Archive for the ‘Art And Entertainment’ Category

Chinese Tattoos: Your Piece Of An Enchanting History

Monday, August 24th, 2009
Spend a few minutes surfing the net for information on Chinese tattoos and you will quickly notice a recurring theme warning the would be tattoo recipient to ensure they know someone reliable who can accurately translate the meaning before they just go ahead a slap one on. There is even an entire blog dedicated to the misuse of these characters. Makes you wonder about all the times you wondered into a tattoo artist’s workshop and flipped through the hundreds of Chinese tattoos available looking for that perfect one which symbolized your life on this planet.

Anyone who has ever thought of getting a tattoo has considered the option of a Chinese tattoo or for that matter a Korean or Japanese tattoo. Their mystery, sleek design and hidden meanings draw on our curiosity like moths to a flame. We picture friends and strangers asking with keen interest about our decision behind such a choice, which may even lead some people to create elaborate stories about their own life.

There is an endless mythical history in Asian cultures, it’s no wonder Westerners are drawn to these types of tattoos, Chinese designs being the most popular and sort after around the world. Part of the interest, one would guess, is how unique each character seems and so the chances of someone else having the same one is unlikely. The fact that they also look cool doesn’t hurt either.

Making the perfect, meaningful choice

Chinese tattoos are available in many different designs because the language is made up of thousands of characters rather than the few letters in the English alphabet. It may not be necessary to say it but if you choose to get a permanent tattoo, Chinese or not, it is exactly that, permanent. It is certainly not a decision to be taken lightly or one you should be making impulsively.

If it is a story you are looking for then take the time to talk with a friend who knows some Asian history and who understands the culture and language. It would be in your best interest before getting your Chinese tattoo, to do as much research as possible. Imagine the sheer horror of having a Chinese symbol tattooed on your arm or the small of your back only to find out it has some perverse or trivial meaning when you thought it actually meant something along the lines of love, peace or hope.

One of the ways to avoid this could be to decide on a word or phrase or even your name you would like to get a Chinese tattoo of and get it translated into characters or symbols. This will ensure accuracy and of course uniqueness.

The Chinese culture has evolved over thousands and thousands of years and such deserves the respect of a little forethought when considering a Chinese tattoo rather than a decision based on whether your favorite celebrity has one or not.



By: Emil Raal

About the Author:
Discover the history and mystery behind Chinese Tattoos, including a gallery of hundreds of examples at Tattoo Fascination


Popular Tattoo Designs

Saturday, August 15th, 2009
Tattoos are a common thing these days. They are more popular than ever before. Research has shown that nearly 1 in 4 people have at least one tattoo. There are many designs to choose from, giving people a chance to be creative. Below, we will take a look at some of the most popular tattoo designs.

Tribal tattoos are among the most popular designs. They have been around for hundreds and hundreds of years and they are always evolving and becoming more and more complex with their designs and styles. Tribal tattoos can either be the traditional black style that cover the arms and the legs or the more colorful styles that can cover every area of the body. The colorful, more modern look is becoming more and more popular when compared to other styles.

The “old school” styles of tattoos are also popular. Anchors and things like that are making a great comeback these days and not just with sailors. These styles were very common and very popular back in the 60s. They are rapidly gaining their popularity back, as females and males are getting anchors and swallow designs tattooed on them more and more.

Lower back tattoos are the most common for women. The lower back is one of the most sexual and sensual areas on a women, making the ideal spot for a tattoo. Tribal designs are the most popular, although flowers, dragons, and other symbols make great tattoos as well. The lower back offers plenty of natural curves as well, which can make for an innovative tattoo. Often times, women tend to include tribal that spreads, covering the base of their hips as well.

Dragon designs are another popular type style of tattoos. They were popular in the past, and are now starting to get their popularity back. There are a lot of different dragons to choose from, including the mythical dragon and ancient Chinese dragon. Dragons are great on the chest for males and the back for females. Dragon tattoos can be virtually any size, although most males tend to have them cover one side of their chest or the upper region of their arms.

