Tattoo Illustration
When my friend Kym asked me to illustrate a tattoo idea for her I had a mini panic attack. I was so shocked that she would entrust me with something so permanent, but she reassured me that what she was looking for was a rough sketch that the tattoo artist would then reference to translate into his or her style. Kym was definitely more confident in my abilities than I was – she believed that my floral illustration style would lend itself nicely to what she had in mind for a tattoo she was hoping to get for her birthday. I reluctantly agreed to my friend’s ask.
So, the brief: A tattoo that would pay homage to Kym’s parents. She wanted to incorporate a bauhinia flower for her dad’s Hong Kong side, a narra tree branch for her mom’s Filipino side and their shared astrological sign of the Aries ram. She also wanted to incorporate swirls similar to those found in Gustav Klimt paintings.
Bauhinia, the official flower of Hong Kong, the birthplace of Kym’s dad
Narra, the national tree of the Philippines, the birthplace of Kym’s mother
Illustration references of ram skulls and antlers interlocked with flowers
‘The Tree of Life’ by the Austrian painter Gustav Klimt
Kym also asked that the illustration feel feminine and detailed, referencing vintage botanical illustrations. I had all the information I needed and a relaxed deadline of a few months, but I felt completely incapable of starting.
I would run into Kym a couple times on my way to and from work, when she would casually ask me how the illustration was coming along. After each encounter, I was convinced that the universe was nudging me to just GET ON IT.
I distinctively remember sitting on the couch on a lazy Sunday afternoon timidly drawing a line and then another on my iPad. Then, something magical happened. With each stroke I felt myself falling into an almost meditative drawing groove. “You got this, you were freaking out over nothing,” I thought to myself.
The below are some of my preliminary drawings. I really tried to have all the floral elements feel like they were effortlessly weaving in and out of the ram’s skull. Kym and I both agreed that the Klimt-inspired swirls might be best saved for another tattoo as they felt a bit too graphic compared to the organic elements.
This is the final illustration l gave Kym. To my relief and complete delight, she said it was beyond what she was hoping for and that it really captured what she had been toying with in her mind. What a compliment! I was really excited to see how the tattoo artist would translate my illustration into a permanent piece of body artwork.
“CHOOSE FEAR”
So this is the tattoo! I was surprised that the artist really did not deviate from my illustration and when I saw it in person I marveled at how much detail the artist was able to fit into a fairly small area. Just wow!
This experience really taught me to not be so afraid to go out of my comfort zone. It is something I intellectually know, but the fear of disappointing and not meeting my friend’s expectations almost deterred me from take on this project. I was actually completely capable of doing it and am so glad I did.
Thank you so much Kym for letting me be part of this tattoo journey with you, especially with something that represents your parents. Now, I am forever attached to you. Haha.. (˘･ᴗ･˘)
