Posts Tagged ‘art’

Before you get yourself a tattoo, you must be prepared to put in the effort to take care of it. The fact is, if you have any problems or complication such as infection on a fresh tattoo, the tattoo artist you’ve put your trust on is not going to be responsible for it you do not take any care for your new ink.

A well drawn, sharp and beautiful tattoo can quickly become a disaster if good tattoo aftercare is not given to it. There are some simple guidelines you can take to care for your tattoo. The artists who drawn the design will put in the initial care by covering up your new tattoo for good reason. The reason is to prevent any air born bacteria from invading your wound.

A new body ink is literally a wound on your skin even if it looks pretty. The open flesh is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and for infection. You have to leave the bandage for a minimum time of up to two hours.

When you got your first ink, there will be some excitement and everybody will be asking you to remove the bandage so that you can show off your new tattoo. This is not a good idea though. It is best to ask your friends to be patient and wait for two hours before removing the bandage that came from the tattoo parlor.

There can be one exception for this restriction. If your artist covered your tattoo with saran wrap or with some kind of plastic, it is best to remove it immediately. Saran wrapper is not recommended because it restricts oxygen from reaching your new ink.

After removing the bandage, you must wash your new tattoo. Use lukewarm water together with a mild liquid antibacterial or with antimicrobial soap. The generic brand antibacterial soap is better for this purpose. Wash the wound gently to remove any ointment, plasma or dried blood and making sure the entire area is completely clean. When you’ve done washing, use a soft cotton towel and dab your new tattoo area dry.

Are you planning to get a new ink on your body? If you are, check out the Chopper Tattoo and Tattoo Me Now web sites. These online portals have thousands of tattoo patterns and you are bound to find your perfect design. For more information on these web sites, read the Chopper Tattoo reviews and TattooMeNow reviews on the web.

The list below is a short list of tattoo designs that have been searched for on the Internet year in and year out. The list could be longer but these are some of the most popular.

Tribal Tattoos

There has been an ever-growing interest in tribal tattoos and they are very popular amongst men and women. There has been an amazing array of tribal designs developed over the years. The original tattoos were used in tribes to denote a range of things: status in the tribe, successful completion of a rite of passage or a symbol of courage. The modern tribal designs have evolved from those. They may not have the same significance they once had they still have a connection to those early tribal cultures. Some designs are very dramatic and eye-catching. Maori tattoos are popular but care has to be taken to avoid using tattoos still in use by the Maori people, which might denote membership of a particular tribe. Their use by others could be offensive. A good artist will know this and will use one of the many tribal styles available.

Cross Tattoos

Cross Tattoos are a perennial favorite. People wear the cross as an enduring symbol of faith, hope and love. It is also used as a memorial, to remember loved ones gone and to connect with them spiritually. It can remind them to have faith when things get tough – to help them through difficult times. The cross is an ancient symbol used by pre-Christian cultures as a mark of power or prestige, as a rite of passage and as a link to their Gods. They believed wearing the symbol would give them some divine power.

Star Tattoos

The image of the star is a favourite as it has been in many cultures throughout history. It is connected to a number of religions and cultures and to the universe. Many regard it as a source of power and good fortune. Stars have fascinated astronomers, astrologers and philosophers for thousands of years. Stars can be seen as a guiding light – mariners sailed by the stars; a star guided the three wise men. The five-pointed start is the most popular, either on its own or in a cluster or worked into other images.

Butterfly Tattoos

Butterfly tattoos are a particular favourite for women. They have been one of their top choices for many years and do not look like loosing their appeal. There are a number of reasons for this: the number of beautiful designs available – they can work as a small delicate image or a bold statement in a tribal image. Another is the story of the butterfly itself – a beautiful creature emerging from ugliness, only to last a brief moment before it is lost forever. It is a symbol of rebirth and regeneration, which, in turn, gives hope.

Angel Tattoos

An angel tattoo is used as a symbol of faith and devotion. It reminds us of God‘s presence and special protection. Most of us are familiar with angels as Guardian Angels and as messengers from God. They have a special connection to God and, through them, we can connect o him. The symbol is used to give people strength and hope.

Kanji Tattoos

About 1 in 5 Internet tattoo design searches are for Kanji tattoos. People are drawn to the idea of being able to express themselves with these exotic symbols. There are between 2000 and 3000 Kanji symbols, which means there are more than enough for most people to find a symbol that works for them. Japanese calligraphy is an art form so the flowing lines of a Kanji tattoo can be attractive and artistic.

Other popular tattoo designs are dragons, flowers, texts and fairies. But then there is a sub-list because people might be looking for Celtic or Gothic style designs or ones that mean strength or love. One thing is certain, the popularity of having a drawing done on some part of the body has not diminished and this seems unlikely to change in the near future.