Celtic tattoos are also popular as well. They are mostly seen with those who have a Celtic heritage, although some with no Celtic heritage have them as well. They offer a variety of symbols and designs, providing universal meanings for everyone. Often times they are mixed with tribal tattoos to create a more innovative tattoo.

There are several other types of tattoos out there, although the above are the most common. Tattoos can be very creative and innovative; it all depends on what you want. If you’re looking to stand out and be truly creative – you can always have a professional tattoo artist design one for you.

Visit our website at TattooDesignNow.com



By: Tattoo Design Review

About the Author:

Webmaster of TattooDesignNow.com


Chinese Tattoo Designs – Chinese Tattoos – Chinese Tattoo Design

Sunday, August 9th, 2009
Tattoos are becoming more and more popular in our society and have become an accepted part of Western culture. Chinese tattoos are one of the most common types of tattoos in the world. This article will discuss Chinese tattoo designs and how to find the best ones so that your tattoo will look amazing.

Click Here to Find Chinese Tattoo Designs

A Chinese tattoo is a permanent marking on the skin made by inserting ink into the layers of skin to change the pigment for decorative reasons in the form of a Chinese. The art of tattooing is centuries old and has been popular among indigenous people in New Zealand, Japan, South America and Africa. Chinese tattoos might not be centuries old, but they have become a popular part of European and North American culture.

Click Here to Learn More About Professional Tattoo Designs

Chinese tattoos can be done in both full color or black styles. Black designs are more common, but a great tattoo artist can make colorful Chinese tattoo designs come alive on your skin. When you are looking for your Chinese design, make sure that the image is very high resolution. This will help the tattoo artist see it in perfect detail and will translate into a beautiful Chinese tattoo. Also, take your time when browsing through different designs – the tattoo will stay with you for life, so finding the perfect tattoo design is critical.

Chinese tattoo designs also come in different sizes. Some are meant for small tattoos on the wrist or ankle while others are intended for larger applications on the back or upper arm. Wherever you want your Chinese tattoo on your body, make sure that your chosen design works in that size. With a little research, you can make sure that your Chinese tattoo looks awesome for years to come.



By: Josh Homme

About the Author:


The Secret of a Unique and Personalized Tattoo Design

Thursday, July 30th, 2009
Getting the perfect tattoo can be and should be a meaningful and expressful process. All the searching, the hassle of it all going from one tattoo place to another looking at their flash books and not seeing anything you like 99% of the free ones are crap they are not unique or personalized at all they **** hundreds if not thousands all ready have it and most of them wish they did not get it. They wish that they had looked around a little more and found one that was original.

So forget about a freebie tattoo design because you will get what you pay for period. With that being said let’s talk about your new tattoo design a little. Consider the reasons why you want the tattoo in the first place. If you want to be expressive, think about things that you enjoy or have meaning to you. If your tattoo is to honor someone else, think about the things they enjoyed and have meaning to them. Just be sure of why you are getting the tattoo because they are permanent and every time you look at it you will be reminded of why you got it.

Look at other tattoos, but don’t limit your imagination to what someone else already has. If you find something similar to what you want, ask your artist to make whatever changes you want. Any design or image you find can be altered, or the colors can be changed. Your only limitation is your own imagination.

Keep in mind the image you choose will be a reflection of yourself. Be creative. You don’t have to draw yourself, but take your ideas to your artist. Decide whether you want your tattoo in black and gray, or full color. Take your time. This is not something to rush into. Do that and you will be able to tell the tattoo artist exactly what you want Remember they are artist and will be able to help you get it right

Getting a tattoo design that is unique well my friend that is where you have to do some research. If you are truly passionate about having a work of art inked into your skin then you need to find the piece of art that inspires you and stands out and says this is who I am or what I like. Just remember what we talked about above. If your tattoo has an expressive meaning it is picked by you altered by you too your specs and shows people what you like and who you are then the tattoo design will be unique and personalized.

