A Long Time Coming

If you've known me awhile, or even read my blog for a long period of time, then you've heard/read about my desire to become a tattoo artist.

When I was 19, I read a newspaper article about a new tattoo shop in my mom's town. The new owner mentioned how to become a tattoo artist, how it takes at least a year to learn everything, & how you'll have to work long hours without any pay, etc. Well, it totally bummed me out. I was living on my own and had bills out the wazoo so I couldn't even think about trying to work a money-making job while also trying to learn to tattoo. So that idea went to the back-burner. Then came along Mazzy and motherhood and wife-hood, etc. A few years ago I walked into a shop in town to ask about how to learn to tattoo and the guy there totally blew me off. Of course, in his defense I came in without a portfolio or any idea of what I was getting into.

I put off the tattoo dream for awhile and at the same time I bought almost every tattoo magazine I could find and scoped out any tattoos on strangers. Every tattoo I saw I thought: man, I wish I could learn to do that!

I had the idea to just buy a beginner's kit and work on fruit, but I never got around to it. Probably for the best.

This past summer I started asking friends and finally got a positive response from a local artist. Better yet, the artist was a lady! Someone who would understand that I had a family and cannot dedicate every spare second to wacky apprentice shenanigans.

At the beginning of this year, I started learning to tattoo! I'm so excited and stoked and happy and so on and so on. I enjoy the crew I work with and everything's going well. My head's getting crammed with so much information and I'm trying my best to remember everything. I'm completely obsessed with tattooing!

Last week I was surprised I was allowed to work on a real human. Someone made a joke about me tattooing them and next thing I know, she's down to be a guinea pig.

This was the very first time I've ever held a working tattoo machine and I was completely overwhelmed. My first lines were shakey but I recovered well. Sam, my teacher, helped out a lot with this flower and cleaned up little bits here and there. The tattoo owner was very pleased with the outcome and I was relieved!

This past week, I tattooed my friend in honor of her Grandpa who passed away last year.

I'm excited about this new artistic medium and learning as much as I can!