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How Getting a Tattoo after Rehab Helped me to Stay Sober

Shaira is a marketing supervisor of a retail store in Denver City, Colorado, and this is how her personally designed tattoos helped her to  stay sober. The 26-year old shares how she started getting some ink after successfully getting out of rehab, and how it led her to design tattoos for others…

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When did you start getting a tattoo? I was actually 21 years old then. I had just got out from rehabilitation in Colorado and felt that I needed a diversion. I came across the Things&Ink blog and saw how liberating it was to have that freedom to do art on your own body. I was more enticed when I saw the other guest bloggers whom themselves are tattooed. It was also that time when Ink Master and other similar shows started to gain traction. I got hooked.

Before then I was hanging out with older people who became my friends. They taught me how to drink alcohol until I barely was sober. That was when my parents sent me to rehab. When I got out, ink became my diversion. I started designing for myself, and since then, I would get one whenever I found myself desiring alcohol.

How many tattoos do you have right now? I actually have 70, most of my tattoos were inked soon after my release from rehab. The urge to go back to drinking was much stronger then and the feelings of depression were still strong. So, I got one after the other. It’s both a good thing and a bad, that I am gaining more control over my desire to go binge drinking because I feel more free from the disorder. Unfortunately, I no longer have that extra reason to get myself tattooed again.

What prompted you to start designing tattoos? One of my closest friends saw me designing my tattoo one time. She was amazed and wanted one for herself, but I was hesitant back then. This was something that I was mainly doing for me, and I didn’t have the courage to do other designs. But I started checking out sites of other tattoo artists and found that designing can be learned. The artist in me was awakened. I believe that it helped me to get over my depression and squashed my desire to abuse alcohol.

Can you tell us more about tattoos helped you overcome alcohol abuse? It was in one of my Denver AA meetings that I encountered the idea again of doing art as part of the substance abuse treatment. It was part of my treatment package when I was in rehab, but it was not my time yet. It did not strike me much then probably because I was still not ready to leave my addiction behind me. The experience proved to me that the process of rehabilitation really takes time. Just like how I acquired my alcohol dependence which became a full-blown disorder, being treated from it is a step by step process. One cannot just wake up and feel relieved from alcohol addiction.

I started studying the relationship of art as part of rehabilitation from substance abuse disorder. I read a couple of articles online and realized that art therapy and music therapy are vital aspects of complementary and alternative medical practices (CAM). CAM shows a positive effect when implemented parallel to the implementation of treatment programmes for substance use disorders that are evidence-based. When someone finds a healthy way of channeling his or her creative energies through art therapy, their attention is diverted to more positive activities. People like me who suffer from a substance use disorder are provided that comfort from art, and we are relieved of our worries and burdens, especially concern over remission.

What encouraged you to share your experience? The increasing statistics of people experiencing substance use disorder, especially alcohol use disorder, is really bothersome. I underwent the same battle, and I know how difficult it is once the person is already alcohol dependent. But there is hope. That hope is the main reason I’m sharing my experience.

I want more people to know, especially women, that it is not the end of the battle. There are options available for treatment. Rehabilitation facilities offer different treatment options for recovery. Grab the opportunity to free yourself from that disorder. As per my part, I will be willing to help anyone in any way I can. I offer my services to those suffering from substance abuse disorder who want to have a tattoo. I have shared some of my designs to other members of the AA meetings Denver area. I know it is a small favor that I have given them, but it also makes me happy to know that I have a share in their recovery.

Interview by writer Patrick Bailey

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Tattoo Conundrum: Saving Space

Editor Rosie shares her thoughts and fears about running out of space on her body for tattoos – and saving a gap for that artist who works half way across the world…
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If you’re anything like me, most of your time is filled up with scrolling through Instagram soaking in all the new tattoos created that day as well as stumbling over new tattoo artists. Like many tattoo collectors I know, I have a hefty wish list – a list of design ideas and a list of tattoo artists that I have to get work from. Sometimes these cross over, and I have in mind a specific design that I know an artist will nail.

Being based in the UK, many of the tattooists on my watch list are scattered across the globe from Australia to Canada, Germany to Brazil. There are simply too many that I covet, and so too many to choose from – and that’s where the issue lies. There are hundreds of amazing artists and I don’t have enough bare skin! When you factor in tattoo apprentices in the early part of their career and those people that haven’t even begun tattooing yet my anxiety rises further.

As we start to fill up our bodies with designs, we have to make decisions: whose work do we want more? How far am I willing to travel? How much money can I spend? Who does the best work in that particular tattooing genre? Who has the best style for that design I have in mind? How long am I prepared to wait? If I go to an artist more than once, am I missing out? Do I save space on my arm for that artist in Australia, in the vain hope that they guest in the UK or I make it half way across the world? Should I get work off my awesome local tattooist instead?

