Archive for Free Tattoo Designs
Overview of Tribal Tattoos
Posted by: | CommentsTribal tattoos have been used for as long as people have needed to identify themselves and they are the “in” thing at the moment. This trend began in the nineties and has only increased as time has passed. The tribal tattoo has had many purposes in human history but they originated mainly to identify a clan or group. Some groups would use the tattoos to identify distant relatives from far away tribes or to find each other after they passed away and were wandering the heavens looking for their tribe members. The tribal tattoo was also used to depict important events that occurred in a tribe or clan, almost like keeping a recorded history of events. (Syrkiewicz, 2008) Naturally a tribal tattoo has a different use today but in the end the modern tribal tattoo is still a form of identification.
Today in many instances the person getting a tribal tattoo wants the tattoo to illustrate something about them, almost like a tattoo of self identification. They are a way for a person to make a statement about themselves for other people to see and interpret. However, the tribal tattoo today is used not to group people into the same tribe but to express personality and individuality. (Hemingson, 1999-2009)
Oftentimes gangs, clubs, and military members will use a tattoo to identify themselves to others. This type of usage for a tattoo is similar to the use of tattoos five thousand years ago when the tribal tattoo art form is believed to have originated. (Syrkiewicz, 2008) Members of different gangs or military groups can identify each other by using a specific tattoo. They often form a bond around a particular symbol almost like a brotherhood. For gang members, the tattoo is used to define their members and lets them know who is friendly or not. All cultures have used tattoos as some form of identification and the trend is back in fashion today.
A tattoo magazine titled Tattoo Times, founded in 1982 by Don Ed Hardy and Leo Zulueta, started a new fascination with the tribal tattoo. (Tebi, 2004-2008) They called their first article “New Tribalism” and it featured tribal designs from the South Pacific, tattoos that had lost favor many years before. (Tebi, 2004-2008) Tattoo artistry itself had been going through problems with negative feelings from society at the time so an article illustrating these wonderful tribal designs helped alleviate some of the negative feelings people had about these tattoos. It actually had the effect of re-popularizing the ancient art form.
The tribal designs seen most commonly today are similar to designs used by the Polynesians for thousands of years. They often have a geometric silhouette pattern that may be considered too easy to do by many tattoo artists. Since these are not considered challenging, some artists do not like to do them. (Tebi, 2004-2008)
Celtic tribal patterns are also popular today. They were distributed by sailors hundreds of years ago as they traveled from Europe. Actually, sailors can be thanked for causing the original popularity of tattoo artistry in the modern western world. The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word, ‘ta-taw’, which was thought to be the sound a person would hear when the tattooing instruments were used. When the sailors returned to Europe with tattoos that illustrated their adventures, people were fascinated and many wanted to have their own. (Tebi, 2004-2008)
The type and location of a tribal tattoo is a limitless as the unique personality of the person who wants it. Some examples are tribal armband, Celtic tattoo, tribal wolf tattoo, tribal shoulder tattoo, tribal scorpion, butterfly dragon, dog, bird, bull, tiger and many, many more. There are also tribal sleeve tattoos, lower back tribal tattoos, and tribal star tattoos. (Hemingson, 1999-2009) As with all artistic mediums and cultural developments, the art form of tribal tattoos is continually changing. But, the art form is always going to reflect the depth and potential of the person who wants the tattoo as well as the artist’s interpretation of the tribal design.
Works Cited
Hemingson, V. (1999-2009). Tribal tattoo design. Retrieved December 7, 2009, from The Vanishing Tattoo: http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/tribal_tattoos.htm
Syrkiewicz, J. (2008, October 8). History and Social Impact of Tatoos. Retrieved December 7, 2009, from Suite101.com: http://cultural-anthropology.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_history_and_social_impact_of_tattoos
Tebi, D. B. (2004-2008). TatooJoy.com. Retrieved December 7, 2009, from History of Tribal Tattoos: http://tattoojoy.com/tattoo_articles/the_meaning_of_tribal_tattoos.htm
Lower Back Tattoos of Butterflies
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the most common placements for tattoos on women is the lower back. Floral designs, butterflies, hearts, and lettering are all very popular. Almost any design that is symmetrical in shape is a good candidate for a lower back tattoo. Butterfly tattoos are especially nice because they’re symmetrical by default, are usually positioned left-to-right, making them a prime candidate for the lower back area.
Butterfly tattoos look particularly sexy on the lower back when combined with tribal swirls on each side. These elements extend the width of the tattoo design and lay quite nicely along the back area. It’s important that the butterfly design be properly centered so the main body aligns with the wearer’s spine. Although off-center non-symmetrical designs work well on other parts of the body they do not lend themselves well to the lower back area. The exception would be to combine the butterfly tattoo design with floral elements. The butterfly design could be centered whereas the floral elements could naturally flow to the left and right of the design, but not necessarily in a symmetrical pattern.
Most commonly found on women, lower back tattoos are often reserved for the daintiest of designs. Everything from flowers to hearts and even lettering can be used as lower back tattoos. Popular in part because they are so appealing, lower back tattoos have quickly become a symbol of sexiness and are commonly seen during swimsuit season or on women who wear low rise jeans.
Since butterflies symbolize redemption, growth, rebirth, and perseverance some people also get words that have special meanings for them tattooed beneath the design.
Considerations When Getting Lower Back Tattoos
Because of the nerve endings in the lower back getting a tattoo in this area can be quite painful. If you have a history of lower back pain you may want to reconsider having a tattoo applied in that area. If you go forward with the process you may want to take some anti-inflammatory medicine before your tattoo session. You may also want to check with your doctor before proceeding with the tattoo. Additionally, you should ask the tattooist to allow for frequent breaks since those with lower back pain sometimes have trouble lying prone on their stomach for extended periods of time.
For more information on lower back photos and to see photos of designs that work well as lower back tattoos click on the following articles:
Lower Back Tribal Tattoos
Posted by: | CommentsHistorically tribal tattoos indicated one’s social status or membership in a community or group. The designs themselves were used to define a person’s identity and ideals. Depending on the type of tribal tattoo chosen the symbolism and meaning of the design varies. Tribal tattoos are especially nice for the lower back because they tend to be drawn from left-to-right thereby making them a prime candidate for that body area.
Let’s learn a little about the meaning of tribal tattoos:
Maori Tribal Tattoos
The Maori tribe can from ancient New Zealand. They are noted for wearing leg and face tattoos. They are also recognized as outstanding wood carvers whose designs would often contain spirals. “Moko” or facial tattoos were used primarily as a form of identification. They believed that when someone died their true identity would shine through the tattoo.
Celtic Tribal Tattoos
Although the people from the Celtic tribes have almost all disappeared their cultural influences are still a part of our art forms and music. Celtic tattoos are comprised primarily of intertwining geometric lines, knots, and spirals. In some instances the lines themselves are shaped to form images. In other cases the outline of an image is filled with Celtic designs. Celtic designs are very popular now and come in many different variations.
Native American Tribal Tattoos
Native Americans also applied and wore tattoos. Warriors would wear tattoos as a badge of honor to represent their strength and courage. They usually wore tattoos of animals (primarily predators) which represented their masculinity and virility. They believed that a portion of the animal’s strength would be given to the wearer after the design was applied to the skin.
Polynesian Tribal Tattoos
Many believe that the Polynesians are responsible for the introduction of applying artistic scenes onto the body. Their tattoos usually illustrated meaningful events in the life of the wearer or perhaps his social status. In some instances the bodies of tribe members were almost entirely covered in tattoos.
Here are some examples of lower back tribal tattoos:
