Dotwork Tattoos: A Complete Guide With 85 Images

Dotwork Tattoos

Dotwork tattoos have risen in popularity in recent years and have since become a much sought-after style. As artists play around with this technique, it’s often combined with other tattoo styles to create an intriguing piece. Dotwork can be used to bring together a full image, or it can be used for the shading of a tattoo design.

Where did this tattoo style come from and what are some common designs? We’re going to find out.

Read more

Blackwork Tattoos: A Complete Guide With 85 Images

Blackwork Tattoos

Blackwork tattoos are among the most diverse and impressive forms of body art around the world. The tattoos are either etched to cover the whole torso or extensive areas of the body, such as entire limbs. Blackwork tattoos are often made of abstract or geometric patterns, though you can find some depicting everyday objects. 

Exploring the diversity, rich history and extensive cultural tapestry of blackwork tattoos would require several volumes of published works. It is possible, however, to offer you a glimpse of the complexity inherent in these tattoos with a summarized guide. It’s what we will attempt to do here with a look at the three most pervasive forms of blackwork tattoos.

Read more

Traditional Tattoos: A Complete Guide With 85 Images

Traditional Tattoos

Traditional tattoos are also referred to as Western, American or Old School. They are mainly characterized by vivid colors, black outlines and minimal shading. The traditional tattoo has an iconic style brought out by its characteristics, making it iconic and bold. Most traditional tattoos often illustrate roses, women, skulls, daggers, wolves or ships. 

The traditional tattoo style first entered American culture in the 1930s. They were used as a symbol representing rebellion against the “mainstream society” box. Sailor Jerry, whose official name was Norman Collins, was the pioneer of this tattoo style in Hawaii during World War II.

Read more

New School Tattoos: A Complete Guide With 85 Images

New School Tattoos

New school tattoos are a modern evolution of an old age tradition for decorating one’s body. Designs are inspired by the pop culture of the 70s and 80s, with inks featuring busy scenes of cultural icons. The colorful drawings pop off the skin with bold outlines, saturated colors and a lot of attention to detail.

New school is fun, vibrant and attention-grabbing. Want to find out more? Let’s take a look.

Read more

Neo-Traditional Tattoos: A Complete Guide With 85 Images

Neo-Traditional Tattoos

Neo traditional tattoos are composed around distinct portraits of individuals, animals or sometimes objects. They are drawn with clear outlines, framed in decorative patterns and richly colored in muted styles. Tattoo artists use modern techniques to merge traditional themes with diverse imagery into stunningly detailed and timeless works of art. 

These days there are numerous styles of tattoos to choose from, old and new. But if you want a modern expression of skin art that draws on inspiration with long roots going back to past eras in America, Europe and Asia, then take some time to learn about neo-traditional tattoos.

Read more

Realism Tattoos: A Complete Guide With 85 Images

Realism Tattoos

The realism art movement of the mid-19th century is what gave birth to realism tattoos. Realism came to be as a result of people’s desire to create images that look similar to a photograph or a real-life 3D object. A realism tattoo looks so lifelike that the image often appears to be jumping right off the flesh. 

Realism tattoos have opened the door to a vast playground for tattoo collectors around the world. The nature of realism tattoos has made it possible to represent different designs, styles and concepts within the same genre. As long as something can be seen with the naked eye, the artist can recreate a masterpiece from it.

Getting a realism tattoo done requires a lot of patience and an exceptional level of talent from the tattoo artist for them to achieve the precise layering and level of detail required to produce an outstanding piece.

Read more

Tribal Tattoos: A Complete Guide With 85 Images

Tribal Tattoos

The history of tribal tattoos is rooted as deep as during the beginning of civilization. Tribal tattoos are evident in the historical accounts of different places in the world.

Modern tribal tattoos draw their inspiration from these ancient designs and are mostly derived from ancient tribal art. Cultures that originated this style of tattooing are the Aztec and Borneo cultures, Samoa, Hawaii, India, Polynesia and the Maori people of New Zealand.

The main components of tribal tattooing are solid black dots and lines, usually meant for ritualistic or sacred places. Some modern artists incorporate shades and colors to bring a little spice to the design.

Read more

Triangle Tattoos: A Complete Guide With 85 Images

Triangle Tattoo Designs & Their Meaning

Few designs are as versatile as triangle tattoos. Virtually any image, logo or phrase can be worked into a triangle, and they’re super customizable in terms of detail and color. The three corners and sides can symbolize different things, from the Holy Trinity to family or the passing of time. 

It’s not hard to see why triangles are popular in the inking world. We’ll cover some of the most popular designs and colors for these tattoos, as well as where to place them to get the best effect. 

We’ll also give you some creative ideas to help make your three-cornered tat unique and attention-grabbing.

Read more

75 Mind-Blowing Mermaid Tattoos And Their Meaning

Mermaid Tattoo Designs & Their Meaning

Mermaids are mystical beings and are often seen as fantastical and pretty, but can also be seen from a different angle—a mix of two things that never should be, creating a monstrosity. 

Don’t be fooled into thinking that mermaid tattoos are only for women. Although they’re more popular with the girls, they can have great meaning for guys and be designed to be more masculine. 

They’re often fairly colorful and detailed, to portray the beauty and mystery that they represent.

Read more

85 Mind-Blowing Patriotic Tattoo Designs

Patriotic Tattoo Designs & Their Meaning

There are many ways to express your love for your homeland, but few are as loud and proud as patriotic tattoos. Getting a symbol of your country permanently inked onto your body is a sign of love and dedication.

The styles, designs and creativity of a patriotic tat are almost endless. Most of them will include the country’s flag or national symbols in some form, but these can be paired with almost anything.

Read more