The Tattooed Lady

[ClaraB]

Recently I have been considering getting another tattoo and ran into this while looking for inspiration:

"Ladies and gentlemen, while you have been in this tent, you have seen numerous strange people, if you will, human oddities, freaks of nature, people who were born in strange conditions. But behind this curtain we have probably the strangest of them all-far stranger than anything we have seen out here on stage, because, back here we have this human oddity, who is not born a freak, she wasn't born strange, this woman is a man-made monstrosity. She was a young woman, very beautiful. She met and married a man three times older than herself. He was so jealous of her and afraid the she would be attracted to some other man that he marked her body, thinking that by marking her from head to toe, she would not longer be attractive to any other man. A she is here, no longer a young woman, but now a very elderly, widowed lady. But those marks the he put on her body when she was young are still there and they will be there for the remainder of her life. She is waiting on the stage now to welcome you."​

This fictitious tale of the life of the "Tattooed Lady," Anna "Artoria" Gibbons served as her introduction in the sideshow tent. Anna later remarked that she was offended at being called a monstrosity.​

Artoria toured the country for more than fifty years as a sideshow attraction of many carnivals and circuses including Barnum and Bailey during the depression. Anna was like living art gallery, her tattoos consisted of beautiful, full color reproductions of fine art all carefully done by her husband. Anna's ink transformed her life from ordinary to extraordinary and allowed her to see the country and earn a better living than what she and her husband would have otherwise been capable of.

Here is Anna's husband, Red, tattooing a young lady's thigh. Apparently after social security numbers were issued they became a popular tattoo choice.

So now in light of these few snippets of historical information, Tattooed Ladies of the Lounge step forward, proudly bare your ink for all to see and claim your colorful tattoo heritage!

I realize that there are already several tattoo threads in the lounge but I was hoping that this would be a place where we could display and be proud of our ink without judgement or the stigma of tattoos in both the past we adore or present in which we live. Certainly tattooed ladies are no longer side show attractions but a tattoo still has the power to transform ordinary to extraordinary.

 

[Madison Paige]

Clara,

What a fabulous thread! I proudly sport a tattoo of three starbursts (you know what those are?) with a blue-ish teal color in the middle on my inner right wrist, one starburst for each of my younger siblings. I definetly plan on getting lots more. I think my next is going to be tattooed stocking seams with pink bows at the top, on the back of my legs! Thoughts?

 

[Rockapin-up]

I think that would look very sexy, but do you wear seamed stalkings now? And if so would you still wear them even with the tattoo, would that be kinda hard to line them up. I don't know I still think it would look awsome.

Oh and those are great photos posted above.

 

[MissHuff]

Madison Paige, I have come across a woman on another message board that had the back seamed tattoos and I thought they were FABULOUS! I asked her if it hurt doing the backs of the knees and what it felt like to recover and she replied that it was tough to sit correctly at first and a bit difficult to bathe while hanging your legs over the edge of the tub! lol. I really want to have those done but my fiance doesn't like it. We'll see how it goes.

As far as current tattoos I have a tribal-ish swirly dragon on my right hip blowing smoke with the japanese symbol for soldier inside the puff of smoke.
After I had my daughter I have been meaning to get it touched up because pregnancy wasn't so kind to my dragon and he's looking a little rough from being stretched out. Not bad, just not as nice and crisp as he once was.

I'm planning on adding to the tattoo with more puffs denoting special people in my life who have passed and to also get my daughter's name in script on my side. For my birthday I'm going to get either little black diamonds or hearts on the back of my legs just above where a cuban heel ends. Although I want tattooed back seams I don't think I'll be doing the FF version lol.

I love tattoos and I think all of us tattoo'd ladies should be proud to show them off.

 

[zaika]

awesome thread clarab!!! i've been intending to learn more about the tattooed ladies of the past...so this is great.

i'm a tattooed lady and very proud of the three that i have, and totally have plans for more. i have a celtic goose on the inside of my right ankle, an IC XC NIKA byzantine cross on the inside of my left forearm. and i have a half sleeve on my upper right arm. right now it's still unfinished, but i'm going in this weekend for a session. one more and it's done, i can't wait! it's a memorial tattoo for my mom, and i went with the classic swallow theme. only the swallows are going to be more realistic, and they are flying around a broken record because my mom was a musician. aw. *sniff*

see!! i love it so much. it'll look better in color, though. this pic was taken the night it was done...so it's a little red.

