Amazing Tattoos

There is a tattooist, Benjamin Lloyd, who visits children's hospitals giving them temporary tattoos to boost their confidence. "The kids are so amazed" he said "as soon as they get the tattoo it boosts their confidence." He also wants to travel around other hospitals doing this for many more children, doing this for free.

Darius Vernon a aspiring model who for years was struggling with self-esteem becoming more confident in his own skin. Suffering vitiligo a condition that causes the skin to lose its pigmentation creating white patches on the body. After trying to hide his condition, after being noticed by modelling scouts on Instagram, the 30 year old is hoping to show that diversity is beautiful. 
He'd always cover his patches, by clothing and not holding on to rails as his hands are white. He'd shy away from girls as his confidence was shattered due to being bullied. He has also covered himself in tattoos adding to his confidence. 

These are just two of many amazing stories out there. 

Weird tattoos

As much as I love tattoos there are some that even I say no to. Certain places of them are horrid, such as the face and fingers, and certain cringy places. I don't mind if they're not offensive, or hide-able or are done really well. But some times it's just a bit much.

Ronnie Radke has "Unbreakable" a double "R" and a tear-drop on his face which looks relatively good on him, being with who he is and his line of work, it's acceptable.

Justin Beiber had a tattoo on his face recently, I wouldn't even call that a tattoo, it looks like he accidentily wrote on his face with a pen. A small, and I do mean small, cross just below his eye, and people are going mad about it! Saying things like "He's ruined his beautiful face" "If that's real I'm gonna rip your n****** off". It's madness!

I saw this article online about a man who made himsel look like his parrot, he had surgery to remove his ears. He even had his eyes tattooed. He says he'd like to have his nose shaped more like a beak. And if he could he'd have his eyes moved.

This just shows the lengths people will go to change themselves and how much people love tattoos. 

Survey results

I sent out a survey a while ago asking people's opinions on tattoos. 

With some people with very strong views on tattoos, I was curious on what people think as society is becoming much more accepting of tattoos in general and some workplaces allowing them to be on show too. Varying results, 6 people with tattoos and 9 without tattoos. 

Here are some of the responses from my survey...

Do you like your tattoo? 

Have been ruined by stretch marks.

Only one of them, the other two I certainly don't! 

If you have a tattoo, do you cover them up for work? If yes then how? 

Because they are in place I wouldn't be showing at work anyway!

On my tummy so wear a top!

If you don't have a tattoo, would you expect those that do to cover them at work?

It depends on the tattoo and whether it's considered inappropriate.

Depends on the job and what the tattoo is and where it is

What is your general perception of those with tattoos?

I don't see anything wrong with tattoos, given that they are appropriate. Though I don't like the look of people with lots of tattoos all over their bodies.

It's a personal choice, I would never judge anyone with tattoos, whether they have one or two or loads! Tattoos are about personal expression and individuals should have the choice to decorate their skin should they wish! Never judge a book by its cover and all that! 

We get judged a lot more than we should. We're usually just nice people. And our careers are not limited to 'barista in shoreditch' as often assumed. 

Interview with a tattooed blogger - Illustated Teacup

I did an interview with Illustrated teacup aka my big sister Rachel Bradford. As she has two sleeves which is unusual for a woman to have. I asked similar questions to what I asked John.
This shows just how different people's perspectives can be. 

What made you want to have tattoos? What was your first tattoo?

I've always loved art, and what better way to show that, than with tattoos. I find them really fascinating and the each have a story to tell. My first tattoo was a swirling R on my ankle on my 18^th birthday.

What influences did you have?

My style has changed a lot over the years, but I started off small and simple to ensure it would be something I loved for life.

Did you have any concerns before your first tattoo?

Nope, none at all. I took my time to work out exactly what I wanted and where to have it done.

Do you regret any of your tattoos? If so which one/s and why?

