It may seem more like a fad in recent years, but tattoos have been a part of our history for many centuries. Although they have not always been seen with good eyes, today their use is widespread. In every neighborhood there is a tattoo artist willing to infiltrate ink into your epidermis.
What we have proposed here today is to offer you more than 200 images of original tattoos to download. They are different drawings that are framed in a multitude of different styles. We have tried to make them all well done, beautiful and original tattoos. In this way, you will have the option of finding exactly what you are looking for. Or at least inspire you.
When you find the tattoo of your dreams (or something similar to what you want to do), you can download it for free. You just have to save the image on your computer or phone and that's it. You can then print it out and then take it to your trusted tattoo artist. If you do things right, your results will most likely be almost identical.
To make it easier for you to find the type of tattoo you are looking for, we have decided to organize tattoos by styles and sizes . In this way, whether you want a small tattoo or an extensive work of art to sculpt on your back, you will easily find what you are looking for. Ready? Ink? Already!
Image: Small Fruit Tattoos | Piercing & Tattoos
Small tattoo images
You want to get a tattoo, but you don't really know what. Especially since you don't want to fill your body with ink like crazy. Well, in this case perhaps the best alternative is that of small tattoos. There are countless forms, themes and modalities , so you have as many options as there are drawings that can be made.
In this case, you have to look for inspiration . Although we will give you some ideas. You will find them in black, but also in color. Some are pure details. Others may be specific signs about certain concepts, religious, spiritual or emotional trends. Others can even be made of fruits, animals, objects and so on to infinity.
Being small drawings, you can find almost anything in the world . Birds, dogs, anchors, leaves, flowers, arrows, moons, trees, hearts, butterflies, cats, footprints, points, Earth, planets and UFOs, cacti, owls, crosses, pandas, more planets, the treble clef, notes musicals, flamingos, more birds, bees, boats and paper planes, stars, Peter Pan and Wendy, words, elephants, trees, unicorns, Mexican skulls, many hearts, cameras, Mickey and Minie, ships and planets, mandalas, constellations, chemical formulas or planes.
As you can see, the possibilities are endless. Simply enter the search terms you consider into Google: for example, The Little Prince tattoo, to find endless options related to this topic. You will see that there are examples in black and in color . Although in the case of small tattoos (especially if you are looking for something more minimalist) it is much easier to find them in a single ink.
Large tattoo images
When you plan to get a large tattoo, it is either because you are very clear about it, or because you are willing to commit a real madness. It goes without saying that the tattoo will last for life and that, in that case, wearing it will not be a voluntary matter. Large tattoos, for the most part, are seen with the naked eye. Especially when summer comes.
Large back tattoos are perhaps the most impressive. This is, without a doubt, the widest extension of the body in which one can draw. Hence there are great drawings. You have them of many types: carnival, with roses and skulls, overlapping mandalas in blue, floral motifs, skeletons, a huge skull, large faces, ornamental, with pinup cats, giant mandalas, geishas, birds, wings, peacocks, dream catchers and butterflies.
Getting the big tattoo on another part of the body? Well, in the abdomen, for example . Being a fairly large area, some also take the opportunity to get large tattoos here. We have found a bit of everything. So here are a few ideas: guns & roses, ornamentation, mandalas (in this case, they indicate, made to replace striae), branches, flowers and butterfly, a wolf, roses, peacock, a fly or any other insect that suits the shape of the abdomen, lotus flower, more decorative tattoos to hide scars and other original ideas to cover them.
There are also large tattoos for some of the arm regions . In fact, this is the area where people tend to get the most tattoos. We have roses, motifs related to India (you will see flowers, elephants and other typical ornaments), religious drawings, a lucky owl, mountainous landscape, a beautiful tree, many flowers, special tribal, mosquito, big roses, the whole nature , geometric tattoos, forest landscape with super realistic birds or roses.
And we end up with other tattoos that can also be large (at least throughout). The legs . Here we have infinite options. A peacock stretching towards the leg, flowers and birds, an almond tree in bloom, tribal labyrinths, white on black, dark forests, flowers, an elephant from India, almond blossoms, Mexican skulls, fruits and vegetables, roses, a balloon, Mexican skulls or mirror, diamond and roses.
Images of Old School or Old School tattoos
If you are clear about the infinity of types of tattoos that exist, perhaps you should focus more on one style. You may not only care if the tattoo is large or small. If what you are looking for is to find the type of tattoo that really fits your style or way of being, you have to take a look at this classification. The first option that we propose is that of Old School or Old School tattoos.
The term tattoo was adopted and adapted to Spanish by the sailors who traveled across the seas. Hence, many of them were carriers of one or many drawings on their arms . Old School or Old School tattoos are precisely inspired by the sailors of the United States, back in the year 1900.
