The secret power of the doodle is to turn procrastination into action. After months of putting off creating another tattoo design, I decided to simply doodle it. Which is why I once again have a lot of cling wrap around my arm…

I also found another sneaky way of procrastinating productively:? the riches of image bookmarking in visualizeus where I gathered a lot of inspiration image for this design.

This is scaled down a lot – the final design fills my whole upper arm. The doodles calmed down a lot as they developed:


Then went through several more iterations as Morag cut it up and re-arranged it on the curving surface of my arm and shoulder. I was lucky to have an artist with such confidence and skill.? She was not afraid to add and change where needed.

Its a strange experience to be tattooed, especially if you are used to drawing a lot. I love being at the center of calm attention as the artist focuses so closely on their work. Watching the needles stitch ink across your skin is mesmerizing – if you can bear to look. You learn about all the subtle differences of sensitivity across your body. Designs that require a lot of detail on the inner elbow are not recommended…? You learn to regret all the little fronds, roots, drops and thorns you added in a excess of zeal while still in the design stage.

And after all that it came out perfectly – crisp black lines, lovely colours.? But for now I am left with this:

Masha at nightcity