| Tribal Tattoos Tribal tattoos might be the most | | | | pop-culture, think Tinkerbell and Disney creatures, |
| popular tattoo designs form of tattoos in the | | | | or it goes back to a rich history of story, myth |
| world right now. Originally referred to as any | | | | and folklore. Fairies in literature are often the |
| tattoo style done outside of the Western World, | | | | personification of human wishes and desire in the |
| it has now come to be known as a style | | | | form of little people with magical powers. As a |
| indicative of the tattoos created for thousands of | | | | tattoo design they can be symbols of youthful |
| years in the Pacific Islands and Africa. | | | | innocence and a desire to retain a child-like |
| Tribal tattoos are instantly recognizable with their | | | | imagination, wonder and awe. |
| dramatic use of aggressive dark lines in jagged | | | | The very word fairy, derived from the Latin |
| symmetrical shapes spread throughout the skin. | | | | "fata", or fate underlies the use of fairies in |
| Tribal tats are most often done in simple black | | | | literature and myth to explain the workings of |
| and skin tones but they can also be infused with | | | | destiny, with it's often unpredictable nature of |
| color to brighten the overall look. Whereas other | | | | gifts and disappointments. The use of supernatural |
| tattoo styles attempt to represent a specific | | | | beings, who often meddle in human affairs in fairy |
| object, tribal tattoos seem far more concerned | | | | tales, has created a genre of story-telling that is |
| with the 'feel' rather than what it specifically looks | | | | rich in symbolism and that lays bare the |
| like. | | | | psychological and social challenges as we pass |
| The most popular tribal designs are Maori, Haida | | | | through the stages of childhood to adulthood. The |
| and Polynesian designs. There is also great interest | | | | presence of magic makes fairies a favorite of |
| in Native American tattoo designs. The term | | | | children and as a tattoo design they are a potent |
| "tribal" of course covers an astonishing array of | | | | symbol of our youth. |
| tattoo design possibilities, from the traditional tribal | | | | Dragon tattoo designs The dragon is definitely |
| tattoos of indigenous and aboriginal cultures, to | | | | hands down one of the most beautiful and |
| the latest in graphic design for the body. | | | | powerful of all the mythic beasts. The sheer |
| Stars Tattoo Designs. One of the most popular | | | | beauty and power of these mythical beasts alone |
| versions start tattoo designs are nautical stars. | | | | warrant there attention as tattoo designs. Then |
| Nautical stars have a long history in the world of | | | | being combined with a long and rich history of |
| tattoo designs dating all the way back to the | | | | tattooing as an art form such as in the Japanese |
| early sailors, specifically Sailor Jerry, and his many | | | | culture and you have a winning combination. |
| tattoo designs. | | | | Typically dragon tattoo are not seen as the |
| Typically the sailors use the North Star to help | | | | cunning and evil creature that they are |
| them navigate the waters of the open ocean. | | | | represented as in Western culture. Instead in |
| Over time the North Star became a symbol for | | | | most Asian cultures Dragons do not breathe fire |
| good luck in a safe passage back to land. | | | | typically and are seen as more benevolent |
| Over time this led many sailors were very | | | | creatures. They are seen as very powerful and |
| superstitious lot of folk to start getting Star | | | | are definitely a symbol of strength and power. |
| tattoos and more specifically nautical star tattoos | | | | However, they also represent a perfect balance |
| to provide them with enough luck complete a | | | | of yin and yang forces and are therefore believed |
| safe journey. Originally they were different colors | | | | to represent a reconciliation of balancing of power. |
| of nautical star tattoos and each color would | | | | They therefore more typically represent a |
| represent have a different symbolic meaning. For | | | | combination of power with wisdom. |
| example a red nautical star tattoo might mean | | | | Celtic Tattoo Designs: Celtic tattoo designs are |
| that the bearer assailed across the Pacific Ocean | | | | primarily a genre of complex interwoven lines |
| successfully three times. Most of this history in | | | | representing knots, mazes, spirals and other |
| early symbolism in terms of color has been lost | | | | figures. Celtic animal figures are zoomorphic or |
| for what survives today is the deep history and | | | | stylized renderings of animals that were used for |
| rich symbolic meaning of the nautical star tattoo. | | | | carvings, in jewelry and wood, stonework and |
| Not only is it a symbol of good lock it is also a | | | | manuscript illustrations. Many images used by |
| simple for helping find one's own path in life and it | | | | tattoo artists today are derived from the famous |
| is seen as a guiding symbol. | | | | Irish Book of Kells. |
| Butterfly Tattoo Designs The butterfly tattoo is | | | | The famous Book of Kells is an ornately illustrated |
| by far the most used artistic subject matter of all | | | | manuscript, produced by Irish Monks around AD |
| insects, especially in the tattoo industry. Butterflies | | | | 800. It is one of the most lavishly illuminated |
| became a fad years ago by being the theme of | | | | manuscripts to survive from that period. The |
| many pieces of jewelry, t-shirts, scarves, | | | | name "Book of Kells" is derived from the Abbey |
| paintings, and tattoos. Artists have a real freedom | | | | of Kells, located in Kells, County Meath in Ireland, |
| of creativity when they are creating butterfly | | | | where it was kept for much of the medieval |
| tattoos because the designs are not rigid. They | | | | period. |
| can be changed in color, size, shape, and other | | | | There are strong Norse design influences in Celtic |
| details without looking distorted. | | | | knot work, and there is some debate as to the |
| The butterfly has many different meanings. In our | | | | exact origin. Clearly there were exchanges |
| society, its symbol has been commonly known as | | | | between cultures through both trade and |
| freedom, change, and growth. A generally | | | | conquest. The complexity of Celtic design is |
| feminine tattoo design choice and a perennial | | | | thought to mimic or echo the complexity of |
| favorite. | | | | nature, the use of Celtic knots in spirals and |
| Fairy Tattoo Designs The Fairy as a tattoo design | | | | mazes, the intricate interweaving showing no |
| can be as simple as a take-off on the often | | | | beginning and no end, reflective of the cycles of |
| overpowering presence of corporate America in | | | | the seasons and of life. |