true stories - resonanteye

jalapeno burn

19th of July 2020

In dos and donts, health and safety, how-to, journal, love, personal, true stories,

the pain started two hours after I chopped and scraped the seeds out of what tasted like VERY mild jalapenos. I figured they were so mild, they wouldn’t burn.

I took a huge bite, it was sweet like a bell pepper. BETRAYAL

NO. no no no no no no no no no no no no no.

I worked with 3lbs of them, and that was more than enough.

all of the suggestions you will find online, only work if you catch the capsaicin oil BEFORE it starts burning! if it’s in the surface, just starting to hurt. if you catch it quickly, you can try

rub oil into your hands, deeply, and let it sit

wash with blue dawn dish soap or other grease cutting soap, in the hottest water you can stand

repeat at least 3 times

Me though? I didn’t start to treat this until hours later and by then it was too late for the home remedies. For washing. That oil was absorbed- under the skin, not on it. You can’t wash it off.

I tried every single thing online that I could find. Vinegar soak. Olive oil/hot water washing. Mustard. Baking soda. Maalox. Bleach cleaner. Milk. Alcohol. Yogurt. Stainless steel. Salt. Milk soak. Aloe. Lemon juice. A lemon. An onion. Butter. Crisco. Sugar.

After several dozen ridiculous attempts, I realized that it was too late to do that shit.

Icepack, pain relief. that’s it. once it’s been a few hours, that’s all you can do.

1. wash your hands as well as you can, cold water feels nice. oil-reducing soap is good I guess.

2. apply blue gel, lidocaine, or anbesol/orajel to the entire affected area. allow it to absorb.

3. once it’s dried, apply a thin layer of any beeswax based/oily salve to hold the lidocaine to the skin surface. this will increase the time it lasts.

4. take a damn pain pill. I took ibuprofen. I might go on up to a codeine pill if it goes back to the pain I was at earlier- easily an 8/10! right now it’s just tenderness, and a Tylenol or Ibuprofen is enough.

5. take an antihistamine. Benadryl is best, Claritin works. this keeps inflammation down a little- your skin won’t be so red and irritated.

6. do not touch your eyes, genitals, mouth. don’t touch other people’s sensitive bits. you have to wait until your hands have used the capsaicin up- according to a paper I read that can take up to 24 hours. so be cautious during this time.

7.you can put on nitrile gloves if you like. I found they made the lidocaine wear off faster (maybe due to the warmth)

8. avoid touching ANYTHING warm/hot, and ANYTHING with capsaicin in it (even a sweet bell pepper!) for a few days. your nerve endings need to heal, your body needs to process that capsaicin. give it time.

I must have put a hundred condiments and unguents and cleaning supplies on my hands tonight. I spent hours trying.

just treat the pain, don’t reexpose your hands to heat or the chemical that hurt you. and don’t touch your eyes!!! OR YOUR JUNK. I MEAN IT.

bedtime stories I’ve read

7th of July 2020

In authors, deep thoughts, events, geek, journal, love, motivation, true stories, videos,

(more…)

horror movie talk with LFR

5th of July 2020

In deep thoughts, halloween, horror art, interview with the artist, journal, learning, love, macabre, posts with lists in them, reviews, true stories,

My friend Lucy F. R. has really great taste in movies.

I don’t say that lightly. You all know (if you’ve been reading me a while) how fussy I am about horror/weirdshit and how many movies I’ve watched. It’s my actual hobby, unrelated to anything else I do, purely for enjoyment. It’s hard for me to find people to talk about movies with, really- my uncle, who first introduced me to horror movies, and weird cinema, and one or two friends. So I’m really happy to have a conversation here about movies with someone.

Sal doesn’t take any shit from no man. (Beyond the Valley of the Ultravixens)

(R: me, L:them)

R: you’re on a grimy southern/grind horror kick right now. But what genre do you like best? What feeling are you after?

LFR: Horror is my favorite genre, I just get very into specific branches. I always want to end up saying to myself “this is a GOOD movie”.

R: What’s the best of the batch you’ve been into recently?

LFR:The Dunwich Horror (the 70’s one), Ghost Galleon, House By The Cemetery, Werewolves On Wheels, and Tourist Trap.