 

[ShortClara]

I have one on my back - vertical and low. I drew it myself - it's a vine with flowers. It resembles henna art, in reds and oranges. I had it done by a female tattoo artist - I set out to have a chick do mine

I really want another one, but I'm taking my time deciding on what.

Thank you for the story of the tattooed lady, Clara!

 

[Josephine]

I have four, my first is a spider, my second one is a 'T' of Morning Glories on the back of my hips which I designed, the third is a gecko eating a butterfly (it fits my sense of humor) that I cobbled together using two pieces of flash form the same artist, and my fourth is my fraternity letters with our motto on a banner. Here's the gecko:

It's neat reading about other tattoos that you all have. I'd like to get an Ivy vine curling down my spine, but it's how noticeable it will be that makes me hold off. All my other ones are covered, even under a bathing suit. Maybe for my 40th...

 

[ClaraB]

This is great!

I proudly sport a tattoo of three starbursts (you know what those are?) with a blue-ish teal color in the middle on my inner right wrist, one starburst for each of my younger siblings.

I'm planning on adding to the tattoo with more puffs denoting special people in my life who have passed and to also get my daughter's name in script on my side.

only the swallows are going to be more realistic, and they are flying around a broken record because my mom was a musician. aw. *sniff*

I drew it myself

the third is a gecko eating a butterfly (it fits my sense of humor)

I absolutely love the fact that you all have such wonderful and personal meanings to your tattoos. I'm so glad that everyone is so eager to share their stories!

Zaika- I have to say that your outline is so beautiful! Keep us updated, I'd love to see it finished...the swallows are wonderful!

 

[~*Red*~]

Thank you Clara B for this thread! I love to look at tattoos and hear the stories behind them!

Seamed Stocking Tattoos: I have a friend who has them..and they are AWESOME!!!!! She loves them, I love them...they RULE! Hers are Blue, and old now. But they still look so rad!

I got my first one on my left ankle when I turned 20 on my birthday. It's a gecko, because I like gecko's and it's drawn after the artist's own gecko as a matter of fact! lol A year later on my dad's birthday, I got a turtle on my right ankle, because my other nickname is "Turtle".

We call my daughter little Turtle, because she is a mini-me, and my husband just got his Shellback certificate over the last float and now we are a turtle family. So this summer, I added 2 more turtles to my original one. Now I just wish I had my original re-done, because he sure looks old now!

 

[SerenityAshes]

I LOVE TATTOOS

Talking about tattoos... I love body modifications, I've got 3 of my own though I'm thinking of doing another one soon.. at the moment I only got some pics of my half sleeve, though I'll try to upload of my other two (one of them is a Latin Proverb - Libertas Ineastimabilis Rest Est = Liberty is Beyond All Price)

So here's my latest tattoo - Geisha

1st Session:

2nd Session:

3rd Session:

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I have six tattoos. I just got a new one on Sept 22nd. Here it is...

 

[SerenityAshes]

I have six tattoos. I just got a new one on Sept 22nd. Here it is...

That's gorgeous Amy Jeanne :eusa_clap Would you mind me asking you what does "silent" represent? Just curious thats all

 

[Amy Jeanne]

That's gorgeous Amy Jeanne :eusa_clap Would you mind me asking you what does "silent" represent? Just curious thats all

My love of silent movies.

 

[SerenityAshes]

Oh Ok...

Was just wondering.. like.. a women... in a forum.. calling herself 'silent'?! Hehehehe

 

[Amy Jeanne]

Where are my manners?

I forgot to say "Thank you" for the compliment!! Hehe! I'm at work -- didn't wanna get caught

 

[ClaraB]

~*Red*~, I love your little turtle family, so simple yet so meaningful. I think the fact that you didn't get your original turtle touched up is actually very interesting, perhaps it kind of documents the progression of your life. Very neat!

SerenityAshes your geisha is very beautiful and Amy Jeanne your silent tat is just darling. I think it is really interesting that you have both posted very different tattoos, one very intricately detailed and one nice and simple, yet they are both so beautiful and very unique.

I'd like to inquire, how'd did everyone decide what to get and where to place it on your body? Did an idea strike you and suddenly you knew you had to have this image permanently placed somewhere on your body? Or was it more of an evolution of an idea that took on enough meaning that you decided it should be a tattoo? Or did you just decide you wanted a tattoo and picked the image out of the tattooists portfolio?

