A GARDEN OF INK

March 20, 2011 at 4:57PM
When Tessa Vigoren,21, decided to finally get a tattoo, she did not just choose a small butterfly on her ankle but decided on a tree branch with flowers, leaves, and birds that covers half her back and wraps around to the left side of her midwaist. �He drew up something up that I really liked,� said Vigoren of the tattoo by artist Poohki Ward which will take close to 9.5 hours when done. Vigoren said she started thinking about getting a tattoo when she was twelve years old. �It hurt as much as I
When Tessa Vigoren,21, decided to finally get a tattoo, she did not just choose a small butterfly on her ankle but decided on a tree branch with flowers, leaves, and birds that covers half her back and wraps around to the left side of her midwaist. �He drew up something up that I really liked,� said Vigoren of the tattoo by artist Poohki Ward which will take close to 9.5 hours when done. Vigoren said she started thinking about getting a tattoo when she was twelve years old. �It hurt as much as I expected�Pain I think is psychological and if it�s to the ends that I want, it�s a whole lot different than if I was getting injured,� said the U of M music student about the process. �I am happy about how it turned out,� said Vigoren at the end of the evening. Now the two birds and some minor details remain for the final session. (Dml - Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Tessa Vigoren started thinking about getting a tattoo when she was 12. At age 21, when the time was right, she did not just choose a small butterfly tattoo on her ankle. She decided on a tree branch with flowers, leaves and birds that covers half her back and wraps around her waist. "He drew up something that I really liked," said Vigoren of the design by tattoo artist Matt (Poohki) Ward. Total tattooing time is expected to be nearly 10 hours. "It hurt as much as I expected," the University of Minnesota music student said. "Pain I think is psychological and if it's to ends that I want, it's a whole lot different than if I was getting injured." She has to go back for a final session for two birds and some details. "I am happy about how it turned out," she said.

about the writer

about the writer

Richard Tsong-Taatarii

Photographer

Richard Tsong-Taatarii is an internationally acclaimed documentary photographer who focuses on social issues of underrepresented minorities.

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