My Fabulous Tattoo :)

Last year, on my 60th birthday, I popped into a Tattoo Studio in Codsall, Wolverhampton. I knew I wanted a sleeve, something personal to capture my journey, but knew very little about Tatoos. Fortunately for me, the artists at UnderTone Tattoo are experts, and wonderful humans, and as soon as I got to the top of the stairs, I knew I’d found my tribe 🙂

After the first meeting with Lee and Lou at Undertone Tattoo (Facebook | Instagram) and chatting to them about what I wanted, they both agreed that Lou would be best to take on this project. So we set a date to meet and discuss everything.

I sent images, and ideas of what I thought it should be beforehand, more concepts than anything solid, and on the day I walked in unsure how they would work together. Luckily, we both share a love of coffee, which I provided, and while enjoying that, Lou interviewed me, doing the most remarkable job of drilling into my words, and getting me to open up the things I really wanted to say on my arm. There were many moments where I was surprised and got emotional at times.

After the conversation, Lou said, “I have this idea for a typewriter as the starting point.” I hadn’t thought of a typewriter, but I loved the idea, when I was young, I’d used one to write stories on. I asked what gave her that idea, and she responded, “You’re a fucking writer.” Which hit me hard, I’d never allowed myself to think of myself as that, but here was this person who could see me, who’d only just met me, and she saw it… and so the first part of my Tattoo was decided, a Typewriter with paper that merges into a nebula would be the starting point, and I’d have some text from one of my most personal prose poems on there. Yes, it was happening.

The first session was going to be a full day. This wasn’t my first tattoo, I did have one on my back, which is small, line work and took about 20 minutes years ago, so I had an idea what to expect, though I had no idea what a full day sitting would feel like, or how I would deal with pain, etc. As it was, I needn’t have worried at all, see below 🙂 Once done, Lou wrapped it up, and I headed off, getting used to seeing something on my arm while driving. I can say that now, not having that would be strange; it’s part of who I am, both physically and mentally.

Here are a few images of that starting point, truly an amazing moment for me to see this come together.

I seem to have a fairly high threshold and found the whole process relaxing, resulting in me falling asleep more than once. In fact, in all the sessions, I think there was only one I didn’t fall asleep in, and that was my elbow. There were moments when Lou had to poke me as I was so gone, who knew it would feel that good!

Over the following sessions, we built up a great relationship, lots of chatting, lots of laughter, and other people there, such as Grace, Lee and Kate, popping in from time to time to chat, and see progress. I got very relaxed there, wonderfully lovely people, and I know I’ll be going back for more tattoos over time, and maybe another piercing, but that’s another post. I’d say I won’t be having another sleeve, this one means a huge amount to me, but maybe I shouldn’t say never, who knows what the future holds, as they say.

Lou is a wonderful, warm, intelligent and insightful human and an incredibly experienced and talented tattoo artist. It’s been a pleasure going through this process with her, collaborating on this tattoo, and ultimately creating something unique and incredibly personal to my journey. I’m looking forward to my next tattoo, whatever that is, totally trusting the person doing it.

Here are links to her Instagram and Facebook. It really doesn’t do her justice, and she’s not one to shout about her talents, but she doesn’t have to, they speak for themselves.