Kristi S. before...
WHAT IS THE FIRST WORD THAT COMES TO MIND WHEN I SAY TATTOO?
Liberating
WHEN DID YOU GET YOUR FIRST TATTOO?
Last Tuesday – October 26, 2010
Pre-tattoo bonding over tarot cards...
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO GET A TATTOO?
I’ve always liked tattoos…I always wanted to get a tattoo. I wanted to do something in memory of my miscarriage…for closure, moving on, letting go and just being me…doing something for me without the approval of anyone or because someone else wanted me to do it. It was really important for me because even though other people forget my miscarriage, it was a huge thing in my life. I was not in a happy place and now I feel like I have this special reminder and I think I’ll be able to move on. It wasn’t like I woke up one day and decided to do this…this is something that I felt I needed to do. It’s extremely empowering because I’m sure people will judge me, but I don’t care. I know it was right because I was not nervous at all…
Luis making the final touches on Kristi's artwork...
HOW DID YOU PICK THE DESIGN?
Luis Vargas designed it. I struggled with what artwork I would choose. I’m not an artist and I don’t consider myself hugely creative. I had some ideas. Kauai is a very special place for our family…I feel a very strong spiritual connection to Kauai, so I knew I wanted something related to that. The colors, flowers, a sea turtle. I love sea turtles, but I also love owls. I emailed you about not having a clue and then when I went on Luis Vargas’ site I got even more confused. I got a little apprehensive because I kind of felt out of place. One day I was on a run and I was thinking about my artwork…it was getting closer and closer. I looked down at my shirt, one that I got in Hanalei [Kauai], and I said “Oh my gosh…that’s exactly the colors and everything that I want!” It was a turtle with fish, flowers and bright colors, and so I thought “Well, that’s it…I’m going to take the shirt [to Luis’].” At the same time, I was wondering if I was going to insult him if I brought it.
Voila!
I emailed him and gave him a brief background of me, my reasoning for the tattoo, and my likes. I told him that I love hibuscus flowers and turtles, but that I also loved his owls. I’ve always loved owls. He said “No problem…I’ll work on some ideas.” I really didn’t have any contact with him until we went that day. Even though he had drawn something, he didn’t bring it out right away. He loved my [t-shirt] idea. I was so impressed with that…and, it wasn’t like a fake thing. It was like “I drew something for you, but I love this [t-shirt]…I love the colors…the turtle.” He asked me if I wanted to see what he drew. When I saw it, it was perfect…it was an owl and it had Kaber’s name. [The name] was the hardest part for me…I don’t know why I struggled with that. The font of the name was huge for me. I looked through books and Greg thought it would be good to have it in Hawaiian. Well, sometimes [the fonts] get too “gangy” and I didn’t want it to be harsh. The way Luis wrote it was kind of whimsical, kind of musical. It was perfect and I just chose to go with what he had drawn for me.
...and it begins.
DO YOU THINK YOU’LL EVER HAVE ANY REGRETS ABOUT GETTING YOUR TATTOO?
No. It might lose it’s shape…it might take on a whole different dimension…in 3D! 😉 No, but seriously…this has been the greatest trip for me.
Taking a short breather...
DO YOU THINK YOU’LL GET MORE TATTOOS AT THIS POINT?
I’m already thinking about it…isn’t that weird? Yeah, I’m sure I will…in fact, there is no doubt in my mind that I will get another one.
Kristi S. after...so beautiful
Portrait of a Tattoo 