Comments on: Skin Art, a Brief History

By: Elizabeth Lane

Elizabeth Lane — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:21:11 +0000

What a fascinating life you must have had, Tianca. Thanks for your very unique insights.

By: Tianca

Tianca — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:09:19 +0000

I lived in the 1830′s to 1850′s timeframe in Northern Colorado, and what I remember of tattoos or body paint was mainly on indians, or men who wanted you to think they were indians. And I wouldn’t relate them to body art, really. They were crude and badly done, causing deep scarring. Some died from the process, even. FEW were the real artists that we see now. It wasn’t until much later that this became an art here.

But that was just what I saw myself. I did get around in the western stated, I traveled a lot. As a man. As a woman, dressed as a man, seeing naked men was rather common. I did see them bathing, but never joined them. So seeing their skin was normal. I saw more scars than tattoos. Bullet wounds, knife wounds. I did my share of sewing men up after battles.

Indians were more into painting themselves, from what I could see. Some did tattoos, but they were simple. Not detailed as they are now. Symbols of battles won. Symbols to give them good luck. That sort of thing.

There was one man, who had a Maori tattoo on his legs and hips, but he was the exception to the rule, a sailor. He showed it to me, and it was as close to art as I’d ever seen. Black. No color. He said at one time, the man went too deep and nearly killed him. He was healed up when I saw it.

Boy, was he muscular!!! That’s what I remember. BIG man. The kind you don’t want to meet in a fight. All muscle!!! He was impressive.

Tianca

By: Brenda Mazur

Brenda Mazur — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:19:24 +0000

I will probably never have one I am afraid of the pain, not sure why because I handle pain really good all the surgeries I have had and very little pain meds. I would love to have Mickey mouse on my ankle but I don’t think it will ever happen hubby said if GOD wanted us to have them we would have been born with them he even feels that way about piercings not sure I agree and if I really wanted it I would get it but I think in 20 years will I want to look at that???
My oldest daughter has a few a little more then a few but not down her arms but her ankles she has a mickey on one side for me and the other she has her god son , then another ankle she has an Eagle for my dad he passed away a couple years ago and on the other side she has a breast cancer ribbon for my Mom. I picked out her first one on her lower back I was afraid if I didn’t let her get it and pick it out she would end up with a huge one and several of them she seems to always ask before she gets one even now she has her own kids. I think that bothers her thinking what will the kids think about it all. Something to think about.

By: Elizabeth Lane

Elizabeth Lane — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 03:09:51 +0000

Wise words, Pat. I wouldn’t want a huge tattoo either, but I’ve seen a lot of them. All that pain. All that money. “To each his/her own” says it all.

Laughing at your sinking ships comment, Patricia. One thing my daughter enjoys doing is fixing people’s bad tattoos. She makes them into something totally different. Nice that you’re so accepting with your son’s tattoos. Thanks both of you for commenting.

By: Patricia Barraclough

Patricia Barraclough — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:57:19 +0000

Your daughter does lovely work. My son has 3 tattoos, one on his calf and one on each bicep. They are celtic and tribal. There are some very nice tattoos out there. There are also some pretty awful ones. The work on them is excellent, but the subject is less than attractive. My son got his first tattoo to irritate me and it didn’t work. It was tasteful and that was all I was concerned about (except he really couldn’t afford it). Don’t think I would get one. At my age, there really isn’t any point. The one thing most people should consider before getting one is, in 20 years will I want this on my body. Also, some men who had ships tattooed on their chests years ago, their ships have started to sink.