Tattoo Art Draws You In by Deborah Tirico
Today, body art is more popular than ever … and hardly a new idea. Tattooing originated in Polynesia, was discovered by eighteenth century
explorers and made popular among European sailors before spreading to western
society. Tattoos often serve as rites of passage, marks of status and rank,
symbols of religious and spiritual devotion, decorations for bravery, sexual
lures and marks of fertility, pledges of love, and as the mark of an outcast,
slave or convict. On humans, tattoos are considered decorative, while on
animals they are a common use of identification or “branding”.
Tattoo enthusiasts refer to their tattoos as "Ink", "Tats", "Art", "Pieces", or
"Work"; and to the tattooists as "Artists". Copyrighted tattoo designs that are
mass-produced to tattoo artists are known as “flash”, and flash sheets are prominently displayed in many tattoo parlors to provide
inspiration and ready-made images for tattoo customers.
The American Academy of Dermatology distinguishes 5 types of tattoos: Traumatic
tattoos, also called "natural tattoos", that result from injuries, especially
asphalt from
road injuries or pencil lead; Amateur tattoos; Professional tattoos, both via
traditional methods and modern tattoo machines; Medical tattoos; and Cosmetic
tattoos, also known as "permanent makeup".
Temporary Tattoos and Hennas
The temporary tattoo has become increasingly popular today in Hollywood when
actors and actresses need specific tattoos for roles they play. Many hip hop
stars, models and actors prefer these temporary tattoos as they afford them the
opportunity to change their ink … and hence their character, simply and painlessly.
Henna is plant with leaves which, when crushed and mixed with an acidic liquid,
forms a skin staining ink. This ink was used in the Mideast region of the world as body art for a bride to
signify the blessings of hope and joy. This early connection between young, fertile women and henna seems to be the
origin of the Night of the Henna, which is now celebrated world-wide.
Charity Tats
Want a new tattoo? Bid for it on charitybuzz.com and you could win new “ink” at the Miami Ink Tattoo Shop by famous tattoo artist Ami James! Afterwards you
will get a tour of the studio where the popular reality hit series is filmed by
TLC. All this for charity - go figure!
Tattoo Package Design
Companies across the country are using the tattoo culture as a marketing
strategy. They are launching products with tattoo-centric names, stamping their logos on temporary
tattoos and using ink-covered
models in their advertising.
7-Eleven developed Inked,
a proprietary energy drink
targeting consumers with body art .
Human Billboards
Check out these company logo tattoos that have transformed their owners into
human billboards.
Ink in Advertising
Tattoos have been used creatively in advertising to sell Francisco Biasia bags,
Iponemia sandles and Rush energy drink, to name a few.
(bottom left)
The lower back tattoo or “tramp stamp” is a popular tattoo among American women. Larger tattoos that cover an entire arm or torso are often considered clothing
and referred to as a shirt or sleeve tattoo..
