TATTOOS HAVE BEEN A RIGHT OF PASSAGE FOR MANY YEARS
Many cultures in the world have used tattoos, body modification, and scarification as a means for a right of passage. Both males and females had their different rituals. There were multiple reasons for these to occur. Often, a right of passage was a coming of age, such as becoming a man or for a woman, being able to have children. Enduring the pain meant you were ready for your new role in your society.
Other former rights of passage, in all forms of body modification, was in regards to battle or a hunt. Being victorious in battle could earn you certain marks. The more you were successful, the more marks you got. It was to show your peers and enemies you were fierce and someone to respect. To bring down a dangerous or large animal also earned you different marks, showing your prowess as a hunter.
Some cultures that exist today still practice these forms of body modification, and can be found on nearly every continent. It's most commonly seen in African tribal cultures, but it's just as prevalent in many other parts of the world. Traditional rights of passage have been passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years.
In today's society, most of the advanced cultures don't generally view tattoos as a right of passage. This is particularly true if someone uses numbing agents or get put under anesthesia (yes, it happens) to get their tattoos. They are missing out on part of the experience, and they're looking for the payoff without the price. The pain involved with getting a tattoo is part of what makes it a right of passage.
ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR NEXT TATTOO?
If you're ready to get your next tattoo done, schedule an appointment with an award-winning tattoo parlor. Here at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, we have some of the best and most experienced tattoo artists in Utah and the Salt Lake City area. We can tattoo any style you'd like, and our artists can even design your next piece as well.
Come see why we have been voted "The Best Tattoo Studio In Utah" for several years in a row.
Lucky Bamboo Tattoo understands that tattoo collectors searching for the best tattoo shop in Utah comes with a big responsibility and we here at LBT are ready to fulfill your tattoo needs.
THE USA IS UNFORTUNATELY LACKING IN REGULATIONS FOR TATTOOS
Many in the country view regulations as a negative. This may be true for some things, but when it comes to health and safety, they are kind of important. The tattoo industry has virtually no consumer protection in America. Fortunately, Lucky Bamboo Tattoo holds itself to a much higher standard than the industry norm.
What's even stranger still, there are some elements in the tattooing world that push back against any sort of regulation presented. Why wouldn't they want the health and safety of their client put into consideration? It's almost suspicious. Are they trying to cut corners to increase their profit margins? Low quality materials are certainly cheaper, so that would make sense. Oddly, you'll even hear about so-called well known artists fighting against regulations of any kind. What are they afraid of?
Another thing that has many in the industry confused in the topic of permits vs having a license. A permit is just a permit. You fill out a form, pay the fee, and boom...you are a tattoo artist. No verification, no proof of education or skill, nothing. This is a massive disservice to clients. Any unqualified person can simply open a tattoo shop and start working. A license is different. You need proof of your skill and education as a tattoo artist before you can work. Most states do not require a license to become a tattoo artist. Watch our video by clicking the button to learn more about this.
Something else that seriously needs some regulations are materials, inks in particular. Literally anybody can make their own brand of ink and immediately put it on the market. There is nothing stopping them. Who knows the sanitary conditions, if any, were used in the creation and manufacturing of these inks? What's in them? Do they contain materials known to be unsafe? There is absolutely no way to know. There are tattoo artists out there that will actually buy these random inks to save money, and that puts their clients at risk.
Every artist at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo uses EU regulated inks, which are among the strictest in the world in regards to consumer safety and regulations. All the materials used in our studio are top of the line, from the machines, inks, needles, etc. The owner, who's also the head tattoo artist of the studio, does not allow the usage of cheap stuff. No exceptions. Any artist that works under the Lucky Bamboo Tattoo name must adhere to these standards.
This is part of the reason why cheap tattoos are cheap. Combine unskilled scratcher artists with low quality materials, and you get cheap poorly done tattoos. As said in the industry, "Cheap tattoos aren't good, and good tattoos aren't cheap."
All clients, and all serious tattoo artists should welcome regulations regarding licensing and the overseeing of the safety of materials. It's in the best interest for both parties, and people should accept these regulations with open arms. The health and safety of the client should be top priority for a tattoo artist.
