My special guest today is Sidney Bristol, fellow Romance Diva and author of Under His Skin. Since Under His Skin is part of the Pricked series, featuring tattoos, I asked Sidney to do a TT all about tattoos. So, grab a drink from the cabana boy, sit back and enjoy! Over to Sidney…
1. Tattoos are something we see every day as the social acceptance becomes greater in all parts of the world. But why are tattoos called – tattoos? The origins come from a Tahitian word, tatu, which translates roughly as, ‘to mark something.’ Tatu is also a rough estimation of what the hammer hitting the tattoo needle in the original process, ta, a light tap to set the needle in the skin, and tu, a harder tap to inject the ink under the epidermis.
2. Some of the oldest found humans have tattoos. Otzi the Iceman, the oldest European man ever found, had a collection of geometric tattoos on his body. After studying his bones and finding the areas under the ink degenerating, it’s believed that the practice of tattooing was to help relieve pain. Otzi is estimated to have been alive in 3,300 BC. Since he was discovered, a body dating back 8000BC has also been found with tattoo markings.
3. Every culture has a tattoo tradition, and almost to a one, tattoos tell nothing of their history. No one knows how the first person thought it would be a GREAT idea to put this bit of soot or dirt under their skin to make a design. In researching, the general consensus is that the first tattoo happened by way of an accident, someone had an injury or open wound, rubbed it with a hand covered in soot or dirt and when the injury healed, the marks stayed.
4. The 1%. Long before Wall Street and the battle of the 1%, motorcyclists held court over the 1%. In 1950’s, the American motorcycle Association made a statement that 99% of motorcyclists are good people, and only 1% were the outlaws people feared. This was in answer to a growing fear of motorcycle gangs and violence. In answer to this statement, many of the motorcyclists who saw themselves as outlaws went out and got the 1% tattoo, proudly proclaiming, “We are the people our parents warned us about,” a popular motto of the Bandido gang. It is common now for a member of a tattoo gang be required to earn their 1% tattoo by doing something worthy of an outlaw. How hard do you think they’re laughing at Wall Street now?
5. The most tattooed man in the world has 92% of his body covered by leopard prints. This is commonly referred to as a body suit, and may or may not include feet, gentiles, hands, neck and face.
6. The world record holder for more tattoos had about 14,000 individual tattoos on his body.
7. In the 90’s cosmetic tattoos became a staple. The most popular cosmetic tattoo is eyeliner, the second is lipstick. I would tattoo lipstick. Talk about the ultimate long-last-no-smudge!!
8. The first tattoo machine was a device created by Thomas Edison. It was modified in 1891 and though it’s not known for sure, the resulting tattoo on Thomas Edison’s forearm of a collection of dots were probably made by this machine. The dots are in the same formation as a five on a set of dice.
9. In the 1960’s tattoos were banned in New York City after a person was infected with Hepatitis B. This is why it is very important to know and talk to your tattoo artist. Don’t be afraid to ask for health certifications and have a look around to determine your own comfort. Despite the known diseases transmitted due to tattoos, there has yet to be a case of transmitting HIV due to a tattoo.
10. A good tattoo artist will undergo years of preparation before setting up shop as a professional. This generally begins with a low-man-on-the-totem-pole job to learn the ropes of how the shop works, or straight into an apprenticeship. Though in recent years tattoo schools have been created in a school room environment, the way artists have learned for generations is from watching a master and spending hours drawing, doing general shop labor and working their way up to tattooing pig skins, themselves and friends before taking their first client. In addition, since tattooing is considered a health care field because of the process of injecting substances under the skin, many artists will get certifications and training in dealing with blood-born pathogens and biohazard care. They want to do a good job, and they want to do it safely.
11. The top five tattoo designs in recent years are tribal of any kind, stars or nautical stars, crosses, angels and wings.
12. Currently it’s estimated that one in four Americans between 18 to 50 have at least one tattoo. I can say that the number of people who approach me the most about liking my tattoos are over 40, and typically say that they wish they would have done the tattoo they wanted when they were younger. Though tattoos have always been popular among the younger set, the largest growing age group for tattoos is 40+.
