Dragon Tattoo

Dragon tattoos come in many different shapes, styles and sizes, but they all have certain things in common. The dragon tattoo, popular with both men and women, sends a solid message without the need to be formidable (although it certainly can be). Many dragon tattoos are designed to be spiritual, and to send a message of intelligence and compassion.

The word dragon comes from 2 Greek words:

• Drakon: meaning a very big serpent.
• Drakein: meaning I see clearly.

The dragon is a mythological creature that is both fearsome and beautiful, and is the subject of folklore around the world. It is a formidable creature, usually seen as a winged or scaly beast with enormous claws that can emit fire from its mouth. In the Western world, dragons are often seen as mean or scary, but Asian dragons carry a different message.

Dragon tattoos and dragon art in general don't all convey the same meaning. Dragons are part of the myths of many different cultures and in each culture it has its unique set of characteristics and meanings.

Chinese and Japanese dragon tattoos are very popular, but there are many other designs of dragon tattoos, all of which appeal to a wide variety of people. Today's tattoo artists create dragon tattoo art that can look traditional or modern, tribal or realistic, sweet (baby dragon), charming or terrifying. Some dragon tattoo designs are relatively small, while others are full sleeve or large enough to wrap around the trunk of the body. The dragon tattoo is a strong image and sends a strong message.

Japanese Dragon Tattoos:

The dragon is an important part of Japanese mythology. In Japan, the dragon is seen as a water deity (that's why Japanese dragon tattoos often include clouds).

Japanese dragons have the following characteristics:

• No wings
• Serpentine-like
• The head of a camel
• Scales of a carp
• The paws of tiger
• Claws like an eagle
• Japanese dragons often have long whiskers
• Sometimes they have a jewel under the chin.

Other interesting aspects of the Japanese dragon includes the fact that many in Japan believe that the first emperor of Japan was somehow descended from a dragon, giving it a position of high respect in Japanese culture. Dragons are often used in Japanese art to represent protection of the imperial family. The Japanese dragon tattoo represents:

• Power
• Family
• Protection of family and home
• Longevity

• No wonder the dragon tattoo is a popular Yakuza (Japanese Mafia) design. There are many types of Japanese dragons, including:
• Sui-Riu the king dragon who controls the rain.
• Han-Riu the biggest dragon, has stripes on his body
• Ka-Riu a smaller red dragon
• Fuku-Riu the dragon of luck

Japanese dragon tattoos are often combined with other design elements like koi fish, cherry blossom, clouds, Japanese characters, a tiger, flames, a pearl, water, the yin yang symbol, a fairy. The design in this picture is an interesting combination of black and white dragon head with a koi body.

Chinese Dragon Tattoos:

The dragon has long represented mystery and power in China. Although dragons often have been represented in a negative way, Asian dragon tattoos and particularly Chinese dragon tattoos represent:

• Intelligence
• Good luck
• Strength
• Health
• Harmony
• Benevolence

Dragons have a Yang (male) nature and are associated with the number 9, a lucky number in China because it is the biggest possible single number.

• A horned dragon tattoo the wearer choose to be mighty in their actions or words.
• The earth dragon rules the earth and sends a message of connection to the earth or land.
• The yellow dragon a hornless dragon known for scholarly knowledge.
• The celestial dragon protects the Gods. Many people with strong spiritual beliefs choose the celestial dragon to share those beliefs and confirm their own spiritual path. It's one of the most popular tattoo dragons.

European Dragon Tattoos:

Dragons are an important part of the world of mythology, folklore and fairy tales in (medieval) Europe. European dragons are quite different from Asian dragons, though they are recognizably the same creature.

The fairy tale dragon may be on its own or the dragon tattoo may be accompanied by other associated images think knights or fairies for example. The lines are likely to be finer, with intricate detailing. These dragon tattoos make a beautiful and striking visual image.

The appearance of European dragons:

• Wings growing on its back (that look like the wings of a bat). Most oriental dragons don't have wings.
• Usually has a long tail.
• 2 or 4 legs
• Lives in a cave or underground lair. The European dragon is linked to the element earth
• Most European dragons are malevolent

Germany, in particular, has a long history of featuring dragons as representative of greed (the dragons will often be seen guarding treasures). The word for dragon in German mythology is worm, specifically relating to a serpent or a snake. Even though the dragon is often depicted as a winged creature, in German mythology it's often depicted as living underground or in a dark lair.

