Getting done a tattoo is not similar to getting done with a haircut, or a makeover. It takes a lot of knowledge about designs and art and especially what’s trending now, to get the perfect tattoo. You cannot just walk into the shop and say, “I want this done!” That’s not how things work, here. Especially, if you want to get some neo traditional tattoo designs, then you have still got a long way to go! Neo-traditional tattoos have come up as an evolution of the traditional tattoos that came into existence in the early 80s and 90s. You might wonder the reason behind the popularity of American traditional tattoos and the hype worldwide.
If probed deeper into the books of history, you can derive the information about the American soldiers and the sailors who practiced tracing such designs while going to the wars, or coming back. These traditional designs consisted of replica images of stars, landscapes, animals, birds, hearts, and military insignia with a bold black outline around them, which was later transformed by the various artists under the art movements, and finally came to be recognized as the neo-traditional tattoos.
If you are someone who has a knack for the classic art elements or if you love exaggerated art designs, especially cartoons, then such a tattoo style is ideal for you. Most of the tattoo artists and art enthusiasts have brought up a lot of modern innovation from the diverse images and symbols, keeping the American traditional art as the central. However, there is no stop to such tattoo styles and it is ever-evolving; thus never really gets out of the style. We have brought up some of the most innovative neo traditional tattoo designs of all time, that might cater to your interests and infuse your mind with some classic ideas. Check them out from below.
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Neo Traditional Tattoo Meaning
Unlike traditional, the neo-traditional tattoos are filled with dense aesthetic designs and amped up with the bright color shades. It creates an amalgam of the historical American Traditional Tattoo designs and the evolving arts and crafts but the only factor that draws the similarity between both the types is their pictorial or visual style. The usage of dark black outlining in both the tattoo techniques might make them look a bit similar, but they differ quite a lot of designs and styles are to go by. The lush detailing, the striking colors, and not to forget, the aesthetic innovations derived from the past art movements, have gained them great popularity recently.
Being a modern variation of the early American Traditional Art, the neo-traditional tattoo design has been driving the generation crazy with its bold designs, variation, and advanced methods of tattooing. Keeping aside the fact that the features of such tattoos have evolved, their origin has remained the same. Most modern art enthusiasts or American history lovers find a lot of historical and heritage elements in it and get them done on various parts of the body. On the other hand, most individuals are unable to derive the in-depth meaning of such symbolic arts and get them done just for fun, supposedly by adding their favorite cartoon element to it.
Best Neo-Traditional Tattoo Placements
The most tricky part about the neo-traditional tattoo ideas is when it comes to its placement. You might wonder what’s so tricky about it, and how does it differ so much from other tattoo designs. Where you place a tattoo, speaks a lot about it and thus, you need to think not once, but twice, before considering a tattoo design. Let us explain to you a bit about it.
- Decide The Visibility: It is completely up to you how much visible you want your tattoos to be. If you prefer your tattoos to be completely visible, then place them on the body parts like arms, or hands, or the parts of your body that can be seen. Placing it on your back, or shoulder, or chest, would make them partially visible, and keeping it near your stomach or breasts, and thighs, can hide it absolutely.
- Consider The Type Of Clothing: Before you get a tattoo, consider the type of clothing that you wear. If the majority of your clothing ends up hiding the placement of your tattoo, then it is hardly of any use. By doing so, you can get it done at that part of your body, which will be spared by the type of clothing you wear.
- Balance It Well: If you have already got an existing tattoo design on your body, and you are about to get a new one, then consider the type of design you are up to. Both the designs must have at least some connection, or something similar, that would not make them look out of the place.
Unique Neo Traditional Tattoo Designs & Ideas
Neo-Traditional Dog Tattoo
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American dog portraits are quite popular when it comes to neo traditional tattoo designs. You can either get a similar image of your own dog tattooed, or you can pick any favorite dog image of yours, just out of love. Your tattoo artist will replicate it ideally, and will also add certain elements of traditional American art to go with it. The usage of colorful flowers along with such dog tattoos have been found quite common among the mass and would look great on the wider area of your arms, that is, on the top part.
Neo-Traditional Flash Tattoo
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This set of tattoos represent power and fierceness and are generally derived from mythological and astrological ideas. Such tattoos are often designed with themes like skeletons, horror, and darkness, and it seems like everything drawn in the tattoo has come to life, just at a glance. However, you will hardly find any similarity between any neo-traditional tattoo, as even though their ideas are rooted in the same tradition, evolution and creative changes rest at the core.
Neo-Traditional Wolf Tattoo
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Wolf tattoos have been quite famous since the origin of the neo traditional tattoo designs and describe the cultural heritage from both positive as well as negative perspectives. Wolf can be drawn in various styles and can go very well with the neo-traditional power themes, which represent power, protection, wisdom, devotion, and wild nature. There is, however, no gender discrimination when it comes to wolf tattoos, and both men and women can get such a tattoo done on their arms or chest.
Neo Traditional Rose Tattoo
If there are any of the neo-traditional tattoos that can be found too common and can be experimented with, that must be the rose tattoos. Representing love, as well as power and feminity, the rose tattoo is subtle and beautiful and can be made into various colors. Unlike other tattoos, the particular tattoo suits the female individuals and can be done on any part of the body. These look extremely sexy and very stylish as well but can be regarded with diverse concepts and various thoughts.
Neo-Traditional Eagle Tattoo
Featuring power and superiority, the eagle tattoo represents masculinity, dominance, and empowerment. It remains a popular tattoo style with wild and tribal designs accompanying it. You’ll not probably see such a tattoo design on women and has been greatly favored by men. Besides, the particular non-traditional art styles offer enough scope to be creative and allow you to experiment with several traditional aesthetics. No matter how many individuals give it a try, it can hardly ever go out of style.
