Tattoo Crosses - 3 Types of Crosses Commonly Used in Tattoos

One of the most renowned tattoos would have to be the cross, there are so many different meanings associated with the cross they simply cannot all be explained at once. The most obvious association with crosses is religion, mainly Christian and Catholic symbolism. Christians and Catholics tend to palpate very strongly of their religion and take pride in expressing their faith as an everlasting symbol on their body. Whatever the reason, tattoo crosses are in very large demand and make beautiful body art. Below I will talk about 3 of the most common Christian Tattoo Crosses and the meaning behind them.

The Latin Cross

This type of cross has 3 equal spokes pointing up and to the sides, with one longer spoke pointing down. Used as a pagan symbol before the foundation of the Christian church. As a Christian symbol the Latin cross may be referred to by several different names, western cross, chapel cross, or church cross also commonly referred to as a crucifix. The Latin cross is probably one of the more common tattoo crosses used every day.

The Celtic Cross

The Celtic cross is a combination of the Latin cross, and a circle. Generally the circle is centered over the place where the two lines in the Latin cross intersect. The Celtic cross combines religious and mystical symbolism. Christians perceive this type of cross with the concept of being saved from damnation and the circle representing the circle of life. There are many forms of the Celtic cross as well as many different meanings. With intricate workings and being easily workable into tribal designs the Celtic cross is a favorite among tattoo crosses.

The Cross of Triumph

The Cross of Triumph is very similar to the Latin cross, with the addition of a large circle at the base with the outline of an upside down T inside. The Cross of Triumph is a symbol of the universe triumph of the gospel throughout the world. The Cross of Triumph has endless design possibilities when used as a tattoo cross.

It doesn't matter which cross design you choose for your tattoo art, just keep in mind that there are various styles and designs of crosses, each with their own history stemming back long before Christianity in some cases, meaning the symbolism of tattoo crosses can scope from Pagan or Christians, to even more universal meanings found within your own heart. Just choose wisely and be creative in your Tattoo Crosses creation as you want the beauty of the picture to uphold the story it has to tell.

Check out some of the Hottest Tattoo Crosses on the net. Professionaly designed, custom Cross Tattoos that can easily be printed and took to the tattoo parlor.

Creative Tattoo Cross Designs for Download can be found at http://www.Stained-Skin.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chase_Collins

Dragon Tattoo Designs - Representing Your Style and Beliefs For Life

Dragons have been featured in several movies. These are huge serpentine creatures that usually breathe fire. In the past, dragons were been a part of several cultures. Do dragons really exist in this world? Myth will always remain myth. No one has seen or witnessed dragons in real life. However, they have been a huge part of human's life. Aside from movies, dragons can be found in tattoo parlors through dragon tattoo designs.

As time passed, dragon tattoo designs have increasingly popular to all tattoo enthusiasts. As a form of art, dragons have different faces to show in this world. In Asia, dragons are characters that are always linked with supernatural powers, wisdom and bravery. Often, Chinese and japans people believed that dragon is the one that gives protection and luck to a person.

How do people appreciate dragons?

Western individuals have different appreciations to dragons. According to them, these creatures are powerful evil that can destroy a whole city by breathing fire on it. Western culture also portrayed dragons as representation of death and destruction. Though, there are negative cites mentioned about dragons, still everyone loves them.

As a person who wants to get inked with a dragon design, it is important to determine that exact layout. It doesn't matter how you appreciate dragons in your life. What's more important in getting a tattoo is the willingness. Obviously, you have to know whether you're really interested of not. Rushing your decision might result to regrets in the future. And no matter what you do, you will not have the chance to remove or change it. It will remain for a lifetime.

Tribal dragon tattoos

Among dragon tattoo designs, tribal tattoos are the most appealing ones. These designs are usually inked on the shoulders of both men and women. As the head of the family, dragons represent protection or guidance. Aside from shoulders, they can also be placed in other parts of the body including back, chest, upper arms and lower back.

The traditional way of searching tattoo ideas is by visiting a tattoo parlor or by reading some magazines. However, because of the advance technology, tattoo images can be also found online. Instead of wasting your time falling in line next to another customer in the tattoo parlor, it could be better if you browse online galleries. Here you can find a wide array of dragon tattoo designs. You can also decide to modify designs to get a unique outcome.

