A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

DIY Hand Poked Tattooing

Ryan (iam:Archetype), who you may remember from his triple wrist microdermals I featured earlier, did some simple hand-poked DIY tattooing on himself using a three-round and black tattoo ink.

I’m probably going to continue on doing it until it’s a perfect outline, maybe make it a bit thicker but I do have some hope that when I can get a hold of some more needles I’ll continue to do some more of my own tattooing on my leg and maybe make a piece out of it and ‘call it my own’. I’m glad I did it and it was a learning experience for myself and for my body.

All of my first tattoos (which are now almost twenty years old — how strange that is) were hand poked on myself, using a needle and India Ink. It’s true, they’re not the best tattoos, and some might argue that they’re close to the worst… but the experience of doing them myself and changing my body on my own was very valuable to me and I still treasure them.

ryan-diy-tattoo.jpg

Comments

66 responses to “DIY Hand Poked Tattooing”

  1. Shannon Avatar

    ktm – Until you confirm where you’re working, I’m going to assume that you’re lying about working at a studio because you’re so incredibly clueless about this community. It’s completely asinine and unsupported to suggest that people who do DIY mods generally go on to become scratchers.

  2. Shannon Avatar

    ktm – Until you confirm where you’re working, I’m going to assume that you’re lying about working at a studio because you’re so incredibly clueless about this community. It’s completely asinine and unsupported to suggest that people who do DIY mods generally go on to become scratchers.

  3. Archetype Avatar

    I’m glad to see I’m backed up on this. Thank you, Shannon.

    dutchweirdo – i understand what you’re saying and I agree with your points, you’ve provided a very good argument but i still don’t agree with the term ‘scratcher’. It’s so… I don’t know but the word doesn’t feel very nice to the person. At least in the sense that ktm used it.

  4. Archetype Avatar

    I’m glad to see I’m backed up on this. Thank you, Shannon.

    dutchweirdo – i understand what you’re saying and I agree with your points, you’ve provided a very good argument but i still don’t agree with the term ‘scratcher’. It’s so… I don’t know but the word doesn’t feel very nice to the person. At least in the sense that ktm used it.

  5. ktm Avatar
    ktm

    I’ve got no reason to prove where I work. Nothing I have said is false. Nothing Archetype said proves he is not a scratcher. And Dutchweirdo – scratching cannot be defined only by quality of work. It defines an UNTRAINED INDIVIDUAL tattooing himself or others, which Archetype (and Shannon for that matter) clearly falls under. I feel very ashamed that I used to enjoy BME, but it seems that it has turned into a contest of who can get the nastiest infection first. I now understand why Shannon would only preach the importance of finding a reputable shop by warning against aesthetically unpleasing tattoos, rather than unsafe tattoos as well. I must get going now – I’ve got some tonsils that are bothering me. Perhaps I should buy a scalpel off of eBay and perform a little DIY on ‘em, eh? That wouldn’t be unsafe at all, right? Feel free to delete my account if you feel I am threatening your happy bubble world of BME; I’ve no desire to continue commenting when it’s clear nobody quite has the seems to have the sense to understand what I am saying. Oh and Dutchoven – a scratcher’s passion does not save his victims from infections and diseases. MRSA doesn’t care how much passion you have; it’ll still kill you.

  6. ktm Avatar
    ktm

    I’ve got no reason to prove where I work. Nothing I have said is false. Nothing Archetype said proves he is not a scratcher. And Dutchweirdo – scratching cannot be defined only by quality of work. It defines an UNTRAINED INDIVIDUAL tattooing himself or others, which Archetype (and Shannon for that matter) clearly falls under. I feel very ashamed that I used to enjoy BME, but it seems that it has turned into a contest of who can get the nastiest infection first. I now understand why Shannon would only preach the importance of finding a reputable shop by warning against aesthetically unpleasing tattoos, rather than unsafe tattoos as well. I must get going now – I’ve got some tonsils that are bothering me. Perhaps I should buy a scalpel off of eBay and perform a little DIY on ‘em, eh? That wouldn’t be unsafe at all, right? Feel free to delete my account if you feel I am threatening your happy bubble world of BME; I’ve no desire to continue commenting when it’s clear nobody quite has the seems to have the sense to understand what I am saying. Oh and Dutchoven – a scratcher’s passion does not save his victims from infections and diseases. MRSA doesn’t care how much passion you have; it’ll still kill you.