 

[Josephine]

I'd like to inquire, how'd did everyone decide what to get and where to place it on your body? Did an idea strike you and suddenly you knew you had to have this image permanently placed somewhere on your body? Or was it more of an evolution of an idea that took on enough meaning that you decided it should be a tattoo? Or did you just decide you wanted a tattoo and picked the image out of the tattooists portfolio?

I thought that the artistry of tattoos were neat and fascinating, and I saw a picture of a spider in something like Outlaw Biker Tattoo Review. So I, hubby (BF at the time), and our roommate went for me to get it. I put it on my hip as tattoos weren't as en vogue as they are now. It wasn't meaningful as others' tattoos are, I just liked the design and I like spiders. I'm a Horticulturist so the flower one seemed like the next/right one to get, and then the gecko fit my sense of humor, and the fraternity letters were a given. Go Delts! I designed all of mine except the spider, so I guess they have some meaning but nothing as deep as childrens' names or the like.

 

[GoldLeaf]

I have a tattoo as well, but don't have a picture of it. Since it is on the small of my back, it is hard for me to photograph myself. I recently figured out what I want my next tattoo to be, now I just have to save a small fortune, back pieces are so expensive!

ClaraB:My first tattoo is a Misfits tat (horror punk band from the 70's). I had known for years that I wanted to memorialize the band, but I didn't want to get a tat that looked like what everyone else had. I finally settled on a simple design that I really liked. Personal, but yet recognizable as well. It is the classic Misfits skull with their name above it. This is circled by Norse runes that say "One and for all".

When I was in college, the Misfits were very important to me. When they went on tour (yes, the modern line up, I know, I know ) I saw them so many times that we became friends. During a very hard time in my life, when I struggled against being incredibly unhappy, they were my lifeline. It seemed a fitting tribute to have them be a part of me, and the wording just really resonated with me.

The Norse runes had been a means of meditation and self-awareness for me, and their beautiful simplicity and deep meaning touched me. Having the wording done in runes made it personal - no one had to know what it said unless I told them

I chose the location for the same reason I am sure many women do. Being in the small of my back right above my butt, it doesn't show unless I want it to. I didn't want to have to be self conscious on my wedding day

Now I want a half-back piece. I have always wanted one, but it took years to figure out the design. There is a part of me that would love to have sleeves and a full back, but .... who knows? Now that I know what I want, I need to find an artist to create it.

I envision the tree of life, with roots that go down my lower back and butt, the trunk along my spine, and branches reaching up to my shoulder blades. I picture the leaves being individual, stylized leaves on the branches. I would like for the branches to form a subtle cross off the trunk. Either the roots would surround my Misfits tat, or I may cover over it with the Lutheran seal. ::gasp:: In Greek, along the bars of the cross, I would like "for by grace, you are saved through faith."

This design is deeply personal, and there is tons of symbolism in it for me. I could go into it all, but I would probably bore you to tears lol

 

[pretty faythe]

I have 4 now...yeah!!!!
This is my latest, got it Friday!!! She is on my back of my right shoulder.

This was the first, on the left breastbone area (then age took over...lol)

secon one on left ankle

3rd on right arm, mine and my children zodiacs

some day I'll add to all of them, of course the adding to the dolphin will be after some ......ummm...shall we say...cosmetic up "lift" lol

 

[zaika]

This is so exciting! Everyone's tattoos are lovely!

I'd like to inquire, how'd did everyone decide what to get and where to place it on your body? Did an idea strike you and suddenly you knew you had to have this image permanently placed somewhere on your body? Or was it more of an evolution of an idea that took on enough meaning that you decided it should be a tattoo? Or did you just decide you wanted a tattoo and picked the image out of the tattooists portfolio?

I never wanted a half sleeve. Ever. It was toooo much for me. All I wanted was to get small little tattoos in easy to hide places. lol But when I was designing my mom's memorial tattoo, it got bigger and bigger until it became a half sleeve. It's significance is very profound beyond just as a memorial...so, I committed to the half sleeve. And, honestly, it just fits. It's like it has always been there, only it needed a little coaxing from a tattoo artist. lol
As far as the design goes, I came up with a sketch I did during one of my meetings at work (oops...hehe). I did several other sketches expounding on the idea, and then gave it to my tattoo artist. We talked about it, looked through a bunch of books for more ideas, and she came up with a sketch that was perfect.
Okay...shutting up now. I just love tattoos so much...this is an exciting thread for me.