| While tribal tattooing has a history as far back as | | | | images, tribal tattoos are less likely to fade or |
| tattooing itself, these types of images have | | | | blur, giving them greater longevity. Both the |
| gained a huge increase in general popularity, | | | | tattoo artist and the receiver of the artwork |
| beginning in the early 1990s. Traditional tribal | | | | have a lot of artistic freedom with tribal-type |
| tattooing was (and is) done for many reasons. | | | | tattoos, as much or most of the modern types |
| Some of the most common reasons for tribal | | | | of this artwork has little to do with any specific |
| tattoos include rites of passage, social status, or | | | | actual tribe. Almost any kind of image can be |
| even simple family identification. Some tribes also | | | | turned into a tribal design, so you see many |
| believe tattoos hold magical or spiritual significance. | | | | varieties of this kind of artwork. If you don't want |
| Of course, there are also instances where tribe | | | | to create your design or do not have one in mind |
| members get tattooed simply for aesthetic | | | | already, professional tattoo artists will nearly |
| reasons. Some of the most well-known variations | | | | always have books of flash designs for you to |
| of tribal tattoos come from tribes from Borneo, | | | | pick from. Another appealing aspect of tribal |
| the Polynesian Islands, the Maori, Native | | | | tattoos is that the designs tend to work very well |
| Americans, and Celtic tribes. Tattoos of Chinese | | | | in popular body areas for tattooing, such as the |
| and Japanese characters have also become very | | | | upper arms and the back. Arm and leg bands are |
| commonplace among Westerners. | | | | some of the most common styles of tribal |
| One common thread throughout both traditional | | | | tattoos. |
| and modern tribal tattoos is the use of black ink | | | | Although tribal tattoos are primarily done with |
| and bold designs. While modern tattooing | | | | black ink, it has also become very popular to |
| equipment and inks have made possible the finest | | | | incorporate color into the designs. While the solid |
| and most detailed of body art, traditional tribal | | | | black can be very visually appealing, many people |
| tattoo artists certainly had no such equipment | | | | want a little color to their artwork. This can be |
| available. Therefore, every tribe had its own | | | | done in a variety of ways, including using |
| method of administering their tattoos, some being | | | | background colors, fill-in colors for negative space, |
| more painstaking and/or painful than others. In | | | | or even using a color other than black for the |
| many tribes, the process of tattooing was in itself | | | | design itself, though this is done less often. When |
| considered a ritual, and the inherent pain involved | | | | non-black ink is used for a tribal design, the |
| considered an integral part of that ritual. These | | | | receiver or artist may often choose to still outline |
| days, tattoos are almost always done using | | | | the design in black to retain the bold effect. Also, |
| modern equipment, which is much faster and less | | | | a darker color is usually used for the same |
| painful than the old ways. However, many current | | | | purpose, such as a darker red, blue, green, or |
| tribe members, and even outsiders, choose to | | | | purple. |
| have their artwork administered by the traditional | | | | Another popular trend in modern tribal tattooing is |
| methods. | | | | mixing tribal artwork with more traditional images. |
| Tribal tattoos have their roots in ritual, symbolism | | | | This is very common amongst those with very |
| and spirituality, but most modern types of this | | | | large and ambitious designs, such as full back |
| artwork are done more for aesthetic reasons. | | | | pieces. However, this kind of artwork can just as |
| The images have a common appeal, and because | | | | easily be accomplished with smaller tattoos. For |
| the freedom of design is so open, it's not | | | | those who want the art to be fully integrated, |
| necessary to get actual traditional tribal imagery | | | | one common type of imagery is flower and vine |
| tattooed to have the impact of a tribal design. | | | | designs, as the flow goes well easily with the |
| Though the artwork may have a personal | | | | interlocking lines often found in tribal artwork. Of |
| significance to the person receiving it, it's more | | | | course, flowers and vines aren't for everyone, |
| likely due to personal experience rather than any | | | | and many other types of images can be easily |
| actual symbolism or tribal affiliation. | | | | made to flow with tribal ones. Another good |
| There are a number of reasons to explain the | | | | option for integrating traditional tattoos with tribal |
| modern popularity of tribal artwork in tattoos. | | | | is to use the latter as a framing device. Taking a |
| One appealing aspect is the bold nature of the | | | | traditional design and surrounding it with tribal |
| images. Tribal tattoos are almost always done in | | | | artwork can enhance the overall look and draw |
| black, often with thick, interweaving lines that | | | | more attention. Framing an existing tattoo with a |
| show up very strongly against the skin. Also, | | | | tribal one will certainly make it more eye-catching, |
| because of the bold, solid black nature of the | | | | and make something old seem new again. |