Ornamental tattoos often have cultural and spiritual meanings, and their designs have a rich history that extends thousands of years.
By understanding the meaning behind these tattoos, tattoo artists can appreciate and build from the cultural richness they represent.
In this article, we’ll break down:
What are Ornamental Style Tattoos?
The ornamental tattoo style is defined by decorative patterns, fine lines, symmetry, and geometric figures.
Ornamental art has origins in the Roman empire and can be seen in the intricate design work of Roman architecture, as well as in the extremely detailed paintings of artwork like the Sistine Chapel.
Oftentimes, tattooing imitates wood carvings, using images like animals, flowers, crosses, and intricate combinations of shapes.
History and Meaning of Ornamental Tattoo Designs
Some people use the style to commemorate a special event or to keep the memory of a loved one alive.
In some cultures, such as those of the Pacific Islands, the patterns in their tattoos were seen as a sign of social status and belonging, and they were done with great care and attention to detail.
Ancient Egyptians used these designs to express religious beliefs. They were also used in Japan to represent courage, strength, and protection.
Other societies believed tattoos in this style offered special protection or a connection to nature.
In the 1700s, ornamental designs began to become more popular in Europe. They were used to show off wealth and status, as well as to express personal beliefs.
As tattooing has evolved, ornamental designs are now commonly used as art pieces to show off someone’s personal style.
Creating Ornamental Tattoo Designs
While some clients will want small ornamental tattoos, many will want full sleeves or large portions of their back covered almost like clothing.
When designing an ornamental piece with a client, it’s important to keep in mind the rich cultural history of the style, as well as any religious or spiritual meaning the client wants to evoke.
Prepare for a Tattooing Career with the Artist Accelerator Program
Learning to create ornamental tattoos is an important step in your journey, but it can also be pretty eye-opening to how difficult tattooing can be. Without the right knowledge, it’s impossible to level up your skills and become a professional tattoo artist.
However, finding the straightforward information you need to progress is difficult. And with so much out there online, it’s hard to avoid picking up bad habits from incorrect and outdated resources.
This is one of the biggest struggles new tattooers face, and too many talented artists have given up their goal of getting into tattooing because of the years it would take to unlearn their bad habits.
That’s why aspiring artists are learning to tattoo with the Artist Accelerator Program’s structured course. As a student, you learn every step of the tattooing process from professional artists with the experience and advice you need to build your skills and create incredible tattoos.
With the Artist Accelerator, you can stop wasting time searching through incorrect information. You just get the clear, easy-to-understand lessons you need to start improving fast… along with support and personalized feedback from professional artists in our online Mastermind group.
Over 2500 students have already gone through the course, with many of them opening up their own studios. If you want to join them and learn the skills you need to start tattooing full time faster…
Click here to learn more about the Artist Accelerator Program.
