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Hawaiians and Polynesians have a staunch belief that tattoos possess two meanings: 1) an overt or visual one that an onlooker can decode for himself/herself, and 2) a deeper story which isn’t disclosed because it diminishes the tattoos worth and protective power. Herein is a tattoo with a strong overt meaning and a hidden message – can you see it? Better yet – can you decipher it?
Many people love all-black tattoos and the vast amount of coverage by a black ink. Interestingly (as noted herein) the tattoo when fresh is very black. However, as the tattoo heals, it will often times turn a strong shade of gray as it peels and scars then back to black. It’s very important during this transitional phase to apply moisture (ask your artist for recommendations) that includes vitamin E. The inclusion of vitamin E helps in the healing process.
Two years ago I made a conscious decision to study the art of inking (the body). I’ve spent countless hours researching topic via the web, text and journals within the UTK library, and the databases of UTK’s online library system. Throughout my journey I’ve shared countless images and stories about the world of tattooing. Today, my website is visited by more than 10,000 surfers each week.
Standing on the sidelines I studied the art form and learned how to dissect the good, bad and ugly. If you take time out to review my website you’ll find some beautiful tattoos … but you’ll find many tattoos gone wrong. As my personal appreciation of the good stuff grew, I studied the work of well-known artists (living and deceased). Throughout the journey I envisioned becoming a kindred member of the 5000+ year-old tattoo club, and the probability or eventuality of being inked.
Tattooing of the body dates to at least 3300 B.C. as evident from the markings on “Otzi the Iceman.” Tattoos found on Egyptian and Nubian mummies date to 2000 B.C.; classical authors mention the use the use of tattoos in connection with Greeks, ancient Germans, Thracians, and ancient Britons. The same can be said of tattoos within the Oceania region, but history is not preserved in a written context to verify its origins there. Many researchers believe Oceania inhabitants considered tattooing an ancient custom to mark taboos and/or to embody magic in the person adorning the ink.
James Cook, an accomplished cartographer (who mapped the Hawaiian Islands), and his colleague, Joseph Banks (a botanist) gathered first-hand observational data from their voyages within the Oceania region. They were tasked with observing the people, animals and plants they encountered in the region. Cook and Banks clearly understood the process of inserting blue dye under the skin because they witnessed many an islander being inked via pointed bones and simple tapping devices made of wood.
Until Cook and Banks “observed” the process, descriptions of the process were awkwardly described and typically without accuracy. Joseph Banks is the credited inventor of the word “tattoo” derived from the Tahitian word ‘tatau.’ According to Maarten Hesselt van Dinter in his book, The World of Tattoo, “tattooing gained its identity as a distinct art form with the invention of the word.” I firmly believe observational data can provide anyone … including all those who fearful of tattoos … with sufficient information to embrace the art form.
Tattoos abound among my cycling buddies – many of whom sport numerous watermarks and full-sized tats. When you ride, train and race with the same group of guys, most of the conversation centers on family, professions, travels, and on occasion, tattoos. When asked about a tattoo, each and every conversation ended with the same advice (about getting inked): “create a design that you can live with for a lifetime and/or make damn sure the artist is just that — an artist.”
An attorney friend (with more than 10 tattoos) led me to person he trusts – an artist with an established reputation and full command of the iron. The artist who inked him – and now me – is Dale Johnson, owner of Mythical Markings located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Johnson is a gifted artist who produces tattoos that are highly creative and tight. The art deck on Mythical Markings website will give you a brief overview of his creativity.
In September I stopped by to introduce myself and talk about getting inked. Naturally my white shirt, tie and pressed pants seemed odd. Dale actually backed up – thinking I was either a salesman or a lawyer. He relaxed when I said, “Josh sent me.” We sat and reviewed my reference material and talked about creating a unique and custom design. Throughout our conversations we discussed each creative element or component, and the intended meaning(s) to be conveyed through the design. The final design that we agreed upon resulted in the creation of original artwork reflective of my input and my interests.
Herein are the photos of my tattoo outlined after our first session. This was the first step in the process of creating Koali`i – in outline form. While sitting in the chair Dale asked me to describe the pain. Curiously I answered with … “it feels like a scalpel is dragging across my skin with a sharp pin repeatedly paving the way for the blade.” He told me that answering the question while in the chair would help me remember. Surely it did.
Two weeks after the outline was inked in and completed, I revisited Mythical Markings for an extension to the original tattoo design. We added five crucifixes to the top, and Dale completed the fill-in work at the top of the half-sleeve and face of Koali`i. Once again, Dale asked me about the pain and I provided an entirely different answer. “The fill-in work is easier to take when you give in but it’s difficult to let go and accept the pain.” One spot hurt much more than any other (including the back side of my arm). For some reason the scarred skin of my smallpox shot was super-sensitive and alarmingly painful when inked.
For most of the 3.5 hours I didn’t give into the pain – in other words my arm was tense as I resisted the iron. There were minutes when I gave into the pain, but for the most part I fought it. This proved to be a mistake because for the next four days the muscles in my left arm were extremely sore. I learned something, and it applies to life itself: when pain comes (and it surely will) – give into it. Allow it to exist – don’t fight it. As HRH the Dalai Lama once said, “pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.”
Herein are the images from my second sitting at Mythical Markings:
Another week passed and the calendar turned to October 31st – the final sitting for my first half-sleeve. We booked four hours for the fill-in work to make sure we were able to complete the half-sleeve. I was much more conversational during this session than in the previous two. Relaxing and giving into the pain helped tremendously. The mental process is actually very simple: separate your mind from your body and allow it to happen. While the needle was moving across my skin I accepted the pain and relaxed.
