THE WAVE ENTERTAINMENT ISSUE 15: THE YEAR END ISSUE | Page 29

Please introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Porcelain Midnight. I am a professional model with over
10 years of experience. I have graced the covers of US and international
magazines. I have been featured in music videos, fashion shows,
conventions , and tv. I have worked with company's such as Ferrari,
Nikon camera, DUB wheels and many more. The best part about my
job is traveling and getting to meet new people and seeing the world.
What was the reason you got your first tattoo:
I got my first tattoo as a reminder from where I came from and how
I got to where I am today. It reminds me of the fight, strength and
determination that I had to find within my self to become the woman I
am today.
What was your first tattoo:
It is a sparrow on my left shoulder.
What is your favorite tattoo:
I love all of my tattoos. Each one has been thought out and placed to
align with all of my other tattoos and to flow naturally with all of my
work. As far as my favorite tattoo, one of them is my Tattoo on my leg.
It is the face of a Victorian lady with her face and body turning in to a
zombie. She has a giant hat with roses, and peacock feathers and her
dead husbands hand with a spider web in her hat. My favorite part of
the tattoo is the spider coming down from the dead hand. It matches
the spider on my hand.
What inspired that tattoo?:
That tattoo was a drawing that my tattoo artist has drawn. When I saw
it instantly feel in love with it. It in captures a lot of things that I love.
The fashion of the Victorian era, zombies, horror movies and any thing
macabre.
What would tattoo would you consider your most meaningful?
Probably my tattoo of Jesus on my left shoulder. It is in honor of my
dad. It's a special tattoo and one of my most meaningful.
How many tattoos do you have?
I have both sides of my neck done.
My shoulders. Full sleeves on both of my arms. My entire hand. My
back. My legs and both of the entire tops of my feet. I am tattooing the
side of head next!
Have you ever had a tattoo removed or covered up?
I have never had a tattoo removed, but I do have a small cover up. It is
on my wrist. My artist did a beautiful job. You can't even tell. I had a
small little tattoo I got when I was really young. When we designed my
sleeves my artist was able to tattoo right over and blend it beautifully.
Do you have a favorite tattoo artist?
I would have to say that there are a lot of amazing tattoo artist in the
tattoo industry right now. Artist that have taken the skill of tattooing
to a new level. I really love Horitomo from State of Grace Tattoo. He
does the most beautiful Japanese Tattoos and his Monmon cat tattoos
are amazing!! They are very unique and well done. Over all though I
would say that my tattoo artist is my favorite artist. Brad Schneider ,
Owner and tattoo artist of 454 Tattoo in Encinitas CA. He has done
all of my tattoos! We have spend a lot of time together in the shop
working on me. Not only is he a great artist but a great person and an
amazing family man. When you spend as much as I have in the chair
you really have to have a good relationships with your artist and good
communication as well.
What does body art/ink mean to you?
For me it embraces a sense of freedom and expression about me and
my body. I choose the tattoos that I have because I wanted them and

I did it for my self. Not because it's "cool" or the thing to do. When I
started to get tattooed I had to stop modeling. At the time there was no
place for a heavily tattooed model in the modeling industry . So I had
to quit for a few years. Company's didn't want to hire girls with tattoos.
At that time tattoos had a negative connotation to it and was not seen
as "classy" or "appropriate". I basically got tired of the modeling world
telling me what I had to look like, and how much I had to weigh,
and what to wear. When I decided to stop modeling and continue
getting tattooed it was very freeing and really helped me to find my
self and who I really was in the world of fake and plastic dolls. Now
as a tattooed model the world have completely been opened up about
tattooing and I have an amazing career again. I never thought that it
would become as main stream as it has. I'm glad it has thought. I get a
change now to do two things I love, modeling and tattoos!
What is the biggest misconception you think people have about lots of
body art?
For me being a very heavily tattooed female it can be interesting I like
to say at times. Thank god it's gotten a lot better and more people are
open to the idea of tattooing. I think that one of the misconceptions
is that, how could I have a job with all those tattoos. Funny thing is, is
that I own a few different business. I do very well and I am covered in
tattoos. Not everyone that has tattoos is homeless with out a job. It's
obsured what some people think about tattos and tattooing in general.
What was the most painful place you have been tatted?
Ohh the tops of my feet were awful!! They were the worst! My neck and
hands were not too bad, but my feet were really bad! Brad tattooed the
entire top of one of my feet at a tattoo convention. I had to sit very still
and pretend that I wasn't dying in pain in front of everyone that was
watching him tattoo me!
For a first timer, where would you recommend they get a tattoo to
experience the least amount of pain?
Every one is completely different when it comes to pain and tolerance
level and I have found that just because it may not bother one person
in a particular spot does not mean it won't bother the other person. For
a first timer I would stick with something small and easy to experience
the least amount of pain, Also have it done somewhere you can hide it
if you decide that having a lot of tattooes that show, Is not for you.
Words of advice for anyone that wants to get inked.
Yes! A lot! First, do a lot of research on exactly what you want and
who you want to do it. Talk to a lot of tattoo artist from all different
shops until you find the right tattoo artist that you feel completely
comfortable with and you both have the same vision of what you want.
Be realistic, do not ask a tattoo artist for an entire sleeve in a day! Not
going to happen! Bigger more elaborate tattoos take a lot of time. A
lot of paintings or drawings that you might find that would be cool
as s tattoo, m