Dylla is the art lead on Homesthetics, the artist that through a simple sketch, technical drawing or watercolor painting makes the world a better place. Pastels, watercolors, oil paints and digital art are what Dylla breathes, on the website through wonderful sketches and paintings she tests everything from paper, pencils and brushes to styluses.
Expertises: Art, Pastel, Brush, Drawing, Pencil
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Tattoo drawing is one of the first creative works of humanity. It has been around for ages and has evolved from simple primitive drawings to intricate works of art.
With the help of technology, you can get inked for just about any tattoo design on your body these days. You’re only limited by your imagination and the ink you are willing to take!
But how can you choose which ones to have in this vast world of drawings?
If you’re a new tattoo artist looking for inspiration or someone considering getting inked, you’ve come to the right place.
Take a look at these 74 popular tattoo drawing ideas. You might find one you’ll be dying to get!
74 Popular Designs for Tattoo Drawings
There is no one template on how tattoo drawings should be. Hone your creative side with these drawing ideas.
Tattoos are artistic expressions of one’s emotions, memories, beliefs, and values. You will often find flora, fauna, a famous scene, life, death, words, and symbols a common theme.
Tattoo drawings differ in shape, size, and concept. They can also be made up of defined lines and shading and often use black ink as the primary color option.
Crows are clever birds known for their wits and resourcefulness. Many also see them as a symbol of strength, power, and versatility. With that said, people often get crow designs as a statement of masculinity.
This drawing's fairly complex, so you and your tattoo artist need to practice getting it right. To avoid using too much paper, try a cheap drawing tablet!
If you’re into cosmology and numerology, celestial-inspired tattoos are perfect!
This design entitled “The Creation of the Universe” showcases planets, stars, galaxies, the moon, and the sun at the centermost in a beautiful bohemian way.
You’ll find one too many anchor tattoos inked among men. It’s one of the oldest designs ever! Anchors symbolize stability, given that they keep a ship grounded.
For anybody wanting to remain strong and afloat in difficult times, an anchor tattoo is for you.
A favorite among women is the gypsy girl tattoo. These tattoos depict a beautiful woman with nice flowing hair dressed in ornate clothes and accessories.
This beautiful drawing signifies a strong and independent woman. It’s the go-to feminine-themed design.
Among snake tattoos, cobra tattoo design drawings are the most common. Cobras symbolize wisdom, power, and protection. If you want safety and control, consider a cobra design.
A snake skull tattoo is a symbol of transformation and rebirth. The snake winding around the skull gives off the feeling of power and danger. It can also be a symbol of death and the underworld.
This drawing is a nice suggestion if you want a dark and dangerous design.
Mushrooms are mysterious and magical organisms. They can also symbolize fairytales and fantasies. This trippy design has mushrooms growing out of eye sockets.
It’s one of those unique drawing ideas that attracts hippies.
This sketch of an owl beautifully showcases its eyes which are famous for their ability to see in the dark. Owls represent wisdom, knowledge, and protection. As nocturnal creatures, they are also associated with the moon.
An owl is a good idea if you want a deep spiritual tattoo!
Lions are on top of the food chain for a reason. They are brave and powerful—a lion tattoo designed for anybody who wants to wear their pride and masculinity on their sleeve.
This one beautifully encapsulates the four elements of nature, fire, earth, air, and water. Its clean, distinct lines make this work of art even more elegant and stunning.
Many tattoo artists take inspiration from zodiac signs. A Ram represents the Aries. People with the Aries sign are thought to be independent, impulsive, energetic, ambitious, and passionate.
If this is your zodiac sign, getting tattooed for it would be nice.
Koi fish swim against the current, making them a relevant symbol for anybody bracing and overcoming difficulties. Koi fish in Japanese culture represents strength, power, and determination.
If you want to be reminded of these beliefs, you better start sketching some koi!
An angel is derived from the Latin word “angelus,” meaning the “messenger of God.” Most people get angel tattoo drawing ideas to represent their faith. Angels also serve as a reminder that you are protected.
Angel tattoos like this can be simple, elaborate, or even comedic.
Rose drawings are one of the most popular tattoos for men and women. A rose and dagger tattoo drawing represents life's harshness, playing with the phrase, “Life is no bed of roses.”
It’s one of those sketch tattoos that never go out of style.
Here is another rose tattoo drawing, but this time with a snake winding around its stem. The snake is fierce, while the rose is elegant. This combination represents love so strong that it has lost its innocence.
