Cross Tattoos

The cross has been used as a symbol in ancient Greek and Egyptian cultures, as well as by the Aztecs, whose culture of human sacrifice was actually quite shocking. Even the Norse God Thor's hammer is thought to be represented by the Tau cross. And, even the Hebrew letter Tau (or Tav) is said to be a form of the cross. The writings of ninteenth century occultist Aleister Crowley teach that the cross and the Tau are at once symbols of power and the human phallus. Cross symbolism can be found in numerous civilizations, and cultures across a great many centuries.

Armband Cross Tattoo

Tattoo of crosses

Tattoo of crosses

Tattoo of crosses

Tattoo of crosses

Gothic Tattoos

Gothic tattoos represent some of the most interesting and beautiful forms of tattoo art today. Gothic lifestyle is so individually unique that there are no set standards for designs. Some of the more popular designs include Gothic cross tattoos, pentagram Gothic tattoos, and the ankh gothic tattoo. Gothic tattoos also have quite different styles with old English lettering and complex designs.

Most people that are unhappy with their tattoo got it under pressure on the spur of the moment. It's a good idea to shop around and talk to several Tattoo artists. It's also a very good idea to ask other peopple about their tattoos and where they got them done, what their experience was like, and if they were happy with the person that did it.

By looking at an artists portfolio you can get an idea of the experience they have and if they have worked with complex gothic Tattoos. Look closely at the tattoo pictures for quality clean lines with bright colors that blend smoothly, and clear images. Most artists love to show off their work and it's a great way to meet the person who will be giving you that perfect tattoo.

If a tattoo artist has a bad attitude when you first meet them think how that attitude might be when you're halfway through. Good tattoo artists charge between $70 and $125 an hour. Good tattoos are not cheap, and the cheap ones look cheap.

Take lots of time to pick the perfect artist and tattoo for you. After all, you'll be wearing it for the rest of your life. It's probably not a good idea to let your friend pick a design for you. Never get tattooed if you're under the influence of drugs and alcohol and NEVER let a friend tattoo you.

Don't plan on getting your gothic tattoo the day before you want to show it off. After getting your tattoo it will take about a month to heal. During the first week you'll feel sore, have swelling, irritation and redness. You'll need to keep it clean by washing it several times a day with mild soap and pat dry with clean paper towel. You may want to apply some antibacterial after it's dry. The next 3-4 weeks your tattoo will tend to dry out as the healing process continues. It's also a good idea to keep your tattoo moist to prevent excess scabbing, infection or scarring. Avoid lotions that contain fragrances, artificial color, and other ingredients that may irritate your tattoo. The sun can also reek havoc on your tattoo, try to avoid sun on your new tattoo until fully healed.

Gothic tattoos

Gothic tattoos

Gothic tattoos

Gothic tattoos

Henna Tattoo Photo Album! new flash album

Here we are at the end of Henna Season in Jacksonville, Florida.
What this means is that I will not be available at BLU salon every Saturday.

If you would like to host a henna party, bridal shower, or belly dance event and need a henna artist, please feel most welcome to give me a call at (904) 993-7466,

Please enjoy a tour of some of the last tattoos of this seaon on line at SPIRIT VISION HENNA. Thanks to everyone at BLU for making me feel so welcome!

Dragon And Cross Tattoo

Dragon and cross tattoo

A tattoo design with weird combination of dragon and cross. People in Asia do not know much about Bible and Jesus. They just think cross is kind of cool to put in tattoo.

Hot Tattoo Designs For Women

Tattoo Designs For Women

Tattoo designs for women are become hotter and hotter all the time. Tattoo as body art has been enjoyed by practically every civilization and culture in history down through the years. All these people had one thing in common; they appreciated the artwork of beautiful tattooing.

Tattoo Designs For Women

Tattoo Designs For Women

Tattoo Designs For Women

Tattoo Designs For Women

Tattoo Designs For Women

Floral Tattoos For Women

The choices are endless when you combine your flower design with a fairy, a butterfly or a heart for a tattoo that is totally you. No matter if you picture a large tropical flower design on your lower back or a small oriental wildflower tattoo on your ankle you can be sure that your personal tattoo gallery will be unique.

Floral tattoos

Floral tattoos

Floral tattoos

Floral tattoos

Floral tattoos

Floral tattoos

Henna Photos from BLU Salon

I have just found a wonderful new photo album creator!! It's the banana album generator.

SO.. please click the Title "Henna Photos from BLU Salon" to get to see nice large photos of September henna tattoo from BLU salon in Five Points. As we are moving toward cooler weather here.. please call first to be sure that you can get your henna tattoo on a Saturday. Peace!!