And how could it be otherwise, here the most recurrent themes have to do with the sea and other elements related to the world of sailors . We can find anchors, lighthouses, mermaids, stars, knives, sharks, ships, dice, hearts ...
However, today, apart from those drawings, we may find other objects or compositions. They follow, of course, the same graphic style as those of yesteryear : a much thicker profile and sharp coloring, without a trace of gradients.
As you will see in the examples that we include below, most of these tattoos are based on a couple of shades: red and blue. They are, without a doubt, the predominant colors, along with their intensity. They do not go unnoticed. Absolutely. Here are 20 images of Old School or Old School tattoos : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and twenty.
New Traditional Tattoo Images
If you have ever looked for examples of New Traditional tattoos, you may have realized that they are not so different from Old School or Old School either. And you are right. Because in reality, we are facing a variety of the first, but with some basic differences.
If in the case of the Old School we did not find degraded, in these we did . In addition, more dotted profiles and more modern graphic elements also appear. The theme is also different, because many elements are incorporated that have nothing to do with the world of the sea, the sailors and the universe that surrounds them.
Despite that, you will see that the look of these tattoos has an absolutely traditional touch. If you want to opt for any of these, below we provide you with a pack of 20 tattoo images to download and take directly to your bedside tattooist: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20.
Ornamental Tattoo Images
Sometimes you have no reason to get a tattoo. And when we speak of motive, we mean idea, object or obsession. Well, that's what ornamental tattoos exist for. It is a style that, according to connoisseurs, has developed recently. However, many other tattooists and tattoo theorists also include the classic tribal tattoos.
Be that as it may, you should know that these are tattoos of abstract styles, borders with geometric motifs. They ornament, so that they do not fulfill any function beyond expressing the beauty (or not) of a drawing. As there are so many different models and varieties, we have decided to include here a pack of twenty ornamental tattoos that you may like.
If you are not interested in any of the ones that we propose here, it is best to type in Google "ornamental tattoos" and do it in different languages. If you do it in English, "ornamental tattoo", you will surely find more results.
Here are the first ones: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20. You will see that there are some with flowers, roses, geometric figures, mandalas, stars, emulating cities, ships, balloons, jewels, butterflies, foxes, elephants, roosters. And it is that, although some offer us forms that emulate reality, it is clear that their purpose is clearly ornamental .
Dotwork Tattoos
If you are not a tattoo expert, you may not have heard this name in your life. However, the Dotwork tattoo technique already has many acolytes . The style is a heritage from Old School or Old School and New Traditional tattoos.
However, the tattoos called "Dotwork" have little to do with them. More than anything because of the way they are made. The style in question was born in the United Kingdom and if we translated the English word literally, the result would be “knitted work”.
No, this has nothing to do with tissue. But yes with the stippling that the tattoo artist makes on the skin. Do you remember the dotted drawings that you made in school? Well, the thing goes a bit there. While it is true that the theme is based on the most classic tattoos, the style and technique are very different.
Here what the professional does is make a drawing through points. Usually only one color is used, in monochrome. And although the matter seems very elaborate, nothing is further from the truth. According to experts, this is a fairly easy style . Hence, many novice tattooists start here.
Despite that, the drawings that can be achieved with this style are frankly surprising. We have collected another twenty that may inspire you in your next tattoo . You will see that there are very, very original proposals, that remind us of famous works of art and that are certainly inspiring. You have all the examples below: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20.
However, to find more models, we recommend doing a search for "dotwork tattoo" . You will find countless images, minimalist and modern. Among these you will surely find what you are looking for.
Black & Gray Tattoos
It is clear that tattoos with colors tend to be more colorful. However, the fans of this current do not think the same. As its name suggests, Black & Gray tattoos are those that are made in black colors and in all their ranges, including grays.
They are part of the most current styles, but the truth is that there are no shortage of detractors. If you like flashy and colorful tattoos, you will most likely shy away from this technique, because… unless it is a very original proposal, the results sometimes look dull.
Many of the examples that we have found bet on gradients. The chosen theme has a lot to do with skulls and other black (and even gothic) issues , so that the tattoo typology is very limited to very specific themes. If you want to be inspired by a few Black & Gray tattoos, here are twenty examples: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20.
Stencil Tattoo Images
You may be looking for a more up-to-date technique. Something a little different in the world of tattoos. Well, in that case maybe you should take a look at this technique called Stencil . Stencil tattoos are made through stencils. Hence, its appearance is very similar to the graffiti that we see on the walls.
