Inspiration

Here are some awesomely amazing people and groups from whom I seek inspiration, not only for my ART 479 endeavors, but in my everyday life.

Jared - contributor and co-owner of Nu Ethix, a Columubus-based suspension team. I have been pierced by him multiple times at Evolved Body Art, and he has offered to help me in whatever way possible in my delve into body modification study. He has also offered to host a public talk about body modification on ODU campus, any takers??






Mike - a Columbus-based tattoo artist, an Evolved-vet who now owns his own shop, called Decade Tattoo. I have been tattooed by Mike once and am currently planning a new project with him. Mike has opened my eyes in terms of how the world of safe and smart tattooing should ideally be run. Step 1: Plan plan plan. Plan out your ideas for your tattoo until ya just can't think anymore. Planning includes sketching, printing out pictures, looking up symbolism behind certain images. Step 2: Set up an appointment with your tattoo artist. This is called a consultation. You explain all your ideas/pictures to your artist, and he or she may make some suggestions and ask several questions to clarify any hazy points. No room for confusion and misunderstandings in the world of good tattoos! Step 3: Post-consultation, pre-inking meeting. During this appointment, the artist will approach you with his or her sketch of the tattoo that was discussed at the consultation, and the sketch will be laid out on your body (wherever you discussed its placement) and altered. Your tattoo artist will most likely cringe if you approach him or her with a set design and say, "Don't change it at all, my friend drew it and it has to be JUST LIKE THIS." This is a big no-no in the tattoo world, because it's a simple fact that no one's body is perfectly flat. Even if you're getting a tattoo on your perfectly flat tummy or a surface that seems flat to you, a sketched tattoo will always need to be altered to perfectly conform to your body. Step 4: It's time to get tattooed! The tattoo may be completed in one sitting, or you may have to return a couple of times, depending on the size of the work.

Lindsay - Columbus-based piercer extraordinaire! I've been pierced by her multiple times. Such a friendly and knowledgeable lady. She knows her piercees by name, remembers every piercing she ever gave you, and even, in some lucky cases, invites you to go to local events with her. She is the perfect example of the ideal piercer: someone who makes the piercee, who may be a bit on edge about the ensuing pain and pleasure combo, feel completely at ease.










And last but not least....
Suicide Girls - Yes, they do normal things like you and I, like eating at Dirty Frank's. But they are most commonly known as "alternative" models, which is a rather sad description if you ask me, because it implies that there is something wrong or "abnormal" about beautiful women with body modifications. Suicide Girls is an international group, but there is a surprisingly large group of them in the Columbus area, some of whom I've had the pleasure of meeting.