Being a canvas

heart with swallows

My chest tattoo is huge, fits me perfectly and I get compliments on it every time I leave the house with it showing.
No one else has this tatt. It is a piece of unique art. Did I design it? No. Could I have designed it, I am an artist right? No, I could not have designed it. In fact, I did not even go and look at art - tattoo art or otherwise. I described what I wanted - verbally.

When I went in to talk to Todd about this tatt - I told him I wanted a heart and that I wanted the heart to be broken and then be in the process of being mended - with laces or something. I wanted traditional tattoo swallows. I wanted it to be just black and gray. He took out a piece of tracing paper and laid it on my chest and traced out the important landmarks of my body - he noted where I had large birthmarks - he noted how much skin I typically show when my blouse is unbuttoned at the top. And I left with an appointment to get this tatt put on my body.

I did not see his design. I had NO idea if I would like his interpretation of my concept. In my mind's eye - this would be a small heart, being laced up by ribbons held by swallows. I imagined it just taking the area over my collar bone - not my entire chest. But I trusted. It was not easy for me to let go of the design of the art that would come to define me, but I did.

He wanted to surprise me - so I did not see the art prior to him putting the pattern on my body. My eyes were closed as he transferred it to my body. I could tell, it was much larger than I was expecting. I could hear my husband's appreciation for the art through his ooh's and "baby, it's perfect!."  When I opened my eyes and looked at myself in the mirror - I could see it really was perfect.

The heart was large and with lace inside, which Todd told me was an older Tattooing tradition. The heart had "glow" likes like a crown at the top - also traditional. The swallows were perfectly placed so that they wrap over my collar bones, and emphasizing the lines of my own body. The size of it was a shock, but the minute I looked in the mirror - I knew it was exactly right for me. The roses - with thorns - he could not have known how much meaning they have for me. I had not asked for them - but I loved them immediately. Black roses and thorns are a connection to the place online where I met Ben - the six thorn gallery - my virtual art gallery where all my art was described with words.

I had only given Todd words for the art I wanted and he made it real, and forever I will wear this art over my heart.