Religious tattoos are still very popular with many collectors today, and one of the most recognizable images that has been made popular in the tattoo community is found in that of the Christian community with the Sacred Heart (aka The Sacred Heart of Jesus).
Neo-traditional sacred heart and flowers by Luan RootsBlack work ornamental sacred heart by Miss Sita at One O Nine Tattoo in Barcelona
This is an image that is particularly important in the Roman Catholic Church, and it represents Jesus Christ’s heart as his love for all humans. The earliest known devotions to the Sacred Heart occurred around the eleventh century and was brought about by Saint Bernard. In the 14th century Pope Innocent VI declared that the Sacred Heart should be idolized and worshipped. From there on it became a symbol of love and devotion.
Old school Immaculate Heart of Mary by Alvin Aldridge at Rose Land TattooOld school Sacred Heart and flowers by Basile Maurizio at Inked Soul Tattoo Studio
There are three common depictions of the heart in its original form: the Heart with a crown of thorns like the crown that Jesus was forced to wear, the heart with a cross on top to represent the crucifixion, and finally, flame surrounding or coming out of it which represents divine light of love.
Neo-traditional take on the Sacred Heart by Ashleigh MacIsaac-BrunoBlack and grey Sacred Heart by stillink.tattoo in Italy
As a tattoo many people choose one of these three versions, or get it custom made with added flowers, decorative pieces, faces, colours, etc. The most common styles are American traditional, black and grey, and neo-traditional.
Black and grey Immaculate Heart of Mary by Tom CoxOld school Sacred Heart and lady head by Duan Tattoo at Sick Rose Tattoo Parlour in Shanghai
There is another version of the Sacred Heart that represents the Immaculate Heart of Mary (mother of Jesus), but this version is usually seen being pierced by a sword instead of a crown of thorns.
Black and grey Immaculate Heart of Mary by Bram Adey at Main Street Tattoo Collective in WinnipegWall flash by Jake Cordál at Kilburn Tattoo in London
Ryan Cooper Thompson is a well-known tattoo artist based in Portland, Oregon. His work is a highly recognizable take on classic American traditional, using only black, red, and green in his colour palette, and taking direct inspiration from greats such as Percy Waters, Bob Wicks, and George Burchett.
A beautiful rose/butterfly lady A bold back of the head lady head
Ryan’s lady portraits in particular are highly sought after, and his instagram feed is full of them for good reason; his ladies range from heads to full bodied nudes to butterfly ladies, and are wonderful to look at whether they’re palm sized or full backs.
Dragon lady thigh pieceA bold knee design
If you’re getting your own RCT piece you can choose to have something custom designed, a piece of flash made by Ryan, or a flash piece based on older artists work that often date back to the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
A beautiful nude portrait and some butterfliesA gorgeous dragon lady back featuring butterflies
Along with ladies you’ll find lots of flowers, dragons, butterflies, and other animals in his portfolio and on the walls of his shop.
A bright and bold peacockA classic panther and rose
Ryan tattoos everything from hands to backs, large and small, one session to multiples. So whether you live nearby or are just passing through you’ll be able to get yourself a timeless piece. (Though he is only tattooing people in the Oregon and Washington area during pandemic times). If you can’t make the trip to get a tattoo you can also buy prints of his here.
For lovers of alternative music it’s pretty much common knowledge that Black Sabbath’s 1970 debut album “Black Sabbath” marked the beginning of heavy metal as we now know it. There were distinct differences from rock including references to the occult in the lyrics, Ozzy’s style of singing, the heavier sound of the guitars, and loud, fast thundering drums. Put together it all sounds quite dark and sinister, which is part of why we still love it so much today.
Black Sabbath cross done by wolfirish_tattooBlack work Henry done by Riley Borne in Portland Oregon
The original members of the English metal band include guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, drummer Bill Ward, and most famously, vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. Though the band has also seen many lineup changes, most notably vocalist Ronnie James Dio after Ozzy was kicked out of the band for substance abuse.
Cross piece done by Else MauA black work portrait of Ozzy done by Blake at Hot Stuff Tattoo
The band previously had other names, including “Earth.” The bands manager wanted them to change the name because it was too generic, so Butler suggested changing their name to Black Sabbath after the song they had written. He was big into both the occult and horror movies, as was Iommi, and they thought the name fit the sound of the band at the time. The name for both the song and band was thought up by Butler, and was inspired by Mario Bava’s 1963 Boris Karloff horror anthology.