But if you just walk in and pick one you get just that an everyday tattoo that means nothing and is nothing so take your time and get the right tattoo design for you.

I have compiled a list of the top 5 sites. That are good sites and will help you get the right tattoo design for you that is unique and personalized.

#1 Tattoo now is a membership site where you can browse a large database of tattoo designs. You can print them out and post tattoo designs to see what others think about your tattoo design.

#2 Chopper Tattoo has the same things as #1 with a few variations you can become an artist at this site. This one also has a database you can look through.

#3 Find your Tattoo This site has a video you can watch about the 550 graphics you will get and some extras.

#4 Tattoo Handbook this is a book on the care of and getting a tattoo there are also a few tattoo designs in the book.

#5 Chinese Tattoos This site is all about chinese symbols you can even get a free translation on the site and the owner is a real chinese person so your symbol will be genuine.

The list of sites has a little more info on each one so as said above take your time and check out each one and be sure you get a tattoo design that you and your friends will be talking about for years to come.



By: phillip rorrer

About the Author:

The Secret of A Unique and Personalized tattoo Design.
To see the 2 Sites that will get you the Unique and personalized design
Go to http://www.usfreeads.com/938883-cls.html


Tattoos Help Identify Man

Friday, June 19th, 2009
I will admit the title of this post is a little misleading, but that’s not really the point. The point of this post is there was a man several counties over from where I live found murdered in the woods with no identification on him. Police have search high and low for any leads to help identify this man. The only thing they had to go with were his three fairly unique tattoos that he has. So this just goes to show that your body art not only expresses you as a person but if can help your family members help find you if you are lost or missing. Sadly I haven’t heard anything else about this case but police are hoping that someone will recognize this mans tattoos and be able to help identify this man.

So parents that have a problem with tattoos maybe you should take this as a lesson learned. If you were to allow your child to get a tattoo or more than one tattoo. And if for some unforsaken reason if they were to go missing you are armed with these identifiable marks on your child’s body to help the authorities to find them. So keep this in the back of your mind when your child approaches you about getting some ink on their body. You honestlynever know, that ink on their body could help you find them one day or help save their life. So all you tattoo haters out there, please keep this in your mind tattoos are not all evil they can actually help a family have closure on an unfortunate event.

Your Tattoo Friend

Ashley



By: Ashley Ford

About the Author:

Ashley enjoys writing on her Tattoo themed blog at http://infinitetattoos.wordpress.com please stop by and drop a comment.

For more information and access to over 15,000 tattoo designs online, check out Ashley’s sponsor at Infinite Tattoo Designs


Man Offers His Skin For Tattoo Practice

Sunday, June 14th, 2009
I for one don’t really agree with this. This man is offering his body to any Tom, **** or Harry that wants to become a tattoo artist. This could really turn into some thing bad if this guy isn’t careful. Tattooing is a serious business and should not be taken lightly. There is a lot more to tattooing that just turning on the tattoo gun and start “drawing” on someones skin. For instance they may not know how deep your are suppose to go before you get to your second layer of skin, which is wear tattoos are suppose to be. Also there is a high chance of cross-contamination or blood-borne pathogens or sterilization.

Just in case you are wondering this man has placed an ad on Craiglist offering his body to a hopeful tattoo artist to basically practice on him. The main reason I believe this man is doing this is to get free tattoos. He currently has 2 tattoos and said he would love to have his whole torso covered in them and this way would be perfect because he could get inked for free. But has he even thought for a second that these “free tattoos” he will be getting may not be all that great. After all the person is “practicing” and we all know that practice makes perfect. I for one would not want to have someone practicing their tattoo skills on my body, mainly because you will have to live that that not so great tattoo for the rest of your life. Also you may get some sort of infection or something worse because they “artist” may or may not know what they are doing.

