I got my first tattoo on my 18th birthday. On that day, when I went into the shop, I told my artist that I wouldn't be getting any other tattoos. She told me that by the time I left, I would have changed my mind. She was right. I did change my mind. And because I had such a great experience with her, I told everyone that I would never go to another artist. I kept that mentality... right up to the day that I decided I needed another tattoo, and needed it right away.
At A Glance Author gaugesophia Contact gaugesophia@bme.anon IAM gaugesophia When Six months ago Artist Drifter Studio Mourning Star Studios Location Grand Rapids, MI The problem with that was that I didn't have the money to pay for the tattoo I wanted. It was only going to be eighty dollars, because that was the shop minimum, but I didn't have that. There was another shop, however, that had just opened up, and their minimum was half that. I didn't know their artists, and they didn't have portfolios readily available, but I "needed" another tattoo.
I already knew what I was going to get. I wanted the Greek letter pi on the inside of my upper arm. I had wanted it for a year, which meant that it passed the test (I won't get a tattoo unless I've wanted it for over a year, because I change my mind a lot. If I keep with one idea for over a year, I know I'm not going to change it anytime soon). It was a really easy design, so the fact that I was going to an artist who I didn't know well didn't bother me. I mean, hell, who could mess up a simple pi symbol with shading inside it? I didn't think it was possible. So I went in and talked to Drifter, a dirty, shifty looking man that I'd talk to at the coffee shop. He didn't have an appointment right then, so he told me to come on back. He prepped his machines and had his apprentice trace the design, even though he said he "could have done it freehand." That made me nervous, but I kept my mouth shut. That was my first mistake.
Everything was set up, and he had me lay down. I asked if it was going to hurt any worse than the one on my back. He said it'd be about the same, so I told him to just start going at it.
My first thought when he began tattooing me was, "liar!" It hurt. A lot. I understand now that because of placement, it was bound to hurt more. The fact that he didn't know that, in retrospect, makes me even more angry. I gritted my teeth and told him to keep going. I was surprised when I looked over and saw that I was bleeding profusely. I had not bled at all the first time I was tattooed, so the sight of lots of blood scared me a little. Drifter had said that he was really "light-handed." It seemed to me that everything he'd said wasn't really the way things were turning out.
After about an hour of being tattooed, I was done. He got up and said, "Okay, you're done. Come back if you have any problems." This shocked me. When I got my first tattoo my artist had gone very in depth about aftercare, something Drifter didn't seem to know existed. He didn't even bandage or cover the tattoo before I left the shop. I left feeling rather confused. I didn't know if I should be angry at him or myself for trusting an artist I didn't know well.
Over the next month, as the tattoo healed, all my suspicions were confirmed. The shading was horrible, and the lines were blurry. I went back and had him retouch it, but he just made it worse. Everyone I showed it to said it was not a good tattoo. Although I'm disappointed with it, I'm glad I got it because it taught me a valuable lesson: do not trust an artist that you get a bad feeling from. I've began making plans to integrate it into a half sleeve, and hopefully will be able to have it fixed up then.
So am I disappointed? Yes. I am. But I learned a valuable lesson that day, and I won't ever forget it. And in some ways, it's worth it, because from now on I'll have the respect for my body to speak up. And, I can point others in the same direction. That, to me, is worth it. Because when my best friend went to get her tattoo I was able to steer her to the right place. And while I may be stuck with a shitty tattoo right now, at least she isn't. That is what makes it worth it.