CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE -- LIMIT TIME AND PALETTE

9” x 12”, 30 minutes

I’ve been teaching for many years now and very few people have come to me to ask how they could become tighter painters. Far more often they ask what they can do to loosen up and be free, not constricted by tight realism and a slavish adherence to detail.

This exercise will help you relax and paint a little faster. It limits the amount of time you have to paint, making you move faster and without inhibition, as well as limits the palette of colors, which forces you to be creative.

Start with a smaller piece of paper. This small size seems to allow you to let go a bit more easily since you aren’t filling up a huge piece of paper. A smaller paper also allows you to move more quickly without getting bogged down. I usually suggest a 9x12” or smaller size.

If you’re working on Wallis or another sanded paper that has no color, toning is a good idea. It makes the first marks on the paper, which frees you of “white canvas syndrome” and gives an overall color to the paper that you can use with a limited palette. You may choose one of the colored papers such as Art Spectrum, La Carte or Pastelmat.

Any subject matter will do for this exercise, but clouds and skies are particularly suited to it. The idea is to paint fast and furious without a lot of detail, which works nicely in the sky. The palette of colors found there is already somewhat limited, and clouds lend themselves to looseness.

Prepare ahead. Tape your paper to the board, clip your photograph on the board where you can see it and take out a white paper towel for your palette of pastels. As in the last chapter, devoted to limiting your palette, carefully choose only 10 colors. Use dark, medium-dark, medium, medium-light and light colors, based on the photograph. Lay out the colors you’ve selected on a paper towel and put away your palette.

Find a timer, preferably one that has a loud alarm that will stop you in your tracks, and set it for 20 minutes. Begin with an extremely fast sketch that only locates the horizon line and the major elements of the composition. There’s no time for details.

Work all over the painting with the colors so that you structure things altogether at one time, relating all the elements to one another. Don’t start with any detail. If you begin to put in too many details you’ll slow down too much. You must keep moving. If you don’t have the right color, layer the ones you do to achieve the right value instead. Make use of the different colors and values on hand to make new ones, layering and blending them.

Keep the timer where you can see it so that you’re aware of how long you have left to paint. This is a sprint, so go all out. Abandon yourself to the color and mood, dashing in streaks and smoothing down swaths of colors all over.

When the timer sounds, lay down your pastels. Now step back and analyze what’s happening. Look for the accidental things that thrill you and for those things that are working. Ask yourself if you missed one or two colors, perhaps colors you didn’t choose or missing values.

Choose only one to two more colors and add them to your limited palette. Set the timer for an additional 10 minutes and get going. Again, move fast, not letting up for details. Work right up until the timer sounds, then lay down your pastels.

If you’re like most of us, you’ll find things you like about this fast little painting, and some things that displease you. Sometimes it takes a little practice to loosen up and accomplish much in just a half hour, so practice! Set a goal for yourself, perhaps to paint 10 of these little ones in a week. This will give you the motivation to keep working.

When you have a small body of these paintings lay them out together and analyze what’s working and what isn’t. There’s a lot to be learned from this.

• Stop criticizing what doesn’t work because you were moving fast, and instead look for trends, for those things that happen repeatedly that please you.

• Put them in order of your own personal preference and ask yourself why you chose this order.

• Find the things in each one that works and ask why. Use corners to crop down to the area that is spontaneously successful and think about what happened there that is good. Did you use a certain kind of stroke, a particular set of color layers, or another element that works? Be specific.

• Evaluate the things that happened that pleasantly surprise you with their clarity, despite the messy, spontaneous strokes.

Then go paint some more.

6" x 9", 20 minutes

6” x 9”, 20 minutes

Halfway through

Three weeks down, three to go. And a long weekend.

So, it's going a lot better than last time, and I feel a whole lot more confident. We have a little more navigation to do, and then we'll be finishing up OOW training and, eventually, this course will be over and I'll head off into the wild.

Also, I have received my posting: HMCS Ville de Quebec, on the East Coast. Well, at least it's better than a tanker! Seriously though I don't really care which ship I go to, as long as I get to do something.

I don't have much else to say. We're going down to 1 in 6 this week so hopefully I'll get slightly more sleep. Even if I don't, that's cool, too. I think I'm getting used to sleep deprivation.

Anyways, I'll try to write something more when we pull into Esquimalt next weekend. For now, I should grab some dinner and head back to the ship to plan for tomorrow. Being duty nav FTW!

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT -- LIMIT YOUR PALETTE

To learn how to control color and use it creatively, try an experiment that limits the number of colors you use. Find a photo -- really any subject matter will work -- but make sure it’s something that you find intriguingly colorful. (This may not be a brightly colored photo, just color you like.)

You’ll begin with only 10 colors, so choose them carefully. Use dark, medium-dark, medium, medium-light and light colors, based on the photograph. If it is a high-key photo with lots of light colors your darkest dark may be a medium. If it’s a moody, dark photo, you may choose far more dark colors and only one or two medium-light ones. Lay out the colors you’ve selected on a paper towel and put away your palette. It’s much easier to do this exercise if you can’t see what’s missing.

Work all over the painting with the colors so that you structure things altogether at one time, relating all the elements to one another. Don’t start with details. If you don’t have the right color, layer the ones you do have to achieve the right value instead. Make use of the different colors and values on hand to make new ones, layering or scumbling with a slightly harder stick over softer pastels. Notice how the color effects differ when you layer them in a different order. Pay attention to the way some colors look dark in light areas and light in dark areas. These ‘bridge’ colors are very useful!

After you have painted for a while, you’re likely to find yourself missing one or two key colors. This is not the time to add 10 new colors -- only one or two. You may need a particular color that’s missing. You may need a darker dark or a lighter light. Whatever you really need you can add. Cover your palette after choosing them so you aren’t tempted to grab more. Then work to your conclusion using only those colors.

I suggest you make a separate chart of the colors you chose. You’ll find it comes in handy later to remind you how you made those colors, so it might be a good idea to stick it to the back of the painting.

• Evaluate this painting a bit differently than you would your other work.

• Look for the things that happened that pleasantly surprise you with their clarity, despite the spontaneity.

• Where are the accidents that please you, and what did you do to create them? Which colors did you layer together?

• Did you blend them?

• Why do you think that grassy foreground look good or the tree-covered hillside work?

• What is it about the lavender you were forced to layer into the sky that is so pleasing?

• What color combinations did you find surprisingly successful?

When you have developed a small body of these paintings, lay them out together and analyze what’s working and what isn’t. There’s a lot to be learned from this. Put up a little show for yourself in the studio and analyze them. Look for trends, for those things that happen repeatedly that please you. Put them in order of your own personal preference and ask yourself why you chose this order. Find the specific things in each one that works and ask why.

You can see that I chose three colors as the most significant ones, the medium blue-violet, orange and rose. In addition to those main colors I chose a deep lavender, dark green, a medium yellow-green, a light cerulean blue, peach, light yellow-ochre and two peaches, one pale and one medium. The colors in wall behind the pot with the dappled the sun and shadow please me.

I found three key colors here, as well, a light yellow-orange, medium magenta and cobalt blue. The bright orange and intense yellow-orange layered over the light and medium-light blue sky work well. I added a dark red-violet and blue-violet, as well as touches of deep turquoise and dark blue to finish the palette.

