This is my first time getting tattooed in almost two months.
It was nice to not have to worry about a trip to New York around Christmas
shopping and visits with relatives and friends—but it was good to get back on
schedule with my appointments.
The trip to New York was especially cold this morning, but
it was especially warm in Shinji’s studio—almost stiflingly so.
Today was a lot of drawing to begin with, and this often
makes for a rough start. During the first fifteen minutes I’m daydreaming, looking
at any new photos of the work Shinji has decorating the walls. By the first
half hour I’m trying hard not to shift my weight as my feet start to fall
asleep. After forty-five minutes of standing in the same place I’m often
lightheaded, and struggling to hold out while Shinji finishes. I had to stop
and take a break partway through, and I was glad to finally be lying down when
he finished sketching today’s line work.
But things just got more difficult, as today was the day to
finish the inside of my right thigh, up to the crack of my ass, and own the
other side. Getting the lines done on my inner butt cheeks was probably the
worst so far—and that was just the outlines. I imagine the shading there will be
just as shitty to sit through, if not worse. We will see.
Shinji called it a day after and hour and-a-half (which was
fine with me). He finished the most tender parts on my butt, and then worked
his way up my right side, to right below my armpit. (He started to connect to
the Horiyoshi III piece on my right arm, which is exciting.) Afterward, like I
usually do, I asked his apprentice to help with photos of my progress. I stood
in front the drape separating the two rooms, legs about hip-width apart, with
my back to the camera as he snapped a few cell-phone shots.
“Maybe is better,” Shinji said, “if his legs…” He motioned
with his hands….
“Closer together?”
“Yes, legs together, I think.”
I stood with my feet together for the last few shots,
thanked him, and headed out.
As I was going through the photos on the bus on the way
home, I can see why Shinji made the suggestion: in the early shots my scrotum
is especially prominent, distractedly hanging down between my legs in the early
photos. Did I mention it was really warm in the studio today?
Yes, I thought, maybe is better.
