Sunday, October 31, 2010

Baby Angel Tattoos - Sweet and Sexy Baby Angel Tattoos

Angel and cherubs are known as popular baby angel tattoos for women. They're very cute, sexy and feminine. These tattoos are famous among women and they can make a great lower back tattoo design, or can be a chest piece or probably on the leg or on the arm.

Cherubs actually have a long history in western culture, and usually, we think of them as a symbol associated with Christianity, and are often present in all western religions. If you read the bible, you will often notice that there are mentions of cherubs and angels all throughout the Old Testament. But it was said that there were proofs that baby-like winged creatures came all the way back to the Assyrian culture, considered as one of the oldest cultures in the Western world.

The myths about these babies are that there were human like creatures that have wings that would often come as a messenger and guide to people. Torah, a Hebrew text, had also mentioned about the cherubim a few times in the Old Testament. And this means that they predate Christianity.

The concept of a cherub being attributed to a baby did not come in literature, not until the Renaissance time. During these times, the cherubs were depicted young boys and they were considered as a work of art. This is in Italy, were they are being referred as "Putti".

After several years, cherubs were being attributed to good tidings and are considered new creature from heaven. It was said that they usually take care of the souls of humans, after they die and leave their physical being and would ascend to heaven. The cherubs are known as the lining path to heaven, were they are seen playing harps and almost everyone in the West would associate them as a good symbol.

Tattoo Gun Buying Tips

Are you looking to buy a decent tattoo gun but are not sure what sort of features you should be looking out for to help guide your decision? If you are interested in buying a tattoo gun, this article will explain some basics tips and suggestions on what to look out for to help you make the correct purchase.

First of all, let us take a look at the instrument itself. The tattoo machine, gets its name from the basis of how its held. This is a small indication of an important point on buying the right gun: the model needs to be of the appropriate size for the owners hand. In other words, it is important to consider the size and general shape of the machine in relation to the tattoo artist or operators hand. Having the right size tattoo gun means that the users hands will operating the machine more efficiently. This is the first important point.

Secondly, an assessment needs to be made on what type of work the tattooist is going to use the gun for. Not all tattooing guns are created equal, nor are they are intended to be done for the same style of work. If the gun is primarily going to be used for outlining, it is important to get a unit equipped for use with liner tattoo needles. Contrast this with a machine that is primarily targeted at shading. In this instance, the tattoo gun would need to be loaded with shading (or "shader") needles to be appropriate for the job.

Our third and final point is to consider that there is a wide range of prices and quality when it comes to tattooing guns. This suggests that, like many other things in life, a more expensive tattoo gun might make more sense in the long run that a cheap tattoo gun. If you are in the market for this type of equipment, saving money in the short term is enticing but not necessarily a good idea for your business needs in the long term. In other words, quality counts. Make the most of those dollars and get a tattooing machine that will work with you over the years.

These tips are helpful in deciding the right type of tattoo equipment guns an artist may want to be. Ensuring a quality unit that fits the hand correctly, and additional is the right gun for the right job, is an important aspect of buying a tattoo gun.

Rib Cage Tattoos Ideas - What Works For Men and Women

Getting a rib cage tattoo is a decision not to be taken lightly. A tattoo on the rib cage is one of the most painful tattoo locations on the body. If you have a toned and athletic body and are considering this tattoo, just be sure your tolerance for pain is high. Before reviewing rib cage ideas, know that the process of getting a tattoo done on your rib cage is quite uncomfortable and often accompanied by lots of pain. Rib cage tattoos are often large in size and therefore require a lot of time to get completed. If you have already deciding on getting a rib cage tattoo, then understand that differences exist in what works for a man or woman.

Women like to get rib cage tattoos that start at the hip portion of the rib cage and continue to the breast area. This type of tattoo is very popular as it provides a huge canvas area to work with. A toned body is almost a requirement if you want to have your tattoo stand out and look elegant. These tattoos are specially design and carved to highlight the natural curves and features of the female body. The most popular tattoo ideas for women are: quotes or sayings in a stylish font, tribal artwork, dragons, soft colored pink leaves and twigs, flowers of all sorts, vines, butterfly, angels, moons, cherry blossoms, swallows and stars. Some ladies have even had entire poems tattooed on their cages.

Others have opted for a single word or name, such as Peace, Love, or the name of the special person in their life. Some Hollywood superstars, such as Megan Fox, have had this type of tattoo done. She chooses to have a quote that had special meaning in her own life. That is an excellent idea for someone wanting something personal and truly significant as their tattoo.

Men tend to choose tattoos that are masculine and hardcore in nature. Some are the most popular ideas for men are snakes, birds, dragons and koi fish. Guardian angels are also very popular. It is very common for men to go for rib cage tattoos involving script or words. These are often done in specially selected Old English fonts or handwritten fonts. The key is to choose a font with lots of strong lines and beautifully crafted design. Tribal designs, crosses, swords, dragons, single word quotes and sayings are also popular with men. A super idea for both sexes is tattoos featuring Celtic artwork, butterflies, and koi fish designs. Special tattoo lettering, often in a foreign language, has been gaining in popularity in recent years.

