Archive for best tattoo patterns
The Most Painful Tattoo Body Parts
Posted by: | Comments
Everyone knows who has ever gotten a tattoo, that no matter where you get your tattoo done it is going to be painful. But did you know that there are certain parts of the body where a tattoo is even more painful than usual? When you stop to consider it, the fact that there are places that anyone would consider to be the most painful tattoo body parts shouldn’t really be a surprise.
Our bodies are made up of nerve endings, and so one of the reasons that some places are more uncomfortable than others is because we have more nerve endings there. Another reason that we have certain body parts that are more painful for getting a tattoo is because the skin is so close to the bone. When you get a tattoo in a place like this, the vibration of the tattoo gun against the bone can be really painful. So let’s take a look at the top ten places you may want to really think about whether you want a tattoo on that body part or not. Because if you do – man it is gonna hurt!
Tattoos Close to the Bone
Ankle Tattoos – These can really hurt for actually two reasons. One is that there are plenty of bones pretty close to the surface, so that ink gun on bone problem will come up here. The other problem is that this is a hard place to find a smooth even surface so the shape of the area may make for some harder to reach, and therefore possibly painful, tattooing.
Hip Tattoos – You don’t see a lot of these, but those hip bones are pretty close to the surface so a tattoo here can be pretty painful. Sometimes it pays to move a hip tattoo a little over to an area that has more cushion!
Lower Back Tattoos – Yes, these are really popular right now but that doesn’t mean they don’t hurt! If you can keep it floating just above the tail bone, it won’t be quite as bad. Still, a tramp stamp on the lower back can look pretty cool with a summer crop top, so it isn’t surprising that plenty of women love ‘em!
Rib Cage Tattoos – These are the ones that can really hurt because the ribs are right there and they are pretty delicate compared to a hip or ankle bone. Care should be taken with any tattoo that is on the rib cage and be prepared to endure more pain than usual. Of course, if you have plenty of padding in this area, it may not be a problem!
Tattoos That Hit a Nerve
Back of the Neck Tattoos- Maybe gangs get tattoos here to show how tough they are! This is an area that has tons of nerve endings to protect our necks from damage where the spine enters the skull. Not much you can do to cut down on the pain, so make sure you really want it there!
Wrist Tattoos– Yes it looks pretty to have a little butterfly here but the skin is very delicate and sensitive here. Heck that is the reason a kiss here can give a shiver of pleasure, it is supposed to be sensitive! But it also means that getting a tattoo here is gonna hurt!
Foot and Toe Tattoos- You would think that the foot would be one tough place when it comes to pain, but there are lots of very tiny bones in a foot or a toe, so more bones to be near the surface and lots of nerve endings to protect them from damage. So if you really want that tattoo on your foot or toe, be prepared!
Face Tattoos- There is a good reason many place won’t tattoo on your face – it really hurts! It also is so up front that you have to want this more than most tattoos. But the face is made up of a network of really fine nerves and there is really nowhere on the face a tattoo won’t hurt far more than on an arm or leg.
Neck Tattoos- This is more about the side of the neck, but anywhere on the neck is not only painful but can be dangerous. This is because there are some very important main arteries and veins here, and they are close to the surface on the neck. So a tattoo gun could accidentally go somewhere that is very dangerous for you. Make sure your tattoo artist has done this area before if you are getting a neck tattoo.
As you can see, all of these tattoos are areas that people do get tattooed but it can be really painful. I am not saying don’t do it – just be aware of what you are walking into here. But there are some really great tattoos that have been done in all these areas, so for many it is just a case of “No Pain – No Gain”!
Zombie Boy is the Sexy Rick Genest
Posted by: | Comments
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
Posted by: | Comments
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.