No, not really. I have one on my shoulder I would like to have covered but it’s purely because it’s not really my style at all any more, but I wouldn’t say I regret it.

Do you plan to have any more tattoos? If so where and what?
I’d like something for my son/daughter when they are born and I would like to finish my left sleeve but haven’t got any definitive plans.

How do you feel about being able to have your tattoos on show at work?

I think everyone should have the right, whether in front of customers or not as I don’t really think they make a difference to a person’s ability to do their job.

Do you think more workplaces should be allowing tattoos to be on show or not? And why?

Yes, and generally society is heading that way, but there is still much more room for improvement.

Did you feel it necessary to hide your tattoos during interviews? If so how did you dress?

I always do to ensure that employers know I am flexible and will cover them if required for a job. I just tend to wear long sleeves and trousers, or tights with a dress.

In any previous jobs did you have to cover up your tattoos? If so how did you feel about it?

No I've been lucky that I've never had to cover for work, unless for a client meeting in which case I covered with a blazer. I'm happy to cover for work if requested, though I think it a shame that people judge on something so insignificant.

Do your tattoos affect how you dress now? E.g. to show them off or not.

Not really. It’s more dependent on my mood.

Do you consider your tattoos when you buy new clothes?

Not really. Though I do tend to avoid heavy patterns on sleeveless clothing as I think it looks too much with two full colour sleeves.

Do you have any concerns about what your tattoos will look like in the future? Do you think this will affect how you dress?

No I know a good tattoo will last, and to be honest I think how my tattoos look will be the least of my worries when I'm 60. No again I think society being more accepting of tattoos will make having them on show as I'm older more accepted too.

Would you ever consider having any removed in the future?

No I think all tattoos have a story to tell and honestly I don’t think I could sit through laser treatment.

Do you think that men with tattoos have them to make themselves look/feel more macho?

Not really, I think that would be far too generalised.

What is your opinion of women and tattoos?

I think women should be able to do what they want with their bodies, just like men, so really women and tattoos shouldn't be as big of a deal as they are still.

Do you ever worry about what other people think of the amount of tattoos you have?

No. it’s not their body, they don’t have to live with them so I don’t care. People should be more concerned with their own problems than with how other people look.

Do you get asked randomly about your tattoos on a regular day? If so what kind of things do they say?

Depends on the situation. I do often get asked about them, or given compliments, especially in more social situations. Mostly people ask where they were done and mention how good they look.

Are there any of your tattoos with particularly deep meanings to you? If so which and what?

A few yes. My rose tattoo on my foot is in memory of my late grandfather. The swans on my arm are for my marriage and for my home town which is pretty significant. And I have my sister’s initials on my back.

Would you say getting a tattoo can become an addiction?

Not really. Addiction implies a lack of control and the need to do it or something bad will happen. I think you can be drawn to them and definitely want more after one, but I wouldn’t describe it as addicting.

Is there anywhere you wouldn’t get tattoos?

Face and hands, and definite no-nos.

How much are you willing to pay for a tattoo?

It depends on the size and the skill of the artist. But I generally wouldn’t pay more than £400 for a day session. And about £80 an hour for smaller works.

Would you encourage you own child/ future kids to have tattoos?

I wouldn’t stop them if they wanted them, but I would advise and make sure they are making sure they were making good choices for their future and were being safe.

What kind of advice would you pass on to them?
Make sure you choose a reputable tattooist and cheap doesn't mean good do save for it. If you want it enough then it'll be worth the wait.

Interview with a college lecturer

I interview a college lecturer, John in visual arts.Asking his opinions and his thoughts on tattoos in work and everyday and in general.
He has a lot of tattoos, two sleeves and a few on his legs, some of them he designed himself then the tattooist did the design in their style.

What made you want to have tattoos in the first place? What was your first tattoo?

My first tattoo was a family tree; it was done by one of my favourite artists called Scott St. Claire whose done work for one of my favourite bands. And I saw this work and I thought I’d really like to have this done. It goes all the way to the top; it’s got all these weird characters like, myself, my brother, my mum and my stepdad, and at the top is a dark cloud. So despite the fact we got through rough patches we hold it together, that’s why there’s a string there.

What influences did you have?

I’d say there more inspired by life events, or stuff that’s happened or stuff I want to do, places I’ve been. I go for more of that.

Did you have any concerns before your first tattoo? If so what where they?

So the one thing I always consider when getting a tattoo is the line work of the artist. So I always make sure to check that their work is good.

The pain you get used to, the inside of the arms hurt, elbow didn’t really hurt, top of the shoulder hurt for some reason. And tendons hurt even more if they are more prominent.

Do you regret any of your tattoos? If so which one/s and why?

Thinking about it I did cover up one on the back of my leg, was the initials for a band I used to play in. Due to a falling out I decided to get it covered up, so if there is regret I try to cover it up. There’s roses covering it up now, but you can still faintly see the lettering.

Do you plan to have any more tattoos? If so where and what?

Both of my arms are now full, I do have some on my legs, I've got 3 cat tattoos on my legs, and a fox on my shin. I recently did a sketch of a raccoon wearing suit saying “Stay humble” underneath; I want to have that done. Animal with human characteristics, my legs are next.

How do you feel about being able to have your tattoos on show at work?

I’m always a bit funny about it, when I had my interview here I wore a suit, so my shirt covered them. When they said do you have any questions that’s when I say how do you feel about tattoos? For an educational establishment I was a bit funny having them on show because we work in a creative environment, so as a graphic designer/illustrator a lot of people have full sleeve tattoos. At one point they wanted us to wear a suit but our line manager said it didn’t suit the creative area as they’re a bit funny about having them on show. Students are more okay with it.

Do you think more workplaces should be allowing tattoos to be on show or not? And why?

I think yeah they should be as long as they’re not offensive. I think they should be a bit more relaxed.

Did you feel it necessary to hide your tattoos during interviews? If so how did you dress?

I always cover them up, because it’s people’s perception. It doesn’t matter what your profession is as long as you’re good at your job the tattoo shouldn’t be a reflection of that. So for me, yeah, I cover them up and then ask how they feel about them.

In any previous jobs did you have to cover up your tattoos? If so how did you feel about it?

I’ve never had to cover them up actually, I’ve never really had a problem with it never been asked to cover them up. Even working in bars, is very common these days, it’s very relaxed on that front.

Do your tattoos affect how you dress now? E.g. to show them off or not.

Not necessarily, I mean with the kind of music I listen to it’s common to have tattoos, the checked shirt look is in every band I like. So it’s more a reflection on my interests rather than my tattoos.

Do you consider your tattoos when you buy new clothes?

Not really, with white shirts it shows through bright. With checked shirts they contrast nicely. I’m shopping more “ooh that looks nice” rather than “will it match my tattoos.

Do you have any concerns about what your tattoos will look like in the future?

That’s a question I get asked a lot, I know that the new inks have a plastic resin so that it lasts longer. I will hang out with other people who have faded tattoos have the best time, reminisce of stories from years ago, it’s not really a concern.

Would you ever consider having any removed in the future?

The one that I probably would have removed is the one on my arm, it’s the first line of the first album that I ever released, as I no longer speak to my old band mates it’s got a sour edge to it. If anything it’s a song I wrote, it belongs to me. And the meaning to that is, no matter what we do its always another chapter a part of your life that is gonna give you stories to talk about.

Do you think that other men with tattoos have them to make themselves look/ feel more macho?

I’d say going to the gym you see the guys with full sleeve tattoos, who’ve made themselves really hench, they probably do it for that. I have them because as a graphic designer/illustrator I love art; each tattoo has a meaning behind it. It’s more a talking point than anything. You can always spot the macho ones walking round in tight shirts normally in their 40s.