One Door Closes

As a six year old, I couldn't imagine ever wanting to move away from my parents' home. Not to go to college. Not even to get married... most especially to get married! So I told my mom exactly that.

Melanie Acevedo

True to her fashion, she assured me I would never have to leave if I still felt the same when I was older. She said I could always attend college while living with them, and her words and promises soothed me.

Paul Viant

Of course, once I was a senior in high school, our conversation was almost long forgotten to me as I began excitedly envisioning life on a college campus; the thought of choosing a school so I could live with my parents never crossed my mind.

Emma Hardy

Then, over the coming months, as I found myself saying goodbye to my childhood home and the city where I'd grown up, I began to feel that old desire to never have to leave. That summer, as the days before I left for school grew fewer, I continually reminded myself, "change is good," as I tried to accept moving forward and letting go.

Nicholas Haggard

I've moved more than a few times since then, and each move, I've been faced with a combination of excitement for what lies ahead and sadness for what I'm leaving behind. Each place I've left has become part of me. Each new place I've come to love.

Matt Albiani

Last month, I found myself once again coming to terms with moving forward and letting go, as E and I finally sold our house in central Texas. While it was a long-anticipated event, it still came laden with conflicting emotions as I said goodbye to a home that played witness to many important moments in our lives.

Asa Tällgård

We opened and closed the doors to multiple chapters in those rooms; there we began dating, became engaged, and then married. In our little brick house we celebrated both our wedding days and became a family of four by welcoming two dogs into our lives.

Chris Craymer

It was where we spent our last hours together before E's two deployments and where we reunited following many long months apart. Then, between those walls, we transitioned from a military life to a civilian one.

David Tsay

The night my parents left me in my freshman dorm room, I was overwhelmed by a mix of sadness, happiness, and hope for the promise of what lie ahead; I strongly felt each of those emotions again in the tear-filled moment when E and I stood in our kitchen and said our final goodbye to a place brimming with more memories than we could count.

Neil Stewart

I've made my peace with letting go of our first home, although I know there will be days when I ache to return to that place and time in our past. And I'm happy to be moving forward as it means we're growing closer to having our "boys" home again.

Chris Craymer

We've begun house-hunting here in Houston and are looking forward to settling into a new set of rooms. Rooms that will provide the backdrop for new memories during this next chapter in our lives. Rooms that will also someday, though hopefully not too soon, be hard to leave behind as I find myself again working on moving forward. And letting go.

American Flag Tattoo - Making the Right Choice

Getting an American flag tattoo anywhere in your body is a great act of patriotism. A lot of people acquire tattoos for many different reasons. Your American flag tattoo will be sure to attract attention and leave you with a feeling pride that you can only get from displaying your red, white, and blue.

There are however some special considerations before choosing an American flag...

First of all before choosing your American flag tattoo design, make sure you are selecting quality designs, as well as acquiring a professional to do the work of tattooing for you! It would really be best if you ask an American Tattooist to do your design as they are known to be excellent and have made a mark in the tattoo world.

Since American flag designs are very popular nowadays, a lot of native and non native Americans who stay in the US are acquiring them. The most common areas of their body which get tattooed are the lower back, foot, wrist, ankle, chest, armband, back of the neck, shoulder blades, upper arms, thighs/hips, sides of the neck and a lot more. But, you are free to choose where in your body you want to get tattooed.

So Many Choices

As you may know, the American flag we honor these days has undergone a total of 26 transformations from the novel version of 1777. With that, people find it real interesting and exciting as they get the chance to choose to which American flag tattoo designs they would go for. The fact is, there are many versions to choose from:

    * The military version of the flag which is seen as patches on military uniforms
    * Today's flag with 50 stars and 13 stripes
    * The flag created by Betsy Ross with 13 stars on a blue background (in a circle) including 13 white and red stripes.

Naturally people in America are very creative and artistic. They love making new styles in almost anything and when it comes to tattooing, they take pleasure in getting different styles of American Flag tattoos. Tattooists have fashioned different styles of the American flag; portraying it as if it is flying for example, or making it appear similar to patches in military uniforms. They can even blend and layer American flags with animals and objects like eagles and crosses.

Some immigrants from Europe and Asia who have migrated to America have also grown fond of American flag tattoos. They choose to combine the American flag with the flag of their homeland allowing them to salute both countries that they hold dear in their hearts.

American Flag Tattoo - Making the Right Choice

Getting an American flag tattoo anywhere in your body is a great act of patriotism. A lot of people acquire tattoos for many different reasons. Your American flag tattoo will be sure to attract attention and leave you with a feeling pride that you can only get from displaying your red, white, and blue.

There are however some special considerations before choosing an American flag...

First of all before choosing your American flag tattoo design, make sure you are selecting quality designs, as well as acquiring a professional to do the work of tattooing for you! It would really be best if you ask an American Tattooist to do your design as they are known to be excellent and have made a mark in the tattoo world.

Since American flag designs are very popular nowadays, a lot of native and non native Americans who stay in the US are acquiring them. The most common areas of their body which get tattooed are the lower back, foot, wrist, ankle, chest, armband, back of the neck, shoulder blades, upper arms, thighs/hips, sides of the neck and a lot more. But, you are free to choose where in your body you want to get tattooed.

So Many Choices

As you may know, the American flag we honor these days has undergone a total of 26 transformations from the novel version of 1777. With that, people find it real interesting and exciting as they get the chance to choose to which American flag tattoo designs they would go for. The fact is, there are many versions to choose from:

    * The military version of the flag which is seen as patches on military uniforms
    * Today's flag with 50 stars and 13 stripes
    * The flag created by Betsy Ross with 13 stars on a blue background (in a circle) including 13 white and red stripes.

Naturally people in America are very creative and artistic. They love making new styles in almost anything and when it comes to tattooing, they take pleasure in getting different styles of American Flag tattoos. Tattooists have fashioned different styles of the American flag; portraying it as if it is flying for example, or making it appear similar to patches in military uniforms. They can even blend and layer American flags with animals and objects like eagles and crosses.

Some immigrants from Europe and Asia who have migrated to America have also grown fond of American flag tattoos. They choose to combine the American flag with the flag of their homeland allowing them to salute both countries that they hold dear in their hearts.

Tattoos and Celebrities

Over the years tattoos have caught rage with Hollywood celebrities to such an extent that more than these stars their tattoos are getting more attention. One of the biggest stars who carry tattoos with élan is Angelina Jolie and has been know to wear a number of tattoos all around her body. She has been known to wear Thai tiger, tribal dragon and a number of Latin verses on her arms and shoulders.

The trend of tattoos started catching up with Hollywood celebrities in the sixties and as far as I can remember Janis Joplin was one of the first celebrities who got tattooed by Lyle Tuttle who is considered to be the forefather of American tattooing. Even one of the sexiest celebrities on Earth Johnny Depp has been known to sport tattoo on his arms which a number of fans have emulated. David Beckham too is known for his love for tattoos and has been caught sporting a range of tattoos both on and off the field with the likes of Hindu scriptures too appearing on his body.

Even rock bands have been found to sport tattoos giving a further push to the popularity of this art. If you love Red Hot Chilli Peppers then you would probably even love the tattoos which they have been sporting over the years. Other stars such as Pharrel, 50 cents and Justin Timberlake too have been sporting tattoos as a tool for expression.

