Thursday, October 3, 2013

Kiribati Tattoos

Extensive body tattoos are not now an integral part of Kiribati life although limited tattooing is still done. The following rare information was compiled in about 1930 and indicates the extensive tattooing that was done in certain parts of Kiribati at this time
The tattooing instrument was called Te Wii n Taitai, the tattoo marks being termedTaita i.
The handle of the wii n taitai was made of tarine wood (the wild almond) and the points of
sharpened turtle shell.
When tattooing, the wii n taitai was hit with any suitable piece of ba (midrib of the coconut
frond), the hammer being termed Te Kai n Oro.
The turtle shell was cut with a large Te Batino (sea urchin) which had previously been
sharpened by rubbing it against a stone from the reef known as Te Em.
The wii n taitai was then inserted into a slot in the tarine wood. It was not bound at all with
string, but the inserted end was wasted.
The tattooing ink is made from the ashes of the coconut known as Te Wae, which has no
kernel, mixed with salt, or occasionally fresh water.
The pattern is drawn by a straight length of Te Noko (the midrib of the coconut leaf) being
pressed on the skin.
The ink is put on with a length of Te Noko bent into a triangle.
One side of the triangle is dipped into the ink and drawn along the line already made. The wii
n taitai is then hit down with the hammer along the inked lines.
The designs are as follows:
Te Atu Ni Kua
Four feathered lines from the shoulder blades to the top of the thigh, ending on the back of the
thighs.
Te Kana Ni Kua
Extending from where the Atu ni Kua leaves off to the top of the ankle, going down the side
of the thighs and legs.
Te Manoku Ni Wae
Extending from the back of the ankle, straight up the back of the leg and thigh to the top of
the buttock.
Te Moa Ni Wae

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

TAHITI TATTOOS

 Traditionally, tattooing in Tahiti has always been a privilege of the more eminent social classes. Social ranking allowed tattoos corresponding to the wearer's position in the community under the supervision of the Ari'i.
Men often had tattoos all over their body, including on the neck and ears. Only the face was left untattooed except for the occasional warrior or priest who might wear a special emblem on his forehead or lips.
Tattoos for the men fall into four categories; those belonging to the social class of gods, priests and Ari'i, which were hereditary and restricted to their descendants; tattoos of the Hui Ari'i class, Arioi'i, exclusively for chiefs (male and female); tattoos of the Hui To'a, Hui Ra'atira, Ia To'ai class, reserved for leaders of war parties, warriors, and so on; and Menehune class tattoos, for individual with no pedigree or an unremarkable family history.

The supernatural origin of tattooing was attributed to the sons of the god Ta'aroa (Tangaroa or Tangaloa), the principal Tahitian divinities. They taught the art to mortals who found it extremely attractive to be tattooed and used it widely. The two sons of the god Ta'aroa were Mata Mata Arahu and Tu Ra'i Po' who became the patron spirits of the art. They were always invoked before a tattooing session began so that the operation would be successful, the scars will heal quickly, and the patterns will be pleasing to the eye.
As a reminder of this legend, images of the two gods were conserved in the Marae of the Tahu'a, the skilled practitioners of the art. This particular form of traditional culture has been handed down from one generation to the next and no outside influence has been able to alter the methods used or the way in which designs are applied to the skin.

In ancient Tahitian society all women were tattooed. Young girls were tattooed at a very young age with marks on the inside of their arms to show that they were free from food tabus.
Until that time they could only accept food prepared by their mothers - no-one else. There are no illustrations of these marks, just a few descriptions. Young women were again tattooed and they began to wear clothes as they reached puberty. These tattoos are often described as heavy black patches on their posteriors, and were absolutely required before a woman was permitted to engage in intercourse. As a young woman grew slightly older, the smaller designs in arch shapes across the top were added. As a sign that they were sexually mature and desired a man, women were reported to lift their bark cloth skirts showing their tattoos. Quite often this was directed at the Europeans who were surprised, if not shocked, particularly the missionaries.
One early observer reported:

"The young females are more remarkable for bearing [tattooing] than the Males tho they
cannot suffer more than one side to be done at a time and the other may remain perhaps for a
Twelvemonth after before it is finished, till which time they never Conceive themselves
Company for Women - being only Counted as Children till they have their tattooing done."
(Morrison 1935:221).
The artists of the Captain Cook voyages can again be credited with the first illustrations of Tahitian tattooing. In a sketch by Parkinson, we see the typical women's tattoo as described by so many of the early explorers.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Gang Tattoo's



