P.Ink App

Since I first heard of charity P.Ink last year, I didn't think I could respect them more for what they do - until today.

P.Ink (Personal Ink) is a charity that aims to help breast cancer patients 'heal' from their experience in an unconventional way. They spread awareness of something that not many women have considered when they think about reconstruction from mastectomies, etc: Tattooing.

Tattooing Molly Ortwein - where it all started.

Since 2012, P.Ink have been helping women across the US (and now worldwide) gain back the confidence they lost, and how successful they've been indeed! They are on Pinterest, where they frequently upload pictures of designs to inspire women along with a number of stories of women who have taken the leap of faith to get tattooed to cover their scars.

P.Ink have just lauched a new app on iTunes for Apple users (there is one in the process of being made for Android). The point of this is to upload a picture of yourself and apply tattoo designs to your body to see what they'd look like, what would suit you, so on, so forth.

I have lost someone very dear to me with breast cancer, and I've also had a couple of other people cured from it, hence I have a lot of sympathy with this charity. The pain cancer causes the people close to the patient is unbearable, so I can't imagine what it must be like for the sufferers... For someone like me, seeing this 'cure' is one of the best things imaginable, just to get some self-confidence back. This new app will definitely make it easier to understand your body, what will suit your physique, and what will suit your personality.

The idea of tattoos isn't for everyone, and that's absolutely fine! However, within this campaign, I feel that tattoos are being seen in a new light; one that allows people to explore true meaning, especially behind these ladies' gorgeous artwork. The beauty of the campaign is that women can make their ink as personal as they want - if they want it to represent the journey they've been on with light at the end, or if they just want it to be a fresh start entirely, they can do that.

The beautiful finished product. And happiness.

I'm not being biased with my judgement on the idea of tattoos, I'm genuinely excited to see something different in the cruel world of cancer. I can reflect on my own (different) experiences that tattoos can cure in a way that nothing else can - they hold not only hope, but also courage to move forward. So many of my dark times are reflected in the optimism of my ink, and I love my tattoos so much because of it. They are a reminder that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. I'm excited to see how well the app does, purely because I believe it'll give women the confidence to get inked if they can see what they look like with it!

Finally, as a shout out: P.Ink, keep up the incredible work. To know new options will bring hope to those who need help in gaining their confidence back, and this app will give them the boost they need for getting inked. I, for one, support you 110%!

Follow their progress on http://p-ink.org/

Aurora Tattoo, Lancaster

If there is one hidden gem in the tattoo world that I wish was more recognized, it has to be Emma Kierzek of Aurora Tattoo, Lancaster UK.

Specialty being black and shade realism, her work actually made me stop and stare in wonder. It's people with this talent that make the tattoo world so fascinating! Emma has been tattooing for over fifteen years and has won a number of awards for various pieces, such as best black and grey at Tattoo Royal Cheltenham in 2013. Not only this, she has featured in magazines and books multiple times, and has worked in America.

There really is something wrong if you look at Emma Kierzek's work and feel nothing towards it. She doesn't work alone, of course. She is accompanied with Charlotte Ross, Scottish tattooist with a truly unique watercolour style, Vic Peters, who masters the art of old-school tattoos beautifully, and James Graham, the newest addition to the Aurora family. Check out their website for all of their work - http://www.auroratattoostudio.co.uk/

Glen Preece

Falling in love with tattoos has made me more adventurous with looking around artists, and this was one discovery I will never regret finding.

Glen Preece is a realism-cross-watercolour artist with a twist. His skulls, in particular, are a specialty, something he's always been interested in. Focussing mainly on black and shade, he quickly adapted to the lifestyle of tattooing from August 2012. For years he has been trying to find his passion, and as soon as he started painting, he knew exactly what he was going to do.

Glen Preece is based in JQT-1, Birmingham, somewhere I am definitely going in the future! Check out the rest of his work on https://www.facebook.com/pages/Glen-Preece-Fine-Art/250095748406140?sk=timeline

Discrimination - Is it right?

We've all heard of people getting discriminated against in some way or another. This is an argument that has been going on for an eternity, and everyone knows it. This is why I was avoiding posting about it and continuing the same rant once again. However, this month's issue of Skin Deep made me think a lot, and they came up with a very, very good point: Employers are not allowed to discriminate someone where their 'condition' is out of their control.

Vic Peters, Aurora Tattoo, Lancaster

I absolutely 100% agree that if someone is unfortunately in a wheelchair, you can't turn them away, the same way you couldn't turn someone away with different coloured skin. However, by reading it this way you could employ someone who didn't have a choice when it came to modifying their appearance. In other words, you could argue that if someone had their eyebrow pierced against their will, they could get the job instead of someone who did it on their own accord.

So, is this right? I don't think so, but hey, I'm biased towards tattoo acceptance in the workplace. (Of course I am, I have four.) Sure, I can understand when someone comes in covered with ink from head to toe, metal all over their face, claiming they're a rocket scientist who can pretty much do anything. Reality is, they can do jack-shit.