This rose, and skull drawing carries the meaning of rebirth after facing adversity. A skull symbolizes death and darkness, while a rose symbolizes hope. These beautiful sketches are easy to build with more color, depending on your taste.
Butterflies as a tattoo on someone’s body is always a beautiful sight to see! Butterflies are symbols of new beginnings and transformation. It’s a great tattoo drawing for anyone going through a major change.
A sword in a horned skull is the perfect design for anybody who wants a dangerous tattoo. Naturally, both the skull and blade represent fighting to the death.
This blade in a horned skull drawing also symbolizes your willingness to fight for what you believe in.
Wolves are considered noble warriors, great leaders, and family protectors. Native American warriors get tribal wolf tattoos to represent their loyalty to the tribe and willingness to protect their own people.
Mandala tattoos are popular drawing ideas today. They are not the easiest to sketch or tattoo on the body, but they can be worth it! Mandala tattoos represent eternity and perfection, given their intricate and seemingly endless patterns.
Ornamental tattoos may look simple. But don’t be fooled. These tattoo drawing ideas are not that easy to sketch. Ornamental tattoos have to be perfectly symmetrical. A steady hand will do the trick!
This minimalistic sketch of a hand, skeleton, and butterflies is a work of art! These simple yet impactful tattoos are easy on the eye. This tattoo, in particular, represents the beautiful fleeting moments of living.
Now it’s not just a skull; it’s the whole rib cage! This skeleton, butterfly, and flower tattoo drawing is a unique play on life's relationship with death. It is symbolic of the circle of life.
This tattoo of a hand-playing puppet with the mind and heart works on overcoming difficulties in decision-making. What prevails, emotions or logic? This sketch is a beautiful piece that represents emotional intelligence.
In the animal kingdom, elephants represent strength, loyalty, divinity, and good luck. These sketch drawings can be simple or intricate, with shading to look as realistic as possible. It’s up to you!
Let your imaginations run wild and free! Get creative with your drawings. This dreamy hot air balloon, sailboat, and ocean drawing look like they came off a fairytale page!
The three elements have strong and deep symbolism. The wolf represents loyalty, love, and integrity. The lily represents purity and innocence. The arrow represents struggle and triumph.
Skull tattoos are very visually striking. This is a unique take on the popular and classic smoking skull tattoo designs. It is a symbol of the working class and a humble beginning.
In many cultures, mushrooms represent good luck. They also symbolize magic and mystery. This ghost mushroom will make a cute little addition to your tattoo count!
This bird skull and crystal tattoo look both creepy and cool. Bird skulls often mean courage and the power to rise again from trouble. Crystals growing from that could mean a beautiful triumph.
If you are into magic and fairytales, this is a pretty design. This crescent moon tangled with mushrooms and strawberries is a feminine design you can easily have on your arm.
This beast woman can mean power and independence. It can also represent your ambition and ferocity. Some people also get these tattoos when they feel devilish or ruthless.
This animal or fairy-looking women's tattoos are drawn with beautiful, distinct lines. They’re great for feminine-themed tattoos that also give that mythical and magical vibe.
People with crystal tattoos are often seen as firm and strong-willed. Matched with the mushroom drawing representing good luck, it’s all positive energies for this tattoo drawing of choice!
This tattoo with distinct deep eyes almost seems to look into your soul. This unique play with floral designs makes this tattoo drawing very visually striking.
This detailed tattoo drawing is very intriguing. Different elements that represent math and sciences growing out of the figure of a thinking man could mean these are the thoughts that consume him and shape his reality.
This intricate geometric tattoo has symmetry all over it. It is also composed of various elements that represent all living things and nature. It could seem religious or scientific to get a tattoo design like this.
This tattoo that involves a meditating human and a double helix could be interpreted in many ways. But all in all, the theme is about living and balance.
The two-face tattoo symbolizes the balance of good and bad in one’s eyes. Humans face many circumstances that shape themselves into meaning and purpose. This is a good tattoo if you’re working on what nature throws at you.
A popular interpretation of this tattoo is the omnipresent eye of god watching over you from above. It is a symbol of providence and guidance from the divine. It’s a good tattoo design to represent your faith.
Grasped hands tattoo designs could represent two people committing to each other. This tattoo with the planets and the sun surrounding the grasped hands could play with the thought of “us against the universe.”
