It’s hard for me to believe now that my body was a blank canvas for more than three quarters of my life. I didn’t get my first tattoo until I was forty-five but in the seven years since I’ve kind of made up for lost time. Each of those pieces have been done by the very same extremely talented tattooist, Greg “Grease” Lehman.
Each tattoo I've gotten means something to me and I view each piece to be a kind of talisman. Each piece of art is a part of me now. Back in 2017 I had a very detailed mandala done on my right shoulder and, being a fan of sacred geometry I asked Greg to create a flower of life pattern behind it.
For my latest session I decided to finish this right arm sleeve.
Greg has been tattooing professionally since 1989 and his expertise was quickly made apparent as he matched the new section of the Flower of Life pattern perfectly with the old section from 2017. As soon as the guide pattern was applied to my forearm he quickly got to work with the needles.
First he traced the outline of each shape and then set to work shading the open spaces with grey ink, as you can see from the video the shading is done with a bundle of 4-5 needles.
This three hour session was definitely the most painful I've had to date. It also took the longest to heal, just because there was so much shading involved.
But the end result was well worth it.
About 7-10 days after getting a fresh tattoo it goes through what I call "the shedding phase". Gross, I know.
It's been three weeks after my initial appointment and it's nearly healed and in a week or two more the color of new section of the sleeve will blend perfectly with the older tattoo.
The retouch session is scheduled for the end of November where Greg will just extend the pattern a tad more around the back of my arm and correct any color and line irregularities.
If you would've told me a decade ago that I'd have two (nearly) full sleeves I wouldn't have believed you. Since then I've really learned to appreciate, deeply, the art of tattooing and those people involved with it.
If the work is well thought-out, each design is sacred, a true collaborative effort between you and the artist. The art itself represents a feeling, thought, belief, or memory, frozen in time and that travels with you for the rest of your days. Sacred indeed.
Thanks for reading! All for now. Remember…trust your instincts, invest in you, live boldly, and take chances.
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Currently I am 31 years old, but I will not get a tattoo at all. I have always been completely certain about this.
I understand your aspect/viewpoint (how you see it). I appreciate the art itself too, but it does not belong to our bodies. Canvas, paper, almost anything, but a body of a living being.
I would not accept a tattoo on my body. Not even if someone would offer a payment for it.
Of course everyone is different. And in addition to our opinions, there are the facts too. Including its dangers/risks, which maybe we do not even know completely yet.
But I am certain that you thought about it well, before getting the tattoo. The main thing is that you are happy with it.
Have a nice day. All the best. Greetings and much love from Hungary.
I understand and respect your point of view. I'm very happy with mine but am glad I waiting until I didn't have to work a corporate job. As much as the modern workplace says they don't discriminate it still happens. Much love from America!
Hello dear friend @ericvancewalton good evening
I appreciate you sharing with us this beautiful work of art, and what it meant to you to have them printed on your arm, and how painful this last part was, but as you say, it was worth it to see what your arm has become. .
I take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful and splendid week.
Good afternoon! Thanks and I wish you a wonderful week!
Wow! It's a great sleeve!
I have one tiny tattoo, which I got when I took my 16 year old daughter for her birthday first. We had to cross state lines to get her a tattoo legally. While I appreciate tattoos, some of them are very cool (yours), the pain is not something I want to do again!
Thanks! I don't know if this actually was more painful or if my tolerance for it has diminished but it took so long to heal, probably twice the amount of time of any of the others.
It's quite a large area! Maybe below the elbow sweats more, or comes into contact with more stuff? The flakiness is kind of cool looking.
I would definitely take a few good looks at a tattoo like yours, should I see it on someone else. It's great.
That could be it, maybe it's just the particular area is more sensitive? It reminds me of how a snake sheds. I always wear long sleeves throughout that phase. Thanks!
Mindful moments, You wrote this book?
I just mean to say ,You are a writer. I also want to read this.
Lines You have wrote in your post about peace, very attractive and interesting and I also say that words can't describe the feelings sometimes.
If We talk about your tattoos, that's looking very nice but it's hurts alot I think. Very scary process that how through needle they make the designs.
Art work is always able to be appreciated.
