Dragon tattoos are popular all over the world. Nowadays more than thirty percents of people that are going to make a tattoo chose a dragon tattoo design. Maybe the reason for such incredible popularity is that dragons are personages of many legends in nearly all cultures. Dragons can have different character, but they are certainly powerful creatures. The other reason may be that there are many styles of dragon tattoos that differ in design and in meaning. But there are two main types of dragon tattoos: Western dragon and Eastern dragon.
The meaning of Eastern dragon tattoos is always positive. In Chinese mythology dragon is a symbol of wisdom and knowledge. In the East dragon tattoos are extremely popular. They reveal the intelligence and are often made as talismans. In China people believe that dragon tattoo designs bring luck and happiness.
Western dragon is also an important character of many legends and myths. But usually its meaning far from positive. In European legends dragons were powerful but dangerous creatures. They destroyed villages with fire and were often associated with greed.
But in Britain there was different attitude to dragons. Dragons were sacred creatures in Celtic myths and they often symbolized Britons. So there is a special type of tattoos Welsh dragons tattoos that often reveal the proud for past and Celtic origin of the owner. Such tattoos have positive meaning and are widely spread in Britain and Europe.
But from all myths and legends we know that dragons are extremely powerful. Maybe they are the most popular mythical creatures in the world. Mentions of dragons can be found in al cultures and not depending on the connotation dragons are always highly respected and dragon tattoo designs wonderfully popular. Nor less important is the great variety of dragon tattoo designs. They are made in absolutely different styles and colors. You can choose traditional Chinese dragon tattoo or stylish tribal design; dragon tattoo can be made in classic black ink or in bright colors. Everybody can choose a dragon tattoo for himself or create an individual design. And this is certainly another reason for dragon tattoos popularity. But the meaning of such tattoo is always individual. Many people make dragon tattoo as a symbol of power and might. Others associate it with wisdom and think that a dragon tattoo emphasizes their intelligence. But on the whole a dragon tattoo is always a kind of statement. It reveals persons character and will. In some cultures such tattoos also show respect for traditions of ancestors.
All dragon tattoo designs always have deep meaning, more than that they always look original and attractive. Dragon tattoos are usually quite big and are often made bright. They are used as back tattoos than the dragon is made on the size of the whole back. Such tattoo is quite extreme and extravagant of course, but it looks great and attracts attention. Such dragon tattoo design reveals a strong will and free character of its owner. All dragon tattoos look stylish and emphasize a good taste of their owners.

Tattoo By Thomas Hooper


Image by Victhor The Vegan AKA Heavy Metal Quilter
Tattooing at Rock of Ages Tattoo shop in Austin Texas

More Tattoo Articles

A tattoo DVD is a very essential part of starting a job as a professional tattoo artist. A tattoo DVD is able everywhere. Nowadays it is easily available in a tattoo kit. If the supplier does not give a tattoo DVD with the tattoo kit then ask for one. A tattoo DVD can be very helpful for a beginner when ordering his first tattoo kit.

A tattoo DVD will tell you exactly how to make a tattoo. It will tell you exactly how to use a tattoo kit. It is be a detailed video on tattooing. Most importantly, it will explain how to make use of the needles used in the tattooing process. A little negligence with the needles can lead to a problem for the customer on the table. The profession of tattooing may pay well and seem exciting but in reality it requires a lot of attention. A moment of negligence may get you in a serious trouble. So make sure you go through the tattoo DVD before you actually start doing it.

A tattoo DVD not only helps in knowing how to make a tattoo but it also helps you in knowing how to take care of the kit properly. By taking care I mean, how to keep the needle and the tattoo gun clean and away from germs. It is generally preferred that one tattoo needle is used only on one customer. Remember to open the tattoo needle in front of the customer only, so that he/she does not suspect you of reusing an old needle. The habit is not only safe but also gives you a good name in the market. People know that you maintain your tattoo studio properly and so more people tend to approach you for getting their tattoo done.

You can also find a tattoo DVD for some new tattooing techniques or when new tattoo equipments are launched. You can get to know everything using the DVD. The suppliers also prefer adding a DVD with the kit as it gives them an edge over the others who do not add up a DVD in their kit. It is obvious people will prefer a kit with a DVD as it will give them all the relevant information they need to know. This way they are sure of what they have to do with each of the equipments. 

Tribal Arm Tattoo


Image by vlowe_ktm
Tattoo idea

Related Tattoo Articles

Random trivia, but the pig tattoo above it was done a year ago. Same location. And just by coincidence, same tattooist.

