxCg

japan manga tattoo

japan ocean tattoo

japan oriental tattoo
Segunda e terceira sessão: escamas, total de quase 6 horas...

japan sakura tattoo
Tattoo by Gotch - Harizanmai

japan wave art
勇, Yu: Eroico Coraggio Elevati al di sopra delle masse che hanno paura di agire, nascondersi come una tartaruga nel guscio non è vivere. Un Samurai deve possedere un eroico coraggio, ciò è assolutamente rischioso e pericoloso, ciò significa vivere in modo completo, pieno, meraviglioso. L'eroico coraggio non è cieco ma intelligente e forte. 勇, Yu: Heroic courage High above the masses who are afraid to act like a turtle hiding in shell is not living. A Samurai should have a heroic courage, this is risky and dangerous, it means living in a comprehensive, full, wonderful. The heroic courage is not blind, but smart and strong. The Kanij means Warrior All Element in the composition is taken from the Asian Traditional culture. Mixed Media Vector Base plus Photoshop post production. 15x36 cm format

miami ink japan tattoo
comm

tradicional tattoo japan

tradicional tattoo japan
Tattoo Fest 4&5 Oct'08 Tenerife www.myspace.com/horitsuna

unique japan tattoo awesome
designed by jkbmaze and available for sale at www.cafepress.com/jkbmaze/5245038 design available on many different products in many different colors.

urban tattoo japan
One of the locals at THE GHETTO Shin-Okubo, Tokyo, Japan See where this picture was taken. [?]

warrior japan tattoo gallery
Gardena, Ca, © 2008-2009 ptrancollect!ve.

water tattoo japan
La leyenda dice que ellos nadan contra corriente hasta llegar a una cascada, y que si uno de ellos llegara a alcanzar la parte mas alta de esta cascada se convertirá en un dragón...

wave tattoo japan
~side of a Tattoo Parlor

waves tattoo in japan
A free illustrative interpretation from the Song "Pagan Poetry" by Björk.

wrist tattoo japan
My latest tattoo - done in Matsumoto, Japan. Cherry Blossoms drawn by my students. Kan