Exercise 5: Tattoo

In this exercise, I was asked to design a tattoo for a friend based on the word Mum. In addition, I need to place a ready design on the greeting card to send to his mother (a personal touch of saying Happy Mother’s Day).

History of tattoos

The art of tattooing has been practised by various cultures throughout history and holds great cultural significance. The earliest signs of tattoo art can be seen in ancient Japanese clay figurines, which were adorned with painted or engraved facial markings. These figurines, discovered in tombs dating back as far as 5000 BCE, showcase the early practice of tattooing in the region.

Tattoos were also prevalent in ancient Greece and Rome, often used to signify a person’s social status or as a form of punishment.

In Polynesia, tattooing played a significant role in the culture and traditions of various island communities. Polynesian tattoos, also known as tā moko or tatau, represented important events in a person’s life, their status within the community, and their connection to spiritual beliefs. The intricate designs and patterns of these tattoos were unique to each individual and held deep cultural meanings.

The oldest known tattoos on human skin belong to a man from the Bronze Age, estimated to be around 3300 BCE. Known as ‘Otzi the Iceman’, his mummified remains were discovered in the Alps, located on the border between Austria and Italy. Remarkably, Otzi had a total of 57 tattoos on his body, providing a fascinating glimpse into the ancient practice of tattooing.

Moving into the Middle Ages, tattoos started to become associated with criminality and were often used to brand individuals as outcasts. In Europe, sailors often adorned their bodies with tattoos as a form of identification or to symbolize their achievements and experiences during their extensive travels.

As we entered the 20th century, tattoos were still considered taboo in many parts of society, particularly in conservative circles. However, World War II played a significant role in changing popular attitudes towards tattoos. Soldiers returning from the war often had tattoos as reminders of their service, and this helped to normalise the practice.

Since then, tattoos have continued to evolve as an art form. Today, tattooing has become a mainstream form of self-expression and personal adornment, with people choosing tattoos to commemorate loved ones, express their identities, or simply appreciate the beauty of body art.

It’s important to note that the history of tattoos is vast and diverse, with various styles and cultural significance across different regions. The art of tattooing continues to evolve and thrive, allowing individuals to tell their unique stories through ink on their skin.

In Western culture, tattoos have evolved from being seen as a symbol of rebellion or counterculture to being widely embraced as a form of personal expression and art. In recent decades, tattoos have gained mainstream acceptance, and people from all walks of life now choose to adorn their bodies with meaningful and aesthetic designs. From small, discreet tattoos to full sleeves and body suits, Western culture has seen a surge in creativity and diverse styles, allowing individuals to showcase their unique identities, commemorate loved ones, or simply appreciate the beauty of tattoo art.

Since the task was to design a tattoo for a mother, I also looked for examples that matched this theme. I found the identities of various categories and types of tattoos. Several features consistently appeared in these designs, such as a love heart, the word mum written inside of it, and red and black colours. These tattoos are often done with elaborate designs, such as hearts, flowers, or banners, ranging from simple and minimalist to decorative and ornate. Today, ‘Mum’ tattoos continue to hold sentimental value and are popular choices for people wanting to honour their mothers or celebrate the concept of motherhood.

As part of my research, I also created a mind map that contains my thoughts on tattoos and the symbols associated with the word ‘Mum’. I spent a bit of type of going through keywords and style variations that I was going to produce. Also, I’ve discovered that each part of the body could represent a particular style and scale of the tattoo.

Tattoo styles refer to different artistic techniques and designs used in the creation of tattoos. There are numerous tattoo styles, with each style having its own unique characteristics and cultural influences. Here are a few popular tattoo styles:

• Traditional
• Realism
• Neo-Traditional
• Japanese
• Blackwork
• Watercolor
• Minimalist.

Sketches

Here I experimented with some designs I was going to apply for the tattoo. I went through such elements as feather, rose, and flowery font. I felt like I was going a slightly safe route, that sketches variations looked quite ordinary and probably it was done many times before. I needed some unusual solution that would bring a special meaning to the tattoo design.

I thought if the purpose of the Mum tattoo is to honour and show love for one’s mother or family, it would be useful to look into design from the historical point of view and do research on the first Mum tattoos ever made. The earliest evidence of the word ‘Mum’ as a tattooable design can be traced back to ancient Egypt. In Egyptian hieroglyphics, the symbol of an owl, which represents the sound ‘mum’, was associated with the goddess Mut, the mother goddess and protector of royals. This symbol was often used as a protective charm, and tattoos bearing this symbol were believed to bring blessings and ward off evil. I had an idea to design a beautiful symbol of a bird for the tattoo, why not try on the owl symbol, which has deep historical meaning.

I was going to combine the image of the owl, which symbolises wisdom, and add beautiful roses. I was aware that the image of the owl bird could be quite specific and not everyone’s preference, I just really loved the historical meaning behind it, and I thought the design was worth trying. I had a collection of roses on my phone, and I thought they could be a good reference for my design as well.

Owl design

As I had this recent idea, I created some additional illustrations, trying to choose the shape of the owl I was going to use. I went for the more traditional way of owl-looking, which was not as geometric as Egyptian drawing. In the corner, I added a rose and written text with the word mum. I was going to use my own writing for the tattoo, rather than typography.

When I thought of the style of the tattoo, I could characterise it as traditional, also known as Old School. Traditional tattoos originated in the early 20th century and are characterised by bold, thick black outlines, a limited colour palette, and simple, iconic designs like anchors, roses, and swallows. In my case, it was going to be a rose and an owl.

My choice of the image for the tattoo was that looked the most realistic. I was not sure whether the drawing of the owl ended up being too serious, I found the choice of the tattoo style quite a personal process, and it is always useful to work with a client, but here I made a choice on my own preference. After brief sketches, I created the detailed sketch, with some shadows, and fine details of the owl, planning later to edit it in Photoshop and Illustrator for the actual tattoo. I left the image being black and white, but in addition, I made some bold outlines around roses and birds, to highlight the borders around the image.

For the final touch, I created mockups of the tattoo on the actual man’s body, and on the greeting card. In the exercises, I felt quite like a beginner, as the world of tattoo masters is so advanced, and the precision of the lines and details is vital, as that is the type of art that people apply to their bodies for a lifetime. I think my tattoo conceptually has a great opportunity to be used. As I mentioned before, the tattoo choice is quite an intimate process, and there is always a significant part of working with a client in order to achieve the most successful result.

Material:

1. A brief history of tattoos
   https://wellcomecollection.org/articles/W9m2QxcAAF8AFvE5
2. Tattoo culture in the Victorian era
   https://www.compassrosedesign.com/blogs/blog/tattoos-victorians-and-class-lines
3. The history of tattoos
   https://ed.ted.com/search?qs=tattoo