Your Tattoo Friend

Ashley



By: Ashley Ford

About the Author:

Ashley enjoys writing on her Tattoo themed blog at http://infinitetattoos.wordpress.com please stop by and drop a comment. For more information and access to over 15,000 tattoo designs online, check out Ashley’s sponsor at Infinite Tattoo Designs


Tattoos Designs In History

Friday, June 12th, 2009
President Theodore Roosevelt and Winston Churchill’s mother had something in common. They both wore tattoos. While Jennie Churchill’s tattoo was allegedly covered for the sake of reputation, and Teddy Roosevelt’s was simply in a location which was not readily visible, this caused quite a stir amongst most of their day as well as modern-day history buffs.

President Roosevelt’s daughter Alice had a tattoo also in a concealed location. Neither Mrs Churchill nor President Roosevelt’s artwork lent itself to gaining a sense of respectability amongst the average citizens. Even whilst such notable figures possessed tattoos, they were still found to be socially unacceptable

Ancient Tattoos

Going as far back as any studies go on the question, it is claimed that the “Ice Man” who lived some 3300 B.C., had some manner of tattoos. Upon discovering the remains, researchers could do little rather than guess that this primitive kind of tattoo was for the purpose of warding off evil spirits, or that it may be some type of rite-of-passage award.

Merged on his spine and behind one knee and on one ankle, the Ice Man had roughly fifty-seven tattoos. It is impossible to do further than speculate as to the actual rationalization for them, it most certainly shows that tattoos aren’t unique to current eras nor to the individuals in the present-day world. As the Ice Man was the oldest mummified human remains found in Europe, modern day tattoo fans have history on their side – there’s nothing whatever new about tattoos.

In the past, tattoos were connected to an altogether varying nature than during the in recent decades. There was nothing notorious or rebellious about them at all. It used to be that tattoos were reserved for those of high social standing, and were not available to average individuals. Tattoos were only available to and a sign of those who were wealthy, important, and mostly in some high position. Sweden’s King Oscar had tattoos; also England’s King George IV. In that period tattoos were considered a status symbol.

In other time-periods, tattoos also served specialized purposes. Going the furthest back in American history, assorted Native American tribes utilized tattoos; it was primarily for the goal of showing their position to one’s individual tribe. For the Polynesians, tattooing was a mode of relating family history; each individual had his own distinct tattoos to show the story of his family. Some of the earliest explorers on the American continent are said to carry gotten this background from the Polynesians’ forms of tattoos.

Two of the oldest Egyptian mummies were discovered to have even had tattoos. These tattoos, which are only found on female mummies, consist of patterns of lines, dots and dashes. As the women themselves were connected to ritualistic practices, it is assumed that the tattoos they had were in some way representative of that fact. It is only speculation on the parts of the researchers, due to their knowledge of the lifestyles of that period in time.

Although Oriental symbols are undeniably trendy for tattoos in America, it is not widely known that both the Japanese and Chinese cultures have held a strong opposition to the occupation of tattooing all through history. With both societal and religious viewpoints agreeing that tattooing is something which ought to not be done, it is still widely held to be a means of contaminating one’s body. For the ancient Chinese, tattooing was used as a punishment for criminal practice, putting such visible marks on an individual to forever brand him as a felon.



By: Mark Hargreaves

About the Author:
Tattoo designs from around the world along with articles on the history and techniques of tattooing.
More informative articles on tattoos and tattooing are available here


4 Great Ways to Source for Tattoo Ideas and Images

Thursday, May 28th, 2009
Nowadays, it isn’t easy to source for tattoo ideas and images what with the rampant availability of ho-hum creations, which even my tattoo artist confirms: “There are too many identical looking designs lying around. A lot of folks don’t even bother doing portfolio hunting so they tend to opt for pre-made designs that are terribly, terribly lame. I’m sick of doing the same old crap. Can’t they come up with something unique for a change?”

