|
Q1. Where did you get your first tattoo and do you know
by who?
A. Here in Swansea, although I don't know the guy's name. I was only seventeen
at the time, so I should perhaps not mention the name of the tattoo studio
either.
Q2. What was going through your mind when you got your first tattoo?
A. "This is my first f**king tattoo... stop talking about the weather
with her, start talking to me!" Seriously; my tattooist was discussing
how crap the weather was with someone else, and constantly tickling my sides
and then telling me off for twitching. I wasn't too thrilled, which is why my
next
two tattoos were done by someone else.
Q3. Is there a meaning behind your first tattoo and what is it if you care to
share?
A. My first tat was a pentacle. I'm Pagan, and have been since I was thirteen,
so at seventeen I had definitely decided I wanted some small symbol
representing my faith - the pentacle was the obvious choice. It's not 100%
even, because I drew it out myself. I can't draw for shit, but I didn't want
my tattoo to be just another piece of flash. It may be a bit wonky, but that
makes it more personal.
Q4. What is your favorite tattoo, where is it and why?
A. My favorite tattoo would probably be the dragon on my right arm, which is
weird because it's the one with the least meaning and symbolism behind it. I
love the fact that it's pretty bold, especially on someone small and female
like me, but it's still quite delicate. I like looking at the way the
different pieces come together to form the shape of the dragon, and as dragons
go I think it's very pretty.
Q5. What advice can you give people who are looking to get ink for the first
time?
A. Most of it's been said a thousand times before; it's gonna hurt, make sure
you really want it done, check out the tattooist before hand etc... Apart from
the warnings, I'd tell them that it's worth it. The pain isn't bad enough to
distract you from watching the tattooist at work, and the adrenaline rush is
amazing. If you know something you want done, don't be afraid - go get it!
Q6. What is your inspiration behind your body art?
A. Different things for different pieces; the pentacle was because of my
faith, the dragon was because I fell in love with the design and the tribal
pattern was drawn personally for me by a friend, paid for by my partner and I
got it done just as I started university and it was a present to myself for
actually managing to get my life in order and attend uni. Lots of memories are
attached to the last on, especially.
Q7. What would you say was your most memorable piece getting?
A. The tribal design, partly because it's the newest (less than a year old)
partly because I always find it fascinating to watch the gun as it's being
moved, and watching the shapes get filled in. The tribal design has
interesting curvy bits, and pointy bits, and shading in purple which was cool
to watch appear. Plus, as well as being memorable itself, it holds lots of
memories for me, like I said.
Q8. Do you have any new ideas for any more work lined up?
A. Hell yes! *laughs* I just don't have the cash yet. I want the silhouette of
a lizard on my right thigh, stars in the color of the rainbow up my right
calf, flames in blue&purple coming up from my ankles, tribal/bat/demon
style wings covering the whole of my upper back, and Celtic knot work on my
right
earlobe.
Q9. Who was your favorite artist that has tattooed you? Plus what did
they do.
A. My favorite place to get tattooed is Skin N Ink, on Mansel Street in
Swansea. I've had one guy do Draco, and another touch up the black work, and
do the tribal design. The second guy was my favorite, although I like the
whole staff. They're always friendly and funny, and it's a good way to spend
an hour or so - chatting with someone who's genuinely interested in both you,
and what they're doing, and getting a new piece of artwork at the same time.
Q10. Do you like staying with one artist or do you like trying to go to
new artist each time?
A. I really like my current tattooist. If I wanted a particular style tattoo,
and I knew that someone else was very talented at it, then I might ask them to
do that particular design for me. I shopped around a bit before getting my
last one done, to see what different prices I was given. I stuck with Skin N
Ink because although their price was slightly higher (£10 difference) the
staff were ten times friendlier, and when someone's holding a tattoo gun to my
arm, I kinda want to be comfortable around them!
Q11. Do you believe tattoos are addictive? Why do you like getting
tattooed?
A. Definitely. I've said how many I have, and how many more I would like to
get - it's not something I do on a whim. I love getting tattooed because of
the feeling it gives me. The adrenaline high is fantastic - when I come out of
the tattooist I'm always grinning like a loon, and bouncing off the
walls. The pain fades away to a dull ache, the conversation distracts from the
noise of the gun, and when I come out I feel really good about myself, and
have another great piece of body art.
Q12. When would you say you like getting tattooed the most is it at a
certain time in your life or when you get that itch to get one done.
A. When I get the itch, and I'm feeling the itch again already. *laughs* I
wouldn't walk into a studio and get another tattoo just for the sake of having
another one done, but when I start feeling the itch I start thinking about
different designs I could have, and by the time I've saved enough cash to get
one done, I'm more than ready to go and book an appointment. I think I might
also want to get tattoos done at certain points in my life. I'll always
associate my tribal one with the fact that I got myself into uni after feeling
like there was no way I could go, less than a year before. It's a beautiful
reminder that I have actually achieved something.
Q13. Any additional comments?
A. I'm very picky about what I like, for tattoos and art in general, although
I can't put my finger on what makes a design beautiful or not. Certain designs
look fantastic on other people, but would look ridiculous on me, and maybe
there are people for whom the opposite holds true. I like my ink to be simple,
with smooth lines, and to have few colours.
|
