A new beginning.
Australian tattoo artist Whitney Develle hopes to make a lasting impression on people who have a history of self-harm.
The Brisbane native, who works at Garage Ink Brisbane, posted a message on Instagram on March 1, stating that she’s offering free tattoos that would cover the scars of former cutters. "I am only able to provide around 50 free day sittings, 1-2 each week until the end of the year," she wrote.
Develle was inspired by a pal who had self-harmed while struggling through an eating disorder. "She told me how much pain it brought her when people would question her about [her scars] or make comments," she told 9news.com.au. "No one should ever have to feel like a public museum for people to ridicule."
Post-tat, the affect was worth more than a typical ink session. "The look on her face — money can't buy that," Develle said. "[Afterward] people were asking her about her tattoo. The scars became irrelevant — a thing of the past."
It was an easy choice to offer the same relief to others. "I want you to be able to look down at the scars that bring you pain, embarrassment, shame, and be able to put those feelings behind you and instead feel proud of the body part that now contains art and offers a new beginning," she wrote in her post.
The response to her original post has been so overwhelming that she's had to update her original terms. Develle has already filled all the free spots, but that isn't stopping her from helping.
"Please note that given the overwhelming amount of beautiful people out there, I have decided to dedicate more of my time to offering highly discounted rates to anyone who is seeking to move forward from their past and embark on a new beginning," she wrote in an update. "If you are interested in this please email with an attached photo with the subject line of DISCOUNTED SCARS, from there I will provide you with all the information necessary. Thank you again for coming forward, I await creating something for you to admire."