About Angel Tattoos
The angel is a reassuring symbol of the world beyond. It is deeply connected to Christianity—where angels represent protection, peace, and the promise of the refuge of heaven. An angel can evoke the pursuit to better oneself! However, it is not a concept specific to Christianity, and many people associate angels with spirituality in general.
Angels are used in secular culture as well. People often strive to be angelic or to possess an image and qualities like angels without being literal!
Angels often adorn the back; their wings are ideal for this area! The shoulder is a good spot to spread a pair of wings, as is the lower back.
Angels can be used in sleeves or as a single image on the upper or lower arm. There are numerous feminine options; a small angel is suited for the neck, or nape of the neck. Angels are charming on ankles or the chest.
Although angels are most often seen as sweet, they are powerful as well. Since angels are protectors, the theme combines naturally with soldiers, rescuers, and battle symbols like the Valkyrie. As inhabitants of the afterlife, angels are a connection to death—tribal angels, the angel of death, devil angel, a skull and angel, fighting angel, or the image of avenging angels are examples of the darker side of this theme. Angels may be desired in memory tattoos where they can preserve our connection with those who have passed on. Sad angels, weeping angels, baby angels, the cross and the RIP texts are respectful options for memorial tattoos.
Conversely, angels are a sign of innocence. Butterfly angels and fairy angels are popular, feminine choices. An angel can represent your archetypal beauty, and you can choose a style of facial illustration that conveys your ideal. Of course, your angel may not be completely innocent! Naughty angels are a good choice for bad girls!
Angel Tattoo Pictures and Ideas
Check out these cool angel tattoo pictures and angel tattoo ideas for inspiration:
About Star Tattoos
As long as human have walked the earth, there have been stars above us! Stars are a symbol of celestial pursuits, lofty goals or achievements, or noble philosophies. They are one of mankind’s most basic design elements and have woven their way into our religious, political, and cultural emblems.
Nations, religions, cities, armies, corporations, and ancient families are just a few examples of organizations that have adapted the star as a part of their identity or used it to represent aspects of their ideology.
Stars can be dainty and delicate on the wrist, foot, or face. Stars can also be enormous and have monumental impact on the back, shoulder, or within a composition as a sleeve.
A single star can be a spectacle on the point of an elbow.
Clusters of stars spread beautifully in bracelets, across the lower back, or draping over a shoulder. They can extend up and arm or ankle. The thigh is an ideal location for placing a meaningful constellation.
Since the star itself is a simple icon, the color, outline and dimensions you choose can be the most important aspect of your design. A star can be outlined, negative, shaded, nautical, or 3D. You can use a single stationary star; represent a specific star (such as Sirius, the dog star), a cluster, or shooting star. Tribal, Celtic, Maori, or Aztec stars, and the Metallica star logo are more options. If stars are featured in the flag of your nation, you could choose a patriotic theme. Colors like black, or black and red give a punk or rock star feel. Pink, purple, or patterns like leopard or zebra can make a cute and feminine star.
The star can be used as a background to enhance other elements! Place a large skull inside a black star for massive impact! A star can act as a brilliant frame for a flower, fairy, cross or butterfly, and fits naturally with celestial, mystical images like the moon and sun.
Star Tattoo Pictures and Ideas
Check out these cool star tattoo pictures and star tattoo ideas for inspiration:
About Lower Back Tattoos
The lower back has emerged to become one of the most popular tattoo locations! The lower back provides a large surface area and lower waistlines have created a prime location for adornment and self-expression.
The lower back is a sexy place for a tattoo on either men or women! A tattoo in this area acts like a belt, delineating the back from the buttocks. A composition that dips into a “V” shape will inevitably draw the eye (or the mind) down to the lower elements! A composition can also draw the eye up and accentuate a well-defined back!
A tattoo on the lower back can be a dramatic statement or an understated invitation! Smaller designs can rest right at the base of the spine. Larger arrangements have the opportunity to spread in all directions—a piece can wrap around the sides and meet in the front, if you prefer.
