Whether it's because of heritage or appreciation of the culture, many tattoo lovers are choosing to purchase an African tattoo. With it's climate ranging from tropical to cold and an abundance of wildlife, there is no shortage of image possibilities.
If you love animals, an African tattoo could be that of a lion, which symbolizes power and strength. Giraffes, deer and elephants, also commonly found on the world's second largest continent, are also popular animals found ranging freely throughout the African plains. Jungle creatures, including snakes, are also present along with various aquatic species.
In addition to it's landscape, varying climates and wide range of wildlife, Africa is known for both it's dance and music. Therefore, an African tattoo may symbolize some type of artistic expression in rhythm and/or movement. In addition, drums are the most commonly used instrument in African music and are therefore an excellent choice for an African tattoo.
Like other parts of the world, religion in Africa is diverse. As is the case with any region, spirituality is an important part of life and is often displayed openly as a sign of faith. Some individuals may choose to wear a symbol of their faith as jewelry, but others may opt for a tattoo to forever display their beliefs.
Because each African state differs in culture, landscape, economy and weather, there are many symbols that can be associated with each specific area. Some individuals may choose to have an African tattoo applied in the shape of the continent itself, but others may prefer a more personalized image that suits their individuality.
If you are considering an African tattoo, take the time to visit a local tattoo studio and inquire about possible options. If the artist does not have specific African tattoo samples, ask if he/she could achieve inspiration for a tattoo from an existing sketch, magazine photo or internet image. Quite often, a tattoo artist can use any type of artwork as inspiration for a tattoo and may be able to offer a unique design for anyone desiring an African tattoo.
A cultural symbol or one of heritage is often best expressed by the individual themselves. This simply means that each individual has different experiences and special moments in their lives that define their future. It is these moments and the symbols that make the most obvious choice for a tattoo. Permanent in nature, a tattoo is much like a memory. Neither can be erased and both have a tendency to transport us to another place and time.
The information contained in this article is designed to be used for reference purposes only. It is not designed to be used as a complete guide to the African culture and should not be used as a recommendation or advice relating to the application of an African tattoo or any specific design. Individuals who are considering getting a tattoo should carefully weigh all of the risks associated with application and should also be selective in choosing a tattoo parlor or artist.
http://www.todaytattoos.com/Articles/African-Tattoo.html
Friday, May 25, 2007
Choosing a Back Tattoo
Back tattoos are probably the best kind of tattoos around. And it is very popular too.
Added to this factor, the even surface of the human back also counts as a plus in the aesthetic value of back tattoos.
There are two things you need to consider in getting a back tattoo: symbolism and aesthetics.
Symbolism - There are a number of symbolic meanings behind back tattoos. The placement of each tattoo often alters its meaning, and the placement of a tattoo in the back can have many interpretations.
A back tattoo can mean that someone has turned his/her back on whatever the tattoo signifies. One may choose to have a tattoo of a vice or habit, an ex, and anything they wish to tell people they have left behind in their lives.
In the east, having a back tattoo of an animal, or an organizational logo can mean that someone is “watching your back”. This would serve as a protection for those sporting the back tattoo.
A back tattoo found near the shoulder, especially on a woman, signifies a sort of innocent sensuality.
This enhances the sexual attraction to the wearer, especially if the back tattoo is revealed accidentally.
Another symbolically sensual location of a back tattoo is at the small of the back. It just seems so sexy, somehow… doesn’t it?
The use of back tattoo to convey hidden messages is evident in the fact that a slightly revealed tattoo on a person arouses another person’s curiosity and thus leads to social interaction.
Of course, the symbolism of tattoos also involves the images themselves.
With every image come a dozen or even more interpretations. You need to be careful in choosing a tattoo image that actually symbolizes or reflects your character.
However, for all the interpretations of other people, you need to remember that you are the one getting the tattoo. What’s important is the meaning the back tattoo has for you personally.
Everything else is just a matter of perception.
Aesthetics – You need to make sure that the back tattoo you will be getting actually looks good.
In aesthetics, you need to consider the skill of the tattoo artist. Some people tend to only look at the catalogues of the tattoo artist in order to see if they can get a good back tattoo. However, you also need to see examples of the tattoo artist work on actual akin. This way, you can be sure whether you are getting a quality back tattoo or not.
