Walking Canvas…the Tattooed Principal

As I have mentioned, when people first meet me, I often get the “YOU are the principal?!” with the eyebrows up to the hairline. Yep. I continue with the formal introduction, and proceed to take care of business like the professional that I am. It is the tattoos all over my arms and legs; Sometimes, they throw people off. And I am OK with that because once they get to see past the tattoos they realize that I know my business, I love what I do, and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure my school is a successful school, and that my students and families are successful and happy, and that my teachers and staff are happy and productive.

And here is the funny thing: once people see me, and ‘SEE‘ me, they usually come back asking me where I got my tattoos, and what do they mean, and did it hurt? I am like a walking billboard for my (not really mine, but the ONLY place I will now get my work done) tattoo studio, so much so, that I keep a stack of their business cards in my purse.

The above referenced questions are not the only questions I have fielded regarding my artwork. The one that bothers me the most is, ‘Do you really think it is appropriate for people who work with children to have tattoos?’. My answer is this: We live in a diverse world where we teach children not just to accept, but to embrace the qualities in each other that make us different and unique. We live in a diverse world community made up of people of multiple ethnicity, religious backgrounds, and languages from around the world, and we are all here together. We enrich each other.

Tattoo Do’s and Don’ts.

I had the opportunity to pick Kim Shady’s brain yesterday while getting some new ink… be sure to check her out here…Custom Creations Tattoo and Art Studio and https://www.facebook.com/kimshadycustomcreations/ .

1. Do your research…part one. Pinterest is your friend. Creating a tattoo pinboard helps you refine your tastes in body art, see patterns in design ideas that you like, and styles you gravitate toward. My tattoo pin board has alot of flowery, leafy designs, a few his and hers ideas, some sugar skulls….NONE of which have been tattooed on my body. I have used these images to hone in on my own personal tastes in design, placement, and size. I have shared some of these ideas with Kim as we have discussed my vision.
2. Don’t bring your artist a picture of someone else’s tattoo and ask them to reproduce it. Enough said.
3. Do your research….part two. Look up artists and studios on line. They all have digital portfolios online these days. Evaluate how their work looks in relation to the style you are looking for. I have gone so far as to go up to complete strangers and ask them where they had their work done, written it down and looked them up to see if they might be a fit for me. I cannot stress how important this is. I had an artist that I liked and trusted in Arizona, but then I relocated 2000 miles across the country and it wasn’t feasible to use him anymore. It took me a year or more of researching artists, looking at work, and talking to different artists before I met Kim… and she was a good fit for me.
4. Be prepared to be patient…. you should first schedule an appointment for a consultation with your artist. Bring them your ideas, including your pin board so they can get a feel for your tastes. Be prepared to discuss size, location, color and placement, and leave a non-refundable deposit for your appointment for the original artwork that the artist is drawing and tattooing on you and you only. Be certain of your color choices, and listen to the artist when they offer advice on the pallette. They know what colors work well with your skin tone. Gone are the days when I will walk into a random tattoo parlor and pick a butterfly off the wall, pay my fee and get inked. Kim has covered that mistake up.
5. When you see your tattoo design, insure that it is what you envisioned, and discuss any changes, including color, you would like made with the artist prior to a stencil being made. Don’t feel bad about making these changes since you are wearing this art work forever and a quality artist will want you to be thrilled walking out the door. Most tattoo artists have covered up tattoos that were either not matching the vision of what the person wanted and they didn’t speak up, or hastily picked off a wall of designs that 100’s of other people also have and they don’t want that to be your experience.
6. The day of your tattoo be prepared to sit still. On some of the larger designs I have sat still for hours, and while you can break and stretch, you may still get a little stiff. I bring a beverage, and sometimes a snack. Some people bring their headphones and zone out, but I prefer dialogue. Also…TIP your artist. They have created a custom piece of artwork, sat for hours and hours with you..so they are stiff from sitting as well… and in some cases they are up close and personal. They have to cover booth rental or other establishment overhead, provide quality products to make your tattoo, sanitize….TIP your artist.
7. Aftercare….again, I can’t stress this enough…. follow your artists directions for aftercare. The healing of the tattoo can make or break your work and you want to avoid scabbing, picking at it, sun exposure and over drying. You should also avoid chlorine exposure with fresh tattoo. I try to schedule my tattoos around my summer vacation so I don’t have fresh ink while I am enjoying my fun and sun.
8. After after care. Yes, you read that right. Even after the tattoo heals, you will want to care for the skin a little differently than skin with no ink. The energy from the sun’s powerful rays is similar to the energy that is used in laser tattoo removal, only on a more intense and powerful level. Limiting sun exposure and using effective and appropriate sun block is essential and will help keep your colors bright and your lines crisp for longer.