It is recommended that you conduct research in all aspects of obtaining a tattoo. Do not discount the pain factor, as it will be more painful to get a tattoo done on you rib cage, than on any other part of your body. Whatever design you choose, make sure you go to a professional tattoo artist to have the work done.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Tattoo Design - What Orchids Mean

Orchids are a graceful flower, making them an ideal tattoo for many women. Their elegant appearance, attracts many into getting tattoos of orchids. The beauty that belongs to them as an exotic flower kindles a sensation of being pure and innocent. There are many designs of orchids you can select from in making it your own personalized tattoo.

Orchid tattoo designs have many beautiful meanings and is a perfect way of expressing your feelings of love, adoration and respect. Like many other flowers, the orchid has found its way into the world of tattooing for its beauty and its attractiveness. Although the orchid is not as common as the rose tattoo, the orchid stands out more prominent in its originality and design. Making the orchid tattoo very unique and special.

The meanings of orchids are very symbolic, that being of rare and delicate beauty. There are several meanings that the orchid can be attributed to. It can express the everlasting feelings of love. You can get a orchid tattoo to symbolize the love you have for someone dear to you. Orchids can represent beauty as that in nature and life. In the Chinese culture it is a symbol for "many children."

Orchid tattoos can be placed almost anywhere on the body. The tattoo design can either be large or small in size depending on your preference. Orchids can be done in a large variety of colors, with white being the most popular used, but you may choose your favorite. A personal touch such as a adding a loved ones name to the tattoo design of an orchid holds the meaning closer to its own symbolic roots.

Just as with other flower designs they are endless possibilities and ideas you can come up with. Create your own tattoo design to satisfy your inner self. Always remember that a tattoo is not just an image, but are symbols that represents special meanings behind them.

Angel devil Tattoo Designs

Human beings have held a true fascination toward angels since the dawn of time. Even in this day and age of scientific evidence that covers most aspects of life, many people still choose to believe in the benevolent force of angels. As the ultimate sign of respect to this guardian, they may even elect to have a piece of body art dedicated to them.

It's not just women who turn to angel tattoos, this style of ink is equally popular with men as well. These pieces can either be tailored to look very delicate and feminine or a more menacing and mischievous side can be reflected in the character and appearance of the angel, to make it more appealing to the guys.

People seem to be plugging for two different types of angels: you will either see the angel in its entirety or it is increasingly popular to see just the intricate details of the angel's wings applied in the form of an eye-catching tattoo.

With this genre of tattoo, you can choose to incorporate plenty of colors and detailed fine line work, or black and grey work will look extremely effective and add an eerie and realistic dimension to the piece.

Women seem to prefer the elegant and colorful pieces and an angel will always look great when applied to the top of the shoulder. To add a little more mysticism to the piece, why not add a few stars to the tattoo and have these done in a myriad different shades?

If you prefer the black and grey shading, they come in any size you choose. In fact, it is not uncommon today to see such pieces as the central feature of a complete sleeve. If it's the wing-effect that appeals to you, they will always look best placed on the back and shoulders; for slightly smaller wings, they will work well on the back of the neck.

Whatever an individual's belief in angels, this style of design remains popular as a tattoo vogue. Angels will always grab attention and really do make for some of the most awe-inspiring design choices around.

John Clifford has now made it easy for you to find your own tattoo. You'll find the best angel designs on his website.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

How to Draw a Demon Tattoo

When drawing your tattoo design of a demon, it's best to think about what you want to draw, first you write or draw little sketches of what you want to have as a design, you could do this in a few ways with drawing little thumbnails or writing small notes and descriptions of what you want designed.

The main steps of drawing any tattoo, is to get inspired by the many available tattoos online and in any of your local tattoo shops. You need to find out what is popular and what would sell if you are interested in selling your artwork. The main point to consider is when selling your work, they are often bought in sets or what is called flash sheets of lots of collected tattoo designs. These can be on A4 size paper or larger A3 size and if you want to you can laminate them to make them look professional, this is especially handy if you are selling on Ebay.

Once you have looked and seen what is actually out there, you can proceed with your tattoo designs from your initial idea or concept, whether you have written it down or drawn a small thumbnail sketch as a reference. I usually work this way and it provides a really useful point of concept design in stages and you could later see how your artwork has developed from the draft stage.

So to draw a demonic tattoo, you just start with the shape of your demon, drawing loosely you pencil in the structure of the demon, however you want it to look, you could at this stage just draw the head of the demon or the full image of the demon if you wish, it's really up to you!

