The Aztec civilization was once considered superior and thriving. Tattoo designs are some of the legacies they left behind. Aztec tattoo designs are intricate and striking and it's no wonder that a lot of tattoo enthusiasts are drawn to them. The attraction may stem from sheer appreciation of its visual beauty or from deep understanding of how the ancients have lived and flourished. The Aztecs placed great value to their art and to carry a symbol yourself you must understand that it is rooted from an ancient civilization that considered it sacred.
Aztecs tattoo designs were used by the people who created them originally as sacred symbols. They placed them on strategic spots in their body to represent something that was culturally ingrained. A person might want to get a tattoo to preserve his culture or just to show an interest in it. The sun is the focal symbol of Aztec tattoo so a person might want to characterize the strength that the sun represents by getting an Aztec designed tattoo.
In the ancient times, even children have tattoos. This is to identify them with the God they were worshipping. It is perhaps an advantage to you if you would inquire more about Aztec culture so you can identify with it more and you might wish to place your tattoo where the Aztecs might place it too. That way it will not look like a mere imitation of the art but one that indicates perception of the culture.
There is a bunch of information you can dig up on the Internet. You can browse some pictures to give you an idea of what you might want your tattoo to look like. To portray authenticity glean your sources well. If you rely on shops for Aztec tattoo designs you have to remember that these are artists who might get a little too enthusiastic about their designs and they might have added something that is not entirely related to the Aztec culture. Look for shops that are reputable and artists that are experienced and knowledgeable about symbolic figures. Only then will you be able to derive joy and pride from the art work.
The Aztec civilization was once considered superior and thriving. Tattoo designs are some of the legacies they left behind. Aztec tattoo designs are intricate and striking and it's no wonder that a lot of tattoo enthusiasts are drawn to them. The attraction may stem from sheer appreciation of its visual beauty or from deep understanding of how the ancients have lived and flourished. The Aztecs placed great value to their art and to carry a symbol yourself you must understand that it is rooted from an ancient civilization that considered it sacred. Aztecs tattoo designs were used by the people who created them originally as sacred symbols. They placed them on strategic spots in their body to represent something that was culturally ingrained. A person might want to get a tattoo to preserve his culture or just to show an interest in it. The sun is the focal symbol of Aztec tattoo so a person might want to characterize the strength that the sun represents by getting an Aztec designed tattoo. In the ancient times, even children have tattoos. This is to identify them with the God they were worshipping. It is perhaps an advantage to you if you would inquire more about Aztec culture so you can identify with it more and you might wish to place your tattoo where the Aztecs might place it too. That way it will not look like a mere imitation of the art but one that indicates perception of the culture. There is a bunch of information you can dig up on the Internet. You can browse some pictures to give you an idea of what you might want your tattoo to look like. To portray authenticity glean your sources well. If you rely on shops for Aztec tattoo designs you have to remember that these are artists who might get a little too enthusiastic about their designs and they might have added something that is not entirely related to the Aztec culture. Look for shops that are reputable and artists that are experienced and knowledgeable about symbolic figures. Only then will you be able to derive joy and pride from the art work.
Italian, Sanskrit, Kanji, and Arabic Tattoo Designs - The Hottest Word Tattoo Ideas For 2009 Articles By Chris Ryerson
One of the quickest and most popular trends brewing right now are word or literary tattoo designs. Be it one word to a whole poem word tattoos are hot. In order for people to yet again differentiate themselves from others many people are choosing to have the tattoo word written in a foreign language. For a long time Kanji tattoo were very popular. To get a saying writing in Japanese Kanji was super cool. These trend is kind of dying out these days and now people are getting designs in Italian, Sanskrit and even Arabic. One has to admit there is a certain beauty and mystery in a foreign script. Just think of the moment when Frodo holds up the One Ring in the movie "The Lord Of The Rings" after the ring has been in the fire. Frodo holds up the ring and looks at the beautiful glowing elvish script inscribed into the ring. One can not deny the mystery and beauty of the foreign elvish script. Thus is the same beauty and mystery that leads people to get word tattoos in a different language.
What To Watch Out For
If you are thinking about getting a word tattoo and especially if you are considering getting one in a foreign language you should proceed carefully. If you have done any searching on Kanji Tattoos on line you have probably come across sites where people have posted pictures of their kanji tattoo design and they are asking what it means. Often it does not mean anything like what they thought. The Kanji is sometimes backwards, or missing strokes in the best cases and in the worst it says something totally different then what the person thought. Don't fall into this trap and go around sporting a tattoo that says something that you don't want it to. Just proceed with caution and spend some time doing your research for the tattoo design carefully. Do not just trust that the tattoo artist tells you what it says. Remember tattoo artists are also business people and they make money by doing tattoo designs. If you are willing to pay they are willing to tattoo. It is not their concern so much about what the script says.
