When I was growing up I had always had this sort of admiration for people who had tattoos, but never found myself to be someone who would actually get one. I am a very shy, reserved person and couldn't imagine wanting something on my body that would last an entire lifetime. It was ridiculous! It would be there forever! And how in the hell would I like something long enough to believe it to be worthy of "scarring" me, so to speak, forever?
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When Five years ago Artist myself Studio my bedroom Location california At the age of 15 years, I began experimenting with hallucinogenic drugs, of which specific ones, I will keep to myself due to web site censorship. These hallucinogens helped to shape and form the person that I was going to be, and actually help me to figure out what kind of a person I wanted to be. Thus, helping me form more mature interests and ideas.
One night, my boyfriend and I had decided that we were going to hallucinate, and we did. We did to the point where I was convinced that I could not feel ANYTHING. And I wasn't lying, when I said I couldn't feel anything. I was so far gone, I thought I could jump off of a building and wouldn't feel a thing. So, after a little bit of time, we decided that we were going to take advantage of this numbness and do something productive that would normally be a bit painful. I'd decided that it was time to grow, time to give myself my first tattoo.
I had went into my mother's sewing kit and taken out a small needle that I knew she wouldn't miss. And just as I had heard my grandfather did so many years ago, I was going to do a home made needle and ink tattoo. Slow, outdated, and old school, yet effective.
I also gathered a few other objects that I thought would be of some use during the process. I picked out some black regular India ink that had been sitting unused in my art supply box, for about 2 or more years. I had also gathered some rubbing alcohol to sterilize the needle and the surface area (my foot). I got an old ratty towel to place the things upon and also to wipe up anything such as blood that might leave traces that my mother would find later and give me away (I was 15 here, remember?).
Anyhow, I gathered these materials and began to set forth on what would be my first ever tattoo artist adventure (I've had a few more since then). I gently rubbed the needle with the rubbing alcohol and a small tissue in order to prevent infection from forming. Next, I used the tissue to rub the alcohol gently over the skin surface of my inside right ankle in order to disinfect there. Once the "disinfection" process was finished, I set forth with the fun part.
I dipped the newly sterilized needle into the small India ink bottle and made sure the ink was still stuck to the point.
The first jab was the worst. It was so painful to me that I flinched and nearly gave up on the idea all together, but who would want a tattoo of a dot on their ankle? This would for SURE guarantee I was a pussy. So I went on with it. Slight poke by slight poke I entered the needle in and under my skin in order to ensure the ink would penetrate enough to not lift later on. I didn't want a shitty looking peace sign.
Hours later, I had gotten about done with the outer circle portion of the peace sign. The flesh was bleeding a bit and with each few pokes I made sure to wipe the blood away from the surface in order to help make the surface clearer so that I would have a better idea about what it was that I was doing, and where I needed to poke next. The more I poked, the less it hurt, until I believe my body had become used to the pain and therefor released endorphins by itself. But somehow, it was strait and I was impressed with my artwork.
Hours after that, the entire peace sign was done. The initial finished product didn't look so nice, so I had to go over it a few times afterward with a real tattoo gun that I had borrowed from a friend of mine a couple of months after the tattoo had healed itself up.
Now, I have a small black India ink peace sign on the inside of my right foot that is home made yet beautiful to me because it means so much more to me than I ever thought it would.
Although I wouldn't suggest doing any tattoos at home, and especially with a needle and ink as it is very unsafe and rather stupid.