So, the tattoo sleeve on my left arm is something that I have been planning for a while. If you look at my photo gallery, you can see a drawing of a piece that is going to go on my back eventually, and on the left arm is a brief sketch of what would become the ink I have begun there.
When I started thinking seriously about collecting tattoos, I mentioned it to my Dad, who said, "If you do get a tattoo, make sure it is somewhere that I can't see it!" I could never quite figure him out, you know? How could someone have led the life with all of the partying that he did, and still have such an old fashioned attitude about something like tattoos? Actually, I think he knew I would do it anyway... but he passed without ever seeing any of the work I have had done... just damn.
So... I designed the elements of the sleeve to include my love for all things Halloween, so I knew I wanted some spooky fun things, like a big haunted house, and the skull moon, bats, jackolanterns and punkins, a graveyard (which became the Memorial for my Dad, too...) complete with his rotting zombie arm thrusting up from the grave and flipping me off, LOL!
So, I decided that I wanted to get that started while I was on leave in Nashville, and the only day I could actually get it done was on my sister's birthday, so I missed her celebration sadly, but it turned out to be a significant event that I did not originally intend.
I talked to Kat at Mantis Tattoo, and she started working on the design. She called me to start on the 25th at about 3pm. One of the elements that I wanted on the sleeve wasn't going to fit, so she added some things that she thought I'd like, like the spooky owl on the fence and the key to the house in the graveyard! I really think she did an excellent job! The zombie in the zootsuit will wait for later.
So we started laying out the transfers, and filling in the details between them with pen. That took until about 7:30 that night. Then we started the actual line work. She said that she was going on vacation to New Orleans like the next day or so, and she knew that she wouldn't be able to concentrate if she didn't get the line work done. It is her very first sleeve, and she asked me to promise that I would not let anyone work on it but her. I thought that was an awesome idea!
She worked tirelessly and took minimal breaks until it the linework was done. It was 3:30am when she was wrapping it all up. So, I was EIGHT HOURS under the needle! That was a marathon session for even the most seasoned tattoo collector, I believe... anyone else know of longer sessions? I'm interested in finding out, okay?
So, I paid her, and tipped her for her excellent service, and drove back to my hotel with my arm all wrapped up. Where I laid in bed most of the next day and ordered food in.
Oh yeah, the significant event that I talked about? We finished the first part of the tattoo one year to the day of my Father's passing... it didn't occur to me until later that day when my sister called me. She took (takes) his passing harder than I do as she was trying to re-establish their relationship.
So, I am getting ready to have some more work done on it, and I discovered that Mantis Tattoo is apparently closed. Their number is disconnected and I have no way of knowing where I can find Kat so she can continue her work... hmmm. Maybe she went to New Orleans... wouldn't that just suck to have to go down there? What a shame, hehehe.
Love and Light,
Cedalion