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Published: 2005-12-06 21:32:06 +0000 UTC; Views: 35573; Favourites: 41; Downloads: 5000
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Description
*Tattoo done by Durb [link] *Click [link] to see the back
Click [link] to see the second view of the back
Click [link] to see the first session video
Alrighty. She's FINALLY done! After over 2½ years and over 100 hours of work... DONE! It's hard to believe. But it is finally done. I'd grown so used to my monthly trips to the shop. I'd seen a lot go down in those 2½ years. I imagine some people might be curious so I shall explain the significance of this tattoo....
So originally it started out as me knowing I wanted a tattoo, and being pretty sure I wanted it on my back, but then not knowing what I wanted… So I started thinking… What would be something I’d want on me forever… I came up with a couple ideas. Mostly geometric type things. But they didn’t strike a chord or anything. I don’t exactly remember how I came up with it, but eventually I thought of a “tree” and it just clicked. At the time the reasoning was just because I really liked trees mostly. My name means tree. I loved climbing trees. And I just like nature in general really. It was something that I have always liked. And so that kind of had a couple months to sink in.
After a couple months I still liked the idea of a tree and started doing some sketches… This is when I really got serious about it. I happened to be reading a book at the time, and this is where the true and current meaning of the tree really comes in to play. The book was "Jungian Archetypes" by Robin Robertson, which is a really great book, by the way. Anyways, in the book it talks about a 14th century alchemical illustration in which a man is shot in the side with an arrow and a tree grows from his genital region…. The arrow represents some sort of pain or trauma. The man is forced turn on himself, acknowledging this arrow, and through that he is then able to access his anima (A Jungian concept) which is represented by the tree. The anima is the generally repressed feminine characteristics in a male (while the animus is the generally repressed masculine characteristics in a female). So for instance, sensitivity, creativity, passion. These sorts of things. So to make a long story short, essentially, this tattoo is a memorial for my mom and the acknowledgment of who I am as an artist, and what I’ve gone through to get to where I am.
I have a vivid memory of my dad explaining how my mom is buried under a tree, and how they specifically picked that spot so it could give her shade in the summers and provide shelter from the snow and rain...
I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out...
* I have given permission to *Full-Back-Tat to post this tattoo in their club. They've got some nice work in there. Check it out...
Related content
Comments: 45
SerenityHazelSecrets [2012-03-20 18:50:15 +0000 UTC]
It is beautiful. I love it (:
I like how the roots come around onto your hips, and on your shoulders.
It's amazing.
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razzell2 [2009-12-07 01:29:02 +0000 UTC]
very cool, come all the way over your shoulders.
sweet work, bro
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Jennikatt [2009-06-02 01:31:51 +0000 UTC]
When I first saw the tattoo.. I thought ur crazy.. but then there was all this text under it.. and i was touched.. as a mother.. an artist.. and a fan of Jungian!!
excellent!! i luv it!!
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Animangel [2008-09-05 12:20:21 +0000 UTC]
What a beautiful concept! I really love the tattoo. It's gorgeous and meaningful, which is what a tattoo SHOULD be.
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OriginalNick [2008-04-27 22:43:21 +0000 UTC]
wow... the wraparound is just cherry on top of the back piece!
very nice...
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martinsd15 [2008-04-16 01:11:12 +0000 UTC]
Man, I found your tattoo on tattooartists.org last year and I fell in love with it. I can honestly say, as someone who has a tree themed half sleeve, you have my dream tattoo! Damn you for getting it first. I hate you. Hehe, but seriously...amazing.
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LaughingTree In reply to martinsd15 [2008-04-18 09:57:56 +0000 UTC]
Haha. Thanks. I'm so glad I never saw anyone with a tattoo quite like this before I got it... Don't know what I would've done!
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martinsd15 In reply to LaughingTree [2008-04-18 19:00:36 +0000 UTC]
Heh, you would have gotten a tattoo of forest just to one up them. Yeah, I pretty much just thought, "wow, I wish there was an artist that would do that in MO...curses!"
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LaughingTree In reply to martinsd15 [2008-04-19 15:54:59 +0000 UTC]
There are definite ways to be inspired by work wihtout copying it... You'll find yours... Not to worry!
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LauraPOISON [2008-03-18 17:42:02 +0000 UTC]
I have no idea how you managed to put up with so much pain...
plus it must have been awkward to sleep on for 2 whole years!
And to think... I complained about my teeny tattoo!
Yours is seriously beautiful though, I'm so envious!
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C-E-R-I-D-W-E-N [2007-10-31 02:24:14 +0000 UTC]
That's very very cool.. gives new meaning to the term 'tree hugger'
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jennyflesh [2007-07-24 09:33:07 +0000 UTC]
i was looking for someone else's tree piece, and happened upon urs....
wow.
i LOVE how it takes over the front.....
amazing.
xoxo
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depplosion [2007-05-13 04:13:56 +0000 UTC]
I really love how it wraps around the front and emphasizes your anatomy. Awesome.
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LaughingTree In reply to depplosion [2007-05-13 06:33:05 +0000 UTC]
Thanks!
That's one of my favorite parts too. I feel much more connected to it because of that.
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djamorpheus [2006-04-19 02:25:44 +0000 UTC]
that is the most tattoo ive ever seen, the back part too
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shalonpalmer [2005-12-26 22:42:49 +0000 UTC]
It's absolutely beautiful, and well worth the 2½ year saga of tattooing!! The line work is quite impressive - both in design and the skill of the tattoo artist. You found a good artist to put this on you...
I myself have a love for trees (hence my avatar of my own tattoo) and glass/metal work, and I’m definitely falling in love with your work…
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LaughingTree In reply to shalonpalmer [2005-12-27 22:02:45 +0000 UTC]
Thanks!
