Interview With a Painted Lady

Approximately everybody has tattoos these days, right? But do you know anybody with TATTOOS (all caps and bolded)? I have known Jill since we were awkward teens running the streets of rural Minnesota. She's a world champion cupcake maker, the owner of The World's Best Dog and also? A real, live painted lady. She kindly agreed to tell us about her millions of gorgeous tats.

How many tattoos do you have?
Right are sleeve – zombie, graveyard extravaganza

Left arm sleeve – Great White Shark battle w/ giant squid

Chest – bat

Behind left ear – Treble Clef (for Elvis)

When did you get the first one? And what was the thought process behind it?

My very good friend and I decided to get the same tattoo together for our first time. The thought process at 18 years old was --- tattoos are SO awesome and we happen to share a really special, weird bond. It’s corny but we always knew we’d separate and go on our separate ways, we were too much a like & WILD.

We chose a tiger to rest on the inside forearm, hers was a girl, mine a boy who I named after Nivek Ogre of Skinny Puppy. Oh, to be 18. We also saw it as a way to identify each other, either living or dead. Kinda creepy but we both really didn’t know how or how long we’d last after high school. No worries! We are both very happy, still close friends & living large!

Do you have any tattoos that you regret getting?

No, none. Never. You can change your tattoos as you grow, either with cover up work or add on to them. No regrets, it could all be over tomorrow. My zombie arm design I came up with after playing Resident Evil 4 but it also serves as a reminder of my own mortality. If I, personally, worried about what I’ll be doing in 30 years I’d forget to live right now in this moment.

Which one is your favorite? What's the story behind it?

FAV: I really am in love with my shark battle scene. I can’t wait for it to get finished; the colors are going to be AMAZING. Imagine a gloomy Lisa Frank scene with sharks & a giant squid instead of a kitten and puppy. (FYI: Lisa Frank designs the super hyper colored stationary) WHY: I watched Jaws with my mom when I was 4 years old on a low-key Sunday afternoon in our basement den. It absolutely terrified me and I quickly decided that being eaten alive was my “worst way to go”.

She tried to put me down for a nap but I just pretended to be sleeping on the floor. About a year later my mom remodeled my room and installed blood red carpet—no kidding folks, Dead & Bloodied Along the Way Red Berber carpet. Aaaaaaannnnddd, I have a very colorful mind a.k.a. total spaz or anxiety ridden. I was certain there were sharks swimming in that carpet. I remember hearing them thrash around trying to jump up on the bed for a snack (me!). As an adult, I can barely look at a Great White Sharks without feeling like there’s a rope around my neck, choking my rationality.

But I LOVE them. They are beautiful, fascinating animals. Here’s a little tidbit: A shark's skin is covered by small, razor-sharp teeth called denticles. Sharks never get cancer; scientists are studying their cartilage in hopes of a cure. How awesome will it be when sharks cure cancer!?!!!

How do people react to your tattoos?
My favorite thing is this: when people get to know & like me AND THEN see my tattoos. I love breaking that stereotype down. Yes, I am a lady. Yes, I am polite. Yes, I care about people & the world in general. Yes, I have a good job & make a decent wage. Yes, I have a troop of rotting zombies digging their way out of shallow graves on my arm.

Most people love finding out about them, good conversation starter. Tattoos are really fun & easy to talk about. Others that see them first are blown away for the most part; my tattoos are one of a kind & look like paintings. I’m very proud, it’s art. On. My. Body. People always want to touch me (I don’t mind) & awesomely I get the most positive reaction from older (than me) women ages 40-65. Double awesome.

Do you plan to get anymore?
After my left arm is completed, we move to my chest (the bat will get covered) & then to my back. My husband and I are planning to on a union tattoo but haven’t put a firm “YES” on any particular design yet. Some kind of anatomical heart/skull with antlers has been discussed. FUN! His will be on his chest & mine on my back. We’ll see!

What advice would you give to anyone who interested in serious tattooing?
RESEARCH! I researched for 6 months before I settled down with Tom Strom at Uptown Tattoo. This will also give you time to mull over the seriousness of major tattoos, go through all the w’s. Tom is an amazing artist and generally my kind of dude, he’s into a lot of the same stuff. We banter back and forth like siblings. He’s into metal music, a movie fanatic like yours truly & appreciates all things bizarre.

You can check him out at thestromrefinery which is a site he shares with his wife to showcase their creative endeavors. He is a completely devoted father and husband, totally self-taught (painting, tattooing, etc. !!) and really just an awesome guy. I feel good about supporting him and the work he does.

Do you have tattoos? How do you feel about them?