Having always been a creative person myself, I really like hanging out with other creative people. They fill me with joy, ideas, and have a way of magnifying my own creativity.
All of us creative folk, no matter what medium we work in (art, film making, music, writing, acting, etc.) seem to occupy a different bandwidth of consciousness. We have quirks and personality traits considered weird by the more conservative “normal” middle spectrum of the human herd. Being a creative person is often not an easy life if you’re surrounded by non-creatives.
If you’ve been following me for a while you know from past posts I got my first tattoo in the autumn of 2016, right before SteemFest 1. My first piece was a Buddha that sits on my left shoulder offering a lotus, representing the flower sermon (click here to read about it). I’ve been practicing meditation for a few decades and this seemed like a fitting first piece of body art...representing some of the wisdom that has come from that practice.
The second piece was a mandala with the flower of life pattern running behind it. My second tattoo was done in 2017, coincidentally it was wrapped up just before SteemFest 2 (click here to read about tattoo #2).
Last week, I spent another four hours in the chair of the incredible artist and renaissance man, Greg “Grease” Lehman (check out his website here). Greg has been creating incredible body art about as long as I’ve been writing. He also excels in woodworking and has even made a working pendulum clock out of nothing but paper mache...this has to be seen to be believed. His shop’s walls are filled with various curiosities, many of them he made himself.
A few weeks prior to this I had been sending Greg pictures of different ideas I had for my next piece, changing my mind a few times. I was having trouble finding one picture online that represented exactly what I wanted so I finally narrowed it down to three pictures, asking Greg to incorporate a few aspects of each into the final design.
This third tattoo is on my left arm from my wrist to my elbow and it connects with my original Buddha to form what’s called a sleeve, meaning a tattoo that covers the length of the entire arm. I had held off on getting this done while I was still working an office job because I was concerned that it wouldn’t be accepted in that conservative environment. I think back to how absurd that rationale is now and it makes me laugh. Now, I don’t simply don’t care and that feels amazing to say.
When I arrived at Greg’s shop he had my concept perfectly sketched onto a special paper that transfers the image onto your arm when applied.
He transferred the image to the blank canvas that was my left forearm.
Then he fired up the tool of his trade and got to work. The time usually goes really quickly in his chair, we talk about a wide variety of topics from politics, to technology, to cryptocurrency (yes, he’s into that too.)
Greg began on the intricate detail of the clock face first.
During the four hour session we took a few breaks to rest. The following picture was taken about two and a half hours into the session.
Here’s one taken after three hours in the chair. After some of the shading and white highlighting had been applied.
The explanation of the design is as follows: the lotus at the bottom represents the beginning of my spiritual journey. The clock represents our physical reality and all of the good and bad that accompanies this. The clock is also a reminder that time is continuously ticking. The Om symbol is present at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions on the dial showing a gradual transformation from physical to spiritual consciousness. The hands of the clock are set to the exact time of my birth. Smoke is rising from the lotus, seamlessly connecting this piece with the older Buddha on my shoulder.
Here are a few of the final photos taken by Greg at the end of the session.
I’ll go back in a month or so after this is fully healed for a minor touch up and maybe the addition of a little color here and there.
I hope you enjoyed this post!
Remember, life is too short to be “normal”. What is normal anyway but a set of rules and hypocritical expectations imposed on us by others?
Be you, unapoligetically.
Even if you is unconventional and covered in tattoos. ; )
Yours in the Chain,
Eric
Please follow our official Steemit account for the film series @hardfork-series. Did you miss our last post? If so CLICK HERE to read it!
*I am an American novelist, poet, traveler, and crypto-enthusiast. If you’ve enjoyed my work please sign up for my author newsletter at my website. Newsletter subscribers will receive exclusive updates and special offers and your information will never be sold or shared.
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Nice tattoo selection and I love it.
Thanks!