Gang Tattoos

Nothing symbolizes gang members' commitment to their gangs more forcefully than the gang tattoo. These symbols proclaim the individual's allegiance to the group in a way that is both permanent and deeply personal-being written on the body itself. But in recent years, thanks to a combination of social and technological changes, the significance and the permanence of gang tattoos are both being challenged. As a result, it appears that the power of these signifiers has begun to erode.
Tattoos are thought to have existed since the beginning of mankind. The oldest tattoo ever found was on a man frozen in a glacier near Austria who was believed to have died in approximately 4000 B.C. Although it's not known whether the frozen Austrian was a criminal, for most of recorded history tattoos have been associated with unlawful behavior and the underworld.
The early Romans tattooed slaves and criminals as a means of identification. During the years 300-600 C.E. in Japan, criminals were sometimes tattooed as punishment for their crimes. Criminals in the Mediterranean region in the third century C.E. were often tattooed or branded with symbols indicating the crimes they committed; sometimes the victim's name was even emblazoned on the criminal's forehead.
But while society has often imposed tattoos in order to identify the tattooed as criminals, many people have also embraced these stigmatizing marks. Being an outlaw can be a source of pride as well as shame. Gang members in particular take pride in branding themselves as outside of the boundaries of conventional society. Until recently, tattooing was restricted to stigmatized members of society, including gang members, carnival workers and prisoners-categories that often overlapped. It is significant, however, that tattoos were not imposed on these groups, but chosen by them as a means of self-identification and, often, a symbol of belonging. 

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Arabic tattoo designs

When the pattern of Arabic tattoos began, the standard Arabic font was the only choice
available, unless you knew someone who has Arabic set up on his personal computer and
can down load fonts for you. But now, you can Google the term "Arabic tattoo" and appear
throughout a lot of beautiful fonts and designs for your tattoo. Some websites offer
calligraphy which is a really specific way to screen your tattoo.
If you are much more traditional, you might want to go with a straightforward circle or a
vertical line.
And for the last part - which is a essential stage: make sure you give the tattoo artist correct
recommendations on how to area your tattoo. Probabilities are your tattoo artist will not be in
a position to explain to if you have given him a flipped design and style. So writing a
straightforward "left" and "right" on your design, ensures that the result will be an actual
Arabic inscription tattoo and not a mirrored one.
If you do discover to identify the Arabic letters at some level, you will arrive to understand
that several tattoos are truly meaningless, or inverted, rotated, mirrored and flipped.
Amber Sheldon, who just lately got her Arabic tattoo and assisted in planning this write-up,
mentioned the following thing: "When I started out pondering about my Arabic tattoo, I
believed that a easy Google look for will give me the response on how to translate my quick
tattoo phrase - 'my art my life'. But the much more I looked into it I realized that performing it
right means using this phrase to a skilled translator and a tattoo designer. It took a couple of
days additional but understanding that my tattoo is right was worth it. And getting a designer
myself I appreciated the option to decide on a design and style that is not like all the other
Arabic tattoos you see out there!"
Considering of lettering tattoos and want to go a little discreet with the textual content in it?
The use of international language is the way to go if you want your script tattoos to have
some edge and mystery powering it. Listed here are some of the typical foreign language for
you to choose from.

Hebrew lettering tattoo was made well-known by famous people such as Madonna, Britney
Spears and Victoria Beckham. The Hebrew script has diagrammatic and stylish people
producing them excellent and ideal for tattoos. Individuals who get these would like to
suggest their religious or spiritual perception particularly the teachings of Kabbalah .
Kanji originated from China and ended up later on adopted by the Japanese for their
producing technique. They are quite popular as lettering tattoos simply because the figures
are ideographic and visually eye-catching, every single representing a entire idea or item.
Chinese symbols currently being employed as tattoos are yet another popular kind. Strong
terms this sort of as "strength", "love", "wisdom" and other individuals are getting translated
into Chinese figures. The brush strokes of Chinese calligraphy have specific shapes and
strokes so 1 have to not include their own creative aptitude as it can very easily alter its
indicating.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Koi Fish Tattoo Art

Koi Fish is an oriental name for fish in the carp family. In the Orient koi are very revered, and are thought to have certain mystical abilities about them. Koi stands for courage, strength, determination, advancement, and perseverance. In the English Language the word "Koi" is translated as the word "love", or the feeling of love. It can also be translated as romantic love or a very passionate love affair. However, koi can also mean selfish. In the orient koi is a symbol of good luck.In China there is a legend that describes a koi fish swimming up the Yellow River to a waterfall, and if it is at a place called the Dragon Gate, the koi may then jump over the fall and be transformed into a dragon.In Buddhism it is believed that people are like the koi, swimming in an ocean of suffering all their lives, yet they continue striving forward until they die. The koi fish tattoos with 5 golden koi stands for well being through our daily lives, and eternal wealth, 5 being a lucky number. And matched with the legend the koi is as lucky as a dragon. And the perfect koi tattoo art would be of a golden koi changing into a dragon, just like a butterfly does.