R: Tell me about Werewolves on Wheels. I just watched Dog Soldiers again, and I’ve been on a werewolf kick.

(more…)

current events; condensed

10th of May 2020

In 911, complaints, deep thoughts, dos and donts, ethics, health and safety, politics, posts with lists in them, questions, true stories, Uncategorized, wtc 9/11 einstruzende neubauten artistic poetic terrori, you,

A condensed post including short writings on current events.

CONSPIRACIES ARE NOT SECRET IN THIS CENTURY

open up? conspiracies? here’s the real one.

(more…)

HALLOWEEN!!!

29th of October 2019

In events, female tattoo artist, female tattoo artist pacific northwest, female tattoo artist spokane, flowers, graywash, halloween, holidays, love, nomad tattoo artist, pictures, tat zap wizard, Tattoo, true stories,

I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

witchery at large!

Magritte tattoos: a pair

topple the crown

translations, communication, and taking the time.

6th of January 2018

In ethics, health and safety, love, Tattoo Advice, tattooing, true stories, you,

I have tattooed a significant number of developmentally disabled and non neurotypical people.

I require caretakers to cosign all paperwork, if the person has a legal guardian. No matter what, everyone I tattoo must be over eighteen.

I require that I am satisfied they completely understand

1. the concept of permanence
2. that they will be in pain, and cannot move during the process
3. that they, alone, without coaxing, can express to me in some manner, what they would like tattooed on them.

if that’s written, ASL, using a speech to text device, or a person as a translator… all those are OK. they must be the one making the request, not their caretaker. that’s all. no coaching, no coaxing, no talking OVER the person who wants a tattoo. the request has to originate from my client only. the understanding of the outcome and process has to come from them. it’s their life, their body and decision. I need to know they are capable of making that decision, and that it’s THEIRS.

I have worked on people with almost no communication abilities, and not a one of them was coaxed or pushed by the caretaker. that in itself would cause me to refuse the service, since I wouldn’t be certain who had made the decision. I’ve tattooed people who used a caretaker to explain what they were saying, people who used a tablet or phone to tap in words painstakingly, I’ve taken basic ASL and can usually find a better -versed translator if my skills aren’t enough. I’m willing to take the time to explain every single thing that will or could happen, if someone needs the time and the explanation.

tattooing isn’t rocket surgery. it’s easy for me to explain, I think. there have been a few times when I felt the person really didn’t understand the concept of permanence-and so-

I have asked for doctor’s notes, and I’ve had people bring them, also. sometimes it’s me, unable to explain in a way they can understand. I defer to doctors; I realize that a lot of people need a different form of communication than I can provide and I’m willing to wait and see if someone more well trained in communication can make it understood.

I just do not want to do harm, to my clients, my potential clients, and especially to those who already have to go through a lot every day just to live in the typical world. if I’m certain the person understands the decision and had made it on their own I’ll do the work.

hell, that goes for face tattoos too, ya know?

any tattoo. I have turned away people who are verbal, neurotypical, etc simply because they do not understand the concept of permanence, or that they have to sit still for the process itself.

I’ve done face and hand tattoos on people who understood the gravity of the decision. (thinking about it for a long time isn’t an indicator of that understanding)

in other words, I welcome anyone who really wants a tattoo, and I want to do a good tattoo on them, and not cause harm to them in the process. I’m interested to know if anyone has questions or thoughts, too, on ways I could make communication about tattoos easier for people who struggle with social abilities or with communication in general.

I want my clients, my people, to feel at ease.

°°°additional notes°°°

Anyone who needs accommodations to get tattooed by me and isn’t certain if they’re in place, please do ask. we are wheelchair accessible; I have multiple furniture we can position you on safely and comfortably.

anxiety reducing things like your own pillow, headphones, etc are all welcomed. I’m not fluent in ASL but I have the basics and will scratch notes on paper with you for as long as we need to take.

if you are non verbal, you can bring and use a person to explain, you can write or sketch or doodle or print out images to show me, you can bring a tablet or phone and type at me, you can email me. this is all OK by me.

if you’ve got social anxiety, I do consultations via email and can schedule you on a day which is typically less busy, and we can set up so that you don’t have to interact with others. if you’ve a fear of unfamiliar places, you can come in briefly to visit and become more familiar with me and with the space before your tattoo day.

therapy animals aren’t permitted in the shop, per the health department. working service animals are permitted everywhere except the working procedure area- they cannot come into that area during a procedure, but can be in the waiting area, where one of us can easily reach for you. service animals in training aren’t permitted in the shop, and uncontrolled animals have to leave. these are state rules; both states I maintain licensing in have similar rules for us to follow.

