Ximena Abril Villegas
Inked Ximena Abril Villegas
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Inked Ximena Abril Villegas
BookBaby 7905 N Crescent Blvd, Pennsauken Township, NJ 08110 2020 3
Inked CopyrightŠ Photography and design by Ximena Abril Villegas All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For more information, contact: Ximena Abril Villegas 6905 Hovingham Ct. Centreville, VA 20121 4
“My body is my journal, and my tattoos are my story.” -Johnny Depp
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CONTENTS
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History of Tattoos
Styles Around the World
Tattoo Technique
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Uvita Interview
Fun Facts
Tattoo Aftercare
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Q&A
My Tattoos
Bibliography
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Thank you. Thank you to my family that has helped me through my decision to be a designer. Thank you to the people I have in my life for the encouragement every day to help me through tough days. Thank you to the (not so) strangers anymore who took a leap and decided to show off their tattoos to someone they may have never talked to. Thank you. This book is based on a very special topic that I was too afraid to showcase. Now it is time to change the stigma and let people be artists on the best canvas we could possibly have.
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History Of
Tattoos 11
The word tattoo originates from the Tahitian word “Tatau” which means “to tap” or “to mark.” Throughout the ages, tattoos have been worn as amulets, representation of social status, declarations of love, signs of religious beliefs, and even as a form of punishment. Interestingly, most cultures started their own tattoo traditions independently of other cultures, yet most of them used body markings as a form of protection that later evolved to what we now know as a symbol of religious belief, selfexpression, or even fashion statements.
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STYLES AROUND THE WORLD
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Batok Known to be the traditional tattoo style in the Philippines. These markings are worn as a symbol of adulthood and can only be given by the Mambabatok, the cultural tattoo practitioner. For men, the markings symbolize their earned bravery and nobility once they hit puberty. On the other hand, for women, this tattoo is a symbol of beauty for those who are worthy of them. Besides the prideful meaning behind this style, these markings are also believed to survive beyond death and to give the wearer a passage to the afterlife. Other Batok designs are believed to be passed
Sak Yant Traditional style of Cambodia, Thailand. ‘Sak” means “to tap” and Yant means “Yantra,” a word derived from the Sanskrit word “Yantra.” This style originated from monks who would tattoo warriors that needed protection during battles, which is why even in modern-day, they can only be given by Buddhist monks known as Ajarns. These tattoos are believed to give magical powers giving the wearer luck, money, good health, protection, and much more.
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Irezumi After the “Edo” period in Japan, the Irezumi style came to develop into the advanced form of art that it is today. Irezumi is the decoration of the body with mythical beasts, flowers, and other different images from myths and tales. These marking are done with the famous Nara ink which turns blue green under the skin. This style of tattoo became known for being worn by firemen, figures of bravery and sex appeal that used these markings as a form of protection. While it was used as a form of protection and religious belief, it also started being used in criminals and it is now known to be associated with the Japanese mafia, the Yakuza.
Tatau This Samoan style brought us the name “tattoo” that we know now. These markings are a representation of honor, respect, power, and a mark of pride which can only be given by the Tafuga and its descendants. This style is also known as Pe’a for men and Malu for women. When a man wears his pe’a, it is a sign of their manhood, and is respected for their bravery. Similarly, the malu is a sign of a woman’s womanhood, yet men with no tattoos are called Telefua or “naked.” These series of lines, curves, and geometric shapes and patterns are viewed as cultural pride.
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Ta Moko Ta Moko is considered the Maori traditional tattoo style. These marking are called “taonga” or treasure and they usually go in the face. Moko is the practice of scarring the skin to represent the “Whakapapa” or genealogy in which each moko design has a different ancestral message specific to the person. These designs tell a story about the person’s family and vary depending on the person’s tribe affiliation and societal status. These designs are worn as cultural pride. This visual language connects the wearer to their family lineage.
Old School/Traditional This American traditional style is known for the use of bold lines, bright colors, and iconic designs. Some of these designs include roses, anchors, lady heads, swallow birds, pin-up girls, ships, and hearts.
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Western method: The technique used worldwide in modern day requires an electric gun with extremely sharp needles attached to an end. For the gun to work, it has to be connected into an electricity plug. The tip of the gun, where all the needles are, is later dipped into a pot of ink which then with the push of a button or foot pedal, the ink will be introduced to the skin multiple times per minute.