Life is too short to be normal indeed!! Creatives thrive on the mutual talent, intelligence and inspiration of others and since I met you my creativity has thrived to a whole other level! Thanks for making my life more weird and wonderful than ever!
Likewise, brother. I've experienced a creative explosion since beginning HardFork! Some day when we're old and feeble we'll remember all of these memories we're making in Brooklyn, and St. Paul, and future (more exotic) locales and be able to do nothing but smile. So glad I met you man.
Very good post @ericvancewalton, your words have a very deep meaning and can be a very good motivation for the crowd. Life is sometimes not what we want, but all that we can change it in our own way. Because to be successful it takes struggle, effort, hard work and never give up before we can get all that. We must also have a strong and optimistic position. Never see what other people do, because it can mess things up. Most importantly we still have to focus on one of our goals. Your photo is very beautiful, I really salute for people who have the soul of art, because the soul of art is not owned by everyone and has a very high value. Thank you for sharing and hopefully you will be more successful to work.
You're cool.
Cool in the same way that a tree is cool.
Thanks, Chris! I'm wishing I was a palm tree on some tropical beach right at this very moment. : )
Beautiful tat.
I'm new to this site. I'm a novelist too.
I'm thinking of posting up my first novel on Steemit- serialized. In your opinion, could this work? Have you tried it?
Thanks! Yes, serialized fiction is how I got my start on Steemit. Here’s the table of contents for the novel I published - https://steemit.com/steemit/@dreemit/table-of-contents-for-the-first-novel-ever-published-on-the-blockchain-alarm-clock-dawn-by-eric-vance-walton-if-you-have-yet-to
I would suggest that you build a fair amount of followers first but I’d encourage you to publish your work this way as well. It can be a huge success if done right.
Best of luck to you!
Thanks for your advice.
I just followed your link and read the post. Now I'm buzzed up. I will read your book.
You seem like a cool bunch of people. I hope I can contribute to the community.
I feel increasingly persuaded to publish my book on Steemit. I'll take a week or 2 to decide but the key is to build a following before I do it.
I'm on Discord- the Writer's Block. Please advise me how else to build a following- it seems a bit daunting from where I sit. I appreciate your help :)
My pleasure. My friend @dougkarr is also publishing a novel on Steemit. You may want to check his out too to get a feel for how best to do it. Best of luck with yours!
I'll check it out. Thank you
Thanks for your advice.
I'll let you know if and when I do it
really love all the meaning behind your tattoo! it does flow right into your previous tattoo. kudos to the artist!
it looks like an imposing tattoo
a work of a true artist
Amen, Life is too short, plus exactly what is normal anymore? What a tattoo, that is an incredible piece of art. And something with so much in-bedded meaning. Great share!
I got to say I dont have any tats, but I like that one. I am a fan of clocks and use them often in my pics. Of course, for the very reason as you say: to be reminded it is always ticking. Good choice.
A beautiful tattoo, my friend, and for some reason it seemed to me that there was some sense in it. It seems it means some kind of religious symbol. Maybe I'm wrong, so please forgive, but in general, great tattoo! Thank you @ericvancewalton
Holy crap, that sleeve is brutal!
So jealous! The design is simply special!
Is it unique? Or did you borrow an already existing image?
Thank you! It took a lot of contemplation to figure out exactly what I wanted. This is unique but takes elements of existing tattoo designs that I've seen. It was fun to piece together.
Wow... These tats are so cool! I want one 😍😍
@ericvancewalton, I'm glad to hear your creativity and ideas. Your first tattoo was Lord Buddha piece. Buddha is my religious leader as you know. I appreciate you follow Buddhism and your joyful feelings. I'll check it out more about your past tattoo history.
This time you taken amazing and deeply meaningful tattoo design. It's really awesome to see. Life is too short yep..agreed and we take care of our life and gives good and creative things to it. Nice you decided to shared your experience. Stay Blessed.
Thank you @madushanka. I really connect with Buddhism. I'm glad you enjoyed the post!
