Lady Sings The Blues

This is my most recent Tattoo in December 2019 at Earthship Studio by Dora. 

To understand this tattoo you have to understand its artist. Dora is the owner of Earthship Studio and is as eclectic, funky, and beautiful as her shop. Full of rad memorabilia, animal bones, crystals, unique artwork and all things custom made, Earthship Studios is for people who want the best artwork in the most relaxed and empathetic environment. For me time with Dora, and her fellow lady tattooer Heather, has remained a transformative and healing experience where I have been able to reclaiming my body, memorializing the many important moments in my life and generally have child-like fun of the best kind. 

It was with Dora, and this shop that I knew this tattoo had to happen. Dora and Heather are some of the few people I knew I could say, "yeah when I was like 5 or 6 I wanted to be Billie Holiday" and have them just understand. They knew from spending time with me that I was eccentric (all the best people are) and had a different upbringing than most and they've always accepted that. So for me, it was extra beautiful when Dora put on Billie Holiday as we started this tattoo. In that moment my brain wandered back to once of my first memories of Billie. 

I have loved jazz and blues as far back as I can remember. Being raised by parents who were musicians in their younger years, music was an integral part of how I developed my own sense of identity and belonging in the world. I remember distinctly being about 4 or 5 visiting my grandmother. She was dying of cancer at the time and little did I realize how hard she and the other adults in my life worked to give myself and my brother memorable moments with her.

I remember visiting in the living room as my grandmother lay on couch under her brown and green chevron afghan my great great great aunt had made while an old school space heater was directed at my grandmother as she rested. 

In the background Billie Holiday was playing, as she would many time throughout my life, and I could not appreciate the irony as a child, the way I do now. Billie sang from such a soulful  and hurt place that as a child I would understand sooner than expected,

Good morning heartache

Here we go again

Good morning heartache

You're the one

Who knows me well

Might as well get use to you

Hanging around

Good morning heartache

Sit down

-Billie Holiday, Good Morning Heartache

This would be one of my last memories with my grandmother and I still carry her and Billie deep within my soul and will for as long as I can.