Christina Marshall

It's quite funny when I think about this actually! My boyfriend doesn't have any tattoos, although before we got together, mine were a good talking point and he expressed his interest in getting some. He seemed to have his heart set on two. Since then, I have gotten a big piece on my thigh, and he doesn't seem as bothered to get any himself. He used to be heavily involved in the local metal scene, and I guess that being around tattooed people may have sparked his interest, but since he has turned his focus to education and work, this interest has dwindled. I don't mind him without tattoos, and he likes mine (I came with five, so it wasn't like I have radically changed on the ink front since we got together). Seeing as most of mine are hidden by clothing, they aren't in his face all of the time. Most people presume I just have the two wrist ones, and seem surprised when I confess to the hidden four!

I started off just wanting the one on my wrist, but didn't like having the opposite wrist plain. Now I have six; one on each wrist, one on each ribcage, and one on each thigh. I very much like symmetry with my tattoos, but (apart from the wrist ones), I like to keep my tattoos hidden. I don't suspect I shall get many more after I complete my left thigh, just because of wanting to keep them hidden beneath an everyday dress.

For me, the ribs were an absolute killer. 4 hours of solid black work on my right hand side...something I wouldn't do again. It didn't help how the area was re-worked a fair deal, but kudos to the artist, as it was one of his first large pieces on the ribs. Second would be the thigh. Had my Venetian mask completed today on my right thigh, and the mid and outer thigh were the worst. Some points reminded me of the rib tattoo, actually.