And so, I decided to point out 5 ways to source for tattoo ideas and images so you won’t get stuck with boring and insipid pre-made designs typically found in tattoo shops or generic tattoo websites, some of which will impose a fee of anywhere from 10$-20$ for just ONE measly design!

Hopefully, the following suggestions may assist you in conceiving lots of original design ideas, and realise them in a novel manner, the results of which not only mark your body with breathtakingly unique work of art but also fill you with a sense of pride.

4. Internet Message Boards – If you wish to obtain ideas in the comfort of your own house, then you should consider joining message boards that specifically discusses about tattoos. You may find plenty of inspiration to form your own original tattoo ideas and images but beware however, as there seem to be a lot of spammers and abusive users lurking in those message boards.

3. Find a very good tattoo artist – Okay this may sound obvious, but did you know that many “tattoo virgins” would simply go through the motion of getting a permanent ink on their skin without properly discussing with the artist? Getting a tattoo is a very serious decision, and designs that you intend to have for possibly the rest of your life must be well thought out beforehand. It is best that you approach an artist and discuss with him or her at length regarding what kind of a tattoo you have in mind.

Do not make any decision hastily and be sure to provide the artist with all the relevant info like what the tattoo means to you, what it represents, any deep symbolic meaning that you would like to indicate, and so on. These are all the things that you must relay accordingly and who knows, perhaps the artist may conceive a much better rendition of your original ideas.

2. Graphics Application – My second favorite way to source for tattoo ideas and images. Are you handy with graphic applications such as Adobe Photoshop or GIMP? If yes is your answer, then prepare for hours of creative fun as you create and manipulate images to help you develop tattoo designs from scratch.

1. Online Tattoo Galleries – Eager to gain access to a huge array of mostly sumptuous looking tattoo creations? Well, online tattoo galleries are definitely the place to haunt if you’re absolutely keen on finding great looking tattoos that are updated on a regular basis. Apart from the large library of ever growing designs, you are also entitled to print out their images in the highest quality resolution thus making the tattooing process a whole lot breezier for the artist. Some galleries also furnish you with access to many highly useful tattoo resources including tattoo studio reviews, directories, helpful members forum, and even videos to help make your journey in sourcing tattoo ideas and images a very pleasurable one.



By: Joser Kovacs

About the Author:

At last, you can stop wasting time scouring the net to find tons of gorgeous tattoo ideas and images
Check out my site where I reviewed 4 major online tattoo art databases. What’s good about them or what makes them horrible are detailed accordingly. Check it out at Awesome Tattoo Creations!


Advantages of Looking for Cool Tattoo Ideas Online

Thursday, May 21st, 2009
You can look for cool tattoo ideas in tattoo shops or in online sites. Although a lot of people still prefer to personally interview and look at artists’ works, looking for cool tattoo ideas online has some great advantages.

Saves You a Lot of Trouble

Looking for tattoo ideas online is more convenient than visiting actual tattoo shops. Now, you no longer need to drive to different shops just to interview an artist or ask him about his work and experience. You can now conveniently browse for cool tattoo ideas while you sit at home. This can save you a lot of time, money, gas and energy. The best part is that you no longer have to feel pressured to make a decision right away.

Easy Comparison

It is also much easier to compare prices, sites, collections and galleries online. You can simply open several windows with different tattoo sites on them and take your time reading through their offers, services and policies. One other benefit of looking for cool tattoo ideas online is that you have the added advantage of reading site reviews and ratings. This will help you choose the best site that you are most comfortable with and has the best reputation among fellow users.

Thousands of Options

Whether an online tattoo gallery is free or not, you can always expect to get thousands of cool tattoo ideas. There are sites that can even offer you numerous variations of a design or allow you to customize designs or mix and match. Once you are done looking for cool tattoo ideas you can organize your favorites and print your choices for your artist. Some sites are even so helpful that they can also provide you with many great tips and articles from real experts.