13. Pregnant women and tattooed individuals lose the rights of personal space. Where a pregnant woman will undergo nine months of being felt up by random strangers, tattooed people will always have strangers approach them and examine their tattoos, with or without permission. I’ve had my clothes partially removed by complete strangers wanting to get a look at my back tattoo. Another time I was wearing a dress and a complete stranger looked down the back to get a glimpse of the art.
QUESTION FROM SHELLEY – Do you have a tattoo?
It can never be said that Sidney Bristol has had a ‘normal’ life. She is a recovering roller derby queen, former missionary, and tattoo addict. She grew up in a motor-home on the US highways (with an occasional jaunt into Canada and Mexico), traveling the rodeo circuit with her parents. Sidney has lived abroad in both Russia and Thailand, working with children and teenagers. She now lives in Texas where she splits her time between a job she loves, writing, reading and belly dancing.
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Under His Skin, So Inked #1, Pricked Series
A woman who doesn’t believe she deserves love…
Toe-curling kisses and enough sex to fill a weekend were all Pandora wanted from a fling with her teenage crush. She’s never forgotten how he played the knight in shining armor to her damsel in distress. She’s ready to say thank you in several naughty ways, so long as she can walk away when it’s over with her heart intact.
A man moving on from tragedy…
Brian has no intention of allowing the feisty tattoo artist to leave him after one taste. He hasn’t had enough of her inked curves. The packaging might have changed, but Pandy is the woman he hasn’t been able to excise from his memory. He’s ready to put together a new life, one that includes her. But he’s not the only one vying for her attention. Someone else wants her, dead or alive.
August 2nd, 2012 at 1:17 am · Link
I don’t have a tattoo…my brother does, my mother did and my uncle did. I thought about it..but I’m such a wuss. I even had the Grim Reaper design picked out that I wanted…but I never did it. lol Me and pain…yeah not a good combination.
Love the premise of the story.
August 2nd, 2012 at 6:31 am · Link
I totally thought I would be a wuss about it, but as it turns out tattoos are one of the things that don’t bother me. However, do not show me a hypodermic needle and expect me to stay awake! I pass out like a fainting goat.
August 2nd, 2012 at 1:44 am · Link
Great Thur 13 post! I used to do the meme a while back and stopped by to see if it was still running and found your blog – had to read about the tattoos! I just got my 7th one in May in Manchester, UK. :)
August 2nd, 2012 at 6:37 am · Link
Woohoo!! I’d love to get a tattoo in a foreign country. I was going to try to do one in Thailand, but it didn’t work out in the time I had to allot for the tattoo. The traditional types take a really long time.
August 2nd, 2012 at 2:50 am · Link
Welcome, Sidney, and congrats on your latest release. #13 cracked me up. I’m gonna have to write that in a book.
August 2nd, 2012 at 6:26 am · Link
LOL! It’s so true. Children are the funniest, because they’re just curious and think someone has painted on my arm.
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:57 am · Link
I get stabbed enough by insect, plant, or claw where I live. So tats aren’t for me.
Cool facts though.
August 2nd, 2012 at 6:39 am · Link
Hey, they aren’t for everyone. I love tattoos, but I’m probably the person who talks people out of them the most. It’s a permanent decision.
August 2nd, 2012 at 5:04 am · Link
Interesting. My father has a tatoo, I think he has often regretted it. He got it when he was in the army. No other tatoos that I am aware of.
Congrats on the book!
August 2nd, 2012 at 6:45 am · Link
Yeah, can see that. I have a four year rule about tattoos, I have to want it for four years or else I don’t get it. Keeps me from getting something I don’t like.
August 2nd, 2012 at 7:39 am · Link
Congratulations on the new release! I’d love a Tinkerbell tattoo, but I couldn’t do the whole pain thing that goes with it! LOL!
*hugs*
Paige
My TT is at http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/
August 2nd, 2012 at 9:53 am · Link
Thanks Paige! The pain isn’t as bad as people make it out to be, in my experience. The key is chosing an area that isn’t super sensitive.
August 2nd, 2012 at 7:44 am · Link
I do not (yet) have any tattoos. I’ve always been kind of afraid I would get addicted to it.
August 2nd, 2012 at 9:48 am · Link
I can talk on the addiction part. If you’re going for something small, and I call small hand size or smaller, don’t worry. The “addiction” is largely mental. You get a certain feel, if you enjoy the tattoo process, that people want to recreate. As far as being addicted to the ink itself, it’s yet to be medically proven that the tattoo inks are addictive. I can say I’m one of those who enjoys being tattooed. The worst part is the healing!
