What do butterfly tattoos mean and what are they like?

Butterflies with enviable regularity top the lists of the most popular subjects for body painting by women - only dragons, which are wildly successful with both sexes, manage to get around them in popularity.

Butterflies sometimes even become victims of their success - there are times when the craftsmen simply refuse to fill them, referring to the fact that they are ordered too often for them. Read about what secrets variegated beauties conceal in themselves, what styles and sketches of drawings are now in fashion, as well as on which parts of the body it is better to stuff them, read in this material.

Butterfly tattoos are not as simple as they seem. Yes, these are beautiful drawings designed to decorate and delight, but under the external frivolity of the pattern, a deep meaning is often hidden, which is not always easy to decipher. Nowadays, butterflies are considered to be symbols of femininity and love, but in ancient times, the palette of their meanings was much wider. So, in many cultures, the butterfly is identified with the human soul, and in the Christian religion it even symbolizes spiritual rebirth - it can often be seen in paintings depicting Jesus Christ.

In Mexico, she served as a reminder of the brevity of earthly life, and for the Celts it personified a second chance available to anyone who is ready to act decisively and go towards change in order to change life for the better.

The indigenous peoples of the North American continent treated the winged creature with special respect - it was often mentioned in the legends of the tribes of the Great Plains and was associated by the wise Indians with joy and dreams. They believed that with the help of a butterfly it was possible to communicate with the souls of the dead, and believed that the color of its wings also mattered. So, the yellow butterfly embodied hope, the black one predicted illness, and the white one predicted good luck.

In addition, the insect is a symbol of personal growth. Like him, a person goes through a series of transformations, turning from a caterpillar into a pupa, and then into a beautiful butterfly. But it also means that, like a butterfly in a cocoon, a person must find the strength and courage to break out of his comfort zone in order to grow spiritually and move forward. Without such determination, miraculous transformation is impossible.

Based on the above, it is not at all surprising that women often choose a butterfly as a subject for a tattoo... Often they fill it up to commemorate some kind of rebirth, spiritual or physical, or to attract it into their lives with the help of a colorful drawing. The tattoo also serves as a reminder that the path to excellence lies through hard work, and that iron willpower is needed to achieve the goal.

It is enough to flip through the catalog of works of any master or stroll through the numerous sites dedicated to body art to make sure that butterflies are the queens of tattooing. Body drawings with their image are large and small, color and black and white, deliberately simple or worked out to the smallest detail. It is not easy to navigate such a wide variety of options, but there are certain styles and stories that never go out of style.

Admirers of butterflies can be delighted: this charming creature suits almost all styles of tattoo art. The fabulous beauty looks equally expressive in the style of old school, in the genre of watercolor or in the dotwork technique. The following styles deserve special attention.

• Minimalism - the best choice for the first tattoo and for those who wish to decorate the wrist or neck with a discreet mini-tattoo "for the soul". Minimalistic butterflies turn out to be especially delicate and neat.

• Style watercolor most suitable for positive, light and creative natures. The airy fragility and blurred outlines of this technique make it possible to paint real pictures on the body.

• Wearable jewelry in the genre dotwork consist of a large number of points and are particularly strict. In this style, there is no place for bright colors, curls and other decorative elements, therefore it is most often chosen by representatives of the stronger sex. Outwardly, it echoes the more uncompromising blackwork style - as the name implies, it is also dominated by black, and is often used to cover up unsuccessful or boring tattoos.

• Graphics and geometry allow you to reveal all the beauty of the winged enchantress without overloading the tattoo with unnecessary details. It is within the framework of these styles that the masters are best able to convey all the complexity and sophistication of patterned wings.Such images are usually performed in black.

• Style name realism speaks for itself. It is the preferred choice for more complex and larger designs, often in color or black and white with astonishing photographic fidelity.

• Style 3D as if it was created for the image of butterflies - thanks to the competent use of shadows and a color palette (it is noteworthy that blue is most often used for them), the drawings literally come to life on the skin. Especially talented artists manage to create wonderful tricks.

• Tribal style tribal most in demand for male tattoos, although in recent years, ladies have increasingly paid attention to it. The butterfly in such sketches is almost always black, dense, with a minimum of decorative elements.