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Interview with
Uvita 18
DIANA MARIA MEJIA MUÑOZ (Uvita)
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My name is Diana MarĂa Mejia MuĂąoz. I am from the mountains of Medellin, Colombia which I will be going back to at the end of the year. I have a 14-year-old son back home waiting for me along with my family and my things that I am dying to see again. I have relatives with Latin roots, with indigenous roots, and with black and white roots. That's why I'm so mixed. It's almost as if my skin has all colors and all cultures. I love it. Oh and I turn 40 tomorrow (October 9th,2020)
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Why the name Uvita? My favorite color is purple, I really like the color. I also really like the flavor of grapes and “Uvita� means grape in Spanish. I like everything about that flavor, and I like wine. Although, no one can probably tell because I always use black for clothing.
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What is your specialty? •
Generally, tattoo artists look for a tattoo school and even though there are plenty of tattoo styles, they can be very limiting. To me they are all very respectable and not easy at all, just the exploration, in general, is quite hard, but I did not find myself with any style. As I told you, I am a graphic designer, so I decided to incorporate graphic design into my own personal style. All the ideas that I have in mind, color theory, everything I learned at my university, anything that can be created with a technical drawing, and everything that sketch is to me, is poured into my art.
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Because I didn’t find myself within any style, I always thought that I wasn’t talented and that I wasn’t enough to become an artist, but I already came to terms that I am not a freak. I don’t fit in anywhere and I don’t want to fit in either.
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I think all along, my style was there. I just had to embrace it and when I did, that was the boom of my career. People liked it because it was different, and because I add that personal touch and love to every tattoo I do. I love my work and I love talking to people. In fact, that’s why I talk so much.
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I also paint and I do it as I feel emotions at the moment, whether it be happy or sad. This is why I have 2 Instagram accounts, one about color and a black one. The color one is what makes me and other people happy, on the contrary, the black art account represents issues that we live with, which is depression and anxiety. So, there are two sides that we all have, but it is necessary to be able to exploit them.
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How long have you been working as a tattoo artist? I’ve been tattooing for 12 years. I am a graphic designer from a university back in Colombia but as a tattoo artist, I am self-taught.
How many tattoos do you have? Well, I really haven’t counted. They all have a lot of history and when they come together, sentences are born. I really don’t have many tattoos, it only seems like a lot because they are in visible places like my back, my hands, and my legs. I do put a lot of dots and graphic references in my body since they were ideas that were only in my head and no one would lend me their body to do experiments on them. The difference between me and my style is that if you lend me your body, I do whatever I want. I love seeing people and their personalities and mannerisms in which I can create art based on them.
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What tools do you use to create designs? I generally use Sharpie to paint on the body before I start tattooing on someone. To make a design, I usually use my iPad to draw in a program called Procreate, although I love using paper especially ones that have textures. I migrate from a pencil, to whatever I have in mind like paint such as acrylics, watercolors, and tattoo ink. Whenever I want to achieve some texture, I always let it dry and come back and again.
What materials do you use to tattoo? I only use a brand that has been on the market for many years and is one of the best known. I explore so many colors and have a range of 50 to 80 colors on average. I use a lot of pastels, black tones, light shades. Everything.
How did you end up in the tattoo shop you are currently working at right now? I happened to visit the city and sent my portfolio to see if I could work with them the closest shops to where I was staying. I sent an email to all of them but unlike the other shops, Embassy didn’t treat me bad. They opened their doors to me since I arrived. They are my second family.
How would you describe what you do? It's the bridge I have to create art that will become a tattoo. I capture personalities in my tattoos, like taking your personality, creating something with it, and putting it on bodies. Tattooing becomes a tool to capture an image.
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What’s the weirdest tattoo you’ve done? All my tattoos are really weird. They are all very rare. As I said, I'm not afraid to research and find information on things to put on your tattoo. What I do is look to see how you move, to see what you like, and if you are afraid to try new things or loosen up a bit of the rigidity of your personality to put a rare tattoo on your skin.
