Since the dawn of time it has served as the symbol for death itself. It has long since insinuated fear, suggesting what is to come and what has been, the reigning icon of darkness.
The skull.

“What is left of man when the final breath has passed thy lips?
Into soil his vessel laid, the soul leaves but a void.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust and skin from bone…
No mind, no heart, no company to keep.
Limb and flesh no more.
Body broken, numb and null.
Hollow bone and empty skull.”

Despite this common perception of it being the icon and symbol for all things dark, it also has a much more significant meaning to it.
Since Aztec times people brought tribute to “The lady of the Dead”
Today, and as it has been for thousands of years, Mexican tradition pays tribute to loved ones lost.
Each year they celebrate “Day of the Dead” in memory of those who have passed. During these celebrations they dedicate gifts and offerings to their dead. This celebration is a somewhat festive occasion, and is held to remember the good memories, and happy times spent with those loved ones.

Most commonly, the Sugar Skull. A candy treat, as the name implies made from sugar, offered as a tribute to the memory and life of someone who has passed away. Bright and colourful, as it represents joy, happiness and memories treasured. The name of the person it is intended for is usually carved on the forehead. The Sugar Skull has become a very popular tattoo trend. The meaning behind the sugar skull tattoo should be respected and preserved. Despite it being of one concept and origin, it can as a tattoo, be very unique and personal. The original principal of this tattoo is to decorate it with things reminiscent of the person passed. Different symbols, ideas and designs can be incorporated into this tattoo to make it as unique as not only you, but also the person it is dedicated to.

The “Day of the Dead” is celebrated each year in Mexico. These celebrations take place on the 1st and 2nd day of November. The celebrations are a tribute to the dead. It coincides with the catholic holidays that take place on those days.
The 1st day of November hosts tribute to children that have died.
“Dia de los Inocentes”, or “Day of the Innocents”, also known as “Dia de los Angelitos” or “Day of the Little Angels.

The 2nd day is “Dia de los Meurtos” or “Day of the Dead”. This day is a tribute to adults who have passed. Believe also has it that on the second day the souls of the dead join in celebration.
The families and friends of deceased loved ones plan and prepare months in advance for “Day of the Dead”. During this time graves are visited, and relatives and friends are known to spend hours on end at cemeteries, some even spending the entire night.

Symbolic to these celebrations are the gifts and offerings or “ofrendas” dedicated to the deceased. Favourite foods are prepared for dead. Families leave it in their homes or take it to their graves. Offerings of beverages and alcohol are presented to their dead, things that the dead enjoyed, loved and adored as mere mortals are offered to them now, in this new life.

Getting a sugar skull tattoo is a great symbol of respect and remembrance to your loved ones that passed. The sugar skull tattoo can be a beautiful, colourful and unique tattoo.

Finding tattoo ideas for a sugar skull tattoo is pretty easy, but it is recommended to design your own, or finding a tattoo artist to help you design it, this will add meaning to your sugar skull tattoo, because you could add symbols, patterns and designs that represent your loved one.

Most tattoo artist will be happy to help you design your tattoo, incorporating your vision and ideas for the tattoo and make it unique to you, meaning there will be no other tattoo quite like it, it would be between you and your loven one alone.

These days, more and more women are getting tattoos.  As more women decide to get tattoos, flower designs continue to rise in popularity.  The best thing about flower tattoos is the fact that there are many different colors and types of flowers – providing many different meanings as well.  The flowers can mean a few different things, although specific types of flowers such as the rose and the Lilly may have a more specific meaning.

In general, flower tattoos have a connection with nature, bringing up thoughts and images of life and vitality. Anytime we look at a flower, we see the duration of life, simply flowers connect with us in the sense that we both grow.  Flowers emerge from the earth and continue to grow on a daily basis.  Then, the flowers bloom, knowing that they will later dry up and start to wilt away.

Having a tattoo with a flower brings back the entire process known as life.  Keep in mind however, that different colors and flowers on tattoos will symbolize other things as well.  White flower tattoos symbolize purity, while red flower tattoos can symbolize a burning passion.  There are many colors and designs available, giving plenty of meaning to those desiring flower tattoos.

Roses are the most common flower design for tattoos, symbolizing love.  During the turn of the 16th century, roses were tattooed on those who were sentenced to death.  If they were to escape from the gallows, the rose tattoo would serve as a symbol to easily recognize them.  These days, roses symbolize both love and passion.  Roses have long been known as a romantic flower, popular for special occasions with the ones we love.