  7. dutchweirdo Avatar
    dutchweirdo

    Archetype: I agree, I like the word scratcher only for work that is scratch…
    ktm: I think you completely miss the point of how interesting the experience of self-tattooiing is. Infections are a risk that can be avoided by using proper equipment. Indeed, people who practice it should know about that or made aware of it and if they aren’t they should not be tempted to try. However, I am (and many others) are educated to know how to work sterile, in a much broader context than only tattooing or body modification. I never ever have encountered any infections by tattooiing. Surgery is quite a different story.

  8. dutchweirdo Avatar
    dutchweirdo

    Archetype: I agree, I like the word scratcher only for work that is scratch…
    ktm: I think you completely miss the point of how interesting the experience of self-tattooiing is. Infections are a risk that can be avoided by using proper equipment. Indeed, people who practice it should know about that or made aware of it and if they aren’t they should not be tempted to try. However, I am (and many others) are educated to know how to work sterile, in a much broader context than only tattooing or body modification. I never ever have encountered any infections by tattooiing. Surgery is quite a different story.

  9. Kat777 Avatar
    Kat777

    ktm, i’ll be sure to let the next tribe member i meet (of one of the various cultures who still do traditional tattoo work) know that he is a a scratcher and a disgrace to tattooing…

    lol, get over yourself.

  10. Kat777 Avatar
    Kat777

    ktm, i’ll be sure to let the next tribe member i meet (of one of the various cultures who still do traditional tattoo work) know that he is a a scratcher and a disgrace to tattooing…

    lol, get over yourself.

  11. Ross Avatar

    KTM… stop arguing your ridiculous point, Ryan chose to give himself a DIY tattoo, and im sure he researched it, and got advice from people who actually do Tattoo for a living.

    Anyone who does a DIY mod doesnt instantly become a scratcher, and as ryan is pretty passionate about his body modification i know he wouldnt do that. DIY mods are a much more personal experiance than most tattoo’s, it isnt just about the end result, it is about the whole process. For someone who wants to work in the modification industry, you dont seem to have a strong understanding of the reasons people modify their mody.

  12. Ross Avatar

    KTM… stop arguing your ridiculous point, Ryan chose to give himself a DIY tattoo, and im sure he researched it, and got advice from people who actually do Tattoo for a living.

    Anyone who does a DIY mod doesnt instantly become a scratcher, and as ryan is pretty passionate about his body modification i know he wouldnt do that. DIY mods are a much more personal experiance than most tattoo’s, it isnt just about the end result, it is about the whole process. For someone who wants to work in the modification industry, you dont seem to have a strong understanding of the reasons people modify their mody.

  13. Ross Avatar

    oh… and just to give a completley shameless plug (sorry shannon delete it if you want)

    the T-shirt ryan is wearing can be bought from http://www.myspace.com/conspireclothing along with a load of other awesome designs 😀

  14. Ross Avatar

    oh… and just to give a completley shameless plug (sorry shannon delete it if you want)

    the T-shirt ryan is wearing can be bought from http://www.myspace.com/conspireclothing along with a load of other awesome designs 😀

  15. kev Avatar
    kev

    i also would say that pokejob-ing yourself is very amazing. i have three, and like them more than the 6 i did with a homemade gun.

    com. off convo, did you pierce your own wrist? what/how did you?

  16. kev Avatar
    kev

    i also would say that pokejob-ing yourself is very amazing. i have three, and like them more than the 6 i did with a homemade gun.

    com. off convo, did you pierce your own wrist? what/how did you?

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