Life In Tattoos @lifeintattoos - Tumblr Blog

my fifth tattoo!

Keep Fighting

Tattoo have always been a big interest of mine, but I've never really gone in depth about learning about them. Writing this blog has opened my eyes to the bigger picture of tattoos. Although I'm fighting to have tattoos accepted everywhere, and have them be allowed to be visible in the workplace, especially in law enforcement. I have realized that I have to be careful. Society still isn't in acceptance of tattoos. There are so many people who believe that tattoos are a sign of delinquency and unprofessionalism. But nonetheless, I will never stop getting them. Tattoos are my way of expressing myself. They tell a story. I want people to learn and understand that having tattoos doesn't make you any less of a person. Your abilities to do a job or function in society has nothing to do with what is inked on your skin. Younger generations are starting a revolution, they're changing the world. Eventually these younger generations will be the heads of big companies. You'll see tattooed people more often than not. And the sooner we come to accept that tattoos are apart of our world, the sooner these issues of allowing them to be shown while working, won't be an issue anymore. I believe that having ink on my skin does not affect my ability to perform my future job at all. Your body is a canvas, and your artwork should be shown.

#tattoos

The Debate

In the article "Good Tattoos or Bad Policy?" (2004), Arthur Sharp discusses that certain law enforcement agencies are bringing up the issue of how tattoos may affect an officers image, and the policies different departments have towards tattoos and how they're enforcing it. Sharp supports his theories by using surveys he conducted and states that although "73% of the respondents acknowledged the issue [of tattoos] is significant, agencies are not addressing the issue in their written policies or hiring guidelines." The authors' purpose is to bring people to the attention of how tattoos are viewed in law enforcement agencies and why some may believe that officers should be asked to cover them up. Sharp is writing to the heads of police departments and law enforcement agencies, asking them to clarify and give reason as to what the policy for tattoos being shown in the field is.

This article is probably one of the best that I've read. Although I disagree with a lot of what Sharp is saying, he makes good points when asking to put the policy of tattoos in the field clearly out in the open. It brings to attention the fact that there is a large possibility that many could be offended by certain tattoos. Or that an officer having tattoos may scare people. "There are some who believe that tattoos are simply one more aspect of contemporary culture with which they have to deal"; this exact line shows that tattoos are here and they aren't going away. I believe that tattoos should not have to be covered up in the field. But in Sharp's article, it is evident that there are some clear reasons as to why they should. This article gives a different stand point to my views on the issue. It's important to see all sides of a controversial topic. It helps better your knowledge of what you're fighting for.

#tattoos #law enforcement

Famous? Legend.

Due to the fact that tattoos are a form of art themselves, I'll talk about the people who create this artwork. George Burchett-Davis is one of the most famous and talented tattoo artists. He was given the nickname "The King of Tattoo Artists". Burchett was expelled from school at the age of 12 for repeatedly tattooing his fellow classmates. From then he joined the Royal Navy and continued his journey of tattooing. After returning home he apprenticed under exceptional tattoo artists, exceeding to no end. George Burchett became the first celebrity tattoo artist. Tattooing the rich and famous, like George V of the United Kingdom and Alfonso XIII of Spain. From traveling all over the world, Burchett came up with many design styles. And in the 1930s, he developed cosmetic tattooing. His methods incorporated African, Japanese and Southeast Asian ideas. Its so important to remember those artists who started it all. Without them the development of tattoos could be completely different. These artists, especially George Burchett are the basis of tattoos today. That is why they are so important, we learn from them.

