James Lileks: Some Tattoos Shout About You

The Minneapolis/St Paul Star Tribune ^ | September 9, 2004 | James Lileks

[quidnunc]

You there: hey! You're a mother of three, a Bush voter, you sing in the church choir, you have a master's degree in pre-Renaissance art, and you have a gigantic flaming skull tattoo on your neck. Right? I know you're out there. Because every time I write about tattoos, and how I find some of the modern examples of Skin Adornment a bit excessive, I get a letter from someone who insists that she's all of the above, and there's nothing peculiar about her at all. True. EXCEPT THE GIGANTIC FLAMING SKULL TATTOO.

Let me be clear: I do not favor banning tattoo parlors. I do not favor stoning people with inky flesh, or herding them into pens, or encouraging anyone to shout FIE when they see someone who has decided to engrave his facial epidermis with a spider web for the rest of his mortal days. Whatever. Live and let live. It's your body. But after my last trip to the State Fair, I really wonder what people are thinking. …

I'm not talking about the classics — the anchor tattoo, an emblem of service, a heart with MOM, or any other small embellishments of your biceps' terrain. I mean the florid decorations at the base of the spine, the spiky tribal symbols around the neck, the elaborate tableaux on the back that look like you were horribly burned by an old YES album cover. … All I'm trying to say it this: I know you're trying to tell us something, but it's really not coming across too clearly. Perhaps if you wrote it down on a piece of paper and handed it out, we'd get it.

-snip-

[Dead Corpse]

Todays inks are brighter and don't have the same tendancy to "migrate" as older ink used to. The "youngest" tat I have is 13 years old and looks every bit as good now as it did after that first year. I guess we'll have to wait and see what another 27 years does...

I'll probably still be posting here... ;-)

[Radix]

You do know why girls get those, right?

Yeah, I watched Pulp Fiction.

Thanks for your comments.

[Hank Rearden]

I am astounded on a regular basis with what others think is a good idea.

[biblewonk]

Hey I'm curious what you think of Leviticus law about tattooing? A lot of people give me grief about having of all things, a Bible tattooed on my arm as part of a sleeve, but I tell them that Jesus died so we didn't have to follow these laws. I don't really know what to think. What are your thoughts?

Thanks for asking. Most people are not even aware that the bible says not to get a tattoo. There have been a few that have mentioned Lev to me. I respond with "Yes the bible says not to get a tattoo, right next to where it says not to eat pork, not to grow a goatee, not to wear a shirt that is part polyester part cotton and where it says not to interplant your beans and corn". In other words, it is a ceremonial law for Jews and in no way applies to Christians. Those laws were clearly put to bed in the gospels, acts with the sheet of unclean animals and the entire book of Hebrews. Well Paul's epistles touch upon the error of trying to keep the law too.

[t_skoz]

It's full color, but I'm only about 1/5 of the way through. I am hesitant to post the pics for fear of people ripping me off, but the consolation is that it's an expert custom job done by one of the best tattoo artists in this state. "Ripping it off" by anyone other than somebody who's the best of the best custom tattoo artists would be nearly impossible, and they would still have to redraw it, etc. But, if I ever did see or hear of someone ripping that off, you can believe I would be pissed beyond description!

That leg area is one of the most painful areas I've gotten tattooed. Right below the kneecap where it wraps around the back, and getting hammered on the shin... those areas are not fun!

[t_skoz]

Thanks, I have a bunch of Celtic tattoos too. I'm working on a 3/4 sleeve on my left arm, of all Celtic.

Cymru am byth!

[t_skoz]

Yeah I agree with your assesment. But, someone still has to give me grief about it, especially when they see the Bible tattooed on my arm.

Maybe when my sleeve gets done this winter I'll send you a pic if you're interested.

[P.O.E.]

Now that you mention it, this probably would make a cool tattoo.

[biblewonk]

Sure. Sleeves are a bit much and you will probably keep getting grief. I certainly do from the people that know me well enough to have fun giving me a hard time. Are you going to keep your ink out of the sun? I spend quite a bit of time avoiding the sun which becomes a pain at times. The only thing worse for ink than the sun is a laser.

[t_skoz]

I have 3/4 sleeves so it's not too much of a big deal. Most times I keep my arms covered up in sensitive situations, and I rarely wear shorts, so my leg sleeve is no big deal.

I've been tattooed for 6 or so years, I always keep my shirt on when I'm outside. Either that or I'm wearing sunblock if I'm forced to take off my shirt. I'm Irish and Welsh so I'm one of the whitest people on the earth, pigment-ally speaking. My tattoos are still really bright, it's really cool.

I used to work at the tattoo shop a lot, you'd be surprised how dumb some people can be. I've had guys get tattoos and then tell me that the very next day they're going on a tropical vacation, looking forward to sunbathing, swimming in the ocean, etc. Uh, OK bro! Have fun with that salt water... that tattoo you just paid $125 / hour for is going to look like a puddle of cat puke in a week!

hahahaha

[null and void]

You could get an 'M' tattoed on each buttcheek to spell 'MoM'.... Or alternatively: "WoW" ~ Cogadh na Sith

I think it'd be M*M or W*W ~ Lester Moore

Unless it was a prison tattoo. Then it would be: WOW or MOM

[biblewonk]

I get mine done at tattooiowa.com. The tattoo in progress is my wife getting an ankle band of 8 roses with each rose being the birthstone color of one of our 8 kids. She was pregnant with #8 at the time so that was blank until he was born.

ArBuckle shares dumb people stories with me all the time. I see so much tanned ink it amazes me.

[t_skoz]

check out http://www.lovehatetattoo.com

I used to do the website but not anymore. Almost all of my work is done by Jet except my leg which was done by Ben. That is one of the best shops in the NorthEast.

[t_skoz]

I hope you and your wife are not using those "tattoo goo" products! Stay away from any "aftercare" products as they are harmful to the sensitive healing process!

[biblewonk]

Funny you would say that because ArBuckle swears by the stuff. It is made of several kinds of oil and since they always used oil to anoint wounds in the bible it seemed like a good natural product.

[t_skoz]

Biblical connotations aside, these products prevent a good heal, and can effect the colors. They keep the tattoos "wet" too long.

My method is keeping the bandage on just long enough for bleeding to stop. Then wash it 2, sometimes even 3 times with warm water and soap. Repeated washings ensure that all vasaline and white bloodcell goop is gone. Then air dry. Repeat the process twice daily until the tattoo starts to "peel" like a sunburn and then you know you're ready for a light, A&D vitamin enriched lotion.

Any lotions applied before the dry, peeling phase only hurt the healing process, and the colors, etc.

Just my thoughts as a guy with a lot of tattoos and someone who's been around in the industry.

[biblewonk]

Good thoughts. My dermagraphologist has been slinging ink for 39 years. His care sheet is very detailed and he puts a sheet of "artificial skin" on each tatto for the first day. His care instructions are designed with packinghouse workers in mind who used to come in a week later infected and wonder why after working if filth.