How To Do it Right
So how do you do a foreign language tattoo the right way? Spend some time doing research and choosing the words carefully. Also with the power of the Internet these days it is very easy to find a native speaker of the language who will translate the tattoo for you professionally. There are a ton of translation services on line and paying an extra ten dollars for your tattoo design to ensure it says exactly what you want will help you to feel confident with your design.
Another thing that can be very helpful to the translator and make the words and the final tattoo design more accurate is to choose words that are common and not slang. For example if you wanted to get the word "pimp" tattooed across your chest in Kanji it would be very difficult for the translator to find Kanji that would translate that word. There is no word for pimp in the Japanese language and for sure in the older script or writing of Kanji which is thousands of years old. So choose your words wisely and try to find words that are not slang or culturally based words. Also don't be locked into exact translations. Often words don't translate straight across from one language to the next. It takes some finesse and alter of the words to truly express the meaning of the saying in another language.
Finding A Tattoo Artist
Last but not least you want to carefully find the tattoo artist. There are tons of tattoo artists out their and many of them are truly artists. Meaning they have special skills and talents and they are not just machines that pump out tattoo designs. They have special and unique talents and skill sets and therefore it can be beneficial to seek out an artist that specializes in the language you want to get the tattoo done in. For example if you get a kanji tattoo design done by a Japanese tattoo artist you can be pretty sure the translation and the artwork has been done correctly. As always you get what you pay for in life and going with cheap is not the way to go with a tattoo that you will wear for the rest of your life.
The two most popular styles of arm tattoos are Japanese Tattoo designs and Americana sailor tattoo designs. Generally people prefer Japanese Tattoo designs on their arm. These tattoos are mainly done in a very large and colorful style and look great!
Japanese Tattoo Designs The most common Japanese tattoo designs for a full sleeve tattoo are:
Koi Fish - Koi fish are very famous for sleeve tattoos as the fish is typically very skinny and shapes perfectly around an arm. It can easily be achieved on full arm or sleeve with a splash of water behind the fish making it huge and beautiful design.
Cherry Blossoms - Another common tattoo is Cherry Blossom branch which is traditional Japanese tattoo. Cherry blossom branch with the long rectangular shape works perfectly for an arm getting a tattoo.
Water - Typically traditional Japanese tattoos often have blue colored water in the background and this is often used as sleeve and tattoo designs for arms.
Japanese Gods or Deities - Another popular tattoo design is of Japanese God or Deity. This design looks great not only on arms but also on shoulder.
Americana Arm Tattoo Design
Americana Arm Tattoo Designs include more traditional sailor tattoos and often have an old school feel. The common tattoos with an American designs are pinup girl tattoos, anchor tattoos or even a flag or ship
Types of Arm Tattoo
The category of arm tattoos is large and can include a wide range of tattoo locations, shapes and sizes as well as designs. Following are some of the most common arm tattoos.
Sleeve Tattoos
Sleeve tattoos covers the whole arm, half sleeve tattoo covers area from shoulder to forearm and quarter arm tattoo covers the wrist extend to the middle of the forearm. These all sleeve tattoos look equally great so you can choose any of them.
Wrist Tattoos
Another common area to get a tattoo which is also considered an arm tattoo is on the wrist. Tribal and flames are the common wrist tattoos. we will be discussing more about wrist tattoos in my coming articles.
So before going for any arm tattoo design make sure to read this post as this will really help you in deciding for the tattoo design.
Angel Wing Tattoos - How to Design Unique Angel Wing Tattoos
Executive summary about Angel Wing Tattoos By Timothy Croy
It really is a shame that most people simply pick some random design for use in their next tattoo. There isn't anything special behind such a tattoo. No meaning, no personalization - just a boring design that everyone else who went to the same tattoo shop has. It's no secret that angel wing tattoos are very popular with girls. Most tattoo shops have a couple of stock angel wings to choose from, but what we are trying to do here is give you a unique tattoo - something that nobody else has.
You don't need any artistic skill to design your own tattoo. So fire up your web browser and start looking for images of angel wings that you can use as the foundation of your tattoo.