Rest assured, regardless of how the United States chooses what or what not to regulate, Lucky Bamboo Tattoo always has and always will adhere to top of the line standards. Our artists will not compromise our clients over cost. As artists proud of their work, they want to make sure all of their clients are happy, and will be able to continue to enjoy their art for many years to come.
ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR NEXT TATTOO?
If you're ready to get your next tattoo done, schedule an appointment or a consult with an award-winning tattoo parlor. Here at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, we have some of the best and most experienced tattoo artists in Utah and the Salt Lake City area. We can tattoo any style you'd like, and our artists can even design your next piece as well.
Come see why we have been voted "The Best Tattoo Studio In Utah" for several years in a row.
Lucky Bamboo Tattoo understands that tattoo collectors searching for the best tattoo shop in Utah comes with a big responsibility and we here at LBT are ready to fulfill your tattoo needs.
Like other forms of the creative arts, an illustrator has to metaphorically travel many miles on the path before they can become a tattoo artist. Many steps are involved. Some obstacles. Commitment. Determination.
When someone begins the path towards a career as a tattoo artist, one of the first things they'll need is an innate skill for creating unique works of art. Something that catches the eye and that others love to look at. You need to put yourself out there and ask for brutally honest opinions. Sometimes someone may think they're a great artist, but they may be sadly very wrong. The only way to really know is to rely on direct honesty and be open to the truth. Sometimes the truth is very difficult to accept.
Once a person establishes whether they are a good or bad illustrator, next they need education regardless of the answer. If you are a bad artist, it's possible to become good through education and a mentor. If after working hard during this process, and you are still getting mixed or bad reviews, it just may not be the vocation for you. If you were already good, education will only make you better by learning techniques and skills you may not have had before.
After you've honed your skill through practice and education, now is the time to start translating that into tattooing. Drawing and tattooing are NOT the same. They are completely different skill sets. Though nearly all established veteran tattoo artists won't consider taking on an apprentice without producing some sort of skill in tattooing, such as practice on fake skins, some may. It's better to invest in a decent machine, buy some fake skins and inks, and study the actual skills needed to tattoo.
Some of the most basic skills are hand speed, needle depth, angle, voltage (machine speed) vs hand speed, and so on. A prospective tattoo artist will likely spend many hours practicing doing lines, over and over and over. If you can't master the most basic of actions, you simply won't make it as a tattoo artist. After you learn the fundamentals, then you'll need to produce "completed" tattoos on fake skins. You'll need these for your portfolio for your potential mentor to look over.
If a person has demonstrated that they indeed have artistic skill, some art education, and the basics of tattooing, they may be ready to look for an apprenticeship. Before you move forward, you will need to have a comprehensive portfolio of completed works of art, including your practice skins. If you are deemed ready and get your chance to become an apprentice, don't expect to be tattooing for quite a while. Likely during this time, you will be learning. You will also be setting up and breaking down for tattoo sessions. This is done so that these necessary sanitary practices become second nature.
Only after you have proven to be ready to your mentor will you be ready to do your first in studio tattoo. It will most likely be monitored by the mentor to make sure you are doing everything correctly. This will probably be the standard for your first several tattoo sessions, or until your mentor is comfortable leaving you on your own.
The last major stage would be to establish yourself in the tattooing community. A new artist needs to spend a good amount of time self promoting so that they can build a client base. It will take some time before a new artists schedule starts to fill up, so patience and determination are very important if they want to make it.
With all that has been mentioned, why would anybody want to become a tattoo artist?
SO WHY BECOME A TATTOO ARTIST?
Well, once you are established and have a good reputation, a tattoo artist can make a rather comfortable living. The tattoo artist can be the rare exception to the "starving artist" trope, if they're good. The same can't be said of most other art forms, such as music and painting. It's far more difficult to make any money in other forms of art. A tattoo artist has a much greater chance at becoming successful in their chosen industry.
It's easier to be able to establish a family, buy a home, pay for vacations, retire younger, etc if you make decent money and know how to properly manage it. Some tattooers also venture into other investments or businesses, which just furthers their ability to take care of their families.
