MUSING #35 - Forever Font

Muse: Choosing a font for my new tattoo. 

Musing: 

I reached out to a tattoo studio about two new pieces that I want to get on my right arm. The first is of a bee, which holds a lot of meaning to me, especially after this year. The second tattoo is the phrase “take a breath” on my outer forearm. These words are a symbol of my meditation journey, and I hope it’ll be a reminder to me to just pause and do just that. I even love the idea of strangers reading the words and taking a moment to take a conscious breath. I believe that is the most present we can be - in our bodies, choosing to take a deep breath in, letting the air rush into us, feeling the four corner of our chest, then flowing out. 

But it isn’t just words themselves that invite a present moment. It’s also how they look. I realized after I reached out to the studio that I hadn’t considered what font I’d want to use. I didn’t have to decide for my last tattoo as the artist wanted to do all cap block letters and I liked it. But this time I needed to pick, and I realized that the font was possibly the most important part. It was what represents me. It will silently get across the tone and importance of the message. If the font is to complex and busy, the viewer will get overstimulated and the message will be lost. If it feels heavy and cold, then the viewer may not want to participate in it’s offering. I needed to find something that felt welcoming, soft, confident, and has a sense of flow. 

I searched online and was able to find a website that had lots of fonts and let me see them each as ‘take a breath.” I tried a few styles out and landed on a category: Art Nouveau. This is also very me, as it is my favorite art style and influenced other tattoos. Many fonts fell under this category, and from them I chose a couple that spoke to me. I shared them with my partner Charlie and he liked one in particle. He could also feel the flow and calm it inspired. So I sent that font (and one other) to the tattoo artist. I said I am open to suggestions if he wants to create something based on my preferences. That’s something I’ve come to love about tattoos: the collaborative nature of it. I may come in with an idea, but each artist I’ve worked with has taken it a step further with their own style and techniques. But in the end the decision will be mine, for the final product will be forever with me. A new part of me.