August 2nd, 2012 at 8:02 am · Link
Interesting post. I have a tat of a phoenix on my back/shoulder. Totally love it!
August 2nd, 2012 at 9:49 am · Link
Oooh, those are so cool!
August 2nd, 2012 at 8:08 am · Link
I loved “Under His Skin”. fantastic book.
I didn’t know Edison made the first tattoo machine!
I’m jealous of your tats! I’m getting one some day. I swear it.
August 2nd, 2012 at 9:50 am · Link
Technically he didn’t make it, another gentleman took his design and tweaked it to make the electromagnetic tattoo machine we know today. I’m not sure who holds that origional patent. I should look into that…
August 2nd, 2012 at 9:22 am · Link
I love tattoos, have always been into them and can’t get enough of them.
August 2nd, 2012 at 9:50 am · Link
Meee toooooo!
August 2nd, 2012 at 9:34 am · Link
I LOVE tattoos. There is nothing hotter than a man or a woman well-decorated with art. Of course, I’ve always wanted some, but have either been a wimp when I had the money, out of money when I wasn’t a wimp, or had absolutely no idea what symbol I would want on my body for the rest of my life.
Alas!
August 2nd, 2012 at 9:51 am · Link
Awe, you aren’t a wimp. Don’t get something if you don’t love it! And I have to agree, guys with ink — be still my beating heart.
August 2nd, 2012 at 10:22 am · Link
Love your tats, Sidney! Beautiful work. I myself have 11 individual ones, my favorite being the three black ravens on my arm. Love tattoos and will never get enough of them!
August 2nd, 2012 at 12:05 pm · Link
Oooh, I’m jealous of all you people with black tattoos! Black fades to gray on me. So sad.
August 2nd, 2012 at 10:22 am · Link
This is great research for me as I have a story in mind that involves a tattoo.
August 2nd, 2012 at 12:05 pm · Link
LOL! Glad I could help. Feel free to pick my brain anytime!
August 2nd, 2012 at 10:45 am · Link
I’ve always had a love of tattoos. I only have two on each arm but am considering more for my back.
I must admit it is sometimes funny to hear comments from those who hold a stereotype regarding tats. More times than not, I’ve surprised people who hadn’t expected the nerdy girt to have tats lol!!!
August 2nd, 2012 at 12:06 pm · Link
Oh, if you think that’s bad, I used to be that tattooed missionary. THAT got some raise eyebrows.
August 2nd, 2012 at 11:07 am · Link
Hey Sidney!
Can’t wait to check our your series. I’m a huge fan of tattoos. I have over 10 hours of work on my body (broken up over various pieces) and, in total, I have 6 tattoos with many more planned.
I have a question for *you*–do you have any tattoos that relate to your writing?
XO, Annabelle
August 2nd, 2012 at 12:07 pm · Link
Not currently, but I would like to do another stained glass half sleeve on my left arm of a tree with books hanging from the tree limbs. Depending on what my artist says, I may get him to try to make some of the hanging books, my books.
August 2nd, 2012 at 12:34 pm · Link
So interesting, thanks Sidney and Shelley. #12 fits right in at my house. Hubs and I are both turning the lovely 40 in the next 6-months. For years we’ve said when we turned 40 we’d get tattoos, not sure why 40 was the number, but the time will soon be here, yeah :)
August 2nd, 2012 at 1:46 pm · Link
I have a small on on my ankle. I’m hoping to get it reinked to make it sharper, and maybe more in the future.
August 3rd, 2012 at 12:54 pm · Link
I have been a tattoo artist for over 17 years and I enjoy the work. Creating tattoos is a passion of mine and I have been very successful.
I really enjoyed your article it has been inspiring and I hope you keep producing more. Tattoos have become very popular and it’s nice to see other people that have the same interest.
Keep up the good work
August 6th, 2012 at 12:02 pm · Link
Wonderful post! It is nice to see someone accurately representing a brief history of tattoos. As a heavily modified mother of two, I can certainly relate to #13!
Now if we could just get Hollywood on board to showcase characters with tattoos as anything but the bad guys.