We’ve made a start on my sleeve!

I’d waited several months for contact from Sacred Tattoo in Auckland – I did have contact but each email said “Dean doesn’t have time, we will get back to you in the next 2 months” – then it was 3 months – then 6 months.
I can understand that he is busy but I just couldn’t wait any longer (didn’t want to wait any longer) and I had found an amazing artist whose work I loved.  And an artist who I trusted – and really liked as a person.

Minuit by Simon Morse

Simon Morse drew and tattooed my recent foot piece – my yacht and sea.
I loved the shading and the colours that he used and that he understood when I said I wanted to integrate the colours from my stingray in to the piece.

While I was sitting there, at Alc Headquarters (where the studio is), I was looking at his artwork on the walls.

Simon’s portfolio is coming soon on his website but there are other pieces of his floating around on the internet.
Simon’s has drawn for comics overseas and twisted pin up girls for Illicit Clothing – as well as several New Zealand artists including Minuit.
It was the pin up girls that caught my eye and I started to form something in my head.

I contacted Simon once I got back to Auckland and asked if he would do another piece for me – the start of my sleeve.
All I asked him for was me as a Mermaid – with a difference.
In heels instead of a tail – with a scaled corset and big boobs.  And holding a riding crop.

Conveniently, I needed to head back down to Wellington again for work so I booked some time with Simon.

He had extended the drawing further and made some space for other pieces that would extend the sleeve.

We got started and I have to say I was jiggling with excitement.
(Simon also has to hold me down sometimes – I have visitors who come in to say Hi and when I talk my whole body moves.  I’m used to being able to talk with my hands!).  Greer took this and then posted it on Tumblr :

via Greer McDonald / Just went and watched the lovely @tarasutherland get her latest ink by Simon at Alc HQ on Cuba St. Have tattoo envy…

I really like having people stop in and say Hi.  I miss Wellington – and its really cool that people are interested in this.

inks and machines - Simon's working tray

Placement and alignment is important

The placement of my Mermaid – “Mermaseille” as she is now known – was really important.  For a couple of reasons.
She is going to be the main focus of my sleeve and everything else built around her.  She has knees and as my arm bends, we didnt want her to look weird when my arm moved and I really wanted to avoid having too much shading in the very very very tender piece just inside my elbow.  So we played with a stencil for a bit getting her just right.

I have a few of the photographs that I have taken underwater lined up ready to be drawn in to the next items in the sleeve.  There will be another sitting to finish her and her shading and the bubbles and waves going around the outside.
Three and a little bit hours later and we (by we I mean Simon) have done lots!

its even harder to take a photograph of your bicep that your forearm!

A few hours later and an application of Tinkture and she was looking really good.

I have written about how impressed I was with how Tinkture helped my last tattoo heal so I am using it again this time.
With this tattoo, around day 3, I noticed some bumps forming on my arm – around my elbow.  They were not itchy, just a bit red, sort of like pimples.

I checked with Gillian from Tinkture as to whether she had seen this before and she had.
She gave me a link to an article and some photographs showing that some people are allergic to some tattoo inks – most often greens and reds.

I have kept on applying Tinkture to “Mermaseille” and the spots are healing nicely.
Its just over a week later and she looks fantastic.  I can’t wait for the next session!

Other posts you might enjoy:

Mermaseille Stage Two Inked by Simon Morse, healed by Tinkture a Statement of Me 1343099742Dr Morse INC