Tattoos as Life

Too many folks who do not have tattoos have a lot to say about tattoos. I, unfortunately, am one of those no-tattoo folks. But this post has nothing to do with my own feelings because I believe in consent, autonomy, and agency.

What this post is about is remembering a coworker who became a dear friend to me and whom I lost several years ago.

 Who let me know when she called me at work that she had cancer.

This was shortly after working for the Downtown regional offices for the public school system, I transferred to a grant-funded program for public schools (more on this for another time. I'm not as traumatized as I was back then. I can talk about it).

The first time I met this coworker, before speaking to me, she sent the secretary to ask me how I felt about tats (I guess I come off as 'conservative', but my politics, religious, and spiritual beliefs are far from it,) and so I told the coworker about how I feel as an artist myself.

I explained that I love the artistry, history, and importantly, the cultural and metaphysical aspects of how tats are viewed. I didn't get into all this. 

My new colleague didn't want a treatise of my scholarship on body art, she wanted to know if I would be prejudiced. I told the secretary that tattoos are very important, personal, and unique, even when they follow the same patterns and symbolism in cultural and ethnic tattoos. That they tell the person's story. 

Afterwards, I found a warm and smiling friend who, when I began taking mental health days off and using my sick days (the job rapidly became toxic), would tell me she missed me because I made it tolerable to be there, sometimes, even fun. 

I miss you, Heather Centeno, but I know you are at peace and pain-free. I still pray for your daughters and your family. Rest well, my Lovely Friend.

Tattoo Tweet Expanded

Originally on Twitter [Expanded for blog purposes]:

Not an expert, but as an artist who's done pro work and in this writing game for 20+ years, if your OCs/characters have tattoos (personal, cultural, or group/gang/syndicate), for the Love of G*d, change them up! They're IPs, many are culturally-unique, and a number are attached to investigated groups.(End)

The reason I say this is, I don't see much creative information about portraying tattoos and other skin art in prose or in illustrative or sequential artwork. What I have learned is, though I bear no tats myself, nor will I ever (personal, spiritual, and health reasons, and fear-of-needles phobia), I appreciate, respect, and enjoy tattoos on others because this form of art is so unique and personal to those who wear them. First and foremost, commercial tattoos whether done by a pro or an amateur, are IPs or Intellectual property. They can be considered copyright ©️ as the tattoo artist/practitioner is creating it. Someone else's skin is simply their paper or canvas.

For cultural purposes, it becomes even more mired. When a tattoo is from a particular culture, there is a lot of significance placed on certain images and symbolism only known within the group/community. It's why when outsiders get tattoos like this, they not only mess up the meaning, but they offend the culture and are shamed for it. Also, in several global indigenous cultures around the world, tattoo artists aren't only seen as a profession, but as a spiritual calling. Which is why skin artists and skin art is prayed and meditated over before they start. There are even rituals tied into these procedures long before the ink even touches the recipient's skin!

Now we come to the last part... Which should terrify most of us. Prison and secret society/gang/synidicate/organized crime tattoos. I can't stress enough that as an artist and writer to carefully consider making up one's own tattoos in these cases as well. I mean, a lot of these tats are marked identifiers to police and the FBI/CIA and other bodies of global law enforcement. It's simply not worth it.