Spontaneous scarfication

So, I got it.  It was all so fast and I am so happy with it.  I know some people may have comments and thoughts of what could be done better, but this is for me and I like it... so keep your thoughts to yourself now unless its all in praise and adoration, then its ok.  Its a lot like people giving comments to new parents about baby names - as a parent to be, you don't want to have finally decided on a name and tell your friends and get the response of "oh I knew a (insert name here) once, they were a horrible person (insert examples of horrification here)"...and now your name that you struggled with for ever to finally decide on to brand this new life for the rest of its life...it is ruined....  So, I drew it and am very happy with all the meanings for everything in it.  There are a couple of things that I might have him touch up, but otherwise it is something I am glad to have on my body for the rest of my life. 

So you may or may not know the story behind my tattoos, but it started in Antarctica when I knew a
lady named Wendy Feather.  (no she wasn't lucky enough nor native American to be born with the name Feather, she renamed herself when she was 18).   She was a 63 year old cook that worked the night shift when I was working in the kitchens at the south pole.  Wendy and I bonded pretty well and were discussing getting a tattoo together when we got back to New Zealand.  I knew right then what I wanted to get and how I wanted it to look (inspired by a necklace frog thing a friend gave me).  It was discussing with her about my life travels and such that inspired the theme of an animal from every continent - which would limit me to 7 tattoos...not too bad a limit.   Wendy ended up getting off the ice before me (I was on one of the last planes out for the season; she was on the first).  I never did hook up with her afterwords.  But the seed was planted.  Its taken me a while as it is a work in progress and there are struggles with getting exactly what I am happy with for the rest of my life (i.e., no regrets). 
Since I had to go through New Zealand to get to Antarctica and spent a significant amount of time on NZ & because there is no "native" culture on Antarctica - this is inspired by the Maori art. 

In the latest installment I got the penguin.  

 The bat/bird for the head represents sociality (not a big deal for me, I just liked the form it took to create the head)

The fish hook in the neck represent strength, prosperity,abundance, fertility and a great respect for the sea.  It also is said to provide good luck and safety when traveling over water so is often worn by travelers. This is a very common symbol many people have from New Zealand art.

The fern in the back represents maturity
The figure above and below (the tail) the fern are made by the hammerhead shark motif, representing determination and tenacity. 
The spiral are Koru (found in the neck region, tail and belly), and represent the fern frond as it opens bringing new life and purity to the world. It also represents peace, tranquility and spirituality along with a strong sense of regrowth or new beginnings.

The bird on the chest represents freedom and safe return and, like any bird, watching the world from a different perspective.

In the wing is the twist with its crisscross form it represents the many paths of life and love and as such is regarded as the original eternity symbol. A single twist, in particular, would show the joining together of two people for eternity. Even though they sometimes move away from each other on their own journeys, they will always come together again sharing their lives and blending to become one. It tells how the strength of bond of friendship, loyalty and love will last forever.  The double and triple twists have a similar meaning but refer more to the joining of two peoples or cultures rather than individuals.  They also refer the the three baskets of knowledge.

slender loris

I am not finished, I have only 3 continents done - I need to decide what to do for Europe and North America (if I do one for NA at all) and I am now trying to settle on a design for Asia which has been narrowed down to a slender Loris or stripped hyena.

Stripped hyena from Kutch India

Id take suggestions for inspiration for the design for Asia - but this is what I am thinking thus far...It has to be inspired by images from India...and while there I really enjoyed the Buddhist colony near by which has some incredible art.  Much more influenced by Tibet, but I loved it.

 

Also, of course is the mendi work done on the streets (see my other blog June 24th about why I was in love with my own hand).  This may be more difficult, but should work.