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These are just some of the thoughts that I have on almost a daily basis, and surely I am not alone? I reached out to my followers on Instagram to find out how others feel about saving space and filling up too fast…

Nia Howarth, Huddersfield:

“I wouldn’t say I’m heavily tattooed! But I’m only 23 and I’m very quickly running out of space. There are artists who are out there who I love and really want to get tattooed by but I don’t think I’ll have the space for everyone! I also love having my boyfriend (Callum Glover) tattoo me because it makes me so happy seeing how proud he is that his girlfriend has work by him.”

Loll Montgomery, Birmingham:

“I got tattooed a lot by the same person during my twenties and now think I should have saved the space and had work from different people. I do love the work I have, I just regret taking up so much space, but I was young and wanted to get tattooed once a month.”

Jen Adamson, Leicestershire:

“I’m not heavily tattooed yet, so fill me up!”

Kiaya, Galway Ireland: 

“I totally get you. I’ve FINISHED my sleeves but taking a huge break now to wait and collect on my legs. Has to be special – all killer no filler. One leg is almost full so have to be selective.”

Claire Smith, Derby: 

“I think this all the time! I worry about conventions and the fact I don’t have many easily accessible gaps left for artists I love. I see pieces by artists and worry whether I’ll be able to get anything by them because I’m filling up so fast! And yet I love all my tattoos. It is so difficult. I think you will always want ‘one’ more and there are always going to be new artists you discover but it doesn’t stop you loving the collection and choices you’ve made.”

But are all of my thoughts and some of yours caused by a worry that our tattoo journeys must end someday? And will that be when we are full? Or does filling your skin never truly end – I mean I could blast over it all and start again?

Photos by Amie Louise Thomas

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Careers: Tattooed Critical Care Nurse

28-year-old Imogen Crisp is a critical care nurse in Manchester who sports an impressive tattoo collection. We caught up with Imogen to find out about her job, what sort of reactions her tattoos get, as well as how she feels as a heavily tattooed woman…

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How long have you been working in your current role? I have been a nurse for four years and worked in my current role for three and a half.

What do you love about your job and what do you find difficult? I love my job because of the sense of reward I get for caring for someone and their loved ones in some of the darkest times. To connect with a person at their most vulnerable and even if only slightly makes it more bearable. I have seen the beauty of the arrival of life, the suddenness of the end of it and every stage in-between. Who can say that for a job? Before becoming a nurse, I felt my life had no real direction or focus, now (fingers crossed) I have a whole career ahead of me and a real sense of purpose. It’s a humbling job and makes you appreciate what you have in life. I have also met some of my closest friends through this work, there is no deeper friendship than a nursing one, trust me.

The most difficult parts of being a nurse I guess is sometimes it can be emotionally draining, you become attached to patients and families and having to see them in some of the toughest times never gets any easier. Also the sense of weight on your shoulders, that you have someone’s life in your hands and you can’t have an off day. You often find yourself sacrificing your own needs to make sure you get everything done for that patient, the old cliché but I have gone 12 hours without a wee. In saying all this though, the good most certainly outweighs the ‘bad’ there is nothing in this world I would rather do.

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Are you allowed to show your tattoos at work? Our uniform covers most areas anyway, but you still must be bare below the elbow so any lower arm tattoos are visible and don’t have to be covered.

How do you think attitudes are changing towards tattoos, especially in healthcare? I have never had any issues with my tattoos at work, colleagues and patients have only ever had positive things to say, it can be a good conversation starter at times. Colleagues who don’t have tattoos or who come from cultures where tattoos are not as ‘popular’ find them very interesting and want to know more about them.

I like to think that attitudes are changing for the better towards tattoos not only in healthcare. People are becoming more open minded, and wouldn’t judge me on my capability as a nurse because I am tattooed which when I first started was a big fear of mine. So far four years in and it’s not happened.

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What sorts of reactions do your tattoos get? Outside of work the majority of my tattoos are on my lower body, so if they are out, you get the odd few stares and comments, usually men shouting ‘nice tattoos love’ which I just politely smile at, other times people are genuinely interested in the art or meaning behind my tattoos. I think heavily tattooed girls still has a bit of stigma attached to it, more so than men, people see it as more of a shock factor for a girl to be so covered, but attitudes are changing we will get there eventually.

Do these differ when you’re at work? In work I only have one or two that poke out the sleeve of my uniform, people usually ask what it is and if they can see it properly, I am always happy to show, its usually only positive reactions.

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Have tattoos helped you to love your body? Absolutely! I knew from a young age I wanted tattoos, and would spend time planning what and where, I didn’t get all the ones I had planned at 16 (thank god) but I did start as soon as I was 18 and now my body is a story of my life. I have tattoos that have meaning, tattoos that remind me of dark times in life, and tattoos from friends and ex’s (wouldn’t recommend but here we are!) I regret none of them, and I believe they make my body beautiful and even more individual.

Is there a particular tattoo that means the most to you? I have yellow roses on my thigh with banners that say ‘Nana’ and ‘Mumma’ the two strongest, women that influence in my life. I idolise them both, when my nana passed all my cousins also got a yellow rose tattoo as it was her favourite flower. I have script that says ‘Good night, God bless’ which is something my grandad still says to me every day. And I even have me as a pin up style nurse, which I got after being qualified for a year.

Do you have any future tattoo plans? At the moment nothing is booked, I’m thinking about getting my back done, but my god does the pain get worse with age! I don’t quite know if I’ve got it in me yet. Maybe something a little smaller.

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Interview with Caroline Derwent

39-year-old tattoo artist Caroline Derwent works out of Dust n’ Bones Tattoo in Plymouth, UK where she creates an array of dotwork and colour tattoos in her girly traditional style…

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When did you start tattooing and what made you want to join the industry? I left school , went to art college and then to Manchester to do a degree in interior design, however, it wasn’t for me. I always wanted to do something art related, creative and something I loved. It wasn’t until eight years ago I began my career in tattooing. I was working a supervisor role in a print shop which was unfulfilling. A friend who worked in a tattoo shop asked me if I wanted to learn and I thought I’d give it a go. I learned alongside two other jobs and when Neil opened Dust n’ Bones Tattoo, I worked weekends and evenings, just on friends at first.

I was made redundant from my print job and thought it was time to give it my all and started full time down at Dust n’ Bones. It was a slow burner, and a lot of hard work building a client base, and eight years later, here I am. Working along side a strong team, still at the studio where I started out with a great client base, continuing to work hard and improve my skills. You could almost say I was in the right place, at the right time and I never take it for granted, being where I am today.

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How would you describe your style? I would describe my style as a girly traditional, without the heavy black ink! I love pastel colours to make cute and pretty tattoos but I also do a lot of blackwork as it seems quite popular at the moment. I am very lucky to have loyal clients who love my artwork, it’s very fulfilling knowing my work is out there permanently.

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What inspires you? My favourite things to tattoo are Harry Potter designs, Star Wars, Disney and just anything cute and girly. Floral work is always popular and I love tattooing that style too. I myself have mainly colour work tattoos, it’s just my preference and what I love best to tattoo. I love to see the end result of a colour tattoo. I am always wanting to improve, and luckily I am surrounded by talented colleagues and friends in the industry who I have met through doing guestspots and conventions.

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Do you have any guestspots or conventions planned? I have worked at Blood and Honey, Cheltenham, I will be working at Black Moon in Frome in February, and then Jolie Rouge in London in April. I am always open to new guestspots as it’s nice to be able to reach out to new clients that can’t make the journey down here to Plymouth.

In the past I have worked Leeds Tattoo Expo, Sheffield and Manchester Tattoo Tea Party, which I loved. I’ve just booked to work Manchester Tattoo Tea Party in March, and will maybe do some others this year too.

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I always remind myself to stay kind and to be thankful for where I am. I often get overwhelmed when people travel to get tattooed by me and feel very humbled to be where I am today. Hard work pays off after all.

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Visual Artist: Ginger Taylor

28-year-old Ginger Taylor is a freelance visual artist from Sydney Australia. We chat to Ginger about the art she makes, what inspires her and tattoos…

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How long have you been a visual artist and how did you become one? I’ve been properly freelance for just over two years now. I started out sign writing at JbHifi about three years ago and got a taste of a creative job, and I LOVED it. After years of very non-creative jobs it was like a breath of fresh air. Being able to go to work and draw in a tiny room all by myself and listen to music and podcasts all day was my little slice of heaven.

Where do you get the inspiration for your designs from? I would say travelling mostly. My sister lives in LA and when I go to visit her we go on a lot of road trips, eat in diners, stay in motels, go visit weird places. I also just recently visited Japan for the first time and I think you can see that through my work.

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What’s your favourite project you have worked on or piece you have produced? I’m always happiest when I get to paint on a large scale – so murals are my favourite project to work on. I just painted a mural at my local pub so that’s my favourite recent one.

What’s the process behind your pieces? Winging it! I paint bowling pins, watercolours, murals, motorbike helmets, tanks, jackets etc. anything I can get my hands on really so the process is different for everything I do.

How would you describe your art style and your fashion style? If there was a style that lived somewhere in-between a road side diner, a log cabin, and Harajuku – I’d say that.

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Does tattoo art have a big influence on your work? I’ve been into tattoos since I was a kid, even when I was six I remember drawing what I wanted to get tattooed one day (glad that didn’t turn out it was bat wings on my back, yikes.) I wanted to be a tattoo artist all through high school, So I’d say yes, even though I don’t particularly want to be a tattoo artist anymore I still think tractional tattoos make an appearance in my work heavily.

Can you tell us about your own tattoos, did you design any of them? I got my first tattoo when I was 18, it’s an anchor on my head. The rest of my tattoos all have funny stories or dumb ones like the cover up of an ex’s name, your 20s are for huge mistakes, right? I don’t take my tattoos too seriously – most of them have no meaning at all I just like they way they look. I actually just got my art tattooed on me for the first time, it’s a cowgirl with a canteen, snake and horseshoe. @emilyjanetattoo did it and nailed it.

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