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.

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.

Celtic Tattoo

Celtic Tattoo

Celtic tattoos are all the rage right now, and for good reason - these highly-detailed images look good and carry a highly symbolic weight. The following are some of the most popular Celtic tattoo designs.

Celtic Knot - The Celtic knot is a series of interwoven lines that interact together like a puzzle to form a pleasing design or zoomorphic form. Although their origin is still debated and may include a Norse influence, the key feature of the design is that none of the lines in the knot ever end - they all continue on to connect with one another throughout the design. This is said to represent continuity in life, the cycle of the seasons and the vast complexity of nature.

Celtic Cross - Celtic cross tattoos carry the same weaving line structure as the Celtic knot, but instead of forming a simple pattern, the strands of the design come together to outline the shape of a Christian cross. This design is highly religious in nature, and is often used by different groups of Celtic people to proclaim their ethnicity as well.

Claddagh - The Claddagh is a recognizable symbol of Celtic and Irish origins. The design traditionally features two hands clasping a heart that is covered by a crown. Although this design is most widely seen in the form of a ring that's given to symbolize the intent to wed, it's also popular as a tattoo for its graphic representation of everlasting love, loyalty and fidelity.

Celtic Tree of Life - The Celtic tree of life tattoo is fairly self-explanatory. In the same style as the Celtic knot and the Celtic cross, the Celtic tree of life tattoo is composed of interweaving lines that form branches around a central tree trunk. Again, no ends of the lines are exposed, so the design takes on a feeling of continuity and permanence. In addition, the Celtic tree of life tattoo is said to represent the beginning and end of life, as well as the eternal nature of the world.