What to Look for in a Tattoo Studio

1. First and foremost look for a certificate of inspection from your county health department. If you don’t see it displayed, ask for it.
2. Even if a health certificate is present, look around. Is is well kept and clean? In my tattoo shopping around experience I went into a shop with the health certificate displayed in the window, and went inside to find a cluttery, dusty and disorganized reception area. That was enough for me. Another studio I visited smelled funky and dank. That is a big NO.
3. Licensing and certifications should be present. Most reputable tattoo artists are continually learning as they refine their craft, and often have certificates of professional development courses and seminars.
4. Vibe- Are these your people? Do you feel comfortable with the people in the booths and the clientele? during your tattoo experience you will be in the shop a few times, and you want to feel like you belong. If you don’t feel that way, go find somewhere you do.

Historical Perspective

When once considers the art of tattoo from a historical perspective, Humans have been decorating their skin since 3000 BC. There are mummies with evidence of tattoos from almost 50 different locations around the world. In Ancient China they may have been used to mark the faces of criminals, while in Egypt around 2000 BC it is thought that the tattoos served a medicinal purpose. Ancient Greeks and Ancient Romans branded their criminals and social outcasts. Soldiers and slaves were also tattooed to prove their taxes had been paid. Samoan cultural traditions of tattoo date back hundreds of years and have changed very little as the art is passed generationally from father to son.

Tattoos in the US

Starting in the 1910s, the majority of those that had tattoos were sailors, and their choices in artwork were symbolic and told the story of their travels. They could also be used to identify a man who had drown. In the roaring 20’s the trend of accentuating facial features through tatttoo was common for women. Eyeliner, lip liner and eyebrow definition… (hello microblading?) was common when the cost of makeup was less than that of a tattoo. In the 30’s and the advent of social security numbers, some people had them tattooed on their bodies, but decorative tattoos were still more common only among performers and sailors and were generally considered taboo among the general population. The 40’s saw a shift in body art as WWII was underway, and the popular ‘Sailor Jerry’ tattoos became popular with their more colorful inks, and patriotic representations. During the 50’s, a more conservative era, tattoos were viewed as a sign of criminal affiliation or low morals. The vietnam era of the 60’s saw an interesting shift in tattoo design as patriotic tattoos decreased and the advent of the skull and crossbones became a popular representation, especially among bikers. During this time public officials began warning that tattoos were associated with the transmission of heptitus, adding to the stigmatization of tattooed individuals as being dirty. This didn’t stop Janis Joplin though…which brings us to the 70’s…ah yes the 70’s…a decade free from inhibition, a time of peace love and mind altering substances, and a time when people were more open and expressive. Tattoos once again gained popularity with larger designs, including sleeves and bodysuits. Leading into the 80’s tattoos got big and bold, and more socially accepted as the rock and roll generation inked themselves in bold Celtic and tribal designs. The 90’s saw more tattoo acceptance and the rise of the internet saw trends in tattoos spread far and wide, including the kanji (Guilty).Then of course, who can forget the tramp stamp era of the 2000’s… (Not guilty). Bringing us to today where people look to be more original and quirky and more tattoo recipients are widespread..doctors, lawyers, law enforcement, teachers, principals, and regular Joe.