What is your opinion of women and tattoos? Is that a possible reason for being attracted to someone else?

Some people do get a bit funny about it “such a beautiful girl ruining herself” “why you get them done”. For me, my ex-girlfriend had a full sleeve, if anything it’s how we met. It’s not a problem. It’s how we express ourselves and I think tattoos are the way to do it.

Do you ever worry about what other people think of the amount of tattoos you have?

I have had some funny looks before, where they don’t look you in the eye they kind of eye your arm up and down. I’ve worked in a bar where they’ve “can I have a pint of larger please” and it’s like “yes I have tattoos, no I don’t regret them” that kind of thing. So I don’t really mind what people think, it’s not for everyone, lot of people are anti-tattoos, so I don’t really care what people think.

Do you often get asked randomly about your tattoos on a regular day? If so what kind of things do they say?

Normally they ask where I’ve had them done, sometimes they ask the meaning behind them, they’re really the only questions I get asked other than will you regret them when your older. But that’s just a standard one.

Are there any of your tattoos with particularly deep meanings to you? If so which and what?

On the top of my shoulder is an antique clock with the time of my birth. I’ve got the girls that are on my arms one for each of my guitars, one Rose for my acoustic guitar, and Taejon for one of my electric guitars, and on the back of my leg I have Clara is another one of my electric guitars. Got a compass pointing to the west from when I moved to America for a few months.

Would you say getting tattoos can become an addiction?

Oh yes, absolutely. After I had my half sleeve done, I was planning the next one, then had to move to my other arm then when that was full moved on to my legs.

Is there anywhere on your body you wouldn’t get a tattooed?

My chest and ribs, I’ve noticed that those with chest tattoos wear the “dougebag” low V-neck tops, also the ribs are the most painful area, everyone I know whose had it done has had to keep going back to continue it even the most smallest tattoo. Never the face, neck or hands.

How much are you willing to pay for a tattoo?

I’ve probably already spent about £2500 on them, which is a lot but they do have meaning behind them. The guy I go to now is really good and you have to book about 6 months in advance, it’s almost impossible to get in there. He normally charges about £200 for about 4 hours. This is really good as he is really quick, he’s done all the background work on my sleeves, the fox on my leg, the sea captain on the back of my leg all in one session.

Case Studies - Celebs with Tattoos

Many celebs have tattoos now, some more discreet than others. Musicians tend to have much more than actors and models, but depending on the type of band they are and the music they play tends to have an impact on that.

For example Ronnie Radke lead singer of Falling in Reverse, he's covered in tattos, head to toe. With a few on his face and going from his neck downwards, featuring two full sleeves and covering his torso, he is the most covered person I know of. Also because of his line of work his tattoos have never affected him in his career.
His favourites are as follows:
An owl holding a severd woman's head on his chest
Teardrop by his eye
The face of his old tour manager on his leg
On his leg he has a horse on its hind legs with a rider holding a band with the words "Ahoy Butternuts" on
On his right hand there's a red rose with the words"No home but the road" surrounding it above and below.
On his other hand is a woman whose lips are sewn shut with writing above it.
On his forehead just under his hairline is the words "Unbreakable".
A ferocious shark is on the side of his head where he has shave his hair off.
On one side of his neck he has, I believe, two roses with spiders' webs.
His first tattoo was a microphone on his arm.
He has so many that I cant even begin to count or know what they all are. His band is described as post hardcore, metalcore, glam metal, pop punk and hard rock, so most of the members and past members of the band have tattoos and/or piercings.

Models tend to not have tattoos for high end brands, for certian brands they do like to use tattooed models in some cases they use customer pictures. Models like Cara Delevingne has mainly small ones in hideable places. Some of hers are as follows:
A lion and a bee/wasp on two of her ifngers on either hand
Her initials on the side of her right hand
"Silence is written on her right wrist
Roman numarals are on her ribs
A coat of arms that features the letter 'D' with wings and a crown above
"Pandora" is tattooed on her arm at an angle next to the crease of her left arm
Though she was a model for Chanel and was told not to get anymore tatttoos it didn't seem to stop her.