I’m not a standard model human, so I know what a pain in the ass things can be, sometimes. you don’t have to lay your life open to me, I’m not a therapist. I don’t want to make you do more work than you’ve got to do, just to get a tattoo.

everything on this earth is set up for the normal folks; it’s hard enough already. if you don’t see an accommodation listed here and you need to know, ask. I will do all I can. you don’t have to explain why you need a thing. if I can do the thing, I will.

everyone who can want a tattoo and understand what they are, who can ask for one in some way, and pay for one, is welcome on my table.

you might need a doctor’s note if you:

take blood thinners
have a heart condition
have a compromised immune system
have diabetes and want a foot tattoo (to rule out neuropathy, so we’re sure it can heal)
can’t communicate well enough with me to express your understanding of the process or permanence of the tattoo

I’ll still tattoo you with a doctor’s OK, though.

I won’t tattoo you if:
you are pregnant
you are nursing an infant under one year old
you can’t understand the need to sit still for the tattoo process
you can’t understand the concept of permanence
you are under eighteen
your tattoo is a symbol of hate

if you’re in any doubt, email me. resonanteye at gmail dot com. we can figure it out.

The truth about fan art.

24th of May 2017

In artwork, clients, deep thoughts, female tattoo artist, female tattoo artist pacific northwest, female tattoo artist spokane, geek, horror art, joke tattoos, journal, love, macabre, motivation, original art, original drawings, questions, tat zap wizard, Tattoo, traveling tattooer, true stories, you,

Now, I’ll admit that I’m a fan of things. I enjoy things. I have problematic favorites just like anyone else. wanted to get that out of the way before I proceed.

case in point.

now, about fan art. I’ll do it. I’ll do a caricature tattoo (more painterly- I don’t do photorealism) of any thing you like- especially if I like it too. however, I don’t want to copy a still frame of a film, a production photo or an exact image of a character someone else owns the rights to. it seems like bad karma somehow. those folks worked long and hard and they need to get paid for that, they own the character, the art, the film itself.

so my solution has always been to find a reference, a pertinent moment, and refine it into an idea that references the original without interfering in the ownership of the image. I’ve fallen down on this, all tattoo artists have. a tattoo is personal use, you see, so as long as I’m not using it to promote or create follow-up products, I’m on the ok side of things.

I prefer the subtle approach. for example, right now I’m obsessed with Westworld. I’ve got sketches of every damn character, based on extensive research into the actors, not based on any one moment in the series. they’re loose, painted. I’m ready to tattoo these. once. one person gets them. I may post them and tag we online (they are open to fan art) but I’m not interested in exact reproductions. I want to capture a moment or meaning, not a face.

all the things there were mechanical until the “upgrade” to cheaper materials like meat and bones. they were beautiful, now they’re just like us. including the horses, the bison. so there it is.

they can’t ride that train anywhere. it’s a goddamn loop around the park areas. it’s headed nowhere. they can’t escape. who laid those tracks? there it is.

I’ve been obsessed with other things over the years, of course. mostly horror and sci Fi. I’d rather do something that contains the meaning of a scene, rough and raw and laid in strong, than copy and break a law or even piss someone off. there’s a lot of celebrity images in the public domain, I tend to rely heavily on mugshots, government images, and my paid Getty images access for these. I’ll use these and some of the character’s words or token totem items to make the piece. crossovers are fun, too, if I’m a fan of the actor.

looking at you, Walken.

looking directly at you, goldblum.

I’ll do some things. I have dodgy soft spots. if I’m geeking on the same thing as you, I am a marshmallow and I’ll do it. I feel bad afterwards, but I love some things too much to say no outright. and I usually only do this if the creator has died.

Ernst Haeckel, public domain actually.