@ericvancewalton You are a very creative person. Always enjoy reading your publications and stories. Continue creativity. Do not skimp on us
Loved ♥♥♥
Thanks!
nice story and art ☺
nice tatoo.
Your tatoos are really dope
Thanks man, I appreciate it.
You're always welcome
Looks so painful! How long is recovery? Thanks for sharing. I always wondered about the process. Joy
It's really not too bad if you have a good tattoo artist. The mandala was the most painful because of the intricacy and boldness of the design. The recovery is usually about a week. It feels like a sunburn for 3 or 4 days. Glad you enjoyed the post!
I really did! Nice how an artist can have their art on others skin pretty much forever is cool. My daughters snuck out and got some. Thanks for the info. Joy
great story and nice photo.i enjoy this.realy good job.
Thank you!
well come.please check my profile.
Hey @ericvancewalton, great post! I enjoyed your content. Keep up the good work! It's always nice to see good content here on Steemit! Cheers :)
Congrats on the third tattoo buddy !
It sure looks pretty well and great by the way !
Greg sure did a nice work ;)
The time spent in the chair sure paid of pretty nicely !
Wonderful tattoo for a wonderful person, well done choice ;)
Thank you, man!
wow ... very interesting and beautiful, i really like
It's very creative art work, nice tatoo with 🕉️🕉️
Thanks!
This is a quoteyou made there. And everyone should apply to their lives brother. Life is to short and you should do every kind of craziness in order to have fun. Growing old this is your legacy. Memories.
I found the tattoo very nice. Full arm
Thanks, @mindtrap! I totally agree with that life philosophy. I'm plan on making as many memories as I can from here on out.
Your tattoos are really beautiful and showing your love for art and creativity.The best artists study as apprentices for years, constantly and passionately perfecting their craft, and eventually, they turn out some real masterpieces. Art, to me, has always been about expressing oneself in hopes of connecting with others, and that's exactly what I think tattoos do.
Thanks! I can't imagine working in a medium that the client would need to have a laser to remove. There's very little room for error. I'm happy I found an artist with lots of experience and skill. I never thought of it that was but tattoos do connect you with others. I see them as a kind of personal talisman too.
Creators, as a rule, have an excellent taste and like to be in a beautiful environment.
A study recently published in the journal Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts showed that musicians, including music teachers and soloists, demonstrate high sensitivity and receptivity to artistic beauty. That's how you, as a creative person, are drawn to a beautiful . Your tattoo is beautiful, I just fell in love with it. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading and for your comment!
Getting a tattoo done, especially on the vulnerable parts, is not for wimps. Pretty much everyone who gets a tattoo will feel the pressure to be tough and endure the pain, which mostly feels like somebody is slowly creating a scrape wound.
Don’t underestimate how peer pressure can heighten your pain threshold. You can endure much more than you think you’re capable of. And after your tattoo is done and the ordeal is over, you will quickly forget about the pain.
Until the next tattoo, that is.
Awesome tattoos man! Great artical too! Im one of those more "normal" types lol. Havent gotten any tattoos yet...but always thought they were interesting!
Following you!
Thank you so much!
It's very amazing tatoo, and om is a indian hindu religion sign . Nice post
Thank you! Yes, I learned meditation through the organization that the Hindu teacher Paramahansa Yogananada started.
That's great, I like your interest in spiritual mediation .
Apoligizing No More! Thanks for sharing your story!
Thanks for reading, Ann!
This is so true. We're a weird sort of people! Haha But if we're being honest, I'm ok with that...normal sucks.
Just hearing your description of Greg's shop really makes me want to go take a stroll through it! That paper mache clock sounds crazy.
Great choice for a very symbolic and meaningful tat, man - It looks great on you!
Thanks @rigaronib! His shop is filled with curiosities and puzzlements, I could spend an hour in there just looking at what he has hung on the walls.
These days tattoos are the norm and no tattoos are abnormal.
Probably true about the younger generations.
