Blue Ringed Octopus

 

Original work. I traced the outline of my hand (above) and then drew in the octopus to fit. Then the transfer could be laid in segments where appropriate. It was a tricky tattoo due to my very stretchy mobile skin. Full marks to my tattoo artist, Justin.

Transfer and inking in progress. And, yes, it was the most
painful of any of the tattoos as the bones were hammered
with the inking needles. Felt and sounded like I was being chisled.
It also bled the most. But I wont post that.

An hour after being inked.

Realising that tattooing right along the fingers and over joints can cause the tatts to bleed out like the scorpion's tail end due to excessive movement I planned ahead and decided to keep my hand immobilised until the swelling went down. And my wrist and fingers bent so that when the tatt dried and scabbed it would not split the tissue. I scar easily even with small scabs due to my connective tissue disorder. Also applied sorbolene lotion. Wrapped

the hand at night to keep the lotion from coming off and in the bent position.

And, boy, did my hand swell up. In order to keep any infection that might arise at bay I submerged my hand in iced water for some minutes three times a day. And also in very hot water being careful not to scald myself. The knuckle bones also undergo damage along with the skin so it is a very traumatising area for a tattoo and not to be undertaken lightly.

A year along and I am happy with the minimal running and/or fading of the ink

over the knuckle areas and no running at the wrist bend. I am sure the immobilising helped as did the cold and hot bathing. I'll get some different shades of blue felt pens some day and post another picture of it filled with colour.



Scorpion

I've always loved scorpions and desired a live one but decided against keeping

one in captivity. One tattooed meant I could have one that would never die and

accompany me everywhere. Just like my dogs' paws and memories such as the

Majestic Milkwood.

Original penciled animated scorpion design for left hand and thumb.

 

 

Transfer applied. All ready.

 

  Whip

 

 that

 tail

 

 

 

 

 

Scorpion a year on.

 



Skeleton Dragon

This skeleton dragon I found on the internet as a sketch by an artist called Joao. I just had to convert it to a tattoo. Then I found the little skeleton man and thought the two would go well together. The tattoo is a work in progress. This is the outline to be shaded later. I don't know the artist of the skeleton man, yet.

Phoenix, Chinese dragon, skeleton man and skeleton dragon.

MAJESTIC MILKWOOD TREE

Let me introduce everyone to a very special milkwood tree (Alstonia spp.) whose image was tattooed on my right upper arm on the 5th of January of this year. Her name was/is 'Majestic'.

During Cyclone Tracy of 1974 that raised Darwin on Christmas Day, my Mum, Father and five others huddled together in a caravan under her sprawling canopy. Growing immediately in front of the caravan she acted as a wind break that caught any flying debris from ripping into its front. We were in our neighbour's caravan and the only one secured down by cyclone bolts. Our caravan was later lifted by Tracy and tossed some meters from its site and left as a triangular tube.

Throught the hours of that great wind, Majestic could be seen swaying over the roof's vent that had been opened somewhat by the forceful winds. She lite up with the lightenng flashes that reflected off her delicate rain drenched leaves and rain sparkled like little water falls down the deep cravices of her corked bark. I was positive if she didn't fall and crush us that the winds were surely going to open the roof like a sardine tin and suck us into the darkness of that night.

There was a brief silence as the eye of the cyclone passed over. Then again the milkwood held her ground as the returning wind hit her from the other direction. Her deep root system and rubbery branches withstood the saturation. When Tracy had left, Majestic - along with one other large but slightly smaller milkwood, Magdalene, some distance away in Millner Primary School's oval - was about the only tree left standing in that area. Others were just small saplings of trees of mostly other species stripped of leaves and sporting snapped branches and debris and perhaps a couple of large shattered wattles. But Majestic showed no signs of damage.

We were sent to Adelaide as refugees and on returning with a new caravan we took posession of the site where we had spent that terrifying night under the mighty milkwood tree now confident that she would help protect us again if visited by another Tracy. We wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Though I was only five at the time I understood what role she'd played in us all living. I approached her with my Mum and gave Majestic a hug while whispering many thanks. To this day memories are vivid of that night, our return and the fresh smell and feel of Majestic as though it were only yesterday.

In 1981 Mum - now single - my baby sister and I moved into a house sadly. She came home one day with the news that Majestic who would have been well over one hundred years old had been cut down. We were devestated. Cut down to make room for units that were never built where she once stood. Such a waste. I cried with rage and swore that one day her story would be told which I have done in a book yet to be published.

Fortunately, I've two old photographs of Majestic that Mum captured during 1975. So it's from these images the tattoo's taken. And as for Magdalene - who now has a girth of 3.26 meters in circumference - she still stands safe in the grounds of Millner Primary School. Just meters away from a fence line that saved her from a similar death to Magestic's due to suburban encroachment that replaced bushland burying precious life under the cold concrete of houses and driveways.

 

A bit of bruising.

 

 

Scetch for the transfer. My own font.

 

Majestic 1975. And to the right, Magdalene, today, 2013. I've rested a crutch at Magdalene's base to indecate her size.