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LaughingTree — tree tattoo backpiece

Published: 2005-12-06 21:43:27 +0000 UTC; Views: 308198; 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

Siriuslymine4eva In reply to ??? [2006-09-13 17:08:48 +0000 UTC]

Oh, my, god. I mean i love trees but this is one beautiful tree. And you love for trees really shows in this tattoo, did it hurt much (I really want a tattoo XD) Anyway this is going in my favs as its just, wow. i could stare at the detail for hours...I hope you thanked the tattoo artist very very much.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LaughingTree In reply to Siriuslymine4eva [2006-09-13 17:48:05 +0000 UTC]

Yeah it definitely hurt... Some places much more than others. Some sessions much more than others. But it obviously wasn't anything beyond unbearable!

Thanks very much. I do kind of like it too

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Siriuslymine4eva In reply to LaughingTree [2006-09-13 17:56:30 +0000 UTC]

I only want something smallish myself, though my mum and friends dont think I could stand it. Though everyone whos got a tattoo that I've asked they said it wasn't as bad as they thought.

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LaughingTree In reply to Siriuslymine4eva [2006-09-13 20:37:26 +0000 UTC]

For the most part it was about as bad as I thought... There were certain places (Collarbones in particular) that were way worse than anything I could have expected... On something small it's only a few hours anyways...

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Siriuslymine4eva In reply to LaughingTree [2006-09-14 06:19:25 +0000 UTC]

What about your lower back? thats where I want mine, and maybe one on my wrist...

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LaughingTree In reply to Siriuslymine4eva [2006-09-14 11:30:47 +0000 UTC]

Lower back wasn't so bad... Hip bones and collar bones were the WORST! everything else was very bearable. A few spots hurt here and there, but for the most part not too bad.

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Siriuslymine4eva In reply to LaughingTree [2006-09-14 11:40:35 +0000 UTC]

Is there any way they could show my how much it hurt with out actually inking me?

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LaughingTree In reply to Siriuslymine4eva [2006-09-14 18:50:03 +0000 UTC]

If you're seriously that worried... Then maybe it's not for you. It's really not that bad. Just take the smalled pin/needle you can find and jab yourself lightly a couple thousand times. It's kind of like that.

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Siriuslymine4eva In reply to LaughingTree [2006-09-15 03:30:45 +0000 UTC]

Haha, um ok but when my mum yells at me for it I'm blaming you.

👍: 0 ⏩: 2

LaughingTree In reply to Siriuslymine4eva [2006-09-16 06:14:46 +0000 UTC]

The MOST important thing is just to make sure you get something you'll want for the rest of your ENTIRE life! And get it done by someone who's good. Not just the first shop you see... Do your research!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Siriuslymine4eva In reply to LaughingTree [2006-09-17 13:57:28 +0000 UTC]

Dont worry I wont be making any mistakes with it lol. I've seen many idiots (aka family members) have boyfriends names tattooed on them and thing you just know they're not going to love forever. But I'm sure I wanna do this.

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LaughingTree In reply to Siriuslymine4eva [2006-09-16 06:14:12 +0000 UTC]

Her yelling at you should have nothing to do with how much it hurts

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kiid-A [2006-09-09 14:27:52 +0000 UTC]

Thats so awesome....I was just browsing for pictures of trees in hopes of finding one that I would like tattooed on my back...I don't even want one now that I know it will never be as badass as yours. And I mean that in the nicest way possible.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LaughingTree In reply to kiid-A [2006-09-09 22:16:03 +0000 UTC]

Haha. Wow. Well thanks! I take that as nothing but a compliment!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

johnnyjinx In reply to ??? [2006-07-16 09:17:40 +0000 UTC]

I've got this on my favs. I still can't get over how beautiful this work is. Truely amazing.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

IamDisgRacE [2006-07-15 00:00:34 +0000 UTC]

im quite speachless. Its great to see someone with a tattoo that actually has a deep symbolic meaning. If you dont mind me asking or if someone didnt already ask you but how much did that cost?!?

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quicksoul [2006-07-04 19:17:45 +0000 UTC]

yum. great work. kudos to your artist!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Thefreetree In reply to ??? [2006-06-23 11:27:34 +0000 UTC]

that is beautiful

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despondentsoul In reply to ??? [2006-06-11 21:37:56 +0000 UTC]

that is completely awsome

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Kogatojr In reply to ??? [2006-06-06 01:05:26 +0000 UTC]

Freakin' awesome dude. Love the dreads

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

catastrophotography In reply to ??? [2006-04-30 08:02:44 +0000 UTC]

That is one of the most amazing (this seems to be an overused word) tattoos I have ever seen.. it's so nice when people get one that means something deep them. But two and a half years? I don't have that kind of patience Sounds rather expensive.

Also, I don't know what your cultural background is but apparently Vikings would have tree roots tattooed down their arms, in relation to their religious belief in Yggdrasil (or the "world tree") from which this world and many others "branched" from. If you like mythology that may appeal to you.

Note.. it looks like I can't spell in a couple of places but I'm just Australian

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LaughingTree In reply to catastrophotography [2006-04-30 08:05:16 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the insight mate! That's really interesting. I'd never heard that part about the vikings.

And while, I never thought it was going to take as long as it did, I certainly wasn't going to be disappointed in that. I mean, it's well worth it in every aspect of it. I originally got quoted on it taking around 30 hours, but the artist just got so into it that he kept on adding more and more and more detail. And I certainly wasn't going to stop him! So... 2 1/2 years and over 100 hours of work later.... Couldn't be more happy with it!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

catastrophotography In reply to LaughingTree [2006-04-30 08:20:03 +0000 UTC]

I hadn't heard the part about the tattoos until recently, but apparently there are descriptions in some old (possibly arabic) texts.