Dragon tattoos are excellent masterpieces that can inspire you during hardships of life. It can also be your protection as many people think it is. Or maybe dragon tattoos can help you send your message to the world.

If you've enjoyed all the exciting information you read here about dragon tattoo designs, you'll love everything else you find at Chopper Tattoo Reviews.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joanne_R._Graham

Angel Tattoos - What Does Yours Mean to You?

Angel tattoos or some other kind of ink? That's what you've been thinking about; probably keeping your eyes open for months for the perfect, unique image. Maybe you think if you see another tribal or dragon tat, your eyeballs will fall out. That isn't what you want! You want something that will have lasting meaning to you personally, as well as being a beautiful work of art that you can wear with pride every day. An angel tattoo is a clear symbol of one's belief in higher powers, and the choice to align yourself with the positive energy of creation. Another way of interpreting the angel tattoo seems to be to take just the wings and put them with something else that has meaning to you, for example a heart or other symbol.

Angel tattoos rely on a belief that goes far back in history. For those intellectual types interested in words, our word for these creatures actually came from the ancient Greeks. Their word for it was similar to the name of that famous southern California city. Know which one I mean? But the Greeks obviously coined it first, and the word's meaning is "messenger." It is interesting to see what "angel tattoo" would look like in Greek. δερματοστιξία αγγέλου. See? But that is modern Greek, as there was no word for tattoo in the ancient Greek. By the way, the Hebrew word for such a being, which is mal'akh, means messenger, just like Greek.

Your angel tattoo is going to be on you forever, so it's probably not a bad idea to look into any possible hidden meaning. Look for deeper or alternative meanings that may not come immediately to mind.

The first thing I think of when I consider these messengers is the idea that they are pure, celestial beings created to help people, and of course carry messages from God to humans. There are an unbelievable number of cherubim and seraphim in art, and they're always portrayed as very beautiful beings of light. Tattoos are an ancient and modern art form, and your angel tattoo is a very personal extension of the long tradition of heavenly messengers in art.

The thing about seraphs is that while they're mostly pure and good, there are plenty of bad ones too. There are both messengers of light and messengers of darkness. An example of a good and popular messenger of light is Gabriel. He's the one who is most mentioned in the Bible, and he visited a lot of different people to deliver messages to them. An example of a fallen seraph is Lucifer, who was banished for pride. So if you're going for an angel tattoo of a specific seraphic personage, it is good to know who you are representing.

Want an angel tattoo of a guardian seraph? There were lots of them - seraphs whose job it was to protect people. Some people believe that every single person on Earth has his or her own guardian seraph who watches over you as long as you are alive. Michael and Gabriel are thought to be two famous ones. The idea of having a guardian seraph is very reassuring, and it is nice to have a guardian where you can see it all the time, such as in a guardian angel tattoo.

Some people get angel tattoos as memorials for loved ones who have passed on. This is because of the belief that these messenger seraphs meet people at the gate of heaven when they die. These memorial tattoos form an entire genre unto itself. The angel tattoos in this genre are often smaller tattoos, and the wings are sometimes used in combination with an image or symbol that stands for the loved one.

After considering the idea of angel tattoos for a little bit longer, you may be thinking that it seems the reasons for getting one are as varied and diverse as people and their personal faiths are. You're right! There are thousands of heavenly beings, and they have many various jobs. They mean many different things to different people.

Angel tattoos may symbolize purity, guardianship, guidance, or the passage from one life to the next for you. They may symbolize something else for you, too. Whatever your personal attachment, perhaps now you have a few ideas to help you choose that perfect tat to be with you for the rest of your life.

© 2010, Emma Ritchey. Emma invites you to read more about various types of tattoos and how to get a really good looking one at http://favoritetattoodesigns.com/. If you want to know more about angel tattoos specifically, check out her articles on that subject.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emma_Ritchey

Tattoos - Are You Brave Enough?

Are you brave enough for a tattoo? I know I got as far as choosing a design and waiting in the queue at a tattoo shop in Soho before I chickened out and went home.

A tattoo has not changed over the centuries it is still the placing of pigment into the second layer of skin called the dermis. The methods for doing this have become slightly less barbaric but the process is the same.

