Death Tattoos

Angel of Death Tattoo

Death tattoos have become an integral part of the tattoo subculture. There are countless ways in which depictions of death can be used to create stunning, if somewhat macabre, tattoo designs.

Many people assume that those who get death tattoos are dark and ominous people. Although elements of death certainly appeal to those with dim outlooks, they are also used by many people to create tattoos that represent the cycle of life. To these people, death is simply a part of that cycle, and one that symbolizes an opportunity for new beginnings.

One of the more popular types of tattoos is Death as depicted in Tarot cards. Since there are numerous themed Tarot decks available, tattoos based on the Death card vary considerably in style. The Death Tarot card loosely represents the shedding of old, unproductive ways, and the adoption of new ways, so this type of death tattoo can hold a very personal meaning for its wearer.

Depictions of the grim reaper are also staples of death tattoos. Tattoos of the grim reaper tend to take on more ominous tones, representing death in a literal sense. Grim reaper images are frequently used as part of sleeve tattoos, although they also appear as standalone tattoos.

Other images and symbols are also commonly used in death tattoos. Hourglasses, clocks, and candles can all be used to represent death, as can certain animals, such as crows, bats, and vultures. These images can be used by themselves, or as part of a larger tattoo design.

Some death tattoos are meant as memorials of lost loved ones. These might include images of those lost, or banners displaying their names and dates of birth and death. These are highly personal tattoos, so it is important to consider them carefully before taking a seat in the tattoo artist’s chair.

No matter the meaning, death tattoos are stark, attention-grabbing works of body art that will certainly be noticed.

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Christian Tattoos

Christian Tattoo Designs

The idea of Christian tattoos seems a bit strange to many people, since many subsets of Christianity take a dim view of body art in general. However, Christian tattoos have become quite popular in recent years, especially among those adhering to more permissive principles. For these people, tattoos with Christian meanings can be a great way to express their faith.

Most Christian tattoos are centered around familiar, dogmatic symbols of the Christian religion. The most popular type is the cross. This symbol can be represented in a variety of ways – it can be rendered realistically, fashioned from Celtic knotwork, or shown as a Greek cross, in which all four arms are of equal length. Some people integrate other elements into cross tattoos, such as jewels, rays of light, or even depictions of Jesus being crucified.

Crosses are also used in tattoos signifying rememberance of a lost loved one. Banners bearing the loved one’s name are often placed under or around the cross.

The Ichthus, or “Jesus fish”, is another popular symbol used in Christian tattoos. In its most basic form, the Ichthus is made up of two curved lines that meet at one side and intersect at the other, resembling the outline of a fish More colorful, ornate designs can be used to create a unique and visually appealing Ichthus tattoo.

Other Christian tattoos depict saints and other figures revered in the Christian religion. Mother Mary is a popular choice, particularly among Catholics – she is most often shown praying, and may be depicted with light radiating around her head.

Christian tattoos can be made as personal and unique as the wearer’s faith. Because Christianity has such rich history and symbolism, these tattoos can be rendered in an almost endless variety of ways.

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Chinese Tattoos

Chinese Tattoo Designs

Chinese tattoos and symbols are increasing greatly in popularity. With over 100,000 beautiful and elegant Chinese characters, it is easy to see why so many are choosing Chinese tattoos.

Many people choose to get tattoos of Chinese characters to represent a variety of meanings. Elegantly drawn, Chinese symbols offer a beautiful form of expression for tattoo wearers everywhere.

The most popular Chinese symbols are those for love, peace, strength and happiness. There are also symbols for friendship, harmony, luck, family, and abundance, to name just a few. There are many Internet sites and resources that can help with the meaning and translation of Chinese characters. These symbols, when used in Chinese tattoos, are often inked in solid black. They can be made virtually any size, and can be put anywhere on the body.

Chinese characters can be tattooed alone, or made part of a larger tattoo for further meaning. Chinese symbols can be easily added to cherry blossom, dragon, or Koi designs to complete the overall look and effect of the tattoo.

