A Portland woman is so devoted to being a vegetarian, she covered her arm in vegetable tattoos

Portland tattoo artist Chris Dingwell goofs around before getting to work on finishing Deb Dusseau full sleeve of veggies. Dusseau is a long-time vegetarian. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

Portland tattoo artist Chris Dingwell goofs around before getting to work on finishing Deb Dusseau full sleeve of veggies. Dusseau is a long-time vegetarian. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

When the 10th anniversary of her going “all vegetables, all the time,” came up this summer, Deb Dusseau knew she wanted to permanently mark the occasion on her body. So, she called Portland tattoo artist Chris Dingwell.

“I wanted them on me,” Dusseau said. “I think they’re beautiful.”

Now, the vegetarian sports an eggplant, peppers, mushrooms, peas, greens, onions, a radish and more than a few tomatoes on her right arm, from her shoulder down to her wrist.

It took several sessions to finish the work, and she couldn’t be happier with the results. Dusseau, who already had many other tattoos, left the artistic interpretation of the veggies up to Dingwell. He chose to do them in a French illustration style — reminiscent of an old seed catalog.

It may sound obvious now, but giving up meat gave her a whole new appreciation for vegetables, Dusseau said. As she began to experiment with her own vegetarian cooking, getting further afield from the unseasoned, steamed greenery she was raised on, she was amazed.

“It sounds so lame,” she said. “But I was like, ‘This is what eggplant really tastes like? This is what an artichoke actually tastes like?'”

Growing up, she’d only ever had eggplant rolled in breadcrumbs and slathered in marinara or artichoke hearts from a can.

These days, Dusseau, who has worked in the restaurant business for 20 years, eats as much local food as possible and has a garden of her own. She said she thinks the stuff growing there is prettier than flowers, even.

“I could probably do a whole sleeve on tomatoes alone,” she jokes.

Of course, she’d need a third arm for that.

This Tattoo Tale is one in an ongoing series of stories behind some Mainers’ most personal, and permanent, artistic statements. See other tales HERE.

Deb Dusseau, a long-time vegetarian, has spent the summer getting a full sleeve of veggies tattooed on her right arm in Portland. Chris Dingwell of Squirrel Cage Studio is doing the work. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

Deb Dusseau, a long-time vegetarian, has spent the summer getting a full sleeve of veggies tattooed on her right arm in Portland. Chris Dingwell of Squirrel Cage Studio is doing the work. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

 

Troy R. Bennett

About Troy R. Bennett

Troy R. Bennett is a Buxton native and longtime Portland resident whose photojournalism has appeared in media outlets all over the world.