A realistic portrait of Ozzy done by Shaks in Bexhill UKA bright and bold Henry done by Aliki at Below Zero Tattoo in Florida
After hearing the riff of what became “Iron Man,” Ozzy said that it sounded “like a big iron bloke walking about.” Geezer Butler took that a step further and wrote the lyrics as the story of a man who time travels into the future, and witnesses the apocalypse. While returning to the present, a magnetic field turns him into steel. He is rendered mute, unable to verbally warn people of his time in the future and of the Earth’s impending destruction. Because his attempts to communicate are ignored and mocked, it causes Iron Man to become angry, and drives his revenge on mankind, causing the destruction seen in his vision. Another fun song fact is the coughing heard at the beginning of “Sweet Leaf,” is guitarist Tony Iommi. He had been smoking a joint in the studio given to him by Ozzy Osbourne. The title of the song was taken from a packet of Irish cigarettes which said “It’s the sweet leaf,” and refers to cannabis, which the band was using frequently.
Inverted cross done by Libby Guy at the Illustrated Man, Sydney AustraliaBlack and grey album art done by Edvin at Crooked Moon Tattoo
Some popular Black Sabbath tattoos include portraits of the band members (mostly Ozzy), album art, crosses, and “Henry” the bands devilish logo. Mostly done in black and grey, black work, or old school styles. Though realism, neo-traditional, and pointillism also make for awesome pieces!
Black work heart by Rodrigo Burnout in São PauloOzzy’s head with a vampire bat done by Kalo at Spider Web Tattoo in Berlin
What’s your favourite Black Sabbath song? Do you have any Sabbath tattoos?
Combining classic old school portraits of ladies and the wings of butterflies has long been a staple in old school tattooing. Flash from such legends as Bert Grimm, Ben Corday, and others from the 1800’s and 1900’s featured variations of the designs below, and more.
Back design done by Kasper_ftw in Seoul South KoreaBlack and grey chest piece done by Rich Hardy in the UK
Portraits of women are one of the most popular images in tattooing, as are butterflies. Combining the two beautiful designs makes sense, and can form an elegant tattoo that stands the test of time.
Black work back piece featuring a butterfly lady atop a skull, alongside two at the bottom done by Paul Dobleman at Black Heart Tattoo in CaliforniaButterfly lady head done on the hand by Reuben Todd at Kapala Tattoo in Winnipeg, Manitoba
One of the most popular ways for this design to be tattooed is a woman’s head with butterfly wings sprouting from behind, to the left and right.
Stomach butterfly lady head done by Francesco Ferrara in RomeButterfly lady atop a heart done by Blair Maxine Mckenna in Perth Australia
These butterfly ladies can also be seen more like fairies, with the bodies of women and butterfly wings.
Butterfly lady with a hidden face done by Capilli Tupou at Sunset Tattoo in Auckland New ZealandBlack work butterfly lady head done by Kim-Anh Nguyen-Dinh at Seven Seas in the Netherlands
Old school American traditional is the most common style for this design, but black work, black and grey, and Neo-traditional are also popular.
Black and grey butterfly woman done by Jade Harper at House of the Rising Sun Tattoo in WinnipegButterfly lady head on the chest done by naughtyjam_tattooer in Taipei, Taiwan
Palm tattoos have been growing in popularity over the last few years, but people are still divided on the longevity of the pieces (as well as how much they have to hurt).
Two healed palms by Mark Walker at The Grand Reaper in San DiegoHealed flowers by Luke Ashley at South City Market
Palms are of course a high touch part of your body, and go through a lot of wear and tear. So putting a tattoo on it might seem pointless to some if it’s just going to fade immediately.
Ornamental black work by Brody Polinksy in BerlinJapanese mask by LAPA at Artwork Tattoo Studio
I have seen a fair number of healed palm pieces that haven’t required touch ups, even after years of wear.
Black work eyes by James Lau at The Company Tattoo, Hong KongMatching hearts by Alena Chun at Icon Tattoo in Portland
A long lasting palm tattoo seems to require two things; Solid black lines, and proper aftercare. If you’re able to more or less not use that hand during the majority of the healing process, your tattoo shouldn’t scab much, and should settle in nicely. Obviously that’s not doable for everyone, but it definitely plays a part.
Matching spider webs by Berthe Tattoos at lucky Town Tattoo in Regensburg, GermanyBarbed wire by David Mottier in Switzerland
Do you have or want a palm tattoo?
Medieval flail by Milky Tattoos in TorontoBert Grimm’s crying heart by Joe Destefano Electric Park Tattoo, Detroit MI
Josh is an artist specializing in American traditional style tattoos, working out of Love Tattoo Parlour in Melbourne Australia.
Classic dragon Spiderweb belly button filler.
Josh bases his designs on classic old school art, with a focus on American traditional work. He also creates tattoos with a Japanese influence, done in American traditional style.
Battle Royale back piece.Based on Japanese classic, Kintarō wrestling the carp.
Currently (April 2020) Josh (and the rest of the world) is not tattooing, but you can commission paintings by him by sending a DM on Instagram
American traditional flowers done up in a vase.A classic chest ship.
If you’re a fan of old school classics and want your own piece from Josh, whether you live in the Melbourne area or are stopping in on a trip, make sure to set up an appointment with Josh.