Yes! I have a few books for sale on Amazon and other outlets.
NEVER pegged you as a tattoo guy :)
Nice work! And a motif that will never age.
So it took me a bit to find him again because it's been a while since I checked his work out. But I think you'll appreciate this :)
Meet Dr Woo 🔥
I wasn't until 2016. : ) Thank you! That's one reason I went with the sacred geometry, it should age pretty well. Oh man, what great work he does! It just so happens that my brother and I might be in L.A. next year, I might have to see if we can get a time slot.
Hah. Officially jealous now :|
Yes! Do it!
And the sacred geometry is timeless.
Like good writing ;)
Have a great week, Eric 🌸
I read online that he has a two year backlog! I sent an email inquiry though, maybe we'll get lucky? Thanks Nicky! Enjoy your week!
Wow! Well... he is a bit of a legend, you know.
You'll just have to wait it out!
Gawds. Now I'm super, super jelly.
Lucky you!
You too, mate :)
I know that now (thanks for letting me know about him)! His work is amazing. The email I sent bounced back, it seems like it won't be quite so easy to get an appointment. I'll try calling next.
Hmmmm... copy copy.
Okay. I'll wait for the post then.
Don't forget to tag me on it, please!
Happy Monday :) 🌸
It is a beautiful work of art what you wear on your body, I really like its beauty and meaning.
If you allow me I would like to make a crosspost in the tattoo world community? @ericvancewalton 🥹
Thank you! That would be fine if you crossposted @soyunastantacruz. : )
That's a big one but looks absolutely stunning! Can't wait to admire it entirely when it's ready and completed :)
I appreciate it! He did a wonderful job. The pattern is a lot more subtle now than it was just a week ago. I really like it.
#hive #posh
Congratulations! Looks great! Will be waiting for a picture of both sleeves together, for a general impression :)
I am in the same situation... got my first tattoo in my 40s. Over the past few days I keep hearing about tattoos... My darling daughter got me a temporary tattoo of a butterfly. I feel like a fraud wearing a temporary tattoo, but I know she did it just to tempt me into getting a real one.. Now you with your new tattoo... is the universe trying to tell me something?
Thanks, Rebecca! Haha, she knows how to stoke the fires of ink-craving! It's weird how the urge to get another one just comes upon you sometimes. Serendipity is leading you right into that tattooist's chair! We almost got one when we were in Ireland. I kind of wish we had but didn't want to take any time away from our exploring.
An excellent finished work. And with respect to what you say, as long as we are alive it is valid for us to change our minds.
At least you did it on time and now you are enjoying the results.
Thank you!
Ouch, it must really hurt to feel the needle piercing your skin. Do you feel the pain, Eric. But the tattoo results are very beautiful. Have a nice day, Eric.
It does hurt a bit but not too badly. After a couple of days the pain subsides. Thank you! I hope you have a wonderful week, Eliana!
Wow, what a pattern! I was fascinated to read about the blending. Never thought that the new section would have the same color / shade as the old one you did six years ago. I guess it's quite interesting and unique to experience that bondage with the artist while focusing on the creative art and more precisely, being able to communicate what it's supposed to convey.
Thankfully the top part was rarely exposed to sun so it hadn't really faded much at all. If the ink was faded it would have been close to impossible to match. The process of creating the design is as much fun as process of getting the tattoo. Months usually go into the thought process.
Wow the tattoos are so nice especially the design done in the arm very lovely.
Thanks!
I've read and heard that after you get a tattoo, you want more. It's an addiction. I love tattoos and the stories behind them. I've never gotten a tattoo, but I think it's out of cowardice: I'm too afraid of the pain. hahahaha. I was once tempted to get one on a trip I took to San Andres, but after that trip I would work at a Catholic school, so in the end I only got it temporary. I think if I ever get a tattoo it would have to be in a non-visible area and tiny, minimalist. I have discovered, positively, that there are no longer so many social prejudices with tattooed men, on the contrary, they can be considered sexy. You look great! Hugs
They're definitely addictive once you get started! It's really not super painful, just be sure to look online for the less painful areas to get them. Proper aftercare is super important too. The minimalistic tattoos are popular now with the younger generations. I'm mostly just seeing the bigger pieces on older people now. Thank you Nancy!
