Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Tattoo love


I recently got my first tattoo in April as a birthday present to myself. It is a traditional style grouping of roses that take up my entire side (I apologize for the bad picture quality via my macbook).  The tattoo was done by Zach Dole at Freedom Ink Tattoo in Peoria, IL.

When I first got the tattoo I was initially in shock. I think that is a normal reaction to something being so new and permanent. However, I was freaked out because the tattoo was not what I had envisioned at all and it was entirely my fault. I had spent months researching tattoos, styles, as well as images to come up with exactly what I wanted. I had wanted a tattoo since high school but I wanted to wait until I had come up with something perfect to be placed on me forever. So in April when I went to get my tattoo I handed over groupings of different flowers and the style in which I wanted the tattoo - I wanted the tattoo to look like an engraving made up of peonies, roses, and other wild flowers. I let my nerves get the best to me though because once I handed over the images I told the artist he had complete control. He completely changed what I wanted and I still gave him the go ahead, I should have spoken up. Me being initially sad about my tattoo was all on me. The artist is great at what he does and did exactly what I told him to - I let him do whatever he wanted. I was so foolish and naive. Thankfully, the tattoo has really grown on me and I love it now, it just took some time. I am also thankful for the whole experience because I have learned so much from it. I do want to get another tattoo in the near future, but this time...
  1. I need to work with the artist.
  2. I need to speak up and not let my nerves take control.
  3. I need to not have unrealistically high expectations (my problem is that as a designer I need everything to perfect. Just because something isn't exactly as I envisioned it does not mean that it isn't the right solution.)
  4. I need to just breathe and have fun!
I know I sound crazy and that these are pretty straightforward steps, but you live and you learn. I can be really shy to a fault (hence the name shyscout) and this experience really has taught me that I need to speak up and quit being afraid that I may offend someone - this applies to all areas of my life. With all that being said - I really do want more tattoos. Half sleeve? ;)

Here are some of my favorite tattooers at the moment










(check out her tumblr ^ she has so many gorgeous tattoos by Guen and other artists)









17 comments:

  1. I just stumbled across your blog, and I really love it!
    I'm supposed to be getting my first tattoo this summer, and I'm so nervous! I, like you, will probably have really high expectations of the results, especially since it's so permanent. I'm likely to have a meltdown if it's not exactly how I want it :P
    but I'm very glad that your tattoo has grown on you.
    and I'm also really glad I found your blog!

    xx,
    Jess.

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  2. Thank you so much!
    As for your tattoo, it will be completely fine! Just make sure you really look in to your artist, the shop, and make sure you feel comfortable with them. And of course speak up. But have fun!!! Tattoos shouldn't be stressful so long as you do your homework. I really hope it goes well for you :)

    I'm so glad you found my blog too! It is so exciting to have someone find my page. Thank you for the sweet comment.

    -Allison

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  3. I really enjoyed this post. And I know what you mean about the shock of the first tattoo. I remember that - sooo long ago. haha I was 18 when I got my first one, and I've since covered it up. The only one I've had covered up. But you're right, it's so important to have a say in your tattoo and be kept in the loop with how it's going to turn out, because dear God we know they're for keeps! :) I love the tattoos that you posted pictures of too, I literally looked at the rabbit one and said "oh my God" - it's beautiful! Good luck on your fun tattoo adventures in the future. Getting tattooed was always such a treat for me, I remember. I even considered it a past time, I went so often! LOL But I haven't gotten one in about a year so that feels like forever. I think I'm almost out of ideas and happy with what I have.
    Thank you for following my blog, by the way. It was nice to login and see there was a new follower. Naturally, I moseyed over to your page to check it out and I love it. I really want to be one of the bloggers that only follow people's lives that I genuinely take an interest in. I'm not a "follow me and I"ll follow you" kind of blogger, and I'm still so new to it all that I'm proud of myself for not being desperate (in a sense) of trying to just collect followers any way I can. I appreciate when people come to my blog, I want to be a caring person when I go to theirs. If that makes sense. Wow, I totally went off on a rant there! Sorry. Anywho, thanks for stopping by and I'm glad I found your blog as well. I love making blog friends. :) Nice to meet you.

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    Replies
    1. I saw some of the tattoos on your arms in one of your recent posts. I love them. They are so colorful :] Is that James Dean on your arm? I am so glad you liked this post. It is nice to know some of my readers are also into tattoos. I still only have my one but would like to start a piece on my arm once I have the cash.
      Thank you for following me back! I really am glad I found your blog and I too like to keep up with all the blogs I read as best I can. This comment was so sweet and I really appreciate you taking the time out of your day to stop by and to write this. It is refreshing to find people who aren't posting on your wall simply to put their blogs url on it. It is nice to meet you too and I am glad to be blog friends :]