Easy Navigation

Online tattoo galleries are well-organized and categorized making it easier for you to search specific designs. You can easily look for cool tattoo ideas by clicking on specific categories or by typing search terms in their search box.

Interactive Assistance

Online galleries also have forums and rooms where members and enthusiasts can interact with each other. This is a great tool if you want to get cool tattoo ideas that other people will like. In gallery forums, you can upload your design options and ask other members to tell you what they think of the designs. You can also conversely offer your expertise.

Real Artists

There are also a handful of sites with cool tattoo ideas done by real artists. In other words, you don’t just get a collection of random designs. You really get fresh pieces of artwork from accomplished tattoo experts.

Online Directories

Some galleries offer their members a comprehensive directory of artists from different places and regions. A typical online directory would have the artists’ contact information and probably even a short description of the artists’ experiences and expertise. So instead of going around the city in an unorganized shop search, you can simply look online for shops that are near your location.



By: Reese Lanter

About the Author:

Hunting for cool tattoo ideas? Know how you can get the best tattoo design ideas online!


Choosing your Tattoo Parlor – What to watch out for

Thursday, April 16th, 2009
Choosing Your Tattoo Parlor

Once you have made the decision to get a tattoo you’ll need to find a qualified tattoo parlor.  This is a very important decision, as it can easily make or break your tattoo.  Before you decide on a tattoo artist or tattoo parlor, you must first see if they are qualified.  There are hundreds of thousands of tattoo parlors out there, some better than others.  If you go to a less than perfect tattoo parlor, you could very well end up with an infection that can cause you more trouble than you ever thought possible.  Finding out how long a parlor has been in business is very important – as this will tell you how much business the parlor receives.

When you look for the best parlor you should always watch for those who have the best history with keeping their equipment clean.  Clean equipment and a clean studio is without a doubt the most important consideration when dealing with tattoos.  If the artist isn’t licensed or not a professional there will be little to no guarantee that the equipment is clean.  Health is a big concern with tattoos for most people, and for good reason.  If you are looking to get a tattoo you should always make sure that the artists are licensed, the parlor is clean – and the equipment is sanitized and cleaned after each and every tattoo.

The best tattoo parlors will welcome you in with open arms, anticipating your business.  When you meet the tattoo artist, he should be friendly and not intimidate you at all, nor should he at any time attempt to push a design on you.  Under no circumstances should the artist try and talk you into getting a more expensive tattoo design if all you want is something small and simple.

Pushy sales and unfriendly salesmen are common pitfalls with most businesses.  Tattoo parlors should always be friendly and open to what you want.  Although the more experienced tattoo artists will offer their opinions, they shouldn’t try to push you around.  If a tattoo artists thinks there will be a problem with your design or if he thinks he can do anything to improve it, he will more than likely let you know.   If he is able to save you some money, the higher quality tattoo artists won’t think twice about doing so.

Before you decide on a tattoo parlor to do your tattoo, you should always compare what’s available to you and weigh out your options.  The higher quality tattoo parlors will cost quite a bit of money, more than the other parlors.  This is to be expected, as the higher quality studios cost more to pay their artists and keep their parlor nice and clean.  These parlors are among the best in the world, with sparkling floors and a clean interior.  The tattoo artists here ensure that their rooms are clean, with most wiping down their equipment and materials every chance they get. 

The ideal way to find tattoo parlors in your area or close by is to use the Internet and search or just open a local phone book.  If you look for the keyword tattoos, you’ll find several that are relatively close to you.  Once you have found some addresses, simply drive out there and take a look around.  If you like what you see, you can always come back.  You shouldn’t rush your decision – but instead look at what each tattoo parlor has to offer you.



By: Dexter Reed

About the Author:

Dexter Reed is an expert author for Chopper Tattoo. Visit this site now for thousands of Award winning tattoo designs