HOME | DD

LaughingTree — tree tattoo backpiece

Published: 2005-12-06 21:43:27 +0000 UTC; Views: 308183; Favourites: 1600; Downloads: 96669
Redirect to original
Description *Tattoo done by Durb [link] *

Click [link] to see the second view of the back
Click [link] to see the front
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: 381

neenuhx3 [2009-10-08 03:29:58 +0000 UTC]

This is absolutely BEAUTIFULLL physically and mentally.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

gocealice [2009-09-17 17:13:14 +0000 UTC]

hahah you and scofild from prison break

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

oliviou-krakus [2009-09-17 17:04:41 +0000 UTC]

hello

I feature your work on my deviant page

Nail

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

nate009 [2009-09-17 16:25:50 +0000 UTC]

SICK

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

MyAutumn [2009-09-05 18:27:56 +0000 UTC]

Wow
That's too cool!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

LadyXaniver [2009-08-29 14:32:38 +0000 UTC]

awesome!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

convulsedxswan [2009-08-29 03:30:36 +0000 UTC]

That is absolutely jaw-droppingly amazing!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

DeviantSheep00 [2009-08-20 15:10:33 +0000 UTC]

wow thats like all i can think to say like im mean WOW!!......wow

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

mrsdaisuke [2009-07-27 01:03:53 +0000 UTC]

wow. thats a awesome tattoo!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Wilthebest [2009-07-22 06:12:46 +0000 UTC]

absolutely stunning. i plan on getting a tree tattoo covering my entire back as well.
this is beautiful!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

oloferla In reply to ??? [2009-06-28 10:18:22 +0000 UTC]

That is truly amazing! Beautiful!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

pizi [2009-06-13 02:32:18 +0000 UTC]

wow!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

PsyKingdom [2009-06-09 14:33:38 +0000 UTC]

amazing

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

xxWildFangxx [2009-05-20 05:22:13 +0000 UTC]

Simply mesmerizing.... Inspiring.... I've been wanting a back tattoo too....... but still don't know exactly what I want........It's been a while since I last drew a tree.... usually were the first thing I came up when drawing randomly.....

....impressive... O.O

If there would be an "Inspired" emoticon in mood that would be my choice.... Cya

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Xxlosts0ulxX [2009-04-22 23:45:30 +0000 UTC]

That's freaking badass!! I love it a lot!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

knink [2009-04-21 15:57:18 +0000 UTC]

Hi there, i was browsing through the galleries and wondered if there was any chance you could add this to a new tattoo site i'm helping build? the site's at [link] if you get a moment to take a look, - your tattoo looks amazing, and it'd be much appreciated if you could add it - the site's still young, so we're just starting out,

thanks for giving this a read, and hope all's well,
Tom

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

ShadeyDesigns [2009-04-18 14:49:53 +0000 UTC]

wow cool tatt

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

SarberAnne [2009-04-14 22:02:43 +0000 UTC]

It's beautiful. x

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Music-anime4Ever [2009-04-10 07:08:57 +0000 UTC]

Sorry hit send too soon ment to add.

and I love the story behind this tattoo and I might just try reading that book oh and I'm sorry for your loss may your mom rest in peace.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LaughingTree In reply to Music-anime4Ever [2009-04-10 12:13:53 +0000 UTC]

Thanks. If you enjoy math and psychology, it's definitely an interesting read!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Music-anime4Ever In reply to LaughingTree [2009-04-10 18:35:11 +0000 UTC]

Your welcome.well I don't really enjoy math but I'm starting to get into Psychology

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Music-anime4Ever [2009-04-10 07:06:13 +0000 UTC]

Wow this tattoo is amazing I too love trees and nature and I've seen a lot of nature tattoos but nothing quite like this I love it this is an awesome tattoo.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

knappgirl [2009-04-08 03:46:04 +0000 UTC]

Speechless.. that's awesome... I can't imagine the pain..

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

DarkAngryAngel [2009-04-05 19:32:44 +0000 UTC]

Hell, a real master piece... respect

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

demintedmint [2009-03-31 14:09:27 +0000 UTC]

damn son.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

evilroyalty66 [2009-03-29 21:44:34 +0000 UTC]

thats soo fuckin tight dude

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

arrestedinspace [2009-03-17 03:01:19 +0000 UTC]

[link] .

