Getting a tattoo is not something to take lightly, often there are years that go into deciding upon a design and the right artist to ink your skin.
But what do you do when a family member is trying to learn their craft and make their way in the world of tattoo art? Well, offer yourself up as a guinea pig of course.
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That is exactly what I did when I learned that my fiancée’s little sister was moving up to Leith to begin her apprenticeship at The Island tattoo studio by the Shore.
Suzie Collins, 23, moved up after completing her art degree at Loughborough University and she has already bloomed into a really impressive and meticulous tattooist.
But in order for her to earn her stripes, she has required some sacrificial lambs to offer up their skin to act as her canvas.
Most of the volunteers have been friends, family or colleagues, and it was my turn to go face down and allow her to work her magic on the back of my calf.
I was only her fifth client but the way she handled the whole experience, it felt as though I could have been her 500th.
At first we were supposed to go for an octopus on the shoulder but after a back and fourth over Whatsapp we decided to turn heel and go for a bear design - because, well, I love bears.
Within a couple of hours she had drafted up an amazing design of a big grizzly sat with his leg sticking out.
The bear was surrounded by a contemporary design - that I would describe as being slightly inspired by a Japanese-style although I'm not sure Suzie would agree.
I’d be lying if I was not nervous when arriving at the studio, small beads of sweat began to show up on my brow but I had to keep my cool in front of my soon to be sister-in-law.
I have to admit that I never imagined her shaving my leg at any point in our relationship but here we were, preparing the back of my left calf for a big bear visitor.
The table was set for me and I lay face down gritting my teeth expecting the most excruciating pain.
When I was 18 I had Paolo Nutini lyrics tattooed on my chest - 'food in my belly and a licence for my telly and nothing's going to bring me down' - after downing three litres of sex on the beach in Ayia Napa.
I suspected that getting inked this time would be a very different experience.
But to my surprise it was relatively easy to deal with...at first. It felt almost as though I was having my blood lightly taken over and over again.
We began at around 11am and the first stage went without event, we chatted back and forth and I caught up on the F1, almost nodding off at one stage.
But then came stage two…the dreaded shading.
I’d be giving in to my toxic masculine tendencies if I pretended this did not sting and it definitely took a lot more will power not to twitch as she went over the inside of the bear.
I relied upon Suzie’s masterful art of distraction at this point to get through the last hour but in all honesty the moderate pain was worth it when I saw the finished article at around 3.30pm.
Looking in the mirror at the foot of the studio I fell in love with my new bear pal who would be sticking with me for life.
The entire experience was made all the easier by the relaxed community vibe in the The Island studio that resembles a botanical garden with the natural ambience that has been created by the artists.
Throughout the day there were two other clients being tattooed by other artists, we would often walk around in between sessions, looking at each other's tattoos and chatting about how much we loved each other's designs.
By the time I got home, stinging and a little store, I was already planning my next tattoo adventure.
To contact Suzie to book a tattoo, click here. You can also explore her Instagram here.
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