I totally just made the quote up, literally right here on the spot. I wasn't sure exactly how I wanted to open this post, but a quote is usually a safe bet when you're feeling rather lost in oblivion.
I think it's a safe bet to say that people really become their tattoos. From the very beginning stages of planning it to when you're wearing it years down the road, it really is a process that is a staple in our life that effects us in every way possible. Some people know instantly what they want to put on their body, and others have to search, ponder, or wait for that perfect moment to know what it is they want to tattoo on themselves. Whether it be a specific event or just seeing something that catches your eye, we go through a decision making process before we decide what it is we tattoo on our bodies. If your tattoo happened to be one you drunkenly put on your body in Vegas, well, although you probably don't remember it, I can guarantee there was some sort of decision making process in your foggy, unclear, and probably regretful thoughts.
I can definitely say for myself that when I know I want to get a tattoo it completely engulfs my mind. I'm constantly thinking about what it is I want, looking for inspiration and drawing from things in my daily life to help create it. Our minds become so set on looking for that particular something we want that it changes our character in a way.
Then there's the process that takes place in the tattoo parlor. I can bet that a large portion of the population that has received a tattoo has felt somewhat intimidated or felt they had to alter their personality somewhat upon entering the shop. I'll be honest, tattoo parlors and artists can be very intimidating. Tattoo artists definitely have a stigma in the community and its in our nature as a client to develop a trust with the artist. For many that might mean putting on a certain face or acting in a certain manner. I can say from experience that your best bet is truly being yourself, but that can be a hard concept to grasp and definitely wasn't how I went into getting my first tattoo.
Getting the tattoo definitely says something about a person, as well. It's not an easy experience. To say that receiving a tattoo isn't painful would be a blatant lie. You might be able to handle the pain or not find it completely excruciating, but it's not comfortable and it does hurt. We become that pain; it shows something in our character. When the tattoo is finished you're not only wearing a beautiful new piece of art, but you're wearing an experience. I would be lying if I said I didn't display mine confidently with a look of "ya, I took that needle like a mother-fucking champ" on my face.
Then there's the post-tattoo experience. This is when we find out that Aunt Sheila is completely against tattoos and starts to discriminate against you or that Uncle Billy has a tattoo of a devil on his ass. Suddenly you can't get this job you've been dreaming of on the top floor of a New Year tower or you find yourself posing inside the pages of a magazine spread. These tattoos effect us almost daily in our lives afterwards. You'll run into people who tell you they love them, people who stare at you like you're a delinquent, and you'll be 'randomly' searched every time you step foot through airport security. So maybe you're just getting a memorial tattoo of Grandma, but no, you're actually going to create an experience that will effect you in more ways than you think.
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People always ask me why I get tattoos, or what certain tattoos mean to me. Although my last tattoo is the only one I have that really has a specific meaning, I think that with every piece of art we tattoo on our body there's some sort of story or meaning behind it. Whether that story be specific or not, tattoos mark a point in our life. The Japanese symbol on my wrist marks the period in my life when I was 16, young, naive, and honestly, a little immature.
The first tree and bird piece I got on my back will always be a mark of my university career - or what was my university career. I think it represents how unhappy I was with myself in high school and how you can leave a past behind you and 'fly on' to other things; bigger better things. Cliche, right?
The next addition was the text I got on the inside of my arm. I knew I always wanted "No Day But Today" written on my body for two reasons: Rent is my all-time favorite musical. It holds such a special place in my heart. And secondly, although this seems so insignificant, it's been a quote that has stuck with me through literally everything. When anything in life is going wrong I've always turned on "Finale B" and sang it at the top of my lungs. It represents so many things in my life: overcoming weight, coming out, depression, etc. It was a very spontaneous tattoo, so it will always represent a time in my life of being young and spontaneous. Furthermore, I'll always remember it as the time in my life when I was in my first serious relationship with a boy. That's a very big deal, so I'm glad I have a permanent marker on my body to reflect back to that time. Now that I think of it though, I got my first tree during that time, too. So I guess I have two markers then. I guess you could say it was an important time in my life.
Next is my back-piece. I went from having one tree and a few small birds to a bunch of trees, more small birds, a giant-ass bird, a sun, a mask, and a myriad of other neat looking things in the matter of the year. I'm incredibly happy that I got this piece done during the time I did. This was by far the darkest period of my life thus far, so I'm extremely happy that I have such a giant marker to represent it. I look in the mirror and see a giant piece of art representing how much better life can be; that there is happiness out there if you look and try your hardest to become one with it.
And finally, my latest piece: my musical rose on my arm. This is a very special tattoo to me. When I decided on the design I wanted it was simply because it was a really cool idea, but it eventually turned into a memorial piece for my beloved deceased cousin, Scott. The tattoo contains the numbers 4, 3, and 11 which stands for April 3, 2011. This was first time I saw the group Mother Mother perform a live show. This was really significant to me as my cousin and I shared a mutual love and bond over this band. We often discussed music and always shared a huge passion for Mother Mother. Whenever we'd hear of new music by them we'd be instantly chatting about it online, listening, and sharing our love for them together. Scott was a very special person in my life, and whenever I listen to them I always think of him, even before he was deceased. But like I said, not only does this tattoo have meaning, but it also represents a time in my life. I'll always look at it and remember where I was in life the moment I got it. And to me that's the most special thing about tattoos. Sure, this tattoo has an incredibly dear meaning to me, but I'll look at it and remember exactly who I was as a person on March 16, 2014 when I got the piece done. How cool is that?
I'm sitting here now looking at the quote I started the blog off with thinking, "wow, that has literally nothing to do with any of this." This kind of took a direction I wasn't expecting, but I still kind of like it so therefore I'm leaving it. I'm sure if you think about that quote and relate it to tattoos you could figure out exactly where I wad headed!!
Until next time,
xoxo,
Cale, The Sassy Friend.
So young.. So naive.
"Thereeeee is noooo fuuuututre, there is noo passsssst, Thank God this moment's not the lasssst!"
Leaving the past behind.
Just a few more birds and things.
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This piece is now just a week old. I took the photo the night after I unwrapped it. Like Jazmin said, I think it's unfair to post a photo of a tattoo before it's done its healing process, both to myself, but more importantly the artist. But I absolutely love it and I can't help but to share it.
Beautiful Cale!
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