n
"There is no "underground" community, no dark den of drunken sailors initiating themselves into manhood via cheap, ill-conceived exercises in bodily perforation; it's just a group of people who delight in using their bodies as billboards." - Joanne McCubrey, "Walking Art: Tattoos," Mountain Democrat Weekend magazine, 9 February 1990

"The tattoo attracts and also repels precisely because it is different." - Margo DeMello, Bodies of Inscription: A Cultural History of the Modern Tattoo Community, 2000


I'm excited! I'm getting inked for the 3rd time, & finally I hope this is what I really would look into the mirror 20 years down the road & agree that this was done without regrets. Though its not like a separate piece altogether, but it's still done on a separate occassion. This time round, it will be an add-on or modification to what I currently have on my back, depending on how the tattoo artist is going to customize for me.

I remembered how, 5 years ago when I got my 1st ink that I was clammy & nervous, sitting in the shop, waiting for my turn whilst hearing the audible buzzing sound from the tattoo needle working on another customer. The finished product of my blue-pink nautical star had me happy for a couple of years until I found out that perhaps a change of colours (people have often mistook the blue for green and the pink for red) and some add-ons on the side would make my back piece seem more complete. I have always been liking the idea of having some vines, twirls or abstract designs to complement my tatt. So eventually after putting off the idea for a year, I went up to look for the artist and discussed on a customized piece yesterday. I wanted some vine like designs, abstract, rustic, and with some shadings to make it seem less 2D and more 3D. I also wanted it to look less harsh and more feminine. He suggested that grey shadings and soft thin black lines would do the job. I had wanted a total cover up job prior, as in changing the star to a flower or butterfly but that would mean a huge tattoo that would go disproportionately wrong with my body size. I also wanted the vines to extend from the tatt I have currently to the side of my right middle rib bone, roughly sketched like this:



Pardon the ugly drawing...it's supposed to be a free-hand sketch done with the paint program.


But, he said it wasn't asthetically pleasing and does not complement what I have currently. So I heeded the expert's advice and opted to extend the sides instead. (The 1st time I didn't and I sort of regretted, so always hear what the tattoo artist has to say cos they would know much better than laymen). By choosing to customize this time, I know for sure that the design I would have on me would be uniquely mine, it may be similar to some others but it would still have some different shadings and lines. The date is in the mid or late July where in between I would go up to his shop to discuss and let him show me some sketches until I find 1 that I really like. So it's goodbye to this:



& welcome to something nicer!