In koi tattoos you will often see them combined with water, cherry blossoms or lotus flowers. However, the Japanese koi tattoos have many symbolic meanings depending on what the koi is doing. Japanese koi tattoo art is a symbol of masculinity. Koi fish are a very energetic fish, and the Koi fish tattoos may often involve very lively colors, with the fish depicted as moving. Koi fish tattoos are often represented with victory as well, and are often tattooed on a person's body to represent someone who is very independent, going against the grain of society.Any koi tattoo art is suppose to bring its wear wealth and abundance, and thus this king of fish is known as the dragon fish, and many koi tattoos are depicted in a larger tattoo. They are very popular tattoos for the back and/or both shoulders, or as Koi sleeve tattoos. The background colors are as spectacular as the fish itself. They have been depicted with suns and moons as well.The koi has also been depicted with the Yin/Yang symbol; the Yin being the black part, which is female, night, water, earth, and it is passive; the Yang being the white part, is male, day, fire, air, and it is active. Together these two symbols meant balance and harmony. In itself the Yin/Yang makes a very strong statement, but together with the koi, makes it extraordinary.You can understand why the popularity of koi fish tattoos has become so appealing to people.

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Tattoo designs, tattoo pictures

Thousands of years ago, tattooing is already done by people. It was some sort of art which is practiced to transform body and add more beauty to the natural look by improving physical looks. There had been tattoo designs that became popular for short time and there have been styles and designs which are designed to stay permanently in human bodies. Let us have a look at some traditional and newest tattoos which were adored and hailed by people at the moment. Dragon Tattoo: Before we get to tattooing of dragon, we must have a brief idea on the myth of this beast first. Dragons were considered as the warriors for goodness by the Chinese people hundred years ago.


Europeans on the other hand had a different perspective regarding it and thought it as evil. No matter what they believe, each side regarded as it as a perfectly powerful force. This is where the thought of using dragon designs as tattoo in the body originated from, and the crazy thing is, many people today is still impressed by this idea regarding dragons. Dragons tattoo designs represents various meaning; take note, deep meaning such as even controlling the natural elements on the planet. Rose Tattoo: Similar to the flower, rose tattoos present a different type of feelings, point of view, passion, and above all great beauty. It's yet another tattoo design that has outlasted the drawbacks of ever changing nature of human taste. Different colors can be used in using roses as a tattoo design. Each of these colors represents a different meaning. While red rose signifies blooming love, white rose is the expression of innocence and purity of the heart and soul. Celtic Tattoo: This tattoo design is has always been popular among individuals. The Celtic taste has captured the attraction of a lot of people and brings them in tattoo shops every single day. A lot of tattoo enthusiasts have shown overwhelming adoration for this kind because Celtic tattoo is recognized as to have universal look. The signs and symbols of this particular tattoo design are usually mixed with tribal types of tattoos to produce an all new look.

Each form of tattoo symbolizes something, so it will be crucial you have your kind of tattoo in your body.


click the link to see all the amazing tattoo designs!!! http://www.romanian-tattoos.ro

Polynesia Tattoo History


It was not until the latter part of the 19 th century that western anthropologists made an effort
to inquire into the significance of tattooing within the context of traditional Polynesian life. A
few papers on Polynesian tattooing appeared in anthropology journals around the turn of the
century, and about the same time several anthropologists wrote books that included
descriptions of Polynesian tattooing. Unfortunately, however, what we know of Polynesian tattooing is only a small fragment of the whole. The vast majority of the designs, together
with the wealth of associated traditions, myths, and religious observances have been lost
forever. And we know little of the significance of  Tattooing as it was perceived by the
Polynesians themselves: we know it only as it was seen through European eyes.