I really want to change the things to make then more my style, more to your fit, more important. I want to bring out the abstract qualities the original creator didn’t do- I want the meaning, the pith. if you’re a fan of a thing I’m a fan of, expect our consultation to be a geek fest about our fan theories and conceptual framework, finding symbols to use without infringing on copyright. that’s my goal every time.

they never kiss.

from the literary description of It.

painting of a little sister.

I wanted a real turtle.

I’ll go abstract as fuck to capture the most powerful Disney villains.

had to add sex appeal, sadness, and painterly feeling.

if, like me, you find important moments in media, like books, movies, shows… come talk to me. I like a lot of stuff, mostly horror/sci Fi and a little weird standard fiction. I’ve got a list of things I’d love to do, on standby. if our interests match, we’re going to end up with magic.

I was more lax about copyright in the old times of my career. after all, I need the word of mouth, the internet brings me about half my clients, and known franchises and characters will consistently outpace original works. people like the familiar and you’ll see a crap copy of a screenshot from a movie with 19,900 likes and hearts and comments, while thoughtful original content gets ignored. it’s really difficult to deal with as a creator. I’ve chased that little bump before. Won’t do it again. anything related to a media franchise from now on is all OC based on the universe in which the characters are set, all characters drawn from copyright free sources.

I’m an artist and I know artists need to get paid. while I need the exposure copying and making fan art gives me, and I enjoy it with my particular interests, we’ve got to find ways to change things- to use elements that are meaningful in that universe, without simply tracing a damn thing.

currently I’m interested in Westworld, the Wire, better call Saul, Ursula k Leguin sf (not fantasy though), everything from Stephen King, Octavia Butler, any horror movie you can think of, and of course, any celebrity who’s a little off their rocker. I’d like to do an Idris Elba, Antony Hopkins, Charlize Theron, Gary Bussey, Grace Jones, any woman in a good strong character actually from any era. I’d like to paint character actors. I’d like to tattoo a lot more characters from fiction instead of movies. true crime! but then also, I’m a horror movie creep so I’d like that too. inglorious basterds! hey just try me. if I’m not a geek for it, I’ll know someone who is.

OH GAWD HELP ME MY ANUS IS BLEEDIINNNN-

just no direct copies. I’m not made for photorealism, my work is rugged and strange and won’t work that way. you can contact me if you’re interested by email, or with the link here: resonanteye.net/gettattooed.

I’ve been focusing more on skin and less on paper, so these images start out loose, they get refined on the skin. it’s about your interest in a thing matching mine, and your trust in the process. but I’m gritting my teeth waiting for more of this in the schedule, so please, bring it my way.

please. my inner nerd is underfed.

outline of center areas done elsewhere, repaired and added the rest. xox John Waters

ka is a wheel. piece still in progress.

bring these to me. please. I’m in the mood.

start rough, then refine

2nd of May 2017

In art, artwork, clients, conventions, drawing, events, female tattoo artist, female tattoo artist pacific northwest, female tattoo artist spokane, flowers, guest artist, hobo, journal, nomad tattoo artist, oregon tattoo artists, original art, tat zap wizard, Tattoo, Tattoo Advice, tattooing, travel, traveling tattooer, true stories, videos,

working with landscape in tattooing, getting a natural look to a landscape

also some extra things that have happened recently

100<100

30th of January 2017

In art, artwork, clients, events, female tattoo artist, female tattoo artist pacific northwest, female tattoo artist spokane, original art, original drawings, other media, painting, stuff for sale, true stories,

for the Kendall Yards first Friday artwalk in February, we’re doing one hundred pieces of art, each priced less than one hundred dollars! prints, originals, mini paintings and full sized works. it’ll be a mix of works by Traci Manley, Anji Marth, and Beth Swilling.

getting tattooed with scars from self-harm-answers to common questions.

30th of January 2017

In 911, clients, coverups, deep thoughts, ethics, female tattoo artist, female tattoo artist pacific northwest, female tattoo artist spokane, health and safety, journal, love, motivation, nomad tattoo artist, personal, questions, surviving your first tattoo, Tattoo, Tattoo Advice, traveling tattooer, true stories, you,

I’m not going to include many photos in this post, to provide my clients with some privacy.

side note: this information applies to most any kind of scar, not just self injury.