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    2. Thank you so much! I am so in love with colors, especially in tattoos. I feel like even though my left sleeve can be looked at as dark and creepy, the fact that they are all brightly done makes them not as such. You know what I mean? I just always loved Halloween and horror movies were my favorite growing up, so I wanted a themed sleeve showing stuff like that, but I wanted them to also be colorful so as to reflect my colorful, wicked, but playful personality. haha :) And yes ma'am, that's my love, James Dean. Ahhh, I am obsessed with him. I want to get a Lucille Ball tribute tattoo really bad, but I just haven't gotten around to it. He's my man and she's my lady.
      Tattoos are seriously so expensive, so it does take a while to get what you want if you don't have all the funds readily available. But at least it gives you time in between to figure out if you really want what you've been craving.
      OMG and I totally know what you mean about people just writing one line in the comments and leaving their blog url and asking you to please follow them, when to me, I can sometimes tell that they didn't even read the entire content, just skimmed to pick something they liked and use that as an acknowledgment. Tisk tisk. lol
      Welp, I'll end my second rant here. I have a baaaad habit of talking too much on comments. I was never a girl of few words. :)

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    3. I am debating on whether to get color in my next tattoo. I over think everything, yikes. I love that you have a horror theme sleeve :] Color definitely helps make them less dark, I get ya. LOVE James Dean, that is so cool that you have a tattoo of him. Lucy would also make a great tatt :]
      I also like when people post doing exactly what you said and having nothing in common with you whatsoever. I am still getting used to the blogging world but it is something you pick up on quickly.

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    4. Awww I am currently reading a newer post and this one was linked on it and it brought me back to our first chat!! *tear* I'm SO ridiculously happy we are friends.
      ♥ ♥ ♥

      And I can't wait to see you get more tattoos! ha ;D

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  4. your tattoos is absolutely gorgeous!!!! i love it!!

    drop by allister bee soon!

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  5. hi shy scout! i had a very similar experience with one of my tattoos ... my third in fact! you would think that i would have known what to expect and known not to get carried away in the moment. hahahahahaha. you live you learn. the joke was on me. i have a beautiful tattoo as a result, but it is much larger than i anticipated and it is not exactly as i wanted because i gave my artist some artistic license... that being said, it is beautiful and she really did listen... and now i know! it did take me a while to get used to this one though.... i'll have to tell you more about it sometime.

    thanks for sharing this though... it made me feel like i am not the only one that has had a similar experience!

    sg

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    Replies
    1. You are not alone. You live and you learn though. I am glad yours has grown on you :] I'd love to hear about it.

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  6. I was the same exact way with all of my tattoos so far, as well. I always get super amped about it, then am dissapointed later. That feeling goes away pretty quickly for me though! I think I will always be slightly dissatisfied and want improvement on them because I can't articulate what I want very clearly. I also get really nervous and just give the go ahead whenever they show me their sketches because I just have that personality type. I never send my food back if it's cold, return items that don't fit just right- I just hate to dissapoint people, haha. I need to be brave in this area too! And these are all beautiful tattoos you posted! Including yours, I really think it's gorgeous. How painful was getting your side done? I've only been working on my arm so far, which hasn't been too bad at all. Great post!

    Grace Elizabeth.

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    1. Oh dear! At least the feeling goes away. For the most part the person giving the tattoo knows what is best in the end. We sound so much alike! Thank you so much. It really has grown on me and I couldn't imagine not having it now.

      It was pretty painful. I didn't cry or anything - my boyfriend was surprised I didn't. I clenched my teeth and fists though for a lot of. It really felt like I was being sliced up.

      I want to get work done on my arms next!

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  7. i know the terrible feeling you were talking about, the anxiety of letting go of control and yet not wanting to speak up if you are unhappy with something they did. i did something similar when i got my 2nd tattoo on my ankle. i was just "eh" about it when i first got it done, but now i want to cover it up. it was a learning experience for me but now i know that i need to speak my mind. i'm sure tattooists are used to that anyway.

    but i think your tattoo looks absolutely beautiful and i wish you luck with getting more :)

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    Replies
    1. It is a good lesson to learn for sure!

      Than you :]

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  8. Your tattoo kinda reminds me of Mandi's seen here:
    http://makingniceinthemidwest.com/2011/04/23/engraved-at-good-life-tattoos/

    It looks good though, even though it's not what you wanted.
    I know what ya mean, I need to start speaking up more too and not worrying about offending people

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    Replies
    1. I LOVE hers! I wish mine had turned out more like that...but I love the traditional style I ended up with now :]

      Thank you. Yeah. Life is way too short.

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  9. i totally know what you mean about nerves getting the best of you. i have 4 tattoos but i always seem to have slight panic attacks when i go. i think it's the permanence thing, b/c they don't hurt all that much. and telling myself to not 2nd guess myself. i've been lucky and happened upon a really great artist in my city. but gah i love guy's work so much. i just don't know how well all of that detail will hold up even after just a couple of years as the ink spreads. maybe he has different tools and techniques.

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