Smutly's Blog

"Your Name in Japanese"

No matter what you may hear, there really is no way to accurately predict the amount of pain that you’ll experience when getting a tattoo.  If you arrive with determination and the right frame of mind, it may not hurt you as much as you thought.  On the other hand, if you arrive at the studio scared half to death – it will more than likely hurt you more than you thought possible.

Tattoos involve piercing into skin, which almost always involves pain.  No matter how big or how small the tattoo may be or where it is located, you can expect to feel some level of pain.  The overall amount of pain you experience though, all depends on your tolerance.  If you have a high pain tolerance, you may feel next to nothing during the entire process.

When you get a tattoo, the needles will puncture your skin at very fast rates and variable depths.  The outline of the tattoo is easily the most painful, as the needles will be used to create a black line that will stand out on the tattoo.  This part needs to be inserted fairly deeply and carefully to ensure that it’s done correctly.  Your body will begin to produce endorphins during the outline process and you will notice a significant reduction in pain after a few minutes. The shading of the tattoo normally isn’t as painful, although it depends on the penetration depth and effect that you desire.

Normally, the pain you feel is a slight burn or scratching feeling.  If the tattoo is going to be on an area where there is less muscle and tissue such as the wrist, ankle or lower back, the pain will be a bit more intense.  Areas like the arms and legs however, normally aren’t that painful.  Areas such as these have more tissue and muscle, which will lessen the amount of pain you feel because the nerve endings are not as close to the surface of the skin.

Even though some pain is to be expected, there are ways that you can minimize the pain.  Below are some tips that will help you deal with the pain.

1. Never show up to a get a tattoo on drugs or drunk.  This will thin out your blood, causing you to bleed more.
2. Always choose a tattoo artist that you are comfortable around.  If you have confidence in your artist you can minimize the pain a great deal.
3. Show up at the studio with sheer determination.  You should accept the fact that the tattoo will take time.  Quality work is an art – and should never be rushed.
4. If the pain becomes too much to bear, you should let your tattoo artist know immediately.  He/she will allow you to take a break, or stop and come back later.  You can always break up your sessions, as tattoos don’t need to be finished immediately.
5. To ease your mind, listen to music.  This way, you can take your mind to a different place and focus on something other than the tattoo. Tattoo pain, like any other pain, will seem amplified if you focus on it.
6. A new product that goes by the name of Dr. Numb is supposed to help reduce the pain endured when getting a tattoo. This product is widely available in the States but, being from Australia, I have had no personal experience with the product and can not verify its effectiveness.

"Your Name in Japanese"

I found this story on InkArtTattoos.com and just had to add my opinion.

The original story goes like this:-

Three years ago, Kim Mordue lost her son Lloyd to a fatal run in with the party drug GHB. Kim’s husband runs a tattoo parlor, and together they’ve found a way to deal with her grief with ink. Lloyd’s ashes have been mixed with tattoo ink, and used to give Kim a new tat. When asked about the tattoo, she had the following to say:

“As soon as I knew it was possible, I wanted to have the ashes tattoos as a tribute to him. Now, he’ll be with me for the rest of my life.”

The tattoo shows a cabala tree, an angel, and a poem dedicated to Lloyd’s memory. We’re honestly not sure whether this is a touching story, or a slightly morbid one… or maybe both. What do you think?

Well, for what it’s worth, here is my take on it…

While some may find this a little creepy, I can appreciate the sentiment. I however would have used the ink in a slightly different manner. I would have sought out the best ‘portrait’ tattooist in my area ( eg. Kat Von D if I lived in L.A. ) and used the photograph the lady is holding in this picture to have a wicked portrait done somewhere prominent, using the ink with the boys ashes in it.

Not only would it be used for a more relevant tattoo, it would serve the purpose of celebrating the boy in a way that did not require as much explanation as the ‘tree, angel and poem’. People would see the boys face, ask about it and it would be fairly simple to explain the process and sentiment behind the job.

That’s Smutly’s opinion…why not leave your opinion…

"Your Name in Japanese"

Evidence of the extraordinary longevity of tattoos has finally been discovered, in a mummified Mayan female whose panoramic tattoos have lasted almost two thousand years.

Tattoo artists were ecstatic at the discovery, immediately citing the mummy as proof that once you’re lucky enough to have a tattoo, you can forget about upkeep.

On the other hand, those who have decorated themselves with tattoos but in later years regretted the colorful self-mutilation, were widely distressed by the discovery. As one man with a prominent tattoo on the pierced tip of his nose told us, “I suspect when I’m finally old enough to feel really stupid about this tattoo it’ll still be here. Now, I know if I want to get rid of it, I’ll have to fork over the bucks for plastic surgery.”

