| Butterfly tattoos are growing in popularity all the | | | | design is as much an art in itself as the actual |
| time and are one of the designs most commonly | | | | creation of the tattoo. So here are a few things |
| requested by women. And it's not surprising. | | | | to bear in mind when searching for your butterfly |
| Butterflies are beautiful to look at and these | | | | tattoo. |
| designs carry a rich symbolism due to the short | | | | 1) Start by working out why you want this |
| yet amazing life of these creatures. And due to | | | | tattoo. What do you want it to represent? This |
| the vast range of colors and species available, | | | | knowledge will help to influence and shape the look |
| there's no reason why your tattoo shouldn't be | | | | of the tattoo when it comes to selecting a final |
| absolutely unique to you. | | | | design. |
| There are almost 25,000 different types of | | | | 2) Work out what type of butterfly design you |
| butterfly and they range in size from an eighth of | | | | want. What type of butterfly? What colors? What |
| an inch across to a massive twelve inches in | | | | size? What style? Where will it be located on your |
| diameter. And then of course there's the color to | | | | body? Once you have a rough idea of what you |
| consider. Many butterflies display the most | | | | want, you'll find it much easier to narrow down |
| beautiful range of bright and vibrant colors | | | | your options. |
| imaginable. | | | | 3) Start looking through tattoo designs and pick |
| There are four main stages in the life of this | | | | out a few that you like best. At this stage you |
| amazing creature. They begin life as an egg, which | | | | don't have to like the whole design. Just take a |
| turns into a caterpillar. At this stage (the pupa | | | | note of all the designs that contain an element or |
| stage) they make a chrysalis or cocoon from | | | | a style that you like. These ideas will all contribute |
| which they emerge as an adult butterfly. | | | | to settling on the final tattoo design. The internet |
| It's this transformation from an unspectacular | | | | is a great tool to help find tattoo designs. It allows |
| caterpillar into a graceful and glorious butterfly | | | | you to look at a large number of designs and |
| that inspired the mythical Greek character called | | | | pictures of completed tattoos in a short space of |
| Psych who had the wings of a butterfly. Psych is | | | | time. This will help you to narrow down that sort |
| the Greek word for both butterfly and the soul, | | | | of thing that you want. You may even be able to |
| hence the deep symbolic meaning of the butterfly | | | | find a reputable tattoo artist if you don't already |
| tattoo. Many ancient people believed that the | | | | have one. |
| amazing transformation of the butterfly was | | | | 4) If you can't find a design that's exactly what |
| similar to the soul's journey from an earthly body | | | | you want, try sketching a picture of the type of |
| to a spiritual body. | | | | design that you want. And if your artwork isn't |
| However, despite this long chain of | | | | that good, do your best and then get an artist or |
| transformations, the final part of their lifespan (as | | | | an artistic friend to draw what you describe. |
| an adult butterfly once it emerges from the pupa | | | | These drawings will be useful later on, because |
| state) lasts only two weeks. This brief yet | | | | even if you find a design that you like, you can |
| colorful contribution to life has been taken to | | | | use your own drawings to add your own unique |
| represent the fragile nature of human life. Perhaps | | | | touch to the final design. |
| that's part of the appeal of butterfly tattoos. | | | | And finally, don't proceed with your butterfly |
| But due to the vast number of choices available it | | | | tattoo until you're absolutely 100% sure that |
| can be incredibly difficult to find the right butterfly | | | | you've found the right design, because it's going |
| tattoo design. It's often said that finding the right | | | | to be with you for a long time. |