Mitch O’Connell: Tattoos by Mitch O’Connell
Posted by: | Comments
‘Mitch O’Connell: Tattoos by Mitch O’Connell‘ is a fantastic new addition to the world of color, graphics and tattoos. In the publisher’s own words: “The book contains 250 tattoo designs, the best of O’Connell’s 3 sets of tattoo flash titled Stewed, Screwed and Tattooed (2001), Done While Drunk (2002), and From the Bottom of the Barrel (2006). Each limited edition set sold for $100, and is now out of print, and this volume collects all the images in one easy-to-flip-through book. Mitch O’Connell’s art is reminiscent of the Old School tattoo art, from masters such as Sailor Jerry Collins and Don Ed Hardy, but uses more contemporary themes with a distinctive style.”
Mitch is a freelance artist whose work has been published in magazines such as GQ, The New York Times, Time, Playboy, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, The New Yorker and Juggs. He’s also known for creating art work for advertisements for business giants such as Coke, McDonalds, KFC, Kellogs etc. In addition, he has exhibited his art work in galleries around the world including New York, Hollywood, Germany and Tokyo.
Anyone familiar with Mitch’s work will know that he is, without doubt, the master of old fashioned tattoos, pop art, and kitsch. This book is a collection of his best work – good quality pictures of his addition to the industry, all bound together with a soft cover. If you are contemplating getting a tattoo and are looking for some novel ideas – you’ll find them here. If you are a first timer and are not yet certain if tattoos are you’re thing then perhaps the reviews contained in this book might help you make up you’re mind.
Even for those old-timers in the industry, this book is sure to be a great buy. It gives you a whole different perspective (Mitch’s perspective) to some commonly used tattoo symbols and art. You’ll find all kinds of interesting art – ranging from cupid with a gun to a sexy looking beatnik kitty!
For all those ardent fans, ‘Tattoos by Mitch O’Connell’ will make a fantastic collector’s item.
Vintage Tattoos: A Book of Old-School Skin Art by Carol Clerk
Posted by: | Comments
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.”
Popular Arm Tattoo Designs
Posted by: | Comments
The arm has long been the most popular body part for tattoo fanatics. Not only is it clearly visible (making it easier to show off), but it is also aesthetically very pleasing! Not only that, the arm provides enough space for the more intricate tattoo designs and since the arm contains more muscle mass when compared to any other part of the body, it makes the tattoo process far less painful!
Tattoos on the arm have their drawbacks too. Due to their ready exposure to the sun they are prone to fade (or become dull) faster when compared to designs on other parts of the body that are not exposed to the sun as much. But that really hasn’t stopped anyone I know from getting their arms tattooed!
Although arm tattoos are popular among both the sexes, it seems to be the most preferred body part especially among men. Tattoo sleeves (full arm, half arm or quarter arm) are becoming increasingly popular among men. Even women, most of who prefer smaller, simpler designs have begun to take a liking to these sleeve designs. Tattoo sleeves are nothing but a group of similarly themed tattoos (sometimes even one large design) that covers the entire arm from shoulder to wrist.
Tattoos have had a vast historical presence. Throughout our history tattoos have been associated with social and religious rites for which several of our ancient tribes stand as testimony, but as time progressed they were relegated to merely permanently marking people. As people started using them to mark the outlaws of their civilization the practice slowly began to be associated with criminality and immorality. And for this our modern society stands as testimony. Up until a few decades ago tattoos were a tabooed subject in our communities. In fact some countries still prohibit public display of one’s tattoos.
These public biases are slowly changing and tattoos once again being appreciated as an art form. Tattoos nowadays don’t have the same religious significance it used to have. People are now get inked as a way of expressing their true self and for aesthetic purposes.
Some of the most popular designs for the arm include Tribal designs, Celtic knot designs, Cross designs, Japanese or Chinese designs and symbols, Japanese or Chinese Kanji characters, barbed wire, fire, zodiac symbol designs and dragon tattoos. A majority of women seem to prefer the more delicate or feminine tattoo designs such as flower designs, fairy tattoos, star designs and butterfly designs.