Charles Kassotis
In the past, body tattoos seemed to be reserved for primal
tribes out of the loop of civilization and sailors who voyaged
far from home in quest of adventure. Neither of those lifestyles
necessarily permeate today's culture, and yet thousands of
people from every walk of life are choosing to get tattoos of
one kind or another, and sometimes multiple variations to adorn
various parts of their exposed skin surface. Young and old, male
and female, and rich or poor can be seen proudly displaying
words, images, and designs on shoulders, backs, ankles, and even
the face as today's social climate fosters more tolerance of
this tradition that was perhaps once forbidden or frowned upon
in Western society.
Tattoos are made when the artist uses a sharp needle that has
been sterilized to poke tiny holes in the skin to create a
design of the customer's choice. Then dark ink is inserted in
each hole to link the holes and bring the design to living
color. These can be tiny rosebuds or huge dragons, depending on
the client's choice. Some people decorate a small area of skin,
while in others it may be difficult to find a square inch of
un-tattooed flesh.
Tattoos are one way of proclaiming individuality. In the past,
those who wore tattoos might have been considered renegades in
one way or another. But today you can find tattoos on
housewives, teenagers, teachers, and even clergy; it all depends
on an individual's background, taste, and purpose in choosing to
have a tattoo emblazoned on his or her body.
Those who create body art of this type could be fly-by-night
operators looking to make a fast buck on a fleeting sensation.
But there are those who take their work seriously, having
studied art over the ages or the human body to minute detail.
Their goal is to create a lasting artwork that bears the imprint
of their talent and expertise on the person receiving the
tattoo. These artists are careful to use clean instruments and
maintain a positive image in their studio. Some tattoo artists
are interested only in this artistic expression on the human
body, but others experiment with a variety of designs that
include body piercing, implantations, and variant jewelry to
accent the human-made artistry in a vivid array of hues.
If you are thinking about getting a tattoo, look for a reputable
parlor and someone who has received the license to perform this
work. Look for word-of-mouth recommendations as well, to see if
past customers would consider returning or recommend that others
try a particular establishment. You have just one body, and
tattoos last indefinitely, although they may need to be touched
up from time to time. Take your time, check the local artists,
and make a wise selection rather than rushing into something you
may later regret.
About the author:
If you still have questions about tattoos, visit the Totally
Tattooed website at
http://www.totallytattooed.com
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