Since most real tattoo artists love the process, they get to do what they love for a living. That's everyone's dream, isn't it? Nobody wants to wake up each morning and dreading going to work. That's not to say that there are days that tattooers don't feel that way, it's human nature. However, in the most part, they don't dread going to work, and quite a bit of the time, look forward to it. Being passionate about seeing a work of art come to fruition on their client is a blessing.
Leaving a legacy is also a good reason. Their artwork will live on, even after both the artist and the client have passed on through images shared. It helps if an artist self publishes books showing off completed tattoos. These books will remain after we are gone.
Through all the hardships on the road to becoming a tattoo artist, the benefit outweigh the negatives. If you have skill, patience, passion, and determination, the life of a tattoo artist can be really nice.
If you'd like to read more about the life of a tattoo artist, click on the button below to read our article!
If you're ready to get your next tattoo done, schedule an appointment with an award-winning tattoo parlor. Here at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, we have some of the best and most experienced tattoo artists in Utah and the Salt Lake City area. We can tattoo any style you'd like, and our artists can even design your next piece as well.
Come see why we have been voted "The Best Tattoo Studio In Utah" for several years in a row.
Lucky Bamboo Tattoo understands that tattoo collectors searching for the best tattoo shop in Utah comes with a big responsibility and we here at LBT are ready to fulfill your tattoo needs.
In the world of tattooing, artists are the forefront of creation and execution of a good, well done tattoo. Not all artists are created equal. Not by a long shot. Some are great, some are good, and some are flat out terrible. It may sound harsh and judgmental, but it's simply a fact. Not everyone is cut out to be a tattoo artist. If it were that easy, more people would do it.
WHAT MAKES AN ARTIST BAD OR GOOD?
There are many things that can contribute to how good or bad an artist is. As a client, you'll want to learn if your potential artist is one to avoid. Not only do you want your tattoo to come out as good or better than you expect, but you also want your overall experience to be a good one. Here are some of the things that determine if someone is a good tattoo artist or a bad one.
ART EDUCATION
A person isn't necessarily a "bad" artist if they don't have any formal art education. Some people out there are very good artists just through personal practice. However, a tattoo artist with a real art education does have an edge and some advantages. They learn many skills that you generally don't just pick up on your own, regardless of how good you might be. Various techniques and abilities need to be learned from an experienced teacher and observed to make sure they are being done correctly.
SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE
There are more than one type of person out there that does tattoos. Some are artists that studied, practiced and had an apprenticeship. Then, there are those that bought a tattoo machine online and randomly decided that they are a tattoo artist. An unskilled and untrained person doing tattoos is not a tattoo artist, they are a 'scratcher'. Scratchers are the cause of the vast majority of complications, blow outs, and the reason someone needs a cover-up. Avoid scratchers.
Another important factor is knowledge. Not just knowledge of what to do, but also what NOT to do. This pertains to both the whole of the tattooing process, but also about sanitary and cleanliness practices. If your artist has not gone through and maintained a Bloodborne Pathogens certification, you need a new artist. Knowing how to keep your work area clean, sanitized and safe are very important. Knowing how to avoid cross-contamination are very important. Knowledge is important. A good artist has this knowledge through training and practice.
TEMPERAMENT
An artists temperament can play a key role on how good of a tattoo artist they are. If a person has a generally crappy attitude, they're a bummer to be around. This is extra true regarding your tattoo artist. Who wants to sit for hours with some grump while they mope and scribble on you angrily? A good artist, regardless of what is going on in their personal life, will put all that on the back burner and focus on their work. A real artist is a professional and doesn't bring their personal problems to the studio.
PATIENCE
A good artist will always be patient. Not just with clients, but also with themself and the process. Sure, everybody can get frustrated now and then when a piece of art they're working on isn't coming out as they envisioned. The good artist approaches this with patience and just keeps working on the drawing until it comes out right. The bad artist throws their hands up in the air and just gives up on that piece and starts from scratch.
Sometimes, it's the client that can be frustrating. It happens. The good artists will keep moving forward with a good attitude until the project is finished. Bad artists might simply rush the tattoo to get it over with, leaving their client with poor work. Even if it's a piece the artist isn't thrilled about, if they're good, they'll still put their all into it because regardless of how they feel about the concept, they'll still want it to come out as well as the client expects.
