Research for Writing Request: Tattooing!

[Oblimo]

I am working on my Halloween contest submission and the story I want to tell requires a lot more information about the art and mechanics of inking than I currently possess to give it the aura of verisimilitude that all weird fiction demands.

Here's the basic schtick: Mysterous Woman wants Our Hero (the inker) to tattoo her entire lower body in snake scales (akin to the Lizardman's but more colorful, filled-in and...pervasive). The trick is the Mysterous Woman wants the tattoo inked seemlessly rather than in patches, so it grows up her legs organically, starting from the soles of the feet on up. (I know the problems with tattooing the sole; that's one of the reasons I want to start there. )

Does anyone know how many sessions/session length such a project might take? Would you have to do the scale outlines first before coloring them in, or can you outline and fill in the same session?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Guest]

I am working on my Halloween contest submission and the story I want to tell requires a lot more information about the art and mechanics of inking than I currently possess to give it the aura of verisimilitude that all weird fiction demands.

Here's the basic schtick: Mysterous Woman wants Our Hero (the inker) to tattoo her entire lower body in snake scales (akin to the Lizardman's but more colorful, filled-in and...pervasive). The trick is the Mysterous Woman wants the tattoo inked seemlessly rather than in patches, so it grows up her legs organically, starting from the soles of the feet on up. (I know the problems with tattooing the sole; that's one of the reasons I want to start there. )

Does anyone know how many sessions/session length such a project might take? Would you have to do the scale outlines first before coloring them in, or can you outline and fill in the same session?

Thanks in advance!

The little I know about such things, from a few friends who are either ink addicts or inkers, and a couple of documentaries, is such extensive tattooing can take years. There is a style of Japanese tattoo done like that, and people will spend a lifetime completing a body covering design.

They often have themselves flayed and their inked skin preserved after they die. No kidding.

 

[deathlynx]

Yeah, a project of this magnitude would take years in real life...Traditionally they would likely start with part or all of it in outline as one section, wait for that to heal and then move on to another color...If she wants it done organically (not outline then color later) then her first session would be many hours long and likely would only accomplish her feet...

Overall the total time for such a project would probably well over a day's worth of work spread out over a very extended period...

 

[oggbashan]

A possible solution might be to avoid tattooing and use henna painting.

A henna painting, depending on the preparation of the henna, can be washed off immediately, or be semi-permanent for days, weeks or months. An expert could paint the whole body in a couple of hours.

Or - body paint. Again there are variants of paint from the stuff used on children's faces to more semi-permanent versions.

Both are pain free and non-invasive. The pain of the tattooing might be bearable at the time, but if too much is done over a short time, blood poisoning is a real possibility. There is only so much that the skin can deal with at once.

Og

 

[Guest]

A possible solution might be to avoid tattooing and use henna painting.

A henna painting, depending on the preparation of the henna, can be washed off immediately, or be semi-permanent for days, weeks or months. An expert could paint the whole body in a couple of hours.

Or - body paint. Again there are variants of paint from the stuff used on children's faces to more semi-permanent versions.

Both are pain free and non-invasive. The pain of the tattooing might be bearable at the time, but if too much is done over a short time, blood poisoning is a real possibility. There is only so much that the skin can deal with at once.

Og

Henna has only the draw back of the subject not being able to move much while the henna dries -- it stains and smudges. While most people don't have an allergic reaction to henna, some experience a tingling (eucalyptus oil is often used in better preparations). And, having done some extensive body henna projects, those can also take hours (ABG and I once did a man's shaved head with a "tribal" all over pattern that took us about two hours, working together). How long it takes depends on the design and the method of application (ABG and I do this at shows and parties, so I guess we count as "professionals" -- that is, people pay us actual money. Yeah, it makes me laugh, too, until I've been doing it for four or more hours.)

Of course, a nice "fake" henna look can be obtained with a brown Sharpie marker and wiped off with alcohol. (We've done this on clients in a hurry ) That just takes the time to draw.

With tattoo needles, you are still breaking the skin and blood or blood plasma will rise up. People I've met with full body tattoos in progress got them over many years (one fellow I met up with was having scales done all over himself, starting with his head and face. I have pictures.)

 

[Oblimo]

My outline has the Mysterious Woman coming back to Our Hero's parlor for inking sessions once a month for a year before the tattoo reaches her thighs and the haunting, snake-woman dreams really start making Our Hero nervous. The narrative has Our Hero telling the scale-tattoo story to another character, and it's established in the first paragraph that he's an unreliable narrator, but I don't want him stretching the truth too much.

Is it plausible to get that far in twelve long, once-a-month sessions?

 

[deathlynx]

Well, it would more likely be every two months minimum to let things have time to heal...But with twelve three hour sessions (VERY long sessions) it's possible...

 

[Guest]

Well, it would more likely be every two months minimum to let things have time to heal...But with twelve three hour sessions (VERY long sessions) it's possible...

Yup, possible. Again, there are factors to consider.

Again, it will depend on the design. I checked with one of my ink-addicted friends. All her tats are lines-only -- no inside tinting - and while a few cover a lot of skin, they aren't solid color and only took an hour or so. She also healed them quickly -- within a couple of weeks. The more complex and nuanced the design, the slower the process -- less skin is covered, more healing time is needed.

Unless your Mystery Woman heals REALLY fast...

 

[Guest]

i have many tatts. one of them goes from right ankle to left breast. it took me about 8 months (money/time) being the factor.
one thing my tatt artist said was that after about a three hour session, the body starts to not accept the ink as well and the tatt will fade quickly.

three hours in the chair was bliss for me, but im strange like that. some people can't take the pain for that long or longer.
as far as scarring goes, you can continue on a tatt no matter what the scarring is as long as the recipient is able to handle it and its not an area that has to be added to directly. am i making sense?
in any case, best wishes on the tale. im interested in reading it when you're done.

 

[Oblimo]

Thanks for all the input everybody!

Our Hero is telling a bit of a big fish story, but I don't want to ruin credulity entirely, so I think Our Hero will insist that the Mysterious Woman take some months off (for his peace of mind as much as her health). It's an easy-peasy excuse to throw in more dramatic tension/conflict between the two characters, too.

Now I just need a compilation of every "the woman and the snake" legend from Western and Near Eastern mythohistory and I can get this party started.