Archive for best tattoo designs
Zombie Boy is the Sexy Rick Genest
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If you saw Lady Gaga’s video “Born This Way” you couldn’t miss the amazing body and tattoo of Rick Genest, better known as “Zombie Boy” in the video world. It is kinda funny that someone could be so well known for his tattoos that it is hard to even imagine him without the facial tattoos that have made him so famous.
There have always been tattoo boys throughout history, often they got work in a circus or place like a circus to show off their tattoos. In many ways, it is almost a tradition to have someone in every era that is considered “the tattoo boy” of 
his time. I guess we could say that Rick is The Tattooed Man for our time. And instead of a circus, it’s the world of music video that has become the platform to show that off. But then, there are some that say that rock videos are like a circus, so it may just be the perfect place for the 21st Century Tattooed Man.
Personally, I could sit all day and check out the gorgeous tats that this man has covering every inch of his lovely body. I 
mean, when you do for a living what this guy does, you have to be in great shape. Because when the tattoos are out in all their glory there is nowhere to hide the body. You know they would not look as good if he wasn’t in such obviously great shape.
And for those who always kinda wondered what the guy looks like without the tattoos on his face, German style magazine Schon has done us the favor of using makeup to show us. I always thought he probably had to have great bones to pull off this amazing look, but who knew?
So enjoy my friends – because Zombie Boy or Rick Genest is still hot!
Cool Skull Tattoos
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We all know that the symbol of the skull has long been used to show that a place is dangerous or deadly. It is a symbol that can send shivers down your spine and have you looking over your shoulder. But we also have a long standing fascination with the symbol because the skull is us, truly us, stripped down to our essence.
Anyone who looks at a skull, a real skull, is both repelled and drawn to it at the same time. Who was the person that had this skull? Why is this skull here in the first place? There are always so many questions, even if it is a really old skull in a museum we want to know more because in this skull, at one time, resided everything that made that person who they are.
So it is no wonder that the skull has become the one symbol that you see everywhere in tattoo art. There are grinning skulls and flaming skulls and ones with flowers in the places where they should have eyes.
Skulls show up on tattoos from across the ages, on old sailors and on young girls. Who hasn’t at some time considered that classic skull and crossbones for their own tattoo? But no matter what kind of tattoo you are thinking about getting, a skull is bound to be one of the considerations.
Here are some really great skull tattoos that we think show off just what the potential could be for this classic tattoo symbol.
So if you have a skull tattoo – share. If you are thinking of getting a skull tattoo, do you know what you want? I would love to see a ton of really great skull tattoos here, shared amongst the tattoo community on this website.
Vintage Tattoos: A Book of Old-School Skin Art by Carol Clerk
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Vintage Tattoos: A Book of Old-School Skin Art is by Carol Clerk, better known as the music editor and writer for a weekly magazine called ‘Music Maker.’ She started out as a young journalist and wrote for several underground newspapers weekly magazines covering the rock music scene. She is also the author of several other books such as The Saga Of Hawkwind, Pogue Mahone: Kiss My Arse: The Story of The Pogues, Madonna Style and The Damned: Light at the End of the Tunnel. Carol passed away early in 2010 but leaves behind a legacy of great journalism and unconventional style and continues to live on in the hearts of many friends and fans.
This book will make a fantastic addition to any that is interested in vintage or old school type of tattoos. You will find designs from some of the masters in the tattoo industry like Sailor Jerry, Ed Hardy and several other popular artists. The book offers its readers a wonderful collection of ideas for tattoos. Whether you’re simply looking for inspiration for your next tattoo or just some history behind the body art, you’ll find it here.
In her book, carol explores a whole century’s worth of icons, motifs and designs from all walks of life in that era when tattoos were more than just a fashion statement. They were the symbol of a revolution, a symbol of the beliefs that people held close to their hearts. All styles of tattoos – from those typically seen in circuses and carnivals to those usually seen on sailors and in the navy – can be found in Vintage Tattoos: A Book of Old-School Skin Art.
Here’s a brief description of the book from the publisher:
“Tattoos have gone from badges of rebellion to fashion statements fully absorbed into mainstream culture. They are enjoying a renaissance, with graphic designers and artists creating specialty tattoos for a growing audience, unleashing a revival of interest in the bawdy vintage tattoo. Old school tattoos are being rediscovered (sometimes ironically, sometimes not) by a new generation.
Originally embraced by rebels, sailors, and gangsters, these tattoos—broken hearts, naked girls, floral motifs, and maritime emblems—are now showing up on the fashion runway and in music videos. This book chronicles vintage motifs in thematic chapters interspersed with profiles of influential tattoo artists and their distinctive designs: Sailor Jerry Collins, Don Ed Hardy (“the Godfather of Tattoos”), Mike “Rollo Banks” Malone, Bert Grimm, Japan’s Horiyoshi III, and Shanghai’s Pinky Yun.”
The Mammoth Book of Tattoos by Lal Hardy
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The Mammoth Book of Tattoos is by the famous owner of the New Wave Tattoo studio located in London. Anybody who has been in the tattoo industry long enough will know that the editor of the book, Lal Hardy, is a well reputed name in the industry. Hardy lives in London, and in fact, he is considered one of the ‘original London inkers.’ You know what that means – this dude’s got a few decades of experience to his credit!