Fashion knows no boundaries as it is have beyond clothes into how you beautify your body. The best way to do this is by having tattoos on your body depending on where you want it to be, how big the design as well as the number of tattoos you prefer. When you go to a professional tattoo designer and request for a certain tattoo done on you the first thing a professional has to check on is if they have enough or the correct tattoo supplies for that job. 

There are various necessary tattoo supplies that have to be present regardless of the design you are working on. A good example of this is the LCD 928 Tattoo Flash Stencil Maker Transfer Copier (110~220V). This machine is so important due to its function. Out of all the tattoo supplies needed it is the only one with the capabilities of transferring a tattoo. As earlier stated the tattoo supplies you will need to complete a job will highly depend on the job at hand.

There are various other tattoo supplies such as 20mL 7 Bottles of Color Great Tattoo Ink Pigment. This comes in quite handy when it comes to beautifying tattoos and getting a prettier look. These particular tattoo supplies make it possible for you to alternate the colors of your tattoos as a way of getting variety and also to match up you depending on the occasion you are attending by changing the colors. These colors come in various types and are also quite unique. With all the necessary tattoo supplies needed tattoo inks are very important when it comes to producing tattoos.

Some of the most commonly used colors are yellow, green, purple as well as red. You do not have to worry about damaging your skin since these colors are completely secure and very easy to use.

One other benefit of these tattoo supplies pigment formulas is the fact that they have the ability to last for quite a longtime. As earlier stated you will also get to select from a wide variety of colors which are quite lively and rich. They also remain in tack for a long period of time. This will help to ensure that your tattoo stays in a good condition for a long time without losing color. It is also important to ensure that you get good quality tattoo supplies.

Back tattoo


Image by The Pug Father
My back piece, done by Jay Fish at Acme Ink. Originally tattooed from 1999-2001. Still needs to be finished.

- skull

Tattoo & Design by APRO

Wrist tattoos are very popular for both men and women as there are many design choices available. There are also several placement options as well. Here are some ideas to consider before you get your wrist tattoo.

One of the most popular choices for wrists are bracelet type tattoos that encircle the entire wrist. Good design choices for this are a chain, barbed wire, celtic or tribal designs, flowers and even quotes or wording. If you don’t want this type of tattoo, then you can either have your ink on the top or underside of your wrist. The design options for these placement areas are endless. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Hearts
Stars
Zodiac Sign
Butterfly, Dragonfly, Ladybug, Lizard, Frog, Spider, Turtle (or any other flying or crawling critter)
Cross (or other religious symbols)
Dolphin
Sun or Moon
Name or Words
Angel
Cherries or Cherry Blossoms
Chinese or Japanese Symbols
Musical Notes
Clover
Horseshoe
Dove

Almost any small design will work great for a wrist tattoo. Many people have a design starting at the wrist and then going up the arm. Another idea is to have both wrists tattooed with different words or symbols that compliment each other. There is really a lot of unique ideas for these types of tattoos, but they just have to be on a small scale.

Many people also choose this location to get their tattoo because depending on the design, it can be easily hidden. You may need to hide it because of your job or other reasons and a watch or bracelet can be worn over the tattoo to cover it up.

Wrist tattoos are also a good choice for someone that is getting their first tattoo.

Many times people want a small one to begin with and these are perfect for that. Use the above ideas to get you started on planning your wrist tattoo.

Tattoo_Black & tattoo(2007) – Chicano Style


Image by Apro Lee
Tattoo_Black & tattoo(2007)

- Chicano Style

Tattoo & Design by APRO

Tattoo trends come and go over the years and it is always interesting to see what the next tattoo trend will be. Here lately it seems that the latest tattoo trends seem to be geared more towards woman. Maybe it’s because woman are tending to get more tattoos these days than men. In any case woman are constantly coming up with unique ways to have a tattoo but also have it in a place where it can be covered up if need be. The most popular tattoo location for woman hands down is the lower back. This location is very easy to cover up and it is also sexy. However, a new trend is emerging for women. The new trend is to have a tattoo on your ear or behind your ear.

Ear tattoos are slowly starting to gain popularity among women. This location is great because if you have long hair or hair that is long enough to put behind your ear the tattoo can be covered up. Depending on the design that the woman picks it can bring some feminine style as well as some sassiness to a woman. Believe it or not this small location is not limited to just a few tattoos. The tattoo design that can go there are limitless.

