The first tattoo I ever did was on myself— a cute pink bow right above my right knee. Because I did not apprentice in a traditional street shop, finding my first few clients was more difficult that I anticipated, so I ended up practicing on myself a lot.
Fast forward 3 years, and I have completely covered both of my thighs, as well as a large portion of my lower leg. I have always had an ‘if I can reach it, I will tattoo it’ attitude which has turned a few random tattoos here and there on my leg into solid, complete work. My right leg is almost sleeved, and my left leg is close behind.
A lot of people ask me “How is it tattooing to yourself?!” and my answer for that is it’s a lot easier than you might imagine. In a lot of ways I think it’s easier than working on someone else because I am in total control. If it hurts too much, I can stop and take a break, and I can brace myself better. I know what I need, and I know what I want it to look like, so it’s (almost) a pleasure to work on myself because I always cooperate. The focus it requires to tattoo tends to dull the pain as well, at least for me it does.
![Working on my left leg which incorporated an existing tattoo, and a partial coverup](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba523e89b8fe87c77590b2a/1537914295727-AOJN4YPRIEV0H5LJYHKM/Photo+Aug+09%2C+2+58+51+PM.jpg)
![Photo Jun 15, 4 36 36 PM (1).jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba523e89b8fe87c77590b2a/1538269751513-BT09WT2WDUW0C1RSUU8L/Photo+Jun+15%2C+4+36+36+PM+%281%29.jpg)
![Photo Jun 15, 4 37 32 PM.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba523e89b8fe87c77590b2a/1538269788801-3QORSAVYL83O4EQX2Y41/Photo+Jun+15%2C+4+37+32+PM.jpg)
![Blasting a new peony on my own knee](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba523e89b8fe87c77590b2a/1537914333828-MTX5OIYGZV7WP8UYYC17/Photo+Sep+16%2C+3+49+51+PM.jpg)
![Photo Sep 16, 5 36 27 PM.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba523e89b8fe87c77590b2a/1538703403747-V4KB9PZJ6I18CL3EI46Y/Photo+Sep+16%2C+5+36+27+PM.jpg)