KEEPING IT PROFESSIONAL
Most of us get to deal with listening to the problems of our family and friends. Who wants to sit and listen to their tattoo artist complain for hours about their troubles? That may sound heartless, but people want a certain experience while getting their tattoo. Listening to someone complain isn't that experience. We all have problems, we don't want to hear about other peoples while we are trying to enjoy ourselves.
KEEPING IT PROFESSIONAL II
Unfortunately, there are quite a few so-called artists that are also very inappropriate towards their clients, to the degree of sexual harassment. If you have an artist that is saying things that make you feel uncomfortable or that you're actually in danger, that is most definitely a bad artist. Sometimes those types get a reputation because of it, and not the good kind. If you hear time and time again about a situation where a particular artist was out of hand, you may want to avoid that person.
Don't be too quick to judge, however, off of one online review. Sometimes people just make things up for whatever malicious reason they have. Look at an artists reviews as a whole. If someone has a ton of great reviews, but one that seems a bit fishy, you can generally get a good feel for someone by just meeting them in person. Perhaps book a consultation with that artist and see for yourself.
The previous applies to both men and women because both can be guilty of harassment. Not only verbal, but also physical. If you are in a session, and your artist is making contact frequently somewhere where no tattooing is occurring and there's no reason for any touching there, say something. Make sure they know that it's not welcome. Too many shy people have told them over time that it's "okay" to do that by keeping quiet. Don't let them think that way.
RELIABILITY
Any good artist will be reliable. They'll be completely prepared with your art, they'll be set up and ready to go once your session is supposed to start. Sometimes unforeseen complications can happen, such as your artist is very sick. In that event, it's best to reschedule for both your personal health and for the sake of your tattoo. If you artist is really under the weather, you won't get their best work. It's worth waiting to get it done once they are well. It can be frustrating, but it's for the best.
A bad artist will often be late to work, not be prepared with your art at all, take 30 min of your session time setting up, and so on. Again, sometimes things happen, and some of the previous things occur even to the best artist, but this would be an anomaly. If they're generally reliable, then that means they fall into the category of a good artist. It's when it's constant to the point of expected that they'll be late or unprepared is when they're bad at what they do.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE/CONSTANT SMOKE BREAKS
If your artist has to get a little stoned or have a few drinks before or during your tattoo, this is definitely not a professional and is a bad artist. There's nothing wrong with people partaking now and then, and having a few drinks, but not while you're tattooing, or doing any job, really.
If your artist can't go a few hours tattooing without taking a smoke break, maybe it's time for them to quit (smoking or tattooing). Smoking isn't a necessity and it can be put off for at least 2 hours, in the very least. Nobody has to go smoke every 15 minutes, artists or clients. True nicotine addiction cravings don't really take place for about 6-8 hours after the last drag. Surely a person can go a couple of hours without needing a butt.
TO SUMMARIZE
A good artist will be educated, skilled, knowledgable, professional, prepared, and reliable. A bad artist will be the opposite.
ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR NEXT TATTOO?
If you're ready to get your next tattoo done, schedule an appointment with an award-winning tattoo parlor. Here at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, we have some of the best and most experienced tattoo artists in Utah and the Salt Lake City area. We can tattoo any style you'd like, and our artists can even design your next piece as well.
Come see why we have been voted "The Best Tattoo Studio In Utah" for several years in a row.
Lucky Bamboo Tattoo understands that tattoo collectors searching for the best tattoo shop in Utah comes with a big responsibility and we here at LBT are ready to fulfill your tattoo needs.
It's important to reflect on the sacrifices our soldiers have given since the Revolutionary War. Average Americans have always risen to the challenge time and time again since before its official founding. During the Revolutionary, Spanish/American, and Civil wars, men who had never even touched a gun in their life, took up arms to defend their country.
EARLY MANKIND
Tattoos and war have been connected for thousands of years. Warriors from all kinds of cultures around the world have historical evidence to tattoos or war paint given before or after a battle, and sometime both. Tattoos and war paint were used as a means of intimidation, and to make the warrior to appear more fierce. The Norse were known to darken around their eyes to look menacing, but it's unknown if they were permanent tattoos, paint, or even soot.
