Koi Tattoo Art

Koi Tattoo

Koi is an oriental name for fish in the carp family. In the Orient koi are very revered, and are thought to have certain mystical abilities about them. Koi stands for courage, strength, determination, advancement, and perseverance. In the English Language the word "Koi" is translated as the word "love", or the feeling of love. It can also be translated as romantic love or a very passionate love affair. However, koi can also mean selfish. In the orient koi is a symbol of good luck.

Koi Tattoo

In China there is a legend that describes a koi fish swimming up the Yellow River to a waterfall, and if it is at a place called the Dragon Gate, the koi may then jump over the fall and be transformed into a dragon.

Koi Tattoo

In Buddhism it is believed that people are like the koi, swimming in an ocean of suffering all their lives, yet they continue striving forward until they die. The koi fish tattoos with 5 golden koi stands for well being through our daily lives, and eternal wealth, 5 being a lucky number. And matched with the legend the koi is as lucky as a dragon. And the perfect koi tattoo art would be of a golden koi changing into a dragon, just like a butterfly does.

Koi Tattoo

In koi tattoos you will often see them combined with water, cherry blossoms or lotus flowers. However, the Japanese koi tattoos have many symbolic meanings depending on what the koi is doing. Japanese koi tattoo art is a symbol of masculinity. Koi fish are a very energetic fish, and the Koi fish tattoos may often involve very lively colors, with the fish depicted as moving. Koi fish tattoos are often represented with victory as well, and are often tattooed on a person's body to represent someone who is very independent, going against the grain of society.

Koi Tattoo

Any koi tattoo art is suppose to bring its wear wealth and abundance, and thus this king of fish is known as the dragon fish, and many koi tattoos are depicted in a larger tattoo. They are very popular tattoos for the back and/or both shoulders, or as Koi sleeve tattoos. The background colors are as spectacular as the fish itself. They have been depicted with suns and moons as well.

Koi Tattoo

The koi has also been depicted with the Yin/Yang symbol; the Yin being the black part, which is female, night, water, earth, and it is passive; the Yang being the white part, is male, day, fire, air, and it is active. Together these two symbols meant balance and harmony. In itself the Yin/Yang makes a very strong statement, but together with the koi, makes it extraordinary.

Heart Tattoos

When it comes to the expression of love, passion, and adoration - it is heart tattoos that have historically appeared for centuries upon centuries.

Heart Tattoos

Over the years, the commonly used shade of red is no longer the standard, as tattoos now showcase a wide range of colors, shapes, sizes, styles, and accompaniments.

Heart Tattoos

Bold, bright, and expressive displays of heart tattoos have never lost their popularity. Romantic love, lust, and a unity between two people are just some of the ways this tattoo is approached.

Heart Tattoos

In the past, ancient civilizations viewed heart tattoos as a symbol that represented the center of intellect and other meanings.

Heart Tattoos

Christians saw the heart as the base of emotions, while followers of Islam viewed the symbol as the center of spirituality. Over time, the heart would remain a popular symbol of expression and in regards to tattoos - it spanned the interests of both women and men.

A collection of well-known heart tattoo selections has evolved over time. Sailors were notorious for their heart and anchor tattoos with Mom scrawled in the middle. Celtic tattoos sometimes add a heart in knotwork.

Heart Tattoos

When it comes to the meaning of heart tattoos, they are often seen to represent love and happiness, but can also showcase painful feelings and sad memories.

A broken heart often stands for the loss of a loved one, rejected love, or a failed relationship. Intense sadness and grief is infused into this kind of tattoo design.

Heart Tattoos

A heart that bleeds also refers to a lost love. A heart pierced with an arrow is a popular image that can depict both unforgettable and saddened memories of love.

Typically, a heart with wings is used to represent a free spirit. A popular tattoo amongst soldiers has become a heart with a dagger, which is often used to symbolize bravery. It can also signify betrayal.

The placement of heart tattoos varies, as men typically place this design on their biceps and chest. A woman tends to become more expressive with this design and may choose the lower back, chest, back, and ankle for this tattoo selection.