In the western regions, rose tattoos are a symbol of love and purity.  In the Eastern regions however, love and purity are symbolized by a lotus flower.  Tattoos that feature lotus flowers also bring a little more meaning to the table.  Lotus tattoos are also known to symbolize fortune, peace, beauty, and goodness.  Even though roses are the most popular tattoos in North America, Lotus flower tattoos are more common in other regions.

Other examples include the acacia flower tattoo which is the symbol for love and friendship.  There are some people with Irish heritage who choose to get tattoos with the flower known as the Bells of Ireland.  This flower is well known throughout Ireland, with the tattoo symbolizing good luck.  Irish who have this tattoo are known to be lucky, or have an insane trend with luck.

Those who think of themselves as being the perfect lover may want to get a tulip tattooed on their arm.  Tattoos with tulips represent passionate love and fame for being a great lover.  If you happen to be shy and timid, you may want to go with a violet flower tattoo instead.  Violets are common tattoos for those who are shy and timid, and enjoy taking things slow.  Those wanting to symbolize wisdom and virtue on the other hand, would be well to get an Iris.  Magnolias are also common with flower tattoos, as they symbolize an individual’s love for nature.

Flower tattoos are very common and popular designs these days, giving plenty of meaning behind their beauty.  The flowers can be large or small and as bold as you wish them to be.  No matter which flower you have decided to use with your tattoo, you can ensure that the flower says the meaning you are looking for.

A very useful tool. You know, to measure things...

The koi fish, originally from China, is known for its beauty and colors, and also looked at as a symbol of courage, aspiration and strength. In China, it is said that any koi that succeeds in swimming through the currents of Dragon’s Gate on the yellow river, will transform into a dragon. It is this legend that makes the koi tattoo so popular, as the rivers symbolise the constant life struggle, and the koi symbolises determination to become a dragon.

Koi tattoos are often drawn with running water, and the direction of the water can also symbolise different things. When the koi swims against the stream, it could symbolise that the person is still dealing with life’s difficulties, but when the koi swims down the stream, the meaning could be the opposite. A koi swimming downstream resembles someone who have overcome their struggles, and who are free.

Here are some of the meanings behind a koi tattoo:

• Being ambitious, and driven to reach one’s goals
• Being courageous, and eager to take life ‘head on’
• Being determined to overcome life’s struggles
• Seeking freedom.
• Being fearless.

So, apart from the absolute beauty, and amazing colors of the koi, the koi tattoo represents some of the best human qualities- and that makes getting a koi tatto worth it!

On a woman’s body there are a few places that can be thought of as sensual.  Although this varies from culture to culture, many consider the most sensitive areas to be the nape of the neck and the infamous lower back.  With that being said, it’s really not hard to see why lower back tattoos have become so popular over the years.

Although women have several areas for tattoos, the lower back is one of the most erotic and sensual areas women can get tattooed.  Lower back tattoos are easy to cover up as well, which is great for those who aren’t allowed to have tattoos at work.  Unlike other areas of the body, the lower back is completely covered up by a shirt.  With the lower back – you only show the tattoo off when you want.

The ease to show or hide lower back tattoos has helped to increase popularity, as well as the desire, or sensuality.  When a woman tells someone, especially a man, that she has a lower back tattoo – the mind often wonders.  Lower back tattoos create a sensual and tantalizing appeal.  Normally, these tattoos are done around the waist line.  While part of it may be hidden by a women’s birthday suit – there may very well be a part of it showing as well.  For lovers, a lower back tattoo can be very sensual and sexual, a secret that is shared only between the two.

The various designs and shape of the tattoo will often times enhance both the look and the appeal of the entire lower back area.  The design of the tattoo is normally a small and shallow curvature that enables it to fit perfectly to the curves of the female back and natural curves of her hips.  The lower back tattoo helps to accentuate an already breathtaking part of the female anatomy and enhance an area that is well known for its sensuality.

Popular designs for lower back tattoos include flowers, vines, and stars.  Winged creature designs work good as well, as the wings of the monster can stretch his wings across the entire lower back region.  Angels, dragonflies, and birds also seem to work quite well.  You can add natural designs to the creatures as well, including plants and flowers.  The lower back is a great area for tattoos – giving you unlimited possibility to use your imagination.

