Saturday, July 31, 2010

Kristen's Trilogy of Knots

The 34th Street Platform for the A Train has been very kind to us here at Tattoosday, even more so this summer than in years' past.



Take Kristen, for example. She generously offered up this small portion of her corporeal canvas:





Estimating that she is at least a quarter covered by ink, this "trilogy of knots" was the artist's response to Kristen's request to attach the cobwebs on her elbow to the end of her wrist.



The artist, identified only as "Batman" near Canal and Broadway, was also asked to incorporate a Celtic pattern, as well.



The final result was to Kristen's liking and we here at Tattoosday thank her for sharing the tattoo with all of our readers!

Friday, July 30, 2010

Happy Bloggiversary to Me!

Three years ago today, Tattoosday was born.



On July 31, 2007, I put up a post on BillyBlog, featuring a tattoo on a co-worker named Sephora.



The idea was to post a weekly tattoo on Tuesday, and use this is a vehicle to expand my horizons a bit; meet interesting people and learn about tattoos.



There was one problem. I enjoyed it too much. There weren't enough Tuesdays in the week. I was impatient and wanted to post right away, not wait until Tuesday. And so, as Kurt Vonnegut would say, it goes....



So a month later I threw the previous months post up on the stand-alone blog, Tattoosday. And BillyBlog faded.



It's still there, but Tattoosday is my passion and I couldn't have even imagined, back in 2007, how easy it would become for me to talk to strangers about their ink.



The once-a-week project produced forty-five separate interactions in July, we have a 30-day backlog of material, and this past week we registered our 650,000th hit. Not too shabby.



Go see the original post here to see how far we've come.



And a hearty thanks to all our contributors, all our fans, and all the tattooists out there creating wonderful, interesting, portable art. Without all of you, Tattoosday would have been a blip of an idea, and nothing more.

Nick Remembers Billy, I Remember Siki

My first tattoo was modified from a piece of flash at Body Art Studios by an artist who goes by the moniker "Siki". Shortly thereafter, Siki left the shop and went on his way.



My friend Pete knows who he is but, until recently, I hadn't met anyone with ink from Siki, other than myself.



Then, I met Nick on the R train one day after work and, while discussing his many tattoos (he "lost count after 45," they've all connected) , I heard him talking about Siki.



So today's tattoo is by Siki and was, like my lynx, modified from an old piece of flash. Although he adapted it a lot more fully and developed a more unique tattoo.





Siki and Nick had a mutual friend named Billy, who Nick would often go with to get tattooed. When he passed away, they added Billy's name to the bottom of the tattoo as a tribute to their departed friend.



Thanks to Nick for sharing his tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Jessica's Feather for her Mother

I met Jessica on the express platform at 34th Street earlier this month.



She shared this gorgeous peacock feather tattooed on the upper right section of her back:





The piece is an homage to her mother, who loves everything peacock, and has countless items, like bracelets and other jewelery, that emulate the vivid colors of these beautiful birds.



She credits this tattoo to an artist known only as Allison.



Thanks to Jessica for sharing this wonderful tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

maori tribal tattoos design


maori tribal tattoos design

Michelle's Tattoo Takes Your Breath Away

Michelle has a lot of ink, twenty-one tattoos, all told, but when I stopped her in Penn Station, she chose to share this one with us:





Boldly planted on her upper right arm, Michelle explained that she paraphrased and pared down a longer quotation to read, more simply, "Live for the moments that take your breath away". I believe she was referring to the saying, "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."



The flowers in the photo are cherry blossoms that were done in blue, rather than the traditional pink because, as Michelle tells it, she's "not really a pink kind of girl".





This tattoo was inked by Fat Tony at Hobo's Tattoo Shop in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.



Thanks to Michelle for sharing this tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Tribal Lion Tattoo - Tips For Your New Tattoos



You've decided Texas Handbags want a tribal lion tattoo, but you are unsure Dutch Oven Bag to start. The lion Tan Leather Bags a fantastic and majestic symbol that would make a really great tribal tattoo, but there are many things to consider before you get something that is so permanent inked on your body. If you haven't put much thought into the research for your tribal lion tattoo the end results can be less than Designer Handbag Purse and Graco Doll Stroller Set am sure that is not the effect you are after.

