3 posts tagged “tattoo”
Tattooing has been around for centuries, but not until the last 20 or so years (and especially in the last decade) has the world seen such a rise in popularity for this form of art and expression. Nowadays, it is no longer the primarily the domain of sailors, gangs, convicts and bikers. Nor is it so rare that an "illustrated man" is a sideshow attraction. Most notable of the tattooed are the celebrities. Cover-ups are getting easier, CGI can obliterate the difficult to cover, photoshop is still a magician in touch-ups. So our celebs have gone tattoo crazy.
With this apparent acceptance, females are now equal in ratio to males, if not greater, in clientele at tattoo parlours. Tattoos, in general, are getting larger, more elaborate, and more visible.
But it's still controversial. Old school traditionalists still associate tattoos with criminals and hooligans. If revealed at interview, it can be the deciding factor in getting a job (though never spoken aloud). Tattoos are still, celebrities or not, not exactly mainstream. The lower back tattoo, so popular with young women, have been labelled "Tramp Stamps." Asian character tattoos are sneered at because it is believed that they never mean what they are told they mean.
I think the one thing that the uninitiated always like to point out, "You don't want to be a grandma with a tattoo, do you?" or "Isn't it going to look bad when you get old?" This is a rather bizarre question to me. For me, a tattoo is a part of that journey of life. It often marks a moment of personal significance. That it changes with you only means that it really is a part of you, like a mole you were born with.
So, I'm curious. Who here agrees or disagrees with what I've written? Do you have a tattoo? What does it mean to you, if you do or if you don't? Do you like tattoos on other people? Even if you aren't planning on getting tattooed, have you thought about what you'd get if you changed your mind? If you have tattoos, please share! :D
My man van is getting a tattoo this afternoon and we're very excited. It'll be his first one (but not his last!), so he won't be a tattoo virgin anymore! Woohoo!
Anyway, I drew this in the tattoo shop (with inspiration from the flash on the walls) while waiting for my sister, who was getting her dragon tattoo finished. The picture shows it about an hour before it was finished. I think it's pretty awesome. :)
And that's all from me today, unless the QOTD is interesting...
