Tattoo Inspiration: Exploring Ideas for Your Next Piece

Coming up with tattoo ideas can sometimes feel harder than getting the actual inked. You may be picturing something significant that would look amazing in person and that you will still be happy with in twenty years, but the leap between that feeling and actually executing that concept is often terrifying. The step from, "I want a tattoo," to, "I want this exact tattoo," is where people usually fall short, endlessly browsing the internet with no clear direction.

Here’s a plan to get your tattoo inspiration to work for you instead of just saving everything to a folder. You will discover how to make a proper moodboard; how to use reference photos; how to combine different styles, and how to talk to an artist to get the tattoo of your dreams, whether it’s your first tattoo or your 20th.

How to Find Tattoo Inspiration That Actually Lasts

Draw from real life, not from Google. Ask yourself what experiences, people, places, and principles have actually influenced you. Look at the patterns in your own life. Are you a lover of nature? Of music? Books? Cultural heritage? Tattoos that age with you, emotionally, tend to be those that have personal significance and are not just fleeting trends. A wave tattoo you get because you were raised surfing will still make sense in 30 years. A wave tattoo that’s trendy now might not.

Of course, inspiration is important here too, so explore any tattoo styles that you might be attracted to, such as fine line, traditional, Japanese, blackwork, watercolor, neo-traditional, and identify what elements are drawing your eye. Check out any tattoo artists on Instagram whose work intrigues you; not just popular accounts but artists in specific niches. If you get a chance, attend tattoo conventions and get to see work first hand; seeing work in person reveals details that photographs flatten. Keep all that you see and save that which inspires you, even if you can not yet understand what it is you like about it yet.

Building a Tattoo Moodboard That Works

If there's anything I wish more people would do as they seek out tattoo artists, it's build a moodboard. The problem is, most people aren't building moodboards at all. They'll send us 50 tattoo images that all look completely different. What we get from that is, you have no idea what the end result will look like. There should be three distinct things included in a moodboard. Number one, the tattoo images. Those are tattoos you've collected from other tattoo artists that you like, usually no more than five to eight. Next, you want a collection of images that have nothing to do with tattoos. They are things you find inspirational, things you see in magazines, in paintings, photographs and so on, images that give me the idea of the subject matter that you're going after, the mood, the type of image. The third element of the moodboard is just images showing different ways the tattoo can sit on the body, different ways the body can be shaped to fit the tattoo.

Try making Pinterest boards, a specific Instagram highlight or even just a folder on your phone that’s categorized. Add some notes for yourself about why each image is a good example of what you want: do you love the line weight? The color scheme? The composition? The content? Someone who understands what you love about a specific linework in an image or the color work in another one will know how to piece together both of these into something specific for you. Eliminate any images that go against this. It’s better to have 15 to 20 images on a focused board than it is for a thousand images with little direction.

Working With References Without Copying

There is a distinct difference in tattooing between using references and stealing someone else's design. In fact, when going for custom work, you should always bring in examples of things you like to your artist, and most professionals will expect you to do just that. What is considered taboo is demanding your artist draw up a design identical to a design by another artist. Custom tattoos were originally made for a person's skin. Stealing them takes away from both the artist and the person who originally had the design tattooed onto them, and very few tattoo artists will draw up the same design as someone else.

Instead, use specific references to describe what you’re looking for: “I really like how this artist painted the petals on a peony flower” or “I’m hoping for this amount of detail in this area of the shading.” A good artist will be able to use that inspiration and apply it, but ultimately create a piece of art that’s unique to your body, your personal aesthetic, and their strengths as an artist. The one exception is the traditional flash design, which is pre-drawn artwork ready for tattooing in its current state, since that is intended to be reproduced or given out for free to others. This is the only instance where there isn’t a personal component to the work.

Combining Styles and Cultural Symbolism

The most memorable tattoos in today’s world tend to cross a number of stylistic lines. Think of a Japanese sleeve with botanical fine lines or geometric mandala with some color wash or a traditional tattoo in blackwork dotwork. The beauty of these tattoos comes from the artists who are experts at one or the other style. For instance, a Japanese traditional artist who is also very good at fine line will be able to do a great hybrid tattoo. A good generalist might do a tattoo but will never do as good a hybrid tattoo.

Another consideration when designing your tattoo is cultural symbolism. Symbols can have different significance in different cultures, a lotus, for instance, symbolizes spiritual enlightenment in Buddhism, strength in Egyptian mythology, and purity in Hinduism. Make sure you fully understand the symbolism of any cultural symbols you plan on using. This is especially true for symbols that are from another culture that is not your own. Always be respectful when approaching cultural symbolism. Plenty of tattoo artists have studied the cultural symbolism of many symbols, so they can help you create something meaningful but also authentic. The end result should be cultural appreciation and a genuine connection with the culture of the symbol, not appropriation.

Turning Raw Ideas Into Custom Designs With Your Artist

When you arrive at your consultation with your inspiration as a mood board, ready to discuss placement and rough size along with your budget, you're setting yourself up for the best possible tattoo. If your concept has a story, let the artist know. If you want a specific color to be used, or a specific symbol, point it out. Don't hesitate to bring along images of things you definitely want to have, but also don't forget to leave room for the artists' interpretation of your concepts. The best tattoos tend to be created when you bring some direction to your consultation, and trust the artist to put it into their signature style.

Prepare to have some changes made. Most tattoo artists will create an initial sketch based on what you've discussed during your consultation and you will have a chance to ask them to modify your design before the tattoo. Provide clear direction; for example, "Can we make the flower a little bit bigger and move it a bit higher on my forearm" is helpful whereas "I don't like it" is not. Remember that the design you see on the paper is not the same as how it appears on your body. When your skin tone, body anatomy, and the way the tattoo will age are taken into account, the tattoo may need to be changed or adjusted to make sure you get the most bang for your buck. Be open to making changes based on your artist's experience and expertise and don't get too caught up in things like "line weight, shading and colour" because your artist will advise you on the best way to make the tattoo look great over time. Ultimately, the best tattoos happen when you and your artist work together to produce a final product that is so much better than either of you could have made alone.