My Tattoos......so far!

This is the first big tattoo I had done. It is on my right shoulder/arm. You can't see all of it in the photo since it wraps around a bit, however you can see most of it. This piece has has two artists work in it. (the lotus flower was my first tattoo and the rest of the design was done by a second artist named Sigrun Hornberger) So, this piece is often called a "add on" since a second artist added onto what someone else started. The small lotus flower was done when I turned 35 yrs old and I had it on my arm all by itself until late summer 2007 when I had the artist who is mentoring/apprenticing my son Zakk add onto it. I wanted an earthy design keeping with the oriental feel started with the lotus flower. You can not see the detail of the butterfly but it is just out of it's coccoon. That symbolizes my own new creation after I came to believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior. The lotus flower was done in the traditional colors representing motherhood/mothering. The flowers are cherry blossoms which are one of my very favorite and the leaves bring in the earthy feel. The colors used are traditional for the oriential feel/theme of the piece. The tattoo is a 1/4 sleeve. I love it and it is what you'd call a custom piece.








This is the second tattoo I had done. It is on my left shoulder/arm and was completed in January 2008. It is almost a 1/2 sleeve. (lets call it a 1/3 sleeve *lol*) You can't see 100% of the tattoo in this picture since it wraps around my arm more than is shown. The banner is my own handwriting and says "Only God May Judge Me" and this is a reminder to myself not to judge myself for my past and also a reminder to me to make darned sure I'm not judging others around me because it is not my place to do that. (it is God's alone) It is really cool to look down and see my own handwriting on my skin! The Chalice with the living water flowing out of it (and the flames) are symbolic of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and it is a vision that God gave me shortly after that experience in my own life. It is a brilliant, custom designed tattoo and was also done by the gal who is mentoring my son Zakk. It carries a huge amount of personal symbolism and is also very significant to me on a spiritual level. Sigrun Hornberger is the name of the artist and she is a great artist and I'm so glad she is the one who has taught my son the craft of tattooing. Her example and mentoring teamed up with Zakks amazing natural talent is providing the foundation for Zakk to be one of the best in the field. The work he is already producing is excellent and far beyond what a beginning artist usually does when just beginning the art of tattooing.

From this point forward, any work done on me will be done by Zakk. (my son) I have plans for my back but it will be done slowly. I'm taking a break from any major ink right now since it is kind of a pain keeping up on the aftercare and not being able to go swimming for 8 weeks afterwards and how painful the larger pieces are. (the red ink especially is nasty and heals slowly and I have a lot of that in my second tattoo) I have some really fun ideas and some very spiritual ideas that will eventually be inked on my skin. I think tattoos are beautiful. (well....some are spooky, but I like what I have!!) When they are done by a real artist, they are truly a living work of art and I feel that mine are true art.