Love Body Art

Some People, Like Beckham, Can’t Stop At Just One

People can become addicted to almost anything, drugs, sex, and gambling are the norm, but then there’s also addictions to video games, tanning, and cosmetic surgery.  Many of my friends who have tattoos didn’t stop at just one, so it doesn’t surprise me that people get addicted to body art too.  However, I’ve never been addicted to anything so it makes me wonder why people get addicted to something that so many people say is “painful”.  Well, an article on OneIndia.com explores this topic and interviews many tattoo enthusiasts to get their opinions.  As one addict says, “I don’t know what is great about tattoos, but more than anything I get a kick out of it. I love the way it pains… the way it punctures my skin finally leaving the ink with a stain, some thing that will remain with me for the rest of my life.”  Okay, so I guess some people like pain.  Then there’s a woman who loves the idea of having something permanent on her skin that she can keep forever.  I get that.  As the article explains, what people become addicted to is the exhilarating feeling they get when endorphins are released, which are the body’s natural pain relievers.  Interesting!  Check out the entire article here.

Technorati Tags: body art, chopper-tattoos, david beckham tattoos, female body art, tattoo addiction, vancouver tattoo

Body Art Information May Save Lives

When I think about why people get tattoos, I don’t often associate it with safety precautions. Well, according to an article I just read at PRNewswire.com, a new trend is emerging that sees people getting tattoos of their medical conditions. The obvious reason for this is so that in the case of an emergency where the patient cannot speak, the tattoo will provide information. For example, if a diabetic becomes incapacitated due to a hypoglycemic coma. This makes me wonder WHERE the medical tattoo should be placed. I would think it needs to be visible despite what clothing ones wearing since I can’t imagine a paramedic saying “I must remove this patient’s clothing and search for important medical information.” Not too likely. So should the tattoo be placed on the hands? Neck? Face? Wrists? And what will happen to medical bracelets? I wear one. Most of the time I don’t notice it until it occasionally gets caught in the thread of my shirt. Well, maybe I should consider this type of body art for myself. Then again, I just don’t think “Allergic to Penicillin” looks too cool. Best to stick with my bracelet. Check out the entire article here.

Technorati Tags: body art, body ink, chopper-tattoos, medical bracelets, medical tattoos, vancouver tattoos

 Toronto Man Gets First Eyeball Tattoo

Many of you already know about the world’s first eyeball tattoo that was done last year. For those of you who don’t, this is not a joke. When I saw pictures of the guy, “Mr. Pauly Unstoppable” as he’s called, I could hardly believe it myself. He had the entire whites of his eyes turned blue. That’s crazy! I mean, first of all, you’re messing with your eye site. Second of all, what about the pain? Third, what happens if you change your mind? Forth, it’s kinda hard to hide. Should I go on? The procedure took place at a Canadian body modification convention and required over 40 ink injections. In the article I found on TheJambar.com, a lot of people said they were against the idea of eye ink, and even   Mr. Unstoppable himself warned “Now that this experiment has been started, please wait for us to either heal or go blind before trying it.” Sounds like pretty sane advice from a wacky guy. But I guess somebody had to be the first. Check out the entire article here.

Technorati Tags: body art, body ink, chopper-tattoos, eye ink, eyeball tattoo, female body art, vancouver tattoos

 Lohan Gets Free Ink 4 Life Following Break-Up

Does anybody feel sorry for Lindsay Lohan after her break-up with Dj Samantha Ronson? Well, apparently her tattoo artist does. Jason Sanchez, owner of the Big Apple salon that Lindsay frequents, has offered her a lifetime of free body art. According to an article I read on OneIndia, Sanchez empathizes with the rehab wild child and wanted to give her something to take the pain away…by inflicting pain…how ironic is that? He says that Lindsay was treated unfairly after giving two years of her life to Samantha. I think he’s referring to media reports over a harsh break-up that included Lindsay being banned from a recent party that her lady love was hosting for her fashion designer sister. Security blocked Lindsay from entering…or crashing the event. Well, I say there’s two sides to every story, and while I don’t really like Lindsay, I don’t wish her any heartbreak either. However, I get a feeling that she’ll bounce back really quickly and we can all get over our feelings of pity. Poor troubled little rich girl.

Technorati Tags: body art, body ink, chopper-tattoos, heart tattoos, Lindsay Lohan, matching tattoos, Samantha Ronson, tattoos

Festival Attracts Huge Range of Body Art Fans

I’ve been reading a lot lately about how the profile of a typical body art fan is changing. An article about this past weekend’s Edmonton Tattoo and Arts Ink Festival was no different. The event drew crowds ranging from all-aged family members, to professionals, to stereotypical ink lovers. The article describes these suit-wearing suburbanites as a “growing subculture of under-wraps rebels”. In fact, I found it particularly interesting that the tattoo artist in the piece said that 70 per cent of his clientele is “working women and others shattering stereotypes”. Very cool! It’s nice to know that people can increasingly be free to express themselves through body art without having to face as many prejudices in society. I do wonder though, if tattoos become more mainstream, will their appeal begin to decrease? Hmm, something to think about…Check out the entire article here.

