Over the last few years I have been getting into body modification, such as tattoos and body piercings. I had always wondered what it would be like to have some form of modification done, but it was always convinced that a tattoo art or body piercing would hurt really bad! When my Dad went to a very good local (Bexhill) tattoo studio (Black Pearl) to have his first tattoo he asked me to go with him to watch the design being done.
My Dad's first tattoo was an Aries zodiac sign.
I sat and watched the tattoo being done and decided I had to try it. These days I have more tattoos and body piercings than my Dad and still want more!
The next piercing might be my tongue or my other nipple, but I am not sure (I have no plans for any genital piercings, I like my genitals the way they are!). What sort of tattoo design to get next? That it will probably be more red and black tribal or Chinese Kanji or another dragon to go with the other dragons I have.
Having a some tattoo art or body piercing is in some ways addictive, but always think carefully about the tattoo designs as you will be stuck with that body art for the rest of your life, most piercings you can just take out and they will heal up. If you do decide to have a tattoo design done I would advice having a good look through the books of tattoo flash (the tattoo equivalent of clipart) most places have and have a good think, plus most places are happy to modify the flash to how you want it. Tribal tattoo designs, dragons, Kanji (Chinese writing) and stuff like that will look good for years, but names of current bands and things like that should normally be avoided in my very humble opinion, because in six months time they may have vanished never to be seen again, older bands that have been around for years are better, still still get them done with caution. If you do decide to get Kanji writing then PLEASE double check that the writing does say whats its supposed to, I have heard a few horror stories of people getting tattoos that do not say anything even close to what they are supposed to, plus Chinese is very different to English and some Kanji symbols can have half a dozen different meanings, one of those meaning may be very you, but the others could be very different. Imagine if you had a tattoo of Michael Jackson and then he had been proved guilty of child abuse, would you still want his tattoo on your body? Getting a design of a partners name is not too bad as long as you are in a very long term relationship. Never get a boyfriend or girlfriends name done anywhere on your body unless you are VERY serious. I have my wifes name, but the tattoo is on the inside of my lip, so only people I want to see it, can see it. It is true that tattoo's can be removed, but that is like saying that the lottery can be won! Removing a tattoo is a very painful, long and expensive process that does not always work.
Tattoos can also go wrong, my first ever one (a tribal heart design) was done with a bad batch of red ink and it lost a lot of its colour within a week and had to be redone, but things like that are rare, so don't worry.
Bad ink tribal heart design.
If it was free to have tattoo designs done on me than I would have loads more, but they are not free, so for now I will have to wait. Most of my tattoos are based on modified flash, but the snake I have on my leg and the matching one on my wife's leg were kindly designed by tattoo artist Vince Williams. We both had those designs done at exactly the same time, while Vince did my tattoo, Jay did Yolanda's tattoo.
Back of my left hand tattoo - Completely custom tribal designed by me!
Stage one of my hand tattoo.
Stage two about 15 minutes after the tattoo was done.
Stage two about 24 hours after.
Update: I have started doing tattoo work on myself (nobody else!) and have done a lot more to my arm:All the additional work has been designed and tattooed on me, by me! PLEASE read my comments near the bottom of the page on self tattooing before seriously considering doing any tattooing on yourself.
Lower lip tattoo - The name Yolanda in black.
Tattoo of my wife's name.
Left upper arm tattoo - Tribal style heart tattoo art in black and red (flash modified by me)
Recent photo of my tribal heart tattoo.
Left upper arm tattoo - Chinese Kanji tattoo art for Tiger in black and red (flash modified by me)
Left upper arm tattoo - Chinese Kanji tattoo art for Rabbit in black and red (flash modified by me)
Tribal heart tattoo art with the Kanji symbols, all freshly done.
Right upper arm tattoo - Chinese style dragon tattoo art in black (standard flash design)
Black Chinese dragon with a yellow eye tattoo.
Right upper arm tattoo - Tribal style dragon tattoo art in black (standard flash design)
This was my second bit of tattoo art just after it was done, a basic tribal style dragon.
