A tribal tattoo design is a popular tattoo choice in the 21st
century. Go to any beach in the summer months and simply look at all of
the tattoos on show. Tribal designs will represent a significant number
of them.
You may be deciding on your first tattoo, or simply a continuation of your collection, and have decided to go the tribal route.
But where have tribal tattoos originated from?
In
a bygone era tribes from all over the world have tattooed members of
their group as part of their way of life. Whether it be a spiritual
reason, a coming of age, a religious ceremony, or a celebration of an
achievement in life.
The tattoos we know and love now started from
these tribal origins. Tattoo equipment back then was crude and simple,
with the ink and paraphernalia being sourced from natural products found
within the environment.
The tribal tattooists did not have the
benefit of 21st century tattoo guns and autoclaves back then. As a
result the tattoo design was as crude as the equipment would allow. This
is how they arrived at the tribal tattoo designs we see now.
Bold thick line work, a lack of intricacy, limited (if any) colouring. Simple patterns and pictures from a simpler time.
Over
the ages travellers have experienced the trials of a tribal tattoo,
These (quite often painful) tattoos have been transported back to
western society and have influenced tattoo artists worldwide.
The benefits of tribal tattoo designs over conventional designs are:
1.
The style of the tattoo, with the bold line work and simple designs,
stands out well on the body. Intricate designs can be lost on a viewer
where any distance is involved and thus the tribal tattoo can be admired
from afar with ease.
2. The lack of vibrant colours and the use
of (predominately) black ink means that the tattoo with retain its depth
over time. Colours tend to fade, especially when the body area is
exposed, A tribal tattoo is likely to last the lifetime of its collector
without need for much if any touch up.
3. The style lends itself
well to larger designs that can flow unencumbered over all areas of the
body. Full sleeves are often completed in the tribal style and stand out
more than a sleeve full of more than one intricate design. It is also
possible to complete a tribal design on one part of the body, and then
add further to it at a later stage, possibly leading to other parts of
the body.
For example, I have a tribal design first started over
ten years ago on my left thigh. Over the years I have added further
sections to it, taking it down to my lower thigh. Although the
individual work has been completed over many years, none of the tattoo
has aged or changed in any way. It looks like one solid tattoo completed
in one sitting.
4. The style is not limited to any shape size or
body placement. There are thousands of different tribal tattoo designs.
They can wrap around yours arms, your legs, go across your back, across
your feet. Just about anywhere.
5. Just about any tattoo you can
think of can be completed in the tribal style. If you still harbor for a
conventional tattoo, for instance a dragon, it can be completed in the
tribal style. You can even have script written on your body utilising
tribal imagery.