Dragons also take their place in Celtic mythology. The red dragon in particular is associated with the Britons (the Welsh) and the white dragon with the Saxons. The red dragon is one of the few European benevolent dragons.

In ancient Roman times, the dragon was a mix of Greek dragons and Asian dragons, creating an interesting blend of Western and Eastern influences.

Heart Tattoo

Heart tattoos, just like star tattoos, have always been popular, and we usually associate them with the old school Sailore Jerry flash type of tattooing. The heart symbol can have a lot of meaning the most obvious one being LOVE.

Here's the typical scenario:
A couple wanting to express undying love for one another, get matching heart tattoos with each others names written across the heart image, perhaps on a sort of banner. Flames or rose may be used to further embellish the heart tattoo image. A few years later, when the couple go their separate ways, each is left with an indelible reminder and a dilemma regarding what to do with it. Some people opt to get their heart tattoo designs filled in to obscure the name others opt for tattoo removal.

Still others decide that it's part of their history they'll just have to live with. In any case, heart tattoos and love tattoos have been the cause of embarrassment and regret. The combination of heart tattoos with the word Mom in the center. Later, during World War II soldiers wore heart tattoos with the name of their girlfriend or wife. In both cases they acted as a kind of lucky charm

Besides love, the heart as a symbol has other meanings as well: 

The soul people used to believe that the heart is the location of the human soul. In many religions, the heart has a mystical importance. Christians believe it is the seat of emotions and Islam sees the heart as the spiritual center. In Ancient Egypt myths, the heart was weighed against the feather of Ma'at (the ancient Egyptian goddess of truth) Where the actual shape of the heart symbol comes from is another matter. It doesn't really look like a human heart, more like a cow's heart (historically, people saw a lot more cow hearts than human hearts). The heart shape as we know it probably comes from the shape of the female buttocks or breasts. It could also be a stylized depiction of two people kissing. The heart is such a powerful and universal symbol that it's unlikely heart tattoos will ever disappear entirely.

Heart Tattoo Designs:
Nowadays, the symbol has become considerably more versatile, with less potential for embarrassment and there is a big variety of tattoo designs:

The Tribal Heart: a heart tattoo done in simple black lines, with no names mentioned is timeless and classy. There are many varieties of tribal heart tattoos. The second Heart tattoo: the second heart is usually depicted as a flaming heart surrounded by thorns. This Christian symbol stands for the heart of Jesus Christ and the divine love for humanity. Sacred heart tattoos express the wearer's devotion to Jesus Christ.

•  The Pierced Heart Tattoo:  a heart  pierced by an arrow stands for romantic love. Cupid ( a cherub) shoots people to make them fall in love.

• Rose Heart Tattoo: hearts and rose are an obvious combination, both being a symbol of love.
• The broken heart tattoo: usually signifies the loss of someone or reciprocated love.
• Bleeding Heart Tattoo: has the same meaning as broken heart tattoos.

The Claddagh Heart: the claddagh is a beautiful symbol that comes from 17th century Ireland. You many have seen the more common ring version but the images translate very well into tattoo art. The Claddagh heart is a composition consisting of a heart with a hand on either side, and a crown on top of it. The hands denote friendship, the heart love, and the crown loyalty. Women in Ireland would wear the Claddagh ring in their right hand with the heart facing outward when they were available then turn it inward when they were betrothed. A Claddgh ring on the left hand means that the woman is happily married.

The Realistic Heart: some heart tattoos display a more realistic human heart, complete with veins. This certainly adds some edge to heart tattoo designs The Celtic Heart Tattoo: aka the love knot tattoo. The Celtic heart tattoo stands for a union of souls. Heart with Wings tattoos: a heart tattoo with wings may have several meanings perhaps love has flown away or loved one has died. On the other hand it could also mean that one is a free spirit. The Heart and Dagger Tattoo: a heart and dagger tattoo can mean lost love or betrayal. The Heart Lock Tattoo: the heart and lock stand for eternal love. Usually partners have a matching tattoo, one has the lock, the other key. In short, heart tattoos are unusually eloquent and expressive tattoo images, which accounts for their continued popularity despite the fact that they are sometimes considered cheesy or overly sentimental!

