The ritual of tattooing and adorning the body with ink and color has been a tradition for centuries. Tattooing is definitely not a fad, or a practice reserved to any particular element of society. It is a tradition that has been found in all parts of the world, in different sects of society.
At certain points of time tattooing has been associated with rebel tribal groups, and at others it has been a mark of distinction of royal classes, and at others it has been a key element in the process of maturation into adulthood.
One question that has repeatedly been asked, by many who do not have tattoos, is what the great appeal is? Many see it as a marring of your natural skin, and do not believe that your skin should be adorned.
Individuals get tattoos for different reasons, but what seems to be common to many of them is that tattooing is a personal and unique expression. What is being expressed is obviously different depending on the person.
If you are considering getting a tattoo, perhaps it would be useful to take the previous information about the history and legacy of tattoo art into consideration, as well as the personal experience I am about to tell you.
For me, personally, I wanted my tattoo to be reflective of a strongly felt emotion I felt at a particular time, in the hopes of carrying that emotion and thought with me in a physically tangible and visual way. My tattoo is a line of poetry from a favorite author, and reads, “the tides are in our veins.”
One thing I learned in my personal experience was that it is important to know what you want when you show up to get your tattoo. It is helpful to have a clear and well thought out idea to convey to your tattoo artist, so that they can collaborate with you to create a piece of art that you will both be proud of.
I went into the tattoo parlor knowing what I wanted my tattoo to read, but had not thought through very thoroughly the feasibility of the sizing I wanted or the type of font I would like. The tattoo artist drew out my phrase for me in a font he had designed himself. I felt too timid to ask any questions, and did not think to ask whether the tattoo he had drawn out would be an exact to scale replica of the tattoo that would soon be on my body.
I would suggest to anyone getting a tattoo to be bold and ask questions about the process and design. I ended up with a line of script on my arm that was much larger than I had anticipated or wanted because I did not clarify beforehand. Don’t be intimidated!
Also, if you are interested in getting a line of script, remember that tattoos are not meant to be very small, so a very small line of script will most likely not be possible. Even if it can be done, it may bleed and spread out over time, blurring the words together.
Remember, tattooing is a personal experience and a ritual that has been important to human beings for centuries. Think carefully about what you want and why you want it, and don’t be afraid to get your opinions across once you’re in the chair!
Also published here.
…
If you have a tattoo you would like to get removed, you can spend thousands on laser tattoo removal treatments, OR you can explore the Nuviderm Home Tattoo Removal System, which can remove your tattoo without emptying your wallet. Visit http://nuviderm.com/ today to learn more about the Nuviderm solution for fading tattoos to extinction. Eileen Howerton is a full-time, freelance writer.
Read more articles written by Eileen Howerton
Related posts:
- Cheap Tattoos Cheapen The Tattooing Experience
Many of my girlfriends have “girl nights” around getting tattoos, as if it were as casual as getting a haircut or a manicure. The casual attitude toward tattoos bothers me for two reasons; there is the age old argument that tattoos are permanent and not a decision to make lightly.... - Bold Tattoos Begin With Bold Questions To The Tattoo Artist
The ritual of tattooing and adorning the body with ink and color has been a tradition for centuries, among many populations throughout the world, from Africa to Asia, and Europe to the Americas. Tattooing is definitely not a fad, or a practice reserved to any particular element of society. It... - Visit the Dingle Peninsula for an Authentic Irish Experience
The Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry is one of my favorite spots to vacation in Ireland. Dingle Town is a thriving port where visitors enjoy warm hospitality, delicious meals, traditional Irish music, and even a chance to see “Fungi”, the resident dolphin, who lives in the bay and performs alongside... - Think Twice: Tattoos Could Last A Lifetime
Tattooing yourself seems like a really cool idea when you’re young, but the reality is permanently staining your body with ink is a horrible idea. There are so many reasons to think twice, before going to the tattoo shop. Many people have realized only after the fact that they now... - Own Your Tattoos, But Don’t Let Your Tattoos Own You
Tattooing is a common body modification done around the globe. Carbon dating has proven that humans have been tattooing themselves for roughly 5,200 years now. Reasons vary; for some cultures it’s a right of passage, or a way to declare yourself as a member of certain society, declare love for... - When Considering A Tattoo, Put Some Real Thought Into Your Decisions
The story of my first tattoo is not an exciting one: no one was drunk, nothing was misspelled, and it didn’t happen in jail. I was 21 years old, living away from my parents for the first time, in college in New York. I had wanted a tattoo since I... - Article Marketing Advice: Increasing the Readability of Your Articles
When it comes to writing articles to promote your online business, it’s important to consider more than just your marketing goals: it’s essential that you also focus on writing articles that people will want to read. In other words, you don’t just want to use words; and you don’t want... - How to Invest in a Rough Economy: Investment Advice from the Experts
The stock market crash of 2008 lost many investors a lot of money, and had many other investors bailing out of stocks for the safety of savings and checking accounts, treasury bills and gold. However, it is still possible to invest – and yes, even make money – during the... - Lower-Back Tattoos Look Great, But There Could Be Health Issues
Tattoos look amazing, and cool Tattoos have become a fashion trend today. People like to be tattooed for different reasons. Teenagers especially like to get tattoos to look cool. Other people get tattoos to show their personality, and there are so many people who have religious beliefs that encourage them... - What To Do When Tattoos Go Wrong
Tattoos are becoming more and more popular, and a lot of people have at least one on their body. Some people like them, some people hate them, and everyone can make his or her own decision whether to get a tattoo, or not. There are a lot of different types... - Plan Ahead: Your Personal Body Art May Carry An Unforeseen Cost
Tattoos are considered to be a personal expression. People get them to remember someone they have loved, or lost, or just to remind them of a good time, like that Spring Break trip to Tijuana. Over half of all tattoos that are given each year are spontaneous, and given without... - How to Choose a Meaningful Tattoo Design
Tattoos are an easy and relatively inexpensive way to permanently modify the appearance of skin. The downside of tattooing is, of course, that whatever work is done it is permanent – it is there for life. Certainly, laser tattoo removal is an option for those who wish to reverse whatever... - To Be Inked Or Not To Be Inked? Choose Wisely
To Be Inked Or Not To Be Inked? With apology to Shakespeare, this does seem to be a question that many have today… While parents of teens cringe at the thought of their son or daughter getting a tattoo, sometimes they conveniently “forget” the tattoos that they bear. But is... - Lessons About Tattoo Removal From A Practicing Dermatologist
My brother has been a dermatologist for about 20 years. During his time in practice, he has had his share of patients coming to him for advice about their tattoos. Although he never shares the names of his patients because of confidentiality laws, he is able to relay many stories.... - Preventing Tattoo Mistakes and How To Deal With Them After The Fact
Thinking about getting a tattoo? Not sure what to get? Well before you go to the tattoo parlor, make sure you read this article about the pro’s and con’s of tattoos. By following the advice offered in this article, we could potentially help stop you from making a very bad...