Show Notes
The latest episode of "Chats and Tatts" explores a groundbreaking approach to tattooing: the use of anesthesia to enable individuals to undergo extensive tattoo sessions in a single sitting. This innovative method is particularly appealing to busy individuals who often struggle to find the time for multiple tattoo appointments, which can stretch over months or even years. Guest Jason Williams exemplifies the type of individual who benefits from this approach. As a family man with a thriving career, he shared the challenges of scheduling multiple trips to the tattoo shop, especially given the time commitment involved in traditional tattooing. With a busy life that includes raising two children and managing a professional career, Jason sought a way to expedite the tattooing process without sacrificing the quality of the artwork. Aaron shares how his friend reached out with this innovative idea, leading to a collaboration with Dr. Dave Levine, an anesthesiologist and part-owner of a surgical center. With the hands of three other talented tattoo artist from Guru Tattoo in San Diego, this intense and beautiful collaboration camee to life. Tune in to hear about the unique approach to tattooing, the bond between artist and client, and the thrill of embracing creativity in unconventional ways.
00:01:23 - The Tattoo Project: Full Front Piece 00:01:55 - Setting Up the Anesthesia Tattoo Session 00:03:09 - Addressing Controversy in the Tattoo Community 00:03:56 - Tradition vs. Innovation in Tattooing 00:07:06 - Embracing New Methods in Tattooing 00:09:03 - The Thrill and Danger of the Procedure 00:10:05 - Tattooing Under Anesthesia: The Artist's Perspective 00:11:18 - Collaboration Among Tattoo Artists 00:13:07 - The Risk and Reward of Anesthesia 00:17:03 - Calculated Risks and Living Fully 00:20:04 - Seeking Excitement in a Mundane Life 00:22:23 - The Recovery Process: Waking Up from Anesthesia 00:24:43 - The Aftermath: Pain and Healing 00:29:49 - The Healing Process: Intense Itching and Discomfort 00:31:27 - Reflecting on the Experience 00:34:06 - Appreciation for the Tattoo Community 00:34:27 - The Collaborative Nature of Tattooing
Quotes: "Tattooing is meant to be painful for a reason. It's a rite of passage." "What right do we have to tell others what to do with their life, especially when it's not harming anyone?" "I do like the danger of things. I do like the excitement of the unknown." "For the first time in my career to be able to just tattoo as hard and as fast as you wanted without worrying about the person that you were doing it to." "Controversy is so fun." "I think traditionalists want to stand up for being a traditionalist. And for that, hell yeah. I love it. "Anytime you can make yourself proud. You know, take that chance, take that risk, live with the risks, and then if something bad happened, then you say, hey, it was something I chose to do." "I seek that thrill and the danger of it all. And just the excitement. You don't get much excitement during the day of that magnitude, you know, any given day." "It takes two to make this thing happen. It takes collaboration. This is a collaborative art form and it is the most beautiful part about it." Stay Connected: Chats & Tatts: Website: http://www.chatsandtatts.com Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chatsandtatts IG: http://www.instagram.com/chatsandtatts Chats & Tatts YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/chatsandtatts Connect with Aaron: Aaron IG: http://www.instagram.com/aarondellavedova Guru Tattoo: http://www.Gurutattoo.com
More from Chats & Tatts
What role do tattoos play when life gets impossibly dark? Live from the Golden State Tattoo Expo in Pasadena, Aaron Della Vedova sits down with tattoo collector and mental health advocate Koichi to share an deeply moving story of survival and transformation. Diagnosed with schizophrenia at 22, Koichi faced severe mental health battles before turning to tattooing as a way to physically rebuild his identity. Alongside artist Ricardo Camargo (Zenith Tattoo L.A.), Koichi transformed his body into a canvas of fine art—enduring the process completely sober as a form of grounding meditation. Together, Aaron and Koichi discuss tattoos as psychological armor, physical vs. emotional pain, and finding community through ink. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Live from Golden State Tattoo Expo 02:00 - Diagnosed with Schizophrenia at Age 22 05:30 - Tattoos as Physical Armor & Reinventing Yourself 07:30 - Aaron's Story: The War Veteran's Bodysuit 09:40 - Surviving Dark Times & Finding "First Light" 13:25 - Meds, Stability & Promoting Men's Mental Health 17:30 - Finding Community in the Tattoo Industry 20:45 - No Numbing Cream: Pain as a Teacher & Meditation 25:48 - Physical Pain vs. Emotional Pain 28:30 - What Happens When the Bodysuit is Complete?
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