Butterfly Tattoo

Butterfly Tattoo

The birth of tattoo began thousands of years ago, created as colorful implants on the human skin. Tattoos come in many varieties, and are as diverse as the people who use them from different parts of the world. Tattoos have come a long way.

Butterfly Tattoo

They have been used as therapeutic regimen, as representations of life, status, power, magic, or rituals; as complete body covering, and commonly nowadays; tattoos are used to express oneself through body art and designs. They can be very symbolic, unique, and distinctive.

Butterfly Tattoo

One of the most common tattoo designs used anywhere in the globe is the Butterfly. Butterflies are flying insects that come in colored wings and in varying sizes. Unfortunately, they are known to be one of the creatures who have little lifespan. Butterfly tattoo design is one of the most common choices by women as it symbolizes femininity, beauty, and ideologically- change. Why change? It is because butterflies undergo different life cycles. They experience a mysterious metamorphosis, transforming them from a small and simple caterpillar into a beautiful and radiant butterfly. Moreover, butterflies are also believed to be living symbols of human souls.

Butterfly Tattoo

Though some people think butterflies are almost always associated with women, it does not completely restrict itself in the feminine world. In history, Augustus, a Roman Emperor; made the butterfly as his symbol and it was used as motif on the breastplates of some warriors.

Butterfly Tattoo

In the world of ink and tattooing; butterflies have been one of the most common designs chosen by people. It shows symmetry, versatility, and it can be designed in different colors and patterns. People can get very imaginative and creative when they choose this design. It can also be placed on any part of the body. Butterfly tattoos can highly be personalized according to each individuals preferences

Green Tattoos

Green Tattoos

Green Tattoos

Green Tattoos

It is very unusual for any rock band not to have at least one member in the band covered in tattoos if not all of them. Well the punk band Green Day follows that rule. All three band members have several tattoos of their own and have never had any problems showing them off or even talking about them. They love their tattoos so much that they opened up to a tattoo magazine and gave them a little insight on their favorite tattoos they have and what their next tattoo plans are.

Green Tattoos

The front man of the group Billie Joe Armstrong may surprise you when you learn what his favorite tattoo is on his body. It is actually a photo booth snapshots of him and his wife Adrienne. Of course bassist Mike Drint and drummer Tre Cool have a little more amusing stories to tell when it comes to their tattoos and their tattoo experiences. Mike for instance said that his wife got his name tattooed on the inside of her lip, talk about painful.

Green Tattoos

Green Tattoos

Well Mike has declared that he will one up his wife and get her name tattooed on his eyeball, whether or not he is kidding is unknown. Now for the drummer Tre, he is not like most rock n' rollers, he admits that he is a bit of a scaredy cat when it comes to getting tattoos, but he loves them so much that he just puts up with it. He shares that when he was in Oakland getting a tattoo of an anchor on his wrist he had to take a break and went outside and actually passed out on the sidewalk. So why does Tre endure this pain, maybe to keep up with his father who has been tattooing himself for sometime now.

Black Ink Vs Color Ink

tattoo ink

tattoo ink

I know I already wrote post about black ink and color ink, but I have some more thoughts on it and want to share them. As I mentioned in my first black ink vs color ink post it is strictly a personal preference. I for one prefer black ink and I honestly don't know why. But I have also noticed something regrading black and color ink. Of course this doesn't apply to everyone but it does to some.

tattoo ink

tattoo ink

tattoo ink

Okay, I have noticed that when people get tattoos they usually stay with strictly black ink or color ink. Take me for instance I have two tattoos and they are both done in black ink and If I get anymore tattoos than they will more than likely be in black ink as well.

tattoo ink

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt only have black tattoos as well as Megan Fox. But if you notice someone that has colored tattoos than more than likely all of their tattoos are colored. So I am just curious to why people are like this? I wonder why some people are more drawn to black ink, while other are drawn to color. To be frank I can't even answer that question because I fall into one of those category's. But it's just neat to notice different tattoo trends and patterns that people follow or fall into. I think it is safe to say I will probably never know the answer to this question but that's fine with me. I promise it won't be me up at night.