This is the design my artist drew up for my fifth tatoo

A collage of the four tattoos that I have

My Story

I fell in love with the art form of tattooing when I was 16 years old. I'd always found it fascinating, but at that age, I was able to get my first tattoo. The first tattoo I got was Chinese characters that mean "In remembrance of". It was a small and easy tattoo, especially for my first one. This tattoo is the most meaningful tattoo I have. I got it to remember my little sister who passed away in 2011. Every time I look at it, I think of her. It’s located on my right wrist, and is clearly visible while wearing anything but long sleeves. Sometimes I think I should've placed it elsewhere, but I am fighting for the freedom to express myself, so I don't regret getting it on my wrist. The second tattoo I got is on my back, in between my shoulder blades, right on my upper spine. It’s a simple black cross that represents my faith. No matter what happens in life, it happens for a reason. This tattoo was actually the least painful, I barely felt it when I was getting it. My third tattoo is located on the side of my left thigh. It’s my zodiac sign. I'm a Virgo, so it’s an M. My friends always make jokes that it looks like the monster sign. I don't think it does. I got this tattoo for the sole reason that being a Virgo is who I am. My fourth tattoo is I guess you could say cheesy. When I tell people what it is, their reaction is always the same. "Oh my god, you actually have that tattooed on you? Why?" My fourth tattoo is the outline of New Jersey with sunflowers inside of it. It’s located on the side of my right thigh. When I was younger I used to complain about how much I hate living in Jersey, but I've come to have a lot of pride in where I come from. I love knowing that I was raised in a great state, and that it will always be a part of me. The sunflowers represent happiness, and no matter where I end up in life, where I’m living or what I’m doing, I will always be able to know that I come from a great place, and that I was happy there. This tattoo was my most painful one, it’s my biggest and it took the longest, about 2 hours. Although I love this tattoo, I regret getting it when I did. I ended up getting it on vacation in South Carolina. I picked a random shop, out of about 10 shops in a strip mall, and got it for cheaper than I would have if I had gotten it up north. My jersey tattoo ended up getting extremely infected and it doesn’t look exactly like it did when I got it anymore. The infection took a lot of the ink of and unfortunately because of the artists’ lack of talent, he scarred my leg. I got the tattoo back in July, and to this day it still gives me issues. It’s raised and itches all the time. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to fix it. But you live and you learn. Now I will never get a tattoo from anyone other than my artist at home. I plan on getting my fifth tattoo on December 15th. I briefly talked about this tattoo in an earlier post. This tattoo is of a lion and three roses. This tattoo has a great deal of meaning to me. I didn’t have an easy childhood, I grew up in a broken home, and I’ve struggled with personal issues of the way I view myself since I was young. The lion represents strength, and I know that no matter what gets thrown in my way, I’m strong enough to get through it. Nothing can stop be from succeeding and being the best that I can. I am strong enough to make it. The roses represent beauty. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve struggled with my weight, and I always believed that I was never pretty enough. Growing up the way I did though has taught me that I am beautiful. On the inside and out. You can never let anyone tell you that you aren’t beautiful or good enough. Each and every one of my tattoos makes me who I am today. I plan on getting a lot more throughout the years. Society will change, and tattoos will be allowed to be visible in the workplace, especially in law enforcement. Because that’s the field I want to work in, I do have to be careful where I get tattoos, but one day, I won’t have to be.

"Why?"

One of the biggest questions I ask myself, is why are tattoos so looked down upon? What is so horribly wrong about them? Society has come a long way in accepting them, but there is still so much discrimination towards tattoos. In an article written by Michael Crowe, titled "Are tattoos in the workplace still taboo?" he speaks about the allowance of tattoos in the workplace. He states that most employers will ask you to cover up your tattoos due to the fact that they don't want to offend customers or look unprofessional.(Crowe) By having tattoos, you've risked your chances of getting hired in a certain work field. According to Jane Schildroth, director of corporate and community relations at the University of Iowa Pomeratz Career Center, "employers don't really mention it." In reference to the issue of body modifications. The opinion has definitely changed in recent years, but she does still state that there is an unspoken prejudice. A poll done by USA TODAY, states that at least 21% of Americans have been under the needle.(Crowe) That's 1 in 5 people. With the amount of people that have tattoos in todays society, you would think that there would be more acceptance of them. I believe that society is afraid. Change scares people, and with the growing interest younger generations have for tattoos , eventually people are going to have to accept this change. The "clean cut, professional" look isn't going to be possible, when the entire pool of candidates has tattoos. I believe that society is so strongly opinionated against tattoos and looks down upon them, in the hopes that it will frighten people from getting them. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with having or getting a tattoo. Older generations and society need to learn that times are changing, and there is nothing wrong with expressing yourself.