Included in the aesthetic quality or factor of a back tattoo is its size. Some people prefer small, yet elaborate back tattoos while others choose big, yet comparatively simple ones.
Some people would also prefer their back tattoos to be like frescoes on their bodies, with different elements, making a story on their backs.
Colors are also an important part in back tattoos. Some people prefer “earth” colors, blending those colors with the color of the skin and thus, achieving a “natural’ look.
Some people prefer to have back tattoos with colors that really stand out. This way, their skin color acts as the medium to truly express the image of the back tattoo.
There are some tattoo parlors which offer colorless and 3-dimensional tattoos. More like piercing than actual tattoos, these are getting very popular because of their “modern” look.
http://www.todaytattoos.com/Articles/49.html
Added to this factor, the even surface of the human back also counts as a plus in the aesthetic value of back tattoos.
There are two things you need to consider in getting a back tattoo: symbolism and aesthetics.
Symbolism - There are a number of symbolic meanings behind back tattoos. The placement of each tattoo often alters its meaning, and the placement of a tattoo in the back can have many interpretations.
A back tattoo can mean that someone has turned his/her back on whatever the tattoo signifies. One may choose to have a tattoo of a vice or habit, an ex, and anything they wish to tell people they have left behind in their lives.
In the east, having a back tattoo of an animal, or an organizational logo can mean that someone is “watching your back”. This would serve as a protection for those sporting the back tattoo.
A back tattoo found near the shoulder, especially on a woman, signifies a sort of innocent sensuality.
This enhances the sexual attraction to the wearer, especially if the back tattoo is revealed accidentally.
Another symbolically sensual location of a back tattoo is at the small of the back. It just seems so sexy, somehow… doesn’t it?
The use of back tattoo to convey hidden messages is evident in the fact that a slightly revealed tattoo on a person arouses another person’s curiosity and thus leads to social interaction.
Of course, the symbolism of tattoos also involves the images themselves.
With every image come a dozen or even more interpretations. You need to be careful in choosing a tattoo image that actually symbolizes or reflects your character.
However, for all the interpretations of other people, you need to remember that you are the one getting the tattoo. What’s important is the meaning the back tattoo has for you personally.
Everything else is just a matter of perception.
Aesthetics – You need to make sure that the back tattoo you will be getting actually looks good.
In aesthetics, you need to consider the skill of the tattoo artist. Some people tend to only look at the catalogues of the tattoo artist in order to see if they can get a good back tattoo. However, you also need to see examples of the tattoo artist work on actual akin. This way, you can be sure whether you are getting a quality back tattoo or not.
Included in the aesthetic quality or factor of a back tattoo is its size. Some people prefer small, yet elaborate back tattoos while others choose big, yet comparatively simple ones.
Some people would also prefer their back tattoos to be like frescoes on their bodies, with different elements, making a story on their backs.
Colors are also an important part in back tattoos. Some people prefer “earth” colors, blending those colors with the color of the skin and thus, achieving a “natural’ look.
Some people prefer to have back tattoos with colors that really stand out. This way, their skin color acts as the medium to truly express the image of the back tattoo.
There are some tattoo parlors which offer colorless and 3-dimensional tattoos. More like piercing than actual tattoos, these are getting very popular because of their “modern” look.
http://www.todaytattoos.com/Articles/49.html
Dragon Tattoo- Your Choices From East to West
The dragon, more popularly seen as a strange reptile that is fond of abducting damsels, breathing fire and mercilessly killing knights, and not to say hoarding treasures had been a part of human culture. For thousands of years, this mythical creature had been the subject of human curiosity and his adoration for art. And while they are often portrayed in the books, paintings and the likes, the modern world has seen the dragon's potential place in the tattooing world.
Thus, its popularity as major tattoo designs.
It is the symbol of power, of fear, of honor, of evil (and sometimes good), of protection, of virtually anything, depending on who you would ask. Nevertheless, dragon tattoos lend themselves so beautifully for the appreciation of both artists and audience.
Both the eastern and the western world adopted dragons in a wide spectrum of art forms including depicting them in body arts.
The cultures in Asia, more significantly the Chinese, Japanese and the Koreans were oriented to the belief that dragons are the benevolent protectors of humanity, the bringer of good fortune, the healer of the sick and the bearer of life. Eastern dragons were extensively used in marking human skin for ages.