Polynesian tattooing, as it existed before the arrival of Europeans in the South Pacific, was the
most intricate and skillful tattooing in the ancient world. It had evolved over thousands of
years throughout the islands of the Pacific and, in its most highly developed forms, was
characterized by elaborate geometrical designs which were often added to, renewed. and
embellished throughout the life of the individual until they covered the entire body. In beauty
and complexity, ancient Polynesian tattooing rivals the best work of modern masters of the
art.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Tattoo Artist: Dmitriy Samohin






Not unusual to hear from an artist. Most I have ever talked to discuss hearing praise for their work after years of practice and hard work. So what sets Dmitriy apart from everyone else?
“I might have been 5 or 6 when people began noticing my art and complimenting me on it.”
This early talent was fueled by a genuine passion for the craft. A love of art and the ability to create beauty out of imagination and air are what continued to drive Dmitriy to continue his craft and strive to evolve as an artist. So when did this passion, this love, turn to a desire towards putting ink to skin?
“I decided to become a tattoo artists during my time in the army. I discovered a tattoo magazine and after going through it I made the decision I had to become a tattoo artist. The form intrigued and fascinated me and I want to see things created on skin the same way they were brought to life on canvas.”
The road to becoming the artist he is today was long as it is with any number of tattoo artists. After the decision was made Dmitriy pursued the craft on his own without a traditional apprenticeship. Teaching himself without having anyone tell him what to do or how to do it allowed for a lot of experimentation and exploration. Dmitriy analyzed and studied other artists, what they did, their style, and began trying things himself always working towards bringing to life on skin that which he visualized in his head.

Today Dmitriy continues to evolve and learns daily drawing inspiration from everyday life around him.
“(Inspiration) comes from things I see walking down the street, things I hear, read, sometimes just little bits of conversation with people inspire me. Some of the artists I enjoy following ar Shawn Barber, Alex De Pase, Robert Hernandez, Zhivko, Boris, Jeff Gogue, Victor Portugal, and Phil Garcia to name a few.”
In all this inspiration Dmitriy has crafted amazing work. His imagination and ability to visualize what he wants to do is amazing and requires focus. While he realizes he is known for his realism he welcomes the challenge to do any kind of piece there is. A true passion for tattooing as an art and all the forms it comes in sparks a light of excitement and drive within form where the art just flows.
“I don’t think, I just make it happen. Listening to music while I work helps me to focus on delivering the best art that I can. It’s important to me that my clients are happy with the end result and it’s always nice to hear when a client is pleased with the work I have done for them. Every single piece I have done is special to me just as it is to my clients.”
Dmitriy continues to create amazing work out of Odesa in the Ukraine. His work is renowned and you can easily see why. The love, passion, and attention to detail, color, and art comes through in every piece. His ability to bring to life the vision that exists inside his head is truly a gift that this artist has honed since the rest of us were playing with blocks and trying to not spill our juice.
Any final words of encouragement or recommendations for other artists out there who hope to create art on skin with such amazing results?
“Paint and experiment as much as possible! Be creative, never cease to learn and be challenged! Use the right equipment for your art as well. I use Intenze Ink and Dragonfly machines for all my tattoo work that I do. Using the right tools makes a difference in the end result.”
If you are traveling internationally and looking for some work to remember your trip by you may want to route yourself through Odesa and visit Dmitriy. Something tells us you will not only walk away with some amazing new art but you will have met a true artist in the world.

Dmitry “Vision” Tattoo artist

Dmitry “Vision” is his tattoo artist name, but his real last name is Rusky.
Dmitry is an amazing realistic tattoo artist originating from Russia but is now working at the Wyld Chyld Tattoo studio in Pittsburgh, USA.

Like a lot of eastern tattoo artists there is a level of artistic elegance that somewhat separates them from west. It’s hard to put the finger on what exactly this depends on, but I’m constantly seeing the same pattern. I’m pretty sure pissing off a lot of other professional tattoo artists from the “west” part of the world. But that don’t really bother me at all. I know for a fact that I’m on to something here!
When looking at Dmitry Vision’s photo-realistic tattoos it’s very hard to believe that he has only been tattooing professionally since 2010! His kind of super talent doesn’t grow on trees, I can tell you that much.  Just look at this stunning rose tattoo and I’m pretty sure you will agree! The color blending, depth and superbly detailed texture really creates an unbelievable sense of photo-realism.
Dmitry loves color blending tattoos and specializes in nature photo-realism and portraiture, but is uniquely rounded in all genres.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Tattoo artist: Boris from Hungary

I was born in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary in 1972 and I still live here.

I created my first tattoos in 1992 by using amateur equipments. In the following two years – besides studying and working – I made tattoos whenever I had the possibility to do so. Then I opened my current studio in 1995 in Zalaegerszeg

I participated in the 1996 Budapest Tattoo Expo first, where I won two awards. I have been taking tattooing seriously ever since.

In the first years I learned the profession alone. I met some tattoo artists in 1996 who accelerated the learning process.

