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Published: 2005-12-06 21:43:27 +0000 UTC; Views: 308192; Favourites: 1600; Downloads: 96669
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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
LaughingTree In reply to ??? [2007-05-01 21:27:33 +0000 UTC]
I'm originally from Ohio, but I live in Seattle Washington right now.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
LaughingTree In reply to reef-shark [2007-05-02 00:29:43 +0000 UTC]
I work for a paintball company in Pennsylvania as their web developer. And I also sell glass/metalwork and whatever other odd jobs come along. It's a lot of randomness.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
reef-shark In reply to LaughingTree [2007-05-02 11:45:45 +0000 UTC]
Cool, i've nver done paintball would love to try it though.
it looks like fun./hmm cool, well it would be boring if u just lived
life as the average jo..
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
LaughingTree In reply to reef-shark [2007-05-02 16:24:33 +0000 UTC]
Strangely enough, I've never played paintball either. But luckily you don't have to in order to make their website. although I have learned a whole lot about the sport since!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
reef-shark In reply to LaughingTree [2007-05-02 18:55:36 +0000 UTC]
/hmm thats strange ..you work for a paintball company and never played paintball //hummm..
cool, thats gd then, i think you should try paintball..
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
surfer-girl In reply to ??? [2007-04-19 14:01:58 +0000 UTC]
that is really the most beautiful tattoo i have seen. i've always thought that trees would make wonderful tattoos, just the notion of how intricate they can be, and how they age, the same way a tattoo does, and the way we grow, as it does.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
LaughingTree In reply to surfer-girl [2007-04-20 01:24:13 +0000 UTC]
I'm excited to see how my tattoo ages as I do...
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
LilSmurfLady [2007-04-19 09:20:56 +0000 UTC]
it looks amazing. you must have incredible patience, not to mention a high pain tolerance.
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
LilSmurfLady In reply to LilSmurfLady [2007-04-20 06:33:19 +0000 UTC]
how long ago was it completed??
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
LaughingTree In reply to LilSmurfLady [2007-04-20 01:23:22 +0000 UTC]
Didn't really have much choice... Once I started... I was in for the long haul!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
frozen-beauty89 [2007-04-11 18:44:43 +0000 UTC]
Now that's BEAUTYFUL!!! OMG!
I want to do one.. but i'm still drawing it, you know, i can't do it till i draw The One.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
LaughingTree In reply to frozen-beauty89 [2007-04-11 21:12:42 +0000 UTC]
I knew as soon as I'd seen the sketch for this one that it was "The one!"
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
kornkid4U [2007-04-09 16:07:01 +0000 UTC]
wow this is just beautiful beyond words. ive wanted a tree tattoo for ages and this is the best one ive ever seen.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
LaughingTree In reply to kornkid4U [2007-04-10 02:58:12 +0000 UTC]
Thanks a bunch. And not to sound vain, but I also think it's the nicest tree tattoo I've ever seen
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
kornkid4U In reply to LaughingTree [2007-04-10 18:52:52 +0000 UTC]
nah, not vain at all. id second that.
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Deborah-Valentine [2007-03-05 16:21:37 +0000 UTC]
I have seen Durb's work before and I have seen this one in a magazine....impressive!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
LaughingTree In reply to Deborah-Valentine [2007-03-05 17:16:13 +0000 UTC]
I couldn't agree more!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
uhLIZuhbuth [2007-03-01 00:40:11 +0000 UTC]
ohmygod this took my breath away. i LOVE it! congratulations on a job excellently done both to you and your artist. wow.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
kristicee In reply to ??? [2007-02-10 18:32:03 +0000 UTC]
wowww. that is absolutely amazing!
i dont think i could ever sit that long getting that done. props
how long did that take anyway?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
LaughingTree In reply to kristicee [2007-02-10 20:16:24 +0000 UTC]
Thanks. Yeah it was a doozy... Over 100 hours of work spread out over 2½ years...
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
SheepNumber97245 In reply to ??? [2007-01-29 09:33:38 +0000 UTC]
Ilan!!!! how do i keep coming across your damn back. here again, i'm going through "tree" pictures for reference and there your back is again... haha.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
LaughingTree In reply to SheepNumber97245 [2007-01-30 04:41:55 +0000 UTC]
It's my claim to fame... What can I say.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
KittyOverDose In reply to ??? [2007-01-12 12:34:55 +0000 UTC]
That tattoo was in "Tattoo" magazine!!!
Wow!
I fell in love with this piece!<3
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
HippiekinsDraws In reply to ??? [2007-01-10 01:48:28 +0000 UTC]
This is simply amazing, my friend!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
xmorbid-visionsx [2007-01-02 22:44:24 +0000 UTC]
this is beautiful and the meaning behind it adds so much more to its appeal - this my friend is what tattoos should be.. a piece of art with expression, emotion and above all significance and meaning - amazing work buddie
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
LaughingTree In reply to xmorbid-visionsx [2007-01-08 09:18:32 +0000 UTC]
I'm just the body... It's my tattoo artist who did the amazing work!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
LuciferianAngel In reply to xmorbid-visionsx [2007-01-06 04:38:00 +0000 UTC]
mhmm thats true
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
MuttaSutta In reply to ??? [2006-11-11 23:15:29 +0000 UTC]
Your backpiece is so muthaeffin amazing. You know, I have been considering a tattoo for many years--and I have wanted a tree, as well. They're so majestical and they deserve much reverence in my eyes.
I can only look and admire your piece; your artist is amazing, as well. Keep on shinin', and I bow to it.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
CopperTree In reply to ??? [2006-11-11 00:44:43 +0000 UTC]
Wow, it's amazing. It makes the tree on my back seem incredibly small. However I have the long explanation for my tree as well.
Ok, I'm going to go back to staring at your back for a little while.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
StaceyRobson In reply to ??? [2006-11-01 11:10:10 +0000 UTC]
This is undoubtedly the most wonderful tattoo I have ever seen in my life.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
LaughingTree In reply to StaceyRobson [2006-11-02 05:05:39 +0000 UTC]
Well wow... Thanks very much!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
wideeyes00 In reply to ??? [2006-10-18 23:38:14 +0000 UTC]
this is amazing.
and just out of curiosity,
how much did it cost once it was done and final?
Peace- Shannon
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jadisofeternity In reply to ??? [2006-10-05 22:49:27 +0000 UTC]
that is an impressively well designed tatoo. I don't like tatoos, cause generaly they detract rather than add to what God made. this one is not like that.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
LaughingTree In reply to jadisofeternity [2006-10-11 09:50:33 +0000 UTC]
Thanks. I would wholeheartedly agree with you
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Eredor In reply to ??? [2006-10-02 12:10:14 +0000 UTC]
nice story
cool tattoo
i find it a bit amusing tho... your name means young tree, yet your tattoo is of an old tree...
i think it's a nice contrast...
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Berryland In reply to ??? [2006-09-19 00:31:03 +0000 UTC]
One word: WOW!!!
What a great tattoo! Most people wear their tattoos as a trend accessoir, bur yours have a story and means something to you! Iwould not like to have something like that, but I like yours VERY much! Its a phantastic work and unique..
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
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