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Back piece done

The mosaic is finished. ~60 hours, Aug 2024 to Feb 2026.

I wrote a while back about the back piece I’ve been working on. I was ready to be finished at the time, and wasn’t learning anything more from the discomfort. That held true.

It’s done now, minus the final round of healing. August 2024 to February 2026. Sixty-something hours sitting. The last eight were a slog going over scar tissue and the thin skin of my lower spine. Ladies who get mastectomy cover ups must be made of much stronger stuff than me. I earned this ink though. The little voice in my head that undercuts compliments and warns me I’m flying too close to the sun can’t win this one.

Progression, from first session to last (missing a couple of pics I can’t find at the moment):

Back piece session 1, Aug 2024 Back piece session 2, Sep 2024 Back piece session 3, Oct 2024 Back piece session 4, Nov 2024 Back piece session 5, Jan 2025 Back piece session 6, Mar 2025 Back piece session 7, Apr 2025 Back piece session 8, Jun 2025 Back piece session 9, Jul 2025 Back piece session 10, Sep 2025 Back piece session 11, Oct 2025 Back piece session 12, Jan 2026 Back piece finished, Feb 2026

It’ll settle down a bit once it’s healed. I have a small, silly piece scheduled next month, but nothing more on the books after that. My left arm is probably next though—thinking geometric + organic (leaves, fronds, something like that). We’ll see.