The next step is to flesh out your drawing development and see where you want the drawing to go, you yourself can push the design boundaries and create fantastic and other worldly creations. In this step you refine your demonic drawing so that it becomes more defined in shape, plus when you draw a tattoo you could design it in many ways. For example, drawing a long design that would ideally fit on anyones shoulder or a small design to fit on someones wrist, toggling between the different sizes and surface areas you can use to design your tattoos is a useful way of creating new ideas too.

Following on from this is adding details and other features that will help your design be either wanted by others or simple just appeal to others, you could add tribal or Celtic design elements to make your designs more professional. This should go back to the reason why I said look at other peoples work online and offline in the local tattoo shops, to see what others are doing, even asking your tattooist, like you should do - they will tell you and even advise you on what sells and what looks best in terms of tattoos.

Colors play a large part in the design of a tattoo, how they are shaded influence the buying decisions of customers online and offline who are searching for a tattoo. They are looking for something specific, so remember to make your demon tattoo stand out, make it striking to the eye, but not too colourful that your tattooist has trouble or some issues with it when transferring the tattoo from stencil to skin.

Common Mistakes Made With Cover Up Tattoos

Too Small - As a general rule the a tattoo that needs to be "covered up " by another design will have to larger than the original piece. If the original tattoo is 2 inches by 2 inches than the cover could no less than 4 inches by 4 inches and ideally would be much larger. Making the new tattoo design larger than the old one allows the artist room in the new design to hide the old tattoo with out losing the integrity of the new design.

Too Light - Tattoo inks are applied in a scale from light to dark. While tattooing a darker color can stain a lighter color, so the tattoo artist while coloring the tattoo will begin by doing all the dark colors first than the light colors. This also applies to the tattoo cover up, a tattooed color can only be covered by a darker color i.e if you have a red tattoo it will need to be covered by black or blue, not yellow or orange. Choosing the right colors is a big part of getting a cover up that will look good after it has healed.

Too Detailed - Probably the biggest complaint about finished cover up tattoos is that you can still see the original tattoo threw the new design. Some of the reason this happens is the design chosen as a cover up was to detailed from the start. The idea with a cover up is to hide the original design while keeping the integrity of the new design. One of the ways this can be done is scaling back on the detail of the new tattoo, replacing detailed line work with thick lines and bold fields of color will help cover the original design while keeping the new tattoo clear and legible.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Tattoos - A Living Form of Art

Tattoos and body piercings have grown in popularity over the past few decades. Once only reserved for tribes, sailors, or criminals, the meaning of tattoos and the reasons for people getting them have changed dramatically.

A Brief History

Like body piercings, tattoos are created by the constant application of ink just under the subcutaneous layer of the skin with a needle. At first, many tribes, sailors, and other groups used to apply the ink by hand. This was a long, painful process and the marked people were usually of high status. The tattoos were often a sign of respect, rank, and social status. Since the tattoos are permanent, the owners were guaranteed respect for life.

The interest of tattooing for the general public spread throughout the world in fads. A sailor would bring over a fully tattooed indigenous person and interest would spread like wildfire. In London, a sailor brought over a tattooed Polynesian from the South Pacific, and many of the people of London began to acquire their own small tattoos in secret places. However, interest in tattooing waxed and waned due to its long, arduous process of applying every dot of ink by hand.

The electric tattoo machine is a relatively recent invention, created in 1891 by Samuel O'Reily, and has revolutionized tattoos into an art form. Tattooing can still be long and painful but now the many punctures in the skin are done automatically at thousands of punctures per minute and can allow for better detail and shading. Skin is the most unique canvas and a tattoo that is placed onto the skin is permanent, requiring extra consideration for the right tattoo, the right artist, and the right placement. That piece of art will follow throughout one's lifetime.

In New York City, Samuel O'Reily trained a partner named Charley Wagner, who continued teaching after O'Reily's death. For a brief while, Chatham Square flourished with tattoo artists while the rest of the world remained unimpressed with tattooing. For a long time tattooing was generally stigmatized and most people with tattoos were stereotyped to be scary, dangerous, or freaks. During the 1920s tattoos began to be recognized for where a person has been in their travels, as tattoo artists set up shops in Coney Island. An outbreak of hepatitis, blood poisoning and other disease even worsened the prospects for tattooing in American culture.

Finally, a tattoo artist named Lyle Tuttle changed America's perception of tattooing by introducing celebrities to the art form. He tattooed them, mostly women, and used the media to change their stereotypes about the types of people who got tattoos. Together with the heightened awareness of the importance of sterilization and the improvement of training, tattoo popularity began to surge in the last few decades.

Changing Views

Today, the tattooing industry booms with new talented artists, schools and apprenticeship for budding tattooists, enlightened knowledge about sterilization, and health code regulation. Tattoo suppliers are well known and there are a wide variety of brands to choose from inks, tattoo machines, needles, and even tattoo shop supplies such as flash designs, chairs, and more. Younger generations are catching onto this art form and have made having a tattoo almost a rite of passage when one turns 18 in America. As more and more people of all walks of life have tattoos, the old stereotypes of tattooing that previously kept tattooing underground and unsafe has become outdated.