It's well documented that Native Americans often donned war paint, and even painted their horses in anticipation for a battle or for a hunt. Although not as common as just using paint, Native American tribes did practice permanent tattoos and body modification. Permanent ink was usually linked to an achievement, often attributed to glory against a powerful foe. It was a big deal if a warrior took down a chief. Not something to be taken lightly.
COLONIAL AMERICA
Colonial era British navy men often got tattoos representing what regiment and ship they were assigned to. Everyone from the common seaman, petty officers, and all the way to an Admiral would have tattoos, as they weren't class based, but more of a camaraderie. It wasn't unheard of to also have your family crest as a tattoo.
Early colonial Americans would sometimes get tattoos of their name and where they live in the colonies due to the common event that they would essentially be kidnapped and conscripted into the British Navy, and their tattoo was the only proof they could provide that they weren't actually British citizens or navy deserters.
WARS OF THE 20TH CENTURY
Starting around WWI, and although not nearly as common as during WWII, US military, particularly in the navy, would often get tattoos as keepsakes and in remembrance of the places they've been during their wartime travels. Like the early British navy, it didn't matter the rank or class, everyone got tattoos. The most common style seen was what is now called, American Traditional. Back then, it was just your standard tattoo. Nearly everyone who had a grandfather survive WWII can remember their grandfathers tattoos. Thick lined, faded, sometimes you barely make out what it was. Maybe an anchor? A hula dancer?
Unfortunately, during WWII, there was some well known forced tattoos. In an unfortunate time for Germany, Jewish prisoners were all tattooed on the forearm/wrist a serial number for cataloging and tracking. They were essentially branded like animals. This wasn't condoned by the vast majority of Germans, of course, but it still happened.
If you didn't turn a blind eye to the atrocities of the war, the ones in power could mark you as a Jewish sympathizer and you could be executed. However, there was a substantial underground resistance that attempted multiple times to take out Hitler and his higher-ups, but without success. They were eventually discovered and executed as traitors. The most famous of these attempts was an elaborate scheme known as "Operation Valkyrie."
The practice of getting tattoos while in the military continued on to the Vietnam War. A different type of tattoo appeared during this "police action". Unlike during WWII, a lot of the tattoos no longer appeared to be of a docile subject matter, like a hula dancer (although a fairly racist term towards the Japanese in the form of a tattoo was common in WWII). The tattoos appeared more geared towards violence and glory. Skulls, the ace of spades, anti-asian sentiments, images of machines of war (such as tanks and helicopters), and so on.
MODERN MILITARY
In today's US military, the tattoos have become often symbolic. US flags, eagles, ;IGY6 (I got your six), tributes to past military, branch emblem, etc. It seems more based off of pride and appreciation, and less about glory and death. It's a great move forward in the right direction. Death and destruction should not be glorified.
ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR NEXT TATTOO?
If you're ready to get your next tattoo done, schedule an appointment with an award-winning tattoo parlor. Here at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, we have some of the best and most experienced tattoo artists in the Salt Lake City area. We can tattoo any style you'd like, and our artists can even design your next piece as well.
Tattoos, at least good tattoos, can be expensive. Treat yourself! It's understandable trying to justify getting yourself a new tattoo. You may feel guilty spending that kind of money on yourself, but you shouldn't. A tattoo isn't something you should get buyer's remorse over, (mainly because you can't return it.) Hopefully, we can help you, through reasoning, to not feel that way and to KNOW why you deserve a new tattoo!
Believe it or not, but there are many people out there that have a really hard time spending money on themselves. They're not greedy, they usually are the type of person that spends their money on others. However, when it comes to themselves, even buying themself new shoes may be difficult for them to justify, regardless on how badly they may need them. That mindset is often linked to being a co-dependent, but that's a whole other article.
Fortunately, there are some ways you can get around these feelings and to help you move past it so that you can enjoy the good things in life, such as a new tattoo.
Take the Stuart Smalley™ approach! Tell yourself that you're "good enough, smart enough and gosh darn it, people like you."
Take mental stock on what you've done for yourself lately. Treating yourself to things you want is psychologically important to see and enjoy the fruits of your labor from the work you do for a living.
