Considering Different Tattoo Designs
Tattoos have been around for thousands of years. Body art is a beautiful way to express one's artistic sensitivities. However, when choosing a tattoo, it is important that you make a very careful decision. While it is possible to remove a tattoo, it is a complicated process. For this reason, most pieces will remain on your body forever.
You want to choose a tattoo design that speaks to your unique nature. In order to make the most educated choice, it is important to understand all of the different traditions that persist in this art form. If you are aware of a variety of style options, you will be able to select a tattoo that best represents your personality. At the same time, an intelligent tattoo choice will impress other fans of the craft. Let's take a look at some of the more popular tattoo styles.
Tribal Tattoos
The tribal tattoo is a design style that has a deep history. While this can refer to a variety of styles, the modern tribal tattoo has the most in common with the styles used by Pacific tribes. Huge, sweeping monochromatic line work with dramatic curves defines the latest expression of the genre. The line work is typically filled in with solid black ink. However, there are artists who experiment with the use of color and alternative designs inside of a tribal framework. For example, an artist might include a modern full-color image inside of an all-black tribal border. This is considered a very mainstream and modern tattoo style. Since these tribal designs can conform to nearly any shape, they make an excellent choice for any region of the body.
Celtic Tattoos
Celtic designs can also be considered tribal designs. While they are historically tribal, you would not want to ask a tattoo artist to give you one of these designs by referring to it in that way. These tattoos come from design traditions that are indigenous to the Irish, Welsh, and Scotch regions. Symmetrical spirals, closed knots, and complex mazes are recurring themes in these designs. Their organized and detailed look inspire many to choose this popular style. Celtic tattoos are also great for bands that wrap around a body part. For example, a band around the forearm looks great with a Celtic knot design.
Mayan Tattoos
The Mayans have a unique and ancient body art tradition. Their artistic style is very popular among the traditional options that are available. Mayan art contains mysterious divine figures and line work of minute detail. There is usually an element of rich shading involved in this style. For someone who loves monochromatic shading, this is one of the more attractive and detailed options. The Mayan style is great for filling space on a sleeve. It conforms quite well to the shape considerations of a background between different pieces.
Old School Tattoos
Old school western tattoos are also very popular. This is a colorful design style that incorporates simple images. This classic art tradition originated on ships and in prisons. In western culture, bored sailors and inmates would create simple tattoos to pass the time. Stars, ships, beautiful women, and other icons are prominently displayed in this style. Banners with hearts, dice, knives, and other traditional shapes are standard in this retro genre. A well done old school tattoo will turn heads among connoisseurs of body art.
Irezumi Tattoos
Irezumi is a classic Japanese tattoo style. This is a very detailed type of body art. These images depict the types of scenes that would be traditionally found on ancient Japanese wood carvings. Foliage and animals are weaved into intricate designs that fill space very nicely. The Irezumi style is often used for full body illustrations. You can expect to see dragons and deep reds in this type of artwork.
New School Tattoos
The new school western tradition is a more detailed version of the iconic style used in the old school. While the common themes like skulls, crosses, and stars are often included, the artwork has a more realistic presentation. Incredible detail, shading, and use of color brings these images to life. They often incorporate fantasy and pop culture themes into a rich landscape. These designs can be used to create sleeves or cover the entire torso.
Gothic Tattoos
The goth subculture emerged in the west in the late 20th century. A tattoo style developed that catered to the images that this community prefers. Victorian art is merged with medieval imagery to create a highly detailed style. Pagan imagery is often the subject of these works. This style conforms well to any region of the body.
In closing, there are a variety of styles that can satisfy anyone's tastes. Each artist has a unique interpretation of all of the traditional options. You can also choose images that are not typical for any of the more common genres. Your tattoo is a personal choice. You want to choose subjects that represent specific things that relate to your life. When someone asks why you chose your tattoo, you want to have a very rich and personal explanation. Body art is about expressing your individuality. We aren't able to control our genetic makeup, but we can definitely pay an awesome artist to enrich our skin with beautiful artwork.
These styles are just a few of the mainstream choices that are available. There are countless disciplines that can produce unique tattoos. Lesser known styles can make an interesting choice as well. Hybrids can be created that borrow a few characteristics from different genres. You can choose monochromatic, shaded, or full-color tattoos. You can incorporate different styles into a full sleeve. There are limitless options.
Carefully consider the style, placement, and color options when choosing your tattoo. The piece should look good upon close examination, but it should also fit the look of your entire body. You should consider all of these things when selecting the right body art. A good design will remind you of its unique meaning for the rest of your life.
