Herman Sillas

On August 14, 2009, I was left a phone message by a fellow named Mark Banks. He said he lived in Monterey, California and wanted to know more about me. Mark said he had just had one of my paintings tattooed on his arm and was pretty excited about it. A painting tattooed on an arm? I had never heard of such a thing.

Then I recalled I had seen much more tattoos this year than before. I remembered the holidays and all the tourists at the beach this summer with bodies sporting tattoos. Women had them like anklets or permanent bracelets around their wrists or upper arms. I saw tattoos on the back of their necks, or on their chests near their breasts, or in the middle of their back just below their waist and above the buttocks. Some had them on their thighs. The subject matters varied from body to body and most were feminine by design, being airy in nature. Then it occurred to me that most of the tattoos I was observing would have normally been covered by clothing. How many women do I pass during the day with hidden artwork on their skin?

Men at the beach sported tattoos too in greater number than before. They had them on their arms both upper and lower. Chests and backs are common areas for tattoos as well as calves and necks. The tattoos on men are bold and tell a story or commitment to a cause or an individual. Men’s tattoos tend to be statements whereas women’s tattoos are decorative generally without a message. Why the surge of tattoos at this time and age?

Tattooing has been a practice traced back to the Neolithic times. Pre-Christian Germanic, Celtic and other central and northern European tribes were often heavily tattooed. The Japanese perfected the use of color and sailors introduced tattoos to Europe. They wore tattoos for identification purposes in the event they were washed ashore from ship wrecks. The method of applying tattoos has evolved from punctures in the skin by sharp natural objects to motor driven tattoo machines outfitted with a five-needle setup. Many cultures forbade tattoos while others allowed it. In some cultures it is identified with the criminal element and gangs. Judaism forbids tattoos citing the Torah and recalling the Nazis’ use of tattoos in concentration camps. Christian churches are split some citing Leviticus 19:28. “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.”

Yet, according to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, tattoos have experienced a resurgence in popularity. My experiences at the beach tend to support that observation. Yet sporting a tattoo has not reached complete acceptance. A father who supported his daughter’s art study told me he was disappointed when she told him she created patterns for tattoo artists. I recall a mother telling me her son had a tattoo, but was afraid of revealing it to his father. A young woman confided that she and her sister both had tattoos not visible to their unknowing father.

So, what kind of guy is this Mark Banks? I called him to find out. He is a young worship leader at a Calvary Church in Monterey who plays guitar and identified with my painting the “Guitar Player.” Many have purchased copies of this painting, but none have made this commitment, not even family members. So, I now see tattoos in a different light knowing that “Guitar Player” is on Mark’s arm. But to all you that have such a desire after seeing one of my paintings, please call me first to work out the licensing arrangements. That’s the view from the pier.