William Burnell has a longstanding interest in the art, designs and history of tattoos. He enjoys sharing this interest with others and in helping them in their quest for their unique symbol of self-expression. You will find all you need to know on tattoo designs, prices, and aftercare at http://www.tattooartdesign.info

It’s hard to imagine that a simple, stenciled picture on a wall could inspire so much praise and criticism. There are views in both of the extremes ranging from embracing the art as part of the city it is located in to writing the images off as nothing other than illegal tagging, but one thing is for sure: artists like Blek le Rat and Banksy have managed to make huge names for themselves and stencil graffiti as an art form around the world.

Stencil graffiti is similar to standard graffiti you might see decorating a city, but it uses stencils created by the artist to make the picture much easier and quicker to apply. In addition, the use of stencils leaves a distinct style specific to this type of art and even though it leaves crisp, often single color, images, the artists still seem to leave their own special touch with each one.

As the art of tagging is still illegal (depending on where and who you ask), some of these artists have moved from painting their visions on public spaces for all to see to the inside of gallery space like more traditional artists. This might not have the same far reaching, rebellious effect as standard graffiti but it has managed to become extremely popular around the world with pieces created by Banksy being sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Although Blek le Rat and many before him might have been the first to use stencil graffiti as art, it has continued to develop and evolve for many years. Despite the huge growth of the art, it can still be traced back to the ideas of each artist, probably sketched in his or her graffiti blackbook. Everyone might not be able to appreciate it, but it is clear that graffiti has had a lasting impact on the art world and continues to produce some of the most interesting art in recent times.

Find out more about graffiti art at Graffiti Blackbook where you can also find some graffiti blackbook sketches.

Like any concerned parent’s worst nightmare, my teenage son wanted to get a tattoo for his birthday. I thought he lost his mind and nearly got into a huge argument with him. Why couldn’t he be just like all the other kids and ask for a video gaming console instead?

After a heated exchange of words, followed by a cool-down period with lots of contemplation, I slowly saw the error of my ways. All my son wanted was a tiny tattoo for a birthday present. It does not equal to the end of the world just yet.

In Canada, there is no age regulation for getting a tattoo, although most parlours require parental consent for anybody under the age of eighteen. I was thankful that my son respected me enough to ask for permission first. I’d much rather argue with him over getting a tattoo, rather than him going to an untrustworthy tattoo parlour behind my back. If my son wanted to get a tattoo, then it is my responsibility as a parent to fully support him however I can.

My first concern is the quality of the tattoo supplies. I have heard many horror stories about skin infection through unsterilized needles and equipment. To avoid this, I did hours of research online until I came up with a very reputable tattoo parlour with great reviews and references.

Another concern is the design and visibility of the tattoo. My son is still young and a bit naive, so he wanted the tattoo to be placed on a body part with as much exposure as possible. He did not take into consideration that very few employers would appreciate hiring somebody with a bright vibrant tattoo on the side of his neck. I definitely vetoed that suggestion, although I did recommend that he place it on the back of his shoulder – a common place for tattoos.

Since the tattoo gun came into origin during the late 1800s, getting body art has been made a much easier process. Previously, the traditional method was to literally hammer the ink into the human skin, which is not only painful but also prone to sloppiness and errors. The new tattoo machines can avoid these problems. There will still be some pain to getting a tattoo, but the amount is definitely more tolerable.

The tattoo machine operates with two needles. The first one involves tracing the outline of the tattoo. This is typically drawn in black or any other colour as the user desires. The second needle is used for the actual colouring process, as in filling out the colours within the outlines. The needles are designed so that the bottom base is wider.

It took a lot of effort and hard work to give my son the tattoo that he wanted, but I also learned a lot from the tattooing experience. And believe it or not, I believe getting the tattoo was a great bonding experience between parent and child. I would definitely feel prepared now if my daughter wants a tattoo as well…

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Graffiti is a social expression as much as one would associate it as a personal one. Many people who are opposed to graffiti, see it as a reflection of social breakdown, rebellious attitude and a lack of sense of citizenship.

Should graffiti writers be allowed to do anything they wanted? I am a keen believer that ‘controlled graffiti’ has more benefits than negative impacts on the society. It is true that vandalism is not welcome in the society. However, there are many graffiti writers who treat graffiti art as a form of community beautification. By community beautification, I consider graffiti art in urban ‘dead spaces’. They help to spice up abandoned urban blight and educate the public on social issues.

Graffiti art is a contrast to other forms of public art. Art form that requires no gallery hierarchy and no merchandizing and commercial hustle. There is a feeling that public advertising is the real cause of urban decay. Too much commercialism has caused the declined of public interest towards political and social concerns.

Graffiti art is a vehicle for people to connect with. It is the perfect platform for urban dwellers to know what is going on with a city. Looking at the writing on the wall, you can tell what are the social and political problems that are happening in the country.

Graffiti art is the ultimate expression of artistic democracy. It is a true reflection of the culture that it comes from. Graffiti artists send to the public a strong message-we should be more concern with social issues amid the influx of negative commercialism.

William Tan is a writer and artist of William Tan Art Studio. Visit his Art blog at http://www.william-tan.com to learn more about art and the latest art news!