Curiously enough, the mummy’s bones revealed what at first appeared to be dichotomous lifestyles. She was apparently motherly, because bone evidence revealed that she had given birth to a child, but a variety of, hardly motherly, clubs were also found buried with her.

An archaeologist explained the seeming duality of tender sentiment and weaponry by stating, “My theory is that she went to the grave, regretting the tattoos and asked to be buried with clubs so she could ward off any evil spirits who might arrive to apply even more tattoos.”

"Your Name in Japanese"

Are you fairly interested in having your own tattoo? Do you want to be a part of the trend? Are you struggling to find a cool idea? To spice up your quest, you may consider different styles that range from the historical up to the modern and newer ideas. Here are some suggestions for you to consider.

The sailor tattoos. They have never been forgotten all throughout the years. Although they may be a bit common to possess yet they bear a strong sense of symbolism. The nautical star is one of the best designs ever that is classically believed to bring forth guidance and strength.

The dragon tattoos. Again, they are one of the most ordinarily used emblems. The striking and bold dragon tattoos stand for strength and power. Their styles range from the classic ones up to the modern choices. For the women, the dragon design produces a sexy appeal while never setting aside the embodiment of the strong female strength and other related dominating qualities.

The modern designs. Indeed, a number of unique and new designs have come about. Included are the butterfly, flowers, and other personalized crafts. In fact if you are creative enough, you may come up with your own design and hand it over to the artist who is assigned to do the job on you.

The Best Source of Ideas.

The first source for tattoo designs is your own creative inclination. Think about a cartoon character or a certain concept. With your creative juices pouring out, you may generate a sweet, sexy, strong, or tough impression depending on the design that you decide to get tattooed on your skin.

The next source is the tattoo library. You will find a lot of online websites that store as much as 10,000 and above designs from the classic up to the contemporary. Some of the websites allow free access whereas some others ask for a small fee.

Of course, you may browse through the tattoo artists’ catalogs too. If you are lucky enough, you may spot their personal creations.

There are lots of tattoo ideas to choose from. You may opt for something romantic, something that is tough, or something that simply defines your hidden side. Your decision greatly depends on the image that you want to project. Hence, you must be wise enough to pick out the right design and scout for the best resources that come available.

"Your Name in Japanese"

Butterfly tattoos, done by a competent artist will always look beautiful, and they also have a special meaning.

They symbolize the female’s charisma, beauty and diversity and they are also highly symbolic creatures in many cultures, including our own.

Beginning in the east though, in Japan, one butterfly stands for young womanhood while two symbolize marital bliss. To the Aztecs of ancient Mexico however, the butterfly stood both for the souls of dead warriors who had fallen on the battlefield and the souls of women who had died in childbirth – the two most noble deaths of which an Aztec could conceive.

In Christianity it likewise stands for the soul which has escaped the confines of the flesh. In the west, as elsewhere, the symbolism of the butterfly centers upon its unique transformation. From one existence as the slow and crawling caterpillar, then to the dormant and captive chrysalis or cocoon, and finally the rebirth into a light and airy winged creature, the metamorphosis of the butterfly is one of its most powerful and uplifting meanings.

Accordingly, over time, the butterfly has also come to represent not only beauty itself but also the transitory nature of that beauty and indeed of all life. Does that sound like you? If so it’s worth looking through this eBook to find the perfect tattoo for you that suits your personality, characteristics and one that exemplifies your physical being!

"Your Name in Japanese"

Here is my shortlist of tattoo dvd’s. You will find some documentaries such as an excellent 60 minutes story on the Yakuza, a brilliant doco on Paul Booth and friends, some movies with tattoo themes and some series such as L.A. Ink, and some adult movies with a tattoo theme.

One notable exclusion is the Miami Ink series, which seems to be only available in single episodes and doesn’t represent very good value in this format.

Enjoy:-

"Your Name in Japanese"

One of our own aussie rugby league players had a tattoo inked over the off season. Penrith Panther Jarrod Sammut had a tattoo inked across his chest in large bold letters.

“Justify Your Existance” emblazoned across his chest, it took the league player 2 weeks to notice the spelling error…I think Homer said it best…D’oh!
Jarrod had a bit of a giggle to himself and copped it sweet. It seems he actually saw the design on paper before it was done and agreed to have it done exactly the way it was drawn. “there’s not much I can do now” he said.