Here be dragons - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**space virgin** · 05-28-2006, 06:49 PM

Restless, sitting at home last night, new tube of henna paste just sitting there. Team America: World Police in the dvd player. [Sidenote: WTF? I thought I got the unedited version with the REALLY hilarious sex scene. Damn.] Anyway, because of my new job I have to keep anything I draw on myself in places that will be covered up by my uniform.

So yeah, this is a naked picture of my... arm.

It was a bitch though because the damn tail went up over the bend in my elbow (which is why things are kinda shaped funny there) and it was a PAIN IN THE ARSE to photograph myself, haha. The stain probably won't be all that great because the skin on my arms is too soft, but whatever. We'll see in a couple of days.

The image is inverted because it seems the design is more clearly visible this way.

**space virgin** · 05-28-2006, 06:52 PM

Here's the original shot.

Can I just say that drawing these fuckers is a bitch? Especially with what is basically a small pastry bag & tube. I never seem to get the head quite right.

**freespiritz** · 05-28-2006, 07:19 PM

Very nice! :D I am a strong advocate of all doodling on self with whatever materials available, although I end up using pen more often than not

And I have a soft spot for dragons and other mythical creatures.

I need to actually finish watching Team America, but I don't seem to know anyone who owns it!

xanthuos · 05-28-2006, 07:27 PM

The hour's approaching to give it your best / And you've got to reach your prime / That's when you need to put yourself to the test / And show us the passage of time / We're gonna need a montage / Ooh, it takes a montage / Show a lot of things happening at once / Remind everyone of what's going on / In every shot, show a little improvement / To show it all would take too long / That's called a montage / Girl, we want a montage / In anything, if you want to go / From just a beginner to a pro / You need a montage / Even Rocky had a montage / Always fade out in a montage / If you fade out it seems like more time has passed in a montage...

**ScarlotteDorian** · 05-29-2006, 12:20 AM

beautiful. i guess it's henna season again. i'm sitting here waiting for the henna jeanie just did for me to dry while she's doing something on anthon's back. your so talented jeanie beanie!

**voyd** · 05-29-2006, 11:11 AM

Woaa, pimp!

You might have some potential in inking. Problem is, it usually costs $10K-$18K to apprentice with a good one - which entails doing nothing but watching and doing gofer gruntwork for 3-4 years straight in their shop. And during which time, you don't even get to pick up a gun! I guess it's kinda like going to a 4-year college - just paying to learn.

However, we figure this well-known inker in Austin, Chris Trevino, easily clears a million a year if he charges $100/hr and takes half ($50) of what all the inkers who work in his shop make. With ~6 guys working there, that's about $400/hr. And working just over 40 hrs/week each - that's over a cool mil for Chris! And the dude's only like 31!

**space virgin** · 05-29-2006, 12:23 PM

Thanks!

The color is turning out a little better than I expected but still fairly light. And remember kids, these shots were taken with the paste on which is why it looks black. I won't go into an other "black henna" rant, it's just a reminder.

As far as tattooing goes, I'm really not sure that's for me anyway.

Blood and guts don't bother me, needles themselves don't bother me, causing pain doesn't bother me

but the idea of cutting and/or piercing (or puncturing) skin-- uuugh. *shudder*

I like the non-permanence of henna. God knows I've done some designs on myself that I absolutely loved for about a week... then I'd get impatient for it to fade so I could do something else!