Tattoo history and design basics- designed for middle school illustration project

1. Tattoo Art

2. History
 Polynesian word “ta”- to strike
something
 Tahitian word “tatau”- to mark
-First tattoos were probably
created by accident
-Oldest: 5,000 year old mummy
in Europe
The tattooed right hand of a Chiribaya mummy
found near the port of Ilo in southern Peru. A.D.
900 to 1350.

3. History
 Earliest tattoos- therapeutic
 Egyptians- spread tattooing
worldwide
Small bronze tattooing implements (c. 1450
B.C.) from Gurob, Egypt

4. Polynesian Tattoos
 Most intricate and skillful
 Rank & Title
 Tattoos could take weeks
to complete

5. Polynesian Tattoos
 Examples
"Unknown Woman of Rotorua District, North Island.” A
rare portrait of moko applied by “grouped” darning
needles around 1910 by tattoo artist Tame Poata. A
wonderful photograph of this Arawa lady, undoubtedly of

6. New Zealand: Maori
 “Moko”- face
tattoos
 Use
woodcarving
skills
 Mark of
distinction
A Māori Chief with tattoos (moko)
seen by Cook and his crew
“Te Tuhi, Wiremu Patara chief of the Ngati Mahuta.” Original postcard
entitled “Maori Chief Patara Te Tuhi” published by W. Beattie and Co.
Fine Arts Publishers Auckland, N.Z. circa 1910.

7. Tattoos in North America
 Native Americans
 Civil War- first tattoo shop
opened in NYC in 1846
 1891- Samuel O’Reilly
invented first electric tattoo
machineFrank Deburdg was tattooed by Samuel O'Reilly at his Bowery studio

8. Tattoo Styles
1. Fine Line black and grey
• Originated in Chicano
communites of LA during
the 1970’s
• Single needle- fine lines
and smooth shading
• Realistic
• Topics often included
portraits, roses, memorial
pieces

9. Tattoo Styles

10. Tattoo Styles
2. Biomechanical
• Meant to look like
ripped apart flesh with
mechanical parts
underneath
• “Terminator” effect
• Best on muscled parts
of the body (neck, legs,
arms)
• Realistic

11. Tattoo Styles

12. Tattoo Styles
3. Asian inspired
• Language characters,
koi fish, dragons,
cherry blossoms,
tigers, Geishas are all
popular choices
• Intricate designs

13. Tattoo Styles

14. Tattoo Styles
4. Tribal
• Comes from Native
American culture,
became very
popular in the
1990’s.
• Intricate line
designs
• TRUE tribal tattoos
are considered rites
of passage and are
often done by ‘hand’

15. Tattoo Styles

16. Tattoo Styles
5. Old School/Sailor Style
• Topics include Eagles,
pin-up girls, ships,
anchors, sparrows
• Can include banners for
memorial tattoos
• “Sailor Jerry”- Norman
Keith Collins
• Specific color scheme
• High CONTRAST
• Heavy Outline

17. Tattoo Styles

18. Tattoo Stereotypes: Sailor
 Cartoonish
 May have told how many miles they
traveled, rank, etc.

19. Tattoo Stereotypes: Sailor
Below are but a few of the popular tattoos of a seaman's
life.
HOLD, on the knuckles of one hand and FAST, on the
other. This is said to help the seaman to better hold
the riggings.
A PIG, on the top of one foot and a ROOSTER, on the
other. This is said to protect the seaman from
drowning, because both of these barnyard animals
cannot swim so they would get the seaman quickly to
shore.
An ANCHOR showed the seaman had sailed the Atlantic
Ocean.
A FULL-RIGGED SHIP showed the seaman had sailed
around Cape Horn.
A DRAGON showed the seaman had served on a China
station.
A SHELLBACK TURTLE denotes a seaman who has
crossed the equator.
A GOLDEN DRAGON denotes a seaman who has crossed
the International Date Line.
PORT & STARBOARD ship lights were tattooed on the left
(port) and right (starboard) side of the body.
ROPE, tattooed around the wrist meant the seaman was a
deckhand.

20. Tattoo Stereotypes: Criminals
 Prison tattoos
 Gang tattoos

21. Tattoo Stereotypes: Circus
 Completely tattooed people
 Sideshows
Mrs. M. Stevens Wagner 1907

22. Tattoo Stereotypes: Circus
“Tattooed Lady”, 1902

23. Modern Tattoos
 Became popular after WWII
 Cosmetic tattoos

24. Modern Tattoos
 Stigma
 Criminals/prison/delinquints
 Nazi regime- concentration
camps
A Nazi concentration camp identification tattoo

25. Modern Tattoos
 1960s
 Resurgence in tatooing- hippie culture
 Stigma was lifted
 Individuality

26. Modern Tattoos
 Today- tattooing is more popular
than ever
 Shows such as “LA Ink” make
tattooing ‘fashionable’

27. Modern Tattoos

28. Modern Tattoos

29. Modern Tattoos
 Examples

30. Modern Tattoos
 Examples

31. Dangers of Tattooing
 Go to a REPUTABLE studio
with proper training and
certification
 Tattoo artist should be wearing
gloves, and open everything in
front of you
 Sterile work area
 Use common sense!
 Complications can include HIV,
Hepatitis, and infection if you
are not careful!

32. Tattoo Fillers
Fill in space
around main
subject so it’s
not “floating”
Give the
design unity
Example: Swirl Filler

33. Tattoo Fillers
Example: Floral filler
Example: Flames filler

34. Tattoo Fillers
Example: Water filler
Example: lines/patterns filler

35. Your Assignment
 Come up with a symbolic tattoo design
 REQUIREMENTS:
 Must have a main ‘picture’ or subject. Must represent
something about you/meaningful to you
 Must fit in one of the 5 ‘categories’ in some way
 Supporting details- lines, design, etc. so picture is not
‘floating’ and flows well
 Shading in colored pencil- fades out toward the edges
 Crisp, clear design
 Size must fit on an index card (minimum)