This past weekend, I took a trip to Toronto with my friends. We decided that we would get tattoos to commemorate my friend’s birthday. Having already collected a few tattoos, it was left up to me to set everything up. I’ve become familiar with a number of artists through social media, and ended up using this avenue to narrow down our best options.

One that came to my mind immediately was an artist named Jennifer Lawes (@jenniferlawes). She works out of a shop in Kensington called the Pearl Harbor Gift Shop, and happened to do walk-ins on Sept. 19, the day of my friend’s birthday. Walk-ins are always risky, since you might not getting an appointment, but we were lucky. As always with my tattoo sittings, I make sure to ask the artist my routine questions: have you ever made a mistake? How many “Live Laugh Love” tattoos have you done? Does it bother you to do tattoos you hate?

Jennifer was lovely, admitting only to tattooing the wrong anniversary date on a client (due to their own excitement and negligence), and delving deeper into her answers for my latter questions. Just before my friend and I were sat up, cleaned up, shaved and tattooed, she had a mother and daughter under her needle. They had asked for infinity symbols with hearts in them. I laughed when she said this, of course, because I’m one of those pretentious assholes with a “holier-than-thou” attitude.

Jennifer said that despite the fact that the concept was common so was the reaction she got after the tattoo was finished: contentment. I mean, sure, everyone and their mother has a feather turning into a flock of birds on their shoulder, but that doesn’t make their feelings any less legitimate. The fact that that formation of ink sits under their skin makes them happy, and really, what should it matter to me—or anyone else—that it was drilled into them?

There is the ongoing conversation about the legitimacy of tattoos—the conceptual hierarchy knows no bounds, really. Tattoos are thought to hold some deep significance; whenever you approach someone you ask for clarification of the image, and what it means (at least, that’s what myself and my modified friends have experienced). But, really, tattoos are like any other personal choice or specific designations: none of your damn business.

As far as tattoo shops go, I would recommend Pearl Harbor Gift Shop if you’re ever in Toronto looking for a fix. As for Hamilton shops, Cottage 13 is probably your best option. Just remember to be picky about your artist, be willing to make some amendments to your initial ideas and get ready for a hundred bee stings that will only get itchier with time.

And finally, don’t let people judge you for the art you get, and don’t judge others for the art they get. Your tattoo made you happy, didn’t it? Remember that other people feel that same satisfaction when they get their own tattoos they found on Pinterest.

Author