Watercolor Tattoo Ideas

There are many ways to search out a design reference for your new ink. The Internet has become an easy resource of information and you can find a lot of images that appeal to you --- often a myriad of photographs, drawings and animated images that all somehow relate to the tattoo vision you have in your mind. Magazines, books and all other types of media can contribute even further. But, unfortunately, not everything you're going to find online or at the newsstand can translate into a fantastic tattoo. The amount of detail, the line work and shading involved and the size of the image will have to determine how Tattoo Friendly your design reference actually is. Often, the images you find will need to be re-worked by a knowledgeable flash artist or tattooist to make them work well when translated to your skin.

To avoid the disappointment of realizing that your "perfect" design isn't actually a realistic tattoo possibility, bypass mass media searching and go for the most direct method: consulting Tattoo Friendly collections of flash art. These designs were created specifically to be tattooed and will work within the possibilities and limitations of a tattoo needle. Other types of art and images that you find as design reference may contribute to your tattoo vision, but you should be aware of their limitations in advance.

Know your tattoo design resources... and their limitations.

You may find design inspiration in many places, but you won't always find Tattoo Friendly artwork. Magazines, books, internet searches and all other forms of media are full of images, but you should ultimately rely on artwork that is intended to be tattooed and is created by flash artists and tattooists who understand the limitations of a tattoo machine.

Be realistic about your tattoo design vision.

Skin is a living canvas, so there is a natural limit to what will work and what will not work as a tattoo. Be realistic about the size and complexity of your tattoo design with respect to the size of the tattoo you ultimately want.

Make sure your tattoo design reflects your desire for ink.

People get tattoos for many different reasons - be it identity expression, rite of passage, shock, memorializing, or simply because they like the idea of having one. Think about your reasons for getting tattooed while you work through the process of choosing a design and you'll find something that really expresses your original desire to get one.

Determine what your tattoo means to you now, later and forever.

Think about the meaning your tattoo will have and how it will apply to you in the future. While some people want their tattoo to always represent them, others will get tattooed to commemorate a period or event in their lives (like a mile marker).

Identify your style.

Identify different styles of artwork you're naturally drawn to. Many designs can be represented in various ways and you might be more attracted to a traditional and vintage look, modern or urban styles, photo realistic forms, buoyant cartoon designs, delicate and feminine-looking work or "simulation" (designs that simulate watercolor, airbrush and oils).