You want to know about me? Seriously?
You can now find tattisfaction.co.uk on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest, there is an Instagram account called simply "Tattisfaction", I have no connection to this account.
What about me? I’m sure there are more useful and interesting bits of this site than a bit about me (Well I certainly hope so) but apparently it’s the done thing so I’m gonna do the thing.
I’m just an average guy, in an average job, with average ambitions with a greater than average passion for tattoos. Since my first experience with those “lick ’em and stick ’em” tattoos you got with bubble gum when I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated. In fact I used the throw the gum away and just….lick and stick. I remember the disappointment I used to feel when I smudged a pirate ship putting it on, I remember doing everything in my power to make sure that perfectly placed eagle lasted as long as it could. Even as a small kid I knew I wanted tattoos. I also knew (as you’ve no doubt read) that my dad wasn’t what you’d call a fan of the inkers art.
What about me? I’m sure there are more useful and interesting bits of this site than a bit about me (Well I certainly hope so) but apparently it’s the done thing so I’m gonna do the thing.
I’m just an average guy, in an average job, with average ambitions with a greater than average passion for tattoos. Since my first experience with those “lick ’em and stick ’em” tattoos you got with bubble gum when I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated. In fact I used the throw the gum away and just….lick and stick. I remember the disappointment I used to feel when I smudged a pirate ship putting it on, I remember doing everything in my power to make sure that perfectly placed eagle lasted as long as it could. Even as a small kid I knew I wanted tattoos. I also knew (as you’ve no doubt read) that my dad wasn’t what you’d call a fan of the inkers art.
I’d walk around as a kid gawping at skinheads and bikers, not because of a juvenile death wish, but these guys had tatts and I thought they were awesome. As I got older I’d be in the local newsagent reading tattoo magazines…well looking at the pictures. I can’t explain why, the need for tattoos, the desire to have works of art permanently embedded in my skin is just something that’s in me. It’s as much a part of me as blue eyes, big feet and a warped sense of humour…it’s just me.
A little older and some of my mates went into the army and came back with arms decorated with tigers, warriors and military insignia. The need grew, it gnawed at me. Of course I would have chosen grim reapers, skulls and other such macabre imagery at the time but the fear of getting it wrong, the fear of pain and especially fear of my dad stopped me.
Then I bought a book called “Tattoo: The Exotic Art of Skin Decoration” by Michelle Delio. This book is in many ways the inspiration for this website. It walks you through the process. It opened my eyes to many things I didn’t know, it helped me decide that pain wasn’t going to be what stopped me, it made me more confident that I could find what it was I wanted. In fact, I found my first tattoo in that very book. It took me eight years and two terminal illnesses (obviously not mine) to pluck up the courage to go against my dad.
A little older and some of my mates went into the army and came back with arms decorated with tigers, warriors and military insignia. The need grew, it gnawed at me. Of course I would have chosen grim reapers, skulls and other such macabre imagery at the time but the fear of getting it wrong, the fear of pain and especially fear of my dad stopped me.
Then I bought a book called “Tattoo: The Exotic Art of Skin Decoration” by Michelle Delio. This book is in many ways the inspiration for this website. It walks you through the process. It opened my eyes to many things I didn’t know, it helped me decide that pain wasn’t going to be what stopped me, it made me more confident that I could find what it was I wanted. In fact, I found my first tattoo in that very book. It took me eight years and two terminal illnesses (obviously not mine) to pluck up the courage to go against my dad.
Once I had the first one….I was hooked. The buzz (both from adrenaline and the tattoo machine) was awesome. I won’t say how much I’ve spent over the last 15 years but my tattoos cost me more than my car did haha. Mind you, my car isn’t exactly a prestige item, I got ink to buy damn it!!
My aim here is to help those who feel the passion, but don’t know where to start, by talking in simple human terms. The words I use here, are the words I’d use if we were having a beer in your local pub or bar or at the gym….well not the gym, if I’m talking to you about tattoos in a gym you can be fairly sure I’m lost. I also want to deter the people who want them for the wrong reasons, those who end up with regrets. Call me elitist if you like but to me tattoos are a big part of who I am, not a trend. My tattoos are not fashion statements. I dunno, maybe I just hate shit tattoos and the artists who do them.
Anyhoo…..That’s enough of me. Get yourself back to the good stuff.
My aim here is to help those who feel the passion, but don’t know where to start, by talking in simple human terms. The words I use here, are the words I’d use if we were having a beer in your local pub or bar or at the gym….well not the gym, if I’m talking to you about tattoos in a gym you can be fairly sure I’m lost. I also want to deter the people who want them for the wrong reasons, those who end up with regrets. Call me elitist if you like but to me tattoos are a big part of who I am, not a trend. My tattoos are not fashion statements. I dunno, maybe I just hate shit tattoos and the artists who do them.
Anyhoo…..That’s enough of me. Get yourself back to the good stuff.