Now getting a tattoo is easier, mildly less painful, and relatively faster than ever before. The results of sitting in a chair in one position for a few hours are much more satisfying to see a beautiful piece of art with the outbursts of new and unique tattoo artists, each with their own style. Some tattoo designers stick with what is known as Old School tattoos, which have the look of tattoos done before the Second World War. They include traditional designs like nautical stars, pin up girls and mermaids, Old English letters, sparrows, skulls, hearts, roses, symbolic animal spirits (tigers, eagles, fish), and more. Old School tattoos keep the look simple with mostly black ink and a little bit of color because in the older days of tattooing there was not a great variety of ink colors to choose from. Old school tattoos are also notorious for featuring a ribbon with Old English letters writing a word or name inside the papyrus. The infamous Sailor Jerry Collins was the man who designed most tattoos that are now considered traditional or Old School. Today many women interested in 1950s retro fashion choose Old School tattoos and place them on their arm like a sailor would back in the day. Many sailor tattoos are symbolic. For example, the nautical star means that a person has gone through an important event or has been somewhere far and has returned safely.

New School tattoos include any new techniques done after this war. After the 1961 hepatitis outbreak which forced the tattoo movement underground for a while, tattoo designs were picked up by younger generations. They used bold, bright colors and utilized more shading thanks to advancements in needle variety and better quality ink. The health code regulations and better use of sterilization machines brought tattooing back in the forefront again. New school tattoos still have the same list of tattoo designs as old school but are captured in a unique way that is difficult to explain but easy to see the difference. Also many people today get new school designs that are custom made, compared to the old school tattoos which were generally picked off a wall of flash.

Today there are dozens of interesting tattoo styles to choose from: Celtic, Japanese, religious, spiritual, tribal, bio-mechanical, feminine, military, black and gray, traditional, neo-traditional, modern, and more. The best part about getting a tattoo is designing a custom piece. Then it is completely unique and meaningful for the person. Today, tattooing is more than ink on skin; it is expression of the soul.

Star Tattoos - 3 Sexy Places to Get Inked

So you're interested in star tattoos? You are definitely not alone. That doesn't mean you shouldn't get one though. Star tattoo designs are relatively easy to create, they can be inked on men or women and they're meaning is generally neutral. If you are not sure of where to get inked, here are 3 of the sexiest places to get star tattoos:

* Upper back - Either on the left or right side near the shoulder blade area. You could get a single star or a cluster of stars. It's a great place to get a tattoo if you don't want it easily seen by others. The top of the back right by the neck area is also a great spot if you're wanting an upper back tattoo. A small star or cluster of stars would look great in that area.
* Lower back - The lower back is a great place for star tattoos, especially if you incorporate some kind of tribal design to go along with the curve of the back.
* Hips - A cluster of colorful stars looks amazing along the hips of a female. Another popular design is one single star on the left and right side of the hips.

The best ways to get ideas for any kind of tattoo is to look at online galleries of tattoos and to speak with a tattoo artist. Usually for a small fee, they can help you design the perfect star tattoos for your body and they can also suggest places where they think the tattoo would look best. Although, don't feel like you absolutely have to listen to them. Remember that it's your body and your money, so just go with your gut.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Koi Fish Tattoos - Koi Fish Art Ideas

Tattoos are often done by people in order to put a symbol of good luck on their bodies. While many people put good luck tattoos out of superstition, there are many who get them for the attractiveness and style value. Some people get tattoos from a symbolic point of view. Dolphins and many other fishes are popular tattoo ideas for people since they are considered good luck charms in many religions. Wrists, ankles, neck and other areas are prone to such fish tattoos and many people even prefer to get full size fish tattoos on their backs where even the marine habitat or waves of water is inked onto the flesh. The Japanese Koi fish is one of the most popular tattoo designs involving fishes.

The Koi fish which is popular because of its colourful appearance which looks amazing when depicted in body art is a Japanese fish which has been a symbol of tenacity and good luck in Japanese mythology for ages. Even the Chinese use the Koi to denote the same traits as the Japanese. In addition, the Koi can stand for a symbol of romantic love and affection which is also another reason for its popularity. The Koi is a fish which commands a certain personality of its own which when drawn on a person's body transfers the same trait to the holder of the tattoo. This is a reason for the Koi tattoo's need for enough space in order to depict the true meaning behind the artwork.

The fish Koi is a symbol of determination and struggle which has been the way that the Japanese have looked at the fish for years. The fish has a peculiar quality of trying to swim upstream which gives it the aura of determination and struggle as mentioned above. People often use the Koi fish to denote the struggles in their own lives which seem like an effort to swim up stream in a flowing river. The same traits are interpreted by the Buddhist communities as fearlessness and rigour which is another way to depict these qualities in a person through the art work on his or her body. The Koi fish has gained popularity because of these deep meanings.