Crowe, Michael. "Are Tattoos in the Workplace Still Taboo?" USA TODAY College. 20 Sept. 2012. Web. 3 Dec. 2014. <http://college.usatoday.com/2012/09/20/are-tattoos-in-the-workplace-still-taboo/>.

A Deeper Meaning

All tattoos have some type of meaning. There are the occasional few that are just spur of the moment, lets just do it, but for the most part, people get tattoos to remember something that happened in their life. Lion tattoos are fairly common among society, and I believe that they have a very specific meaning. I myself plan on getting a half sleeve of a lions face surrounded by roses this winter. To me a lion represents strength. For being only 19, I've been through a lot in my life, and I'm getting a lion tattooed on me to remind myself to stay strong and always push forward. That I can accomplish anything. I'm strong enough to survive. The lion in the picture looks so fierce and strong, like nothing can stop him. There can be so many symbolic meanings for having a tattoo of a lion. But I believe the biggest meaning is strength.

Blood and Ink

Blood and Ink The Art of the Tattoo is all about the different types of tattoos that there is. There are so many styles and designs that a person can choose from. This books talks in depth all about how the industry works and functions. Tattoo styles range from traditional to new school, with a few in between. Traditional tattoos date back to the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Traditional tattoos are simple, understated, bold and classic(Thorne). Besides traditional tattoos there are Japanese style tattooing, which involves a lot of dragons and tigers. Another example of the different types of tattoos that are out there are death and flowers. Death involves a lot of skulls and memorials, and flowers include all different types of flowers representing different things. New school tattoos are a lot different than traditional. The technique and designs are much different and use a lot of characteristics. These tattoos are detailed and colorful. This book is extremely helpful for someone who wants to learn more about tattoos and for a "tattoo virgin". It gives a ton of information about all the types of tattoos and styles. I would recommend anyone to read this book, it can be extremely helpful in learning the history of where certain tattoos came from. The pictures are also fun to look at. Overall Blood and Ink The Art of the Tattoo is a fantastic book that has so much detail and description to offer insight on the tattoo industry.

Thorne, Russ. Blood and Ink The Art of the Tattoo. Philadelphia: Quintet Publishing Limited, 2011. Print.

Machine vs. Gun

Many people mistakenly call a tattoo machine a "tattoo gun". Tattoo machine is the correct term, an artists will automatically correct you if the term "gun" is used. Calling it a gun is seen as unprofessional. Tattoo artists use these machines to create art, and they don't want their tool to be associated with a weapon. The slang term has been popularized by outside culture, but has come to be disrespectful to the industry and the artists within.

Tattoos in the workplace

Most workplaces, as in schools, law enforcement agencies, businesses, and others have a certain policy that their employers cannot have tattoos showing during work hours. It is seen as unprofessional and many see tattoos as a sign of delinquency. I strongly disagree with this policy and believe with all of my heart, that each individual person should have their freedom of expression, even in the workplace. What difference does it make if a teacher for example has a sleeve of tattoos that can be seen when they wear short sleeve shirts. The school hired them because of their ability to teach well and help students succeed. Having visible tattoos should have no effect on a persons capability of doing their job right. I plan on being a corrections officer, and in an ideal situation I want to be covered in tattoos. Now because of the fact that in today's society tattoos are still not completely accepted in the work force, I have to be careful of where I get my tattoos. But it should not have the be that way. How is having my skin covered in art that represents who I am have any effect on how well I do my job? I am aware that it is not only the employee that you have to think about. In my case, having certain tattoos or even having them showing could possibly endanger myself, but for individuals who work in an office of some sort, there is no justified reason for why their tattoos cannot being showing. For how accepting society is of freedom of speech and expression, they're pretty judgmental when it comes to the work place. Younger generations are becoming extremely indulged in the world of tattoos, and eventually having tattoos will become the norm.

#tattoos #inked #expression #jobs #workplace #freedom

Whose tattoo is it anyway?