The lion as a mythical symbol dates back thousands of years. A huge number of cultures have used the lion to represent strength, vigor, masculinity, power and dominance. It is also frequently used in Jamaican Free Scrapbook Designs to represent God. How awesome will it feel to show off your conversation piece to friends and family?

Before Plaid Golf Pants this Antiaging Skin Care tattoo, I recommend exploring online tattoo galleries to find a unique piece of artwork. So many free tattoo galleries are outdated and will leave you less than thrilled with the results. Subscribing to a pay online tattoo gallery will give you a leg Similac Formula Coupons Checks 2 5 00 1 2 50 on others who may have already consider getting a tribal lion tattoo as their latest ink. You also want the benefit of having a community of tattoo lovers that can help with your decision to make sure you are not Clearance Dark Red Coral Swarovski Crystal Earrings down the wrong path with your design. Bad tattoos can be very expensive to retouch and fix, so doing the proper investigation beforehand can make the difference between a good tattoo and being unhappy. There is the added benefit of locating a quality local recommended tattoo artist to get your new tribal lion tattoo.

Source...

The Tribal Sun Tattoo Designs




As someone who has tattoos myself, I can fully understand how difficult it can be to choose an appropriate design that you want on your body for the rest of your life. It is difficult to really see something that is of true interest to you, or that best suits exactly why you want your new tattoo. I have sat for hours attempting to decide. Finally though you manage it. Some of the most interesting designs for this are the sun and tribal tattoo designs.

It is sometimes incredibly difficult however to chose between the two. First you can not find any, and then you find two that you like so much you wish you could combine them together. With a pen and paper besides me I have often sketched out the many different tattoos attempting to see how best they fit together, and I am incredibly lucky to have a friend who is an artist to help me out.

If you are not as lucky as I am though, the best thing about tattoo parlours is that quite often they offer the service of creating and drawing tattoos specifically for you. This allows you to have your own original tattoo. But it will come at a small price. Now, finally, you have picked out your tattoo, a combination of a tribal and sun tattoo design.

The sun tattoo design is usually a rather plain design. Most of the time those who do choose to have this will want to customize it in some way, whether this is with a personalized sun design, with a picture within the sun, or with another tattoo, the sun is an easily customizable design which means you can have an original tattoo upon your body.

An excellent one to combine along with the sun tattoo design is a tribal tattoo design. Tribal tattoo designs are often seen as intricately woven, thick black lines, which can be adapted and changed to surround the sun designs, and together the tribal sun tattoo design can be a beautifully created design for you.

Source...

Timmy's Sophisticated Owl

Earlier this month, Melanie and I took advantage of having my sister's car while she was out of the country and we made an unusual shopping trip to the Fairway Market in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn.



There was a gentleman in the produce section with a lot of tattoos, and Melanie pointed out one to me that she thought was cool, this owl on his calf:





Turns out that the guy was Timmy from Timmy Tattoo, an artist whose name rang a distant bell. Work by Timmy appeared in one of Tattoosday's earliest posts, when I met Jackie,an FIT student whose tattoos appeared here.



Timmy's owl was inked by Garrett Ostrowski of Garrett's Tattoos.



Thanks to Timmy for sharing one of his many tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Ordering a Custom Temporary Tattoo For Your Business

Promote your business, entice school spirit, raise money, drive support for a cause; there are many great reasons to get a custom temporary tattoo. While the choice to get a custom temporary tattoo is an easy one, how to order one and what to consider when doing so can be difficult.

Fortunately, this article nails down the 5 elements you need to consider when ordering a custom temporary tattoo. Each element is simple and once you decide upon each you'll be well on your way to custom temporary tattoo success!

5 Elements to Consider When Ordering a Custom Tattoo:

1. The front design
Since the objective behind designing a custom tattoo is to make an impression, you'll want to use your logo or well known symbol. Using a business logo works well for brand building and a well-known symbol is more likely to draw attention and spark interest.

Simple enough; but there are a couple variations you can take advantage of to make your custom tattoos even more successful:

• If you operate a website, incorporate that site's URL on the front of the tattoo with your logo.
• For promoting a cause, start with a well-known symbol (like the pink ribbon or recycling symbol) and add the name of an individual or a meaningful date.

By incorporating your website and taking advantage of a well-known symbol or business logo, you can ensure that you are making the most of every impression your custom temporary tattoos will receive.

2. The back
A little known fact is that the back of the tattoo is just as customizable as the front. Take full advantage of this by including the company address, website and social media information. The majority of promotional, custom temporary tattoos are kept as opposed to worn. People will take them home and throw them on the counter or on a desk or keep them at the office. This turns your custom temporary tattoo into a business card of sorts-but one that stands out.

Information to include on the back of your tattoo:

• Name of your business or organization
• Website URL
• Facebook & Twitter information
• A coupon code or special offer

3. Size
The most popular custom temporary tattoo size is 2"x2". It's small enough that it can be applied and worn easily but large enough to accommodate contact information on the back. Plus, this is just the right size to fit into a wallet or pocket of a purse for easy transport to the home or office.

4. White Effect
When printing a temporary tattoo, there are 3 options regarding white ink: no white, spot white and flood white.

• No White: any areas of the design without color will print without ink, so that the skin shows through those areas
• Spot White: any areas of the design without color will print with white ink, so that that white ink-instead of the skin-shows through those areas
• Flood White: white ink will be printed underneath the entire tattoo, making the colors look more brilliant once transferred to the skin because the layer of white makes the image more opaque

Choosing the white effect for your custom tattoo depends upon your purpose. Do you want the tattoo to be applied to the skin or kept as a promotional product? For the latter, you'll want to go with either spot white or no white because that will look better on the tattoo paper. If it's more important that the tattoo look good once applied, then you want to choose flood white because, even though the tattoo will appear 'milky' on the paper, it will look great on the skin.

Generally, for the purposes of promotional tattoos, no white or spot white is chosen.

5. Quantity
Lastly, you need to determine what quantity you will order. Ordering quality tattoos printed on a press using silk screening technology means a minimum order quantity of 1,000 pieces because of how the machines are set up to run. As with anything else, the more you order, the less expensive each tattoo will be. Most companies offer quantity discounts at 5,000, 10,000, etc. Typically, 1,000 custom temporary tattoos will cost about $90.

So there you have it! The 5 elements to consider when ordering a custom temporary tattoo: design of the front and back, size, white effect and quantity. The custom temporary tattoo is one of the most inexpensive and unique promotional products, and outlining these elements also makes it very easy to order. Get yours today!

Niki's Memorial for Elizabeth

Last week I was down in Chelsea when I spotted Niki from a distance. She appeared to have a colorful Madonna-like tattoo on her right shoulder, so I changed course and caught up to her only to discover this lovely tattoo instead:





This lovely photo was supplied to me by Niki, as my own camera's battery had run out of power and my BlackBerry photo seemed inadequate:





Niki explained that, after her beloved cat Elizabeth passed away, she wanted a memorial tattoo to honor the friend she had for fourteen years.



She went to artist John Reardon, then at Saved Tattoo, and told him she wanted a memorial in the style of the Virgin of Guadalupe, and the look of Mexican shrines and altars.





One can see Reardon hit the ball out of the park, as proven by my mistaking the piece from a distance as a religious icon.



John Reardon is no stranger to Tattoosday. His work has appeared previously here and here.He now works out of his private studio in Brooklyn.



Thanks to Niki for sharing her beautiful tattoo with us on Tattoosday!

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Jim Commemorates a Trip To Greece with His Brothers

I mentioned yesterday that I had gone up to Woodstock on the 4th of July weekend, where I spotted some upstate ink.



At a flea market, I met Jim, who had this amazing tattoo on the back of his calf:





And a wider, three-paneled view:







Jim had gone on vacation to Greece for thirty days with his brothers and he wanted to commemorate the experience.



They had stayed on the island of Ios, and Jim took several photos he had into Jake Parrington at Lowell Ink in Lowell, Massachusetts.



The end result was this amazing tattoo that captures the scene of their vacation. One of Jim's other brothers got the same tattoo. Note the three figures hiking are meant to represent Jim and his two brothers.



Thanks to Jim for sharing this great tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Best Female Japanese Tattoos

http://i922.photobucket.com/albums/ad67/rh344nk/Japanese%20Tattoo/BeautifulFemaleJapaneseTattoo.jpg

Best Female Japanese Tattoo Ideas

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Larry's Tattoo Burns at Both Ends

Occasionally, but not too often, I do venture out of the city to places far, and not so far, away.



Fourth of July weekend, I was up visiting friends in Woodstock, New York.



On July 3, we found ourselves at an outdoor flea market and I met a couple of inked folk, including Larry who has "a lot" of tattoos.



When asked to choose one, he offered up this piece on his forearm:





The image, of a candle burning at both ends, reminds him that life goes by quickly. The "No Tomorrow" is a spin on the carpe diem, or "seize the day" philosophy.





The tattoo was done by JR Maloney at Vanguard Tattoo in Nyack, New York.



Thanks to Larry for sharing his tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Lil' Miss Sunshine

I spotted Christina on a subway platform and she let me take a photo of this tattoo above her outer right ankle once we got on the train:







Our time to chat was limited, so all I learned from Christina was that this was a self-drawn self-portrait that a friend tattooed on her four years ago.



"Lil' Miss Sunshine" is her nickname.And yes, the sun refers to her as "That Crazy Ass Bitch".



Thanks to Christina for sharing this tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Japanese Koi Fish Tattoo - A Lucky Choice

When it comes to favorites with tattoos the Japanese Koi fish tattoo design is a leader. both in beauty and popularity. This design represents Zen and symbolizes ‘Good Luck’. The Japanese draw a parallel between the Koi fish and a Samurai Warrior as they both represent courage, the ability to attain high goals and to overcome life's difficulties. Before rushing off and getting a Japanese Koi fish tattoo you need to consider many factors including the tattoo color, its location on your body and of course any complimentary inclusions.

http://japanese-tattoo.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/japanese-koi-fish-arm-tattoo.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3618/3348124351_106afe071d.jpg

What Color Should You Choose?

When you finally visit the tattoo parlor for your Koi fish tattoo you need to have a clear opinion of the color scheme you want the tattoo drawn in. A very popular color scheme is the time-honored Yen Yang design of black and white. For many of this classical arrangement is a little too conservative and tame and they prefer to choose another more vivid arrangement. For example if you have a dark or olive skin color it may be more appropriate to select a bright hue so the Koi fish tattoo is more noticeable. If you are wanting to go the more traditional style, you may want to choose one of the Koi’s natural colors such as white, red, black, yellow or gold, or perhaps a mixture of those colors.

http://tattoobringer.com/wp-content/gallery/fish-tattoos/koi-fish-tattoo-01_djne.jpg

Ideally it is best to choose a color design that compliments your skin tone. As a suggestion, if you have yellowish tone in your skin it might be more appropriate to have a gold or yellow and red tattoo. If you have pink to your skin, black, white, red, or blue may be the best color selection for your Japanese Koi fish tattoo design.

http://tattoos-and-art.com/wp-content/gallery/koi-fish-tattoos/koi-realistic-l.jpg

Tattoo Positioning

Have you any idea where you intend to position your tattoo? It is recommended that you make sure that your Koi fish tattoo has a place of honor on your body. You must also ensure it is in a place on your body that you can live with. For example, if your work place is of a conservative nature which frowns on employees having ‘out there' body art or has a strict dress code you may not want your tattoo on your hand, face, neck or lower arm where the tattoo is readily visible and almost impossible to camouflage with clothing.

http://th00.deviantart.net/fs40/300W/i/2009/051/8/d/koi_fish_by_JennyPennyPasta.jpg

On the other hand, if you are free to show off your lucky Japanese Koi fish tattoo design, consider placing it on the small of your back, your forearms, around the side of your neck or even swimming around your ankle, as is one of the preferred places for female wearers of the Japanese Koi fish tattoo.

http://tattoobringer.com/wp-content/gallery/japanese-tattoos/draft_lens2144639module12861790photo_1228239417japanese_koi_fish_tattoos_by_desert_koi_fkr_cc.jpg

Koi Tattoo Environments

Once you have decided what your tattoo is going to look like and where it is going to be put, you need to give consideration to what other features you would like to include with the design. A popular and effective addition to the Koi design is a flowing stream, a calm pool or even rocky rapids. Combine your Japanese Koi fish tattoo design with a few unique inclusions such as your favorite Japanese symbol and it will result in a tattoo of high quality that can be cherished throughout the years by both the wearer and the admirers.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Tribal Tattoos - Sexiest Spots For Men to Get Inked



There's something very cool about tribal tattoos that everyone can't help but notice. Maybe it's the free-flowing lines or the intricacy of the designs. Maybe it's the rough elements mixed into the softness of the drawing. Whatever it is, men and women love them and place them all over their bodies.

So we know tribal tattoos can be drawn pretty much anywhere on the body but I want to cover a few of the very sexy spots for every man to consider putting their next tribal tattoo.

Sexy Spots for Men to Get Inked

Tribal tattoos can be put on your greatest features and most defined muscles. There's nothing sexier for a woman than to see body art atop a plump mass of muscle. That is typically why you'll see tribal tattoos wrapped around a man's bicep as an armband. But let's step out of the box here and explore what other sexy spots guys can put their tribal tattoos.

Pectoral muscles

Tattoos can be in a circular pattern on top of this muscle or integrated in a piece that comes over the shoulder and across the pec.

The side of a man's neck

This is VERY sexy because when you have a shirt on, a female will wonder what the rest of the tattoo (and your body) looks like. The neck is a very sexual and sensual part of the body anyway so putting art here is all the more inviting.

Well-defined forearms (bulging veins and all)

You can place a linear tribal tattoo on the underside or top of your forearm. The skin under the forearm is more tender so getting it there may come across as more sexy and daring but another female could have a different opinion so there's no clear cut answer to that spot.

Upper back, across the top of your shoulder blades

If you have nice back and shoulder muscles, you can place a tattoo there that extends over your trapezius muscle or even down your spine. You can also extend the design slightly up the back of your neck for more sex appeal.

Abs

You can get inked on your side, down your ribcage, across your obliques. This is really sexy too if you have the v-cut in your abs.

Basically, if you have a sexy body, strategically placing classic tattoos will only make it sexier. Tribal tattoos can be sized to fit anyone's muscles no matter the size so you don't have to look like Arnold to have a sexy ink job. And remember, "tribal" is a style so you're not limited to any specific design.

Guys, get instant access and view pages and pages of the most unique tribal tattoos imaginable. Don't waste your time looking at generic (far-from-sexy) tattoos that everyone and their mother has seen!

If you're serious about your body art, you'll appreciate the HUGE selection of tribal tattoo designs to choose from and the quality of art showcased.

Tattoo fanatics, tattoo artists, and first-time tattoo getters, we welcome you all! Visit here for instant access!

Source

Pete's Tribute to a Magical Grandfather

Last month, as I wandered despondently down my street, mourning the loss of my camera, I saw Pete standing on his stoop in the afternoon heat, without a shirt. He had a really cool tattoo and I talked to him about it, taking a picture with my BlackBerry.



Alas, the image quality wasn't good enough, I thought, to post here, so I waited until I saw Pete again, almost a month later, when I had my new camera in hand.



So here, without further delay, is Pete's tattoo:





Pete explained that this tattoo is a tribute to his grandfather, a magician who went by the name "The Great Merlini". The tattoo was designed by Kiki at Tattoos by Lou in the South Beach section of Miami, Florida. Pete went to him and explained what he wanted and Kiki drew it up and inked it.



On a sidebar, the Great Merlini wasn't just your run-of-the-mill magician. The man behind the persona was Clayton Rawson (click name for full biography). Rawson wrote four mystery novels that featured the character also known as The Great Merlini. And as this YouTube clip shows, Merlini also was a noted illusionist:







Thanks to Pete for sharing this magical tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Female Wit Butterfly Tattoo Design :Design Of Tattoo

Female Wit Butterfly Tattoo DesignMany women start to get a tattoo inked on their bodies. In the last fifteen years, tattooing has become a symbol of disobedience to the problem and a state of well-loved take as a characteristic style. Some current polls tattoo designs still associated with men, although women are increasingly entering the art of tattoos! Over the past five years has increased the tendency to tattoos, and yes, a large proportion of them are tattoos pretty girl!

For men, the best tattoo body application is in the chest, arms, back and shoulders, although girls tend to go a bit 'most revealing of all. Before acquiring the tattoo, the girls are usually considered, if it affects most, and that goes well with it: the evening gown or a bikini might be, or even informal Kaki! Even for educated women and girls, tattoos are usually, if they can be secret!
Female Wit Butterfly Tattoo DesignWhen you are looking for tattoo art beautiful girl, who is one of the major factors considered is, what part of the anatomy you need it! Usually a tattoo seems pretty nice girl behind or between the shoulder blades to stop around the ankle or wrist, arm or thigh.
Female Wit Butterfly Tattoo Design :Soul Of Tattoo
Some other tattoo is a bit 'back to where it can be demonstrated carving out a small swimsuit.
Female Wit Butterfly Tattoo Design :Soul Of Tattoo
It is not advisable to get a tattoo on his face, because it can break the set and can not be hidden at all! also places where the skin tends to age, such as breasts or between the breasts to build positions tattoos ugly, because the skin can stretch the lead to get a tattoo distorted.This can put you in a very embarrassing situation when both time top, which is precipitated.

Preston's Invaders Take Tattoosday

I met Preston in early May on the train platform at West 4th Street.



I spotted his tattoo and we talked about it.After along wait, we finally get to see this, one of Preston's five tattoos, here on Tattoosday:





These are,of course, images from the original Atari Space Invaders, one of the forerunners that was the first video game to truly take the world by storm.





Preston told me that these symbols represent space invasion. The neon green color makes them stick out even more and, he added, they make a "great ice breaker".



As a result, he continued, "people invade my space" when they question him (as I was doing) about his tattoo.



Preston is a musician by trade, who goes by the moniker Press Reset. Check out his website here. And this link will take you to his new record <3 on iTunes, where you can listen to (and hopefully, buy) his music.



Preston credits the tattoo to an artist named Ziggy who tattoos out of South Florida.



Thanks to Preston for sharing his alien neck tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Shannon Shares Her Wieners!

At the end of May, I met Sherry, who shared her love of her home state of Texas with this tattoo here.



In an ensuing email, she asked if she could send her friend Shannon my way to share her ink. "Of course," I replied, and was directed by Sherry to Borders, where Shannon worked. "Ask to see her wieners," she said and added, parenthetically, "(it's G rated, I promise!)."



The Borders in question is part of my normal stomping ground, so I kept my eyes peeled. No sign of Shannon and her wieners.



Then, at the beginning of the month, I finally found Shannon and met Geddy Lee and Sarah Lee, the two wieners tattooed on her upper right arm. They are of course, wiener dogs, more formally known as dachshunds:









The one on the left is Geddy Lee, named after the lead singer of Rush. Shannon's a big fan of the Canadian rock trio.



Sarah Lee, on the right, is a fictional dachshund, do-si-do'ing with Geddy, as they are dance partners.



The tattoo took two sessions, which shows her devotion to Geddy Lee who, Shannon acknowledges, is "that little jerk [that] sucked my soul". She loves him to no end.



These beloved dogs were inked by Adam Paterson at Jersey City Tattoo Company.



Thanks again to Shannon for sharing this incredible tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Hot and Sexy Japanese Tattoo Designs For Females - The Best in Feminine Tattoo Designs

Those who have a few tattoos probably know how hard and the time and effort it can take to find the perfect tattoo and the perfect design. It can almost be down right frustrating at times. It seems people are always wanting to find something that is different, unique, sexy and original. Well, right now is a great time to get a tattoo because the world of tattoo designs for women is growing at a super fast pace. In fact female tattoo designs are growing faster then any other segment of the industry. Thus has lead to a lot of new developments in tattoo designs for women. One of those is the use of traditional Japanese tattoo designs.

The Adaption

When most people think of Japanese tattoos and their designs images of the hardened Yakuza gangsters with full body tattoos comes to mind. yes for centuries tattooing was done in Japan on Yakuza and criminals. That is where many of the traditional and very beautiful designs came from. However, these designs have gone through a rebirth of sorts or a renaissance as of late. The designs have been taken apart and broken down and then brighter colors from new inks have been added in to make smaller, cute and feminine tattoo designs. For example the Koi fish was a very traditional Japanese tattoo for males. Yet many women are getting koi fish for the beauty and strength but they are not doing them on the whole back for the most part. Instead they are using bright colors of the koi fish and then adding in beautiful full color waves and splashed into a quarter sleeve design. The point here is one can easily take part of a much larger and more traditional design and adapt it to fit in a smaller and sexier area.

Popular Themes

There are a lot of very popular themes among Japanese tattoo designs. The symbolism and meaning behind these tattoo is very deep and rich and often embedded into the Japanese culture and religion. For those of us getting a Japanese tattoo here in the west it can be smart to find out about the meaning and symbolism of the tattoo before getting it inked on your body permanently. Here are some of the hottest and sexiest designs for females right now.

Koi Fish

Typically one would not think of a fish as beautiful. Unless of course you are a fisherman or love to eat fish. However, for the Japanese and many westerners the Koi fish represents the spirit of individuality and going against the norm or status quo. It is believed that koi fish typically swim back up stream to mate. Thus makes them very unusually int he fish world and an obvious sign of strength on their part. Therefore they can make for a wonderfully symbolic tattoo and design. Also with the new brightness in the inks available the water and gold of a koi fish really stand out.

Cherry Blossoms


Cherry blossoms are another deeply historical and symbolic for the Japanese. They are also seen as a thing of great beauty. In fact many Japanese will go and visit a local park just to see the Cherry Blossoms. However, they also represent the impermanence of life and how life like a flower can be very beautiful but also fragile.

Finding An Artist

Another very important thing to consider if you are wanting to get a sexy and feminine Japanese tattoo is the artist that is going to ink the work on your skin. You want to find someone who will not only listen to your ideas but also provide feedback and input to help you refine your ideas. It is also beneficial to try and find someone with background in Japanese tattoo designs. Thus they can help you understand the symbolism behind certain parts of the tattoo and certain designs.

Sexy Locations

Of course there are a ton of locations that are very sexy on a females body and also many areas that work well with a tattoo. Of course there is always the lower back design. There is also the front top of the hip, the foot, thigh and neck. Any of these places can easily be considered for a great looking hot and sexy female tattoo design.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

How To Get Tattoo Designs


How to Get Tattoo Designs
So you want a tattoo, but what about the actual design? If there's a tattoo studio near where you live they will be sure to have hundreds if not thousands of designs available. "But hold on" you say. The local tattoo studio is frequented by hairy, leather clad bikers, and while you've got nothing against hairy bikers. Is it likely they'll have designs for the cute little pixie you want tattooed on your ankle?

You may have a good point there, however, many tattooists are very skillful artists as well, and if you go along to discuss what you want with them they may well be able to design a custom tattoo just for you. This will most likely cost you extra but could be well worthwhile if you get the exact tattoo you want. While you're there you'll probably realize that they have all sorts of people coming to get tattoos.


Another option if you're a talented or competent artist yourself would be to take a drawing of your favored design along to your local tattoo artist and they will apply it to your desired area on your body. You should be aware that designs or pictures you find in books, magazines or on the internet may be subject to copy write laws.
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In other words to copy them without permission is stealing and you could face prosecution. Though of course Disney would have to know you'd got Bambi on your backside, but probably not worth the risk. And now that tattoos are much more common place, it would be nice to have a design that was unique and not visible in every pool or on every beach. Having said that, there are so many designs available you're not going to be bumping into people with the exact same design all the time.

Have you already decided where you want your new tattoo? Let's face it you've got plenty of choice. The average human adult has between 16 and 20 square feet of skin available to decorate. Most of us don't go for tattoos on the face but almost anywhere else seems to be acceptable these days. Of course it may depend to some extent on what you do for a living, you may want to choose somewhere that can be easily covered when you're in the workplace and many women have tattoos on their lower back or abdomen which are easily concealed when necessary. Wrist or arm band tattoos can be concealed by sleeves or watches.

Body Art Tattoo

Body Art Tattoo - The Good and the Bad
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Having a body art tattoo is pleasing to look at and can be a source of attention for the one who is sporting it. This is especially true that's why it is often availed to by people who want to gain attention like thespians, athletes and musicians. However, attention can be either positive or negative and in the case of tattoos, mostly negative. This is why having tattoos are discouraged by many people even though the idea of it is fast becoming more and more popular.
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The negative attention behind having tattoos was greatly influenced by the fact that it mostly associated with criminality and bad behavior. It is a common practice for gangs to sport a specific type of body art tattoo as a symbol of membership and identification. It is a common sight in prisons where jailed criminals get tattoos to signify the criminal acts that they have done. This is why persons with many tattoos are easily associated with serious criminals who have lived a life that is full of crime and misdeeds.
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A side from these, tattoos are also link with people who spends most of their lives at sea. Remember "Popeye the sailor man" with his famous anchor tattoo? Being a sailor is just one of the many professions that regard tattoo as a common practice and tradition. Others include soldiers and circus workers. This is why parents who don't want their children to be associated with these professions often smirk at the sight of even the simplest and most innocent - looking tattoo.

No matter what the reasons behind having a body art tattoo are, the important thing is that it is used as a medium of self - expression. Hopefully, as time goes by it will be accepted ultimately by everyone in the world.