I love pain

My last session complete, Sept 17, 2010

I decided earlier this year that it was important that I build on the Katherine tattoo on my right arm. I went to Jeff P, from Art Work Rebels Tattoo on NW 23rd.

I gave him the few elements I wanted to be apart of the piece; a rose bush, living with roots, leaves and thorns. Afterwords, when I went to see the drawing, he suggested adding something behind my shoulder. Maybe a butterfly, which is terrible. I could not have a butterfly tattooed on my body in any serous way, but there's nothing like a bad suggestion to make you speak up for a better one. So I suggested an asp, coiled and hiding. Jeff was excited to oblige.

I went for my first session, two hours and $300 cash, he printed the final drawing as outlines and I let him lay it out on my arm with transfer paper. He adjusted it once to get the layout right for the shape of my arm. I sat there as he soaped up and shaved the spot, asked if I was ready and cut in.    

Something I learned about the pain right away, was that the expectation was far worse than the sensation deserved. If you're expecting it, you can acclimate to the pain; accept it and understand that it won't get worse than you can handle. Then it starts to just feel good, a frequency of sensation very similar to pleasure. You trick yourself into enjoying it as you would any bitter sweet, guilty pleasure.

The Outlines, April 9th 2010

The outlines went into my skin quickly, Jeff worked fast with a steady handle for their application. My friend Dustin came in and sat with us as he worked. This way I didn't distract Jeff too much with my nervous need to talk endlessly.

I really enjoyed the process, the entire time. Watching it lay out and feeling my skin react to the needles. You can kind of make out from this photo, the way my skin would swell and rise where the ink lay underneath. Finishing, I stood in front of the mirror and admired the placement, seeing the concept playing out, I was immediately pleased with the way that Jeff had placed my tattoo, it fit.

Tender and warm to the touch, the skin felt foreign on my arm. It reacted with excitement to my other hand running lotion across it. A slight burn that felt similar to one from the sun. The thorns of it dug in, flowers spread pedals out of flesh, the snake hid ghostly and fierce.

I waited a few months before I went back to Art Work Rebels to finish the piece, Katherine and I had a trip to New York planned for the beginning of July. We had to save for that. Also, the summer is not the time to be banned from swimming in public areas. I waited until August and September to sit for the remaining 5 hours and $900 it took to finish, shading and color. I'll go in soon for another hour or so for touch up and to tighten up small details. Also, I love the pain. 

To me, tattoos are important to our new culture. In the superficial, image laden, ethereal lifestyle we all now live. With all the resources we have at our disposal, the money, technology and influence we can use to create an image of ourselves. One that isn't always truthful. It's a benefit to us to examine our lives, find the things that make us who we are, and forever make them part of our aesthetic. Then own that decision, get power from it. Sit down, absorb the pain, remember the moment forever.