Jen Morgan
Student Writer
It’s the last Tuesday of the school year, so it’s time for one last Tattoo Tuesdays before the summer begins!
This week, I got to interview senior Janae Palmer about her three stunning tattoos and what they mean to her.
Senior dance and theatre double major, Janae Palmer, has three tattoos.
Jen Morgan: How many tattoos do you have?
Janae Palmer: Three – my left foot, my left hip and my ribs.
JM: Where did you get your tattoos and who is your artist?
JP: For my first tattoo, I went to Ryan at Damascus Tattoo Company in Maryland. For the second, I went to Brandon at 717 Tattoo Company in Mechanicsburg. My third artist was Dust Deimler, also at 717 Tattoo Company in Mechanicsburg.
JM: Which tattoo hurt the most?
JP: My ribs – definitely ribs.
JM: What is the most common question you get asked about your tattoos?
JP: “Did it hurt?”
JM: What is the most common misconception about people with tattoos?
JP: That the tattoo is meaningless. They don’t understand the meaning behind it and the placement. They look at it and don’t see a story – they only see ink – but there’s so much more meaning.
JM: Which tattoo means the most to you?
JP: I think the feather tattoo on my hip. It was during a huge transition point in my life, and it demonstrates that.
Palmer got two of her three tattoos done at local 717 Tattoo Company in Mechanicsburg.
JM: What are your plans for your next tattoo?
JP: I’m getting “Unashamed” with a cross on my wrist. I’m unashamed of who I am in Christ, and how He has redeemed me.
JM: Do you have a tattoo playlist? How do you handle the pain?
JP: No, I don’t listen to the music. During a tattoo, I have the same mindset I have when I work out – I focus on my breathing, on what’s in the room, and I remind myself that it’s temporary.
JM: Do you go alone or with friends to your appointments?
JP: I prefer to go alone. The first time I went, I went with three other girls, and they were more nervous than me! The second time, I just went myself – and it was awesome. For the third, I took my sister. I think either being alone or just with one person is my preference.
JM: What advice would you give to someone considering getting a tattoo?
JP: Know that the experience is meaningful and that the tattoo will make a difference in your life. They have so much meaning, and they influence your daily life and how you live. I know my tattoos have done that for me.
JM: What is one thing you wish everyone knew about tattoos?
JP: They are a part of the person; they’re not separate from the person, like an earring or a necklace is. They’re physically part of the skin. It’s just like another body part, like a toe, instead of a decoration.
Thanks for checking out my Tattoo Tuesdays posts this semester! Even though this is the last edition, feel free to tweet me @JenMorgan94 with any of your tattoo questions.
Jen Morgan, Column Writer
Jen is a senior journalism major from Boston. She loves makeup, puppies, cookies, tattoos and magazines, and will never turn down a trip to Sephora or Starbucks.