Photographer Chris Ranier has the most amazing photos of body art in other cultures on the Smithsonian's website.
I love the look of tattoos. Flesh full of beautiful imagery with colorful ink on bare skin to declare one’s body a work of art in and of itself.
It took me a long time to muster up the courage to get a tattoo. I did it for my 40th birthday present to myself at a beautiful (clean and professional too) tattoo shop in Jerome, Arizona when I was writing a feature on one of my favorite art colonies. I was shy about my tattoo and, at the time, wanted to get something where very few people would ever see it. It’s a small red asymmetrical heart with swirly vines and I wear it every day on my heart to remind me to remain open to life’s fullest gifts and potential.
As I’ve become accustomed to my intimate tattoo, I’m ready to get another one in a place where it’s visible to the world. Either my ankle or wrist or foot, not sure yet. I thought about the back of the neck, but even that one would be hidden by my hair. I’ve been thinking about the imagery, and especially, of the words. It’s not something I will jump into lightly, so I’m taking my time.
Now this is cute. Double foot word tattoos in the fun black-and-white peekaboo shoes.
So this I {heart} Saturdays blog post is all about the inspiration I get from ink, and from the people who wear their art so boldly and beautifully.
Angel wings tattoo from http://mawortattoo.blogspot.com/
Full arm tattoos. I find it brave to forever alter oneself in this manner.
I hope you are having a fabulous Saturday and a truly Artful day!
Periodically I think about tattoos, but I’ve always been afraid to get started with one, because I really want an all over design and it’s not like I can change my mind once I start. So I’ve resisted the temptation.
I really like your mehndi photo. My niece got married in Mumbai this year and one of my favorite pictures from the wedding is a photo of many of my family member’s hands. http://nostoneunstrung.blogspot.com/2011/05/wedding-in-mumbai.html
Oh Dea, thanks for sharing your story about your tattoo. It really touched me. We need to talk more IRL at CREATE next year. My tattoo was also about transition in my life as well. It takes a little longer for some of us to jump into the fray, but we always find ourselves exactly when we need to, ya know? {{hugs}}
Jen, I identify closely with what you say here. I also got my first tattoo for my 40th birthday. I had chosen to leave the legal profession and turn my life back to my creativity. My tattoo was to mark that enormous transition on every level of my life and self, and to symbolically burn my bridges. Last year, I finally designed and had applied a tattoo to the small of back, a more intimate marker to myself that I had fully arrived in that new life.
I will take a look at the settings and see if I can find the subscribe widget. Thanks for asking!
Jen, Please consider adding an RSS feed so I can follow you through my outlook? I love being able to read my favorite blogs with automatic notice. sherrie