I opened my second studio in Keszthely, Hungary in 1997 where I worked during the summers. In September, 1997 I visited the Barcelona International Tattoo Convention as a spectator and it had a huge impact on me. The following Tattoo Conventions were in Bologna and Berlin then. At all these places I stood behind the back of well-known artists and watched their work, the techniques and equipments they were using. I learned and applied then everything while working.

The 1999 Berlin Tattoo Convention was the first one, which I attended as a participant.

I spend most of my time in my tattoo studio, but also have taken part in the foundation works of the Hungarian Tattoo Association and I am the Provincial Vice President.

What could I write about my work?
I am lucky, because my job is my hobby. I cannot describe my style as I am not committed to any of the trends. I like doing new things every day, I am susceptible to everything new, but of course I need to take the limits of the skin into consideration.

I prefer customer demands with not only visual, but mental content as well. I like customers with own, individual ideas, because they inspire me and let my imagination flow. However, it is very important for me to get enough freedom during the creation.


I consider all of my projects equally important, as each of them is the most important to the person who wears it. Of course there are some, which are really close to my heart. You may recognize them by looking at my drawings and photos.

I prepare each tattoo the way as if I made it to myself, so I create them with a work of art and not only as a piece of work. I do my drawings by being aware of that. The drawings are sketches; they are very precise and work demanding.

If you are interested come and visit me in my studio or at an expo.

All the best till then: Boris
www.boristattoo.com

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Tattoo and pain


Tattoo Pain Scale (Yellow would be a rating of 1 on the tattoo pain scale.)
These include the upper arm, forearm, calf, Bum, and Thigh. For a 1st tattoo these are great points to begin your inked journey.


 (Orange would be a rating on the tattoo pain chart of 2.)
These include the centre back, front / side of thighs and shoulders.
This is also not too bad a start for your first tattoo. The shoulders and central back region can be area that require quite a lot of movement. The skin on these areas is much looser meaning it takes longer to tattoo and also longer to heal. On areas that have lots of movement such as these, require more care once a tattoo is completed. Due to the thigh area being quite a dense muscle mass and also quite tight skin, it may tend to bruise the day after. (Red has a rating of 3 on the tattoo pain scale.) These include the knees, elbows, hands, head, neck, feet, chest and back of thighs. Beginners beware of starting at these areas. You would need to be determined to have tattoos here as the high sensitivity would require a lot of mental focus to get you through. The poor quality of skin on both the knees and elbows will result in a very slow tattoo process and nerves are very close to the surface in these areas. This could result in the tattooing being unbearable for any length of time for some people. As with the orange areas these tend to be high movement areas and will require a longer healing timescale. You may find that to achieve a good solid colour, you may have to repeat the tattoo process on these areas. As a side note the chest area on men can be much more sensitive to pain than a woman, yet due to the tighter skin on a male, the tattoo can be completed quicker. (Purple has the highest rating of 4 on the tattoo pain chart.) Areas include hips, ribcage, stomach, back of knees, armpit, inside of elbow, nipples, lips, inside of thighs and genitals. Are you really sure you want to get that tattoo? As these areas can elicit crying, half finished tattoos or even the customer passing out. This could just be more than you may be able to handle. All of these purple areas are considered by most to be the most painful areas to be tattooed. The stretchy or thin skin over bone are slow to tattoo, some of these may require multiple sessions to achieve solid colour and smooth shading.
Healing can be just as painful as receiving the tattoo and may require a few days off from your regular activities. tattoo pain chart Tattoo Pain Chart some useful tips when getting a tattoo:  Women are your more sensitive the week prior to and during your cycle. Plan around those dates to have the best experience possible when getting your tattoo. Use lotion everyday on the area to be tattooed at least 1 week prior for healthier skin and better results. Do not go out in the sun at least one week prior to being tattooed (including tanning beds) This drys the skin and if peeling occurs could damage the tattoo. Consider what you will wear for 2 weeks while healing if your tattoo is in an area like the foot, waist, shoulders or chest. Shoes, waistbands, belts, underwear, and bras can all damage tattoos if you do not plan ahead. Find comfortable clothing that will not touch or rub during this time.
Always eat a good meal before being tattooed and drink plenty of fluids.
Be sure to get a good nights rest before your appointment.
Ask what kind of aftercare products you will need when you set up to get your tattoo.
Mention any allergies you may have, pigments, dyes, perfumes.
Some medication may thin your blood, check with your doctor before being tattooed.
Anyone with an autoimmune disorder needs to check with their doctor and should bring a note to be tattooed.