Tick-tock this rocks! Don't worry about getting any colour added- next time I see you I'll bring my coloured sharpie pens.
Haha, thanks my friend! That's how I felt about the mandala until I got it finished. Greg even suggested using non-toxic markers to try different color-schemes after it healed. I kind of like it plain, as it is now but we'll have to see what it looks like after it fully heals.
Wow, a very beautiful photo @ericvancewalton, behind the painting it must have its own meaning. I really salute with the person who painted it, because the artistic spirit to paint is very difficult and not owned by the crowd. I've learned to paint but always fail. Therefore, I really appreciate people who have the soul of painting art. Thanks for sharing ... :)
Great article Eric. Yeah, I'm a weird one, too, with a world filled with 'normal' people in that they aren't so understanding of my need to be creative. Most are encouraging enough, yet don't get why I must write. A few are non-believers and try to advise me to do something else. All I can do with these is smile graciously, give 'em a thumbs up, and slink off to my little den to shape words into cohesive stories.
Thank you, Charles! I’m so excited that you made it through the sign up process and are writing on Steemit now. This will be an amazing forum for your writing. How’s 2018 been for you so far?
wow now that is super epic looks fantastic and rightly said life is too short to be normal time to do epic stuffs :D
Damn, looks like you sat like a champ! Did you get any breaks!? I hope you told Greg to set up a steemit account! What a talented dude!- thanks for sharing from one anit-normy to another 👍🏻
Thanks! We took three short breaks just to get up and stretch. I WISH Greg would open an account. He has so many hobbies he could create an amazing blog. I appreciate you stopping by and commenting!
Not a problem! If he ever does sign up, let him know hes already got a follower on deck! haha
Thanks for sharing!
I pitched the idea and he's considering it! You're welcome @dayleeo!
<3 That's great!
What a beautiful tattoo, congratulations @ericvancewalton! From a visual perspective the clock is so graphic and balances the organic forms above and below so perfectly and the meaning feels so right. great vision on your part, great execution Greg's!
And I couldn't agree more about how rich life is co-existing with other creatives who don't really give much of a hoot about being normal!
Thanks, Ruth! I've always been drawn to clocks and watches for some reason. I'm so happy with how it turned out. It's at the really gross scabby stage right now but hopefully everything will be back to normal in a few days. There's nothing like spending time with other creatives. Re-entry into normal life is sometimes difficult after those intense collaborative sessions in NYC. I can understand why artists crave collaboration. It's all about balance though.
I remember your love of watches and I thought about it immediately when I saw the image. I didn't know there was a scabby stage, but it makes sense that the skin needs to heal.
Balance indeed, inward, outward, inward, outward ;-)
How cool that you remembered that! I think my next, and possibly last Steemit post for a while, is going to be watch-related. Yes, the healing (scabby) stage lasts for a week or so after you get a fresh tattoo. It's similar to the peeling after a sunburn. Hope you're having a wonderful week, my friend!
It's important to be true to yourself. If you're always living for someone else, you're going to have a hard time being happy. Find the things that make you tick, and pursue them. If it doesn't give you life to do it, try to find something that does. If you have to do something to pay the bills, do that for a time, but work to find what brings you peace and happiness. Good stuff, man!
Thanks for your comment! Yes, I agree it's important to stay focused and not end up in a rut treading a "safe and secure" path. The truth is in life there is no path that is safe and secure. However, there is a path that brings happiness.
amazing post really nice i like this
Very interesting to see your life story and nice design of tattoo.
Hi , dear friend @ericvancewalton,,,,
Friend are interesting in your history. I liked your blog a lot. Many things in your history So I welcome your blog. Interlining all your photos. I wish you a beautiful life.
You wrote a very nice life about life. Some writing gives us courage and revives.
@ericvancewalton
a very nice tattoo choice, good workmanship
Nice choice...:)...
lovely.. you are the one of my best creative person..
Very beautiful art in form of a tatoo. Creativity at its best.