Another popular Chinese style tattoo is the dragon. The dragon has been revered in Chinese culture for centuries. To the Chinese, the dragon is believed to be highly intelligent, benevolent, and good willed, in contrast to the ferocious fire-breathing dragons depicted in European legend.
Chinese dragon tattoos are often very beautiful and brightly colored. They are most commonly done in shades of red, blue, green, and orange. Colors can be chosen to fit the overall feel and effect desired by the wearer.

Chinese dragons make wonderful large pieces. They can easily be large enough to cover the entire back. Chinese dragon tattoos can also be done in full arm pieces, or wrapped around the leg, arm, waist, or shoulder.

Other popular designs for Chinese tattoos include geishas, cherry blossoms, the Chinese zodiac, the yin-yang symbol, and the lotus flower.

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Celebrity Tattoos

Celebrity Tattoo Designs

With tattoos becoming so popular, it is no surprise that so many celebrities are following the trend and getting tattoos themselves.

Star tattoos are among the most popular for female celebrities, including Pink, Drew Barrymore, Bjork, Kate Hudson, Avril Laviigne, Lindsey Lohan, Brittney Spears, Eva Longoria, Rihanna, Victoria Beckham, Gerry Halliwell, Anna Kournikova, Kelly Osbourne, and Tila Tequila.

Although not as popular among men, some male celebrities can also be found sporting star tattoos, including Aaron Carter and Bruce Willis.

Another popular trend among celebrities is the “famous words” or “quote” tattoo. One example of this trend is Angelina Jolie’s “know your rights” tattoo. Other celebrities with word tattoos include Lilly Allen, Evan Rachel Wood, Rumer Willis, and Lindsey Lohan.

Wrist tattoos are also emerging among many celebrities. This trend can be seen with Ashlee Simpson’s rose wrist tattoo and Rihanna’s Maori-inspired wrist tattoo.

Some of the most popular celebrity tattoos include Rihanna’s spray of stars trailing down the back of her neck and onto her back, and Angelina Jolie’s tattoo that showcases the geographical coordinates of her children’s birthplaces.

Other recently popular celebrity tattoos include Scarlett Johansson’s forearm tattoo, Rumer Willis’s side tattoo that reads “be present”, and Hayden Panettiere’s “Vivere” tattoo located on her lower left shoulder blade.

Many celebrity males have chosen to sport large back tattoos, such as David Beckham with his angel tattoo, and Anthony Kiedis with his tribal back tattoo.

Other celebrity males that are known to sport tattoos include Johnny Depp, Ben Affleck, Orlando Bloom, Billy Bob Thorton, and Robert Downey, Jr.

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Cartoon Tattoos

Cartoon Tattoo Designs

Many people hesitate to get cartoon tattoos because they see them as childish; however, a carefully selected cartoon tattoo can hold great personal significance for the wearer. These tattoos can represent deeper meanings that are highly personal, and can depict an important part of the wearer’s personality.

For some, cartoon tattoos represent an important event or memory. A person may hold a cherished memory of watching a particular cartoon with a loved one as a child, or may remember a cartoon as a welcome break from the pressures of childhood. Others may relate to certain traits of a particular cartoon character. For example, many people see the Tasmanian Devil as a symbol of strength, energy, and unpredictibility.

Anime characters have gained immense popularity as subjects for cartoon tattoos in recent years. The bold lines and sweeping curves used to draw these characters translate well to tattoo art. Also, these characters tend to be quite colorful, so they can be used to create a tattoo that catches the eye, and can be immediately recognized. Anime characters are also often used in conjunction with kanji, as well as other symbols of Japanese culture.

One of the most appealing aspects of cartoon tattoos is that they can be made as large or as small as the wearer prefers. Small, simple tattoos can be placed on the ankle, shoulder, or bicep, making it easy to cover up when the need arises; conversely, cartoon characters, particularly anime characters, can be incorporated into designs that cover the entire back or chest. Cartoon characters have even been used in full tattoo sleeves.

When choosing a cartoon tattoo, it is important to select a character that has personal significance. While choosing a character based on cuteness or trendiness will likely produce future regret, selecting a character that is personally important will not.

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