A quick search through Flickr or the Google Image Search will yield you tons of photographs, drawings, and paintings of angel wings as well as a multitude of angel wing tattoos from other people. If the tattoo artist is good, they will go in the back room and sketch their own design based on your original. Taking your own design is the best and easiest way to make sure that you get an angel wing tattoo like nobody else has.
Angel Wings Tattoo Designs
Articles By Alice Farrell
The art of tattooing has become quite popular nowadays. People get tattoos for several reasons such as self expression, spiritual reasons, or simply for ornamentation. One of the most popular designs with both men and women is the angel wings tattoo designs. The angel tattoo design is said to represent protection, spirituality, peace, and guardianship.
If you are a woman and you wish to have angel wings tattoo designs, it symbolizes your search for purity within your soul. It could also mean that you give utter importance to your self-confidence which you believe plays a big part in terms of beauty and protection.
On the other hand, if you are a man getting this kind of tattoo, it usually symbolizes your fondness for women. It usually expresses your love and respect and your willingness to protect the women in your life. This design is incredibly popular with men who are madly in love.
Instead of getting angels tattooed on their bodies, more and more people are going with the trend of having angel wings tattooed on their backs. The wings that you choose depend on your personality. You can choose the size and style of the wings. You can opt for large wings that span your whole back area or simply small ones that only take up your upper back.
Angels also represent triumph of good over evil, and if you are looking for a tattoo design that will represent your love for good and your willingness to protect and guard, angel wings tattoo designs are definitely right for you.
Five Things You Didn't Know About African Tattoo And Tribal Designs
Articles By Allen Stevens
With the current resurgent trend in tribal tattoos, its surprising that African tattoos are not much more common in the western world of body art designs. However as beautiful as African Tribal designs are, do you understand the meanings behind them?
Well here are five facts that explore some of the lesser know ideals behind African Tribal Tattoo designs:
Fact 1
Some African body art are drawn to give the wearer protection from harm, the symbolism in the images guarding them throughout life.
Fact 2
African body art were never meant to be merely drawings for bodily decoration. They are drawn so that the wearer of the art can take on an almost Supernatural state. Given the term scarification, represent a way for the wearer to appear more than human.
Fact 3
African scarification or tattooing, often uses symbols that reflect the wearers character, and is used as proof of courage and braver; which are the things one needs to undergo the painful application of the body art.
Fact 4
The first African tattoo found was dated back to a mummy in 1994 BC, although it is estimated that there are tattoos dating back to 2000BC; and images showing Egyptian High Priestesses with tattooed arms have been found.
Fact 5
There is a type of body art that is done by those in Africa whose skin is generally too dark for regular tattoo coloration to appear. It is called cicatrisation and it works by opening a small part of the skin to create a designed wound. They then rub ash into the wound so that when it heals, it results in a permanent raised scar.
For anyone considering getting flower tattoos, there are a number of resources out there to utilize in your search. You might think you want a black rose for example, but it is important that you find out that the black rose stands for death. Learn more about how flower tattoos are designed and what they represent below.
When you first start choosing your flower tattoo styles, you should learn what your tattoo is going to say. Here are a few of the more popular flowers that people get inked to their bodies and what they tend to mean:
• Roses - Roses are generally considered a romantic flower, but when you combine them with other colors they start to take on new meanings. Yellow roses are full of joy where as orange roses are passion and black roses are death.
• Lilies - Lilies are a sign of purity and renewal, a spring flower that is often associated with religion and birth.
• Daffodils - Daffodils can mean a great number of things, from the beginning of a relationship to the culmination of a great deal of hard work and effort on your part in a beautiful thing.
• Hibiscus - Hibiscuses represent all the beauty and joy in the world and tend to have a great deal of lesser meanings depending on who wears them.
• Lotus - The lotus stands for eternal peace and serenity and is an eastern symbol of religious learning and spirituality.
When you learn the differences between the types of flower tattoos you give yourself a great deal of leeway to get started in the process of choosing what your tattoo will look like. Just make sure to research, be sure of your final decision and check with the tattoo artist before mixing other imagery into your flower tattoo, lest you create something that has even further alternate meanings that what you intended.
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?
The world of tats is such that ink is so popular these days that not even a Great Recession can slow the momentum down. This will not always be the case, but it is still pretty amazing to see these days.
Friendship Tattoo Designs - Finding Galleries Packed With Great Art
Executive summary about tattoo designs By Adam Woodham
There's a sad trend starting to grow, and it is keeping people away from crisp, well drawn friendship tattoo designs. It's just that these types of tattoos are usually very personal, and they deserve the absolute best artwork imaginable. With the following info, you do not have to sift through 1000's of generic friendship tattoo designs, like the average person does.