Henna Tattoos Cause Scars

Tattoos

I have read several articles all over the internet claiming that a large amount of people around the world are having severe allergic reactions to henna tattoos.

Tattoos

Granted most of these people have traveled out of the United States to somewhere in Asia. A nine year old girl from Greece got a henna tattoo and within hours of getting it, it blistered and when the blisters popped the ink began to scab off. Then it got redder and hotter. They went to a doctor and the doctor advised them to go to a burn unit at the hospital. Doctors are concerned that this temporary tattoo is going to scare this little girl for life.

Tattoos

There is also another horrible story about a 10 year old boy from Australia that is experience something a little different than blisters, very dark hair is growing around the henna tattoo.

Tattoos

Dermatologists say these horrible allergic reactions are being caused by the toxic dye para-phenylenediamine, or PPD, that these people are using while giving people these henna tattoos. This toxic dye is similar to the dye that is used in hair dye. Also experts are suggesting that these places in Asia are using black ink and not the traditional brown ink.

Tattoos

So the best advise dermatologists and parents who have children that have had reactions to these henna tattoos is just to avoid them all together, especially if you are out of the country. Also if you notice the ink they are using is black is another huge indication to stay away from them. If you want a fake tattoo just stick to the original temporary ones.

Tattoo Arm Designs

Tattoo Arm Designs

Arms are the most frequently tattooed part of the body. This common practice and choice has its roots both in Eastern and Western traditions and makes sense when you consider that our arms are very visible parts of our body and naturally lend themselves to being viewed in most situations.

Tattoo Arm Designs

Most frequently, we see that tattoo arm designs fall into two major categories, Japanese and American Traditional. These will frequently be naval or sailing tattoos, kitch Americana such as pin-up girls from the 40's and 50's style, flags, etc.. They are generally executed within a few basic styles, including different locations on the arm, different sizes, shapes and of course designs.

Tattoo Arm Designs

One popular style becoming more common as tattooing increases in popularity is the SLEEVE TATTOO. These can be a full sleeve which will cover the entire arm, a half sleeve which starts at the shoulder and extends to the forearm, and the quarter sleeve, or quarter arm tattoo which generally goes from the wrist to about the middle of the forearm.

The idea is that the tattoo is dense enough so that no bare skin is evident and the appearance is as if you were wearing an article. You can even find some tattoo 'sleeves" to actually wear that way on e-Bay though I don't recall seeing anyone wearing one myself J.

Tattoo Arm Designs

Another popular pattern for the sleeve is floral, and as you expect generally women will favor this approach. But that isn't written in stone by any means and with the right design a floral pattern will work excellently with men as well.

Your choice is your own, of course, but taking into consideration your build type in general and the size of your arms in relation to the rest of your body is something that would be wise to consider before applying the ink.

Tattoo Arm Designs

Another style you may want to consider is the WRIST TATTOO.
Wrist tattoos are also gaining in popularity, especially with women who enjoy the "bracelet" designs of Japanese, Amerind or Polynesian origin to name just a few. Many of these tattoo arm designs are frequently of the "Tribal" variety and have special meanings to their owners and are believed by many to have some charm effect for them.

Men frequently will choose these tribal patterns because of their starkness and bold coloration. Be sure to consider the cultural and stylistic aspects of any tattoo arm design you choose. Many tribal designs have been "modernized" for contemporary tattoo art and are quite extraordinary.

Other wrist tattoos have designed flame bracelets and the flames will extend various distances up towards the forearm from the wrist area. This style tends to be more associated with the "biker" look and relates well to contemporary Harley Davidson flame paint jobs, to name just one association.

Once you decide on your design for any of these styles, you will need to locate a reputable, experienced and hopefully talented artist to entrust your precious skin to. Be prepared to pay for these because they require a lot of work and time.