He's getting a tattoo, yeah he's getting ink done

[venta]

Today, on the train, I overheard someone else's conversation. Someone was telling their friend how, having worked for years as an illustrator, they were planning to re-train as a tattooist.

At which point I started wondering: how do you learn to be a tattoo artist? Sure, you can practice drawing on paper, but at some point you're going to have to start for the first time on a real person. And let's just say... I wouldn't really want to be that person.

Fortunately, her friend wanted to know that, too. So she explained: you start by practising on sides of bacon.

I've learned something today.

Comments

[sammason.livejournal.com]

The bacon thing sounds v sensible. But don't they use fake skin first? My specialist nurse used a slab of fake skin, with all the correct layers of subcutaneous fat, to teach me how to self-inject.

[venta.livejournal.com]

I've no idea - I've never heard of fake skin (though its existence makes sense), and perhaps she hadn't either. I guess it depends if it's cheaper and easier to get hold of bacon!

From this I think we can conclude that overhearing a conversation on a train doesn't constitute proper research :)

[sammason.livejournal.com]

Probably from a supplier like this one http://www.espmodels.co.uk/medical-models-c-15.html

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Seems unlikely it would be cheaper than bacon. And also, you probably wouldn't want to make a sandwich with it afterwards.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Actually, looking at the prices from the supplier linked above, I'm not sure! It depends whether you can tattoo on the sides of cheap back-bacon rashers, or whether you really do ahve to buy a whole side to get the grain going the right way!

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

I started looking, but my eye was immediately drawn away to Fat Fred / Fat Old Fred, Obese CPR Manikin.

Fat Old Fred / Obese Manikin might just be my next band's name, I think.

[venta.livejournal.com]

I got distracted by everything... it's like a whole new world :)