Tattoo Art

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.

History

Earliest tattoos- therapeutic Egyptians- spread tattooing

worldwide

Small bronze tattooing implements (c. 1450 B.C.) from Gurob, Egypt

Polynesian Tattoos Most intricate and skillful Rank & Title Tattoos could take weeks

to complete

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 high rank.

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.

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

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

Tattoo Styles

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

Tattoo Styles

Tattoo Styles

3. Asian inspired• Language characters,

koi fish, dragons, cherry blossoms, tigers, Geishas are all popular choices

• Intricate designs

Tattoo Styles

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’

Tattoo Styles

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

Tattoo Styles

Tattoo Stereotypes: Sailor Cartoonish May have told how many miles they

traveled, rank, etc.

Tattoo Stereotypes: SailorBelow 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.

Tattoo Stereotypes: Criminals

Prison tattoos Gang tattoos

Tattoo Stereotypes: Circus Completely tattooed people Sideshows

Mrs. M. Stevens Wagner 1907

Tattoo Stereotypes: Circus

“Tattooed Lady”, 1902

Modern Tattoos

Became popular after WWII Cosmetic tattoos

Modern Tattoos Stigma

Criminals/prison/delinquints Nazi regime- concentration

camps

A Nazi concentration camp identification tattoo

Modern Tattoos 1960s

Resurgence in tatooing- hippie culture Stigma was lifted Individuality

Modern Tattoos Today- tattooing is more popular

than ever Shows such as “LA Ink” make

tattooing ‘fashionable’

Modern Tattoos

Modern Tattoos

Modern Tattoos

Examples

Modern Tattoos

Examples

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!

Tattoo Fillers

Fill in space around main subject so it’s not “floating”

Give the design unity

Example: Swirl Filler

Tattoo FillersExample: Floral filler

Example: Flames filler

Tattoo Fillers

Example: Water filler

Example: lines/patterns filler

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)