Succulent tattoos are some of the fastest growing plant and flower designs and are often linked to the concept of enduring love. At one stage there were only cactus tattoos, but the popularity and higher visibility of hardy succulents for plant growers and ink collectors means these plants are a worthy subject for cool ink. Succulents are primarily known for...
Alongside the words “smile now, cry later,” the smiling and weeping pair of theater masks are common design examples of the quintessentially Chicano tattoo. When Freddy Negrete first inked a “smile now, cry later” tattoo dedicated to the hard faces Mexican Americans had to wear in difficult circumstances, it is doubtful he knew how profound the impact would be. Smile...
"You know, if you're lonely you feel you've been done down, it's nice to have 'And Still I Rise.'" - Maya Angelou Still I Rise script tattoos are extensions of the powerful 1978 poem by late African American poet Maya Angelou. While Angelou wrote of her harrowing personal background and the African American experience in the US, her poem’s message...
The triangle tattoo idea includes links to Christianity, old symbols such as the Valknut and Triquetra, and a whole host of geometric ink design styles flowing from simple or solid, to amazingly intricate pieces. There are numerous religious and cultural connotations and multiple meanings linked to triangle ink in both European and American tattoo subculture, while also being linked to...
The water lily is a unique and elegant ornamental plant belonging to the family Nymphaeaceae. Water lilies, which are a water-growing plant that can bloom in mud, are the July birth flower and a popular motif for colorful and intricate tattoo art. In Buddhism, the water lily symbolizes enlightenment for its ability to bloom from the mud, while for Hindus...
The 2017 movie adaptation of Stephen King's It laid the freak show on heavy. Bill Skarsgard’s portrayal of Pennywise the Dancing Clown stole the film and his slinking murderous clown provides a brilliant catalyst for horror ink. Pennywise tattoo ideas come mostly from the most recent film, in hyper-realistic cinematic form, cartoon caricature, or even abstract artistic interpretations. Fans of...
“Hakuna Matata means no worries… it’s a problem-free philosophy.” Hakuna Matata tattoos are reminders that going with the flow and taking life as it comes to you is a great way to get through. As the father of small children, I’ve heard Timon and Pumba’s song from The Lion King on countless occasions. It’s quality life advice in a stressful...
The triskelion is an ancient symbol that remains popular with tattoo lovers on every continent. The word triskelion comes from the Greek meaning “three-legged,” but the symbol of three interlocking spirals moving outward from a center point is much older than that recorded in language. The major interpretations of the triskelion include concepts of life, death, and rebirth; the mind,...
The Peach is not only a great tasting and sweet piece of fruit, it’s now a popular choice for quality tattoo designs. While many peach tattoos stick with the traditional orchard fruit - etched in either classical black and gray or contemporary realistic color - there’s also a school of design reveling in humor and a sense of the absurd....
Winnie the Pooh is one of the most beloved book and animation characters in the world, and a popular theme for use in contemporary tattoo art. The bear with no pants, known also as Pooh Bear or just Pooh, is a teddy bear created by author A. A. Milne and illustrator E. H. Shepard in 1921. The major theme of...