Also since the space on your ear and behind your ear is not that large the time it will take to get this done is rather short. However, it will more than likely be rather painful due to the fact that there is no fat to help cushion and absorb the pain from the tattoo. So it would probably not be advised for someone with low pain tolerance to get a tattoo there. But if you can muster the pain you will be very pleased with your new piece of body art on or behind your ear.

Your Tattoo Friend

Ashley

Tattoo_Black & tattoo(2007) – Chicano Style


Image by Apro Lee
Tattoo_Black & tattoo(2007)

- Chicano Style

Tattoo & Design by APRO

We know that a tattoo professional needs tattoo supplies in bulk but for a beginner a limited amount to tattoo supply is sufficient. The reason for limited tattoo supply for a beginner is because he needs to practice first.

While talking about tattoo supply, the first thing is the tattoo machine. It is actually known as a tattoo gun. A tattoo gun is a device or an instrument that is used for making a tattoo. It is the tool that is used for tattooing.

Along with the tattoo gun you will need tattoo needle, tattoo ink and power supply. You will need the tattoo inks in order to give a tattoo different colors as well as shades. It makes tattoo more lively and beautiful.

Tattoo needle is the next most important tattoo supply. You will need different types of needles in order to make a tattoo. Generally a tattoo artist uses two different kinds of needles. One for outling and the other for shading. The needles are dipped in a tattoo ink and then the needles pricks into the skin on the client sitting on the table. Pricking leaves a tiny deposit of ink in the client’s body.

The next is the tattoo power supply. This is generally not discussed. But in reality it is the most important tattoo supply. Without a power supply, a tattoo machine will not start. They are mainly two types of tattoo machines. One works just on the ac power whereas the other one works on batteries. You will have to charge the batteries after it is discharged from a prolonged use. Both of them are easily available in the market.

All together, the tattoo needles, tattoo inks and a good power supply adds up as the amine tattoo supplies. In the absence of nay of these, a tattoo artist will be unable to work.

Tattoo


Image by MelancholieMaritim
Tattoo by Ariane @ Artistocrats Hamburg www.artistocrat.de

Tattoos are a very old form of body art that go back to ancient times when many cultures used them. Some historians say that tattoos go back 5000 years, while others believe they go back well over 10000 years.

The earliest known evidence of tattooing goes back to markings found on the mummified human body that was discovered in the Alp Mountains in 1991. 5300 years old Oetzi – The Tyrolean Iceman, the oldest European mummified human, was tattooed. 58 tattoos, which appeared to serve more than a simple decorative function as some of them represent known pressure or acupuncture points, has been found on his body. The fact that he was tattooed was not a coincidence and it was probably perfectly normal for people of his time to be tattooed.

Ancient Egypt where wall paintings as old as 2000 BC have been suggesting the use of tattoos is today generally accepted as the cradle of tattoo art. Tattoos have been found on a small number of female mummies. The example of this are the mummified remains of a priestess of the goddess Hathor who lived some time between 2160 BC and 1994 BC.

When the Egyptians expanded their empire, the art of tattooing spread to the civilizations of Crete, Greece, Persia, and Arabia. Around 2000 BC it spread to China. The Mayans were also known to have tattoos, as were the Aztecs and Incas. Tattooing became widespread among Polynesian peoples, and among certain tribal groups in the Philippines, Borneo, Africa, North America, and Japan.

The purpose of tattooing varied from culture to culture. The Greeks for example used it for communication among spies. Romans use them to mark criminals and slaves. Tahitian tattoos served as rites of passage, telling the history of the wearer’s life. Tattoos served as symbols of religious and spiritual devotion, decorations for bravery, sexual lures and marks of fertility, pledges of love, amulets and talismans, protection, and so on.

Tattooing was rediscovered by Europeans when they came into contact with Polynesians and American Indians.

About the word – Tattoo

The word – tattoo originates from the Tahitian word ta-tau, meaning – to make a mark. Ta-tau means to mark or puncture the skin and is a reduplicated form of the word – ta – meaning – to strike. Tattauing or tattooing was a word introduced to Europe by Captain James Cook after his 1769 expedition to the South Pacific.

The history of tattoo began thousands of years ago and is as diverse as the people who had them. Today, tattooing is becoming more popular and accepted than it has ever been.

Tattoo with Tattoos


Image by ShellyS
Tattoo contemplates what to get for his next tat.