In the article, "Whose tattoo is it anyway?" (2013), Kal Raustiala and Christopher Sprigman argue that tattoo artists should not be able to claim copyright on their clients due to the fact that many people with tattoos are celebrities and athletes who are in the spotlight and their lives shouldn't be controlled by a tattoo artist who doesn't want their work shown on display. Raustiala and Sprigman use the case of former Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams whose bicep tattoo was displayed on the cover of EA's "NFL Street" video game. His artist Stephen Allen, stated that the reproduction broke his copyright. The author's purpose is to question whether tattoo artists should have copyright over the works they do on their clients, ultimately leading to the point that it just is not functional for tattoo artists to have control over what their clients do with their bodies. Due to the argumentive tone of their essay, it seems to be directed towards artists who believe that they should be allowed to claim copyright on their works, to explain to them that, that isn't the case.

I agree with the article. If every tattoo artist had the copyright to every single piece of art that they tattooed on people, no one would get tattoos. There are many meanings behind tattoos, some get them for no reason, just because they look cool and some get them to show their beliefs or values. To think of a world where someone could tell me what I can or can't do with my tattoos or tell me that I cant show off my tattoo is unimaginable. My tattoos tell a story, and I should be able to express that however I want.

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-raustiala-tattoo-copyright-20131006-story.html

#tattoos #inked #expression

Zombie Boy

In my honest opinion, I believe that Rick Genest is truly the best example of a successful person with tattoos. For those of you who are unaware, Rick Genest is one of the most tattooed people in the world, having 80% of his body covered in tattoos. Despite being almost completely covered, he's become an extremely successful man. After leaving home at the age of 17, he was thrown into a world of poverty, only surviving by becoming a "squeegee kid", living in abandoned houses with a group of people he met in from his punk rock scene. To this day he's spent around $20,000 on tattoos and will continue to cover his body as his canvas. Genest has done numerous things to boost his career. He became a "circus freak" and eventually created his own show called Lucifer's Blasphemous Mad Macabre Torture Carnival. From there he's gone to work with performers like Lady Gaga, where he was featured in one of her music videos. In 2011, Rick Genest became the spokesperson for "Dermablend" by L'Oreal. He appeared in one of their commercials to show how well their make up can cover up tattoos. He's also modeled for different companies and a done numerous of other things. Rick Genest is the best at showing the world that you can be covered in tattoos but still be extremely successful.

#tattoos #zombieboy #rick genest

Dedication

At the San Diego Comic Con on July 25th, 2014, fans of the show "Game of Thrones" were able to get free tattoos at the exhibit. HBO paid two artists from a tattoo shop in San Diego to do these tattoos, and it was an overall hit. I think it's pretty cool that die hard fans were able to get small tattoos in honor of their love for the show. The fact that they were free is pretty great in itself. According to the article on NBC news the direwolf seemed to be the most popular choice from the small list of tattoos people were able to get. "So even if I don't like the show anymore, which probably won't happen, I'll have an awesome wolf on me." stated Casey Sullivan, one of the fans to get tattooed.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Game-of-Thrones-Tattoos-San-Diego-Comic-Con-268690732.html

Fighting for the Future

I got my first tattoo when I was 16. Although I got it at such a young age, it is my most meaningful tattoo, it reminds me everyday of how precious life is. I got this tattoo in honor of my little sister who passed away. But even though this tattoo is filled with so much meaning, I get criticized for it all the time. It happens to be located on my right wrist, in a very visible spot. It's easily seen by most people, and its the one people point out the most. I get asked all the time, "Why didn't you get that tattoo in a place where you can hide it? People won't want to hire you if they see that." I don't want to hide that tattoo. Or any of my tattoos for that matter. They're who I am. Yes, I think about my career all the time, and sometimes I do question whether I should have gotten the tattoo on my wrist in a different spot. If I want to be in law enforcement I have to think about a lot of the things I do. But I wont stop getting tattoos just because a future employer "might" not hire me. And there isn't anything I can do to change the ones I have now.

#tattoos

Finding a Purpose

I've always believed that tattoos should never effect how a person lives their life. This blog is my way of expressing how society is so obsessed with the idea that just because someone's body is covered in tattoos means that they cannot be a working, successful part of society. There is no doubt in my mind that having tattoos all over your body will affect the way your mind functions.

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

Life In Tattoos