Tattoo art is not only a form of self expression, but also a way to deal with mental and emotional pain as well. Take Manhattan resident Shannon Becker, whose forearms are riddled with the marked scars of a past addiction. But on her right wrist, a different kind of permanent mark catches your eye - it's a tattoo. She said she started getting tattoos after she had struggled with cutting - a form of self-mutilation - and finds it to be a therapeutic form of expression. "They're much better than the ugly scars. I get to express myself in a personal and beautiful way," she said. She said she now has 14 tattoos, including her newest, which she had done Wednesday. Her new tattoo forms a ring on her upper right leg with her four sons' names and their kanji characters - Chinese symbols that represent different animals, Becker said. She said she chose to include the kanji characters because they describe the animal-like qualities of her sons.
"I think all people act like animals," she said. "And I have four boys, and I'm the only female around - means I get to see that a lot." Becker said the rest of her tattoos have personal meaning to her in different ways. "This [tattoo] says 'In Vino Veritas,' which means 'truth in wine,'" she said, pointing to a large heart intertwined with thorny vines on her upper-left shoulder. "In other words, you do things when you're drunk that you wouldn't normally do sober. Most of my bad experiences had involved men and alcohol. Maybe that's why I don't drink anymore." Though Becker's tattoos have meaning for her, not all people's tattoos are as sentimental. Jason England, a tattoo artist at Twisted Apple Tattoo in Aggieville (formerly Fine Line Tattoo) said just because a tattoo does not have deep meaning behind it, does not mean it's not art.
"As long as you don't ever get tired of looking at it and it's aesthetically pleasing to you, then you don't need to worry about the meaning," he said. "A tattoo doesn't always have to have deep, profound meaning." Chris Tassin, the new owner of Twisted Apple Tattoo Art, said she has been a tattoo artist for almost 13 years and has seen a wide-range of tattoo requests, from those with deep, sentimental value to some that are more spur of the moment. "You'd be surprised how many people walk in the door and say 'What's the cheapest tattoo you've got?' That's not the best idea," she said. "Then, when we try to talk them into putting more thought into it, they get mad at us. People think it's a fad - it's not."
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Tassin said Twisted Apple's policy is they will not tattoo minors because too many people who get s at a young age regret their decision later. "It will affect your job opportunities - a lot of girls worry about if it'll show in their wedding dress," she said. "It's stuff like that you have to consider." As she concentrated on outlining a tattoo on a customer, she also said she enjoys hearing her clients' stories and the meaning behind their tattoos, though some people take it a little too far. "We hear lots of sob stories in here," Tassin said. "Sometimes I don't mind it, but sometimes it's a little more than we need to know." England joked across the room with her, saying: "They think we're psychiatrists who can help them through our art."
Chad Miller, sophomore in electrical engineering, said he also understands the importance of thinking through the decision to get a tattoo. "You're nervous because you're not sure if it will hurt or if you will like it, but at the same time you're really excited because you're getting something that you've maybe always wanted," Miller said. He also said if someone is considering getting one, it's important to consider all angles of the decision. "Make sure you're getting something you'll like forever," he said. "Also, find a tattoo artist that you're comfortable with." Both of these factors are important to consider, because that design will always be the same, so make sure you choose something that you will always love, even when you change over the years. Tattoo art is a great way to express yourself, just as long as you put a lot of thought into it.
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