A huge advantage of getting a Koi tattoo done is that it provides ample space for the use of different colours. A person going for a group of Koi fish on his or her body may choose to have each fish in a different colour which brings out the beauty and true essence of the fish and the tattoo itself

Tribal Tattoos Meaning - The Full Story About Tribal Tattoos And Meanings

The interest with tribal tattoos is not a mystery but has been with us since the Bronze Age over 5,000 years ago and is being practiced by various races all throughout the world. Tribal tattoos meaning also varies from races, age of the person who wants to get it done, time, event and also memories. Tribal meaning tats differs from every person who wants to get it done.

The interest with this designs are quite major today influencing a large amount of percentage in search engines namely Yahoo and Google. The Internet is also a great source for research and influence before getting yourself "inked" by a professional tattoo artist. Both men and women increase interest in getting tattoos especially tribal designs that are great in lower hips for women and perfect for the shoulders.

Meaning of these tattoos may differ in culture. Tattoos are often an expression to oneself, a distinction or as a way of letting people know something important about their life. Some tattoos are done as a form of symbol which can indicate that you are part of a certain tribe or organization. Getting a tattoo can also be part of a ritual which is significant and an example of this are tribes in North America especially with Indians. Rituals that signifies a personal achievement, coming of age, etc. European people get tattoos to convey a symbol of membership and origins. Some tattoos can also be passed as a tradition to some making it more meaningful.

These tattoos are often black in color signifying boldness, striking and beautiful in plain black. Although there are some tattoos that are done in colors, black tribe tats are often favored by the majority. It is often a symmetrical image in intricate and bold lines.

If you are really decided to get a tribal tats, you may want to know some of their meaning, what you really want and a tattoo that can convey who you really are. A tattoo that can be a form of self-expression and also a form of art form. There are a lot of designs that you can choose from so you may want something of meaning.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Tribal Heart Tattoos - Find Your Heart and Soul

Tribal heart tattoos are becoming very popular. It is a tattoo that can appeal to different types of people. A single tribal heart tattoo design can mean different things to different people. Most people associate heart tattoos with women and think they are feminine. But when you add the tribal characteristics, it becomes a tattoo that both men and women can be proud of.

Nowadays because tattoos are so popular, you have to do a lot of searching to find a unique tattoo. There aren't many places where you can go find a tattoo that you won't find all over the net. The last thing you want is to get excited about a tattoo design that you have found and then see it on 10 other websites. I'll tell you where you can go in a bit to get a design you'll be proud of.

Tribal heart tattoos are for those that want to get people talking. You can take a simple heart and turn it into a unique expression of yourself. You can make tribal heart tattoos as elaborate or as plain as you want. Many people like tribal designs, but have no connection with a native American or other such culture. By combining the tribal design and a heart tattoo they can get the best of both worlds.

You can make tribal heart tattoos fit on most any part of the body. If you're looking for a large tattoo, the chest area or the back can be a great canvas for the tattoo. If you want something a little more delicate, the ankle, hip, or upper arm can do the trick.

Tribal Phoenix Tattoo - Tips on Your New Tribal Phoenix Tattoo

So you want a new tattoo and you've decided on a tribal phoenix tattoo. Great decision considering all the meanings that the symbol of a phoenix can mean. But getting a new tribal tattoo brings up a lot of questions. You've got some major decisions to make if you are going to get such a permanent piece of artwork on your body, not to mention the price of getting the tattoo. The proper research can truly mean the difference between an ordinary tattoo and a fantastic tattoo!

My biggest concern for you is that you've done what so many others have done before you and that is this: you immediately went to Google images to browse through phoenix tattoos. Do you think that you are the first one to use Google images for their research? That means that you are looking at tattoos that someone else already has. And I have a feeling that what you really want is something unique, right?

I would highly recommend that you check out a pay tattoo site for your research. There are so many benefits to having access to a site like this, but the main benefit is finding artists that specialize in tribal tattoos. As I'm sure you well know, tribal tattoo art is handled differently than regular tattoos. You can browse a tribal tattoo artists online portfolio and you can also work hand in hand on coming up with something original for your tribal phoenix tattoo. You also get access to a community of tribal tattoo enthusiasts that can help you with any questions you may have, as well as read reviews on local tattoo parlors so you can find a parlor that suits your needs.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Tree Tattoo Designs - Tips For Making the Right Choice

A tree tattoo design is one of the most unique tattoos that anyone can put on their body. It symbolizes life, intensity, courage, and productivity. It represents changes and the cycle of human life, beauty, and the vitality of human existence.