Have you ever been told something bad about your tattoos? Of course, I have. I, for example, I have received comments that they would not introduce me to parents if I were someone’s serious girlfriend because of my tattoos. I have my son which I enrolled in a private school and I had to take him out. We didn’t fit into that kind of school; the comments were mean and people were talking behind our backs. There was a lot of taboo. Now living here, I use the metro a lot and people look at me horribly. I personally do not pay attention because I think there is so much exploration and so much research that I do regarding things. I study art history, color theory, a lot of cultural things and to me, tattoos are a tool for speaking. I can do many things with my body, but I am very responsible for the acts I do.
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“Having tattoos does not imply that one is irresponsible with their life.�
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How many countries have you been to? I have visited and lived in France, Spain, and here, the United States. My passport shows 5 or 6 countries, but I have been to many cities within those countries. My stay was either very short, many days or sometimes I only passed through, or at the airport. Welcoming cultures as such for oneself is very beautiful.
What are your dreams/ goals for the future? I have traveled a lot, I have won tattoo artist awards, I have competed in conventions, I have won color awards, I have done many things concerning the general public, exhibitions, but now I want to paint. I want to paint a lot of what I feel in small formats to be able more in quantity. In fact, these days I'm going to start making a lot of paintings like that because I really think that everyone can have one at home. I’ll also go back to making videos, but in a more educational way like for example, of expression before others.
Would you post those videos online? Yes, I would post the videos on social networks for people who are interested in talking about things like that, share experiences. Everything will be online from now on anyway.
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What advice could you give to someone considering this field? You can't skip the steps. When you are learning, you cannot close your mind. I am still a learner; I am always exploring. When you close your mind and don't want to learn anymore, that's when you make a lot of mistakes. I did so many things that I regret having done and they were caused because I blocked myself so much that I didn’t listen to advice. As an artist, you have to be very attentive to your client and their needs. This is what gives them certainty and peace of mind about your work.
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4. Australia
FUN FACTS Argentina Most Tattoo-Friendly5.Countries
YOUR SKIN IS PIERCED 1. Italy
6. Spain
2. Sweden
7. Denmark
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3. USA
8. UK
4. Australia
9. Brazil
5. Argentina
10. France
PER MINUTE BY A TATTOO GUN
Age Group with at Least One Tattoo
50-64
40-49
30-39
25-29
Pain Level
11%
27%
38% 30% Front
14-18
22% Back 35
Tattoo Aftercare 36
DID YOU KNOW Only 7 states in the United States require tattoo artists to provide aftercare instructions.
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What happens before you leave the shop? •
The tattoo artist should put a thin layer of petroleum jelly and cover the new ink with a bandage or plastic wrap. This prevents rubbing your new tattoo against surfaces such as clothes and getting irritated.
• The artist should tell you how long to keep the bandage off. It can vary from 1 hour to 24 hours. It is important not to touch your bandage before the recommended time so that the new tattoo absorbs any fluid or excess ink that may leak out
What to do after you remove the bandage? • Make sure to wash your hands before removing your bandage. Once they are clean, gently remove your bandage and wash the tattoo with fragrance-free, antibacterial soap and water. • Gently pat dry it and apply a layer of anti-bactrial ointment twice to three times a day. You don’t need to put another bandage on.
As your tattoo heals: • Repeat this process for the next 2 to 4 weeks • After your tattoo has healed, always use fragrance-free soap to keep the tattoo clean. Drink plenty of water and apply moisturizer daily so it won’t fade quickly and keep vibrant colors.
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1. Put clothes on that will stick to your tattoo 2. Go swimming and going out into the sun unprotected for at least TWO weeks 3. Pick on, scratch, or peel the scab that will form on your tattoo. This could remove the color or make your skin more prone to infections.
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Question & Answer with... 40
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How many tattoos do you have? Three
How do they make you feel? I feel like it’s a form of expression to me. Each one has a story for me, like a story of my life. I’m expressing how I feel without saying it.
Would you get another one? I’m going to get a dragon; that’s kind of my fierce side and it’s going to be on my foot and I’m getting another one with my mother. We’re getting our favorite flowers. I’m getting the Lotus flower and she’s getting a sunflower, and we’re getting it on our feet because when we walk side by side it will make a whole design.
