Friday, December 24, 2010

The Begining

I have always been drawn to the art of tattooing.  It had always been something slightly… naughty when I was a kid, so it came to no surprise that the summer I turned 18 I went out and got my first tattoo.  I had no idea what I was getting myself into.  I wandered into a local tattoo shop and spent nearly an hour examining the free examples or "flash" that adorned the walls.

I ended up picking out a crescent moon colored in grey scale and decided to place it on my lower back.  This was before the “tramp stamp” and thought it a sexy location, and easily hidden from my parents (whom I was still living with at the time). 

All I remember of the actual process of getting my first tattoo was being very uncomfortable in the position the tattoo artist had placed me in, sitting upright and leaning forward unto another chair.  Other than that, the tattoo was not very painful or uncomfortable.  As odd as it will sound, it was actually somewhat relaxing.

The worse part for me, had been the healing process.  In hind sight, I had picked a bad location for my first tattoo, as my pants always rubbed or irritated it as it was healing.  It was very unpleasant, almost like an incredibly bad sunburn.  I made a lot of mistakes with that first tattoo and it definitely did not heal correctly and to this day is raised in some parts.

I had always thought that my moon would always be my one and only tattoo, but a year or so later I ended up getting a kanji piece on the back of my neck.  This time I did a bit more research and had a friend from school that was very familiar with kanji help me pick my piece.  It stands for “ookami” which means “wolf” in Japanese.

My kanji piece was a very easy tattoo; I do not remember any undue pain or being very uncomfortable during the tattooing process.  The healing was very easy as well and it seemed like it healed in a matter of days.

My parents, of course were not incredibly happy about my tattoos.  I remember the day my grandma saw my lower back piece and expected my family to honestly freak out.   But happily and almost shockingly, they did not make a big deal out of it.  They were disappointed of course, but they were not about to disown me or kick me out of the house.  I think the fact that my older brother had gotten a few tattoos by then had definitely helped. 

Fast forward a couple of years and I soon realized that having tattoos were somewhat like eating potato chips.  You can not really just have one.  So began my list of tattoos I wanted to get.  Thankfully, I never ended up getting any of the miscellaneous tattoos I had been wanting, or it would definitely put a damper on my current journey.

In 2002 I read a book by Jacqueline Carey that changed my view on tattoo and how it could be not only a form of expression but also a personal and individual piece of art.  Thus began my research into the various types of tattoo through various time periods and cultures.  It was around this time that I was also was introduced to the arena of alternative modeling.  Specifically the work of Lithium Picnic  AKA Phillip Warner, among many others.


Alternative models and photographers have helped change the stigma many people attach with tattoos.  These images highlight each girl as an individual.  And there are no pigeon holes with alternative modeling.  Every size, shape and color is accepted.  Not only are these girls tattooed and pierced, these girls are beautiful in their own right.


Model: Benni      Photographer: Lithium Picnic


Model: Suzi      Photographer: Tim Klingert


Model: Suzi     Photographer: Kaylene Kligert

Because of the popularity of websites like SuicideGirls, Deviant Nation, and influences in the media with shows like Miami Ink, and Prison Break, the art of tattoo has become more mainstream and accepted.  More and more employers are willing to accept “non-offensive” tattoos on their employees.  Some like HotTopic unofficially encourage their employees to live in this alternative lifestyle.




All of this has helped influence me as an individual, and helped me expand personally and artistically.  Because of the draw tattooing has had for me, I have found myself as a makeup artist and photographer.  Indirectly, the art of tattooing has also led me to my soul mate and husband.

So it is no surprise that now that I am finally in a position to do so, I am starting my own journey through the art of tattoo.  My body will become the tapestry to the story off my life.  This blog will act as witness to my journey.  Join me as I go from your average nondescript girl to something more.

-Kay