I just got my 4th tattoo completed. And like every tattoo, it tells a good story.
The recent tattoo is named "Grace." It's the fourth "aspect" of my inner world that appeared when I was sorting out my fragmented parts. It's the part of me that forms a protective circle around the other three--Love, Faith, and Hope. The Monterrey cypress represents my move to (and love for) Northern California, and some of my scars form the branches. Grace is written on the blade because I've always loved swords since I was little and we visited the Tower of London. The ship and monsters on the globe are from old-fashioned maps that said, "Beyond This Place There Be Dragons." The palette lies above the bigger scar, and points downward to the brushes and pens, my tools of healing. And the AA symbol honors my commitment to sobriety (over 33 years now).
On the other arm, a dragon holds a heart--symbol of Love, the teenager and the 3rd part who appeared. I've always loved dragons, too, and this one is fierce! The circle is the St. Francis mandala I painted a few years ago.
The words Faith and Hope are tattooed on my upper arms. Faith was the first part to emerge--the one who self-injured to try and express the trauma I was going through as a kid. Faith was protecting Hope, the little innocent one who went to sleep for many years. They're also represented throughout my forearm tattoos. The dragon and sword belong to Faith, the tree protects Hope. Love is the one who draws and paints, and Hope created the mandala.
These two tattoos will be on my arms for the rest of my life--protecting me, telling my story.
The ink was done by my friend Alexis Ginez, who owns Dedicated Arte studio in Sonoma, CA. We met when I curated an automobile-themed exhibit at the Petaluma Arts Center, and I wanted to include Lowriders. Someone suggested I invite Alexis to submit his work. I was impressed--not only with his art, but with his tattoos! I asked him to create a dragon on my arm, and he asked me to teach him (and his daughter) classical oil painting, Since then, I've taught a couple of workshops at his studio.
He also didn't blink when I explained how I wanted the tattoo to frame the old self-injury scars. He understood: art saved his life, too. He learned to tattoo while in juvenile hall, and drawing helped him choose a different life. Our childhoods were very different; but we share similar feelings about art and choices. He's a class act.
"Choices" by Alexis Ginez
Art Heals
I've been a Moomin fan since childhood. The Moomintroll hat my mom bought me is still one of my favorite presents from her. Tove Jansson published the Moomintroll children's books in the 1940s, and they became the most beloved characters in Scandinavia. They're still going strong around the world. There's currently an exhibit of the Moomin world at the Brooklyn Public Library.
Long before Shrek, Jansson created a troll character who was lovable, not scary, and a way to promote compassion for outsiders.
