Blog posts of '2015' 'July'

The selection of your tattoo design may be, in the end, the most important part of the entire process of getting a tattoo. When you are picking out a tattoo design, there are many factors involved that often people do not consider until it is too late and their tattoo design determines what and where the tattoo ultimately looks like instead of personal preference. When you are selecting a tattoo design, start out slowly and be methodical. Remember, this is a permanent piece of art that not only will be visible on your skin forever, but that you will often be asked to explain and relate to yourself and your life. A tattoo is a permanent expression of yourself, so follow these steps to insure that the expression is exactly what you wanted it to be.

1.Investigate tattoo styles, tattoo images and tattoo symbolism.

When you get a tattoo, that piece of art is a personal expression about yourself. Even if you get it as a joke, it is still an integral part of your body for the rest of your life. As a result, you need to be sure that you get a tattoo design that symbolizes things about you. Look online to find images that you like, then investigate those images to make sure that you understand their symbolism, if they have any. The symbolism of the images and the things that they symbolize to you do not have to be the same, but a tattoo of a symbol that indicates a certain thing to a large portion of the population can influence the way people view you. For example, regardless of why you got a swastika tattooed on you, people who saw it would assume certain things about your opinions when it comes to race. While this is an extreme example, other types of tattoos also can have major significance to certain portions of the population, such as military honors and military tattoos, so you should be sure to understand the conventional symbolism behind your tattoo design as well as your personal tattoo history.

2.Consider the ramifications of the location of your tattoo.

Deciding where to put your tattoo will influence its appearance in a major way. For example, if you want a tattoo on the back of your ankle, then it will need to be far smaller and much simpler than a tattoo on your shoulder would have to be. Also, depending on your profession, you might need to pick an area of your body that can be covered up with professional clothing. While tattoos in the workplace have become far more common particularly with the explosion of patriotic tattoos after September 11, 2001, some offices still discourage them and may even react negatively to you during a job interview if you have one.

3.Interview and Investigate Tattoo Parlors and Artists

Selecting a clean, safe and inviting tattoo parlor is a critical part of your tattoo process, as is finding an artist whose work you like and who is willing to work with you to create the best tattoo possible for you. While artistic originality is as important among tattoo artists as it is among any other segment of the artistic population, you need a tattoo artist who is willing to work with you to give you the perfect tattoo, and that likely means that you need an artist who is willing to use a stencil and color guide for guidance if it will help them achieve the look that you want. Be polite about requesting this, but do not bend on this issue if you want to be sure that your tattoo looks just like you have envisioned it. However, remember that some artists view stencils as an issue of artistic integrity, so if you come across an artist that will not use a stencil no matter what, then politely accept this decision and continue investigating your options elsewhere.

4.Get that perfect tattoo!

Once you have the perfect tattoo design and the perfect tattoo location to go along with the perfect tattoo artist, then it is time to get that perfect tattoo design. Be sure that you are prepared before your tattooing session. Get plenty of rest, and eat a healthy, but not too heavy meal. Also, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol and drugs prior to tattooing, since these can cause major health complications and even make your tattoo hurt much worse than it should.

The praying hands found in many Christian pieces of art were originally created by Albrecht Drer, a German painter, printmaker and theorist from Nuremberg. It was commissioned as an altarpiece called ''Hands of the Apostle'' by the mayor of Frankfurt in 1508. (There is a rumor that the hands are modeled on the hands of Drer's brother. The story goes that his brother supported Drer's art by working in the mines. However, this is just an urban legend.) A later version of these praying hands appeared in another piece if Drer's work, only this time as the hands of an apostle standing at an empty grave looking heavenwards at the coronation of the Virgin Mary. The original was destroyed by fire in 1729, but a copy of the altarpiece, as well as some earlier sketches survived. Today, Drer's ''Hands of the Apostle'' can be seen all over the world in paintings, t-shirts, jewelry and other depictions of Christian faith.

Show me more Praying Hands Tattoo Designs

The Scarab Beetle is a dung beetle, which rolls balls of animal dung along the ground. These balls are rolled into holes that the beetles dig in the ground. The beetle then deposits its larvae in the dung ball which - when hatched, feed upon the dung. According to Egyptian mythology, the dung beetle rolling his ball of dung along the ground was thought to mimic the Sun's heavenly circuit across the sky during the day and its daily self-renewal. It was believed that a sacred symbolic Scarab carrying a Solar disk on itsback, represented the Sun's cycle through the sky.

During the time of the Egyptians, stone-carved scarabs were used as magical amulets and protective talismans to aide its wearer with the power of "eternal renewal of life." Scarabs were also employed as talismans and royal seals. The winged scarab was used in Egyptian funeral rites. When the long linen strips covering mummies have been unwrapped, many small charms and amulets have been uncovered. Foremost among them have been sacred Scarab beetles.

The ancient Egyptians believed that Khepri renewed the sun every day before rolling it above the horizon, then carried it through the other world after sunset, only to renew it, again, the next day. Some New Kingdom royal tombs exhibit a threefold image of the sun god, with the beetle as symbol of the morning sun. The astronomical ceiling in the tomb of Ramses VI portrays the nightly "death" and "rebirth" of the sun as being swallowed by Nut, goddess of the sky, and re-emerging from her womb as Khepri.

In Aesop's fable "The Dung Beetle and the Eagle", the eagle kills a hare despite the beetle's appeals. The beetle takes revenge by twice destroying the eagle's eggs. The eagle, in despair, flies up to Olympus and places her latest eggs in Zeus's lap, beseeching the god to protect them. When the beetle finds out what the eagle has done, it stuffs itself with dung, goes straight up to Zeus and flies right into his face. Zeus is startled at the sight of the unpleasant creature and jumps to his feet. The eggs are broken. Zeus then learns of the beetle's plea which the eagle had ignored. He scolds the eagle and urges the beetle to stay away from the bird. But his efforts to persuade the beetle fail; so he changes the breeding season of the eagles to take place at a time when the beetles are not above ground.

As tattoo designs, Scarab Beetles are symbols of the cycle and power of the sun, of resurrection and the after-life. They are lucky amulets for protection and will help guide one successfully into the afterlife. Scarab Beetles are often shown with falcons wings, and these special Scarabs ensured that an individual would be able to persuade Osiris to let them into the Afterlife regardless of what they might have done that was less than virtuous in life.

Show me more Scarab Beetle Tattoo Designs

 Project Semicolon began in 2013 as one woman's way to honor the father she lost to suicide. Amy Bleuel, who battled her own struggles against depression and mental illness, and suicidal thoughts saw the period-comma combo as a symbol of hope. Bleuel wanted to honor her father’s memory, and got a tattoo of a semicolon. It soon launched an organization—and a global movement—to support those struggling with the same afflictions.

Project Semicolon is a faith-based non-profit that encourages and supports people with depression, addiction, and thoughts of self-injury or suicide. The semicolon is an important piece of punctuation and is a perfect symbol for those who are struggling. As Amy says, “A semicolon is used when an author could’ve chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life.

Today, the movement continues to grow and will hopefully continue to raise awareness about these issues.