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Anybody got ink?
Next week I’m finally taking the plunge. I’ve been wanting a tattoo for many years, just held off because I could never find a design or piece of art that I felt I could live with forever. But I’ve reached a stage in my life where I think I’ve found a couple things that have meaning to me in a way that I can justify the permanent statement.
While it is a personal statement thing, it’s not about making anything bold or political, nor cliche (I don’t think) like the skulls or bullets etc that so many use to signify their masculinity or disdain of “the system”. Nor will they be “in your face” and bold attention getters. It’s just for me and my feelings about my life and personal views on certain things. Partially hidden by shirt sleeves on my upper arm/biceps and shoulder areas. And not brightly colored, simple gray-scale and to my mind tasteful.
The samurai speaks to my near lifelong devotion to the martial arts. It has deeper meaning than just the warrior character, and I won’t get long winded into that. Suffice to say that the small bird has a lot to say in relation to the warrior’s code. The Eagle has long been something I love and respect for their grace and majesty. Proud and strong, yet quietly reticent.
I’ve taken my time and searched out an artist that I have had several recommendations for. Like I said, I’ve been looking at this for a long time. Kyle has told me he has no doubts about being able to do these without any issues for adjusting to my arm size. I’ve seen a lot of his work for real and he’s amazing.
The only other thing I might do in the future is a possible small one on my left upper chest/pectoral area. The Cooper’s Hawk from the 15th position on the fretboard of my PRS guitars. But time will tell whether or not that happens.
And no, even as special as they are, I would not do a likeness of Mona and Lisa…😉
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10 Replies
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Hi Daryl,
I don’t have any tattoos, but Marlo does. This one is on her calf. We were in FL visiting our son years ago and Marlo thought that would be a good time to get a new tattoo. He pointed out a shop where a lot of people from his base got theirs. Marlo went in and described what she was looking for. The shop owner said to give him an hour and he would make a few sketches. She was very happy with the finished piece.
Half is for being a breast cancer survivor, and the other side is for Autism Awareness.
We are looking forward to see how yours looks. Looks pretty kool so far.
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I like that. Sadly, only have one cancer survivor in the family, the rest…😢
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Well, it’s travel day, headed for Calgary in about two hours. Weather is grand so should be an easy trip. I have a couple things on my agenda over and above the tattoo appointment. One item involves checking out a rare motorcycle that’s up for sale (not for me darn it all), and the other involves my guitar and my favorite photographer friend. Planning another shoot this summer and I have a few racetrack after hours jams planned. Nothing elaborate, just some evening sit-down sessions with my race fam that do like me and stay at the track. I got chastised last season for sitting inside and playing and not coming outside to play for the gang. I will fix that. Hopefully I won’t need chicken wire!😆
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Good luck Daryl!
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My artist had other ideas as to what he thought was best, so I went with his call. Turned out pretty well if I do say so. Wasn’t sure what to expect in the process, but while some of it burned fair high on the discomfort scale, it wasn’t unbearable at all. sort of a combination of a whole lot of bee stings bordering on the occasional horsefly bite. But at the end of the three hours I was pretty much done with it from my perspective. Still has the protective wrap on it in the photo, that comes off tomorrow and should be pretty well healed up.
Kyle (or “Moose” as he prefers) doesn’t like my eagle thing either, he says I should keep looking for a better suited one for the other arm location. Missus has a whole different thought/opinion on the second one haha.
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Congrats Daryl, that looks super cool! Looks like the painful process of getting it done was well worth it.
One of my nieces (first cousins daughter) became a tattoo artist recently and is doing quite well. So much so, she abandoned her career in microbiology to do her own business with a tattoo studio.
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Thanks Jung. While it had its moments of discomfort, it wasn’t terribly painful. Towards the end I think the natural endorphins/adrenaline sort of wore off haha.
Kind of interesting your niece went that route, but if you get really good and get a solid rep for the work you do it pays pretty well from what Moose tells me. He’s been doing it for 25 years so he has quite the client base.
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Very kool, Dude. Looks like Moose knows what he is doing. I think the main reason I haven’t got one is the anxiety involved in choosing the artwork. For me it would be too much. Marlo agrees. She knows I would drive her crazy changing my mind every other day. This would double each day as the appointment grew nearer.
And then there is the fear of regret. What if I don’t like it? Well, I suppose I could add to it to change its appearance. Eventually it would look like a curtain. My new alias would be the man behind the curtain.
Then again, shaving my head was a big deal thirteen years ago and I have not grown it back since.
Anyway, yours looks kool. It’s not what I thought it would be. Marlo said it definitely has a kool Marshall Arts vibe. Nice!
Maybe I’ll think about one next year. Thanks for sharing.
TGIF
Marlo & JP
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Thanks for your perspective JP! I have struggled with this for many years, wanting one (or more) but that anxiety and confusion over the permanence and possible regret ran high. I consulted with many friends before making the decision to go ahead with it. I will definitely go ahead with another one even if I don’t do my other arm. I will get a small insignia on my left chest that is the inlay on the 15th fret of my electric guitars. It’s a Cooper’s Hawk in flight, all PRS guitars with the bird inlays have it. And I’ll get either PRS under it or Paul’s actual signature if it’s isn’t any form of copyright infringement. Although I can’t see Paul himself being too upset at any player/fan bearing his signature in a tattoo…😉
I really do want an eagle on the other arm, but I’ll chill a bit and see if herself can warm to the idea. I know she’d tell me to go ahead, “it’s my body” type thing, but I don’t want her to think I’ve really lost it haha. At least no more than I ever was…
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I suppose I should have expected this, but boy, is the area itchy!! I’ve been using lots of lotion on it, there’s some flaking and dryness, not unlike one of my famous summer sunburns. To be expected I suppose, given it was under that protective wrap for 4 days. Last time AI remember an itch like this was inside the cast on my broken leg, and that was pure Hell… even thought of devising some form of scratcher device with a coat hanger for getting down to the heart of the matter (not to use Don Henley’s lyrics in vain) so to speak.
Last night sometime in the wee hours I woke up catching myself doing some scratching (although not severe) and immediately stopped myself. Got up and applied more lotion haha. Monday evening was another test of mental resistance wearing my heavy cotton canvas gi in the dojo. That raised all manner of temptation for fingernail relief! Tonight we are hosting a public self defense seminar with plenty of hands on grappling and escape techniques for the learners. Hopefully that doesn’t cause too much chafing of healing skin!
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