LIZYVETTE SANTOS
What is the meaning behind them? The day I got one of my back tattoos, I had just found out I was being cheated on and it was parent weekend and my parents did not show up. I went, I got a tattoo and I only had 10 minutes to figure out what to get and I found two people kissing. After I got it, I gave it meaning. When you look at it at first, you can’t tell what it is unless I tell you or you look at it twice and to me, that’s how life is. You can’t just assume and have a set mindset of how you feel about it. Ask questions or look at it twice because not everything is what he seems. The tree on my right shoulder symbolizes my roots. The birds are the transition of moving from Puerto Rico to here. My roots, my heart is still in Puerto Rico, but I’m here now. Lastly, my wrist tattoo is for my twins. It has a flat line and a heartbeat and then a frog called the Coqui also from Puerto Rico. Altogether, it symbolizes my miscarriage and it’s on my left hand because it’s closer to my heart and I see it more. 43
How many tattoos do you have? Two
How do they make you feel? Happy and confident. I really like showing them off
Would you get another one?
ANDREA MORALES
Yes
How did you decide to get them? I’ve always wanted to get a tattoo, so I had this idea that Audrey later decided to jump into so we both got a matching sun and moon. First it was just the outline, but I eventually shaded it in. And for my other one, I just always wanted to get birds so I decided to get them.
What is the meaning behind them? The moon and the sun are Audrey and I. It represents us and how we are twins yet are so different in some respects. The birds mean family to me, they always fly and stick together just like family should.
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How many tattoos do you have? Two
How do they make you feel?
AUDREY MORALES
The sun and moon make me feel a little bit of regret, not because I don’t want to have a matching tattoo with Andrea but because I think we could’ve planned it more. I think we could’ve done a different placement or something more unique. People think we got this idea from the movie Twitches, the Disney movie about twin witches. We didn’t make that connection until someone pointed it out.
Would you get another one? No, I feel complete with these two
How did you decide to get them? Our twin tattoo was on a whim. She wanted it so I jumped in and it just happened. It was spontaneous. I really wanted a sunflower on my left side under my collarbone, so I went to the tattoo shop and got it done.
What is the meaning behind them? Our matching sun and moon will always mean Andrea and I. The sunflower reminds me of my mom and keeps me very positive.
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How many tattoos do you have? 16
How do they make you feel? They’re my armor. Growing up I would always dye my hair and try to look like someone else but with tattoos, I realized it’s my own skin and I can be more me. They make me feel more confident and more myself.
Would you get another one? Yes, always.
How did you decide to get them?
ERIN MUNSTERMAN
When I first started getting them, it reflected memories and experiences of my life. Now if I see an opening from my tattoo studio, I take it and decide what I want afterward.
What is the meaning behind them? My triangle tattoo is the start of a new courageous phase for me. After a very rough time in my sophomore year of college, I took a year off of school to get myself into better health. At that time, I took a solo trip to Paris which was the start of doing something that scared me. I got this tattoo because the triangle is the strongest shape geometrically, so it represents strength for me. It reminds me of that trip because a triangle is very prominent in French architecture, but it also reminds me of becoming a stronger person. In general, all my tattoos are stories of my life and the experiences I have lived through. 48
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How many tattoos do you have? Three
How do they make you feel? My kitten one makes me the happiest, I love cats and miss having one. In general, when I first got my other two, I was so excited but now they’re just there. That’s the thing about tattoos, you always want to get new and different ones
Would you get another one? Maybe! I always think about more designs but can’t decide on a really good design at a reasonable price that I won’t regret later.
KATIE PATTERSON
How did you decide to get them? When I was 18, I thought they were cool.
What is the meaning behind them? I got my back tattoo with my best friend as soon as we were both 18. Before then we had always said that we were going to get a matching tattoo as soon as we turned 18 because I’ve known her since I was 5. 1995 was when we first met in kindergarten, the tattoo is blue because we sat at the blue table together and my star is green because that’s her favorite color. Her star is purple because that’s my favorite color. My second tattoo is of two flowers where one looks like it’s blooming and the other one is dying. I just always thought that would look cool. Lastly, many years later, I got a cat on my inner right ankle. It’s very special because it’s a tattoo of my first pet kitten, Sally, that I’ve had since my childhood. Once she passed away, I was very sad and had to do something to commemorate her. 51
How many tattoos do you have? I have 5
How do they make you feel? I don’t really have a definition of how they make me feel. I like tattoos. I didn’t do it to make me feel stronger or to make me feel more aggressive.