Doing something you love can be a stress reliever and helps aid in overcoming depression.
Use it as a means to celebrate a recent accomplishment such as a job promotion/raise/bonus, a new baby, etc.
Treat yourself by reaching a new milestone health related, such as losing weight, quitting or cutting back on drinking or smoking, you ran 5 miles for the first time, etc. Doing things for yourself for these achievements is a great motivator and can help keep you on track for further accomplishments!
Celebrate a strengthened relationship such as getting married/engaged or to commemorate a longterm friendship. Matching tattoos are not considered tacky for most cases and are a fun way to celebrate such things.
Get tattooed to celebrate and commemorate an event. A good example of this is when the original cast of the fellowship for LoTR all got matching tattoos for the grand adventure and experience they all shared. Perhaps you and a friend climbed Mt Everest together, celebrate that with a tattoo of the peak with the date (and probably a beer)!
You just need something new that's just for you. Sometimes something new in your life is a great way to give yourself a boost! Occasionally that little boost is just what any of us needs to help us leap forward.
Maybe you've been thinking about a memorial tattoo for a while now. There's not better time than the present to treat yourself by honoring another person or even a pet.
Celebrate your heritage! A very popular tattoo to get is something that celebrates your roots. A family crest. Celtic knot work. Intricate Norse tattoos. Your native countries flag.
You're in a rut and a new tattoo may help you get out of that funk. Getting that fresh tattoo may motivate you to go out and enjoy the night life, giving you a solid reason to show off the new art! This way, you treat yourself double! Not a bad thing!
Researching your tattoo can be more important than you may realize. Sometimes a person wants a particular symbol, or something in another language, or a collection of images as a tattoo. Perhaps you are looking to get some historically traditional tribal work done. The symbolic nature of tattoos can be different than what you expect. You may want to spend a little time researching what you are looking to get so that you don't accidentally get a tattoo that means something completely different than what you want to express.
Regarding another language, these are the most common to get messed up. One sure fire way to avoid mistakes is to show a native speaker of the language what you are looking to get and ask them if they would mind translating it for you. If what they say pretty much matches what you intended, then you're good to go. However, if you are looking for the Kanji for "Courage" and the translator says it means "Ham Sandwich", you may want to research again. Finding a native speaker may be a little difficult in some circumstances, so reverse image searches in Google can often times help alleviate that problem. It just takes a little patience.
Another tricky one can be traditional tribal work, particularly Polynesian. You may not be aware, but each little symbol, line, angle and so on means something. You could very easily get your Polynesian sleeve done, sat many hours in the chair and spent a lot of money just to have a piece that means absolutely nothing, or worse, means something completely unintended. Researching these meanings can be crucial and it's a good idea to find an artist that has done their own research and knows what they are doing.
What if your sleeve symbolizes that you are a criminal? An outcast? Or of the opposite gender? There are many possible things that tattoo could translate to, to someone familiar with it's symbolism. It's best to see an artist that knows the meaning, to actually give you your tattoo (as it happens to be, we have one here at Lucky Bamboo!).
Sometimes someone will see a symbol somewhere either online or on someone else and decide they want to get the same thing. Understandable, you see something you like, and you want it. However, maybe you should still do a little research into it. This reminds us of a situation where a guy saw a tattoo on his rescue dog and thought out of solidarity with his new friend, he would get the same thing. It ended up being the symbol for "neutered". Others have gotten symbols or lettering only to find out later on that it was something racist. There was someone that got two squared off "lightning bolts", and found out it was actually the Nazi "SS" symbol.
Most people would probably be shocked to learn that got something that offensive without intention. If that were to happen, sometimes a cover-up on that tattoo is your only option to save yourself embarrassment on your mistake.
The symbolic nature of our tattoos can be quite personal and important. Think of memorial tattoos. Whether for a loved one or a lost pet, we want to make sure that everything in that tattoo is perfect and how you envisioned it from the beginning. It can just be important as a portrait tattoo, which no artists should try and tackle without 100 percent confidence in their ability to make sure you can do it perfectly.