Technorati Tags: body art, body ink, chopper-tattoos, edmonton tattoo festival, tattoos, vancouver tattoos

Angelina’s Dragon for Billy Bob Was Later Lasered Off

I’m going to assume that most people think it’s a bad idea when celebrities get a tattoo of their latest love.  Whether it’s body art of their name or matching tattoos, I think any reminder of that person might be regretted later…like in 2 weeks or so.  If I’m right, and most of you out there cringe when you see this happening, then how come celebrities are so confident that the love of their life TODAY, is going to be in their lives forever?  The odds are against them, especially in Hollywood…don’t they know that yet?  Well, apparently not since it’s still being done, with the latest being Chris Brown and Rihanna…are they still together?  And then there’s Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson, who both have a small heart on their right hands…they just broke up, by the way.  I found a great article on Nydailynews.com that talks about this, and says the reason behind it is love.  According to a therapist, being in love gives you the same feeling as being addicted to drugs.  So that’s it!  These people were high when they got inked!  It’s starting to make sense now…Check out the entire article here.

Technorati Tags: angelina jolie, body art, body ink, celebrity tattoos, chopper-tattoos, chris brown, female body art, ink designs, Lindsay Lohan, Rihanna, Samantha Ronson, vancouver tattoos

Foreign Designs Appeal to Chinese Youth

Whenever I see someone with a tattoo in Mandarin characters I think it looks cool…and I secretly hope that whatever the person THINKS it says, is really what it says.  Many stars like Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears and Angelina Jolie have them, as well as numerous U.S. basketball players, and I can understand why.  The foreign characters look exotic and mysterious.  So I was very interested to learn that the trend for foreign tattoos also exists in China, according to an article I just read on Mcclatchydc.com.  It seems the younger people in China like designs from Europe and America, while people over 30 prefer traditional oriental symbols like dragons and tigers.  The article explains that education also influences body art choices, for example a person with a better education might choose a Western image.   Although tattoos have been around in China for nearly a millennium, they are still seen as taboo under the strict Communist Party rule.  However, an underground and unregulated tattoo culture is arising in “back alleys and in private apartments” of Beijing.  And I was especially surprised to learn that 60 per cent of one parlor’s clients are women!  It’s a cool article; click here to read it.

Technorati Tags: body art, body ink, chopper-tattoos, female body art, ink designs, vancouver tattoos

Bad Economic Times Hasn’t Stopped People From Getting Inked

It seems that the hot topic for discussion these days is the terrible economy.  It’s down right depressing!  So I was happy to hear that even though many businesses are hurting right now, the tattoo industry isn’t one of them.  I found a great article that features a tattoo parlor in Idaho that is thriving.  In fact, the owner Christian Buckingham is booked for most of April.  Buckingham thinks he knows why business is going so well.  He says “Tattoos make people feel better about themselves.  They make them feel more in control of their lives.  For the people that come in here on a regular basis, everything about tattooing is positive.”  It’s so positive that he says clients travel all the way from California and Missouri just to see him.  I can totally understand why people are shelling out cash for body art right now…it’s a lasting investment and something you can keep forever.  And more importantly, it lifts your spirits.  The more I think about it, the more it sounds like a good deal to me!  And honestly, aren’t we all looking for good deals nowadays?  To check out the entire article click here.

Technorati Tags: body art, chopper-tattoos, female body art, ink designs, vancouver tattoos

Sutherland Says Tattoos Are Like His Disease

I am a huge fan of the show 24.  Kiefer Sutherland’s character Jack Bauer is the ultimate anti-hero.  I mean, he’s constantly breaking the rules and most of the time he’s on the run from both the bad guys and his own fellow government workers.  He’s such a good bad-ass, if that makes any sense?  So I was very interested to find an article about Sutherland and all his tattoos, especially since I’ve seen Jack Bauer shirtless and never noticed any body art.  Well, it turns out that Sutherland has to get his numerous tattoos covered up for the show.  It’s strange that in the interview Sutherland never reveals how many tattoos he actually has, except to say that he has lots.  He got his first one when he was 16 and ever since then he’s marked important life events with body art.  While at times he regrets his tattoos, most of the time he appreciates how they have become like a road map of his life.  It’s a cool article from News24.com that you can check out here.

Technorati Tags: body art, chopper-tattoos, female body art, ink designs, vancouver tattoos

These Babes Have Crashed The Boys Club

For the longest time I thought of the tattoo industry as being male dominated.  I mean, I had a lot of girlfriends who had tattoos…some who had several tattoos, but I didn’t know any female tattoo artists.  Well, it looks like the industry is changing, and probably due to some huge female influences like Kat Von D from the television show L.A. Ink.  I found this article at MetroNews.ca about two women from Toronto who were inspired to start a female-run tattoo parlor and in June 2008, made that dream come true.  They opened a tattoo parlor called Sister Salvation which is completely run by women.  I find it especially interesting that most of their clientele are actually men!  Way to go boys, supporting the females in the tattoo industry!  Check out the entire article here!

Technorati Tags: body art, chopper-tattoos, female body art, ink designs, vancouver tattoos