About 3 years ago, my Fiance at the time decided she didn't want to know me anymore. She was super excited to get a tattoo for her birthday, so I got to thinking, "I should get a tattoo first, that'll show her". The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like something that I wanted to do. As the date grew closer to her birthday, I started to get antsy about it.
At A Glance Author Donjoseph Contact Donjoseph@bme.anon IAM Donjoseph When Two years ago Artist Josh Studio Explicit Ink/Stiletto Haus Location Grand Rapids, MI I didn't want my first tattoo experience to be bad in any way, but I had very limited knowledge. I ended up asking an old high school friend that was very much into body mods about what shop to go to, and she told me to look into Explicit Ink. I asked around a couple other places, and got the same answer, and decided to go for it.
A friend from work was nice enough to drive me out to the shop, (after talking me into the idea) but as soon as we pulled in, a group of 5 was walking in, so there was a bit of a wait. I used this time to ask the piercer on duty about my tongue, seeing if it was possible to pierce it, but I got a negative answer, so I figured it was impossible. I went to get something to eat, and when I came back, the guy behind the counter told me it would only be another 20 minutes. I handed the guy my artwork, but when he tried to make a copy, it was too dark to be seen, so he ended up drawing it freehand. He was not an artist, but the drawing was mostly to get the size right, try to make the stencil while the artist was working on his customer. When Josh finished up with his other customer, he took a look at the artwork, took a minute to "get acquainted with the art" and we were ready.
I was a nervous mess. I had never even thought about getting a tattoo before this, actually didn't like the idea, but here I am getting one, no matter how simple it was. By the time the needle hit my skin, I was freaking out. Josh gave me a little poke to show me what it was like, and I realized it wasn't that bad. Most of the time I spent in the chair that day went by in a blur, but I can still feel the slight sting of the needle, reminding me of a sunburn. I was concerned when I heard the machine "bog down" but he reassured me that was preferable to a constant buzz. I was still more then a little leery of the variable speeds the sounds of tattoo machine made. I remember asking about some pictures of a suspension though. Honestly, I think that's all I can remember, other then Josh made the experience fairly calming, considering I was nearly shaking when I fist got into the chair.
So we went on, and the tattoo turned out pretty good. As I look at the tat now, I can see a couple of mistakes, but the meaning of the tattoo still comes through. and there isn't a day that goes by that I am not glad I got my first tattoo.
My simple runespell tattoo turned out just as well as the artwork, which is to say just simple lines. In the end, I realized the revenge angle was wrong, but I gained an appreciation for ink, and later piercings, that so many people know so well. I also realized that me getting a tattoo didn't affect my ex at all, she went on with her life. Though I did get some sort of closure for myself, and maybe that was what the tattoo was about all along.
Although my first tattoo was done for the wrong reason, with no knowledge, no research, and no rapport that I now need between myself and an artist, it was still a good experience. It's not something that I would recommend, and it's not something I would likely do again if I could avoid it. Just knowing that I didn't know what was going on kinda scares me now that I think back on it, but I had several recommendations, and at the very least respected the opinion of my old friend. Josh initiated me in the way I needed, and everything in the shop was professional and left me in the right mindset to continue my journey into body mods. It's been a long time, and I don't even know if Josh is still working at that shop, now called "Stiletto Haus" but I would still go back if the chance presented itself. Now I'm up to four tattoos, with at least ten more planned, and as soon as the cash starts rolling in, my skin will quickly fill up and I'll love every minute of it.