“I’ve been to Hell and back…
and let me tell you…it was wonderful” ( the text on my embroidered handkerchief, from an exhibition by Louise Bourgeois)
Well, I am alive still?
What a simply ridiculous state I was in, standing outside this underground torture chamber in Frith St, half thinking that I might not even make it down the stairs..
The last time I was tattooed, it was utter agony..
I bet you are saying “Why do it then??” You can scroll back to read that! I didn’t do it on a whim either.
My consultation and appt booking took place ages ago. And so tonight, I filled in the specific consent forms, and watched as the torture instruments were laid out precisely, like a surgeon’s table, all new equipment torn open, and him, smiling at me over his evil looking spectacles, as he snapped the latex gloves on..
My stomach was churning like crazy..and a Moulinex mixer suddenly appeared in a thought bubble above my head…one with no lid on, and on full tilt, you get the picture?
I shakily sat down in the torture chair, a special chair with special attachments, and covered in clingfilm. The arm rest was the same. I thought, Oh Christ on a bike, this is for all the blood sweat and tears. Oh No Dolly, No!
Then he started freestyle drawing what we had agreed on, incorporating my older work into Japanese ‘half sleeves’ of waterfalls, curling tidal waves and flowers, shoulder to elbow. (My original ideas are to be saved for another day and place!, Too special..see past posts )
Then… The Buzzing Noise began, Oh My God..5, 4, 3, 2, 1..We Have Lift Off..
We nearly had lift off for sure, my bottom nearly lifting off of the chair!
I had felt the first kiss of the needle, and.. it was nowhere nearly as painful as what I had experienced 22yrs ago! Hurrah!
I think that tattoo technology and tattoo artist technique have changed and improved somewhat, since my last time..
And am I glad, you betcha!
He started on the back of my arm, just above my elbow, and the back of my arm was the worst ever pain before,..this time, not too bad at all.
Some other bits, (very near my armpit) hurt a lot, but he was done with that in minutes.
It hardly bled too, that was a surprise to me!
So I have all the outlines done on one arm, and a bit of shading too. The recolouring of my older work will be last. Once we can see how the new work looks beside it, we can gauge the best way to recolour, that was my thought, and his too.
25th May 2009, bring it on! My first arm is only a third of the way done, and I can’t stop looking at it in the mirror, I just love it. Part of ME, my life and history.
I have NEVER EVER regretted being tattooed, EVER. I knew it was for me, since I was about 5yrs old. I had felt pens then. And bubblegum transfers! And you may have seen my pro bodypainting work in ads/mags and the net too. So you can be sure, that for me, physical decoration and being tattooed isn’t a fashionable whimsical thought.
This pic here ISN’T ME, but has similarity in size and style.
It is stinging like mad right now, but if you do plan to visit me, you can if you like. Just be gentle!
