A thunderstorm tattoo is for the man with the towering presence, the man who changes the air just by walking into the room. The drama and terror of the thunderstorm tantalizes us while making our hair stand on end. That effect can be captured in ink, in a mass of dark clouds, sharply contrasted with spidery bolts of lightning that...
For thousands of years man has inked his flesh with totems representing his most primal qualities: the lion's ferocity, the wolf's loyality, and the fish's spiritual powers, to name a few. From the tribes of the Pacific Islands to those who dwell in the deepest part of the Amazon, the ancient art of tattooing is far from modern, and yet...
In the Poetic Edda's epic poem Fáfnismál, it is proclaimed that: "The Helm of Awe - I wore before the sons of men - In defense of my treasure; Amongst all, I alone was strong, I thought to myself, For I found no power a match for my own." In Norse mythology, the helm of awe--eight spiked tridents radiating from...
Tattoos have come a long way from crude initiation symbols and sailors' fancies; they have developed into a widely respected and revered art form. From intricate works of geometric detail to watercolor inspired masterpieces, the body can be dramatically transformed into a walking work of art with the help of a committed ink artist. What moves you as a man...
A symbol of more than just manual labor, the axe is a representation of the wild world as it was once carved out by man. Chopping wood, tending to the fires, and building his empire from the forest floor up are all poignant connotations carried by the axe. On an even deeper and less obvious level, the axe has also...
Who can help gazing up at the heavens in awe and respect? The swirling constellations, scattering of stars, and planetary orbits have fascinated and inspired man since the beginning of time, and it's no small wonder that such adulation has been transferred to the flesh in the form of tattoo art. It is often said that man's fate was in...
As children we often dreamed of or threatened to run away to join the circus. Something about the colorful and slightly strange life on the road, surrounded by those who never quite fit in, and basking in the nightly applause of visitors from near and far was an irresistible prospect. As we grow older we abandon such fantasies--or do we?...
Good luck symbols aren't just for gamblers and con artists, they have been worn and cherished by men and women the world over for as long as the word "luck" has lingered on the lips of the hopeful. From shamrocks to horseshoes, our lucky symbols reflect more than just our superstitions, but hopes for the future. And if a simple...
The ancient Egyptians created a vast alphabet and vocabulary to interpret their world and the next, with some of the great wonders of the world bearing their scripture. Today many of those symbols have found their way into the world of tattoo art, from the more recognizable Ankh and Eye of Horus to seated gods, sacred animals, and magical instruments....
"Go big or go home" needn't apply in the tattoo world, and some of the most memorable designs are no bigger than the size of a quarter coin. The beauty of true tattoo talent is that it can convey the most expansive messages in the most subtle, and often restricted, of spaces. Many who work in professional environments, or likewise...