Yeah, he's definitely a very talented artist. It was actually his paintings of trees that drew me to him in the first place. I wouldn't do things any differently. I'm glad it all worked out, because I was dumb and anxious when I firts got started!
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shalonpalmer In reply to LaughingTree [2005-12-28 22:18:36 +0000 UTC]
So, I take it that it was your first tattoo? (hence the dumb and anxious...) but it's really quite stunning - I love tattoos that wrap around parts of the body, like on your shoulders/collar bones (well worth the pain...) and your waist/hips.
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LaughingTree In reply to shalonpalmer [2005-12-29 12:44:50 +0000 UTC]
Yup. First indeed. Well, except for a tiny tiny homemade self-given "x" on my arm... But I don't necessarily count that one. I pretty much just jumped right in with this sucker.
I too like tattoos that really incorporate the structure of the body. That was one of the most important part for me. For it to be more than just a drawing on my back, but to really be a part of me. I think that whole wrapping around aspect really helps that.
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ariaeko [2005-12-22 18:04:40 +0000 UTC]
That is such an impressive and beautiful piece of work! Kudos to you for sticking with it and seeing it though, 2 1/2 years is quite a long time!
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Zeeaz [2005-12-07 08:52:04 +0000 UTC]
That must have been painful... but totally worth it. Excellent design, by the way.
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LaughingTree In reply to Zeeaz [2005-12-07 18:24:55 +0000 UTC]
The linework over my collarbones was probalby the most painful thing I've ever experienced in my entire life! It was excrutiating! And I'd do it all over again if I had to...
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Zeeaz In reply to LaughingTree [2005-12-07 19:37:04 +0000 UTC]
That's good to know, I wanted to get a tattoo on my collar bone/ lower neck, but I've decided to reconsider...
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LaughingTree In reply to Lidja [2005-12-07 00:55:23 +0000 UTC]
Hehehehe. I figured since I live in the mountains now that I should be a mountainman.
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IvoryDrive [2005-12-06 21:57:17 +0000 UTC]
man, that's incredible. I admire your confidence because I for one would have serious concerns with going out on a limb (oh yes... pun intended) and getting such a large tattoo on my back.
maybe that's just because I haven't found a symbol that I think would represent me now, and 30 or 40 years from now. I used to really like the idea of getting an ankh until someone told me that was also a huge vampire thing... so I kinda trashed that. I tell you man... those vampires have a way of ruining everything I try to do. like the time I was carrying a bunch of wooden stakes and crossbows over to my friends house after dark while singing hymns... oh man. or that time I tried constructing a giant mirror in space that would reflect all the spare sunlight onto the dark side of the earth... they didn't much care for that either for some reason. then there was that loan I took out from the bank to fund the building of a giant catapult that fired holy water... there was about 3 years of my life where I worked in a garlic factory, during which they pretty much left me alone... but now they're after my ankh and I won't let it go without a fight!
now if I could only figure out one of their weaknesses... then I might just have a chance.
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LaughingTree In reply to IvoryDrive [2005-12-07 01:27:30 +0000 UTC]
Yeah! Fuck those vampires! I got something for 'em to suck. and I assure you it's not blood. You're lucky they didn't kill you for those projects of yours!
Yeah, you certainly want to make sure you are getting something on you that you want to stay there... For EVER! It's a big deal!
:driveby:
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shiftyferret [2005-12-06 21:48:32 +0000 UTC]
That has *got* to feel good, to have it finally completed. If I ever got brave enough for ink on flesh I'd hope to have something that stands out and has such meaning as this does for you.
That it's so flattering doesn't hurt either!
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LaughingTree In reply to shiftyferret [2005-12-07 00:59:25 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! Yeah it's a bittersweet kind of feeling. On one hand I'm so glad it's finished, but at the same time, it was nice to have that trip to the shop alll the time. Always had another session to look forward to. But yeah. Overall. Finishing it was thw point! Now on to plan my next one!!!
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shiftyferret In reply to LaughingTree [2005-12-07 02:09:17 +0000 UTC]
Lol! Yes, that seems to happen often in tattoos... or at least appears the trend.
I wonder if they lace the ink with some sort of addictive drug. Small enough doses not to cause harm, just enough to keep you coming back for more tattoos.
Who knows, if I actually manage to do this growing dream of mine of hiking the Appalachian Trail, I might just get myself a little 'AT' tattoo. Small starts for the chicken.
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LaughingTree In reply to shiftyferret [2005-12-07 04:48:26 +0000 UTC]
I think it's great to mark an acomplishment with something so personal and permanent!
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navate [2005-12-06 21:47:16 +0000 UTC]
You need to post a photo of the back. I checked the site you linked and he's got it in her gallery... absolutely stunning! I have no tattoos myself (yet?) but I've always admired the art, especially blackwork. You have yourself a very beautiful and meaningul piece, and that's the best sort. :] I think it's one of the coolest tattoos I've seen.
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LaughingTree In reply to navate [2005-12-07 00:57:09 +0000 UTC]
Thanks. You were just too quick! Pics of the back have been posted now. Just took me oh you know 45 seconds to do it. TOO QUICK I tell you!
Yes, Durb is a very talented guy. He does incredible work! And I most certainly agree that meaningful pieces are the best. Even if having no meaning makes them meaningful to you!
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navate In reply to LaughingTree [2005-12-07 01:07:38 +0000 UTC]
Heh, yes, I saw the other two shots in my DevWatch just after I posted the comment. It's incredible (The tattoo, that is--not that I post fast. ;] )
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LaughingTree In reply to navate [2005-12-07 01:25:32 +0000 UTC]
Your fast posting was pretty incredible too. I must say I was most impressed!
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