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LaughingTree In reply to arrestedinspace [2009-03-17 03:56:46 +0000 UTC]

Link's not quite working...

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

arrestedinspace In reply to LaughingTree [2009-03-19 22:54:51 +0000 UTC]

ummm... that wasn't a link. did DA make it one automatically? I was saying "amazing"

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LaughingTree In reply to arrestedinspace [2009-03-20 16:07:48 +0000 UTC]

Oh. Haha. That makes sense.

Thanks!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Evrethereal [2009-03-05 19:50:55 +0000 UTC]

Amazing, but you knew that. Thanks for posting it!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

SisterInRage In reply to ??? [2009-02-17 06:38:04 +0000 UTC]

wow.
not only is the tattoo beautifully done, but the inspiration behind it is beautiful too.
kudos, im glad it turned out so well for you.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

barcodeNINETEEN In reply to ??? [2009-01-31 08:54:03 +0000 UTC]

Ahhhh. I love trees!

I want a back-piece tattoo if a tree too..
..but something drawn by me, and representing something different..
They contain much symbolization; and I think that the greatest thing a tree can symbolize is Life.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

RafaelCaballero [2009-01-17 06:46:21 +0000 UTC]

wow men is amazing!!!!!!!!!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

SneakyFerret [2009-01-16 10:17:35 +0000 UTC]

Wowsers.
What a beautiful tattoo. I am in awe. O_O

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

AbundantAmenities [2009-01-05 13:04:10 +0000 UTC]

you've honoured your mother in a beautiful way. congratulations to you on an astounding tattoo.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

joernst [2008-12-21 20:29:16 +0000 UTC]

beautiful! tattoo and backstory!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

DCMP [2008-12-17 14:23:28 +0000 UTC]

radical! I adore trees but thought it would look odd as a tattoo (at least on the arm) As I saw some that looked like seperate loose flying objects there. but yours is really indeed inspirational.
Thanks for showing.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

LadyGrimbones [2008-12-15 20:30:22 +0000 UTC]

Amazingly beautiful tattoo and story. I love trees also, can't explain why but I've always felt close to them and loved them.

Here is a great book on trees you might like: The Meaning Of Trees by Fred Hageneder ISBN: 0-8118-4898-1 Hardcover or ISBN: 0-8118-4823-x Paperback. It has pictures and facts and lore about all sorts of trees species.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LaughingTree In reply to LadyGrimbones [2008-12-18 06:36:43 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! I'll have to check that out!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

devious127 [2008-12-10 22:55:59 +0000 UTC]

wicked nice
funny i've thought about a tree tattoo also, for the same reasons ..nature and blabla, haven;t read the book so didn't know about that

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

billyvenus [2008-12-03 15:18:13 +0000 UTC]

i don't know dude, i can't figure out what it is...!!...



a swamp monster..??

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

dirtyoldchurchmouth [2008-11-30 05:30:26 +0000 UTC]

my god its beautiful

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

kasper06 [2008-11-14 18:28:53 +0000 UTC]

Amazing dude! ~

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

midnightINK [2008-10-31 02:45:24 +0000 UTC]

stunning.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

ThunderYeti In reply to ??? [2008-10-18 10:54:18 +0000 UTC]

soooper epic...very tight!!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

SyntheticFishTattoo [2008-10-06 04:13:07 +0000 UTC]

insanely awesome

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

M0npdcse [2008-10-03 22:03:45 +0000 UTC]

Wow!!

Thats sooooo niceee...

Yeah!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

CynthT [2008-09-23 21:42:27 +0000 UTC]

WoW! If I had seen this before I designed mine, [link] I think it would have influenced how mine turned out...I was asked to do mine as a back piece but couldn't stand the idea of not being able to see it or touch it whenever I wanted to and yes mine has a very intense and personal story behind every aspect of it..it has become an integral part of my life. The kind of thing that would have had meaning at any time in my life but the process of actually designing it helped me during a time of transition. I have always had a special connection with trees.

Ever checked out the Celtic Zodiac? [link]
You might find something of interest to you there.

As everyone has pointed out previously, you have a wonderful tat and the artist who did it should be very proud as well

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LaughingTree In reply to CynthT [2008-09-26 16:55:12 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the thorough comment! I've never checked out the Celtic Zodiac, but I'll have to give it a look! I find it very lovely when tattoos can have such a significant impact on someone's life!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1


| Next =>