I never was a fan of tattoos until the 'new' generation of tattoos came along. It looks really good Eric, but the pain! Although one of my favourite people who's no longer with us used to say to me,
Thank you Lizelle! Women have to go through so much more than men do! My wife tells me all the time how difficult it is to be a woman sometimes.
Haha she's so right! Tell your wife that my mother used to say if women had the physical strength of a man, this world would be a whole different place! So there you have it!
But, I'm still too much of a ninny to go through the agony of tattoos, even if I was younger. I'm getting past my sell-by-date🤭
The world would definitely be a different place! You aren't even close to your sell-by-date. You have many good years left.
It's great to see that you've found such a meaningful way to express yourself through art. It's clear that you have a deep respect for the art of tattooing and the people involved in it.
I'm curious to learn more about your other tattoos. What do they mean to you?
My left arm tells the story of my spiritual evolution. It starts with a lotus at my wrist represents the beginning, the blossom growing from mud (ignorance). This transitions into a clock face with the Om symbol at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock. This represents both how short life is and the work that must be put in on the spiritual path, on my shoulder is the Buddha holding a lotus flower. This represents the Flower Sermon or the spiritual awakening.
That is a gorgeous sleeve! I love i, it's so simple yet intricate, and between you and me, I prefer it to those bit-of-everything type sleeves. You know, you've got your mom, you've got Britney Spears, and a butterfly, and probably some tribal shit in there, as well... it's all over the place, and just seems impersonal. But this, this is lovely <3 And, I think, really suits you.
Was the elbow really painful? I've heard it can be (though of course, it differs from person to person).
Thank you! Sacred geometry is such a rabbit hole once you start studying it. There's so much meaning contained in the designs and it seems like such ancient knowledge. I wouldn't want the "mash-up style" of tattoos on me, that seems to be what the younger generations are getting now, more of the smaller pieces with finer lines. I do like some of the traditional Japanese art though, like Joe Rogan's sleeves. My brother has some of this style of work and I could see myself getting a chest or back piece done in that style eventually. Greg worked around the elbow but I know the wrist was super painful. I think the undersides of the arms/legs and anywhere like the wrist, chest bone, and ankle are very painful. When in doubt, I consult this chart. : )
Okay, so this was such an unexpected but still pleasant surprise. I'd never have tagged you as a tattoo guy. Let alone one to get a sleeve. But, I love that for you and I'm glad you're doing what you want. I'm so scared of needles. But that's why we have friends that can do it for us instead...lol.
I think I surprise a lot of people when I roll up my shirt sleeves. Lol. It's hilarious how different some people treat you when the tattoos are visible. It's really not that painful at all, the needles just basically vibrate across your skin and just penetrate down a few millimeters.
It looks good mate, however I am personally against such a big tattoo on body :) They say it might cause cancer 🙄
Thanks! Yes, I've heard some of the colored inks can be dangerous. You have to be very careful about where you buy the ink.
Nice arm!
Thanks!
The question is: How painful was it to do this tattoo? Haha!
Very!
Congrats on the new sleeve! (and the books too).
Thank you!
Blummin heck. Two full sleeves! Way to go. It looks very cool!
Thanks my friend! They don't wrap fully around my arms so I, technically, have more real estate to fill up. : )
Growing up, I have always been taught of the side effects of tattoo to the body and skin and since then I always find it difficult imagining myself having one. But I really admire people who have it.
You must have really passed through a lot of pains having this on your hand
The pain really isn't horrible normally. It feels like a very mild burn for a few days afterwords.
Oh okay. I was thinking it will really be a severe pain
This particular one was worse than normal.
This design that you have made on your arms looks very beautiful it adds a lot to the beauty of a person's personality and people who see it also ask what you did. Where did such a beautiful design come from?
Thank you my friend. Here's a link that explains the origins of some of my tattoo designs.
Most welcome dear. Thanks for sharing the link
I never like seeing tattoos painted on the arm because for me it looks dirty but this one, wow, it looks cool and neat. It's not irritating to look at. I love it.
Thanks!
Wow, you are such a tattoo lover. It looks beautiful and attractive.
Thanks!
You're welcome