More Tattoo Articles

Cat tattoo designs are popular all over the world among both men and women. There is a great number of styles and meanings of cat tattoo designs because cats are among the most ancient symbols. They were always associated with independence and freedom. Cats also always land on paws and cats agility made people think that these wonderful animals have nine lives.
Cats are among the most ancient animals on the earth. These predators appeared many millions ago and today there are more than 500 millions of cats family representatives. Cats are known for their quick recovery and love for freedom and this is surely one of the reasons of such cats tattoo designs popularity.
Cats never left people indifferent they were admired and hated, loved and feared, honored and always paid attention by people. Cats are important character in many legends and myths. They were associated with good luck or bad luck, depending on the culture, thought to be sacred animals or even associated with gods.
Mostly honored cats were in ancient Egypt, where they were thought to be sacred. In Egyptian mythology many gods were depicted as cats or people with cats heads. Cats symbolized motherhood, fertility and the power of the Moon. In Egypt cats were really thought to be national jewelry: killing of a cat was among the worst crimes and export of cats was strictly prohibited.
In China and Japan cats were the most popular domestic animals. In Thailand cats live in the temples and are sacred, as well as in India.
In Europe cats were honored and hated depending from the countries and times. In Norse Europe cats were associated with the Freya goddess, who ruled a chariot with two cats. But in Middle Ages cats were proclaimed evil and were associated with bad luck, especially black cats. For sailors, on the contrary, cats always symbolized good luck, they were honored and though to be crew members.
Cats were always appreciated as perfect hunters; they freely see in the darkness and helped people to fight rats and mice. But later on, they became family members and the favorite domestic animals.
Cat tattoo designs can be made in different styles and have different meanings. Among the most popular cat tattoo designs are images of black cats that look like cartoons. The design of a black cat with big wide eyes is among the mostly often made tattoos.
Exotic cat tattoo designs are also widely spread all over the world. Knowing the great number of legends, myths and fairy tales connected with cats in different cultures it is not strange that exotic tattoos with cats have such popularity.
Egyptian cat tattoo designs are among the most popular. The goddess Bast was always depicted as a cat and tattoos in Egyptian style are extremely popular. They look fashionable and reveal individuality of the owner.
Another popular type of cat tattoos are designs with the portraits of domestic cats. Cat owners sometimes make tattoo designs from the photos of their pets. Such tattoos are separated by their originality and individuality, because such tattoo is always unique and individual.
On the whole, all cat tattoo designs symbolize freedom, individuality and wishes of their owners. The more precise meaning such designs usually depends on the style and attitude of the owner.

Tattoo_Black & tattoo(2007) – skull


Image by Apro Lee
Tattoo_Black & tattoo(2007)

- skull

Tattoo & Design by APRO

More Tattoo Articles

When I think back on it now, the whole adventure was so ridiculously not badass. My two best friends and I were sitting around one of our parent’s houses, and thinking about how to fill the holidays. I’m not sure who among us raised the tattoo idea, but once someone had, so began a day where we chased our parents across their various offices and places of work in the city to get their written permission so we could get these tattoos. The en masse jedi mind tricks of teenage girls were clearly working in our favour, when after about four hours we trooped off to a particularly divey shop in a particularly divey part of town, our parents’ signatures in hand.

The dude at the shop was pretty whatever about it all; three clearly over-hyped girls who’d tried smoking a joint first to calm down (to no avail) rocking up to his shop with what we said were notes from our parents (they were!). "What do you want to get?" he asked as we realised we hadn’t thought that far. So of course we ended up getting some flash off the walls. OH MY GOD THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE. One flaming skull, please!

I chose the stars, one of my friends got a tiny red loveheart and the other got something which I think I remember was the Egyptian symbol of ‘the soul’s journey through life’? When it was done it resembled tiny squiggled lines which have since all bled into eachother in a pretty blob. We all got them on the same spot on our left hip.

Anyway, as you can see, the ‘artist’ was absolutely terrible. I remember it hurt quite a lot more than I thought it would, and that he pushed down really hard on what it turned out was essentially a blunt needle. Look at the line work! Terrible. In the years since I’ve thought of getting it fixed, or covered over, but really I’d rather preserve the memory.

When I got the add on, that came about when I was getting another piece done a couple of years ago and the artist asked me what my first tattoo was. So I showed him, "I should get an arrow pointing out ‘my first tattoo’," I said.

"If you get that, I’ll do it for free."

"Hahaha!"

"No really."

And so it goes.

A tribal tattoo is quite an extreme tattoo; it is a black design that is usually applied to the upper arm or back. The original wearers of tribal tattoos used the designs to show their status within their community, it served a purpose to warn others of their rank. This is obviously no longer the case; however it is worth taking the time to understand the importance of the tribal tattoo before having one done.

