2008 Woodie Awards
Why not to get Chinese characters, and other tattoo tips
Karon Liu
Issue date: 3/27/07 Section: Focus
The Eyeopener (Ryerson University)
TORONTO (CUP) - With beauty comes pain. More specifically, four handmade needles vibrating at 140 times per second, depositing ink a millimetre into the skin.
When my friends see my half-sleeve, they're fascinated by the tattooing process, the reasons behind the design, the pain factor and how much it cost.
Others look at me as if I decapitated a clown - amused but nevertheless horrified. Either way, I secretly enjoy the gasps and shock value that splashes of non-soluble ink can bring. I also enjoy immersing myself in the inner sanctum of inked individuals whenever I go to Way Cool Tattoos on Queen Street West in Toronto.
Amanda at Way Cool has worked on my half-sleeve twice since December. It's a pale, grey-blue stained-glass design with a twisted iron border that goes from my left shoulder blade down to the elbow, inspired by the opulence of art deco.
I walk into the shop a third time and Amanda greets me in all her monochromatic glory: Black tank top, black pants and black lace-up combat boots. As I close the door behind me, a breeze gently brushes back her long black hair to reveal two complementary portraits on her shoulders and a pirate-themed full-sleeve outlined on her left arm.
With vibrant blue rubber gloves, a heavy green ink-splattered rubber apron and the tattoo gun in her right hand, Amanda begins filling in the half-done, blue stained glass.
The bulk of the pain came during the first session, during the outlining process. Since the outline is traced from a stencil, it has to be done all at once - all four hours. Don't let the buzzing sound fool you, it doesn't feel like a little prick going up and down your skin. Rather, think of a thick sewing needle scratching the hell out of you.
This time she does shading and colour, which still hurts, especially around the inner arm, elbow and shoulder blades where the flesh is thin. But it's less painful than the first time.
Blame my inquisitive journalistic nature, but I love asking people in the service sector what they think of clients and, in this case, which designs they absolutely love (or hate) to do.
TORONTO (CUP) - With beauty comes pain. More specifically, four handmade needles vibrating at 140 times per second, depositing ink a millimetre into the skin.
When my friends see my half-sleeve, they're fascinated by the tattooing process, the reasons behind the design, the pain factor and how much it cost.
Others look at me as if I decapitated a clown - amused but nevertheless horrified. Either way, I secretly enjoy the gasps and shock value that splashes of non-soluble ink can bring. I also enjoy immersing myself in the inner sanctum of inked individuals whenever I go to Way Cool Tattoos on Queen Street West in Toronto.
Amanda at Way Cool has worked on my half-sleeve twice since December. It's a pale, grey-blue stained-glass design with a twisted iron border that goes from my left shoulder blade down to the elbow, inspired by the opulence of art deco.
I walk into the shop a third time and Amanda greets me in all her monochromatic glory: Black tank top, black pants and black lace-up combat boots. As I close the door behind me, a breeze gently brushes back her long black hair to reveal two complementary portraits on her shoulders and a pirate-themed full-sleeve outlined on her left arm.
With vibrant blue rubber gloves, a heavy green ink-splattered rubber apron and the tattoo gun in her right hand, Amanda begins filling in the half-done, blue stained glass.
The bulk of the pain came during the first session, during the outlining process. Since the outline is traced from a stencil, it has to be done all at once - all four hours. Don't let the buzzing sound fool you, it doesn't feel like a little prick going up and down your skin. Rather, think of a thick sewing needle scratching the hell out of you.
This time she does shading and colour, which still hurts, especially around the inner arm, elbow and shoulder blades where the flesh is thin. But it's less painful than the first time.
Blame my inquisitive journalistic nature, but I love asking people in the service sector what they think of clients and, in this case, which designs they absolutely love (or hate) to do.
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