As you can see, knowing what you are looking to get done can be very important to the message you intend to send. It's a good idea to spend a little time researching so that you can avoid mistakes and need a cover-up. Researching is key!
There are many styles of tattoos out there. Some have been around forever, some are new to the scene. Not everyone likes every style, but most people have a favorite. We all express ourselves through our tattoos, and choosing a style that best suites to show who YOU are is important to most of us.
Here is a list of all the predominant tattoo styles available.
TRADITIONAL:Traditional style tattoos are the old school. They've been around for nearly 100 years. They're often bold dark lines with traditional coloring. Often they're of naval themes, pin-ups, hula girls, skulls, sparrows and so forth. They are unique and unmistakable.
NEO-TRADITIONAL:Much like its namesake, they have bold dark lines with bright colors. However, the difference is the color saturation and shading is much smoother and fuller, and not of traditional subject matter. You can literally get any idea done in this style.
REALISTIC:Just as it sounds, realistic looking tattoos of anything and everything.
ULTRA-REALISTIC:Also known as photo-realistic, this takes realism to the next level and gives you a tattoo that almost looks like a photograph. Only the most skilled tattoo artists can pull off this style.
ILLUSTRATIVE/ARTISTIC:This style looks like art from a book. It borrows elements of both traditional and realism. Often, if done well, is quite beautiful. These kind can be either in black/grey or in color.
DARK ART:Dark art often is of "dark" subject matters, but not always. It also can be that It's noticeable by the extreme contrast of the black and grey.
PORTRAIT:Portrait tattoos, like ultra-realism, require a very skilled artist. Portrait tattoos are tattoos of a person or animal/pet and resemble the subject exactly. They are considered by many to be the most difficult style of tattoo because if you don't do it just right, it won't look anything like it was supposed to.
TRIBAL: True tribal tattoos are often attributed to Maori, Polynesian, Aborigini and even Native American. These tattoos generally have a deeper meaning in the culture, and some feel it's questionable for someone not of one of these people's to get one of their tattoos.
NORSE/CELTIC:These two are both roundly loved for their intricate knot work and overall beauty. They're often grounded on historical designs that have been around for many hundreds of years.
FINE LINE:Fine line tattoos are exactly that. Very fine, often black, lines for whatever the design might be. It can range from skulls to roses. Practically anything can be done in fine line.
MINIMALIST: A minimalist tattoo is often lacking too much detail or definition, little to no shading, but have well done, deliberate lines. The range in very small to large.
WATERCOLOR: A watercolor tattoo is done by a skilled artist, who uses many shades of the same colors, blending them exact to replicate a watercolor painting.
PATCHWORK:Patchwork tattoos are a collection of a bunch of smaller tattoos, and quite often, don't go along with any particular theme. You could have a skull next to a toaster, next to a shoe. There literally are no rules.
JAPANESE:Traditional Japanese styles tell a story through symbolism. They're often very brightly colored and bold lines. They can be applied either by machine or Tebori (manual tapping).
SKETCH: Sketch tattoos look just like a sketch from a book, with intentional stray lines to resemble the drawing. They can be either black/grey or color.
MICRO:These tiny and beautiful tattoos are generally highly detailed despite their size. You'll often see them in color, but they can be in just black/grey. Subject matter ranges from bugs to airplanes. Anything, really.
TRASH POLKA:Started in Germany, these distinct black and red tattoos blend a chaotic version of realism with blackwork, and often tell a story through the differing images that blend together.
IGNORANT:Probably the newest kid on the block, ignorant style tattoos are intentionally poorly drawn, often don't make too much sense but are oddly appealing and well done. They are the new rebellious tattoo, as other tattoos have become more mainstream and accepted.
PATCH/STICKER:These two styles literally look just like a real life sewn patch or a sticker. If well done, it's incredibly hard to tell if they're real or a tattoo. Some more talented artists have even recreated the holographic style of sticker as a tattoo, and they are quite impressive.
3-D:3D tattoos are done in a way to trick the eye into making the tattoo look 3 dimensional. This is also done in red and blue offset image inks, so that when wearing 3D glasses, the tattoo appears to float over the skin.
Whatever your personal taste is, hopefully we've given you some ideas for your next tattoo!
