Did you see what I did with the title there? Damn clever eh?
It was about two years' ago that I got my tattoo, to this day the first and only one. It's a circular patterned thing, supposedly some kind of Polynesian design. I chose it because I liked it, there was no deep meaning and no hidden declaration of love for my family or anything like that involved in my choice.
Tattoos are trendy at the moment, of that I'm sure. When I was a kid they were the sign of a hard working class man, a Navy fellow or a builder, a wedding planner or someone like that. These days we've all got them. Whatever country we live in they're the must have fashion item of the day, a prerequisite for people thinking of getting into advertising. Many music studios won't let you in unless you can show that you've got a bit of ink somewhere on your person.
I've mentioned it before but I'm against ugly or unstylish people having tattoos. In recent years I've seen some of the most plain looking people, usually Australian, with body art. People who look as if they're about to go for an audition on one of these "What not to wear" programmes. Really, there's nothing worse than glancing at one of these square types and then having to do a double take because you catch sight of the devil on their left ankle or a tramp stamp crawling towards an arse that looks like one of the ones found at Pinnawala with a trunk at the other end.
When I got mine done I put a bit of thought into the position of it. Music Biz bro has one of those all over tattoos, starting just above the elbow on one arm, crawling across his back and shoulders and finishing up just above the other elbow. All well and good for people like him and D, but not for me. I wanted a bit more subtlety, something that wouldn't be seen all the time, that could be hidden whenever I wanted it to be.
The top of my left arm it was then. With hindsight I'm not sure if it was a good place to choose. I achieved my objective in the subtlety vein, but the result is that it rarely gets seen. If I have no shirt on or a sleeveless thing on then all can see and admire it. If you're lucky enough to sleep with me you'll probably see it too. But it's bad enough being a drummer at my age, I'm sure as hell not going to start wearing vests as well.
When I got it done I was warned that tattoos become addictive. I laughed in the face of those who told me so. How wrong I was.
Here's the thing, as the Americans say. I think I might want to get another one done. I want it to be a bit more visible, but not so much that every Sri Lankan Aunt will look at me and think I'm a bank robber or a creative. I've been biding my time and gathering my thoughts and I've concluded that I'd like something a bit meaningful, to reflect Sri Lanka and drumming, two of my loves. I'm not the kind of person to get my daughters' names done or anything like that.
I've been looking for a nice line drawing of a Kandyan drummer for inspiration but so far haven't been able to find one. That's as far as I've got. I still don't know where I'd put it and I don't know exactly what "it" is.
Any ideas?
11 comments:
lately I've also been feeling the need for a second tat. uncanny how you and T both blogged about the same thing at the same time.
Nice, very nice!
So that's not your arm and tat2 then? Or did you forget which arm you got it on??
And I can tell you where to put the next one!!!
Sach - Yes, I saw her post a little while agao and couldn't believe the coincidence.
VuV - Thanks. I like it too.
JJ - 'tis my arm and my tat, but it's tat1, tat2 is what I seek. I knew someone would tell me whre to put it!!
Java - apologies, I see what you're getting at. The picture was taken in a mirror, hence the fact that it looks as though it's my right arm.
wow RD that IS a coincidence. i suppose i could freak you out and tell you i decided to get a kandyan drummer myself.. but i didnt so i wont.
Why get a Kandyan drummer? You're not one, so what's the point? But you can play a Kandyan drum, get my drift? So why not take a good look at a kandyan drum and use some of its patterns and shapes for a tat. If you've got a drum, take it to a good artist and tell him your plan. See what he thinks. For example, if you look at the side of a Kandyan drum, it's black with white cords crisscrossing it to form strong triangles. The part you drum has a circle, etc. You could make up a design that represents the drum without going straight for a impressionist route.
Imagine your forearm's a Kandyan drum for a start. Those triangles could look cool.
David - The Kandyan drummer idea was because it's a mix of two of my great passions, SL and drumming. Also my Mum was born in Matale and my Dad's home town is Gampola so there's a geographical attachment to Kandy for me.
Your idea about the shapes is brilliant and has got me very excited. I'm going to think on this and extrapolate it to see what may come. Thanks for the idea.
I'm impressed you have a tat! They're not really my thng but yours does look cool The Kandyan drum idea sounds very cool though! :)
No worries, RD. I'm into tats myself, and have got a few which I wanna expand on. Got my first way back in '91 when it wasn't really 'cool' and no one but thugs had 'em.
Lemme know how it works out.
i got two..tattoos...and i quite like them and thinking of getting more..
i think one should think alot before getting them done..coz they becoem your second skin...yours is a nice tattoo..you can get some hawaiian tattoo designs..lots are available on net....you can check out!!
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