So much of this could be avoided if they knew how to pin point the galleries that post original, high quality friendship tattoo designs. Most people never find these superb places, though, because they are extremely reliant on search engines.
It's just a never ending listing of generic laced galleries. Who wants generic friendship tattoo designs that 400 other people have inked on their skin? Most general forums have monstrous archives, which are packed with hundreds of various topics on tattoos. It is always a bigger subject. It's fast and you get such informative posts, such as people sharing their recent findings of amazing art galleries. This is the type of well run gallery that posts fresh, original friendship tattoo designs.
Locating a Good Male Tattoo - Bypassing Cookie Cutter Art
Executive summary about tattoo By Adam Woodham
It's not just about finding one good male tattoo. It's about finally pulling up galleries that actually take pride in posting original, high quality art. Those places can be impossible to find if you search the wrong way. I'll show you the right way to look for a male tattoo, ensuring that you locate tons of superb artwork.
If you are like most guys, you've been spending quite a bit of time staring at pages full of cookie cutter junk when looking for tattoos. It's quite simply a terrible way to find decent male tattoo designs. It's been years since search engines pulled up good lists of galleries.
All they pull up nowadays are these generic laced places that could care less that their database only has 1000's of cookie cutter designs. It's getting out of hand, because these thoughtless galleries are popping up like wild fire, which pushes the better, higher quality places out of the search results. You can still easily find those better galleries that are posting fresh, well drawn male tattoo designs.
If you can stick with the bigger forums for this, you will be well on your way to bundles of sensational artwork. The reason they work so well is because they have one monstrous section, where you can quickly pull up hundreds upon hundreds of topics on tattoos. Skim just a portion of the topics and you'll encounter all sorts of info, including posts where tons of guys share their findings of fantastic galleries.
Body Art Tattoos are catching on like a new fad among younger people today. Celebrities, Rock Stars, and Sports heroes are sporting more visible Tattoos now than any other cultural icon save the Military. Changing your personal body image with Piercings and Tattoos has become so commonplace as to loose the social stigma that had once been placed upon such body art by society. No longer seen to be a negative image only found on sailors and natives of third world countries.
A quality Tattoo Finder can mean the difference between seeing boat loads of generic, cookie cutter designs and seeing fresh, high quality, unique Tattoo Designs. I have witnessed many people sift through cookie cutter designs so numerous as to be the only wallpaper in a studio. Poster displays hanging from every wall showing the same images found in every other studio with a few personal designs from the Tattooist mixed in to show variety. Changing your body image with a Body Art Tattoo should be a unique and personal experience to be thought out over the course of a few weeks to months. A Body Art Tattoo may well be with your body 5000 years from now and should reflect who you are and not just "I'll take that one".
Body Art Tattoos are much more than just a way to rebel against society, your family or whomever you you feel is oppressing you. Body Art Tattoos should be something that people meticulously plan for not simply rushed into.
As any true tattoo enthusiast knows, tattoo art can have some of the best artistic vision in the world. Tattoo artists seem to have a skill at creating body art that goes beyond the sketch and transforms the skin into something that deserves to be admired. From the basic butterfly to the detailed skulls and snakes, tattoo artists are some of the most finely skilled individuals in the world.
That is why when looking for tattoo designs it can help to also see pictures of tattoos, so that you can get your own inspiration to bring to your tat designer.
Online Tattoo Design Databases
One of the best places to find tattoos is an online tattoo design database, where you can get access to thousands of different tattoo designs to see which type is right for you. However, sometimes it takes more than just viewing a sketch to make a decision about which tattoo to get. Sometimes it helps to see pictures of tattoos, so that you can see what that art looks like on a person's body, as well as which designs look best for which skin type.
Luckily, some of these databases have pictures of tattoos, so that you can view tattoo designs that people have already gotten onto their skin. TattooMeNow, for example, is a tattoo database that also features a member gallery, where you can view pictures of tattoos in order to see what looks best when it is finally added onto the skin.
While not every database has pictures of tattoos like TattooMeNow, you can often find these photos online on various galleries.
Viewing Photos Before Getting Inked
It is always a good idea to check out as many tattoos as possible before deciding on which one you are going to get on your skin. However, it is also a good idea not just to rush to the parlor as soon as you find one you like - it is also beneficial to check out how the tattoos actually look on people that have gotten them done in order to make sure that the artistic vision of the design transfers well onto skin. Once you have managed to see both, you will know whether or not that particular design is right for you.
