Kanji Tattoo Designs

Kanji Tattoo Designs

Kanji script is an intricate system of symbols known as pictograms. These pictograms were first developed in China but became an integral part of written communication in Japan some time around the 5th century. Since then, kanji tattoos have become a way of expressing deeply felt emotions and thoughts through elegant and ancient means. There are roughly 50,000 characters known, and because of this, it is easy to misunderstand or mistake their meaning. Unfortunately, this miscommunication sometimes ends up permanently etched onto the skin of the wearer, so it is important to check and recheck each symbol prior to the tattooing process.

Many kanji tattoos are done in the traditional calligraphy style. These images depict each character in thick, sweeping strokes that look as if they were done by a rounded brush. Sometimes people like to make these images more unique and make the brush strokes look slightly sloppier by leaving behind drops of paint or leaving the edges with unfinished, fading ends. Although black is the most common color for this particular type, some like to have them done in shades of red or jade green.

Despite the fact that calligraphy is very common, some prefer to give their kanji tattoos a more modern slant. For instance, the lines of the characters may be made thin and sharp so as to look as if they were written with a fine-tipped pen. The script may also be given a blunt or block-like appearance. One variation of this particular style would be to create thick lines that are filled in with smaller text. This text could be written in the wearer’s native tongue and may be used to translate what each character means. As an alternative to this, small images that represent the meaning of the character may be used as a background.

Single, meaningful words such as “love,” “joy,” or “peace” are frequently used in kanji tattoos; however, this script can be utilized to tell a much larger story. Poems, lyrics and quotes can often be translated into kanji characters, as can names and dates. It is also fairly common to see this script mingled with images or symbols that are relevant to the wearer. For instance, a portrait of a loved one may be surrounded by kanji script that tells the name and date of birth of the person in the picture. Astrological signs, animals, sheet music and flowers may also make their way into this particular style of kanji body art.

Half Sleeve Tattoo Designs

Half Sleeve Tattoo Designs

Sleeve tattoos are definitely not for the amateur tattoo enthusiast. Whether getting a full sleeve, or only a half sleeve, these designs are not only bold, but very visible. However, if hiding your body art is not an issue, sleeve tattoos can be visually amazing, and leave you quite a bit of room for symbolism.

Some of the most popular styles for sleeve tattoos come straight from Celtic designs. Celtic knots are by far the most popular style in this genre, and rather than being several small pieces placed together, they are usually one long, unending thread that wraps around the arm. For a simple knot design you could either create a flowing version of the Dara knot (a symbol of strength and wisdom), or a plain spiral. For something a bit more intricate you could create a patchwork design of several different Celtic knots. For instance, you could use a row of triquetra knots (the emblem of a perfect threefold unity), and beneath it a row of quaternary (which has a similar meaning to the triquetra, only fourfold instead of three). Animals are also a frequently used symbol for arm sleeves: butterflies, horses, and even mythological beasts such as griffins are very common.

Floral artwork is also regularly used for sleeve tattoos. These designs often feature vines creeping up and around the arm – usually from wrist to shoulder – with small buds blossoming from the skin. It is not uncommon to see other things mingled with these vines. For instance, you may see insects such as ladybugs, spiders, or bees buzzing around the flowers; you may also see fantasy figures like fairies or elves clutching at the vines. For a different twist, the vine could make up the body of a snake or dragon with its head resting at the wrist, or even slithering beyond the sleeve onto your chest or back.

Most sleeve tattoos are a combination of many symbols that have significance to the wearer. For example, you might see a design that shows a cross the length of the upper arm surrounded by clouds with a bright sun rising up from behind it. You might also see a star sign mingling with the planets and stars that make up that particular character. Many people also like to use the symbol of a koi fish swimming upstream; however, you may like to create a fuller scene by using other Japanese symbols such as frogs (symbols of good fortune) idling in the more placid pool of water below the stream; butterflies (emblems for joy) flying in the sky above the stream, or even dragonflies (symbols for victory) swooping over the surface of the water.

There are an endless amount of images and symbols you can use, but whatever you decide upon, sleeve tattoos will always be one of the boldest styles around.

Dragon Tattoo Designs

Dragon Tattoo Designs

Dragon tattoos designs are often used as a symbol of strength and power. They can also be an emblem of spiritual and magical qualities. These are very good reasons why the dragon is one of the best known mythological creatures around the world.

One of the things that make dragon tattoos so desirable is their colorful and bold designs. There are so many different ways to depict a dragon; it is easy to get creative. There are two designs that are seen most frequently. The first is the Western dragon — which has a thick, scaled body; bat-like wings, and a long neck. The second is the Eastern dragon — though still scaled, it has more of a serpentine body and generally does not have wings
dragon tattoos. The Western dragon is most commonly used for its mythological history rather than for a deeper meaning. However, they can occasionally have a deeper meaning, such as the Celtic ‘circle of life’ dragon — which is meant to represent the cyclic nature of life. They can also show pride in nationality. An example of this would be the red dragon, which is the national symbol of Wales.

As for the Eastern dragon, it is more than a large, snake-like creature. These dragons illustrate the elements of fire, wind, earth and water. They can have far reaching implications, being neither good nor evil, they often represent the forces of nature, which can be both beautiful and brutal.

Although most dragon tattoos are colorful, they can also be done in black and shades of grey. Black and red is another great option, and is frequently seen in tribal tattoo designs.

Given the protean nature of dragons, it is possible to create a variety of scenes and a variety of creatures. One fascinating design is the koi fish dragon. The koi being a sign of masculinity, wisdom and longevity, is said to climb waterfalls and at the end of its trek, is transformed into a dragon. This design can be simple and show a creature featuring attributes of both a dragon and a koi fish, or they can be intricate and depict the journey between fish and beast.

The backdrop of dragon tattoos can be just as diverse as the dragon itself. Flames, flowers and symbols of peace are frequently used. However, you can tell a story with a landscape. A medieval castle; emerging from a cave, or a Japanese woodblock-type background with rippling waves, mountains and colorful skies.

Black or highly colored; placed in a small area of the body, or covering whole portions of the body. Whatever the design, dragon tattoos can symbolize power, nobility, magic and a transcendence from normality. It is often used as an expression of how we feel about our self, or how we would like to see ourselves — strong and free.
MORE Dragon Tattoo Designs