The Meaning Behind PM Justin Trudeau’s Tattoo

Justin Trudeau is a lot of things- the Prime Minister of Canada, the most attractive world leader, and someone with a tattoo. Society is more accepting of tattoos today, but for a politician, and one as high up as Trudeau, sporting ink openly is daring. It was a shocker when Trudeau showed off his massive upper arm tattoo, and it left people wondering what the meaning behind it was, and well now we know.

Tattoo Design
Trudeau’s tattoo is actually two separate ones blended together. He got a globe when he was 23 years old. When he turned 40, he added a Haida raven onto it completing the ink.

Meaning
While we might never know why 23-year-old Trudeau got a globe, it turned out to be a smart choice considering he’s one of the most powerful world leaders. The raven element has more meaning. The Haida are natives of the Haida Gwaii territory in BC and Alaska and are one of Canada’s First Nations tribes. People believe Trudeau got the tattoo to honor his father, former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, who was declared an honorary member of the Haida tribe in 1976.

Conclusion
What Justin Trudeau’s tattoo shows us is that one, yes, even politicians can have tattoos and two, maybe think about whether or not you should get a cultural tattoo. Think about how much fun we make of all those people with bad Chinese symbols on their body.

If you want to book an appointment feel free to contact our downtown Toronto tattoo shop!

Tattoo Questions: Can I Get My Own Art Tattooed?

We get asked this question a lot in our Toronto tattoo shop. Here is everything you need to know about potentially getting your own artwork tattooed on yourself.

Not All Art Works As Tattoos
Tattoos are a whole other art form in itself. That means that not every drawing will translate well into a tattoo. Don’t be afraid to show your design to the artist, but just know that they’ll likely have to make a few changes to make it looks its best.

It Will Have To Be Redrawn
Even if your artwork can perfectly be turned into a tattoo, that tattoo artist will still have to redraw it. They may have to alter the proportions of the body, or simply redraw it onto the stencil that will be their guide.

Art Style Will Impact Your Artist
Like art, tattoos have different styles. What type of art do you create? This will impact what tattoo artist can best translate it into a tattoo. Finding one with a similar aesthetic will be key to getting the best results.

You’ll Have To Pay The Same Amount
This may seem unfair, but the design is only a portion of what you’re paying the tattoo artist for. The price also covers the equipment, the ink, the artist’s skill, and their time. You may have saved them a few minutes by creating the initial design, but all of the other work is left to them.

Don’t Be Offended If We Say No
If we say no to your tattoo design it isn’t a personal insult. Some tattoos just won’t work. Tattoo artists work for years to reach a level of skill and expertise so if they say it won’t work, they’re not lying to you and it’s not because they don’t like the artwork.

If It Has Meaning, Let Us Know
We understand that tattoos are personal and not everyone feels comfortable opening up. Tattoo artists are like therapist though in that many people do open up to them. Let us know if a piece of artwork has some meaning so that if we have to make any changes we can make sure to still capture what’s so special about it. We don’t want to press you for the whole story, but a little insight will ensure your tattoo artist delivers something that you’ll love.

Some Artists Won’t Under Any Circumstances
You know what they say about artists. Some tattoo artists have worked in the industry so long that they only do their own original work. It’s not personal; they just have reached a place in their career where they can be a bit picky about what they do. Most artists are open to tattoos clients work though; just ask ahead when booking to be sure.

Conclusion
The answer to the question isn’t straightforward. You can get your own artwork tattooed but it may be to be changed and altered for the best outcome. Book a consultation with a tattoo artist in our downtown Toronto tattoo shop today to get started!

Cuticle Tattoos 101

Yet another tattoo trend we can credit Rihanna for bringing into popularity. The Queen of Cool first sported cuticle tattoos back in 2013, and since then they have taken over Instagram. These tiny tattoos are just the latest in tattoo trends.

Location
The name says a lot, but cuticle tattoos aren’t actually on the cuticle. Rather, they’re placed around the nail. People usually opt to stick close to the nail but some people have taken to extending the design up the fingers and even across the whole hand. One choice people interested in these tattoos have to make it how many fingers they want to be done. Some get a few, some get only one hand, and others get them all done. It’s all up to you!

Pain
Here’s the bad news- the hands hurt to get tattoos. That pain only increases for that area on the finger. Hands and fingers are mostly bone and skin, with very little fat to cushion. The area near the nail is even more bony and sensitive. Ever gotten a hangnail? Imagine that pain times a thousand.

Time
Since most cuticle tattoos are small and have simple designs, the process can be done quickly. Make sure that you find an artist skilled in small tattoos though so that they don’t make any mistakes and can work in the small area.

Design
There is no single design for cuticle tattoos. Some popular designs are geometric shapes, lines, dots, and henna-style designs. Due to the small space simpler designs tend to work best.

Aftercare
It’s super important to follow all aftercare instructions. Since your hands usually come in contact with germs and objects first, it’s important that you keep your new ink clean and dry.

Conclusion
Cuticle tattoos act like jewelry, elevating whatever outfit one is wearing. They can hurt though, and it’s pretty costly for a small tattoo. Some people are opting for alternatives like temporary tattoos or nail art to get the design. If you want to book an appointment please contact us today!

Q&A: Can I Copy A Design I Found Online?

The quick answer to this question is both, yes and no. Let us explain. Looking online is a great way to find design inspiration. Feel free to look at Pinterest, Instagram, or artist portfolios to get some ideas. But do not copy a design you find online.

When To Look Online

If you know you want a tattoo, but aren’t sure what you want or if you have a rough idea but can’t visualize how it will look, it’s a great idea to browse online. When you go in for your tattoo consultation, your tattoo artist should be able to sketch based on what you describe. Sometimes clients have a hard time explaining what they want though. This is where inspiration pictures of similar designs come in handy.

Many people want original tattoos that express their individuality and personality. By looking online you can see what other people are getting to avoid getting the same thing. Maybe you love Harry Potter but you don’t want the same lightning bolt everyone else has gotten. The Internet is a great way to rule out popular ideas.

Absolutely look online for design inspiration or to brainstorm ideas or styles. You should even bring in pictures to help out your tattoo artist. Understand though, that these images should strictly be for inspiration, not for copying.

Why Not To Look Online

Here’s a big reason you shouldn’t get a tattoo of a design you copied online- it’s stealing. Someone worked really hard to design and tattoo that piece. Taking it in to get the tattoo on yourself, especially if it's not even the same artist, is a form of theft. Chances are both the original artist and person they tattooed wouldn't be happy with what you did.

Remember how we mentioned that tattoos should be original and the Internet is great to weed out the popular ones? Well, if you’re copying a design you found online chances are others have done the same thing. That means hundreds, if not thousands, of people, are going to have the exact same tattoo as you.

It’s also important to know that most tattoo artists won’t tattoo copied work. If it’s not original work, a public design (such as a cartoon character), or you don’t have permission from the artist most of them will turn you away.

How To Design A Tattoo

Every artist and tattoo studio have a different design process. However, it’s always a good idea to go into your consultation with some idea of what you want. Tattoo artists aren’t mind readers so make sure to bring in some inspiration pictures. Think about every aspect of the tattoo such as subject matter, size, placement, style, and color.

Once you discuss your desired tattoo and talk about your inspiration pictures your tattoo artist will begin designing. Be honest with them about everything you like and don’t like. Your artist will put a stencil of it on you in your desired location for you to get an idea.

The last step is to enjoy your new tattoo! Make sure you follow proper aftercare to keep it looking amazing. Contact us today to visit our studio to get started on designing your new tattoo!