Inked Folk!

Okay, so it’s only been a month or so over a year since I have got my first tattoos. It is fair to say that since I have been on this ‘conservation meets ink‘  journey I have become completely and utterly amazed by the world of tattoos. When I embarked on this adventure I knew that I would be wrongly judged and perhaps ridiculed because of the artwork on my skin. However this did not concern me; I have never really cared much about what people think of me. The people that matter or that will matter will judge me for who I actually am, not for what they assume I am! I can’t complain about people having rightly or wrongly judged opinions; after all, part of the original idea for getting these tattoos was to draw attention to spread the word about the conservation and humanitarian issues currently happening in Turkey! I love it when people like my ink (thankfully this is the commonest response I get); and if you don’t like them, that’s cool too. After all you are entitled to your opinion; however unless I show you my ink and ask something like ‘what do you think of my awesome new tattoo?’ the chances are I will neither hear nor be particularly bothered by your negative point of view!

This is me!

..and I have hand tattoos too (BTW this script is not an invitation for some questionable after-dark car-park activity; it means ‘nature’ in Turkish!

Tattoos have been patronised by royalty, aristocracy, scientists, athletes and explorers throughout history. However tattoos have also been part of the prison scene for many years. The following short film gives an incite to why tattooed folk have been shunned by society in recent history!

The skills and prevalence of tattoo artists have increased massively in recent years and this has helped tattoos become more and more socially acceptable. I am always amazed by the skills of some tattooists. The standard of their artwork can be mind blowing! If you are interested by art and intrigued by tattoos, then you really should attend one of the many tattoo conventions available!

I have certainly succumbed to tattoos and tattoo culture, Inked folk are one of the most accepting group of people I have had the pleasure of meeting. Lets be fair, I don’t fit the ‘stereotype’!  Here are a few video clips of some excellent tattoos (and one of them is me being inked):

I feel lucky to have Immortal Art Studio so close to where I live. These guys to amazing tattoos and have been a great support to my conservation initiative!

There is a movement on Facebook called ‘Tattoo acceptance in the workplace‘; whilst I totally support what they are trying to do……I have to admit that part of me kind of likes not being fully accepted into society!!