To carry them out, the tattoo artist should not have such a refined technique. Because in fact, as we said, all you need are hours and a template. Comfort when carrying them out is one of its most important aspects. These tattoos usually have a single compact color , so we will not see gradients. This in most cases, we can always find exceptions (especially when techniques are combined)
What are they best suited for? Well, for example, to tattoo icons or even logos. This technique may be of interest to those who want to tattoo the face of their favorite historical character or singer. As we said, in the purest style of the graffiti on the template that we can see on the street.
We have found a selection of ten proposals that may inspire you: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. However, if you do not find what you are looking for here (we have only put some examples ), you can directly search for templates of what interests you. Although initially they were not used to make tattoos, your tattoo artist can come in handy to adapt the drawing as a tattoo of this style.
Brush Tattoo
You may be looking for a much more modern tattoo style . If you are not into the traditional and have no intention of painting a panther, a mermaid or a passion red heart, you can opt for some other current technique. One of the most popular among modern people is Brush tattoos.
The technique is not simple at all. Hence, it is very important to put yourself (although that is always) in the hands of a professional. Why? Because a badly executed technique, in this of Brush tattoos can end in a real disaster. And as you know, that must be carried forever.
The end result, in this case, has a lot to do with the technique and experience of the tattoo artist. If you have never worked in this style, it is difficult for things to turn out well. Unless he's a true genius. But things never go well by chance (or hardly ever). In this style or technique, many colors are usually used and geometric shapes are also used . The results, if they are good, are impressive and offer a look not at all similar to what we traditionally understand by tattoos.
Its origin is very European. We can find them to a greater extent in Germany and England. Either way, the only important thing here is that it is done by a tattoo artist with experience in the style . If you're not sure where to start or what to look at, here is a good assortment of Brush tattoo examples. Which of these do you like the most? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20.
Realistic Tattoo Images
And we end up with a technique that may not be interesting to everyone . But for tastes are the colors, right? Well, we talk about realistic tattoos. As its name suggests, we are dealing with totally realistic drawings. And if they can be recreated in a painting, they can also be sculpted on the skin.
Usually, what is done in the realistic style is to capture in lines the real line of the object or the person (in the case of a portrait), so that its appearance is as close as possible to reality . This is not easy. And even if it is not a new technique, the tattoo artist must be a true professional of his own. Otherwise, the results can be really fatal.
Can you imagine wearing on your skin the face of someone who in theory belongs to your family, but who is nothing like ? What if you get a Michael Jackson tattoo that has nothing to do with the physiognomy of the real person? Well that.
The realistic or portrait style is drawn on the skin using only black and white colors , making it look like a real photograph on the skin. Often these tattoos tend to have a theme related to family, actors or animals.
Although in some cases the results may be somewhat doubtful, in our opinion, some of the examples that we have seen through the networks are remarkable . For this reason, if you still do not know what type of tattoo to get, we recommend you take a look at these examples that we provide here.
You will see that there are drawings of many styles and themes . If you like one, you can decide on it. Or dip into any of the other styles mentioned above. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19.
A brief history of tattooing
Well, with realistic tattoos we have finished this special tattoo images to download. As you can see, we have compiled the most classic styles, but we also wanted to include the most modern ones. That they are not few.
But the tattoo business is nothing new. The first evidences are already in the coast of Peru, 2,000 years before Christ. It appears that the tattoo in question was a very fine mustache sculpted on the man's upper lip .
The discovery of the oldest human corpse with skin ever found allowed us to discover new evidence of tattoos. It was in the I-tzal Alps. The Neolithic mummy had no more and no less than 57 tattoos on its back . It is clear that he did not want to fall short or that, according to some experts, he was subjected to a practice similar to acupuncture. But with which they left their mark. And a lot.
Image: The tattoos of í – tzi, the ice man | Third
But it did not end here. In Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome tattoos were also used a lot. In some cases to comply with certain rites, but in others to point out criminals .
But if there is a finding that reminds us very much of the type of tattoos that people get today, it is that of the mummy found in the El Brujo Archaeological Complex. We are talking about the Lady of Cao, a woman who must have existed 1,500 years ago and who has in her arms countless tattoos of crocodiles, leopards, bees, butterflies, snakes and even monkeys .
Image: Tattoos of the Lady of Cao | Aboriginal women
Regarding the etymology of the word, it is believed that the word may come from the Samoan "tátau", which means to mark twice. However, the sailors incorporated that word and it came to us through French, through the formula tatouage. Today we call them tattoos or even tatus.
Whatever you call them, tattoos are still a trend. If you want to get a tattoo and you like one of the ones we have provided above, you have it really easy. The diversity of images and examples that you can find on the networks is amazing. Another option, especially if you're a big fan of the world of ink is to be inspired by some of the earliest tattoos were found in the Neolithic men .
You will see, when you look at the ideas of those men and women, that we are not so different from those who in their day decided to sculpt their skin with indelible ink.