It's definitely impressive, and not likely at all that anyone would have anything like it.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

FadedbyFate [2006-04-23 21:20:36 +0000 UTC]

That's sick. Extreme detail.




PS- I go to the Art Institute of Philly. Good shit. Keep it up.

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Amadeorikefake [2006-04-23 13:23:30 +0000 UTC]

amazing..

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Ohno-moment [2006-04-14 01:01:14 +0000 UTC]

just don't gain weight

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polkydots In reply to ??? [2006-04-13 18:33:05 +0000 UTC]

were you in a tattoo magazine recently? I think it was Flash or something I saw your piece in. absolutely stunning work though

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LaughingTree In reply to polkydots [2006-04-14 00:36:36 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! Yeah, I saw that too! It was quite a suprise. I didn't even know it was going to be in there!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

silverhartoo In reply to ??? [2006-03-29 02:49:35 +0000 UTC]

OH............... MY............. GOD...........

that's just amazing...its also a lovely sentiment...absolutely beautiful...a great reason for choosing the tattoo....no butterfly or tribal for you friend..hehe
and dude...mad props for 7 FRICKIN HOURS AT ONCE!?!?!?! UG!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LaughingTree In reply to silverhartoo [2006-03-29 04:44:36 +0000 UTC]

Haha! Thanks!

Yup indeed. I contemplated with the tribal taz butterfly, but eventually settled with the tree.

Hopefully, I will never have to go through 7 hours like that again!

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MonoOmoi In reply to ??? [2006-03-14 03:53:12 +0000 UTC]

Wow... That is one of the most impressive tatoos I have ever seen. Very original and very personal, it's awesome that you put so much thought into it. My compliments to the artist!

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trippwear In reply to ??? [2006-03-11 07:38:08 +0000 UTC]

Jungian Archetypes was a very good book, not too good for some people i can imagine. i love books that require intelligence and a vivid imagination to pull you through it

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LaughingTree In reply to trippwear [2006-03-11 09:10:25 +0000 UTC]

Indeed! It's rare I meet someone who's heard of the book, let alone read it and enjoyed it!

I love math and psychology, so it was quite a treat for me!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

trippwear In reply to LaughingTree [2006-03-19 02:52:00 +0000 UTC]

"The world is a place of magic and wonder. . . .The archetypal hypothesis is a starting point to explore that wonder, not an end point to circumscribe its possibilities"

still a favorite, i was a little lost with some of the math but i love the psychology and, to a degree, philosophy

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LaughingTree In reply to trippwear [2006-03-19 07:53:59 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, I'm with you 100% on that one! It was such an interesting way to look at things...

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trippwear In reply to ??? [2006-03-05 09:28:36 +0000 UTC]

haha, i love it... you have no idea... such an amazing peice of work, its nice to see it. defnitly something to be proud of

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Phate-ct In reply to ??? [2006-03-05 07:26:47 +0000 UTC]

holy fuck thats the coolest tat ive ever seen >< been trying to design one for myself just havent found one that suits my fancy, hope it can turn out something like that

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LaughingTree In reply to Phate-ct [2006-03-05 09:38:53 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! Tattoos are not something to go with unless you're 100% sure... For a long period of time! Keep on waiting till you find that perfect image. You'll find it eventually! And it'll be so worth it when you do...

One of my favorite signs from my artist's shop: Good tattoos are not cheap... And cheap tattoos are not good!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Phate-ct In reply to LaughingTree [2006-03-05 09:51:41 +0000 UTC]

thanks mate i'll keep sitting on it till I see something which is really me

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shattered-elegance In reply to ??? [2006-02-19 02:41:37 +0000 UTC]

that is truly amazing. i personally love the art of tattoos and this is such a fabulous example!! <3

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cetera-desunt In reply to ??? [2006-02-19 00:18:39 +0000 UTC]

Very beautiful. The thought behind it is gorgeous as well. I think it's really neat that you were willing to put so much thought into something that would be with you your entire life. Shows that it means something to you.

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LaughingTree In reply to cetera-desunt [2006-02-19 05:53:03 +0000 UTC]

It most certainly does! I figure there's no second chance on something like that... Better do it right the first time!

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dunezx In reply to ??? [2006-01-27 21:42:40 +0000 UTC]

well worth the wait that is fucking awasome i cant say anything else ...................

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twisted-soul In reply to ??? [2006-01-23 21:05:02 +0000 UTC]

NICE!

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PadmaPhala In reply to ??? [2006-01-21 20:31:18 +0000 UTC]

lol, you're indeed obssesed with trees

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LaughingTree In reply to PadmaPhala [2006-01-22 01:35:01 +0000 UTC]

I wouldn't lie about something like that

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BigLongNow In reply to ??? [2006-01-21 01:17:10 +0000 UTC]

That is very well tattoo. My friend has one on his shoulder blade, right side. It reminds me a lot of your tatto but it isnt nearly as huge. Its very beutiful thoe!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

john2dope In reply to ??? [2006-01-15 18:41:40 +0000 UTC]

fuckin cool, is there a blur effect on some of the branches? or am i trippin'....

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LaughingTree In reply to john2dope [2006-01-16 02:41:35 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

The tattooist shaded in the sillhouette branches loosely, to make them appear more in the background.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

moonspell06 In reply to ??? [2006-01-14 18:33:36 +0000 UTC]

Its purely beautiful..

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