There are several kinds of tree tattoo designs that you can choose from. Some choose to have a palm tree design, which is known for its height; it speaks about surf, sun, and fun. The olive tree is quite popular too;It symbolizes endurance, strength, and hope. Many tattoo artists recommend the oak tree tattoo, as it is very popular nowadays. It has a very dramatic effect when contrasted with the skin making use of its innate color which is dark brown and vivid green.

However, if you are looking for a tree which signifies empowerment, womanhood, as well as the evanescence of the natural world then you can choose to go for a cherry blossom design.

Make sure to use a professional tattooist to perform the job for you. It's a waste of time, money, and effort if you use anyone else. The details of a nice tree tattoo require an artist with experience.

Lots of tree tattoos are combined into unique and attractive patterns which naturally capture people's attention. Like the two trees that are paired together which solemnly symbolize real, and eternal love. Another twist is a design with the bark from two trees inter weaved into Celtic knots while the branches and roots are tangled, symbolizing the interrelationship of living things. If you want something which represents the cycle of life and the natural world, you might go for a circular tree pattern with the branches and roots forming a connection. The "world tree" design can be real interesting too. It grabs attention everywhere; the world tree is known to be the center of all things in the universe. Its roots unite the earth to the underworld and its branches join the heaven and earth.

Tribal Tattoo Designs Bring Primitive Art to Life

Tribal art tattoos look great, but more importantly, every tribal design has a deeper meaning. When choosing a tribal tattoo, you should consider these meanings, and make sure that you believe in the statement that you are making.

Choosing A Tribal Design Tattoo

There are several different tribal tattoo designs to choose from. There are tribal zodiac designs, suns and stars, religious symbols, and even tribal band tattoos. Each design has a meaning, be it spiritual or societal. This has been the case since ancient times, when tattoos were used either to mark affiliation with a group, or religious, magical, or spiritual beliefs.

Some of the oldest known tribal tattoos existed thousands of years ago. Many of these tattoos depicted the sun and stars to honor the Sun God and the element of fire. Tribal sun tattoos, as well as stars, can vary in size and detail. This makes them adaptable for any part of your body, though the shoulders and back seem to be the most popular locations. If you want to get creative, you can make a chain of tribal stars with a tribal sun image as the center point.

Another choice of recent popularity is zodiac tribal tattoos. The zodiac is the first known celestial coordinate system. The Greek and Roman zodiac is the most popular, but cultures all over the world have applied astrological meaning to the stars for millenia. While there is no scientific basis, many people identify with the traits of their zodiac sign. If you are one of these people, a tribal zodiac tattoo may be right for you.

As stated, tattoos have represented religious meaning for many years. Because of this, many people have chosen to represent their beliefs in primitive ways with a tribal design of religious symbols. Depending on your beliefs, you may want to do some research before you make your decision. The key is to make sure that you use a symbol that is most meaningful to you. From there, you can be creative in your design, or allow your tattoo artist to design a tattoo for you.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Polynesian Tribal Tattoos - Comparison of Maori and Samoan Tattoos

Polynesian tribal tattoos are made up of extremely intricate and detailed designs following an ancient art. Some of the most common Polynesian tat art are the Hawaiian, Samoan, Maori and Aztecs. They each have their own tribal styles that are identifiable to them. In this article, we will be discussing the two most prominent ones - the Maori and Samoan.

Maori tattoos have been around for over thousand years and were originally practiced by the native Maoris of New Zealand. They are very distinctive and have their own unique identity compared to its Polynesian counterparts. They are characterized by individual lines and repetition of certain motifs and designs. They can be described as essentially curve linear and mostly based on spirals. The original practice was called moko which is extremely painful as it is done by carving the skin with chisels instead of being punctured. It symbolizes status and rank in the society and are usually done of the face, thighs and buttocks. Nowadays, this of course is not the usual practice anymore as modern tattoo artists used this early patterns as inspirations. If one wants an authentic Maori tat theme, he has to find an artist who specializes in it.

Samoan tattoos are called tatatau with ta which means to strike with tatau referring to the line and motifs that are inked onto the body. They are characterized by the dense shading and fine parallel-lines combined with several motifs and geometric patterns like squares, dots and rectangles. This is very significant to the Samoans as they are symbols to identify their status in the society. They usually covered the large part of the body like the back, legs and arms. They are definitely an ethnic marker, a true symbol that one is of Samoan heritage and identity to those who are true to this statement.

Tattoo Shops Boom During Recession

They say the industries of vice are the ones that do well during recessions. People will, after all, always buy cigarettes and booze when things are down. Well now it appears as though they will need to add tattoos the equation.

It's been a might rough couple of years. Whether you call it a Mild Depression or Great Recession, it is the rare person that hasn't been stressed out by the current economic situation. When the economy goes bad, historically people smoke and drink and...well, do other adult things. If the statistics coming out are accurate, lots of people are also getting tattoos!