You can probably consider celebrities as unofficial brand ambassador for tattoos. They surely have highlighted the art of tattoo in good light making it one of the most asked for art in the industry. You will find a number of fans emulating the tattoos worn by their favorite stars and this in itself will make you realize that this art will only gain further popularity in the years to come.

Tattoos and Celebrities

Over the years tattoos have caught rage with Hollywood celebrities to such an extent that more than these stars their tattoos are getting more attention. One of the biggest stars who carry tattoos with élan is Angelina Jolie and has been know to wear a number of tattoos all around her body. She has been known to wear Thai tiger, tribal dragon and a number of Latin verses on her arms and shoulders.

The trend of tattoos started catching up with Hollywood celebrities in the sixties and as far as I can remember Janis Joplin was one of the first celebrities who got tattooed by Lyle Tuttle who is considered to be the forefather of American tattooing. Even one of the sexiest celebrities on Earth Johnny Depp has been known to sport tattoo on his arms which a number of fans have emulated. David Beckham too is known for his love for tattoos and has been caught sporting a range of tattoos both on and off the field with the likes of Hindu scriptures too appearing on his body.

Even rock bands have been found to sport tattoos giving a further push to the popularity of this art. If you love Red Hot Chilli Peppers then you would probably even love the tattoos which they have been sporting over the years. Other stars such as Pharrel, 50 cents and Justin Timberlake too have been sporting tattoos as a tool for expression.

You can probably consider celebrities as unofficial brand ambassador for tattoos. They surely have highlighted the art of tattoo in good light making it one of the most asked for art in the industry. You will find a number of fans emulating the tattoos worn by their favorite stars and this in itself will make you realize that this art will only gain further popularity in the years to come.

Tattoos and Body Art on Hollywood Celebrities

Celebrity tattoos are becoming more and more visible and socially acceptable in mainstream pop culture these days. Angelina Jolie recently voted most sexy woman has plenty of tattoos and is probably the most famous and desirable celebrity with tattoos in Hollywood. Her tattoos to date consist of tribal dragons, a Thai tiger, and various Latin sayings across her shoulders and arms.

This surge in popularity of celebrity tattoos began in the 1960s. Lyle Tuttle the forefather of American tattooing tattooed Janis Joplin. Time was when tattoos were the preserve of those on the fringes of society but now it is not uncommon to see celebrity tattoos. Even super models such as Kate Moss and Sarah O'Hare strut around flashing their body art on the cover of glossy magazines or on the cat walk.

Actor Johnny Depp ranks as heavily tattooed for his caliber of talent and breadth of acting work. His tattooed arms are as often painted to be blank flesh as left with their own tattoos showing and incorporated into the character.

Vin Diesel is covered with a mix of modern tattoos styles, as befitting an underground government secret agent in the movie xXx. The character he plays agent X has one full sleeve, one partial sleeve, chest work and tattoos on his stomach.

As vampire slayer BLADE, Wesley Snipes has tribal blackwork on his arms, chest and back, as well as the sides of his head and the back of his nect. Pamela Anderson had her arm tattooed for real with a barbed wire armband for her role in the movie BARBWIRE. Following her split from husband Tommy Lee, (who is heavily tattooed) she had the "Tommy" tattoo on her finger edited to read "Mommy" in reference to her two sons. She also has tribal tattoos on the small of her back and a tattoo on her ankle.

Musicians have traditionally enjoyed more freedom than actors when it comes to body art. For movie stars having to transform into a different character each time they shoot a movie can be limiting especially if they are playing historical figures. But that has not stopped a lot of actors from getting tattooed in very visible places.

Tattoos and Body Art on Hollywood Celebrities

Celebrity tattoos are becoming more and more visible and socially acceptable in mainstream pop culture these days. Angelina Jolie recently voted most sexy woman has plenty of tattoos and is probably the most famous and desirable celebrity with tattoos in Hollywood. Her tattoos to date consist of tribal dragons, a Thai tiger, and various Latin sayings across her shoulders and arms.

This surge in popularity of celebrity tattoos began in the 1960s. Lyle Tuttle the forefather of American tattooing tattooed Janis Joplin. Time was when tattoos were the preserve of those on the fringes of society but now it is not uncommon to see celebrity tattoos. Even super models such as Kate Moss and Sarah O'Hare strut around flashing their body art on the cover of glossy magazines or on the cat walk.

Actor Johnny Depp ranks as heavily tattooed for his caliber of talent and breadth of acting work. His tattooed arms are as often painted to be blank flesh as left with their own tattoos showing and incorporated into the character.

Vin Diesel is covered with a mix of modern tattoos styles, as befitting an underground government secret agent in the movie xXx. The character he plays agent X has one full sleeve, one partial sleeve, chest work and tattoos on his stomach.

As vampire slayer BLADE, Wesley Snipes has tribal blackwork on his arms, chest and back, as well as the sides of his head and the back of his nect. Pamela Anderson had her arm tattooed for real with a barbed wire armband for her role in the movie BARBWIRE. Following her split from husband Tommy Lee, (who is heavily tattooed) she had the "Tommy" tattoo on her finger edited to read "Mommy" in reference to her two sons. She also has tribal tattoos on the small of her back and a tattoo on her ankle.

Musicians have traditionally enjoyed more freedom than actors when it comes to body art. For movie stars having to transform into a different character each time they shoot a movie can be limiting especially if they are playing historical figures. But that has not stopped a lot of actors from getting tattooed in very visible places.

Girl Tattoos - How to Find the Right Design For You

If shows such as Miami Ink and L.A. Ink show us anything, it's that tattoos are not some passing fad. What once was a form of rebellion is now seen by many as an outward extension of who they are. Women today are becoming increasingly tattooed and searches on the net for girl tattoos have skyrocketed. Some tattoo studios (once called tattoo 'parlors) can even have a female to male ratio of 60% to 40%.

What drives a woman to get a tattoo? The most heard reason in studios is that they just broke up with someone. Some get their first ink after a divorce or other major change in their life such as losing a loved one, childbirth, marriage or even religion (think cross tattoos or The Virgin Mary). This is a practice that dates back thousands of years. 

What are women having done tattoo-wise? The most popular are typically flowers, tribal designs, butterflies, fairies and cartoons. These tattoos are also starting to get larger and more customized. There was a time when women usually "hid" something very small on their shoulder or ankle. Today popular spots include the small of the back, arms legs and even chests. Although, the ankle and shoulder are still tremendously popular locations...the tattoos are just larger. Typically being more stylish that men, women are more concerned about tattoos they want and where on their body to put it. Part of the tattoo artist's job is to help the client select a design or possible location that will accentuate a certain part or shape of the body.

Women also seem to be better than men when actually getting tattooed. Men like to think they are tough can take the pain. But when the needle hits their skin they pass out in the chair. Women, on the other hand anticipate the pain and will have a higher tolerance.

Have you been searching the internet looking for tattoo designs, a tattoo finder or more particularly girl tattoo art? Finding the right design can be downright exhausting. People with tattoos will tell you how long it takes to choose the right one. After all, they last forever and shouldn't be rushed. It could take 20-30 hours to find the right tattoo design, so don't get a tattoo on a whim or go with cute and trendy. A feminine tattoo should be unique and should speak about who you are and not copied from someone else.