Although there are a lot of options and designs available, you should always choose one that you can enjoy for the rest of your life.  You should always give thought to a design, and not pick something just because it’s appealing at the time.  Instead, you should look into the thought and meaning of the tattoo and decide if it’s something you can see yourself with for the rest of your life.  The meaning behind a tattoo is important, both now and later on in life.  When you look at designs, you should always pick the one that literally calls out to you.

Before you decide to get a lower back tattoo, you should always look at several designs first, and then decide the best one for you.  If you can’t find a design that you like, you can always have a professional tattoo artist design one for you.  This way, you can have a tattoo design based on what you want.  Although a custom design may cost a bit more money – it’s truly worth it if you want a unique and creative design that enhances the look of your lower back.

Marco decided to get the tattoo after being approached by the company. He got inked by his friend, Paris-based tattoo artist Karl Marc. The entire Tattoo Process was streamed Live on the brand’s Facebook page, which is part of a series of such events dubbed “Human API”.

The Video was created over 4 hours with no interruptions. Marc was equipped with a headcam and was also wired up with microphones. No one actually knew if the stunt would work, they have tested it on paper, but didn’t know if it would work on Marco’s skin.

Marc says: “What makes this tattoo special is not just that it links to an animation, it’s that we will be able to change the animation as time goes on. As Marco grows older and his ideas change, we can create new animations that link to the Matrix Code.”

As a result of this campaign, Marc has had a lot of interest, people from all over have contacted him requesting QR tattoos.

Is this the beginning of a new era in tattooing? will more people opt for ‘Digital’ Tattoos? I guess only time will tell.

Some individuals get tattoos to mark where they are at that particular point in their life. This may be to celebrate the birth of a child, the death of a relative or the embracing of a new religion. The tattoo designs can be a simple date, a portrait of a loved one or an image of a religious icon. For these individuals, tattoos are a wonderful way to remember milestones in their life.

Other people choose to get tattoos to show individuality. For them, it is important to have something that no one else has. Most of the time, the tattoo design is original and custom drawn by the tattoo artist to reflect a significant character trait of the client. The image can be in the form of an animal such as a lion which represents bravery, or perhaps a Viking to represent ancestry. This is an opportunity for the client to have something that is all their own and one of a kind. For the artist, it is a way to have their artistry permanently displayed.

While history mainly records men receiving tattoos, today ladies are getting them as well. Talented artists of both genders are capable of creating beautiful tattoo designs with female clients in mind. Tattoo Designs such as flowers, vines, butterflies and animals can be created in ways that appear softer and more feminine if the client so chooses.

The artistic style of the tattooists is as varied as the tattoos themselves and it is a good idea to thoroughly research the artist before hiring his or her services. Just as with any other art medium, tattoo artists specialize in different genres of tattoo designs such as tribal tattoos, black and white tattoos, portraiture tattoos or tattoo flash. Checking the artist’s portfolio will help determine whether he or she is able to create the perfect tattoo ideas in the style that is desired.

The reasons why people get tattoos have evolved over the ages. Yet, through it all, the satisfaction of having something unique or meaningful is what is most important today. With a little research and counsel from a qualified artist, getting one or more tattoos can be very satisfying as well as a fulfillment of some people’s dreams.

There are many different styles of tribal tattoos, here are just a few of them:

• Aztec Tribal Tattoos
• African tribal tattoos
• Borneo tribal tattoos
• Celtic tribal tattoos
• Maori tribal tattoos
• Myan Tribal Tattoos
• Native American tribal tattoos

All of these tattoos are very different by nature, but one thing that seems to be common
in all tribal tattoos are that they are mostly solid black tattoos, with patterns rather than pictures.

These tattoos have been adapted by modern culture for its boldness. Having a tribal tattoo is surely a way to stand out. Tribal tattoos can also be adapted in many different ways.

Contrary to what you might think, tribal tattoos have deep meanings and old roots. Before you get a tribal tattoo, (unless you have designed it yourself) it is advisable to research the meaning of a the tattoo, as some of these tattoos might still have very significant meanings.

The benefits of tribal tattoos are the way you can adapt them, and how well they can compliment other tattoos. You can get a tribal tattoo around a tattoo you already have, or build on a particular tribal tattoo if you want. Tribal tattoos also go very well with other symbols, like zodiac symbols.

If you’re on a journey to find that perfect tribal tattoo, we advise you to do your research- Find out what the history of your tattoo is and find out the meaning behind a tribal tattoo.

Use the search box on the right to find more information on tribal tattoo meanings, tribal tattoo history and tribal tattoo designs.