Executive summary about back tattoo design By Heston Prim
Arguably tattoos on the lower back are the most popular of all today. Women mostly search for tattoo designs online and lower back tattoo designs are also predominantly worn by women. This intimate location for tattoo designs gives you wide room for self-expression. Lower back tattoos look stunning when done right.
Pictures of lower back tattoo designs can be easily found online. By simply typing "lower back tattoo designs" into your favorite search engine, you will find many examples of both free and for sale tattoo designs. Tribal tattoo designs are often used on the lower back. Other popular lower back designs include celtic, butterfly, flower, and dragon tattoos. A combination of any of the designs mentioned can also create a uniquely beautiful lower back tattoo. Any v-shaped tattoo design can make a beautiful presentation on your lower back.
Placement of Lower Back Tattoo Designs
An offensive and derogatory term for a lower back tattoo is the "tramp stamp". Tattoos on the lower back often have symbolism and meaning to the owner. Sometimes tattoo designs in this area are for sensual purposes.
Lower back tattoos draw attention to that area of the wearers body.
Lower Back Tattoo Designs Important Tips
Remember to dress appropriately to give your tattoo artist room to work on your lower back area. Celebrities With Lower Back Tattoo Designs
Many celebrities have lower back tattoos these days. Anna Kournikova has a large star tattoo design on her lower region. Even Julia Roberts put a butterfly tattoo on her lower back area.
Lower Back Tattoo Designs For Women
Executive summary about back tattoo designs By Alice Farrell
If there is one part of the body where women opt to have their tattoos inked, it's the lower back. One of the strong reasons why an increasing number of females prefer such a spot is because it represents the sensual self.
A mere glimpse of a nicely inked symbolic design (that suits a lady's personality) on her lower back can be real sexy. Tattoos in this area for women have also zoomed in popularity because they want to imitate some famous actresses.
Women are also inclined to favor the lower back because body art placed in that erogenous zone may be conveniently hidden in certain situations (like the corporate setting). For some people who are pondering on going for one of the many artistic lower back designs for women, the pain that may accompany the tattooing process comes into the picture.
Online discussions reveal that most people who have had lower back tats done experienced tolerable pain.
What is important is that those who are getting tats seek a good and reliable tattoo artist who may even recommend nice lower back designs. For women, symbolic designs of varying sizes abound. The options may range from butterfly to tribal, floral & hearts, to many other interesting designs that can accentuate a woman's curvy figure.
Executive summary about Free Tattoo Designs by Susan Olofsson
Do you really want a "free" tattoo design? If you look through all of the free tattoo sites, you might be able to find a tattoo design that will suit your needs. There are SO many free tattoo design sites out there, that you could literally spend weeks searching through them all.
Generally, the free sites have tens of thousands of designs. If you are looking for a simple basic design, you will probably have a pretty good chance of finding it on the "Free Tattoo" sites. Check out all the "free" sites. Also, go to your local tattoo shop and check out the designs on the wall and in their books. The nice thing about the membership sites is that they always have fresh tattoo designs. These sites encourage artists to submit designs and if accepted the artist earns a fee. What a great way to get top tattoo designs! Membership sites also give you the ability to change the size of the tattoo flash. Not sure where to find a great tattoo artist? The really good membership sites also give you a list of great tattoo artists by state. Wherever you choose to get your tattoo design, make sure it is the absolute best you can afford. So yes, you can get a free tattoo design but does it really make sense?
Where to Find Tattoo Designs for Free
Executive summary about Tattoo Designs By Chess McDoogle
You also want to find a design you can use for free. There are free tattoo designs you can find in the following places:
1. Tattoo parlor/Tattoo books. Of course you can find your design in a tattoo parlor and use it for free, but many times much of the selection are generic designs and you really have to sift through for the design you're looking for. Ask if they have a specific book by any of the individual tattoo artists in the shop. Many times the artists themselves will have original, high quality designs they have drawn and are more than willing to have you tattooed with them.
2. Internet. This can be a real rough tattoo design search, having to sift through all the usual designs you've seen a thousand times already. Unfortunately that consists of the bulk of free tattoo designs on the internet.
3. Tattoo membership websites. While you have to sign up and join, what you get in return is access to thousands of pretty amazing and unique tattoo designs that you likely won't find anywhere else, and you'll be able to use any of the designs for free.