If you are like most women, you have searched and searched for the right design; be it a cross tattoo, a floral tattoo or butterfly tattoo. You may have searched the internet, looked for a tattoo finder or even searched the books of your local tattoo studio. Take your time and try to visualize the type of tattoo you want before you get it. Try to find examples that resemble your idea to see what it may end up looking like. Never be tempted to 'just pick one off the wall'...never settle for less just because you can't make up your mind. The first half of 2008 shows the 5 most popular girl tattoos to be Traditional Japanese tattoos (koi fish, dragons, etc.), Traditional American tattoos (pin ups, classic cars, etc.), Floral tattoos, Anime (although I think this is a passing fad) and Indian / Hindu tattoo designs. Be careful, though, some designs can have totally different meanings than what you thought and can also be associated with particular cultural groups; such as gang tattoos.  Also be sure to have any foreign tattoos, such as Japanese lettering, translated before having them permanently affixed to your body! The estimate is that 25% of all translation in tattoo studio is wrong! There are tons of cases of people going to get a Japanese tattoo of "strong will" and the lettering actually spelling out "small fish" or something worse.

The Worst Tattoo Sleeve Trends

Tribal Sleeve - Leo Zulueta is credited with bringing tribal style tattooing from the South Pacific to the United States in the late 70's. But is was George Clooney's character in the movie From Dusk Till Dawn that caused the tribal sleeve to explode in popularity. Tribal sleeves may be the worst sleeve trend of all as they take another peoples tattoo culture, remove all the meaning and mock the origins of tattoo designs that date back centuries. They are also next to impossible to cover up once tattoo regret sets in.

Biomechanical Sleeve - Biomechanical tattooing was pioneered by tattoo artist like Aaron Cain and other tattooist in the San Francisco bay area. A breakaway from traditional style American tattooing, biomechanical uses images of the human flesh mixed with machine parts. Basically biomechanical tattoos mix organic images with inorganic images. It quickly became over used.

Flame Sleeve - No clear origins on the flame sleeve but whoever created it should be ashamed. The sleeve is not only hard to look at but is unbelievable boring for the tattoo artist. Flame tattoos are not only a waste of good skin but will also prove difficult to cover.

Random Cool Stuff Sleeve - A twist on the American style hodgepodge sleeve that is acquired over time, the random cool stuff sleeve is acquired quickly. The images often include skulls, flowers, brass knuckles, something with wings,maybe a couple of flames. A newer variation on this sleeve is to get random candy pieces or random kids toys tattooed as a sleeve.

Girl Tattoos - How to Find the Right Design For You

If shows such as Miami Ink and L.A. Ink show us anything, it's that tattoos are not some passing fad. What once was a form of rebellion is now seen by many as an outward extension of who they are. Women today are becoming increasingly tattooed and searches on the net for girl tattoos have skyrocketed. Some tattoo studios (once called tattoo 'parlors) can even have a female to male ratio of 60% to 40%.

What drives a woman to get a tattoo? The most heard reason in studios is that they just broke up with someone. Some get their first ink after a divorce or other major change in their life such as losing a loved one, childbirth, marriage or even religion (think cross tattoos or The Virgin Mary). This is a practice that dates back thousands of years. 

What are women having done tattoo-wise? The most popular are typically flowers, tribal designs, butterflies, fairies and cartoons. These tattoos are also starting to get larger and more customized. There was a time when women usually "hid" something very small on their shoulder or ankle. Today popular spots include the small of the back, arms legs and even chests. Although, the ankle and shoulder are still tremendously popular locations...the tattoos are just larger. Typically being more stylish that men, women are more concerned about tattoos they want and where on their body to put it. Part of the tattoo artist's job is to help the client select a design or possible location that will accentuate a certain part or shape of the body.

Women also seem to be better than men when actually getting tattooed. Men like to think they are tough can take the pain. But when the needle hits their skin they pass out in the chair. Women, on the other hand anticipate the pain and will have a higher tolerance.

Have you been searching the internet looking for tattoo designs, a tattoo finder or more particularly girl tattoo art? Finding the right design can be downright exhausting. People with tattoos will tell you how long it takes to choose the right one. After all, they last forever and shouldn't be rushed. It could take 20-30 hours to find the right tattoo design, so don't get a tattoo on a whim or go with cute and trendy. A feminine tattoo should be unique and should speak about who you are and not copied from someone else.

If you are like most women, you have searched and searched for the right design; be it a cross tattoo, a floral tattoo or butterfly tattoo. You may have searched the internet, looked for a tattoo finder or even searched the books of your local tattoo studio. Take your time and try to visualize the type of tattoo you want before you get it. Try to find examples that resemble your idea to see what it may end up looking like. Never be tempted to 'just pick one off the wall'...never settle for less just because you can't make up your mind. The first half of 2008 shows the 5 most popular girl tattoos to be Traditional Japanese tattoos (koi fish, dragons, etc.), Traditional American tattoos (pin ups, classic cars, etc.), Floral tattoos, Anime (although I think this is a passing fad) and Indian / Hindu tattoo designs. Be careful, though, some designs can have totally different meanings than what you thought and can also be associated with particular cultural groups; such as gang tattoos.  Also be sure to have any foreign tattoos, such as Japanese lettering, translated before having them permanently affixed to your body! The estimate is that 25% of all translation in tattoo studio is wrong! There are tons of cases of people going to get a Japanese tattoo of "strong will" and the lettering actually spelling out "small fish" or something worse.

The Worst Tattoo Sleeve Trends

Tribal Sleeve - Leo Zulueta is credited with bringing tribal style tattooing from the South Pacific to the United States in the late 70's. But is was George Clooney's character in the movie From Dusk Till Dawn that caused the tribal sleeve to explode in popularity. Tribal sleeves may be the worst sleeve trend of all as they take another peoples tattoo culture, remove all the meaning and mock the origins of tattoo designs that date back centuries. They are also next to impossible to cover up once tattoo regret sets in.

Biomechanical Sleeve - Biomechanical tattooing was pioneered by tattoo artist like Aaron Cain and other tattooist in the San Francisco bay area. A breakaway from traditional style American tattooing, biomechanical uses images of the human flesh mixed with machine parts. Basically biomechanical tattoos mix organic images with inorganic images. It quickly became over used.

Flame Sleeve - No clear origins on the flame sleeve but whoever created it should be ashamed. The sleeve is not only hard to look at but is unbelievable boring for the tattoo artist. Flame tattoos are not only a waste of good skin but will also prove difficult to cover.

Random Cool Stuff Sleeve - A twist on the American style hodgepodge sleeve that is acquired over time, the random cool stuff sleeve is acquired quickly. The images often include skulls, flowers, brass knuckles, something with wings,maybe a couple of flames. A newer variation on this sleeve is to get random candy pieces or random kids toys tattooed as a sleeve.

The Eagle Tattoo Has Been Around a Long Time

Eagle tattoos never really disappeared, although they are mostly seen on a biker-kind-of guy or girl. Also popular and full of symbolism are tattoos of the mythical phoenix bird, aka firebird, and tribal bird tattoos.

Birds, as well as other animals, were some of the first pictorial tattoos done on humans. These animal tattoos often held meaning beyond the usual symbolism of a particular species - they also designated belonging to groups and societies. Birds are often included with other tattoo images.