Lots of actors have tattoos but most are covered or placed discreetly to make sure they get certian parts. For certian parts they do show their tattoos or draw on new ones. Johnny Depp for example has his Jack Sparrow tattoo with the sparrow facing the other way adding "jack" underneath for his son.
He has so many tattoos, but for most of his previous roles he's been covered in clothes that hide them. Though tattoos can be hidden with makeup he showed them off in Pirates of the Caribbean for one scene. With over a dozen tattoos, Depp has said his "body is a journal in a way. It's like what sailors used to do, where every tattoo meant something..."
He has been named "Sexiest man alive" twice, adding to his sexiness he even plays guitar which is something most girls/women love in a guy making them, more often than not, more attractive.

His tattoos to name a few are as follows:
He has a native American head as tribute to his ancestral heritage on his right bicep
After the birth of his daughter he had her name tattooed on the left side of his chest close to his heart
Both of his inner forearms have portraits of his mother and the other is of his grandfather
On his left wrist is a rook holding some cards, for his grandfather who he played the game with
A 'Z' tattooed on his left hand, his son designed a tattoo that's on his right arm and on his other hand is a crow.
Lots of people no matter their age love Johnny Depp, for me the tattoos just add to the love.

For me, it doesn't matter if someone has tattoos, their behaviour should be the only thing that matters. Tattoos are a way to remember something/someone or to make a statement. They don't say how a person behaves, their actions should reflect the person they are. Actors and musicians are role models for teens and kids, so they should behave as such, tattoos have no ifluence on this.

History of Tattoos

I, myself don’t have any tattoos but I am part of a tattooed family and I absolutely love them. My favourite tattooist is Dani Green as she does very colourful tattoos, with a white outline to make her work pop. I like some are very curious about how tattoos have become more acceptable in society and how people view them. But before I get to my findings I wanted to look into the history of them.

Tattoos have always had an important role in ritual and tradition; they have served many purposes indicating a certain skill. Some believed that if you had a tattoo on your wrists or fingers it warded away illnesses. They were also used to indicate what clan/gang people belonged to, similar to today to show what people like such as bands especially in the 80’s.

In Japan tattoos were used to mark criminals, first offence marked a line on the forehead, second crime marked with adding an arch and the third and final crime would be another line, together they form the character for ‘dog’. The original “three strikes you’re out” law.

Tattooing had lost a great deal of credibility, tattooists worked the sleazier sections of town, heavily tattooed people travelled with circuses and “freak shows” ended up being stars of the show.

Wives were used as human advertising being tattooed by their husbands to show off their best works.

With WW1 the flash art images changed to those of bravery and wartime icons, tattoos were known as a travel marker so you can tell where a person had been by their ink.

1961 there was an outbreak of hepatitis and tattooing was sent reeling on its heels, though most parlours had sterilised its machines. Newspapers released stories of blood poisoning and other diseases, the general population held tattoo parlours in disrepute. NYC government gave tattoo parlours an opportunity to form an association and self-regulate themselves, but they couldn't. As a result there was a health code violation went into effect and some places shut down. Few people wanted a tattoo as a result. In the late 60’s people’s attitude to tattooing changed. A guy ended up tattooing celebrities especially women, which ended up getting the media’s attention.

Today tattooing is making a strong comeback, being much more accepted than ever. All social classes have them, a rise in popularity placed tattooist in the category of “fine artist”. Tattooists combine the tradition of tattooing with their own personal style creating unique and phenomenal body art big or small.

Tattoos have so many meanings and come in many forms, personal with meaning or just out of films as many fandoms have very popular symbols or quotes which everyone will remember but each person taking their own spin on it.