Mark of the Ancient Past

Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines a totem as

'an object (animal or plant) serving as the emblem of a family or clan and often as a reminder of its ancestry; also :  a usually carved or painted representation of such an object'

Lately I've taken a lot of requests for various totem tattoos. I personally love these experiences, every tattoo seems to inspire the wearer toward a higher ideal of themselves. Some use there totem to invoke strength, others focus on wisdom or cunning, and still others need their totem to bond them to an ancestral past. Regardless of intent transformation is the end result and I'm thrilled to be able to embrace this modern shamanism into my world!
Today I'm tattooing Lorna who is receiving her lion cub totem on her forearm. It's going to be a really fun piece with a lot of symbolism, some nice geometry, and a splash of illustrative flare. We're aiming to finish this tattoo in one sitting but staying open to maybe needing a short second appointment. Big tattoos in full color can do a lot of trauma to the skin and if you go to far with blending and detailing you can cause a bad heal. That being said I always pay close attention to the condition of the skin so that we can stop before damage occurs. Just like in driving a car, knowing when to stop is just as important as how to go.