Whatever the pattern may be it depends on the private?s selection therefore reflecting a region of the personality of the individual who has it. Many prefers tattooing tiny pattern because they are less traumatic and at the same moment it allows them to transport something private on their bodies ever which cannot be located well.Eagle tattoos are a way to show your patriotic feelings for America. Such a design could work with an American flag or a military symbol. These type are a typically male tattoo design that crosses over a significant number of tattoo genres, and the influence of the eagle in American tattooing cannot be underestimated.

Eagle tattoos are one of them, which reflect the strength and common are the choices for the men and women serving in the police, firefighters, military personnel, or other members of the service. Stressing articulates such as freedom, the strength and freedom are added to the most popular choice of banners or a tattoo of an eagle particularly if the tattoo is done as a tribute to the memory of someone or to turn the 'whole image impressive.Eagles are counted among the birds with strong resistance heel that climbs high in the sky, which have a strong view.

The Eagle Tattoo Has Been Around a Long Time

Eagle tattoos never really disappeared, although they are mostly seen on a biker-kind-of guy or girl. Also popular and full of symbolism are tattoos of the mythical phoenix bird, aka firebird, and tribal bird tattoos.

Birds, as well as other animals, were some of the first pictorial tattoos done on humans. These animal tattoos often held meaning beyond the usual symbolism of a particular species - they also designated belonging to groups and societies. Birds are often included with other tattoo images.

Whatever the pattern may be it depends on the private?s selection therefore reflecting a region of the personality of the individual who has it. Many prefers tattooing tiny pattern because they are less traumatic and at the same moment it allows them to transport something private on their bodies ever which cannot be located well.Eagle tattoos are a way to show your patriotic feelings for America. Such a design could work with an American flag or a military symbol. These type are a typically male tattoo design that crosses over a significant number of tattoo genres, and the influence of the eagle in American tattooing cannot be underestimated.

Eagle tattoos are one of them, which reflect the strength and common are the choices for the men and women serving in the police, firefighters, military personnel, or other members of the service. Stressing articulates such as freedom, the strength and freedom are added to the most popular choice of banners or a tattoo of an eagle particularly if the tattoo is done as a tribute to the memory of someone or to turn the 'whole image impressive.Eagles are counted among the birds with strong resistance heel that climbs high in the sky, which have a strong view.

Tattoos-Popular Tattoo Designs for Girls

Girls are always asking me what tattoos they should get or what I think are the hottest tattoos for girls. Unfortunately there is no clear cut answer simply because there are as many different types of tattoos are there are girls. What one person might find sexy another might consider unattractive or very unfeminine.

Certain styles of tattoos might not suit the image you want to project. For example certain work environments may not accept highly visible tattoos even though tattoos are becoming more and more accepted. It may be wise to hold off getting that sacred heart tattoo emblazoned across your chest if your boss is going to flip out if (s)he sees it!

So in saying that what I hope to do in this short article is offer my insight and experience within the tattoo industry for the past 9 or 10 years and point out the current tattoo trends and what the most popular styles of tattoos are for girls. At the end of the day you want a tattoo that has lasting appeal and not a tattoo that was done on a whim. If I give you some good ideas for your next tattoo all the better...

Trends come and go. What was cool ten years ago is no longer cool. In the nineties certain types of tattoos such as cartoon characters like Betty Boop, barbed wire armbands and dolphins were in. Looking at them now they appear very cheesy and basic.

Tattoo art has come such a long way in the past few years even. Certain styles of tattoos have become perennial and have risen to a point where they are getting the respect and acknowledged they deserve for their intricacy and artistry.

Styles as diverse as Japanese tattoos, Indian/Hindu tattoos, Anime, Traditional American and Floral designs are raising the bar higher and higher and becoming increasingly popular.

Alongside that is the fact that people are beginning to see their skin as a human canvas and not just settling for random tattoos placed haphazardly on a part of the body that is hidden. Nowadays more and more girls are getting larger tattoos and more of them.

This may explain the popularity of Japanese tattoos. In traditional Japanese tattoos each character has a meaning and interacts with the other tattoo designs as part of the whole.

The same is true for Traditional American tattoos. Previously what were once done as individual tattoos from disparate elements of American culture are now being woven into an organic and is more like a story unfolding.

Top Five Most Popular Tattoos for Girls

Irezumi - Traditional Japanese tattoos - More and more girls are asking for large tattoo designs such as koi fish, dragons on their hips, back and arms.

Traditional American tattoos - Old school 'Sailor Jerry' tattoos and images such as classic American cars, pin-ups, swallows and nautical stars are becoming more popular on girls chests, abdomen, back and legs.

Floral tattoos - So many girls are getting flower tattoos as full sleeve tattoos or covering their entire back or legs with floral designs. Flower tattoo designs such as lotus flowers, peonies, orchids, chrysanthemums and flowering vines are the most popular.

Anime - Japanese animation has become massive and doesn't show any sign of disappearing any time soon. As a result Anime tattoos have become popular in the past five years or so. The only risk with Anime tattoo is that unlike other styles will probably age much quicker even though it looks great now.

Indian / Hindu tattoo designs - Like ancient Indian texts and spirituality being rediscovered by people in the West since the 1960's it has been reflected in the demand for Indian tattoo designs. They say everything old become new again.

Tattoos-Popular Tattoo Designs for Girls

Girls are always asking me what tattoos they should get or what I think are the hottest tattoos for girls. Unfortunately there is no clear cut answer simply because there are as many different types of tattoos are there are girls. What one person might find sexy another might consider unattractive or very unfeminine.

Certain styles of tattoos might not suit the image you want to project. For example certain work environments may not accept highly visible tattoos even though tattoos are becoming more and more accepted. It may be wise to hold off getting that sacred heart tattoo emblazoned across your chest if your boss is going to flip out if (s)he sees it!

So in saying that what I hope to do in this short article is offer my insight and experience within the tattoo industry for the past 9 or 10 years and point out the current tattoo trends and what the most popular styles of tattoos are for girls. At the end of the day you want a tattoo that has lasting appeal and not a tattoo that was done on a whim. If I give you some good ideas for your next tattoo all the better...

Trends come and go. What was cool ten years ago is no longer cool. In the nineties certain types of tattoos such as cartoon characters like Betty Boop, barbed wire armbands and dolphins were in. Looking at them now they appear very cheesy and basic.

Tattoo art has come such a long way in the past few years even. Certain styles of tattoos have become perennial and have risen to a point where they are getting the respect and acknowledged they deserve for their intricacy and artistry.

Styles as diverse as Japanese tattoos, Indian/Hindu tattoos, Anime, Traditional American and Floral designs are raising the bar higher and higher and becoming increasingly popular.

Alongside that is the fact that people are beginning to see their skin as a human canvas and not just settling for random tattoos placed haphazardly on a part of the body that is hidden. Nowadays more and more girls are getting larger tattoos and more of them.

This may explain the popularity of Japanese tattoos. In traditional Japanese tattoos each character has a meaning and interacts with the other tattoo designs as part of the whole.

The same is true for Traditional American tattoos. Previously what were once done as individual tattoos from disparate elements of American culture are now being woven into an organic and is more like a story unfolding.

Top Five Most Popular Tattoos for Girls

Irezumi - Traditional Japanese tattoos - More and more girls are asking for large tattoo designs such as koi fish, dragons on their hips, back and arms.

