3.15.2011

a long post about tattoos.







SO. This is a post about tattoos, obviously. 
OK. I have had ink on the brain recently. Although I've wanted a tattoo for a while, now seems like the right time to get on with it (for reasons that are a bit too private and frankly, too uninteresting to tell you about). 
I have been toying with two options. My favorite movie, Picnic At Hanging Rock, is filled with beautiful dialogue, but I'm drawn to one quote in particular: "Everything begins and ends at exactly the right time and place". It's spoken at a gorgeous moment in the film. No idea how I'd want it to look though.
My other idea is also a quote, from my other favorite film, Harold and Maude. It comes at a turning point, when Harold is finally learning to love life. Maude sees a sad little nimbly tree planted haphazardly outside of an office building, and decides they need to rescue/replant the tree somewhere it can thrive. She simply says "Grab the shovel, Harold", and they go about the business of saving the tree. It's a beautiful moment, because the viewer realizes this small act has completely changed Harold's way of looking at things. But there's one pathetic little problem were I to choose this quote. I want a sort of stylized little nimbly tree underneath the lettering, drawn the way I imagine Peter Max might have drawn it during his psychedelic period, if he collaborated on said drawing with Shel Silverstein. However, I can't draw for shit. Not even stick figures. So. I have this pretty exact idea in my head, unable to find it's way out due to my sad little useless hands. If one of you artists felt like trying to um, draw up a nimbly-sad-Peter Max-Shel Silverstein-tree, I would be forever grateful. Whichever idea I choose, the placement will be on my side, underneath the bra line. I think. 
Regarding the above photos: the first is that beautiful girl from SRC783 (I think)- how cool is her saturn palm? Then we have Cole Mohr (swoon) and his famous tattoo. Third is adorable Madeline from the amazing blog www.jeangreige.blogspot.com, which you should visit immediately. I would have linked the web address, but there are strange gaps in my computer knowledge, one of which happens to be making links out of things. Those "state with star over hometown" tattoos never get old for me- but they only work if you come from somewhere quirky, and Madeline definitely does. We have Bambi on Bambi (of course) which is arguably the cutest tattoo on the cutest girl, ever. Ohh- and Lily Cole never gets any attention for the script on her foot, which I can't fathom, because it's awesome. She has "as bees, geometry" in Latin, from "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (it was in Latin in the novel, she wasn't being pretentious or anything). I like the idea of ethereal Lily all wrapped up in Victor Hugo, stumbling upon that snippet of a lovely line, deciding it's exactly what she's been trying to say all along. Oh. And the last picture (the one with the nonsensical tattoos) is of what's her name, you know, the pretty girl who stole jewelry ideas from Bliss Lau, that girl who once actually said these actual words in an actual interview and actually meant them, in fact actually defended them two years later: 
   "The people with the best style for me are the people that are the poorest. Like, when I go down to Venice Beach and I see the homeless, like, I'm like, 'Oh my God, they're pulling out, like, crazy looks, and they, like, pulled shit out of like garbage cans'". 
You know, that awful girl. I mean, she looks pretty in pictures, that's for sure. But then, doesn't prettiness fade? And all we're left with are the horrible things we said back when we looked pretty in pictures?


Oh, and we are also left with our tattoos. 

22 comments:

  1. though i am not a tattoo lover, i love that bambi tattoo so much!
    looks cute!

    http://eclecticraccoon.blogspot.com/

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  2. Interesting post!
    I am also thinking of getting third tattoo..
    My man is againts it though. Don't really know why..

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  3. love the bambi tattoo; visit our blog dear:)
    xx
    the cookies

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  4. those tattoo absolutely cool :D
    X
    http://monicakosasih.blogspot.com/

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  5. Lovely tats, I'm wondering about getting one in two months!

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  6. Hmm, I agree with you. I really like these tattoos too. :)




    www.shevahh.blogspot.com
    xo

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  7. great pictures. love cole and erin's tattoos. they're really daring. i love the idea of getting tattoo(s) too. i think it's very daring for a woman who's daring enough to get it :)

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  8. i actually have a tat on my right side under my bra line of a blue bird. I have toyed with the idea of getting another...they are kinda addicting

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  9. You should just get a butterfly on your lower back.



    Kidding.

    God, Bambi. Her tattoo is really perfect for her. I got another ear piercing the other week and I think that kind of piercing/tat pain is weirdly addictive (I know I'm definitely not the first person to say that). I love the first tattoo also.

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  10. great post, ah i want a tattoo as well!
    great tattoo ideas you have! sadly, i'm just like you - not an artist ..hah
    good luck thouugh!
    oh and yes, cole mohr *swoon*
    xx

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  11. dude! i wanna get a sweet bar code tat complete with microscopic binary that is only legible at 0.2 nm resolution spelling out "high society"! lemme know...

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  12. I knew about Hugo Boss -- so crazy! Did you know about Fanta & Coca-Cola?

    In regards to tattoos, I have 9, and I hate like 6 of them, which is why I hate living in LA -- it's too hot to cover my arms up with sleeves. It took me forever to figure out what my preferred tattoo aesthetic is: simple black line drawings and a lot of emphasis on text, which happens to be exactly what you described! So, I think your tattoo is going to be awesome, whichever you choose. I had an amazing English teacher who made everyone watch Harold & Maude my freshman year of high school and it made a profoundly positive impact on a young, impressionable Madeline.

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  13. great pics! :)

    katslovefashion.blogspot.com

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  14. neat post, the tattoo on the palm of the hand is kind of neat! and I adore the bambi one!

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  15. yeah, i've been itching for a new one lately too, only i can't decide on what! i've been known to be a bit artistic (don't wanna toot my own horn) so i can give a whack at drawing you one. feel free to utterly disregard it though should it turn out looking like garbage ;) and yeah, love the last chicks tattoo's regardless of her being a moron.

    Beneath the Glass

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  16. Super post. I really liked the way you explained having that little picture inside your head but you just can't get it out there.. I totally feel you. My only advice would be to think about your tattoo choices for a long time. I drew mine out like 13082u03 ways before I was for.sure.happy. Either way, if you do get one you have to post a follow up! Love your blog btw. Super x

    myheartstumbles.blogspot.com

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  17. Great pic's I am loving the bambi tat.
    Downside my Hubby's back tat is 7 years old and has been faded and blue since I met him 4 years ago. So my advice keep it small and simple so you can inexpensively touch it up every few years.

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  18. tattoos are great....get one! you won´t regret :)

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