Celebrities With Heart Tattoos:

• Hearther Locklear: actress with a heart and rose tattoo on her ankle.
• Lindsay Lohan: has a small heart on her hand.
• Courtney Love: singer, has a fairy tattoo combined with 2 hearts.
• Rob Lowe: actor with a small heart on his shoulder.
• Jennifer Aniston: actress with a small heart tattoo on her shoulder (done for Friends).
• Billy Joe Armstrong: vocalist and guitarist for green day, has a very small black heart tattooed.
• Pete Doherty: has a heart with the letter K on the inside (for Kate Moss) on his left shoulder.
• Kate Moss: has a very small heart tattoo on her left hand.
• Lady Gaga: has a heart tattoo with the word DAD in it. This tattoo is dedicated to her father who had open heart surgery.

•  Minnie Driver: actress with a heart and dagger tattoo on her left arm.

• Faith Evans: singer with a heart (Faye & Todd).
• Eve: rapper with a heart tattooed on her foot.
• Melanie Griffith : actress, has a heart tattoo on her ankle, done in Tahiti for her 60th birthday.

Tiger Tattoo

Tiger tattoos are a common choice, a combination of beauty and strength. Tigers are the king of animals and a popular symbol in the Eastern world.
Tiger tattoo art can have the following symbolic meaning (besides your own):

    Power and might.

    Pride and beauty.

    Passion and sensuality.

    Cruelty and violence.

    Purity and courage.

    In Japan, the samurai used the tiger as an emblem, for obvious reasons.

    Tiger images and statues are used to ward off evil spirits and bring luck to families and businesses.

    In some cultures, tigers are believed to punish sinners.

 This being said, ask yourself the question why you would want a tiger tattoo. Tiger tattoos, and especially tribal tiger tattoos, are or have been (90s) very popular, please don't get one because it's fashionable.
Does the animal have a special meaning to you? If so, tiger tattoo designs might be a good choice for you, but if not, drop the idea.
Usually a tattoo of a tiger is quite large because of the nature of the image.If you don't have a tiger in your heart, you might start regretting your tattoo some day (and let me tell you, tattoo removal is not easy, nor cheap on such a large tattoo).
Think before you ink, don't go to the tattoo parlor and buy the first tattoo design you kind of like, tattoo art is supposed to stay on your body forever.
Tribal Tiger Tattoos:
The geometric shapes and swirls of the tribal tattoo style work very well on tiger tattoos. The natural stripes on a tiger's coat, as well as the action with which the cat moves lend themselves well to be stylized in the tribal style.
Celebrity Angelina Jolie has got a cool tribal tiger tattoo. The 12-inch long Bengal tiger is situated on her lower back and was done in Bangkok (Thailand) by tattoo artist Sompong Kanhphai. It took 2 hours to complete and was done in the traditional Thai way with a manual needle.

White Tiger Tattoos:
Only one white tiger was ever found in the wild. He was captured and brought to the United States where he was bread to a normal colored tiger. When she did not produce white cubs, they bred him to his daughter. This resulted in a white colored cub, and every white tiger seen since then has been a direct result of inbreeding.
Inbreeding often results in stillborn cubs, premature birth, cleft palate, and they often miss things as vital as the roof of their mouth. All white tigers are cross eyed and so are handicapped by default.
White tiger tattoos could symbolize the fact that you are someone special, one of a kind. Knowing the information above though, why would you want a white tiger tattoo? 
The Siberian Tiger Tattoo:
The largest (and one of the rarest) of all tiger species, with males reaching over ten feet from nose-tip to tail-tip, the Siberian tiger haunts the forests of Southeastern Russia and parts of China.
 Perilously close to extinction, only a few hundred of these majestic animals remain in the wild. Tiger tattoos depicting the Siberian tiger are symbolic in and of themselves -- power unmatched. In many Eastern mythologies, tigers are considered the kings of all beasts, much like the lion; tigers and tiger tattoos often represent royalty and mystique.
The most popular spots for a tiger tattoo:

    The back: tiger tattoos are usually large in size, the back has got plenty of space.

    The legs: a tiger crawling up your leg is a popular tattoo design.

    Upper arm: also a good place for a crawling tiger tattoo.

Star Tattoo

Star tattoos are very popular tattoo designs for women as well as men. They are popular as a first tattoo because star tattoos are usually small in design and they don't have to be very complicated, a simple black star tattoo can be very striking.

Read on and be inspired by our star tattoo ideas. There are many variations of star tattoos and many claim that these images have a powerful symbolic or metaphysical meaning. In fact, the star is one of the oldest symbols and a significant image in many religions and belief systems.
Stars have always been awe inspiring, even today, when we have science to help us understand what they are. Before modern times, humans looked up at the sky and tried to explain that magnificent view with the help of mythology and religion. That's why stars and star tattoos became such a powerful symbol. Stars are universal symbols, not tied to a specific religion or culture, and can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people.