As skull tattoos remind us that death is inevitable, and butterfly tattoos signify rebirth and change, this unique combination can remind us of accepting fate and living in the present.
In Norse mythology, Valkyrie means the “chooser of the slain.” These are a group of maidens sent to battlefields to choose the slain worthy of Valhalla, the “hall of the fallen.” Valkyrie is an image of female domination, power, and prestige.
A deer skull represents re-growth, rebirth, protection, and balance. Crescent moons represent wealth and good luck. Combining these two elements in this tattoo generally means protection against negativity.
This dark and scary tattoo could be interpreted as a person leaving behind a certain chapter in their past and is about to start their life anew. This could be in terms of religious beliefs or a way of living.
Frog tattoos differ in meaning from person to person. But generally, a frog tattoo symbolizes wisdom, transformation, growth, and abundance.
In Japanese culture, they are also believed to carry good luck and protection. Have this design inked to carry luck everywhere with you!
Tips for Beginner Tattoo Artists
Tattooing skin isn't easy. You must have strong artistic skills and a good hand with the technical stuff.
Admittedly, there's no such thing as “the perfect design.” One design might be better than the other based on the eyes of fellow tattoo artists.
However, any criticism should only help you better create your style and push you harder to pursue this artistic passion!
If you are a beginner tattoo artist, here are a few tips to help you develop your craft:
Practice Drawing
A successful tattoo artist needs to have strong sketching skills. Designs will vary per client, so you better be equipped to fulfill their requests.
These tattoo drawings may be as basic as lines, geometric shapes, and patterns. But they can also be as detailed, intricate, and realistic-looking as a full-bodied dragon on a full sleeve!
Drawing is difficult to master. But your drawings should look better daily as long as you put in the work hours.
Experiment with the Tools
Before tattooing real skin, you must practice using tools and machinery on the affected skin.
This will help prevent clients from making expensive and embarrassing mistakes on clients. If you're not ready to practice on fake skin, consider makingdigital drawings on an iPad instead.
Build a Portfolio
Every tattoo artist should create a strong portfolio for future clients to believe in and buy into their craft. Make sure to showcase your best works.
If you’re still new, start working on a portfolio now!
Apply for an Apprenticeship
Find yourself a mentor, or look for tattoo shops that accept interns.
In the tattoo industry, it is crucial to learn and be amongst the masters of the craft to be successful.
How to Make Your Own Tattoo Drawings
Designing your own tattoos will make the experience even more meaningful!
Remember, tattoos are amazing works of art that permanently stay on the body. So get creative and make it personal!
If you don’t know where to start, here are some great tips:
Consider the Placement of the Tattoo
Before considering what tattoo drawing to get, consider where you want your tattoo to be inked.
Do you want to show off your tattoo to the whole world? Or do you prefer it to be more discrete?
Draw Inspiration From Tattoo Magazines
Consider a theme, belief, or message that you live by. Or perhaps an image that reminds you of a significant someone, something, or event in your past.
Look up relevant keywords on Google or gather ideas from art books and tattoo magazines. Discover a list of ideas for things to draw.
The best works of top-notch tattoo artists get showcased in these magazines. No doubt, you’ll find something that will catch your eye!
Start Sketching
If you have the talent, sketch your tattoo design. If you have a lot of ideas in mind, jot them out on paper and brainstorm on incorporating them into your tattoo design.
If you want color on your tattoo, that's fine. But do consider the need for ink touch-ups in the future since colored tattoos require more maintenance.
Most people will choose a monochromatic tattoo design because it also looks cleaner. Other options include glow-in-the-dark and white ink.
If you're sketching a black-and-white tattoo, try using mechanical pencils to avoid the hassle of sharpening.
Find the Right Tattoo Artist
After coming up with your desired tattoo design, look for an artist to bring it to life. Ideally, you want someone professional and licensed to ensure the job is done correctly.
Examining their portfolios is the best way to determine if they're the perfect fit for you. Some tattooists may even give you valuable suggestions that can take your idea to a new level.
Tattoo Drawing Ideas Conclusion
Tattoo artists and tattoo enthusiasts, your opportunities are limitless!
Creating beautiful and meaningful designs is at the tip of your pencils and, eventually, at the end of a needle.
Whether your tattoo is an eagle for strength, a flower for femininity, or a skull for death, every tattoo should be memorable and worth permanently marking on the skin.
We hope this article stoked your creativity and helped you choose your tattoo design!