Almost everything in my life is related to two intertwined interests: Sideshow and Body Modification. As a heavily modified performance artist who specializes in sideshow acts this is readily apparent to most anyone who encounters me even briefly. However, if I were to list the things in this world that shape, and perhaps even define me, there would be at least one more item on the list: Games.
At A Glance Author The Lizardman Contact thelizardman23@aol.com IAM The Lizardman When It just happened Artist Mike Tidwell Studio Obscurities Location Dallas, TX I absolutely love games and puzzles. I like playing, solving, designing, and studying them. Any time that I am not actively working on something show or modification related I am probably thinking about or playing a game. My preferred medium is electronic gaming and then, I am avowed PC gamer. This is mainly a matter of expediency with a slight tinge of elitism. Most games can be effectively translated into an electronic form without much, if any loss of substance. Furthermore, the PC platform offers the greatest technology available for optimal gameplay.
Just as my love of sideshow became intertwined with my drive towards body modification, it was only a matter of time that my gaming would come to be reflected in my body. Although, some might theorize that too much Mortal Kombat (a la the reptile character) had already influenced my body modifications.
After some consideration, I struck upon the idea of tattooing W, A, S, & D upon my fingertips. For those who do not play pc games, look at your keyboard (I assume since you are reading this online there is a keyboard nearby). WASD are the default movement controls for many games, primarily FPS (first person shooters like Quake or Unreal Tournament) but also for the camera or map scrolling in many other genres. W = forward. A = strafe left. S = backward. D = strafe right. Given the amount of time my fingers spend on these keys it would not have been surprising to have the letters rub off onto my fingertips. But, rather than wait that long I had Mike Tidwell of Obscurities in Dallas, TX tattoo them on.
Mike has been my primary tattoo artist for almost 3 years – having taken over the work on my body from Mad Pup after I moved to Texas in August of 2001. Aside from specialty work like my eyelids and lips or odd art projects like the Spider Webb 'X' under my eye, Mike is the only one who works on me.
On Thursday, March 11th, 2004 I came into Obscurities around 2 or 3pm. The day before Mike had filled in a number of scales on my scalp and neck. I wasn't particularly anxious to return to either of these areas and my upcoming tour schedule was a concern for healing too much large work. So, this was the perfect opportunity to get my fingertip tattoos.
I described the idea to Mike and he set up his machine. Then he drew the letters onto my fingers so I could check the size, placement, etc. After everything was checked over, he began to tattoo me. I was curious and a little apprehensive about how tattooing the fingertips might feel – being a fairly sensitive and compact area. The initial sensation was one of tickling and not at all like normal tattooing. I attribute this to the fact that the needles were not really penetrating well but rather bouncing off the skin. Something to which Mike commented shortly after starting, saying it was tougher to get in than he expected. He applied more pressure and adjusted his grip for stretching out the skin and quickly got the tattoo 'in'. This changed the sensation quite a bit – the tickling was gone and it became more of a sharp sensation akin to much of the other single needle outline work I have experienced. Not horrible but not exactly pleasant either. I don't think the entire procedure took more than 15 or 20 minutes – if that. When Mike finished, Doyle (one of the other artists at Obscurities) supplied me some band aids for my fingertips.
I have seen very few other examples of fingertip tattooing. Along with the rest of the palm it represents an area that is difficult to work with and hard to heal with good results. There is some question as to how well these letters will hold up. Given that they are simple designs and done in black I have a good feeling they will work out well. I am committed to the idea and more than prepared to have them touched up and gone over again as needed.
Since this tattoo obviously does not fit into or contribute to my overall reptilian theme I am sure there will be some question as to why I had it done. Ignoring for the moment, my usual gruff inclination to say 'Screw off; I'll do what I want!' Let me discuss briefly why I got this tattoo.
I am an artist (or at least I try very hard to be) using my own body and performance as a medium. Tattooing is well recognized as an art form. Art is very often a means of expression and a form of communication. I have always felt that it is true that you can learn more about a person by how they react to a tattoo than you can learn about the wearer of the tattoo by looking at the tattoo. However, a tattoo is a very effective way of "wearing your heart on your sleeve". You can convey a great deal of information, with significant impact, by displaying something permanently upon your skin. That is what I am doing with this, and to a large extent the rest of my modifications – expressing myself to and communicating with the rest of the world via my flesh.
Also, it amuses me. I don't think anything should be taken too seriously and you can never underestimate the value of humor. There is no greater way to show an appreciation for the funny things in life than to etch them into your being. I have always loved joke tattoos – like the word 'wet' behind someone's ear or many, many others. Mine may not seem funny to some but to me it does a good job of expressing and reminding me of the importance of irreverence.
There is really only one problem with the tattoo: The band aids I am wearing to protect it greatly reduce the sensitivity of my fingers and are affecting my gameplay. Of course, that doesn't stop me from playing.