However, when a perfectly good candidate for the job comes in with a hand tattoo which is, admittedly, uneasy to hide, where is the good in declining them for the person who isn't as qualified just because of their art? Sorry, that I don't get.

This discrimination has gone on for years, and will continue to do so. There was a time when I was thinking of doing a performance degree in Conservatoire on my violin. However, the impact of biased opinions in the music industry is huge, the main one being looks. My appearance would have killed my opportunities of getting any further than my audition. Realistically, the only people who can be covered with tattoos and get away with it (well, most of the time) are rock stars and tattooists themselves. That's the cold, hard truth of the world.

Andy Groves, Hidden Jewel Tattoo, Carmarthen

When getting a tattoo, it's sad to think that this is all stuff we have to keep in mind. I want sleeves oh-so badly, but I know that, in the real world, that can never happen, or won't be able to happen for the foreseeable future. But hey, let's keep praying, and being the best at what we want. Surely, they can't decline us then, right?

Age - Does it Matter?

A point raised a thousand times in such a short amount of time in my life - 'You may like it now, but will you in forty years time?'

In other words, people think that I'm gonna regret my decisions because I'm too young to make these ones yet. Well, why else would you be able to get tattooed when you're eighteen? That's what I've never understood.

This got me thinking. When is a good age? Twenty, forty, sixty? When does that element of regret diminish in someone's mind? If you ask me, if you don't regret it within a few months, then chances are that regret will never come. (That's actually been psychologically proven, too!) As long as you're sure, you should be able to have a tattoo at any age. You never know, in a few years you may not be able to have it for some unknown reason, so why wait?

I've spend £160 so far (being away from my parents, it would have been much, much more) on my three tattoos, soon to be four. I've been 18 for less than a year, yet I love my ink more than anything! I get so excited when someone comments, even if it's negative. That reputation thing people keep talking about within the points about regret is absolute bullshit, and I can prove that. I love every comment I get, and when they're negative, I talk the person down with my reasoning. Some people have even converted their thoughts!

I guess the age thing is a generation movement at the end of the day. All these people who are subjective with their thinking about young people getting tattooed have probably been brought up that way, whereas we've grown up around a building tattoo acceptance. Moreover, I really do think it's easier when you're young. Sorry world, we win this battle.

Carl Löfqvist

I have believed for a very long time if you want a tattoo, you must put in your research. You must take the time to shop around and, although this could somewhat be heartbreaking, be prepared to hand the money over.

To this last point, I have known stingy people with tattoos. Needless to say, they've been disappointed. To be passionate about a tattoo means forking out a fee. After all, a cheap tattoo isn't good, and a good tattoo isn't cheap.

The reason I say all this to introduce Carl Löfqvist is simple - I found this absolutely incredible Alice in Wonderland sleeve that I'm desperate to share, and have been wanting to know the creator of this masterpiece for months. Tonight, I spent time searching and finally found him!

Mr Löfqvist is based in Wicked Tattoo, Sweden. His work is phenomenal, so to have something by the likes of this done, the serious tattoo collector would travel out to get a tattoo done by him. I, for one (if I had the money), wouldn't think twice. To have something done in this style you would have to travel, because everyone's style, no matter how similar, is unique. After all, isn't a tattoo for life?

So here it is, Carl Löfqvist's Alice in Wonderland sleeve. The rest of his work is DEFINITELY worth checking out on:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carl-L%C3%B6fqvist-Wicked-Tattoo-Sweden/249079708437873

True Meaning

I would like to firstly explain the purpose of me creating this blog - I have had many, many comments from people around me for what may seem like an 'unhealthy obsession', my parents in particular. They constantly say how upset they are about my ink (and piercings), and how they wish I wouldn't do this to myself. They claim they just don't want me to regret it, but you can tell by the way they say it that that's, well, bullshit.

I apologised to my mum the other day for being me. I've tried to get her used to who I am, but with no such luck. I don't think she's ever going to accept it, so I'm just going to have to keep hurting her. That may sound harsh, but it doesn't mean I don't feel guilty about it - I've learned, these last few months especially, to live life as I want, and this is how I wish to do so.

I've tried to explain to them that their subjective viewpoint of tattooing is unreasonable, that not everyone just wants a skull on their neck to say 'Look, here, I have a tattoo,' or 'Hey, I got bored' (not that there's anything wrong with that). Some people (like me) have them to symbolise something deep and meaningful to them. I have three (soon to be four), and they are all more than simple images. They provide me strength when times get tough, they are permanent reminders that things can be okay in the end, they represent the good and bad times in my life, and I will take their beauty to my grave. I love them more than anything, and I will never regret them, when I'm twenty or forty.

None of this sunk in, of course.

Another point I tried raising was that it's a form of artwork. Art has always been a part of my life, and a part of my life it will remain. Tattooing is a special type of artwork that allows for people to wear their favourite form permanently. I don't see it in a negative light, I see it as a gift to be able to showcase something meaningful within a picture. It's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

This brings me back to my main point - this is a blog for those tattoo lovers who struggle like me. For those people who adore the art of tattooing for any/all of its values, be it for the art, meaning or simply because it's awesome, this is dedicated for you. Enjoy!

Alicia x