JASON MOLINA
Would you get another one? I’ve always liked tattoos. The one day I decided to go get one I was very curious about how much it would hurt
What is the meaning behind them? Yes, I want to get at least 4 more.
How did you decide to get them? Each tattoo that I have has a different meaning. I wanted to have memories on my body. Sometimes you make mistakes and get a tattoo that you have to cover later. It is always good to think about what you want before you get one. You should never regret it because at one point in your life you wanted it and it was meaningful.
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My
Tattoos 54
Ever since I was younger, I only saw one person with tattoos. My grandpa. Both of his arms had a green marking that I always asked about, yet he would never give me a full answer. At a young age, I thought they just looked cool but as I grew older, I realized what they meant. They were stories of his earlier years, memories from the military, and his childhood. Even though they were pretty pictures to me, they were experiences to him. That stuck to me all these years so when I was 21, I got my first tattoo. Although my parents didn’t approve at first, I convinced my mom the day before my appointment. Since then I have gotten 2 more and moving on to my next one. These are my markings; they are me.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY Dan Hunter. “Bamboo Tattoos and Other Unique Techniques From Around The World.” The Planet D: Adventure Travel Blog, 27 Dec. 2016, theplanetd.com/bamboo-tattoosunique-tattooing-techniques/. Ellis, Juniper. Tattooing the World : Pacific Designs in Print & Skin. New York, Columbia University Press, 2008. Gluckman, Ron. "Baring Southeast Asia's Sacred Tattoos." The Wall Street Journal Asia, Nov 11, 2011. ProQuest, https://search-proquest-com.mutex.gmu.edu/ docview/902960693?accountid=14541. Howerton, Ross. “The Art of Tebori — Creating Traditional Japanese Tattoos the Old Way.” Tattoodo, 18 July 2017, www.tattoodo.com/a/the-art-of-tebori-creating-traditionaljapanese-tattoos-the-old-way-13410. Accessed 14 Oct. 2020. Lineberry, Cate. “Tattoos.” Smithsonian, Smithsonian.com, 1 Jan. 2007, www. smithsonianmag.com/history/tattoos-144038580/. Morrow, Justine. “A Beginner’s Guide: Popular Tattoo Styles Briefly Explained.” Tattoodo, Tattoodo, 12 Feb. 2016, www.tattoodo.com/a/a-beginners-guide-popular-tattoostyles-briefly-explained-6969.
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“New Tattoos: How Do You Take Care of Them and Avoid Infection?” WebMD, www. webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/taking-care-of-your-tattoo#1. Accessed 14 Oct. 2020. Nomoto, Sandra. “Why I Want To Get Batok (Traditional Filipino Tattoos).” Cold Tea Collective, 21 Feb. 2019, coldteacollective.com/batok-traditional-filipino-tattoos/. Accessed 14 Oct. 2020. “Samoan Art in the Tatau (Tattoo) - Teachers (U.S. National Park Service).” Www.Nps.Gov, www.nps.gov/teachers/classrooms/samoan-art-in-the-tatau-tattoo.htm. “Ta Moko - Significance of Māori Tattoos.” TNZ Media, 2019, media.newzealand.com/en/ story-ideas/ta-moko-significance-of-maori-tattoos/. Tattoo. “The Origin of the Word Tattoo.” Tattoo.Com, 17 Oct. 2013, www.tattoo.com/blog/ origin-word-tattoo/. Accessed 14 Oct. 2020. Watson, Stephanie, and Elaine K. Luo, M.D. “Tattoo Aftercare: Products, Tips, and More.” Healthline, 13 Apr. 2017, www.healthline.com/health/tattoo-aftercare#generalaftercare. Accessed 14 Oct. 2020
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Thank you!
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Ximena Abril Villegas is a student at George Mason University majoring in Art and Visual Technology with a concentration in Graphic Design. Born in Peru, she is driven by her culture and native language. She loves the beach, traveling, and designing. She now resides in Centreville, Virginia, her home for the past 10 years.