My First Tattoo
A little history:
I have wanted a tattoo for many years now and the reason for this procrastination was the lack of a design, with which I felt happy. Many friends had just gone to the local tattoo studio, and got themselves the first thing they saw in the books of flash.
That was never an option for me, I needed something that I felt a deep resonance with, after all, a tattoo is for life . . .
Choices, Choices!
The first image I choose was similar:) to the one on the Alice in chains artwork, a solar type of thing, this was (is) to be placed around my left nipple. But due to the fact that my vertical nipple piercing had not had sufficient time to heal, had to be put on the ‘to do’ list. The next design to catch my eye was the Borneo, Scorpion, a classic, and is featured in Modern primitives.
I think that after reading modern primitives my whole life changed, I realised that there were others like me, and that I was doing something that went back to the beginning of the human race.
That makes you feel kinda’ special, in a world where we’re only valued for the amount of money we can earn!
Suddenly everything seemed right…)
So after redrawing the design to size, I took it round a few tattoo studios: most quoted £80 - £100 depending on the final size. This seemed reasonable, so I went with a local studio that’s been going for a few years now, and has built up a solid reputation, and they also seemed like the sort of people I would want to deal with, which is always a good sign.
I booked the appointment for the following Friday, (on Monday) and left a deposit.
The waiting begins…
I had absolutely no negative thoughts over the subsequent days, just a feeling of subdued ecstasy and anticipation, much like the feeling that accompanies a new piercing. The biggest question I asked myself was “can I handle this?” most people on seeing the design said, “you’re having that as your first tattoo! It’s a bit big! Why not have a small one to see how it feels?”
That wasn’t an option, this was the tattoo I wanted, and, ‘to hell’ with pain!
After a good night’s sleep, Friday dawned, late and cold, as one would expect for the 1st of December. The appointment was at one, so I had plenty of time to prepare myself, it took about 30 minutes to get there and I was early, so I had a look round the shops and got a bite to eat in the local Burger King™ (there goes the diet).
At the Studio. . .
I had to wait when I arrived at the studio, for the tattoo artist had to finish with the previous client, no problem though, as it gave me valuable time to ’soak up’ the atmosphere.
I always like to do this; it’s just a thing I do. The smell, sounds and the sights of a place where body modifications are performed, They are all the same, and yet different, and of course with tattoo’s there’s more aural intensity than body piercing.
Maybe it’s the fact that most people enter as ‘plebeian’s’ and leave as a totally new and reinvented individuals, which makes them such special places, a bit like a conversion (in a literal sense) but unlike most religions, its totally palpable…
After waiting, it was my turn…
My calf was shaved, and the outline was transferred on to the area. I got in a comfortable (lying down) position and the tattooist told me to ’say the word’ if I needed a break, and then it started.
Of course it’s a big threshold to cross, within seconds you know exactly what the sensation is all about, it’s certainly intense, but not painful or unpleasant. In fact I found it to be a very nice sort of ‘intense’, which most people, have a real problem with. Because most people have never experienced it, they cannot possibly see how an ‘intense’ sensation can possibly be ‘nice’, and that’s before we even go into the, ‘permanently marking oneself’ issue . . .
No pain - plenty of gain!
At no point during the two and a half-hour procedure did I feel that it was too much, the only time the tattooist stopped, was for a drink (I also used this interval to down some Locozade™). Admittedly, at times I could really feel it, never enough to make me think ‘why am I doing this?’ though.
OK, you’re saying, “this guy is a total freak, look at all his piercings!” Thing is, I was just like you! Yep, for twenty odd years I lived as a total ‘norm’ but these things have a habit of ‘bustin-out’ and I became STU, the body modifying dude:) why not be what you want? People will talk about you, even if you don’t do anything special, get modified - give them something to really talk about!
So the two and a half-hours were over in a snap, it was done, the ink was in its rightful place, where I had always ‘pictured’ it. All of a sudden I had this beautiful image appended to me. A picture of the tattoo was taken, and a dressing applied, I was given aftercare instruction and thanked the tattooist.
During the next few days I took care not to knock the fresh tattoo, and followed the aftercare regime, and now a month on, the tattoo is looking good and has healed well. The whole experience was fantastic and I’m full of anticipation for the next one, which will be soon hopefully.
Tags: Leg Tattoo