Ancient tribes would traditionally cut the skin in a pattern and then rub ink, ashes or other pigments into these open wounds to create the tattoo! Certain other tribes would create a tattoo by hand tapping the ink into your skin using sharpened sticks or animal bones, no wonder these tattoos were seen as a right of passage into adulthood by some tribes!

Thankfully today modern tattoo machines are used to insert the pigment into the dermis. The basic machine is not unlike the first ever tattoo machine created by Samuel O'Reilly back in 1891. One of the biggest changes is that the needles are all single use sterile needles which should always be opened in front of you prior to the tattoo being done.

There are five needles all attached to an oscillating bar which drives these needles into your skin rapidly - 80 to 150 times per second! One person related it to a sewing machine going over your skin.

Of course how painful a tattoo is, depends on a number of factors. A small tattoo of only one colour ink should only take about fifteen minutes to complete and should be relatively pain free in comparison to a large tattoo with intricate designs and many colours, which would have to be done over several sessions each lasting a couple of hours. The other factor determining pain is the location of the tattoo, any area with very little flesh and mostly skin on bone is going to hurt. Your ankle, ribs, hip and tops of your feet. (It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it!) Then there is your own personal threshold for pain, some people can just simply tolerate more pain than others. So when your friend says to you 'no, it wasn't painful at all' think carefully. It might not have been to him, but how do you handle pain?

If like me you are a bit of a chicken then maybe a temporary tattoo is for you. There are many different types on the market. Henna, gets painted on to your skin with a brush, you can get stencils that are placed over your skin and then the ink is airbrushed on and then there is the decal tattoo that you just stick on. Thanks to improvements in modern inks these temporary tattoos can last up to two weeks.

So, if after reading all of this you are still convinced to have a tattoo, you are a braver person than I!

Learn all about Tattoos and Tattoo Design at http://johnnytattoo.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashley_Weyers

Rib Cage Tattoos - Script Tattoos and Other Designs That Look Great For Men and Women

Being tattooed on one's rib cage is considered to be one of the most painful spots in the body to get ink. Due to everybody's unique body shape, natural curves, and size, rib cage tattoos prove challenging for tattoo artists as well. Before you decide to finally get a tattoo in this very sensitive part, be sure to go through all facts and consider all the key issues first.

Step 1

Begin by considering your level of pain tolerance. You will be surprised to know that even ticklish people find rib cage tattoos to be no laughing matter. However, you will not miss a few people who say that their rib tattoos did not hurt. It also entails personal experience to determine how uncomfortable it is. Despite all these explanations, a great majority of individuals will confess that it's quite an uncomfortable process.

Step 2

Secondly, you have to decide on placement. The rib cage spot provides a fairly large material to operate on allowing you sufficient space for more substantial pieces. A lot of people will decide to place a layout on only one part of their body; however, you can as well pick out anything that addresses both sides or similarly, include things like a back piece which covers all way around to your ribs. This can either be on one side or both.

Step 3

The third step is to simply choose a design. Considering that you are not restricted on the space you have, chose detailed pieces which need to be bigger to get the best effect. Placement could be affected by the unique design you choose. The reason behind this is because your tattoo artist would like the piece to match with your body's natural curves and valleys. Nonetheless, actual design alternatives are relatively unrestricted.

Step 4

At this point, you have to get into position. Most tattoo artists usually lay their clients down to ink their rib cage tattoo, mainly in cases where it's a large piece. As a result you will be more relaxed all through the operation. However, he or she should place the stencil on the rib cage while you are standing to make sure that it will certainly appear perfect in your body's usual position.

Step 5

The most important thing to remember is the fact that you should not flinch. Make sure that you prepare adequately for an experience which will be both painful and unpleasant. You will have to stay still no matter what. In the event that you flinch slightly, your tattoo artist might make an error within your design, and it might prove too tricky to fix.

Step 6

Avoid holding your breath. Keep breathing regardless of how painful it is. Lack of enough oxygen could lead to suffocation and possibly even end up fainting. Inhale slow and even breaths and in the case that you begin to feel woozy, ask your artist for a few minutes of break.

Looking For Professional Quality Tattoo Designs?

=> http://TattooGalleryExpert.com

For samples of high quality tattoos you can give directly to your tattoo artist, please Click Here.

A tattoo is a BIG decision, make sure you get exactly what you want!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Christodoulou