Top of back tattoo - Tribal style bat tattoo art in black (standard flash design)
The tribal style bat tattoo that I have at the top of my back.
Chest - Tribal / Celtic style pattern tattoo art in black and red (modified flash design)
Red and black tattoo on my chest.
Middle of back tattoo - Tattoo art of an alien in black (modified flash design)
My Alien tattoo art just after it was done.
My Alien tattoo fully healed and hiding under the hair!
Right lower leg tattoo - Black tribal snake tattoo art (custom tribal design by Vince), my wife has an identical one on her leg.
My custom tribal snake tattoo.
Back of head tattoo! - Tribal style pattern tattoo art in black and red (modified flash design)
The design on the back of my head, it was a present for my 30th birthday.
Self done stars tattoo on my ankle.
Experimenting and learning, this ankle tattoo was done entirely by me!
Labret piercing - 1.6mm.
My labret piercing, about an hour after it was done.
Left ear lobe piercings - 2.0mm + 1.6mm.
Left ear cartilage piercing - 1.2mm.
My left ear, showing the three piercings.
Update: Been doing stretching of those piercings:Left ear lobe with 6mm and 13mm tunnels!
6mm and 13mm tunnels going through my left ear lobe.
Scaffold piercing - 1.6mm .
My scaffold piercing, just minutes after being done!
Right ear lobe piercings - 2.0mm + 1.6mm.
My right ear, showing the two piercings.
Update: Been doing lots of stretching and added an extra one:Right ear scaffold, plus 4mm, 6mm and 13mm tunnels!
New improved multiple piercings and flesh tunnels.
Left eyebrow piercings - 1.6mm + 1.2mm.
My left eyebrow with two piercings.
Update: I got one of my eyebrow piercings caught on clothing and had to remove it, so I am down to one eyebrow piercing! 8o(
Update to the update: I missed having two eyebrow piercings, so I got it redone and prefer the look of it now:Left eyebrow piercings - 2 x 1.6mm.
My newer double left eyebrow piercings.
Left nipple piercing - 2.0mm
A picture of my nipple piercing! I never thought I would have to take a photo of my nipple for my web site!
If you are local to Bexhill and want to get in touch with Black Pearl for a tattoo or piercing here is the address and phone number:
Black Pearl,
34 St Leonards Road
Bexhill-on-Sea,
East Sussex,
Tel: 01424 210020
The new and improved Black Pearl Tattoo Studio in Bexhill, East Sussex
Black Pearl Tattoo Facebook Profile
Update: I have still only ever had tattoo art done at Black Pearl in Bexhill, but I have now had them done by Jay, Vince, Lee and Stacey, all of which where really great.
Update to the update!: My hand tattoo has now been recoloured and the custom tattoo design now goes right up to my elbow! Its all been done by somebody that does not work at Black Pearl, but it is somebody I trust to tattoo me, ME! Yep I bought myself the equipment and did it myself, I am learning as I go, redoing bits that did not work right the first time, so far I am very happy with the results. I will be posting pictures on this page once the tattoo finished.
Please note: Virtually anybody can buy the equipment to do their own equipment to tattoo themselves, but that's like saying that virtually anybody can jump off a cliff! Just because you can, does not mean you should!
I have an extremely high pain threshold, I can sit and chat while having any tattoos and piercings done.
I have watched many tattoos being done (mostly on me).
I am willing to except that it could go wrong and I would be willing to pay to get the people at Black Pearl to fix the tattoo.
Having more tattoos does not effect my work prospects (long story).
I am old enough (mid thirties) to be able to make an informed choice about doing my own tattoo.
I know that doing my own tattoo without proper training is a big risk, but its one I am willing to take.
Its a lot harder than it looks to tattoo yourself!
If you want to find out more about tattoos or piercings then try some of these in Google:
tattoo designs
tattoo art
free tattoo flash
tribal tattoo designs
body piercings
ear piercings
genital piercings
nipple piercings
tongue piercings
Be warned that some of those may show results that are of an adult nature, so if the sight of male or female body, genital or nipple piercings offend you then be careful. The tattoo art search results may also often contain male and female full body nudity too, you have been warned!