I’m so excited to let you know that I did awesome through my shading and colour appointment! I was worried going into the appointment but checking in on your comments through the day made me smile- everyone was so encouraging and kind! I’ve been really excited to work on my three quarter sleeve because I’ve wanted one for a long time, and it’s my interpretation of a family crest.

It wasn’t that long ago that I had the shading done for my shoulder piece, and that went beautifully, but the outline for my sleeve was a very different experience. The line work on it is really detailled and varied and those giant long strokes? They’re not fun! I wanted to believe that having the colour done was going to be different, but I also didn’t want to get my hopes up to high in case I was disappointed. This is what the day looked like…

Before my appointment Jesse and I had a giant meal at Burrito Del Rio, my favourite Mexican food on the planet, and then picked up candy and cash. I knew I was going to be nervous (says the girl with the anxiety disorder!) and it was a day that I really didn’t want to be dealing with my anxiety, so to I trick my body out of focusing on being anxious I took an antihistamine as we left lunch. Within fifteen minutes I was focused on how I felt sleepy and my nervousness evaporated. It was great because I went into my appointment really relaxed and was able to keep that mindset through the appointment- though I really woke up once the appointment started!

Right before this picture was taken: “Jesse! Take a picture of me being tough!!” ;)

The difference between the shading and the colour was night and day. The tattoo machine uses more needles for shading instead of one large one for outline work, and instead of long steady strokes the shading uses circles and short strokes. This session felt much more like a buzzing on the surface of my arm than like I was having owls and chickadees carved into me! As soon as we started my whole body relaxed- I hung out in my favourite hoodie and watched the ninth season of South Park while eating candy and talking with Jesse + my artist. It was a great experience!

I only caught some quick photos before it started healing, but all the cherry blossoms and leaves other than the ones in the second photo are finished! My elbow is 100% finished, and in the coming months we’ll start working on the birds and the ribbon that ties it all together. If you look carefully at the brightest point in the picture on the left you can see the big bow that will be tied on my arm! I can’t wait!

I’m so excited to have a little colour on my arm, and I can’t wait to see it grow. So far everyone in my family has been really supportive, even if they don’t understand it they’ve been gracious and kind- down to my grandmother who put it best:

“Kyla, I don’t really understand it, but I can tell you one thing- it’s beautiful!”

What more can you ask for in a Baba? :)

I’ll post better pictures when it’s healed, you can see my inspiration + photo reference post here and the work is from the always lovely Kapala Tattoo.