SCARWARS

To continue our “Wayde Dunn Appreication day” them, my friend Timothy sent in this great multimedia experience.
Make sure to click through for the rest of the story/video!

Last night I got my scarification done by Wayde Dunn.

Three years ago I got a scarification piece on my left side, done by Brian Decker. I was in New York for a concert and was staying with Brian’s girlfriend, and was just hanging around Pure Body Arts. Brian asked me if I wanted something done, so I thought about it (briefly) and decided to get scarred, and to get a tree. Brian drew it up and we did it that day or the next day. It was a pretty spontaneous decision. Brian did an amazing job and I absolutely love that scar.

This time, my appointment was planned out well in advance, which was a lot different for me. There was way more anticipation. I sent Wayde some reference photos, letting him know the size and placement, and made the appointment. Then I just had to wait.

Last night, I met up with Wayde and he showed me the sketch. This tree has leaves, whereas my other tree has none. I wasn’t sure at first whether or not I wanted the leaves, but once I saw his sketch I knew I wanted them. They looked really cool the way he drew them and it makes for a bit of a repeating pattern. So he started tracing it onto the transfer paper and I got set up with my camera.

He got set up and we played with the placement a bit until it was good to go. Some parts didn’t quite transfer so he freehanded in the rest. I put on some music to take my mind off the initial pain and we got started.

The first bit is the most challenging. He has to cut the outline of everything before any anaesthetic can be rubbed into the skin. So the first bit, yeah, not too pleasant but it’s not too bad either. I just had to remind myself to keep breathing and not hold my breath. For some reason, I just kept holding my breath, which totally made it hurt more. When I focused myself and did some nice deep breathing, focusing on my dantium and just trying to ignore the blade it was much easier and less painful. I was pretty silent for this part and Wayde just quickly worked through it.

Wayde had started at the bottom and was working his way to the top. As he finished a section, he’d rub in the anaesthetic and cover it with clingfilm to keep it in there. By the time he got to the top of the tree, the rest of it was totally numb. So when he got back to the bottom to start really cutting, I couldn’t feel anything. That was a bit of relief, and I breathed easier and started talking.

We had a good chat for the rest of the appointment while he worked away and the whole thing was finished up in about two and a half hours, just as Wayde had predicted. The man works fast!

Afterwards he cleaned me up, we took some photos and then wrapped the wound. He had brought me one of his books, and I gotta tell you they are beautiful, really well printed. I got book #12.

I thanked Wayde and was on my way home. I got a cab so I could get home as quickly as possible. I passed out eventually, but it was hard because I normally sleep on my right side, which is where I got cut. I woke up a couple times in the night and had rolled onto that side so I kept forcing myself to roll back onto my left side.

In the morning, my shirt was bloodied and a few spots on the sheets but nothing serious. I’m about to shower, and I’m not really looking forward to it!