Why do you want a tattoo?

So, you want to get a tattoo? Good choice 🙂 Tattoos are a great way to express yourself and permanently decorate your skin. It may sound intimadating at first and the thought of needles puncturing the top layers of your skin thousands of times, can sound incredibly painful, but the reward is priceless.

From my vantage point, it basically comes down to two things, personal meaning, or just for the beauty of it, which is a good enough reason. You don’t have to come up with a story, just because some people on TV do so, finding joy in art and beautiful things is perfectly fine.

For many, a tattoo must have a very deep, personal meaning. The image may be a portrait of a loved one, or someone else extremely important to you,. Or maybe it’s just something, you feel a strong connection to. Portraits are not for everyone though, so you might want to consider imagery more symbolic and illustrative. The illustration may be literal or more subtle, like an homage to your favourite things, or the name of your child. This can be done in a variety of styles, such as American Traditional, Neo-Traditional or New School, just to name a few. You can choose to do the piece in color, black and gray or leave it as simple, modern linework, skys the limit as the say (and the technical part, to have a piece, that will last forever). With so many styles to choose from, it can often feel overwhelming and, simultaneously, very exciting! 

However, contrary to popular belief, a tattoo doesn’t have to have any meaning at all. Many get tattooed simply because they love the imagery. A lot of tattoo first-timers are intrigued by what they see on the media, in magazines etc. I have to confess, that it was the same kind of deal for me, almost 30 years ago, when I saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Henry Rollins in music videos on MTV. Tattoo enthusiasts like to decorate their bodies with ink the same way others would with jewellery. Tattoos are a way to express your innermost feelings on the outside and are often worn with pride. A sleeve of beautiful flowers may make you feel softer and gentler, protected from the harsh reality by the beauty of nature. In contrast, dark, bold tattoos may evoke feelings of fearlessness and bravery, like if you are wearing a suit of armour. Regardless, a tattoo can simply be a form of self-expression and you can definitely consider getting a life-long commitment simply because the imagery makes you feel a certain emotion or the symbolism speaks to you, even on a subconscious level. Me personally, I like imagery that deals with time and death, skulls, hourglasses etc. For some it might seem macabre at a first glance, but for me, it is a steady reminder, that time is limited for everyone, and now is the time to live your life, the best way you can. Make the most of now, is one of my favourite quotes. 

Whether you are getting a tattoo to represent an important person, place or thing or simply getting a piece of art because you like and enjoy it, getting ink can be an extremely pleasing (and addictive) experience. The most important thing is to find a shop with an artist you can trust. Once you found a friendly and professional studio, getting tattooed will surely be a memorable and positive experience, that might change your life. I can definately tell you, that it works it’s magic for me, for almost 3 decades now. Until next time 🙂

Chris