I’ve got some scars from self harm. I know a lot of people do. it can be really embarrassing, or feel shameful to have them seen. if they’re in really visible areas, it’s even worse.

I’ve had mine covered with tattoos (I stopped cutting years ago, when I was still fairly young). I’ve gotten images that remind me of what I’ve been through and of what I’d like my future to look like. I want you to know you’re not alone with this, first of all. I also want you to know that not only are you not alone, I have seen and tattooed worse scars than yours- burn wounds, surgical scars, all of it. yes, you may have done serious damage to yourself, but no- it’s not impossible to tattoo over it.

If you want to do this, here’s a few things to keep in mind.

you have to stop cutting in that area and adjoining areas for at least a few months before we can start working on it. the skin can only heal so much at once, so nearby open wounds will mess up the healing process of the tattoo. if you can’t entirely stop SH/SI, try to go lighter and in a completely different area for a while before you come for a tattoo.
make a consultation time with me first. that way we can figure out the pattern and texture of your scars and skin, what areas are “ripe” for tattooing and which may need more time. scars should be a little bit settled in before we tattoo on them, so the ink will hold properly. a consultation gives us a chance to also meet up and discuss what your goal is with the tattoo itself.
it’s OK if your goal is ‘hide these’, it’s OK if your goal is ’emphasize these’, it’s OK if your goal is to stop SH/SI and it’s OK if your goal has nothing to do with stopping. I won’t judge. I won’t look down on you. I know that you have your own reasons, and you don’t have to explain that to me or go into detail. you don’t have to relive your troubles just so that I will tattoo you. my goal is to make you happy with your tattoo- that’s all. I’m just here to make something positive happen for you.
minimal, crisp, geometric, thin-lined, pale, wispy art doesn’t cover or hide scars. if your goal is to camouflage the scars, we will likely end up doing painterly, saturated, textured organic shapes of some kind. branches, trees, flowers, plants, animals. things that have volume and texture. if your goal is NOT to hide or cover the scars, let me know, so that we can work out what you do want to do.
scars that are fresh, still healing, or very livid usually don’t take ink very well. usually, moisturizing often with vitamin e and/or a good scar reducing lotion for a few months will fix this. this is yet another reason to stop harming the skin in the area you want tattooed and the surrounding area. we need to give your cell walls a chance to regenerate, to hold the ink in.
don’t be afraid to email me or contact me EVEN IF you aren’t coming to me for the tattoo. I’ve been through some shit and I know how intimidating it can be to walk in to strangers and talk about this stuff. I can always answer questions, possibly suggest understanding artists in your area, or even just listen. I think everyone deserves a good experience when getting tattooed, and I’m here for that if you need it.
you’re likely to get an endorphin high during or after the tattoo, similar to what you’d get from shallow cuts or abrasions. getting heavily tattooed was part of how I broke my cycle of self harm- I realized I could get that sensation in other ways. it’s almost the same chemicals released as a “runner’s high”- so just speaking from personal experience, running and getting tattooed are both good ways to get that little kick, without doing more damage.
come prepared to comfort yourself. your favorite blanket, pillow, headphones, dress in comfy clothes. self-soothing is totally welcomed in my space, I will never mock you for making sure you’re comfortable and feeling safe. bring a snack as well, or something you like to munch or drink (no booze!) you can bring a friend or come alone- whatever makes you feel safer.

me getting my upper arms worked on.

if you need further information, email me, or, preferably, comment below. I’ll try to answer any comments I get here as quickly as I can.

“don’t cover them”

it goes without saying that SH/SI is dangerous and you shouldn’t do it. we all know that. but I know, and you know, that sometimes it’s a thing we do to cope, and we can’t just stop until you find better ways to cope with all the bullshit life throws at us. I hope we all find better ways to cope, I hope everyone reading this is able to find things that help. I did-and if I can do a thing I am damn sure that you can do the thing.

I understand that it takes time and work so again-don’t feel ashamed. It’s just a thing some of us do. Be as safe as you can be.

(sterile saline wound wash, steri-strips, and clean hands help a lot)

xox

using a scar as a design element

after. the indentation and raised areas become an asset to the design