Posts Tagged ‘mean’
Well I grew up as a middle classed white girl, but my friends always seemed to be those rough and tumble biker folks who were covered in skin art and would proudly display it to all who would look. At a very young age I had a friend who was a pro artist in the tattoo world and he offered me my very first piece of ink. Although I was only 16 and this was totally illegal for him to do, I had sort of been raised by these guys as I was allowed total freedom as a teen. So once I worked up the courage I went in and got my first, a tiny black rose bud, not quite ready to open up to the world. Even though I was only 16, I realized that was a great representation of my first piece of skin art. A single black rose bud, closed in upon itself, but just waiting for the chance to open up and show its own uniqueness to the world, just as I was.
I got this tattoo because just like a lot of people who desire skin ink, they have a purpose behind it, even if you wouldn’t understand it without asking. Hey, ask already! Those with skin ink usually are happy to tell you what inspired this or that particular piece. My first tattoo was not welcomed by my folks. My Dad seen it while I was sleeping and tried to scratch it right off. Bad idea on a fresh tattoo but it survived. For a lot of people in my father’s generation, tattoo’s were a symbol of the wild and crazy, the guys you stayed away from if you wanted to avoid trouble.
So aside from those who just hate skin ink, what do the tattoo’s people get mean to them? I must admit, after the black rose bud I was a bit hooked. But I had a great artist who would make me think on a piece of art once I had picked it out, and a month later he would ink me if I still wanted that design. Tattoo’s called RIP tattoo’s are one way that a tattoo lover may use to honor a friend who has passed on. Then there are the boyfriend, girlfriend, wife or husband tattoo’s. Not always the smartest move but hell, as long as your next girlfriends name is Pam, it should be just fine! Of course the decades long popular MOM tattoo is also a common piece of skin ink.
Most people do put quite a bit of thought into their tattoos. When you see a person who has a sleeved arm you can bet your ass that the design and sittings it took to get that ink there were meticulously thought out. Between the artist and the tattoo-ee, sometimes years of planning can go into a full arm or leg sleeve. Someone who knows little about tattoos may think “Wow, what a mess on that guy/gals arm. But they just have no idea that putting together a large piece in different sittings requires the patience and knowledge of the best of tattoo artist. If you ever take a close look you can see for yourself how parts of the arm or leg are used to incorporate special designs. Hell, I have a great friend who has a spider web tattooed on his armpit. Yeah, I guess if there is anywhere on a body that could accumulate a spider web that would be it. Or what about the guy with a zipper on his bald head that is unzipped to show his ‘brain’ hanging out. That was always one of my special favorites too. My second tattoo, and ladies will understand this one for sure, was tattooed just above my left breast. It’s a great piece , but WOW, was it a sensitive spot to get some ink. That doesn’t even include what the artist has to do to spread the skin out to get the best coverage. To me, that tattoo signified that the little girl who was the black rose bud was now emerging as a fierce and protective dragon, which is exactly what I was by then because I had 2 young sons.
Sometimes if you take the time to study someone’s ink, and actually ask questions, you are very likely to find their entire life story, character, emotional turbulences in their lives, and possibly even their love for family and country. Contrary to some peoples beliefs, not all people who get tattooed are doing so to gain attention, or to have people look at them. Indeed, one of my tattoos will never even be seen by anyone, except possibly my grandchildren when my hair goes white and starts thinning. Damn but won’t they be amazed to see that Nana has a tattoo of a skull, on her skull!
And then there is my lovely back piece. My pride and joy, and the one I rarely ever get to see. It took seventeen hours to sit for this piece but it culminated all that in my life I had ever enjoyed. A fantasy world, one filled with castles and dragons and wizards and even hidden ghoulish skulls hidden within the artwork itself.
So never assume you know why someone has so many tattoos. And don’t judge them for it either. For someone who loves tattoo’s this is THEIR form of art. I’d much rather display my art on my skin than hang it on the walls in my house. And I’m not a walking billboard for someone else’s work. I am a walking billboard for the story of my life that I’d be proud to share with anyone who took the time to ask.
what is the meaning and history behind them?
Cross tattoos have many different meanings. Although the most obvious is religious symbolism, there are other reasons many decide on this design. Most of us associate cross tattoos with the Christian religion. Although this is often the case, these popular designs can also have other meanings. Here is a rundown of some of the most common reasons why people get cross tattoos.
Christian or Catholic symbolism plays an important role in choosing certain tattoo designs. Although Christian and Catholic symbolism is not the only basis for cross tattoos, it is a very important one. Many Christians and Catholics feel very strongly about their religious convictions and find this is a good way to express faith by placing permanent declaration of it on their body.
Christian and Catholic cross tattoos usually feature the Latin cross, which has three equal spokes pointing up and to each side, and one long spoke pointing down — like a lower case letter T. Some Catholic tattoos feature a crucifix, which depicts Jesus being crucified on the cross.
The Celtic cross is often a combination of two different symbols: the Latin cross, and a circle. The circle is usually centered over the place where the two lines in the Latin cross intersect.
Celtic inspired tattoos combine religious and mystical symbolism from two very different cultures. The obvious one is the Christian concept of being saved from damnation. However, the circle also represents the ancient concept that is sometimes flippantly referred to as the circle of life — the notion that life and death is cyclical and eternal.
Other Celtic crosses feature intricate Celtic knots throughout the design. Because these knots are never-ending, they carry the same symbolism as the circle. People who get Celtic cross tattoos may do so because of the Christian symbolism, the pagan symbolism, a combination thereof, or simply to express pride in their Celtic heritage.
The Maltese cross has become a popular symbol of courage and sacrifice in today’s culture. For example, firefighters wear the Maltese design as a sign of their dedication to their job. This dates back to the Crusades, when the Knights of St. John, who were from Malta, fought to save their comrades from a new weapon that burned the troops alive.
The Maltese cross is an eight-pointed cross, consisting of four equal-length V-shaped prongs. Each point is said to represent a facet of heroism, such as loyalty, honesty, contempt of death, and religious faith. Therefore, Maltese cross tattoos symbolize courage and the hero’s ultimate sacrifice.
The iron cross is a cross symbol that is infamous for its connection with the German military. The symbol, which has four equal prongs that flare out at each end, was first used by the German military in 1870. Although it was only a symbol of the armed forces back then, over time the iron cross was used as a military decoration during times of war. As a result, these designs are now strongly associated with military valor and German history.
As you can see, there are many different kinds of cross tattoos, with different meanings attributed to each. Crosses have been a revered symbol since long before Christianity; therefore the symbolism of these tattoos can range from pagan or Christian, to more general values such as courage.
Andy West is a freelance writer for bullseyetattoos.com. Bullseye offers an extensive collection of cross tattoos and thousands of other original tattoo designs.