Tattoo shops are seeing tons of business despite the recession. This is somewhat of a surprise given the nature of a tattoo. While getting inked is no longer something on the edge of society, there is little doubt the cost of doing it is still pretty expensive. This is why it is somewhat surprising to find that so many people who are otherwise trying to cut there expenses are spending hundreds or thousands on tattoos.

There is, of course, a secondary reason why most tattoo artists still have waiting lists. The reason comes down to how people view their ink. Most view a tat as a form of art work that means something particular. With this in mind, they take the time to really map out what they want and then hunt for an artist that can meet there needs. The best artists usually have waiting lists, and that fact converts the tattoo from an impulse purchase to more of a well thought out effort. With this conversion comes a greater commitment to the tat.

Where there is demand, there must be supply. The current state of the tattoo industry is such that there are not enough tattoo artists or shops. As a result, the industry is seeing a booming business when it comes to the expansion of existing shops or the opening of new ones. This is a pretty amazing development when you think it through. Can you even name one other business group that is EXPANDING these days

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Stomach Tattoo Ideas

Have you been crawling the internet, probably Google Images, to find stomach tattoo ideas or a number of other design ideas? Well if so, then I bet you have been finding a lot of the same examples of tattoos over and over, either that, or none that are really appealing enough to have permanently tattooed onto your body for life. I know that was the case for me, and it drove me nuts because I really wanted to find the perfect design that would not leave me feeling like I was settling for something less than I envisioned.

I do not think anyone should have to settle for their first or last tattoo even, this is why I am writing to inform you of a resource that will be of great help whether you are in need of unique stomach tattoo ideas or any other number of design ideas for all of your tattoo wants. The resource is a membership to one of the popular tattoo websites available.

By joining one of these membership websites, you will have the ability to browse thousands of creative tattoo ideas, tattoo videos, uploaded pictures of other members tattoo work, and even a directory of tattoo studios in 38 different countries; paying a onetime fee of around 30 dollars, will basically get you the Cadillac of tattoo experiences, for life.

If you cannot justify spending a few dollars on reducing the stress that accompanies finding awesome stomach tattoo ideas or any other tattoo design idea that you might want throughout the course of your life, then you can easily justify it by dividing the cost between you and a friend who can then both use the same membership to access the site you choose.

Whether you are searching for one tattoo or plan on maybe getting more later, a tattoo membership website is the best and most efficient choice you can make. The few sites that stand out amongst the pack are Tattoo-Me-Now, Tattoo My Brain, and Chopper-Tattoo. My personal favorite is Tattoo-Me-Now because of the amount of extra features they offer in addition to their stomach tattoo ideas and thousands of other designs, for a price that is not much higher than that of its competitors. Although their extra features are not completely necessary, they create the sense of a community, which I enjoy.

How to Find Cultural Significance in Butterfly Tattoo Designs

If you ask a woman what tattoo she would like to get or what she already has, the answer you are most likely to get is butterflies. Many ladies like butterfly tattoo designs because they can personalize it to the way they want it to be and it is elegant and feminine. They can be of any size and just about anywhere on the body, so women tend to go for butterfly tattoo designs because they have such a variety to choose from and because they are so popular but in their own way.

These tattoo designs bespeak femininity. The butterfly is an insect, but in this case and theme people would classify it as a creature. This is a creature that can be whimsical, sexy and flirty. Well, this depends where on your body you would like to have the tattoo done and also how you would like the tattoo depicted.

Many people look at butterfly tattoos simply as a way of expressing themselves. It can also be some kind of embodiment of a certain cultural meaning. If you take the Greek for example, they believe that when a caterpillar sheds the cocoon and comes out as a butterfly, a human soul is released into the world.

Depending how you look at it, butterflies may symbolize birth, and a person having one on their body could be rediscovering herself and/or starting a new life. A perfect example is a new life with a new born baby, a new life being married, or a new life out of marriage.

In the Mexican and Japanese cultures butterflies and butterfly tattoos are a symbol of love, youth, grace and joy, and these are wonderful representations of life. Ancient people on the other hand viewed the butterfly insect as a symbol of a person's soul. Other cultures believed the butterfly being a spirit guide to a neverworld.

Despite the culture, these colorful insects are viewed as characteristic and magical of human imagination. This also applies to the butterfly tattoo designs of these creatures.

Choosing the right tattoo designs from the many butterfly tattoo designs can be a very tough task, because there are around 20,000 types in the world. Now all these are represented via ink, though, but there are quite a few butterfly designs floating around. The right tattoo will be there, and if you know what you are looking for then you don't have to look too hard. It is said that if there is enough importance behind the tattoo and it truly symbolizes something in your life, it will be looking out for you instead of you looking out for it.