Traditional American tattoos - Old school 'Sailor Jerry' tattoos and images such as classic American cars, pin-ups, swallows and nautical stars are becoming more popular on girls chests, abdomen, back and legs.

Floral tattoos - So many girls are getting flower tattoos as full sleeve tattoos or covering their entire back or legs with floral designs. Flower tattoo designs such as lotus flowers, peonies, orchids, chrysanthemums and flowering vines are the most popular.

Anime - Japanese animation has become massive and doesn't show any sign of disappearing any time soon. As a result Anime tattoos have become popular in the past five years or so. The only risk with Anime tattoo is that unlike other styles will probably age much quicker even though it looks great now.

Indian / Hindu tattoo designs - Like ancient Indian texts and spirituality being rediscovered by people in the West since the 1960's it has been reflected in the demand for Indian tattoo designs. They say everything old become new again.

American Tattoo Icon - The Sailor Jerry Collins

Norman Keith Collins got his nickname Jerry in his childhood from the name of his father's obstinate pet donkey. He was very much fond of America more than anything else. He hated any movements which were against America.

He used to think that the Japanese were unforgivable for their misdeed of attacking the Pearl Harbor. Yet, during the Hawaiian Tattoo Convention in 1972, Collins helped the famous Japanese tattoo master Horihide, to reach the U.S.S. Arizona memorial, in his cart. It was because of his hatred, that he did not notice the high quality tattoo quality of Japanese Tattoo artists. But, surprisingly, in spite of his dislike for the Japanese, he became good friends with Horihide for many years. Being in his close association, Collin was influenced by the Japanese and Asiatic prowess.

Collins has his own style of designing various forms of tattoos. He was the first tattoo artist to use the learned Japanese tattoo art with dark background, clouds and waves merging with those of the colorful designs of western tattoos. As a result of which the tattooing became more appealing. Previously mainly black was the tattoo color. The use of bold colors and revolutionary designs created the path for the establishment of the tattooing as an art. Don Ed Hardy says: "I believe, the real breakthrough of tattooing came in the late sixties and early seventies with Sailor Jerry. He was the Cezanne of modern tattooing".

Collins spent most of his life on Hawaii. There, the contemporary tattoo artists like Don Ed Hardy and Lyle Tuttle were hard competitors of Collins. But their beliefs varied widely. To make their tattoos popular Don Ed Hardy and Lyle Tuttle carried out various publicity ventures. But Collins had always declined their attempts. According to Collins, these attention grabbing publicity ventures will only compel the laws and regulations regarding tattoos to be turned stricter. He believed that the only action that can provide publicity to the art of tattooing was the high quality of tattoo designs. Collins used to address Lyle Tuttle as "Turtle" in his letters. The aversion towards his competitors necessitated to work on the variety and quality of his tattoos and tattooing techniques.

Collins' motto was: "Good tattoos are not cheap, and cheap tattoos are not good."

American Tattoo Icon - The Sailor Jerry Collins

Norman Keith Collins got his nickname Jerry in his childhood from the name of his father's obstinate pet donkey. He was very much fond of America more than anything else. He hated any movements which were against America.

He used to think that the Japanese were unforgivable for their misdeed of attacking the Pearl Harbor. Yet, during the Hawaiian Tattoo Convention in 1972, Collins helped the famous Japanese tattoo master Horihide, to reach the U.S.S. Arizona memorial, in his cart. It was because of his hatred, that he did not notice the high quality tattoo quality of Japanese Tattoo artists. But, surprisingly, in spite of his dislike for the Japanese, he became good friends with Horihide for many years. Being in his close association, Collin was influenced by the Japanese and Asiatic prowess.

Collins has his own style of designing various forms of tattoos. He was the first tattoo artist to use the learned Japanese tattoo art with dark background, clouds and waves merging with those of the colorful designs of western tattoos. As a result of which the tattooing became more appealing. Previously mainly black was the tattoo color. The use of bold colors and revolutionary designs created the path for the establishment of the tattooing as an art. Don Ed Hardy says: "I believe, the real breakthrough of tattooing came in the late sixties and early seventies with Sailor Jerry. He was the Cezanne of modern tattooing".

Collins spent most of his life on Hawaii. There, the contemporary tattoo artists like Don Ed Hardy and Lyle Tuttle were hard competitors of Collins. But their beliefs varied widely. To make their tattoos popular Don Ed Hardy and Lyle Tuttle carried out various publicity ventures. But Collins had always declined their attempts. According to Collins, these attention grabbing publicity ventures will only compel the laws and regulations regarding tattoos to be turned stricter. He believed that the only action that can provide publicity to the art of tattooing was the high quality of tattoo designs. Collins used to address Lyle Tuttle as "Turtle" in his letters. The aversion towards his competitors necessitated to work on the variety and quality of his tattoos and tattooing techniques.

Collins' motto was: "Good tattoos are not cheap, and cheap tattoos are not good."

Tips on Native American Tattoo Design

There is nothing hotter than an awesome tattoo on a fantastic body! Tattoos which are well placed and appeal to the eye tend to garner a lot of attention to themselves as well the people wearing them. Thus, tattoos really are the new in! However, even though tattoos do act as definite fashion statements, there's more to them than just that!

Tattoos are an ancient art inherited from ancient civilizations, where the symbolism behind the tattoo and its wearer was always more appreciated than its beauty. Tattoos were also used to show the rank of a person in his tribe. Individual markings in different tribes thus led to the use of tattoos as identification marks. Sometimes, if greater power or wisdom was wanted, tattoos were said to do the trick!

Unlike the hygienic tattoo parlors of today, Native American tattooing was done out in the open, using fish and sharp turtle bones, or even slivers of rock as needles to etch the tattoo into the skin. Unlike today's trend, Native American tattoos were dyed with natural dyes from plants or soot. With no anesthetic and each stroke of the flesh-cutting tools leading to huge bouts of pain, Native American tattoos took on a deeper meaning, that of pain endurance. The bigger the tattoo, the more the pain, and thus, the greater the respect earned in the tribe.

Native American tattoos were done by some tribal men, who had been trained in the art of tattoo design. Over the course of a person' lifetime, these tattoos could be made to cover the whole body, depending on one's ability to endure pain! In the modern world, there are still plenty of people who want to ink on Native American tattoos that were the identification marks of their tribes. Also, there are many who admire Native American culture, and hence opt to get one.

Since tribal art tattooing is becoming more prevalent in today's society, every tattoo artist has one on hand. All aspects of the Native American culture, such as their religions, tools, musicians, feathers, and even their tents are taken into consideration when designing and etching Native American tattoos!

Tips on Native American Tattoo Design

There is nothing hotter than an awesome tattoo on a fantastic body! Tattoos which are well placed and appeal to the eye tend to garner a lot of attention to themselves as well the people wearing them. Thus, tattoos really are the new in! However, even though tattoos do act as definite fashion statements, there's more to them than just that!

Tattoos are an ancient art inherited from ancient civilizations, where the symbolism behind the tattoo and its wearer was always more appreciated than its beauty. Tattoos were also used to show the rank of a person in his tribe. Individual markings in different tribes thus led to the use of tattoos as identification marks. Sometimes, if greater power or wisdom was wanted, tattoos were said to do the trick!