• Here comes insects in style steampunk look very elegant. They are skillfully assembled from a variety of metal parts and gears, like mechanical toys or frightening cyborg butterflies.

• Style old school, with its paradoxically “muted” brightness, dense black contours and characteristic flatness, it is perfect for those who are not breathing evenly towards retro.

• Established in 1970 new school - one of the most juicy and dynamic styles of body art. From its ancestor, the aforementioned old school style, he inherited clearly defined contours, complementing them with brighter, and sometimes even acidic colors. The masters put all their imagination into sketches, seasoning the drawings with a slice of humor and a pinch of philosophy.

• Style trash polka can not be called touching. It implies a lot of black, only occasionally sprinkled with drops of red ink, like blood. On tattoos made in this style, butterflies often coexist with skulls, knives or hourglasses, and sometimes become part of the most surreal compositions.

The butterfly is often portrayed solo, but this does not mean at all that “accessories” and decorative additions are alien to her. So, a fluttering beauty is often decorated with crystals and precious stones, seated on the edge of a dream catcher or braided with floral patterns. The insect also looks gorgeous when paired with a graceful mandala, or it can turn into a lace mask on the face of a beautiful girl.

Sometimes a black butterfly is complemented with a skull in memory of a deceased person - in this performance it can sometimes be seen on a man's chest or shoulder blade. A butterfly flying into a flame indicates the gambling and riskiness of its owner. Opened wings speak of the breadth of the soul and openness, and if flowers are paired with it, then we are talking about the desire for beauty and harmony.

Sitting on a flower, she symbolizes devotion and constancy. But if an insect flutters freely from flower to flower, this means that the tattoo bearer has not yet found himself and is open to everything new. You can supplement the sketch with lines from your favorite poems, winged quotes from films and books, or motivating inscriptions (you can often find the parting words "Believe in yourself"). But be careful when writing inscriptions in foreign languages ​​- it is better to play it safe and check the meaning and correct spelling once again than to regret the choice made later.

It is not recommended to completely copy the pictures seen on someone else. The sketches presented on the Internet and in the catalogs of salons should ideally only serve as inspiration for creating your own compositions.

You can "plant" a butterfly anywhere - on the hand, on the shoulder blade or even on the thigh. There are no strict restrictions and taboos on this matter, but before making the final choice, it is advisable to carefully study all the pros and cons of printing a pattern in one place or another.

• On the neck. A tattoo on the neck testifies to the courage of its owner. Often, such tattoos are done by people capable of daring deeds. This is partly due to the fact that it is especially painful to fill a drawing in this place - moreover, such a tattoo will always be in sight. Most often, this option is preferred by men.

• On the face... A bold but risky choice. Despite the fact that tattoos have long become a generally accepted form of self-expression, body art on the face often makes it difficult to get a prestigious job, and its owners admit that they often become victims of discrimination. Sometimes the tattoo artist himself warns the client about this, suggesting other options for placing the sketch.

• On the brush. Young girls and boys find wrist tattoos admirable. It is very painful to hit a tattoo on the wrist, so those who dared to do such an act look like a kind of fearless rebels in the eyes of those around them. You can't do without a fly in the ointment: tattooing on the hands requires frequent correction due to the fact that the skin there is constantly renewing.

• On the finger. A tiny butterfly on a finger is a touching option for a girl who has decided on the first drawing. However, this cannot be called practical: the images on the fingers quickly blur and lose their attractiveness.

• On the wrist. A popular choice due to the fact that miniature pictures look very advantageous there, and that such a tattoo can be easily displayed with a relaxed wave of the hand.

• On the shoulder blade. A choice of strong and independent personalities. A pleasant bonus is that the skin on the shoulder blades ages more slowly than on the rest of the body. As a result, the drawing will retain its attractiveness for many years.

• On the back... It is believed that tattoos on the back are preferred by modest, shy people, or those who want to add mystery to the image. There is also an opinion that the tattoo on the back is stuffed in order to mark the end of a certain stage of life - thereby declaring that he has been safely left behind. On such a spacious canvas, it is inappropriate to prick small sketches: large tattoos, consisting of many different elements, look great here.