Although a lower back tattoo tends to be wide and symmetrical, a depiction beginning here can climb up the back like a vine. It could spread up one side and down one buttock. There’s also a stunning opportunity to begin an image at the lower back and extend it asymmetrically up one side.
Obviously, any subject matter can be placed on the lower back, but the area lends itself particularly to wide or sprawling designs. Butterflies, dolphins, angels, wings, and fairies are balanced compositions. Clusters of flowers such as hibiscus or cherry blossoms can intertwine with vines and travel in any direction.
Tribal and Celtic lower back tattoo designs are often used in this area—either as abstractions or using these styles to interpret an image. Tigers, dragons, and crosses are all excellent choices for lower back tattoos.
Lower Back Tattoo Pictures and Ideas
Check out these cool lower back tattoo pictures and lower back tattoo ideas for inspiration:
About Skull Tattoos
The skull most readily associated with death, but the skull can be adapted to a wide variety of statements. Skulls have the unique ability to attract and repel us. They remind us of our mortality, yet are strangely appealing.
A skull can be an element of horror or humor! The spectrum of skull tattoos can run from the graphic to the girly. The skull can be a symbol of melancholy, irony, reverence, repentance, and either transience or permanence!
Skulls can be fitted into unexpected places, such as beneath or behind the ear. The size of a single skull can be adapted to use on a hand or finger, or expanded to cover the entire back. Skulls interwoven with linear themes—such as vines, or barbed wire—can wind up the side or down a leg.
Multiple skulls can be stacked into a triangular form and used on the chest or across the back. A large skull makes a huge impact on the deltoid muscle of the shoulder! Skulls incorporate well into tattoo sleeves!
The skull tattoo design itself can be drawn in a vast number of styles, including: realism, tribal, Japanese, Asian, Celtic, and Aztec. Skulls are a common theme in old school tattoos but can be combined with elements like stars, dragons, crosses, fire or flames, jesters, pirates, jokers, soldiers, gypsies, clowns, cowboys, or kings. The skull can be drawn as evil—with demon characteristics.
The skull tattoo can be a symbol of Day of the Dead, or illustrate the philosophy “laugh now, cry later.” Effects such as burning, melting, smoking, and flying are all compatible with the skull. The skull can be combined with punk attitude—as in the Misfits’ skull icon—or filled in with a personal statement such as the rebel flag.
Girls like skulls too! Girly skull tattoos can go cute or embrace the dark side. Skulls can be combined with feminine elements such as angels, butterflies, flowers, cherries or Hello Kitty to produce a tattoo with unique personality! Animal skulls are another way to personalize a skull; horses, rams, eagles, snakes, bucks, and kitties are just a few examples.
Skull Tattoo Pictures and Ideas
Check out these cool skull tattoo pictures and skull tattoo ideas for inspiration:
About Koi Fish Tattoos
A koi fish tattoo is a worthy prospect for its beauty alone, but the koi embodies a great deal of meaning and demands respect. Originally Chinese, these carp have long been celebrated in Japanese culture, where they symbolize good luck, fortune, courage, ambition and advancement. The kanji or Japanese character “koi” is related (in a way similar to our homonym) to the word for “love.”
According to a Japanese legend, the koi fish was promised it would be transformed into a dragon if it succeeded in swimming up a waterfall. Koi are strong emblems of perseverance and determination. They can represent our ability to succeed against the adversity of our daily lives.
It is worthwhile to note that in Japan, the koi fish is considered to possess so many desirable masculine traits, that it is the official decoration used in Japanese Boy’s Day (now including girls and renamed “Children’s Day”) celebrations! The icon of a koi ascending the waterfall is a majestic scene for a large piece on a man’s back! Colorful koi can also climb on legs and transform into dragons!
For women, simple, small, and cute koi are easily placed on the body. The sinuous outline of koi swimming makes a nice piece for delicate areas like the wrist, neck or ankle. A larger koi or collection of koi is good for the back of a shoulder or for the lower back. Koi fish are ideal for a dramatic tattoo sleeve!