Unlike the hygienic tattoo parlors of today, Native American tattooing was done out in the open, using fish and sharp turtle bones, or even slivers of rock as needles to etch the tattoo into the skin. Unlike today's trend, Native American tattoos were dyed with natural dyes from plants or soot. With no anesthetic and each stroke of the flesh-cutting tools leading to huge bouts of pain, Native American tattoos took on a deeper meaning, that of pain endurance. The bigger the tattoo, the more the pain, and thus, the greater the respect earned in the tribe.

Native American tattoos were done by some tribal men, who had been trained in the art of tattoo design. Over the course of a person' lifetime, these tattoos could be made to cover the whole body, depending on one's ability to endure pain! In the modern world, there are still plenty of people who want to ink on Native American tattoos that were the identification marks of their tribes. Also, there are many who admire Native American culture, and hence opt to get one.

Since tribal art tattooing is becoming more prevalent in today's society, every tattoo artist has one on hand. All aspects of the Native American culture, such as their religions, tools, musicians, feathers, and even their tents are taken into consideration when designing and etching Native American tattoos!

American Tattoos

Tattoos look great on girls and they often add to the sex appeal of the girls. However, selecting a tattoo can be difficult if you are not sure of your needs. People are often looking at most popular tattoos because they suit everyone and look sophisticated. The most famous tattoos are American tattoos and they have been around for centuries. They mostly have nautical stars, classic American cars, sailor jerry tattoos, swallows and pin-ups.

You can also add and modify the designs which you like. Size of the tattoo is also important and you have to select a tattoo which fits the place where you need a tattoo. The craze of tattoos has declined over time but still people love wearing tattoos

A poll in 2003 reveals that 16% of Americans wear an American tattoo which is higher than 10% in 1998. There are also statistics that very few people get their tattoos removed which shows that people love the tattoos on their body. US and world news also shows that there are over 20,000 tattoos parlors just in US and on an average a new parlor opens everyday.

Most people get the American tattoos on hands, neck, face and other visible parts on the body. There are always concerns when a person goes for a tattoo on the neck because the skin in the neck is thin and needle is closer to the bone. The pain actually depends on the physical and mental health of the person.

An American tattoo heals in 2 to 3 weeks but a tattoo on neck can take more time. Neck is a sensitive area so the tattoo also takes time to heal. The advantage of having a tattoo on neck is that they are less prone to infections as compared to the tattoos on hands and legs. You should also make sure that you are using sunscreen lotions on the tattoos otherwise they can loose their ink quickly. However, the process of adding ink in tattoos is not painful.

American tattoos are not just popular in US but they are also popular in other parts of the world. The people all over the world modify the tattoos and use them. People in Australia add a Kangaroo on the classic American car and these kinds of tattoos are quite famous in Australia. There are also many sailor jerry tattoos which people use by having their God or any religious identity as sailor in the tattoo.

All these kinds of tattoos are used everywhere. Celebrities all over the world can be seen carrying tattoos. There are other good designs which are now used in style of American tattoos. The Thai tiger can be seen roaring in tattoos, these kinds of tattoos are called hybrids. Most rock bands have their trademark tattoo which is carried by all the band members and their fans.

American Tattoos

Tattoos look great on girls and they often add to the sex appeal of the girls. However, selecting a tattoo can be difficult if you are not sure of your needs. People are often looking at most popular tattoos because they suit everyone and look sophisticated. The most famous tattoos are American tattoos and they have been around for centuries. They mostly have nautical stars, classic American cars, sailor jerry tattoos, swallows and pin-ups.

You can also add and modify the designs which you like. Size of the tattoo is also important and you have to select a tattoo which fits the place where you need a tattoo. The craze of tattoos has declined over time but still people love wearing tattoos

A poll in 2003 reveals that 16% of Americans wear an American tattoo which is higher than 10% in 1998. There are also statistics that very few people get their tattoos removed which shows that people love the tattoos on their body. US and world news also shows that there are over 20,000 tattoos parlors just in US and on an average a new parlor opens everyday.

Most people get the American tattoos on hands, neck, face and other visible parts on the body. There are always concerns when a person goes for a tattoo on the neck because the skin in the neck is thin and needle is closer to the bone. The pain actually depends on the physical and mental health of the person.

An American tattoo heals in 2 to 3 weeks but a tattoo on neck can take more time. Neck is a sensitive area so the tattoo also takes time to heal. The advantage of having a tattoo on neck is that they are less prone to infections as compared to the tattoos on hands and legs. You should also make sure that you are using sunscreen lotions on the tattoos otherwise they can loose their ink quickly. However, the process of adding ink in tattoos is not painful.

American tattoos are not just popular in US but they are also popular in other parts of the world. The people all over the world modify the tattoos and use them. People in Australia add a Kangaroo on the classic American car and these kinds of tattoos are quite famous in Australia. There are also many sailor jerry tattoos which people use by having their God or any religious identity as sailor in the tattoo.

All these kinds of tattoos are used everywhere. Celebrities all over the world can be seen carrying tattoos. There are other good designs which are now used in style of American tattoos. The Thai tiger can be seen roaring in tattoos, these kinds of tattoos are called hybrids. Most rock bands have their trademark tattoo which is carried by all the band members and their fans.

Tribal Tattoo Designs

For centuries, tattoos symbolized the membership in groups, families, but for a few years, tattoos have become more popular. It is possible that many people have them not only for decorative purpose, so we must understand why more than thirty million people worldwide have submitted this type of self mutilation. The choice of a tattoo today can tell something about the soul of its owner; some believe that a tattoo is the graffiti for the soul...

We'll find many surprising stories about the tattoos significance and role: many sailors believe that a tattoo is a talisman against the possibility of drowning at sea. The American Indian believed tattoos protected them in battle and some Burmese people think even today that a tattoo over the heart can stop bullets.

The tribal tattoos history is a real kaleidoscope; each place of Earth where the tattoos are popular has a particular and many times surprising history, significance, tradition, and realization technique. But almost everywhere, the tattoos appeared a few hundred years ago.

The place where the word tattoo originated, were the tribal tattoo reached perfection for thousand of years is Tahiti. Here the tattoos applications are most painful, but it reached a high level of artistic endeavor. The habitants of Samoa still believe that the elaborate geometrical design of the traditional body suit is the way to show respect for the God-qualities, for others it is the rite of passage to manhood.

The ancient Maori warriors started their tattoos tradition painting their faces with charcoal before each battle. Then they began to make the design permanent, calling it "moko". It was said that a man without "moko" was a "papatea" (plain face) and was considered an outcast.

Celtic tattoos are one of the most attractive design choices. The design comes from ancient art from Ireland, Scotland and England. They are as old as the Celtic history is.
Some fifth century painted pictures are representing warriors having tattoos all over their body; the tattoos are indicating the rank or caste. Later they were also symbols of religious devotion, simply for decoration or appeal for fertility.

Celtic tattoos are not duplicating real things, they are made of sinuous lines interweaving to complete a cycle. Almost all the Celtic tattoo designs are complicated, there is neither end nor beginning to it. There are many intricate patterns too...

Celtic animal designs are unending, but some have the cords terminate in feet, heads, or tails. Many designs are presenting zoomorphic elements or spirals.

