Styles of tattoos
The styles of tattooing mix and change somehow even more often today than they used in the past because modern tattoos bear mostly aesthetic character, and a person relies only on his taste and preferences while choosing a print. If beauty means a mixture of styles, why not?
There is no generally accepted classification but there are styles that are well-known and recognized all over the world. Some of them appeared long ago, others- relatively recently. There are also styles that were initially popular with certain nations like Japanese people or Polynesians, or certain social strata (sailors, for example). Today when tattooing has become extremely popular, people don’t consider its previous background while being tattooed. They turn to a tattooist because they like the picture. This is an artistic tattoo which differs from a criminal one. Everyone finds his own sense in it, no matter what style it follows.
Tattoos can be classified as permanent and temporary: temporary is performed with henna and brush and will stay on skin for a month maximum; permanent tattoos are classical tattoos we’re all get used to: performed by a tattoo master with special tattoo machine, paint and needles, lasts “forever and ever” and is difficult to get rid of.
Another classification deals with types of tattoos: traditional and cosmetic. With traditional tattoos everything is simple: people are getting tattooed to show individuality, their belonging to certain class or subculture, or to follow fashion.
Cosmetic tattoos aim at hiding scars or pigment spots or making a temporary make-up. Getting your lips or eyebrows tattooed is popular with girls nowadays because it prevents from wearing make-up every day and the effect lasts for 2-5 years. Its quality and life time depends on how skillful the master is.
There is one more controversial classification, accepted not by everyone: male and female tattoo prints. Today there are no purely women’s designs and men’s tattoos: women want dragons and skulls, men- hearts and portraits of their sweethearts. The same opinion concerns “meaning” classification. In different times the same print could have different meaning and thinking of today’s trend only is not correct.
However, tattooing is not math with its laws and axioms, but art where classifications and styles differ and are often individually interpreted; so now we reached undoubtedly the most interesting one – STYLE CLASSIFICATION.
Today the most popular styles are realism, tribal, Celtic and biomechanics, but we’ll mention organics, oriental tattoos, ornamental, old-school and hieroglyphs as well.
The style of tattoos: Realism.
Here everything is very simple…and very difficult. Not every tattoo artist can perform a tattoo in this style. Realistic design and photographic accuracy make it one of the most complicated trends in the art of tattooing. As a rule, photos are favorable material a tattoo artist works with: portraits, photos of animals, macro photos of insects and flowers, copies of famous paintings, sculptures and rarely- landscapes- are used. Movies’ screenshots, posters, photos of movie heroes, musicians and politicians are not a rare thing as well.
Sometimes 3d-tattoos are also distinguished in terms of this style. Its three-dimensional effect is achieved when looking from a certain angle. As a rule, animals and insects are tattooed in this way. The print must be very accurate, shadows and background- professionally tattooed. When seen, these tattoos grasp attention and leave long-lasting impression. Realism shows wide possibilities of tattooing and proves that it’s not only tribal print or Sanskrit inscription, but far more interesting and worth-mentioning art.
The style of tattoos: Tribal.
It is one of the most popular tattoo styles. George Clooni (no matter how strange it sounds) added to its popularity. His hero from “From dusk till dawn” wore this very tattoo. Every tattoo artist would tell you that “Clooni’s tattoo” draws interest of many people. Tribal is an ornamental tribe tattoo. Initially, warriors or hunters used it to define their class or as a lucky charm. They believed that certain design could help them in hunting or protect them in a fight.
Tribal is not only an ornament. Every strip and stroke bears its individual meaning. As a rule, tribal tattoo prints are specially designed for every client because besides bearing sense, they should be esthetically attractive and take physical appearance and body structure of its bearer into account. If you choose a tattoo artist for your tribal, see his portfolio and pay attention to the paint coating that should be with no blanks and washed paint. The color is black and solid. Remember: it’s important what this tattoo means for you.
The style of tattoo: Cyber.
The first painter who introduced the style is probably Hans Rudolf Giger, who was invited to create a famous monster for Scott Ridley’ movie “Alien” because he specialized on gloomy style and could draw not only the monster, but alien vessels interior. His works are said to belong to fantastic realism and necro-gothics.
Classical cyber (or biomechanics) is the mixture of mechanic elements and people, animals or monsters in the print: remember Arnold Schwarzenegger in his best known movie – robot with human’s flesh. Such a tattoo depicts chips, wires, gears, metal carcasses, bolts and engine details “implanted” into the skin. Realistic look and details are important because torn skin and mechanic details must complement each other. The more difficult tattoo is, the better it looks and the work of tattoo artist – appreciated.
The style of tattoo: Organics.
Organic tattoos often involve pseudo-organic elements like plant and biological elements with repetitive details. It uses ornament, flowers, flesh fragments and bone carcass imitation; as well as thorns, mutated insects, skulls and bones: everything is naturally combined and looks perfect if tattooed on the whole hand as a “sleeve”. Colorful tattoos look extremely good, although one-color prints are popular as well.
The style of tattoo: Criminal.
Why do so many people think that tattoos originate from prisons? Have they watched too much of “Prison Break” serials, read too many prisoners’ memoirs, or listened to too much Russian chanson? Come on. Tattoos appeared in tribes all over the world several thousands of years ago long before any prisons were built. However, it’s true that they gained their popularity in criminal society and often associated with it. It was the way prisoners distinguished each other, showed their status and informed about their crimes, previous prison sentences, and attitude to state authorities. No one could have been tattooed if he hadn’t done the crime his tattoo symbolized. If it happened, the tattoo was removed by other convicted with a brick, for example. The criminal tattoo artist is either previously convicted, or is under sentence now. The master has to be closely connected with criminal world and now its laws and hierarchy.
If you seek for something close to tribal but the one which can present more complicated design and will look more sophisticated, check for Celtic style. If you like to keep to old traditions, surf for Old style and New style as an alternative. Probably, you’ll find it even more appealing or will choose Modern Traditional instead. Hieroglyphs and Latin or Sanskrit inscriptions are not new styles but still popular with girls and even Hollywood stars as Victoria Beckham.
The main thing is that no matter what style you choose (realistic, biomechanics, oriental or Old school), it’s important what meaning you put into it: it may be your vision of the world, everyday values, happy memories or bitter feelings you want to get rid of. So, take your time to choose and be sure to turn to a professional in the tattoo salon who’ll make at least one of your dreams come true!