Eastern dragon tattoos are significantly more mythical-like than western tattoos. These usually have grinning flat faces, and a serpentine body that extends long enough so as to accommodate a number of feet (only in size). But actually, these dragons only have two pairs of feet, one pair as front legs and the other as hind legs.
These dragon tattoos are also depicted large and elaborately designed, often seen wrapping a person's back or crawling on the surface of the skin. While the art of tattooing is perceived to have spread in many cultures around the globe, it is thought that the earliest tattoos were of eastern dragon designs since the formal art of tattooing actually started in Japan.
Western dragons, on the other hand, were portrayed in the exact opposite of the eastern dragons. They are unmerciful, breath nasty fire, and wreak havoc against humankind.
These dragons are often seen with more reptilian images. Scales cover their entire body and they are characterized with razor-sharp teeth and snouted mouth and face. Their wings are large and powerful as well. Thus, they were considered as the embodiment of evil and myths and legends testify to these attributes. Nonetheless, they are covered with certain degrees of mysteries and mystique that lead other people to conclude of their existence.
In dragon tattoos, western dragons are beautiful creatures with less elaborate designs as compared with those crafted from the eastern dragons. Western dragon tattoos with smoking nostril are popular as well as those that depict impressive span of dragon wings.
With the two types of dragon tattoos compared, it is likely that we discover that eastern dragon tattoos are more elaborately designed than the western dragons are. The latter are also smaller in size.
The meaning dragon tattoos represent may vary with the person wearing it or the person observing it. In a sense, their implications are so varied that it is impossible to contain all them and define them in one heap.
Not only do dragon tattoos testify to some symbolism, they are also so fluid that you may see them covering the entire or majority of the body parts. Some hard core tattoo enthusiasts even choose to adapt a dragon tattoo design that starts from their lower body towards the torso and the above parts.
http://www.todaytattoos.com/Articles/52.html
Thus, its popularity as major tattoo designs.
It is the symbol of power, of fear, of honor, of evil (and sometimes good), of protection, of virtually anything, depending on who you would ask. Nevertheless, dragon tattoos lend themselves so beautifully for the appreciation of both artists and audience.
Both the eastern and the western world adopted dragons in a wide spectrum of art forms including depicting them in body arts.
The cultures in Asia, more significantly the Chinese, Japanese and the Koreans were oriented to the belief that dragons are the benevolent protectors of humanity, the bringer of good fortune, the healer of the sick and the bearer of life. Eastern dragons were extensively used in marking human skin for ages.
Eastern dragon tattoos are significantly more mythical-like than western tattoos. These usually have grinning flat faces, and a serpentine body that extends long enough so as to accommodate a number of feet (only in size). But actually, these dragons only have two pairs of feet, one pair as front legs and the other as hind legs.
These dragon tattoos are also depicted large and elaborately designed, often seen wrapping a person's back or crawling on the surface of the skin. While the art of tattooing is perceived to have spread in many cultures around the globe, it is thought that the earliest tattoos were of eastern dragon designs since the formal art of tattooing actually started in Japan.
Western dragons, on the other hand, were portrayed in the exact opposite of the eastern dragons. They are unmerciful, breath nasty fire, and wreak havoc against humankind.
These dragons are often seen with more reptilian images. Scales cover their entire body and they are characterized with razor-sharp teeth and snouted mouth and face. Their wings are large and powerful as well. Thus, they were considered as the embodiment of evil and myths and legends testify to these attributes. Nonetheless, they are covered with certain degrees of mysteries and mystique that lead other people to conclude of their existence.
In dragon tattoos, western dragons are beautiful creatures with less elaborate designs as compared with those crafted from the eastern dragons. Western dragon tattoos with smoking nostril are popular as well as those that depict impressive span of dragon wings.
With the two types of dragon tattoos compared, it is likely that we discover that eastern dragon tattoos are more elaborately designed than the western dragons are. The latter are also smaller in size.
The meaning dragon tattoos represent may vary with the person wearing it or the person observing it. In a sense, their implications are so varied that it is impossible to contain all them and define them in one heap.
Not only do dragon tattoos testify to some symbolism, they are also so fluid that you may see them covering the entire or majority of the body parts. Some hard core tattoo enthusiasts even choose to adapt a dragon tattoo design that starts from their lower body towards the torso and the above parts.
http://www.todaytattoos.com/Articles/52.html
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