Tattoo Talk Thursdays: Why Did I Start Getting Tattooed
I've been getting tattooed for almost 10 years now...Jesus Christ. I need a moment to sit and reflect on that. *5 minutes later*
Right, sorry there. So for 8 years, I've been tattooed. I've got tattoos all over my hands, chest, throat, legs, everywhere including my face. Ever since I was a young kid, I dreamed of having a tattoo of my own one day. My uncle had sleeves, some of my dad's workmates had tattoos. Then as I got a bit older, 12 or 13 I started really getting into music, where all the rockers I looked up to (and admittedly pretended I was whilst jamming in the shower) were covered in ink. I saw these musicians as Godlike beings, something that I desperately wanted to be. I wanted to be something and I thought that being tattooed would help me become that. In some ways, tattooing has made my life amazing and in other ways, it's made my life a mess.
When I was 14 I went as Billy Martin from Good Charlotte for Halloween. I drew all of his tattoos up my arms, wore one of his t-shirts and styled my hair like his. My mother nearly had a stroke when she saw me scrubbing the Sharpie tattoos off in the bath that night; mainly because my younger sister had a recital of some sort that night and I "looked like a scumbag". I went on to "tattoo" myself using a sewing needle and some ballpoint ink. THANKFULLY it was shittily done and faded out of my skin. I don't recommend doing this ever. I've tattooed over that spot, but I've got the memory of it...and probably a photo of it on my old Myspace. Is Myspace still a thing or have they finally obliterated that thing from the face of the Earth? I'm kind of afraid to know...and see my old horrifying emo phase. I was 17 almost 18 when I planned out my first tattoo. At the time I was hopelessly addicted to McFly (What the fuck ever happened to these guys anyway? They've not put an album out in a dog's age.) I got the stars that their bassist Dougie has on his ankles. Sure it wasn't original, but it was my first. That started my ink addiction. I was hooked. I remember sitting in the tattoo shop nervous, not sure what to expect. Skeeter put the stencil on, asked me what I thought and then as soon as I gave him the green light started tattooing me. It wasn't as painful as I'd heard people say it was. It was actually kind of enjoyable. A year later, I was getting my third tattoo and the rest is just history.
As Kat Von D once said, "This goes beyond a needle and some ink." And she's right. I started getting tattooed because I thought it was cool; it was something that popular people were getting done. I wanted to be just like those that I idolised. After the first two years of being tattooed, I really gained a respect for the art form and really began to appreciate it. Now I can look down at my later pieces and remember someone special or an incredible journey. Maybe I didn't start getting tattooed for the right reasons, but then again, are there really any right reasons? I guess if you're of age and you really want it, go for it. I think a lot about that quote by Kat; the process of tattooing is intimate in many ways. It's not sexual in nature, but its close proximity for quite some time at times, you're trusting another person with your body.
For a moment in time, you and someone else are connected through a choice that is purely yours. It's quite a thing when you sit back and thinking about it. You're also a part of a tradition; you're a living and breathing example of human culture and transitions-tattooing. The images and meanings may be different, but it's still a part of an entire tradition; one that transcends race, religion and time. I've made so many friends and just connections through tattoos and tattooing that I would not have made otherwise.
Do you guys have tattoo questions you'd like to ask me? Submit them! Hopefully, if things go right, I'll have some Tattoo Interviews up on here for you guys to enjoy. Submit questions for that via the links below as well or email: daninterviews@gmail.com
There will be a new Delectables with Dan next week so stay tuned for that! I'm also looking to put together a new Dan the Doodlebug. I've got quite a bit of art pieces started or finished on my Facebook and seeing as they're not getting a lot of views I'm going to put them on here. I'm working on a thing where I upload all of my art onto my Facebook page with a little background on the pieces that way I can look back through the year and see all the pieces in one spot!
Right, sorry there. So for 8 years, I've been tattooed. I've got tattoos all over my hands, chest, throat, legs, everywhere including my face. Ever since I was a young kid, I dreamed of having a tattoo of my own one day. My uncle had sleeves, some of my dad's workmates had tattoos. Then as I got a bit older, 12 or 13 I started really getting into music, where all the rockers I looked up to (and admittedly pretended I was whilst jamming in the shower) were covered in ink. I saw these musicians as Godlike beings, something that I desperately wanted to be. I wanted to be something and I thought that being tattooed would help me become that. In some ways, tattooing has made my life amazing and in other ways, it's made my life a mess.
When I was 14 I went as Billy Martin from Good Charlotte for Halloween. I drew all of his tattoos up my arms, wore one of his t-shirts and styled my hair like his. My mother nearly had a stroke when she saw me scrubbing the Sharpie tattoos off in the bath that night; mainly because my younger sister had a recital of some sort that night and I "looked like a scumbag". I went on to "tattoo" myself using a sewing needle and some ballpoint ink. THANKFULLY it was shittily done and faded out of my skin. I don't recommend doing this ever. I've tattooed over that spot, but I've got the memory of it...and probably a photo of it on my old Myspace. Is Myspace still a thing or have they finally obliterated that thing from the face of the Earth? I'm kind of afraid to know...and see my old horrifying emo phase. I was 17 almost 18 when I planned out my first tattoo. At the time I was hopelessly addicted to McFly (What the fuck ever happened to these guys anyway? They've not put an album out in a dog's age.) I got the stars that their bassist Dougie has on his ankles. Sure it wasn't original, but it was my first. That started my ink addiction. I was hooked. I remember sitting in the tattoo shop nervous, not sure what to expect. Skeeter put the stencil on, asked me what I thought and then as soon as I gave him the green light started tattooing me. It wasn't as painful as I'd heard people say it was. It was actually kind of enjoyable. A year later, I was getting my third tattoo and the rest is just history.
As Kat Von D once said, "This goes beyond a needle and some ink." And she's right. I started getting tattooed because I thought it was cool; it was something that popular people were getting done. I wanted to be just like those that I idolised. After the first two years of being tattooed, I really gained a respect for the art form and really began to appreciate it. Now I can look down at my later pieces and remember someone special or an incredible journey. Maybe I didn't start getting tattooed for the right reasons, but then again, are there really any right reasons? I guess if you're of age and you really want it, go for it. I think a lot about that quote by Kat; the process of tattooing is intimate in many ways. It's not sexual in nature, but its close proximity for quite some time at times, you're trusting another person with your body.
For a moment in time, you and someone else are connected through a choice that is purely yours. It's quite a thing when you sit back and thinking about it. You're also a part of a tradition; you're a living and breathing example of human culture and transitions-tattooing. The images and meanings may be different, but it's still a part of an entire tradition; one that transcends race, religion and time. I've made so many friends and just connections through tattoos and tattooing that I would not have made otherwise.
Do you guys have tattoo questions you'd like to ask me? Submit them! Hopefully, if things go right, I'll have some Tattoo Interviews up on here for you guys to enjoy. Submit questions for that via the links below as well or email: daninterviews@gmail.com
There will be a new Delectables with Dan next week so stay tuned for that! I'm also looking to put together a new Dan the Doodlebug. I've got quite a bit of art pieces started or finished on my Facebook and seeing as they're not getting a lot of views I'm going to put them on here. I'm working on a thing where I upload all of my art onto my Facebook page with a little background on the pieces that way I can look back through the year and see all the pieces in one spot!
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