Neo-Traditional Snake Tattoo
Snakes derive their existence from the religious and mythological texts since the origin of Adam and Eve in the Bible. The cycle of shedding the skin and renewing it again has been regarded with the concept of healing and rebirth and is thus considered as a popular tattoo style. For those who have a knack for tradition and culture, and admire strength and power, such a tattoo design would be absolutely ideal.
Neo-Traditional Skull Tattoo
If you go by the pages of tradition, such skull neo traditional tattoo designs are often regarded as something negative but that is not what it is, and has different meanings as well. Ideally, skulls represent the death that is inevitable and nobody on Earth can escape the cycle of nature. Having a skull tattoo on the arms or at the back represents the acceptance of such a fact and promotes the belief in life after death.
Neo-Traditional Shark Tattoo
Among all the marine life tattoos, sharks are chosen for a reason and they represent energy and fierceness. As sharks are considered to be one of the most powerful predators of marine life, such shark tattoos are generally depicted with a bolder ink outlining. The image depicts the intense contemporary style and the ferocious effect is further amped up with sharp lines and perfect detailing.
Neo-Traditional Fox Tattoo
If you are confused about whether to get a fox tattoo or not, then get it because you can never really go wrong with a fox tattoo. The major highlight of these tattoos is the bold lines and the colorful effect. The best part about such tattoos is that they can be made into smaller as well as a bigger tattoo style on any part of the body. If you are someone who loves colors, then such a tattoo would be quite bright and stylish.
Neo-Traditional Bat Tattoo
If you want to find a balance between the thematic elements and visual styles, then a neo-traditional bat tattoo would be a very good idea. Such tattoo designs feature extraordinary artistic tattoo styles and the technique used in it, adds an extra oomph to it. Since the origin, bats have been considered as a source of power and respect and regard the concept of reincarnation and rebirth on the planet.
Neo-Traditional Lion Tattoo
Are you on the lookout for some stunning tattoo designs? Then a neo-traditional lion tattoo can be the ideal one for you. A lion tattoo gives away a lot of scopes to add an element of modernization in the development of true art. Such a tattoo represents strength, fierceness, and loyalty and thus creates a great impression on the onlookers. The dark shadowing sketch and bright colors along with extensive detailing result in the ideal lion tattoo.
Neo-Traditional Owl Tattoo
Amongst all the birds, the owls are considered to be one of the most beautiful as powerful creatures as well. Such a creature is often associated with wisdom and strength and is often regarded as a sign of miracle and mystery. Both men and women can get it done and the best part is the scope of experimentation and art that it provides.
Neo-Traditional Flower Tattoo
Flowers can hardly ever go out of fashion, especially when it is about the neo traditional tattoo designs. If you are someone who tends to love colors and has an interest in diverse art forms, then such a tattoo would definitely cater to your interests. It can be done on a forearm, or the muscles, or even at the shoulder back. It would look the best, and absolutely gorgeous if someone gets it done, spreading on the whole chest.
Neo-Traditional Bird Tattoo
Bird tattoos are the most beautiful style that one can pick and would be the perfect one for someone who loves nature and admires its gifts. Such tattoo styles usually feature a range of color-play and include a broader color palette than the usual. The birds, especially the tropical ones, are generally used as a great object of art in such tattoos.
Neo-Traditional Cat Tattoo
Previously assumed as a charm of luck and spirituality, the neo-traditional cat tattoos are the most commonly used tattoo objects nowadays. They can be depicted as cute and fierce as well, depending upon the style you want. The best part about a cat tattoo is its flexibility and that you can get it done in a small as well as in a broader area of your body.
Neo-Traditional Bear Tattoo
The depiction of the wild animals as the objects of tattoo has been considered as one of the most common features to date. Thus, bear tattoos date to be as old as the concept of neo-traditional tattoos on Earth. The ferocious hairy face of the bear creates a striking form of art and looks absolutely amazing on an arm.
Neo-Traditional Phoenix Tattoo
For those who love to flaunt a bit of art, or have great knowledge about history, the neo-traditional Phoenix tattoo would definitely go with their personality. Specially made in bright reds and bolder blacks, such a tattoo adds an extra oomph to your personality and marks the significance of the truth of survival. The particular work of art can be always amplified with a lot of creativity.
Neo-Traditional Octopus Tattoo
Regarded as the most mysterious and noble creature in the sea, the octopus has always been considered an enchanting piece of art. Besides their cultural significance, they are treated as a magical object of art as it gives ample scopes to experiment with colors and styles. It looks absolutely stunning on a shoulder, or at the back, or just on the arm.
Neo-Traditional Panther Tattoo
Just like bears and lions, the panthers are also one of the most commonly preferred tattoo art because of the ferociousness they display, and the striking usage of colors it allows. Also, it lets the artists carry on a lot of experimentation and can also be turned into a bright and colorful beast. Often, other natural objects such as leaves and flowers are also associated with the particular art form.
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Amidst the time when certain vintage trends are getting a reboot, the comeback of the traditional tattoos as neo-traditional, have raised to great popularity recently. Unlike other tattoo designs, the neo traditional tattoo designs embrace a variety of color palettes and multi-dimensional designs, which are traced with a modern flare element in them.
Filled with dramatic colors and innovative aesthetics marking their origin since the time of the art movements, these neo-traditional tattoos are enough to lure your senses and make you look absolutely sensational. The usage of the ink and the black carbons amplifies the art designs and can make you recall the scenes of Victorian Velvets and October’s Fall, especially the addition of laces, pearls, and decorative details. The above tattoo designs suggested by us derive their origin from the dynamic boundaries and thus have a modern appeal to them.