Taking the time to understand the culture and history of a tribal tattoo, shows a level of respect to a civilisation that has long passed. Although, that being said we no longer look at a person’s tattoos to establish their success as a hunter. Nevertheless, it is important that the original inspiration remains.

The emphasis on modern tribal tattoo designs is to blend the old with the new. Keeping in touch with the original style, yet adding more modern touches that reflect our lives. For example, a common tribal tattoo for women may also include a flower that symbolises something else important in their life. It’s also common for a tribal tattoo to form the frame of a more portrait based tattoo, thus making the design more about art than history or culture.

At the end of the day, people choose their tattoo designs because they like them. Regardless of them being tribal tattoos or cross tattoos, it is more important for the wearer to have a design that they feel comfortable with and means something or represents something that is important to them.

My “To Do” List: Yay for functional tattoos!


Image by robstephaustralia
Tattooed by the awesome and wonderful Lelia at The Needle’s Kiss in Townsville (http://tnkstudio.com.au/townsville-tattoos.html) on 18/5/2010 as an anniversary gift from Rob (because I’d been talking about having it done for 2 years).

Find More Tattoo Articles

- lettering

Tattoo & Design by APRO

A tattoo kit is the most important part of a professional tattoo artist’s life. These people go for tattoo kits than buying the tattoo stuff separately because a tattoo kit is safely packed and delivered. You do not have to worry about the sterilisation of the needles too. All the equipments are in good condition and easy to use.

You do not have to worry about getting infections from the needles too which are in the tattoo kit. You will not have any customers who will complain about any diseases or infections too. Poor sanitation leads to a no. of problems later on.

In order to find a good tattoo kit, important things to be noticed are tattoo inks, tattoo needles, power supplies, cleaning tools and grip. There are a few tattoo kits that have two tattoo guns in it. One can be used for outlining whereas other can be used for shading. Most of the prominent tattoo artists use different tattoo guns only. This gives better finishing as well as looks more professional.

Next are the tattoo inks. Different tattoo inks are used depending on the design chosen as well as the color of the skin. There are certain colors that look good only on certain skin tones. For example, bright colors look good on fair skinned people whereas all colors look good on tanned skin. It is important to choose good quality tattoo inks so that it has lasting effect on the skin.

If you go for a professional tattoo kit then you will also get a tattoo DVD that will explain the use of each and every equipment.

It explains the entire process of tattooing. In a professional tattoo kit, you will also get a machine that is used to clean your other tattoo tools and can also be used to sterilise the needles. This additional machine is not found in the beginner’s tattoo kit. Different choices are available here. You should always go for the one that suits you the best. A beginner’s tattoo kit will be of no use for a professional tattoo artist and vice versa.

Tattoo


Image by Jhong Dizon | Photography
"Tattoo"

Oooh… Oooh… Ohhh..
No matter what you say about love,
I keep coming back for more,
My head in the fire,
sooner or later I get what i’m asking for
No matter what you say about life,
I learn every time I bleed.
The truth is a stranger
My soul is in danger,
I gotta let my spirit be free to,
Admit that I was wrong and then change my mind.
Sorry but I have to move on and leave you behind.

I can’t waste time so give me the moment
I realize nothing’s broken
No need to worry about everything I’ve done
Lived every second like it was my last one.
Don’t look back got a new direction
Loved you once, needed protection.
You’re still a part of everything I do, you’re on my heart just like a tattoo,
Just like a tatto, I’ll always have you.

I’m sick of playing all of these games
It’s not about taking ties.
When I look in the mirror,
Didn’t deliver
It hurt enough to think that I could stop
Admit that I’m wrong and then change my mind.
Sorry but I gotta be strong and leave you behind

I can’t waste time so give me the moment
I realize nothing’s broken
No need to worry about everything I’ve done
Lived every second like it was my last one.
Don’t look back got a new direction
Loved you once, needed protection
You’re still a part of everything I do, you’re on my heart just like a tattoo, I’ll always have you.

If I live every moment
Won’t change any moment
Still a part of me and you.
I will never regret you
Still the memory of you
Marks everything I do.

I can’t waste time so give me the moment
I realize nothing’s broken
No need to worry about everything I’ve done
Lived every second like it was my last one
Don’t look back got a new direction
Loved you once, needed protection.
You’re still a part of everything I do, you’re on my heart just like a tattoo.
Just like a tattoo
I’ll always have you.