Zackary's Birthday Tattoo
Inspired by Salvador Dali
Los Elefantes
Salvador Dali, oil on canvas, 1948 (private collection)
The 18th year is typically one of growth, change and the beginning of adulthood. When one turns 18 in the United States, you are legally old enough to vote in elections, enlist in any branch of the armed forces, you can purchase tobacco products, gamble and you can enter contests. Oh, and you can be charged as an adult and your parents are no longer legally required to support you. Just saying. I'm not resisting the urge to point out to teenagers who have reached the ripe age of 18, that if you want to be treated as an adult, it wouldn't hurt to act like one. Again, just saying.
Since 18 is a monumental birthday, my husband and I wanted our new son to have something special. I remember my 18th birthday well, because my father presented me with my first car. I remember my husband's well because I made him a poppyseed cake and pierced his ear with a needle and ice cube, but that's another story for another day. Back to the original point, Zackary wanted something that sort of represented a coming of age you could say. He chose a tattoo to commemorate his 18th birthday. In middle school, he had fallen in love with the works of Salvador Dali, especially Los Elefantes, and really wanted Dali's elephants tattooed onto his calves.
Getting a tattoo these days requires planning, consultations and booking an appointment. Back in my day, you could just walk in off the street and get a tattoo, any tattoo. We scheduled the consultation and the first appointment. The boy ended up getting grounded a few times so the tattoo appointment was postponed until very recently.
This past Tuesday, we headed to Robot Piercing and Tattoo for the two hour ordeal. Jason, from Robot, was the artist who designed this tattoo for Zackary's leg. He did an awesome job, it looks great and Zackary is very happy with the final piece. Both of us highly recommend Jason for any design and tattoo work.
I cannot wait to see what this kid will look like in 20 years.
Here he is looking a bit nervous.
Half-way done. The purple is the stencil and is not a part of the tattoo.
The final tattoo!
Two day old tattoo.
He's no stranger to tattoos. He got this one last year, at age 17, without permission but not on my clock. Seriously, this could not have been hidden for more than about a day.
He got this one at the ripe age of 16. Again, it wasn't on my clock and I actually really like it. It's Buddhist, and the translation is roughly "I am awake." I think it's a beautiful piece of work.
For my readers: Do you have tattoos?
