Is It Really Shocking To Be A Tattooed Person?

Are You Shocked By Tattoos?

A question: are you shocked by tattoos these days? I’m not, really. Between 2000 and 2010, I think there must have been more tattoo ink used per capita than in any other time period! Sometimes it seems like the people without ink are the true anomalies!

But nevertheless, our obsession with tattoos marches on. I got my first tattoo — a half-sleeve (hey, go big or go home is my life motto) — when I was about 20 years old, and for no other reason than I really, really wanted a tattoo. In the words of Charlie Brown, good grief. If only I had waited. If only!

In reality, though, it could have been so much worse. The world is full of shocking tattoos: misspelled words, jokes that lose their punch, and declarations of love which soon turn sour.

I’m so much pickier about the kind of tattoos I like these days. I suppose that is just a function of age. The ink that makes me smile is silly, weird, or just beautifully executed.

Here are a few of my favourites at the moment…

Sasha Unisex is one of my favourite tattoo artists. Her tattoos are absolutely beautiful and so different from anything I’ve ever seen. Here’s some more of her work.

Taiom is from Brazil, and has such a unique and wacky style. Imagine taking off your shirt to reveal this scene!

I love the unexpected splash of colour in this piece by Lukasz Bam Kaczmarek.

This “keep demons at bay” piece is so bizarre and interesting, and I adore the colours. It’s by Marcin Surowiec.

I’m not sure who this is by — here’s the source — but it makes me grin. So cute!

This Best Ink tattoo from the upcoming episode makes me laugh! It’s so weird.

Even though I’m undecided about getting more tattoos, I love to look at other people’s work. I’m always fascinated by artists and their ability to create something beautiful or grotesque out of absolutely nothing. I’ve been tuning into Best Ink with an almost religious fervour, because it’s my favourite sort of reality television: the contestants actually have talent!

Make sure to tune in to tomorrow night’s episode to see Best Ink’s shocking tattoo challenge, and keep up with Best Ink on Wednesdays at 10/9c, only on Oxygen!

Inky love,

Photo of me by FX Media. This post was made possible with the assistance of Best Ink and Oxygen.