This week I am proud to present the ever-so-darling Kaelah Bee. She is a graphic designer out of NYC, and has a lot of super neat tattoos! Her blog is also incredibly interesting and inspiring, so I recommend that all of you check it out if you don’t already make it a daily stop. I’m excited about everything Ms. Kaelah is sharing with us today, and I know you will be too!
This is my most recent piece, done just a few months ago by the wonderfully talented Laura. I knew that I wanted a piece for each my Nana and Papa on the backs of my calves. My papa passed away when I was 8 but my Nana is alive and kicking! She was a seamstress throughout her life and I wanted to showcase that with the vintage Singer sewing machine, thread and needle. I chose to have the thread done in blue as it is her favorite color. When I move back to Nashville in August Laura will be doing my other calf for my Papa. He was a stonemason his whole life and ran his own business. I’ll be getting the same wreath of roses (though they’ll be yellow) and rather than a sewing machine I’ll be getting the masonic symbol (the compass) and a few of his tools such as a mallet and chisel.
I have a full sleeve by Jason Smith featuring a ship, lighthouse, compass, and octopus. I have “Alis Volat Propriis” written in script across my chest (also by Jason Smith) which is Latin for “She Flies With Her Own Wings”. I have a half sleeve of 4 Kurt Halsey paintings, including my very favorite piece “There are places and there are opportunities.” I have a colorful sparrow on my right hip which was done on my 18th birthday, and I also have the words “Art” and “Love” on my feet.
Absolutely. So many pieces in the works currently. I’m covering up my feet with traditional roses and a teacup and teapot (I collect teacups and I’m enamored with the femininity that goes along with them). I’m saving my favorite animal (Great White Shark!) for a very large rib panel I hope to begin before too long. It’s my life goal to free dive with a Great White so I think both the goal and tattoo are something I’m looking forward to working toward. I’m also planning some thigh pieces and who knows from there! I love being a heavily tattooed woman, even if it comes with it’s drawbacks at times.
My entire family was never really fond of them, and I started becoming much more heavily tattooed. My mom and my Nana would both practically beg me to stop getting tattooed, but then I got my mom’s portrait and one fateful (read: drunken 21st birthday) night, I spilled my guts to my mother, crying and ruining her mother’s day surprise (the tattoo) by telling her how she was my hero and I had been planning this tattoo for months. Afterward I think she started realizing that all of my tattoos are so very significant and they all have so many meanings. Same goes with my Nana. I showed her the tattoo I got for her and rather than scold me for doing it, she cried and said it was the most beautiful thing in the world.
Research research research! I think that goes without saying. Quality over quantity! And most importantly: You get what you pay for! I think everyone should take the artwork they want to get tattooed and hang it on their mirror or somewhere they will see it everyday. Look at it for 6 months. If you still want it after 6 months, go for it. But you’ll be surprised at how sick you can get of something without even realizing it.
