All about steampunk tattoos

The steampunk style appeared about 50 years ago and managed to find a huge number of fans - people are actively introducing details of this alternative reality into the interior and wardrobe. Tattoos with authentic elements are no less popular among lovers of steampunk. In this article, you will learn what steampunk tattoos are and where to place them.

Steampunk tattoos are body images containing elements of the fantasy world of steam engines. The most common type of such images is various parts of mechanisms: gears, steam engines, bolts and levers. Sometimes accessories are also used as a body design, for example: a mechanical watch, goggles, a cane or a plague doctor's mask.

The name of the direction consists of the English words "steam" (steam) and "punk" (garbage), which together symbolize the very idea of ​​an alternative world - the creation of new things from parts of the old. The style originated from romantic views of the era of steam engines that existed in Victorian England at the end of the 19th century. Many characteristic features of the style are borrowed precisely from the fashion of English ladies and gentlemen of that time - these are hats, pilot's caps, old-fashioned suits, corsets and puffy skirts, which are now depicted on tattoos. In the Victorian era, electricity was not yet familiar to the modern world, so wax candles and gas lamps are also popular steampunk subjects.

The direction of steampunk is related to the styles of "organic" and "biomechanics", the similarity of these terms is reflected in tattoos. The meaning of such wearable designs lies in the disclosure of the "physical content" of the human body, and in fact - its inner world. Tattoos are sometimes shocking with their realism - they imitate skin tears on the body, and mechanisms with gears are applied inside these "wounds".

All illustrations of the steampunk direction are united by gears, which are depicted everywhere: on the frames of glasses, masks, open parts of cars, and even just as separate elements. Sketches of characters in vintage Victorian clothing are also popular: men in suits with vests and elongated jackets and women in dresses with puffy skirts and corsets. The heroes' wardrobe must be complemented by mechanical elements with gears and authentic accessories such as a cane, pilot's goggles or a watch on a chain.

An alternative reality based on steam engines is very contradictory - it seems to symbolize a different path of human development and at the same time a complete stop of progress from the point of view of a person living in the present world. The duality of steampunk is expressed in class inequality (the world is full of pretentious aristocrats and poor workers) and the modernization of technology according to outdated methods (steam and mechanical engines).

Tattoos based on such a world are distinguished by the following characteristic features:

• the brightness of people against the background of gloomy rusty cars;
• the use of rough materials such as copper, wood and leather in the depicted clothing;
• mixing of conflicting eras;
• an abundance of small parts and spare parts.

Mysterious and romanticized illustrations that combine primitive machines and fashion in 19th century England are one of the youngest trends in body painting. However, this did not stop the illustrations from being in demand among tattoo lovers - these days, steampunk is a popular and widespread visual style.

Steampunk tattoo plots are suitable for both guys and girls, but they must have a rather bold and strong character, because such images are not always approved by people. Body drawings with an abundance of mechanisms and vintage elements declare that the wearer is challenging the established society, and therefore can cause negative reactions from conservatives.

Artists can modify and stylize designs with steam elements to give them a personal touch, further expanding the range of tattoos. Steampunk tattoos are divided into several main types:

• machines powered by steam engines: an airship, a steamer, a prototype of a modern aircraft or a steam locomotive;

• an urbanized world: a smog-covered city full of old factories, pipes and rusted machinery;

• prostheses: an image of internal organs with mechanical details (most often it is a heart) or "mechanization" of body parts by drawing a volumetric sketch;

• obsolete lighting fixtures: wax candle, kerosene lamp or primitive incandescent lamp;

• retro wardrobe elements: derby hat, top hat, corset, cane, monocle;

• vintage mechanical devices: dial telephone, typewriter or telegraph;

• car parts: gears, bolts, wrenches, pumps and valves that release steam.

Steam-inspired artwork looks great both in black and white and in color. The direction is based on the reliability of the transfer of details, the accuracy of proportions, the naturalness of spare parts and the application of volumetric shadows. In a steamer, the realism and abstractness of images are especially appreciated.

Depending on the gender of the wearer, tattoo sketches significantly change their content. Illustrations for men are created according to all the canons of an alternative world: worn-out mechanisms, an epic plot and a dark atmosphere. For girls, masters use softer and more romanticized pictures, for example: a sketch with precious jewelry and gold gears or a steam engine in the form of a heart.

Steampunk imagery is like a revived plot from old sci-fi books by Kevin Jeter, Tim Powers and James Blaylock. They mix real-life mechanisms and fantastic machines invented by writers.

We offer you to consider some interesting sketches of a steampunk tattoo.

• Heart-lock. A graceful, aesthetic picture with mechanical details and ornate patterns will perfectly emphasize feminine beauty and sophistication.

• Mechanized arm. A sleeve that covers the entire area of ​​the arm from the shoulder to the wrist is a very brutal tattoo that is striking in its realism. The illusion is created that a part of the body actually becomes mechanized, because with each movement of the gears, an imitation of a working mechanism is created.

• Mechanical heart. The internal organ, completely made of spare parts, pipes and metal plates, conveys a deep meaning - it personifies a wounded soul that hid from a cruel world behind a layer of rough materials.

• Minimalism. A very modest and neat tattoo, which even in this form is part of the steampunk style.

• Gears under the skin. A frighteningly realistic illustration infused with a steampunk vibe. The tattoo is only suitable for daring wearers who are ready to experiment.

• The cat in the top hat. Animals are also popular steampunk characters - they are portrayed as honorable gentlemen in elegant clothing with mechanical details. Cats are the most popular animals, but rabbits, foxes and owls are also found.

• Watch dial. A mechanical watch is a very popular item among steampunk lovers, but it does not necessarily have to be depicted on the body in a realistic manner. The intricate design with an abundance of gears, arrows and Arabic numerals perfectly conveys the idea of ​​the era of steam engines.

Unlike many other styles of tattoos, steampunk tattoos can be placed on any part of the body - they do not lose their charm anywhere. The size of the sketch also does not affect its quality - small drawings on a girl's forearm and voluminous illustrations on a wide male back look equally impressive.

In the direction of steampunk, mechanized tattoos on the arm look organically, for example, a sleeve made of gears that covers the entire shoulder and forearm. In the same way, the "mechanization" of the legs is sometimes depicted, drawing volumetric sketches on the lower extremities. The pattern with gears peeking out from under the skin looks great on the back, chest and inner side of the arm.

The place for the tattoo must be chosen depending on the parameters of the sketch. Small illustrations with gears look good on the wrist, neck, collarbone and ankle. Medium-sized designs are usually applied to the forearm, shoulder blade, chest, lateral torso, or calf. Large drawings look spectacular on the back, legs and the entire area of ​​the arms.