Koi fish tattoos can be represented as a single fish, but several fish makes a larger statement and the number of fish can be symbolic—5 golden koi are a symbol of wealth, for example. The koi can be depicted realistically, in a tribal style, or as an outline. Koi can be combined with other elements such as dragons, Japanese kanji or Chinese symbols.
The color of koi fish tattoo design can also be symbolic. Blue, green, red, pink, black, and white are all popular choices. Particular colors represent various family members during the Japanese Children’s Day celebration. You have the opportunity to customize the meaning of your tattoo, as well as select the most beautiful composition!
Koi Fish Tattoo Pictures and Ideas
Check out these cool koi fish tattoo pictures and koi fish tattoo ideas for inspiration:
About Horoscope Tattoos
Your horoscope is a unique prediction of your personality traits and the path of your life, based on the date, time, and location of your date of birth and the relation of the sun, moon, planets, and constellations at any given time. A tattoo representing the symbols or aspects of your horoscope is a way to connect with the fate envisioned for you by the stars!
Your horoscope is determined by a variety of elements—giving you a number of choices for images you might select for your bodily adornment! Western astrological symbols and their personifications, along with the Chinese astrological animals are the most common ways of aligning your tattoo with this divination.
Your astrological symbol can be used on a forearm, shoulder, or neck. You can proudly display your symbol on your upper arm, the back of your shoulder, or the side of your lower leg.
The personifications can be as simple or elaborate as you would like. Extensive illustrations (such as tigers or dragons) can crawl around your side, down your leg, or over your shoulder. Symmetrical portrayals (The Twins, for example) are well situated on the upper or lower back.
In Western astrology, you will find connection with your astrological sign: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, or Pisces. Each house is represented by a unique symbol, which can be rendered using various design elements, styles, or fonts. Western astrological symbols also have personifications: The Ram, The Bull, The Twins, The Crab, The Lion, The Virgin, The Scales, The Scorpion, The Archer, The Sea-Goat, The Water Bearer, and The Fish. You can choose to depict these as a way to illustrate your sign; each image could be interpreted in any style you prefer!
In Chinese astrology, your horoscope is determined using your astrological animal: The Rat, The Ox, The Tiger, The Hare (or Rabbit), The Dragon, The Snake, The Horse, The Sheep, The Monkey, The Rooster (or Cock—have fun illustrating that!), The Dog, and The Boar (or Pig). Try characterizing these with a tribal or Asian style for an appropriate flair!
Horoscope Tattoo Pictures and Ideas
Check out these cool horoscope tattoo pictures and horoscope tattoo ideas for inspiration:
About Flower Tattoos
Flowers are beautiful! They connect us to nature and fill us with wonder and delight! Due to our long-running obsession with flowers, nearly every flower is endowed with a symbolic meaning or aligned with a personality characteristic!
There are flowers for Nations, States, Cities, and birth months. Flowers can seem tempestuous, alluring, exotic, humble, pure, chaste, bold, or tenacious! Roses imply romantic love. The lotus can be a symbol of divine purity or spiritual enlightenment. The white lily is a sign of resurrection. Flowers speak their own language!
Individual blooms can be used on the shoulder, ankle or arm. Series of blossoms can be stunning as large works on a back or side. Flowers can link together like daisy chains into armbands, bracelets, or anklets; a mass of flowers can create striking tattoo sleeves!
Flowers can be used in compositions that wrap around the top and side of the foot. A single flower or chain of flowers can be placed along the curve of a rib. Flowers combine naturally with vines that can extend along any length of the body!
Whichever type of flower you choose can be rendered in a realistic style, outlined, or created into a pattern. The Tribal, Celtic, Japanese, or Aztec styles could be used to depict your flower. Your flower can be large or small (or tiny!). You could choose a Hawaiian, Samoan, Filipino, or Korean flower, if you have a personal connection to a distant land!
