Old school tattoos for men
Old school tattoos have remained at the peak of the fashion wave for many years, adorning the male look. From the material in this article, you will learn about the traits, symbolism of technology and the best places to place sketches.
Style features
Old school - old school style. It originated in the 19th century. His first images were anchors, ribbons, skulls, angels. All this was applied to the body by sailors, who firmly believed that tattoos would become for them a kind of amulet against the sea bad weather. A little later, the unusual symbolism was replaced by tattoos of names, faces, hearts and marine life. At the same time, the style features began to acquire their own characteristic features.
These include special symbolism (the use of traditional motives, religious subjects). To many, the technique seems primitive. She does not pursue realistic images. The drawings seem to be simple and even ugly. Sometimes they are deliberately personable or playful. The style has its own manner of application, theme, stylistics, colors, uniqueness of the font. He is characterized by the use of bright pigments without smooth transitions. They are extremely rare.
Almost all of the details in the drawing have a thick black outline.
Old school tattoos for men have a schematic definition of shadows thanks to a gradient of 2 colors (black and white). The details of the sketch do not have strict adherence to proportions and shapes. Sometimes halftones are performed by the absence of color. The main pigments are green, blue, black, red, orange, yellow, cyan. The combination of tones is quite bright and sometimes harsh.
The style is considered symbolic. Today, it is based on the reflection of the memorable events of people who get tattoos. Old school tattoos are small in most cases. The drawings have no unnecessary details. They are lacking in volume and often look flat. However, this does not limit their location on the body. If earlier they were applied mainly to the chest and arms, then today the choice of place can be very diverse.
Meaning
Each drawing in the old school technique has its own meaning. It largely depends on the embedded meaning. For men, each printed image is the personification of inner strength, courage, the ability to resist fate. In this case, the image can have its own meaning.
- Eagle symbolizes freedom of spirit, loyalty and dedication to any cause. He indicates the steadfastness of character. Often depicted floating on the ground.
- Anchor indicates the reliability of a person, his ability to withstand the blows of fate. The shape resembling a cross is interpreted as faith, and the steel of the anchor speaks of the strong character of the owner.
- Martin characterizes a man who correctly prioritizes on the way to the chosen goal. This is a symbolism of good luck and hope, a calm measured life of the owner.
- Hourglass on the male body they speak of the reliability of character, regardless of the passage of time. This is the choice of strong-minded men.
- Lighthouse associated with the search for a life path, which is accompanied by good luck and success. This is a bright and positive symbol, which was originally a talisman for sailors, aimed at helping them upon returning home.
- Ship associated with the memory of home and family. Depending on the embedded meaning, it can mean freedom, hope and constant movement forward. This is a choice of those that honor the traditions and history of the style.
- Scull indicates the absence of fear of death. It is stuffed by those who easily overcome difficult life situations. The original meaning was associated with fearlessness and ruthlessness.
- Compass applied to the body as a sign of determination.He is a kind of talisman that helps you find your own path in life and the speedy achievement of your goals.
- Knife - a characteristic drawing of the style, indicating that the owner of the tattoo is ready to fight to the last, defending his honor. He is not afraid of enemies or difficulties in life.
Review of popular sketches
Regardless of the variety of drawings, the main theme of the style adheres to everything related to the sea and sailors. These are, first of all, those sketches that were filled by corsairs and ordinary sailors. For example, seagulls, roses, hearts, skulls, crosses and everything that they liked directly. Someone preferred to decorate the body with drawings of women and even mythical creatures (for example, mermaids). The image resembles a pin-up style, while the figures can be decorated with wings, feathers. A certain temptation and danger can be traced in the drawings. Often, feminine looks are adorned with flowers. Some mermaids have anchor tattoos on their bodies.
Modern sketches can be very diverse. Despite the fact that they build on the old canons, such solutions can combine many elements. Thus, the picture takes on its meaning. For example, the anchor can be wrapped in ribbons, massive chains or ropes. Such a tattoo is interpreted as the steadfastness of the male character.
The shape of the anchor can be traditional or stylized. If he is depicted with a rose, this indicates a strong relationship between a man and a woman. Rose with ribbons is a symbol of the past connection.
Swallows are stuffed with colored and black and white. Paired birds are the choice of those who have found their soul mate in life. If the birds fly down, this is interpreted as a search for a life path. An upward direction means open possibilities. Old school tattoos enhance all the qualities of the wearer.
A tiger or panther applied to the body are warlike symbols. They look somewhat aggressive. In this case, they are often performed with a bared mouth and sharp canines. The panther is stuffed in black and white, decorating its silhouette with sharp claws with colored roses. The eyes of predators are often yellow or red, the gaze is fierce, symbolizing the owner's willingness to overcome any difficulties on his way.
One of the popular tattoo designs is a dagger with a different shape of the handle. Sometimes a snake wraps around him, in other sketches he pierces the head of a predatory animal or a huge snake. Often in these plots, blood splashes are depicted. Somewhere, on the contrary, the dagger is decorated with flowers. A butterfly can be located on it. He is often depicted with a heart entwined with thorns.
Someone asks to draw a sketch of a dagger that pierced a wild rose flower through and through.
As for black and white tattoos, they are chosen by representatives of the stronger sex, who prefer authentic tattoo. Such patterns were stuffed by old school kollers when the style was just beginning to emerge. The plots of these sketches vary. For example, the original version is a swallow sitting on a branch, as well as a diamond against a sunset background. The wolf howling at the moon looks no less organic and bares its mouth.
Often, traditional drawings are complemented with iconic inscriptions or memorable dates. For example, just such additions can complete images of umbrellas, hearts, skulls and other drawings. The images in the "sleeve" technique are also unique. They can consist of many plots, occupying the surface of the hand from all sides. For example, a sketch can combine a formidable wolf, a soaring eagle, a butterfly, roses, and even a soldier. An interesting combination, in which hands, an owl, an hourglass, a tiger, a butterfly, books, a swallow, an angel and a female silhouette are depicted together. Based on the client's preferences, the sleeve technique can reach the hand, elbow, or occupy the shoulder and forearm.
Location options
Old school is a technique that can beautify the whole body. Often these drawings are stuffed on the hands.They look very advantageous on the shoulder and forearm, emphasizing the beauty of a developed body. Small tattoos often adorn men's arms from shoulder to elbow and on the inside. Customers ask for small drawings to be placed on the fist and hand. It is here that you can see the most spectacular images. Along with this, images in the old school technique can be seen on the legs. Unlike hands, men prefer to fill these parts of the body almost completely.
Volumetric plots also adorn the male breast. In this place, sometimes whole compositions on a marine theme are stuffed. Moreover, the drawings are far from always symmetrical in content, in contrast to the fists, on which they try to apply the same images. Creative clients sometimes decorate the chest and arms. In this case, the central image is large, and the technique of application is somewhat similar to the Japanese tattoo style. Sometimes such stories spread to the stomach and sides. The arms are often girdled completely, and a symbolic inscription may be located on top of the neck.
In some cases, inscriptions are found at the bottom of the so-called sleeves.