Damon Conklin, owner of Super Genius Tattoo in Seattle, Washington, and founder of the Seattle Tattoo Convention, weighs in on which tattoo designs are the most popular on the West Coast. Tom Yak of New York Adorned says tattoo fans on the East Coast want the same provocative styles; the more customized, the better.
1. Flowers
Conklin: Everything from the daisy on the ankle to floral arrangement, reaching across several bodyparts.
Yak: Floral tattoos always remain in style. I do a lot of lotus flowers. I draw American imagery, daisies and roses, but I try to add an eastern sort of flair.
2. Lettering
Conklin: Usually names and quotes, but sometimes they're elaborate. In one instance, a New York-based writer composed a short story. You could only receive a copy of the story if you had an assigned word from the story tattooed on you, and when completed, the some total of participants comprised the whole story.
3. Symbols
Conklin: This could be as simple as an astrological sign or as abstact as an image that somehow represents a time or accomplishment in someone's life.
Yak: About 80 to 90 percent of what I do are personalized designs. That's what people want.
4. Religion
Conklin: Crosses, Jesus or a range of other gods, including depictions of events in sacred text.
5. Skulls
Conklin: Mostly human and other bone-related stuff.
6. Japanese designs
Conklin: The whole world of traditional Japanese art and tattooing is very influential in today's modern tattooing to the point where almost every tattoo reflects a lesson taken from Japanese art.
Yak: I do a lot of Eastern-inspired art and a lot with the elements. Water, fire, wind. Also, power symbols like the dragon and khoi fish.
7. Portrait
Conklin: This is mostly the realistic likeness of loved ones or celebrities, but more recently has been expanded to include all manner of realistic tattooing.
8. Love
Conklin: Hearts mostly, but sometimes sarcastic statements about love.
Yak: The traditional American style stuff provides the customer with a more historic feel. It's stood the test of time.
9. Birds
Conklin: Including mythological flyers like phoenixes and griffins. Flying is always a metaphor for rising above, excelling and emergence.
10. Wildlife
Conklin: All manners of living creatures, from lions to gold fish.
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Comments (18)
Brigette and Marie: I'm the author of Bodies of Subversion: A Secret History of Women and Tattoo, which I'm updating for a new edition (fall 2012, Powerhouse Books). Can I ask you each a couple of questions through email? I'm at msmifflin@verizon.net
thanks!
Posted by Margot Mifflin on March 28,2012 | 12:10 PM
a solar cross, or solar wheel are from the norse religion of asatru, i would look into that for the refrence on the symbols, there are good solar crosses and bad solar crosses and they are said to have tremendous meaning on your spirit, so be careful what you get, i personally went with the solar wheel, it looks simular to hitlers swastika, which he stole from the ancient pagen religions.
Posted by david thomas on December 5,2011 | 01:28 PM
Tattoos are not for everyone. My grandmother had a great saying, "When in doubt, don't!" I have a good number of tattoos, from birds and flowers to the names of my family. No regrets.
Posted by DeWitt on November 2,2011 | 09:06 PM
What about that Chinese gang lord? You know, the one that needed a kidney transplant because his skin was so completely covered with tattoos. The tattoos hindered his body's ability to sweat, thereby allowing a deadly build-up of toxins, making his kidneys work over-time and eventually fail.
I, personally, don't think God made a mistake when he made my skin--without tattoos. Why mess with perfection?
Just my opinion, but to those who would tattoo their lost loved ones forever on their body, you would do well to remember what Benjamin Disraeli had to say on the subject: "Grief is the agony of an instant. The indulgence of grief the blunder of a life."
Posted by kgum on September 28,2011 | 05:16 PM
The PT-109 today becomes the Battleship Missouri tomorrow!
Posted by BrianC on December 6,2010 | 11:09 AM
I have an 1820 fractur tattoed on my ankle. I get more comments how beautiful it, with the original old colors.
Posted by Diane on September 26,2010 | 06:16 PM
I woul like a tat of a Moari warrior.