The design of your flower (or flowers) can include any number of additional themes—anything that appeals to you! Crosses, dragons, butterflies, stars, skulls, tigers, dragonflies, fairies, and koi are just a few examples. Try a hibiscus flower for a vintage tropical feel, or a cluster of cherry blossoms mixed with kanji to capture Japanese elegance!
Flower Tattoo Pictures and Ideas
Check out these cool flower tattoo pictures and flower tattoo ideas for inspiration:
About Butterfly Tattoos
Butterflies are the essence of fleeting beauty. They have been embraced within the art of various cultures for thousands of years. Humans have often strived to duplicate their patterns and colorations. They are sweet and peaceful yet mesmerizing and elusive.
As well as being a captivating beauty of the natural world, butterflies possess a variety of symbolism! Butterflies are a sign of good luck. The Chinese believe that two butterflies flying together symbolize love. Butterflies can represent rebirth, resurrection, transformation, and be viewed as the personification of the soul.
Butterfly tattoos are displayed nicely on any part of the arm. A butterfly can be worked into an armband or bracelet. A single, realistic butterfly is beautiful on the upper arm or the shoulder. Combinations of butterflies or butterflies mixed with flowers can make dazzling tattoo sleeves.
Tattoos of butterflies make excellent subjects to spread across the upper or lower back. They are dainty enough for a small image on your wrist, hand, or foot. However, the design possibilities also include large pieces for the side of your thigh, above or below the navel, or a grouping of butterflies to extend up your torso.
Butterflies can be illustrated in a tribal, Celtic, or Japanese style—they combine beautifully with kanji! You can have a butterfly rendered realistically, in color, with shadow, or as an outline. The shape of the butterfly can be filled with a pattern or serve as a frame for another image!
Butterflies mingle well with flowers (such as lotus or cherry blossoms), tigers, dolphins, dragons, crosses, stars, vines, skulls, or dragonflies. Butterfly wings can be added to beloved characters or to personalized cartoons to create individualized fairies.
Butterfly Tattoo Pictures and Ideas
Check out these cool butterfly tattoo pictures and butterfly tattoo ideas for inspiration:
About Tribal Tattoos
Tribal tattoos have existed as long as mankind has had culture. Bodily adornment has held a venerable place in human rituals—signifying rites of passage or maturation, memorializing personal experiences, celebrating victories, and representing personal or family identity. Recently, appreciation for this ancient practice has erupted!
Tribal tattoos can replicate historic symbols from various ancient or indigenous cultures. Tribal tattoos can also be modern designs that use a simple yet powerful graphic style to evoke the mood of one of mankind’s earliest tribal art! Due to their compelling style, tribal tattoos make a big impact in any application!
Tattoo sleeves or large shoulder pieces are popular. Tribal tattoos can extend over the breadth of the shoulders or trace the spine.
Tribal tattoos are often used in armbands, or on the wrist as a bracelet. They can encircle these areas, but they can also highlight them in a linear composition. The tribal style is both angular and curving; it lends itself to areas like the upper and lower back.
Many tribal tattoos are abstract designs. Traditionally, they are rendered in only one color—usually black or another dark hue. There is a wealth of information on historically and culturally accurate designs from cultures across the world and from any depth of recorded human history—Native Indian, Pacific Northwest American Indian, North American Indian, Egyptian, Celtic, Mayan, African, Aztec, Hawaiian, Samoan, Maori, Polynesian, Aboriginal New Zealander, and Inuit are just a sample of cultures.
Softer, more feminine images can easily be depicted in tribal tattoo design style—butterflies, flowers, dolphins, angels, fairies, koi, and dragonflies are a few examples. Stars, suns, symbols, Japanese kanji, lettering, crosses, dragons, skulls, tigers, scorpions, and sharks are dramatically enhanced by the primal depth of the tribal tattoo designs style!
Tribal Tattoo Pictures and Ideas
Check out these cool tribal tattoo pictures and tribal tattoo ideas for inspiration:
