Wing Tattoo

Most wings tattoos come off the shoulder blades and go down the back. but this wings tattoo is unique. It comes off a central hub, which happens to be a lock, and goes across the upper part of the back and wraps onto the shoulders. This design is not very common, especially with the lock. This design is obviously meant to be a more masculine tattoo, with a rougher look and a darker shading then the common wings tattoo design. The edges of the wings have a ruffled look to them, and the shading on the tips of the wings is more pronounced then usual. The wings in this design or more symmetrical then most wings tattoos are, and the artist even equaled out the shading on each wing. One really uncommon feature of this tattoo is the lock. Most wings tattoos are meant to look like they are sprouting out of the back, but this tattoo is showing that the wings are being held together with the lock. The shading on the lock even has a masculine look to it, with a darker shading. Though not the stereotypical wings tattoo, it is still a great design and a great piece of artwork.

When most people think of wing tattoos they think of designs that include angel or fairies. Or they thing of designs that include butterfly or dragonfly wing. But, really this is a limitation of the wing tattoo. The design is so versatile that almost anything can be incorporated into it. One of my favorite all time designs involved a wall clock that had wings sticking out from the side of it. Another design that I have seen recently involved a picture of a family pet with wings coming out of it’s sides. It was done really well and was used as a memorial for a deceased dog. But, the tattoo in the picture takes it all. It’s a Detroit Red Wings tattoo!! It was gotten by a die hard hockey fan who wanted to show his support of the team. It’s a really cool design but it gives me pause for a moment. What happens if the team changes it’s emblem or is sold to another team? Will the bearer of this wing tattoo still want to keep the logo on his skin? These are all important considerations that you need to make before getting any design inked into your skin. Logos and trademarks may seem cool at first but the longevity of the symbol may be limited.

Deer Tattoos

This is a perfect example of a deer tattoo. It’s beauty and graceful nature is a siren call beckoning us to the wild. But, the deer is more then just a symbol of nature and in many cultures has a deep symbolism associated with it. China has many symbols for happiness and good fortune, and the deer is one of them. In fact, in Chinese, the words ‘deer’ and ‘abundance’ sound the same. Buddhists like to tell the story of their master’s first teaching, when his blissful presence attracted even the wild animals of the region, most notably the deer. And in both the Celtic and Native American cultures, the deer had a special talent for sniffing out medicinal herbs, earning it special respect and status in life and folklore. The image of a slain deer with herbs in its mouth has even assumed special significance in the art world as a symbol of unrequited love, lost love, or love sickness. And if a deer is seen trampling a snake under it’s hooves then it’s a symbol of overcoming personal temptation. So, as you can see getting a deer tattoo pronounces not only one’s love for the wild but also has a significant spiritual meaning.

Many people consider a deer tattoo to be a design that only belongs on hunters or nature lovers. But, did you know that deer tattoos have symbolic significance in many different cultures and mythologies? A deer is not only symbolic of luck for Asian cultures but it is also a symbol for abundance. And it’s a symbol for abundance in not just the East but in almost every civilization that the creature is prevalent in. To native Americans, the deer was also a symbol for rebirth. It’s arrival often signally the start of spring or the end of summer. Also, in some cultures deer are synonymous for virtue and on occasion passion. The deer tattoo can also have a meaning associated with love, believe it or not. A deer tattoo with a branch or thistles in it’s mouth is symbolic of forlorn love. The deer tattoo in the picture is a cross between a naturalistic depiction of this animal and a tribal design. I really like how the whole motif flows and still retains the characteristics of this beautiful and peaceful creature of nature. This is a design that can be blended into almost any body of tattoo work.

Foot Tattoo

A foot tattoo can look quite striking. There’s no question that one peeking out of a sexy shoe of a woman can be very attractive. And it just so happens that they are the most popular among women. Quite possibly for that very reason. The only thing a woman needs to decide is what she would like to see on her foot. Flowers tend to be the most popular design but there are certainly many other designs which someone can be very happy with. There could be stars or clouds, a koi fish, a dragon or just about anything the imagination can come up with. If you or your artist can draw it, then it can be tattooed onto your foot.

But before you get a foot tattoo there are a few drawbacks that you need to know about. Foot tattoos tend to be much more painful than most others because the skin is so close to bone. In fact, some tattoo artists won’t even do foot tattoos for this very reason. Also, if you grit your teeth and get the foot tattoo the initial care of it takes a bit more effort than a normal tattoo does. It’s not that big of deal but it needs to be said up front and you need to be aware of it.

Foot tattoos can often be beautiful pieces of art. Just take a look at the cartoon sparrow in the picture. It looks real good on the top of this person’s foot, but you know that it really had to hurt. Especially with all the color shading. And another problem with a foot tattoo is that they require a lot of care. So, let’s take a quick look at what’s required to maintain a foot tattoo so that it keeps it’s color and sheen. After getting your foot tattoo make sure that you let it breathe. It’s going to need plenty of air, so either go without shoes or at the very least wear sandals. The more air you let your foot tattoo get the quicker the design will heal. The next step, keep your foot elevated while you sleep to relieve some of the swelling. It is completely normal for your foot to swell. How large it swells up depends on how much you are on your feet each day. Step number three; Your tattoo artist will recommend an antibiotic cream to apply to your foot tattoo for the first few days. And the final piece of advice. Do not under any circumstances pick at the foot tattoo. This can cause pitting or scarring so be careful. If you follow these guidelines you will have a piece of art you can enjoy a lifetime.

Phoenix Tattoos

The phoenix represented in the phoenix tattoo, is thought of as one of the most mystical and mythological of all birds. For this reason it is one of the most popular designs in tattoo artwork. The color associated with the phoenix is red and the element fire. Its origin is thought to be Ethiopian as well. The phoenix’s great significance originates from its symbolism – rebirth, renewal, and life! This is why it is always portrayed as a magnificent and spectacular bird. If the phoenix tattoo design is your favorite and you want to "ink" this symbolic bird on your favorite body location, it will pay to review a number of different phoenix patterns. Size and color are important factors to consider, because you want to be certain that the tattoo is going to blend and coordinate well together. Because there are so many colorful and beautiful phoenix tattoo designs to choose from, your first step should be to visit one of the more popular tattoo galleries. With their wide array of tattoo patterns, you will most assuredly find the perfect phoenix tattoo design for you. The phoenix tattoo in the picture has taken what is usually a male dominant design and applied a lot of light colors to it, to make the design more feminine.

The phoenix tattoo in the picture is a great example of a design based on the Chinese version of the phoenix. With the Chinese, the phoenix was very important, with only the dragon holding a more important place in their culture. Only the Chinese Empress was allowed to wear the phoenix as a symbol, which represented the union of yin and yang, symbolizing virtue and grace. But, the phoenix tattoo is an important design in other cultures other then the Chinese. Some Jewish myths have added the the mystique of the phoenix, as they talk about the phoenix as the one living creature that never left the garden of Eden, and it never partook of the forbidden fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil; thus its longevity. The phoenix is also significant to the Japanese, and is an important symbol of theirs, included with the sun. The Japanese like to entwine the phoenix with the dragon, as you can see on many of their tattoos. This also symbolizes yin and yang for the Japanese, mixing the highest qualities of the masculine and feminine together. No matter what culture it’s in however, the phoenix tattoo is associated witha number of good qualities in a person, things like kindness, duty and being reliable, among others.