Monday, September 3, 2012

meet bob...

the melon! yes, i had to name the melon i was gonna tattoo, it felt only right. so this is bob in all his glory. i didn't take a before picture as you get what he would have looked like before all his tattoos....
 i can't tell you how awesome it was to pick up that machine and start inking away! it was pretty much the best feeling. it was tough though because the machine i was working with was from a starter kit my boss had bought a while ago and the kit only came with needles that are used for shading not line work so it was weird but still such  great learning experience. my boss pretended to be my client and he told me what he wanted, a lotus, and how big. we found an image he liked and i redrew it and then stenciled it on my melon. i was pretty stoked at how awesome it was to be learning a new way to draw my art and not to mention fun, thrilling, exciting, unbelievable....you get the picture. it was like sewing with an ink pen. i went home that night filled with so much hope and happiness.
since it was labor day weekend, it was pretty slow at the shop so when i wasn't doing chores or learning from one of the guys there, i asked one of them if i could use his station to practice. he was so sweet, offered to watch me set up the machine and giving advice. after a few annoying hiccups with the machine and finally just giving up on it all together, he gave me his machines to play with and WOW does a good machine really make a difference! it was like night and day!
it was so much easier and steadier then the starter kit machine and not to mention it just felt better in my hand. after i finished my star i played around and did some freehand stuff and then played with a shading machine and filled in my horrible freehand star and hearts.
i know tattooing a melon is much different then tattooing a person and the guys there gave me some tips on other things to tattoo but it felt so good to get that first tiny little hump out of the way. i have a long way to go but with lots of practice i know i can only get better and better. i was so excited that i talked to my boss about getting a machine so when i am not at the shop i can practice and he said instead of buying one he was gonna loan me one and that he wanted me to just buy the power source for the machine which i did, and i get it tuesday! aaahhhh! it is all happening so wonderfully fast! i am just so over the moon excited!

on top of really great days at the shop, i had a really awesome weekend with kelly-anne & xanadujulie! they came down to play and i had such a great time! it was the best. i suck and didn't bring out my camera the entire time so as soon as kelly-anne has uploaded them, i plan on stealing a few so you can get a peek into my wonderful weekend that i needed oh so much.

happy labor day!
xo,
cb






34 comments:

  1. Yah! How exciting!! Maybe by the time I visit you'll be a for real tattoo artist:D

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    1. Yes for sure! Oh my, that woukd be awesome!!!
      Xo,cb

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  2. What an exciting time in your life! I wish you nothing but the best of luck in all that comes your way!

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  3. *Squeal!* SO much fun! They sounds like a really nice bunch to work with: cooperative and encouraging. I am so happy you're enjoying it all!

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    1. Yes i feel so,lucky i found such a great group of guys!

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  4. That first photo...the lotus flower, I have that exact tattoo on my back. It was my first :)

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    1. I hope it is much better then mine! Im sure it is but how funny!

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  5. that's so exciting! & i actually kind of like the wonky free-hand star :)

    -erin

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    1. I thout he kinda looked like a starfish :)

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  6. i still can't believe this is actually happening!!!

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  7. Oh Bob, you look fantastic! I am so proud of you! I know we are just internet friends but it really makes me happy to see how much joy this is bringing you. You are so brave and so talented and so awesome and gosh I am just filled with so many emotions right now. Big virtual hug time!

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    1. Bob is looking hot! This comment made me so happy. Im so glad we are friends amber! Big virtual hug right back at you!

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  8. that's a melon that really rocks!
    i always look forward to reading your blogposts, and now even more since you started your apprenticeship. it's so nice to follow this exciting time in your artistic progress!

    are you planning on eating Bob? it'd be awesome if shops sold tattooed melons actually:)

    keep up the great work!

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    1. Thanks sweetie. This comment made me so happy. Im glad that others are enjoyiing it too and having such a great support community to share it with. I wont be eating bob, im a bit freaked out because of the ink but im sure it would be fine

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  9. gahh!!! so freakin excited for you!!

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  10. I'm SO excited for you!! =D That's some awesome ink Bob is sporting!

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  11. omg Cristie, i had to laugh here, not at yours and Bob's expense but b/c my gf Jane had a similar experience with another melon she named "Bloody Betty" - baha! she is learning how to tattoo eyebrows for aesthetics purposes. i never laughed so hard as when i saw her sad, decrepit Betty sitting there on the counter top all deflated like. loved seeing your progression though, it's much more inspiring :)))

    looks and sounds like you have enjoyed this season to the max and now are looking forward to lots more inking practice too. good for you! enjoy it all to bits. thanks for the visits lades and well-wishes / happy long weekend wrap ups! xo ♥

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    1. Oh wow she is learning that trade! Ive heard you can make so much money doing that. How cool is that! I love the name blody betty too. Bob is looking a little sad right now too.

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  12. yay, cb you are so awesome! i'm so excited that you're making steps to tattoo on a person, and i can't wait to see more of your journey! great job!

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  13. How exciting! Bob looks great! I think your work looks good! Can't wait to see what else they let you try!

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    1. My coworker said he used to tattoo pork bellies so once i tattoo a crap load of melons i will move on to those if i can find them. It will be gross but really close to the real thing

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  14. Very happy for your new life experiences, it's inspiring to see other people pursuing their passions! Have so much fun exploring this new venue for artistic expression.

    -Morgen
    talesoftwee.blogspot.com

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  15. that is amazing, how exciting!! so funny that the first thing they had you start w/ is a melon (and I tot. read that as "melon boob" haha). what other things will you try with? i'm glad you shared your first try with us, I'm smiling just seeing how happy you are about it, the fast progress you're making, and how great the people you work with seem - yay!!!!! your hard work is paying off!!
    http://dusanabotswana.com/

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  16. Hahaha fun! Sounds like you're having quite the experience! Loving hearing all about it :)

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  17. Haha! This is super :)
    I do hope it all goes well for you x

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  18. oh i love the tatooed melon he looks great!! :) i think i would be too scared to try it out on a real person!

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  19. you look so happy/proud/stoked! do you think you will tattoo yourself eventually? i have a few friends that have shown me some of their first tattoos from when they were learning and used their own legs and such!

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  20. This is SO AWESOME!!! I am so excited for you, and I'm loving hearing about your progress :) Living the dream, girl!

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  21. I'm so excited for this new stage in you life and I'm happy you're sharing on here so we can follow along with your progress! This is so awesome! Bob looks so bad ass :)

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  22. This is insanely awesome! I always wondered how tattoo artists practiced. Pretty cool! Bob looks rad! I can't wait to see more of your work.

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  23. hee hee, Bob looks awesome :D I'm so pleased it's all going so well sweetie, you deserve it. And how fantastic that you'll be able to pratice to your hearts content, yay! xox

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thanks for commenting! it fills me with joy that you have taken the time to stop by!
xo,
cb