• On the lower back. A tattoo on the lower back is a sign that in front of you is a girl who is confident in her sexuality. This is where watercolor designs work best. Nevertheless, be aware: the owners of such a tattoo should not be given epidural anesthesia.

• On the collarbone... Padding is especially tempting here, but keep in mind that this is one of the most painful areas to embellish.

• On the chest... This zone is most often chosen by muscular men who want to emphasize the beauty of a pumped-up body. For women, the choice is not the best: delicate skin in this place quickly sags.

• On the chest... Due to the relief of the zone, the drawings are especially voluminous and "lively", but for this plus you will have to pay with especially acute pain sensations.

• On the ribs... The most stylish choice is a medium-sized black butterfly, made in a graphic or dotwork style. Sometimes a sketch is supplemented with a memorable date or significant quote.

• On the belly... The pattern on the belly looks impressive, but remember that the skin there sags and stretches the fastest. This is especially true for women whose beautiful tattoos lose their shape after pregnancy or weight gain.

• On the hip... A favorite option for sensual natures who want to slightly enrich the image with piquancy. It is especially interesting that the drawing can be easily covered with clothes and shown only to a select few.

• On the shoulder. It is considered a good choice for those with well-developed biceps. On it you can fill a sketch of any size and complexity, using absolutely any technique you like.

• On the forearm. Classics of the genre for both sexes. The sleeve technique is especially popular when the tattoo covers not only the forearm, but also the shoulder, scapula and sternum.

• On the foot. Together with the shoulder and forearm, the most successful choice for images in the techniques of realism and steampunk.

• On the ankle. A one-color small bow tie on an ankle is a good choice for shy women. Unfortunately, this area has its drawback: due to the constant rubbing of the shoes, the tattoo remains neat for a short time.

Especially loyal fans of body art regularly add new tattoos to the existing ones. In this case, it is important to ensure that the enrichment does not turn into oversaturation: the sketches should be harmoniously combined with each other and, if possible, be made in the same style.

And remember that a tattoo is for a long time. If you want to remove it, you will have to spend a lot of effort, time and money. So make a choice consciously, having previously familiarized yourself with the meaning of the picture and making sure that the chosen option suits you perfectly.

If you are in doubt about whether to make a permanent tattoo, pay attention to the transferable tattoos: they perfectly imitate a real body pattern, allowing you to try on the jewelry you like for several days without any consequences. If, after this time, you are affirmed in your decision, you can safely go to the salon.

The choice of a master should also be taken responsibly: before entrusting someone with your body, carefully study the examples of work, and also read reviews of the tattoo parlor on the Internet.

We suggest that you familiarize yourself with a selection of ready-made tattoos made in a variety of styles and colors. Perhaps you will find the perfect one for yourself or get inspired to create your own sketch.

• Modest, subtle, elegant - such a pattern is perfect for sophisticated people who want to emphasize their sophistication.

• Such a gloomy sketch in the thrash polka style, rather, for those who do not like excessive "cute". The result, although not particularly cheerful, looks very stylish.

• As you can see from this example, butterflies look no less organic on the male body... Restraint and monotony of the pattern slightly soften the brutal image, adding a bit of tenderness and poetry to it.

• A good example of a 3D drawing. The charming purple butterfly seemed to sit on her arm for a while to rest, and will soon set off again in flight.

• Harmonious combination butterflies and lace mandalas will definitely appeal to romantic girls.

• Tattoo for those who is not afraid of daring experiments. Here, cute butterflies become part of a more complex and vibrant composition. The choice of color, size and number of colors is not limited by anything, which allows you to give complete freedom of imagination.

• The geometric style tattoo looks quite dignified. - not to mention that it is equally appropriate for both sexes.

• An interesting option for those who cannot choose one thing or who wants to tell the world about the versatility of their character.

• For fans of extraordinary solutionsmost likely, such a sketch will also be liked: a butterfly in the style of old school on the back of the neck looks bold and colorful.

• Very delicate tattoo, which not everyone will be able to see. In addition to watercolors, graphics, linework and even tribal will do.