Once you have been through all the butterfly tattoo designs and you have come across the perfect one, you have to decide if you want the tattoo seen or if you want it to be intimate. Your shoulder, ankle and lower back are perfect places if you want to show it off. If you want to keep it intimate, the best and perfect butterfly tattoo designs can be tattooed on the buttocks, along the bikini line or on the breasts.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Peacock Tattoos - Getting to Know a Unique Design

Peacock tattoos, or sometimes, the peacock's feathers, have indeed become a very popular option when it comes to tattoo designs. Read on further for some information that you may not have encountered yet regarding this colorful bird's design origins:

* The peacock design of tattoos are most often represented in Asian and Middle East tattoo designs and are very popular because of its vibrant colors. However, in Europe, the peacock's feathers are regarded with high suspicion because of a fiasco in their ancient mythologies.

* The peacock feather, in ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt is a representation of the 'evil eye'. This is because of the general idea during that time that with the peacock feathers several 'eyes', it can see every single transgression that a person has done. This belief, is still prevailing today as several households in Europe will not permit that even a single peacock feather enter their household.

* The Christian faith on the other hand, has an entirely different take on the peacock and its feathers. Christians believe that the peacock feathers 'eyes' are the same of God's all seeing eyes. It also venerated the peacock as an incorruptible animal making it a sacred emblem for many who follow the Christian faith.

* Today, peacock tattoos symbolize immortality, a person's pure soul and resurrection. In china, the peacock is believed to represent the divinity and ranks of the gods and their ancestors. Peacocks are also later on symbolized as animals of royalty and has long meant the equivalent of an unbreakable oath.

* In these days, peacock designs are chosen mostly for their bright and vibrant colors as well as their symbolism. Because peacocks can also represent resurrection, these are also created into tattoos for a lot of personal reasons. People have peacock tattoos done in remembrance of a person or a loved one's death or a memory of that person's recovery from extreme illness. Peacock tattoos are also a great symbol for a specific turning point in a person's life. There are also a lot of people who prefer to incorporate this bird into Middle Eastern designs again, a remembrance to history that this particular race believed in the immortality and divinity of the peacock.

* For someone who does not want to get a huge peacock tattoo design and would rather opt for a smaller, more discreet design, it is always better to have a tattoo put in. after all, peacock feathers have as much symbolism on its own as the entire bird itself and it is by far easier to incorporate it onto an existing design or even as an addition to an existing tattoo. The peacock feathers are a smaller alternative to the peacock tattoo that can still be made to be big enough to add in more details I you so wish to do so.

* An important note that you must never forget is that you have to get a clear picture of the peacock tattoo design that you would want to be tattooed with. Be particular with the use of colors, if you want to.

Hawaiian Flower Tattoos - Exotic Flowers

Hawaiian flower tattoos are becoming very popular. Hawaii is one of those places people dream about going to or living. If you've been there, you want to go back. The climate is perfect nearly all the time. The people are beautiful and friendly. It seems natural to want to express that feeling with a tattoo.

The state flower of Hawaii is the hibiscus. Hibiscus come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. If a woman wears a hibiscus behind her ear, she is either saying she is taken or is looking, depending on the ear. Hibiscus petals are only open for a short time during the day. A Hawaiian flower tattoo with hibiscus could symbolize the shortness of life.

If you've ever visited Hawaii you have been presented with a lei. Leis are generally made from plumeria. They bloom all year and they have a very sweet scent and a variety of colors. Plumeria can be used as an accent to a tattoo with hibiscus or on its own to signify warmth and welcome.

Hawaiian flower tattoos can be very simple or combined with other elements to make an intricate design. Someone who has visited the island may want a simple reminder of its beauty and get a Hawaiian flower tattoo. On men you might see hibiscus flowers surrounding some tribal art. Hawaii is one of the Polynesian islands and tribal tattooing has a deep history.

Combining different symbols of the island can make a unique tattoo design. You can combine the plumeria or hibiscus with dolphins, water or waves, surfboards or even beautiful women. Plumeria and hibiscus are not the only flowers that can be used in Hawaiian flower tattoos. Hawaii is full of gorgeous flowers such as the lily, orchid and rose. All of these can be used to make a beautiful tattoo.

Because these flowers are so simple, you want to take your time and figure out how your tattoo is going to be unique. You don't want to just go into a tattoo parlor and say you want a Hawaiian flower tattoo. You will be left with a generic tattoo that you may regret.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Jude Law Tattoos

Jude Law is a fabulous English actor, producer and director who has starred in the movie A.I. Artificial Intelligence, The Talented Mr. Ripley and Cold Mountain.

Jude Law has been spotted with a handful of tattoos, including Gothic initials "JL", along with what appears to be a circle of ants or other bugs, located on his right forearm.

Snorkeling while showing off some artwork on his right arm.
Lightning bolt design on right arm, which may or may not by a real tattoo.
Scared heart of Jesus Christ tattoo.
Lyrics to a Beatles song with "Sexy Sadie", which is the name of his ex-wife.