Rob Kelly is the owner of BLACKOUT Tattoo in Hong Kong. Rob has been tattooing since 2005, and has lived in Hong Kong since 1994. BLACKOUT Tattoo was founded in 2010 and features brilliant permanent artists as well as travelling guest artists.
Realistic black and grey tiger.Realistic black and grey lion head.American traditional lady head butterfly.Black and grey Japanese Kitsune.
Rob tattoos in many styles including American traditional, Neo traditional, black work, Japanese, Chinese, black and grey, line work, realism, tribal, and more.
American traditional butterfly.Water colour dragon.Tribal chest panel.
Rob has a book of flash you can choose from, or you can book a consultation with him and collaborate on something completely original for yourself.
Blackwork half goat, half mermaid.Classic mom tattoo with a heart and dagger.Japanese lucky cat, Neko!
The shop abides by all health regulations, including using new ink and needles, so no need to worry about infections.
Blackwork chrysanthemum.Chinese dragon in American traditional style.Bright red chrysanthemum.
Rob has incredible attention to detail and will make sure you leave the shop happy and with a badass tattoo! Check out his website and set up a consultation http://www.blackout-tattoo.com
American traditional cherub and skull.Black and grey Harry Potter piece. Expecto patronum!Legend of Zelda sword.
Joel is an artist working out of Wild Rose Tattoo Co. in Calgary, Alberta.
Classic cry baby.Big panther and a snake locked in battle.Deconstructed anchor and a bit of a seascape/sunset.Fingers crossed.Swallows and a heart for mom.Spooky demon.
Joel does classic American traditional tattoos. He has plenty of flash to choose from, or you can bring an idea to him.
Good luck horseshoe. This design used to usually be done with the horseshoe facing upright, to keep the luck in. But now people seem to get it upside down more and more, seeming to be a sign of making your own luck.Nice vacation in a bottle with this one.Geisha with a beautiful kimono and umbrella.Blackwork stomach with geometric flowers and peony. Lots of lines!Black rose and Bert Grimm crying heart.Mean looking spider and crying eye.
Joel does both colour pieces as well as blackwork.
Blackwork peony in more of a Japanese style.Twisty dragon, an American take on a Japanese design.Geometric vase and wrap around snake.Traditional Aboriginal lady head.Fortune teller lady head and Bert Grimm tiger head.
You can search him up on Instagram and see when he is doing walk-ins, or contact him and set up an appointment.
Sleazy Mickey.Blackwork snake.Tough boxer and rose in blackwork style.Butterfly for a gap filler.Crowned Jesus blackwork piece.
Joel sticks to the classics, and does it well. He has crisp bold lines and solid shading, all within a readable trad piece. He is a must visit artist if you’re in Calgary.
NSFW. Shibari is the ancient Japanese artistic form of rope bondage. In Japanese, Shibari simply means “to tie.”
Snake and woman in Shibari ropes done by Alix Ge in France.Blackwork woman in kimono done by Phil Kaulen at Elektrotinte Tattoo.Full Shibari back piece and octopus done by Zhuo Dan Ting at Shanghai Tattoo in China.
Shibari dates back to the 1400’s when police and samurai would use Hojo-jutsu, the martial art of restraining captives. This was used to both imprison captives as well as torture.
Woman tied up, upside down done by Alvaro Contreras in Barcelona.Delicate blackwork piece by Sad Amish tattooer at The Church tattoo in Bordeaux.Neo traditional demon woman in Shibari rope done by Wes Harrison at Black Wren Tattoo.
By the late 1800’s and early 1900’s this evolved into a new kind of erotic rope tying called Kinbaku. Today, this erotic art form is generally just called Shibari.
Red rope Shibari woman done by Clara Welsh at Evil From the Needle in Camden UK.Heart and Shibari rope by Scott Garitson at Til’ Death Denver.
The knots used in Shibari accentuate characteristics in the models body, and show sensuality, vulnerability, as well as strength. The ropes create geometric patterns on the models body that contrast the bodies natural curves.
More Japanese style piece, featuring her own Japanese tattoos done by inserseriusseries at Two Of Hearts Tattoo.Torture by Shibari done by Sergey Vaskevich in Warsaw.
Shibari tattoos are erotic and sensual, showing off the human form in all its beauty. They are often done in black work, black and grey, realism, and neo traditional styles.
Blackwork heart and rope done by Lopes Onepunch at Gone fishing tattoo in Portugal.Leg wrapped in rope by Tine DeFiore at Black Oak Tattoo in Chicago.
To see some live Shibari art please check out shibari.jp to see my favourite Shibari artist, Hajime Kinoko.
Realistic black and grey piece done by Németh S. Csilla at Deep Art Tattoo in Nové Zámky.Blackwork shibari and video camera done by Ufoo Tattoo at Kult Tattoo Fest.
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