Shooting Star Tattoos:
Shooting star tattoos are a very popular image, being versatile and pretty. They are suggestive of wishes coming true. A shooting star tattoo can incorporate a 'trail' of smaller area but still remain subtle. Shooting star tattoos are also a symbol for (short-lived) success and good luck.

Nautical Star Tattoos:
The nautical star tattoo is the most masculine design amongst star tattoos. Nautical star tattoos are considered old school. In the early days of tattooing, they used to be popular amongst sailors, who had them for guidance and protection. Sailor Jerry is a famous tattoo artist from those days. The nautical star is a 5 pointed star, the point are split in half and filled with an alternating color (usually black-red or black-white), creating a 3d illusion.

Sailors used stars and the North Star for navigation, so it's not hard to see why so many of them have star tattoos. They function as a guide to get them back home safely. Soldiers have them for the same reason. Swallow tattoos also have a similar kind of nautical history. Also today, people have star tattoos for similar reasons, you can rely on them when you are lost in your life, the are a light in the darkness.
In Ireland the nautical star tattoo has a special meaning in the gay and lesbian community. Some gay and lesbian people have a nautical star tattooed on their wrist as a sign of their disposition. The wrist is a place that can easily be covered by wearing a watch or a bracelet. Curiously, many celebrities have a star tattoo on their wrist.

The Star of David Tattoo:
Some star tattoos also have a religious meaning, like a Star of David tattoo. The star of David, a Jewish symbol, is a 6 pointed star and symbolizes the rule of god over the universe and his protection from all directions.

Moon Star Tattoos:
Moon star tattoos are just what they sound like they combine a moon and star image, the standard representation of the night sky. Some of these have a slightly fairy tale look, like an image from a child's picture book. Others are more stylized.

These and other star tattoos can incorporated into a tribal style tattoo design. In fact, sometimes a star shape is open to interpretation more of a stylized star shaped tattoo design. Moon star tattoos don't have the deep symbolic meaning the other star tattoos have, but they can be very beautiful designs.

The 56 Star Girl:
A 18 year old Belgian girl called Kimberley got world famous in a couple of days because of her tattoo story, that goes like this:

Kimberley went to a local tattoo artist because she wants 3 colored dots tattooed on her face. The tattoo artist convinces her to have 3 stars instead of dots. What follows is a bit unclear, but she claims she fell asleep or passed out anyway, when she wakes up she discovers she has 56 stars on the left side of her face. Very strange story, why would a tattoo artist do such thing anyway and how can you fall asleep while having a tattoo? Some people say the whole story is a hoax orchestrated by a local radio station.....
Update: Kimberley confessed off camera that she didn't fall asleep and that she made up the whole story because she was afraid of her father's reaction. She wanted the stars tattoo and actually liked it in the beginning. She is now having the tattoo removed, a process that will take about 2 years, but should bring her face in the original condition. She says she wants to keep the stars above her eyes.

Butterfly Tattoos

Butterfly Tattoos are primarily female tattoos and they come in a great variety of shapes and size. Insects are not the most popular tattoo design, except for butterflies and dragonflies. Butterfly tattoos are the 4th most popular tattoo design after tribal, star and cross tattoos and they are probably the most popular feminine design. The Butterfly tattoo is pretty and feminine without being overly flowery or sentimental. Butterflies have always been an inspiration for visual arts, such as the hieroglyphics of Ancient Egypt a couple of thousand years ago. Butterfly tattoos are a good choice for a first tattoo because the design doesn't need to be big to be striking. A small butterfly tattoo (life sized or smaller) on an ankle or shoulder can be a pretty and graceful accent to your natural beauty. Butterfly tattoos can have a lot of meanings, depending on the person or culture. Here's an overview:

Often a butterfly tattoo is a symbol of rebirth and transformation. the ugly and slow caterpillar transforms inside its cocoon to the beautiful creature that a butterfly is. Having a tattoo of a butterfly symbolizes a new life, a new beginning after having gone through some rough times.
Delicate beauty: a butterfly is small and very delicate, but also very colorful and full of beautiful details. On the other hand, it is not so delicate like most people think: country to the widespread belief you can't  kill a butterfly by touching its wings.
A butterfly tattoo can be a symbol of freedom.  In some cultures, like the Christian, the butterfly symbolizes a person's soul. The Greek word for butterfly for example, also means soul. In Japan they believe that if a butterfly flies into your guestroom, the person you love the most will come to you soon. Also in Japan, a large swarm of butterflies is seen as a bad omen. The Russian word for butterfly resembles the word for grandmother. In China, two butterflies fluttering together are a symbol for love. In some cultures it means good luck when a butterfly lands on you. Imagine the luck you'll be having when you have one on you permanently. The phrase having butterflies in your stomach is a way of saying you are in love (or just very very nervous). For the ancient Aztecs, butterflies were the souls of deceased warriors or women who died while giving birth. For some people a butterfly means peace. And for some people the butterfly resembles a woman's genitals.

