Day 85 - My Tattoo Journey

Ever since I start seeing 'LA Ink' on Discovery Travel & Living, I have been intrigued by tattoos or body art, as it is called. The artistry of the team in creating even ten toughest designs on to the person's body have enthralled me. It got me thinking of getting a tattoo done myself. This was over 18 months back.

Now I am no muscular, heavy set, macho kind of a guy. I'm a regular next door neighbor guy who goes about his business daily and has his regular life. So I am not sure where this need for a tattoo came from. Maybe it's the classic case of mid-life crisis as I touch 40 and need to prove to myself that I am still young. The mind is still set in college days sometimes but the life shows otherwise with kids, job and other responsibilities.

The other aspect to consider was of course the pain. On TV it seems so simple and painless when the guys get their tattoo done but hey it is after all pins and needles piercing your skin, leaving a trail of blood and definitely pain. The question was how bad would the pain be and would I be able to take it? Then my sister got a tattoo done followed by a close friend. And I though if they can bear the pain, I am sure so can I. I started discussing the fact that I wanted to get a tattoo done openly with my wife. After all I had to consider if she was OK with it.

I started my research and thought process on what would I like to get done. Considering that it was going to be permanent and irremovable, it better be something that I wanted to do. It also better be something that I would be comfortable to show off. And so the two key considerations came in - what and where. These two are interconnected and finally determine what you do. You could do a simple tattoo at an always open part of your body like wrist or ankle to show off. You could do a tattoo that means something at a place where you would rarely show it. Or you could do a sexy sensual tattoo at a private place that only some people would get to see. The permutations and combinations are aplenty. But the two considerations still stand - what and where.

I decided that my first tattoo, if I ever got to do any more, would have to be God Ganesha. I wanted to do a God and Lord Ganesha is the best way to start anything new. So the search for various God Ganesha tattoo designs started. While at the same time the decision of 'where' was being taken between the upper right hand or the lower right hand - the determination being ghat the upper would be shown only when I would be topless while the lower right hand would show my tattoo even when I wore half sleeve shirts or T shirts.

Once the 'what' and 'where' decisions were coming together, the next big one was 'who'. Since it is permanent and involves pain and body, you need to ensure that the artist is experienced, clean and trustworthy. The thing to note is not to go by the looks of the artist but by the workshop. I asked around and also checked with my friend who had got it done in Bangalore.

By mid year all these were coming together. Another friend of mine - Sowmya - also mentioned that she wanted to get a tattoo done too and I planned that we would get it done together. Now the only question was when would I get enough courage to see this through. Things came to head early this month when Sowmya told me that her friend had already fixed an appointment for them to get the tattoo done together. It was now or never for me too!

Ganesh Chaturthi was upon us and I though what better day to get a Ganesha tattoo done if not on ghat day. And so I landed at Pradeep Menon's Dark Arts Studio in Frazer town on Saturday, 11th Sep at 3.30 to get the needful. Its a small place but well known with helpful staff. I had decided what I wanted to get done but saw some more designs. I still liked the one that I had chosen. They took some time to get the stencil done and I had to wait as there were other customers before me. A guy had got his name with stars on his right hand. It was bleeding and I hoped mine wouldn't as much. A young girl came in to get an angel done and she was happy that it didn't hurt too much. And then it was my turn.

I stepped on to the work area and hoped that I would be able to take the pain and not make a fool of myself, especially after the young girl had taken it all so well. Satish was the artist doing my tattoo - a beautiful combination of the ever-present Hindu symbol of OM with the God Ganesha in it on my upper right hand. It was for me, not to show off to people. As he took hold of my hand and the needle I braced myself. The time has come. He made the first line and asked me if I was ok and if he could proceed. I was a little surprised because it didn't hurt much at all. Just felt like someone has pricked my skin lightly. This was not that bad. I said OK and the journey began. Frankly it wasn't bad at all. It didn't jut as much as I thought it would. I was playing games on my cell, SMS-ing my wife but clearly not looking at him doing my tattoo. My head was turned away. I realized that it doesn't pain too much when they do the outline. A bit more when they shade and colour.

Two hours later it was done. I was a proud 'owner' of a tattoo that I loved and had joined the ranks of people with body art. I love my tattoo and may even go back for some more.

For all the first timers, remember a few golden rules:
WHAT: Know clearly what you want to get done. Do your research and decide what you want to do before you land up at the studio. Or at least have a clear idea.
WHERE: As important. Don't get your first tattoo on the bone. Hurts a lot. Get your first on a more fleshy part. And why you want it the. What is your motivation.
WHO: This is very important. Ask around. Do your research. Go to the studio. See the workstation. Be comfortable with what you see. Trust the artist.
WHEN: Only when you are mentally ready. Always do it when you think you want to do it. Not because someone else is doing it and they are forcing you to get one too.

Remember it's permanent so spare a little thought and then take the plunge. I did and I'm almost 40!