Tattoos are also largely considered the mark of the Yazuka - the Japanese Mafia. A full body tattoo can take many years to be made and costs about $50000; the tattoo complicated colored design seems to have mythic power and only some specialized masters can accomplish such a miraculous work of art.

In China the tattoos are made with designs of 2500 years old, and are representing a variety of fantastic beasts: fish, deer, dragoon. There are made for personal protection and like emblems of noble birth. Siberian tribesmen still ink symbols down their spine to cure the back pain.

In Russia, the tattoos tradition isn't so old: they were the prisoners' secret language. In Stalin's gulags, tattoos were a form of protest; today they are only a fancy accessory.

Borneo is an exotic and hard to reach place where tattoos ward off harm and disease. In the "heart of darkness" tattoos as protection gains some credibility.

Hawaii is home for some famous tattooist, like Norman Keith. He is well known "for giving the modern tattoo revolution a major boost." He began moving American tattooing towards more Japanese style, unified, custom design. He also changed the status of tattooists, bringing them out of the underground to the growing light of the artistic respectability.

Tribal Tattoo Designs

For centuries, tattoos symbolized the membership in groups, families, but for a few years, tattoos have become more popular. It is possible that many people have them not only for decorative purpose, so we must understand why more than thirty million people worldwide have submitted this type of self mutilation. The choice of a tattoo today can tell something about the soul of its owner; some believe that a tattoo is the graffiti for the soul...

We'll find many surprising stories about the tattoos significance and role: many sailors believe that a tattoo is a talisman against the possibility of drowning at sea. The American Indian believed tattoos protected them in battle and some Burmese people think even today that a tattoo over the heart can stop bullets.

The tribal tattoos history is a real kaleidoscope; each place of Earth where the tattoos are popular has a particular and many times surprising history, significance, tradition, and realization technique. But almost everywhere, the tattoos appeared a few hundred years ago.

The place where the word tattoo originated, were the tribal tattoo reached perfection for thousand of years is Tahiti. Here the tattoos applications are most painful, but it reached a high level of artistic endeavor. The habitants of Samoa still believe that the elaborate geometrical design of the traditional body suit is the way to show respect for the God-qualities, for others it is the rite of passage to manhood.

The ancient Maori warriors started their tattoos tradition painting their faces with charcoal before each battle. Then they began to make the design permanent, calling it "moko". It was said that a man without "moko" was a "papatea" (plain face) and was considered an outcast.

Celtic tattoos are one of the most attractive design choices. The design comes from ancient art from Ireland, Scotland and England. They are as old as the Celtic history is.
Some fifth century painted pictures are representing warriors having tattoos all over their body; the tattoos are indicating the rank or caste. Later they were also symbols of religious devotion, simply for decoration or appeal for fertility.

Celtic tattoos are not duplicating real things, they are made of sinuous lines interweaving to complete a cycle. Almost all the Celtic tattoo designs are complicated, there is neither end nor beginning to it. There are many intricate patterns too...

Celtic animal designs are unending, but some have the cords terminate in feet, heads, or tails. Many designs are presenting zoomorphic elements or spirals.

Tattoos are also largely considered the mark of the Yazuka - the Japanese Mafia. A full body tattoo can take many years to be made and costs about $50000; the tattoo complicated colored design seems to have mythic power and only some specialized masters can accomplish such a miraculous work of art.

In China the tattoos are made with designs of 2500 years old, and are representing a variety of fantastic beasts: fish, deer, dragoon. There are made for personal protection and like emblems of noble birth. Siberian tribesmen still ink symbols down their spine to cure the back pain.

In Russia, the tattoos tradition isn't so old: they were the prisoners' secret language. In Stalin's gulags, tattoos were a form of protest; today they are only a fancy accessory.

Borneo is an exotic and hard to reach place where tattoos ward off harm and disease. In the "heart of darkness" tattoos as protection gains some credibility.

Hawaii is home for some famous tattooist, like Norman Keith. He is well known "for giving the modern tattoo revolution a major boost." He began moving American tattooing towards more Japanese style, unified, custom design. He also changed the status of tattooists, bringing them out of the underground to the growing light of the artistic respectability.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN -- COLORED GROUNDS

Cedars on orange, 6" x 12"

In this experiment you’ll work on different colored grounds using the same photograph for each painting to see how the ground color affects the finished image. You’ll observe more clearly how much influence the ground can have on a painting once you try this.

Choose a simple photo that has good contrast and interesting colors. Cut your paper to the same size so that you aren’t trying to recompose the painting each time.

White paper is easy to find, as is a medium tone. However, you might want to try toning your own paper, which allows you to experiment with a variety of colored grounds. My method is simple. You can see just how I do it in CHAPTER THREE -- GETTING STARTED.

You might try some of the Pastelmat colors for this experiment.

For more about Pastelmat visit www.pastelmat.com/

Complete each painting separately, not side by side. Let each one come of your response to the ground. It’s not necessary to retain the same palette of colors for all three paintings. (If you do use the exact same palette, use a light touch that allows the ground color to be seen beneath the colors.) I prefer to allow each paper color to inspire me to use differing palettes. I usually find that light colors move me to use brighter colors, while darks result in richer colors that are deeper in tone. Very bright grounds make for a saturated colors – and sometimes a heavy hand as I desperately try to cover all that offending color.

Think of these as three paintings, not one painting done on three grounds. Let the color motivate you from the beginning, and try to analyze your responses to those first color choices. My observations on how I usually respond are below. Yours might be different.

White or very pale ground: Usually a white ground allows darker colors to harmonize quickly and intensifies pure colors. The light of the paper seems to glow through every color. Because it’s light, however, you need to nail your darks in place early. Take notice whether this light color inspires you to play with bright colors more, or if the lack of color bothers you.

Cedars on white, 6" x 12"

Medium ground: A “safe” alternative, the medium ground seems to allow all colors to work together without too much influence. As you paint on this ground, analyze how you feel and whether you’re relying on the ”usual” colors in your palette. Are you free to grab any kind of color? Or does it constrain you to certain choices?

Black or very dark ground: Dark grounds instantly harmonize lighter colors, which is often the majority of a pastelist's palette. Depending on how dark or black the color the ground, you might notice that all of your light and medium-light colors look similar in value until you have covered most of the surface. You therefore need to pay attention to the medium values in this painting. Notice whether this ground color influences your color choices. Are you inclined to pick up more muted tones? Does the somber tone make you feel differently about the colors? Or do you prefer stronger contrasts as a result?

Cedars on black, 6" x 12"

Bright ground: If you choose a particularly vivid color to paint on, you may find that your initial colors seem dark and dull, which may make you tend to grab more vivid, bright colors. The ground color influences every color, so depending on whether you’re using a complement or an analogous color you may feel very differently about each one -- at least until you cover more of the ground. Sometimes I find I’m just dying to blot out that color and work hard to cover it all, resulting in a thick layer of pastels that effectively ignores the ground color. Make certain you think the color is suited to the subject you’re painting, perhaps a complement to the majority of the ground color. Notice how this choice influences your process.

Once you’ve completed all the paintings put them up and study them together. Don’t lightly go over this step; really study the images and decide what worked.

• Analyze what worked and why.
• What colors made for a more successful painting and why?
• Do you feel better about working on a light, medium or dark tone?
• How about vivid colors?
• What other ground color experiments do you think would be helpful?