The Tribal Tattoo:
Butterfly tattoo combine well with tribal elements, especially on the lower back because of the symmetrical nature of a butterfly. Tribal butterfly tattoos are often black, or a combination of a colored butterfly with black tribal swirls. Another option is to stylize the butterfly itself, like these tattoo designs:
Lower Back Butterfly Tattoo:
Lower back butterfly tattoos are usually larger, more stylized butterfly images that stretch across the lower back, one of the most popular places to get a tattoo nowadays (but also known as a tramp stamp). Actually, butterfly tattoos lend themselves very well to this location. The butterfly image is very symmetrical, so the middle can easily be lined up with the spine, the wigs extending on either side. This makes the butterfly wings longer and more stretched out than they would out than they would be in nature, but the image can be very attractive.
Celtic Butterfly Tattoos:
Celtic butterfly tattoos depict the butterfly using much bolder lines for maximum impact. Butterfly tattoos done in this style incorporate the Celtic design in one of several ways a Celtic border might surround the butterfly image, or the butterfly's wings might be filled in with Celtic artwork. The spirals and knot-work that make up traditional Celtic art come across very well in tattoos and works very well in combination with a butterfly design.

History Of Tattoo Arts

There are few art forms have been around for as long as tattooing in fact, some anthropologists claim that the history of tattoos may date back as long as 15,000 years. Certainly, we know that many of the ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, used tattooing techniques. There are mentions of tattooing in the Bible, indicating that it was practiced among the ancient peoples of the Middle East as well. However, the remarkable thing about the history of tattoos is not just the length of time that humans have practiced it, looking at the history of body tattooing; we cannot help but be struck by how widespread this tradition was. Apparently, decorating the body in this permanent way is an almost universal impulse spread over a lot of different cultures.

Tribal Tattoo:
When relating the long history of tattooing, it's hard to know where to start. Around 2000 BCE tattooing had a cultural significance in places as diverse as China, Crete and Arabia. Among tribeswomen in Borneo, a tattoo on the forearm indicated that woman's special skills.
Among the Maori of New Zealand, in intricate tribal tattoo designs had a sacred significance. The Greeks and Romans used tattoos for a different purpose to show criminal or slave status. This is a concept that we could call the 'dark side' of tattoo history that fact that body tattooing has been used in certain times in history, to indicate an inferior status. This is relatively unusual and in most cultures, tattoo art is a symbol of status or accomplishment.
The people of the Americas also practiced tattooing the Maya and Inca people were adept in tattooing techniques, as were the Inuit of Alaska. And while we may not be accustomed to thinking of Europeans in terms of 'tribes' it was not too long ago when the people practiced tattooing as well. However, following the Dark Ages in Europe, the people organized themselves into nations and tattooing became an all but forgotten art, only to be rediscovered during the course of eighteenth century exploration.

The New Tattoo Art:
In the early 1700s, the history of tattoos took a new twice. Captain Cook visited the South Pacific Islands and brought back with him an intricately tattooed young girl named Onai.
Instantly, tattoo designs become a hit, and many members of nobility obtained discreet, private tattoo art. For a brief time, tattooing then a costly, lengthy procedure became a status symbol. This all changed with the introduction of the first electric tattoo needle in 1891. Suddenly, everyone who wanted a tattoo could have one, and the result was that it came to be considered vulgar. This is after all a fairly typical human reaction when something is hard to get us tends to want it more.
After that, tattoo art went underground, so to speak. A facility in New York's Chatham Square brought the practice to the modern American public, but tattooing was considered somewhat disreputable until it made a dramatic comeback a few decades ago. As tattoo designs and safety techniques improved and several prominent celebrities began to sport tattoos, they became desirable once again. Towards the end of the 1800s, criminals in America and even normal citizens were tattooed with a code for identification purposes.