Hardy talks of his beginnings as a tattoo artist in an interview with tattoo.tv. He says, “When I started, it was so much harder – a process of trial and error, working out of kitchens and bedrooms, putting together and cobbling whatever information you could find.” He takes pride in being one of the very few artists who has taught himself the art of tattooing through hard work.
Over the years he has perfected several genres and styles of tattooing. Although his primary style is very old school, he also excels several others including the traditional Japanese style that’s in vogue today. In one of his regaling stories of yester years, he says his grandfather got his first tattoo when he was just 12… so the love for the art pretty much runs in the family!
Here’s a brief description of what’ you can expect from his book:
“This collection covers all styles of tattoos from bold tribal pieces, Chinese characters, and hieroglyphs to delicate air-brushed designs. Included are striking images of tattoos ranging from all-over “body suits” to individual motifs.”
This book has something for everyone! If you have been waiting forever for that perfect design to get inked, then you will find some pretty inspiring ideas here. There are designs professionally photographed and presented from about 80 of the most talented artists. Needless to say then, that the type of styles available in the book have a wide range, possibly every genre of tattooing from traditional old school to Japanese tattooing. This book represents more than just tattoos. The Mammoth Book of Tattoos will be an excellent addition for anyone who appreciates art in all its forms. It will make THE perfect gift for art lovers. You might want to be wary about giving them to young adults though… the book has its share of nudity.
Old School Tattoo Designs
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Old school tattoos are nothing but the type of designs you would see on the arm of an old, aging marine or biker – the kind of designs from Sailor Jerry’s time and age. I’m sure you’ll easily recognize the old school style when you see it! Although these tattoos were once head turners (back in the day when tattoos were a social taboo), they kind of faded into the background with the developments in the tattoo world in the past decade or so.
But these old school designs have once again begun to gain popularity in the past few years. Now they are the latest trend in the world of tattoos; more and more people of the younger generation are taking to it like never before. These age old designs are very attractive mainly because of their timeless look and appeal.
Even though these designs are replicated flawlessly today, the feeling around them has most certainly changed, and that I suppose can never be replicated. Most people nowadays seem to wear it with a sense of irony; they are also worn a little differently and mostly for their vintage appeal. Nevertheless, they are back in fashion and looks like they might stay a while.
It is a historical fact that tattoos first penetrated our modern day society through travelers, mainly sailors. So you will see that most of these old school tattoos have a very sailor / marine kind of theme in them. Some of the most popular designs back then (and even now) are those of boats and anchors.
The anchor design is one of the oldest types of tattoos and it has many meanings. It was often worn as a symbol of the sailor’s experience at sea. It also came to signify stability and a strong foundation – much like what the anchor is really used for. It is said that some early Christians also used this symbol as a type of hidden cross symbol, in order to escape persecution from the Greeks.
Another popular old school design is that of the Swallow (sometimes even sparrow tattoos.) For a sea-worn sailor spotting a Swallow meant that land was close by. Sailors started wearing the design as a symbol of hope – a good omen.
In the first half of the 20th century posters and photos of pin up girls (models like Betty Grable) were very popular. Slowly they also became a big inspiration for the old school art.
Angel Wings Tattoo Designs
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One of the most popular tattoo designs of today are that of guardian angels or just angel’s wings. These look great on almost any body part, but the most popular ones are those on the arm – like an arm band, on the upper back, lower back, shoulders, ankles, and chest. The reason they are so popular is because they can be worn by both men and women. In addition they can be combined with other elements of tattoo design such as flowers, hearts, skulls, crosses, fairies, suns, moons, stars etc. to make it more unique.
Tattoos have had a long and rich history in several ancient cultures and to them, the tattoos that one sported actually meant something. It usually identified them as part of a group or clan, marked their social status, it showed respect and devotion to their gods and so on. Although most of that ancient symbolism is now lost in our modern world, a few strong ideologies still remain, and angels are one of them.
The concept of Guardian Angels has long been a part of our culture. They are meant to protect their human ward during times of crisis. These guardian angel tattoos are often depicted as human like figures with wings and holding swords. Today, people normally wear these tattoos as a symbol of their love for their children. Another type of angel tattoo in use today is that of cherubs. Cherubs are supposed to be messengers of love. Many today wear these together with their loved one’s names.
The fallen angel tattoo is perhaps the most popular among angel tattoos. It is often depicted as a beautiful angel with a bloody sword or torn and injured wings. Artists usually use heavier, darker inks for these designs.
On a woman, an angel tattoo usually is representative of her search for purity within her soul. It also represents her patience and divinity. The tattoo also shows that the wearer believes that confidence in one’s own ability is an essential part of beauty. Whereas on men, they are representative of their masculinity and their fondness of women! It also symbolizes their love and respect for an angelic woman in their life. These associations in our modern world however, are mere generalizations and don’t necessarily mean the same for everyone. After all, it is your tattoo, I guess it can mean what you want it to mean!