Posted by phil on September 25,2010 | 01:32 PM
I have 1 a rose on my ankle. Wanted one from the age of 13 'til I did it at around 40. No regrets. Since my daughters death I have wanted her name,birthdate and date of death. I have had two hip replacements and am concerned about infections. Any opinions? Please don't use my name or address.
Posted by Sue Dodson on September 23,2010 | 01:39 AM
all my tattoos are in black, i would like to get some color.
Posted by Onaje Surratt on May 5,2010 | 12:15 PM
I believe it was the history channel. On tattoos and I can't find any background on it. It called a solar cross can u help me locate someone if u can't.
Posted by fred wiggons on February 2,2010 | 02:47 PM
I absolutely love tattoo,s! Being apart of the biker community and going to different biker events around the country I get to see some of the most incredible tattoo,s imaginable. I have five. My firstwas a rose with "AXL" underneath it~ I got back stage at a Gun,s and Roses concert when I was 18. A purple baby dragon with my first born,s name underneath it, a rose with four crosses around it, a giant shamrock with a celtic design on my neck and a german dialect quote on my arm. Each one was painful yet the memories last a life time! Get inked!
Posted by Brigette.Dancer on September 29,2008 | 07:29 AM
Does anyone know what kind of flower this is in the picture above? It is beautiful.
Posted by Allira Bonnin on August 28,2008 | 07:32 AM
I want to get a tattoo of the Egyptian Goddess Isis. She requires a lot of gold and so I was wondering if Gold was available as an ink in tattooing and more importantly is it safe to use.
Posted by linda holt on August 22,2008 | 06:04 PM
A Lot of women are going to be soooo sorry about this!
Posted by charlie on August 22,2008 | 04:49 PM
For my 57th. birthday I finally got the tattoo I've been thinking about since I was in my 30's. It represents three people who's love has sustained me through good times and bad. They are now always with me. I believe a tattoo can be more than just decorative. It can be a spiritual connection between your body and something of importance in your life. When people look oddly at me in the grocery store or wherever, I just smile. This symbol of love means something to me and I'm sorry that they cannot know that connection. It's the best thing I've ever done for myself! Hurt like heck towards the end but it was worth it!
Posted by Marie on August 22,2008 | 09:57 AM
Tattoos that are in vogue, ie, barb wire around the bicep, on the neck gaudy flower, Chinese writing and symbols will fall out of style. When this happens dermatologists are going to make a fortune. the bearers will regret it. The best tattoos, the ones that are everlasting and will evoke no regrets are traditional tattoos that sailors and soldiers ger. patriotic, "MOM". Seabees, 82ND Airborne. hearts, ETC. If you have to ask how would one be removed...DO NOT GET ONE AND DON'T GET DRUNK AROUND FRIENDS THAT WANT TO GET ONE. I have three, a copperhead snake, and anchor and my wife of 42 year's name. No regrets. very proud of them
Posted by mark regalado on August 21,2008 | 06:29 PM
I think tattoo`s are cool, it is very important to be sure that you want what ever it is that you have picked to have tattooed on your body, because tattoo`s are forever. It would also be smart to put it somewhere that you can cover with clothing if needed. It wouldn`t be too smart to have your neck tattooed if you work in an office,or other public job. Just be smart, and remember it is forever!!!
Posted by Kim on June 17,2008 | 07:33 PM
I live in Washington sate and all my Tattoo's are flowers and lettering. I go to Smitty's tattoo shop in Bremerton and He is one of the best artist I have ever worked with
Posted by nikki on May 25,2008 | 07:23 PM
I would like to get a tattoo of a Maile-lei and incorporate it with a Hawiian style flower and also have my daughter's name in with the tattoo. My daughter's name is Maile after the flower.So I would like that lei tattoo with some kind of colorful Hawiian flower. Please email me back with what ever ideas you might have. Thanks hope to hear from you soon.
Posted by Lily on February 8,2008 | 08:40 PM