The needle isn’t “angry” nor is the artist applying the ink. The needle has no feelings – it is merely in a position to work at the command of the artist. The ink session was clearly the most painful of all three sittings (because of such a huge area being filled), but I was much more relaxed.
Finding a tattoo artist – some simple advice: Although tattooing isn’t heart survey, you’d best locate an artist whose life is committed to the profession. In other words, find a “Dale Johnson.” And if you can’t find one in your part of the world, then fly your happy ass to Knoxville, Tennessee. I highly suggest that you call ahead, talk with Brooke and secure an appointment. Dale is booked almost everyday.
Ok then. When I say, “inketh oneth” it officially applies to me.
Over the last year I’ve worked diligently to capture images that are representative of the very best in Hawaiian tattoo design – or Polynesian tattoo design. It’s been fun – and my website has taken on a global life of its own. My weekly unique visits now total more than 10,000; my best day was yesterday with 1,974 unique visitors. Ergo, there are a lot of folks who are very interested in searching for and finding tattoo art, reference material and images to “ponder” … what if?
Remember, when you find a design you like – project yourself into the future some 10 years and imagine if you’ll feel the same way … or will it be a yesteryear dream long past. Think about it.
For now – ink oneth.
They lived through the age of the dinosaurs. They survived the earth’s age of ice. Sea turtles, the true ancients of the world, have been swimming the oceans for over 200 million years. Today, six out of the seven species are either endangered and on the verge of extinction, or threatened to become endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Visit turtles.org to learn more. If you want to see more tattoos within my site, click the tag cloud, Tattoos. Aloha.
The legacy of the Polynesian tattoo began over 2000 years ago and is as diverse as the people who wear them. Once widespread in Polynesian societies across the Pacific Ocean, the arrival of western missionaries in the 19th century forced this unique art form into decline. Despite the encroachment of Christian religious beliefs that vilified tattooing as unholy, many Polynesian tattoo artists maintained their vital link to their culture’s history by preserving their unique craft for generations.
In Samoa, the tradition of applying tattoo, or tatau, by hand has been unbroken for over two thousand years. Tools and techniques have changed little. The skill is often passed from father to son, each tattoo artist, or tufuga, learning the craft over many years of serving as his father’s apprentice. A young artist-in-training often spent hours, and sometimes days, tapping designs into sand or barkcloth using a special tattooing comb, or au. Honoring their tradition, Samoan tattoo artists made this tool from sharpened boar’s teeth fastened together with a portion of the turtle shell and to a wooden handle.
Today (literally) you can walk into ink-shops … tattoo shops … and artists are willing to custom design a tattoo just for you in a clean, sterile, safe and friendly environment. One of Hawaii’s best is Odyssey Tattoo. They have two locations on O’ahu. I suggest reservations prior to arrival; they also offering body piercing and permanent makeup. The team at Odyssey is: Timothy Goodrich, Jesa Goodrich, Andrew Deaton, Shay Haas, Brian Mau, Eddie Diaz and Jacob Hanks.
From what I see they understand Polynesian-style tattoos and the artistry that makes for some of the best ink on the planet. Aloha.
There are not many Polynesian words that have entered the English language, but perhaps the most widely used is tattoo. Exactly where and when the word “tattoo” originated is open to debate, but it is certain that it was a corruption of the Polynesian word tatau, picked up by the early European sailors exploring the Southern Ocean.
In reality, tattoos originated as a method of identifying warriors some 5,000+ years ago. Historians note that tattooing has been a Eurasian practice at least since around Neolithic times. For example, Ötzi the Iceman, dating from the fourth to fifth millennium BC, was found in the Ötz valley in the Alps and had approximately 57 carbon tattoos consisting of simple dots and lines on his lower spine, behind his left knee, and on his right ankle.
Fast forward to the 21st century and we find that tattoos have experienced a resurgence in popularity in many parts of the world, particularly in North and South America, Japan, and Europe. The growth in tattoo culture has seen an influx of new artists into the industry, many of whom have technical and fine arts training. Coupled with advancements in tattoo pigments and the ongoing refinement of the equipment used for tattooing, this has led to an improvement in the quality of tattoos being produced.
Tattoos conjure up all sorts of images. Polynesian tattoos conjure up even more mystical imagery. When you say the word Polynesian tattoo designs to people, they immediately think beautiful islands, ritualistic dancing and “island” food. Throughout the history of tattoos, Polynesia has influenced thousands of artists who recognize the importance of tattooing as means for creating unique identifiers for the people of Polynesia. Tattoos and Polynesia go hand in hand especially when you recognize that tattoos were used as a kind of record book to keep track of a person’s personal history. There were specific markings to denote one’s social status, occupation, lineage, family and conquests in battle. Herein are two full back tattoos that are a mix of goth with overtones of Polynesia. Enjoy.
Playing cards are often featured in a multitude of tattoo designs – like the one in this blog post today. And the tattoo designs make full use of many of the symbols to be found in a deck of cards, all the way from the Ace of Spades, to the Queen of Hearts, to the ‘wild’ Joker. The modern pack of playing cards can be traced back to Medieval Europe, when cards were a dalliance of the rich. Printing techniques eventually made mass production possible so that playing cards became popular with common folk as well.
A deck of cards consisted of ‘royals’ (also called ‘court’ cards), comprised of King, Queen and Knight (later termed ‘Jack’) – and number cards ranging from the 2 (deuce) to 10. The Ace, which derived from the Latin for the ‘smallest coinage’, took the lowest value of one. The four suits, Spades, Hearts, Diamonds and Clubs (originally cups, swords, coins and batons) came in two colours, red and black. In the 1500s, a pack became standardized to the 52 cards we have today. If you want to see more samples of card tats – the link is here: www.tattoo22.com