Ann George

Military Tattoos

The military tattoo has a long history within the various branches of military service in the United States. Soldiers view the tattoo as a sign of commitment to their fellows and as an identifying mark. Divisions and brigades take pride in their own symbols. Every soldiers look forward to the day when they can wear that symbol and hold their head high.

The longest and richest military tattoo tradition should be in the United States Navy. The anchor symbol has become one of the most easily recognizable military tattoos in the world. In the early 1900's, the sailors introduced the practice of tattooing to the other military branches. As the sailors traveled to somewhere else and saw that the art of military tattooing was alive and well, they began to create tattoos that represented their group. They would return from voyages that had literally taken them around the world.

The United States Army also follows the practices of the Navy. Variation of American Flag is currently used as a symbol for tattooing. The flag can be integrated into an eagle's wing or into the shape of a heart, the red, white and blue. All plays a prominent role. The POW-MIA theme is another one commonly found in a military tattoo, particularly in the Army. These tattoos pay homage to the prisoners of war who are missing in action.

The United States Marine Corps also has its own versions of the military tattoo after noticing the Army and Navy. Although it is not as wildly popular as that in the Navy and Army, the Marines still have a long history of tattooing within certain regiments and brigades. Bulldog symbol is one of the most popular Marine Corps tattoos. Marines are typically the first strike in a United States Military campaign. They pride themselves on toughness, tenacity, and stubbornness. That’s why no one disagree that the bulldog is a perfect symbol for what they represent.

For those who serve in the Air Force, sport tattoos with wings incorporated in them is another military tattoo. The history of Air Force military tattoos is still being written. As the practice of military tattooing becomes more and more popular, it is growing within the ranks. Pilots may include details of a certain fighter.

Actually, all branches of military service people see such tattoos are much more than just ink and pictures. A military tattoo is a constant reminder of the hardships and struggles that were endured as a team, and of those who may have been left behind. Even once they have left the military, they will also get a new tattoo in order to remember a fallen comrade or other momentous event.

Henna - a pregnant belly tattoo - tribal sun style

Here's a photo I meant to post awhile ago.
I am so fortunate to have so many henna clients who choose wonderful designs that sometimes it is hard to know what to publish.

Here is a tribal sun for C ... and of course, her new baby. I mix a special henna paste for pregnant women.
It is basically the same as all others, but I double check the essential oils I have to be certain that none of them are contra indicated for pregnant women.

A few I avoid are cajeput and clove. I have seen many sites that suggestion that clove oil not be added to henna paste, but in my 5 years of experience.. a drop or two has not yet caused any problems.

Dolphin Tattoos

Dolphins are a very popular tattoo design. Dolphins made as dolphin tribal tattoos or dolphin Celtic tattoos are also very popular.

Dolphin tattoos can be tattooed as armbands / arm bands, lowerback / lower back pieces, on ankles, shoulders, the upperback area, chest. . . just about anywhere as body art.

People now commonly search online using the internet for dolphin tattoo flash (tattoo art / tattoo pictures) and this is a great source to find dolphin tattoos. First instinct is to find free dolphin tattoo designs, but the quality of these designs is generally pretty poor (you get what you pay for, of course).

Dolphins are a very popular tattoo design. Dolphins made as dolphin tribal tattoos or dolphin Celtic tattoos are also very popular.

Dolphin tattoos can be tattooed as armbands / arm bands, lowerback / lower back pieces, on ankles, shoulders, the upperback area, chest. . . just about anywhere as body art.

People now commonly search online using the internet for dolphin tattoo flash (tattoo art / tattoo pictures) and this is a great source to find dolphin tattoos. First instinct is to find free dolphin tattoo designs, but the quality of these designs is generally pretty poor (you get what you pay for, of course).

Tattoo Artists who create our tattoo flash get paid a royalty, so your purchase goes to support the flash artists to create more top quality tattoo artwork!

Dolphin tattoos

Dolphin tattoos

Dolphin tattoos

Maori Tattoo Designs

Maori tattooing would usually start at adolescence, and was used to celebrate important events throughout life. The first tattoo marks the transition from childhood to adulthood and was done during a series of rites and rituals. Tattoo art was an important part of the Maori culture – in fact, people without tattoos were considered to be without status or worth.

Needless to say, tattooing by making incisions with a chisel was a painful process, but traditional Maori tattoos were meant to be more than decorative – they were a show of strength, courage and status. Both men and women were tattooed, though women substantially less (maybe because there was less of a need for them to show courage) and on other places (usually the lips and chin).

The process of Maori tattooing was a ritual, with music, chant and fasting – in fact, fasting was more or less a necessity, because the face would swell up from the wounds caused by the tattooing process!

The tattoo specialists in the Maori culture were usually men, although there are some women who also were tohunga ta moko (moko specialists).

Maori tattoos

Maori tattoos

Maori tattoos

How to Make A Tattoo

The technique with which the pigments are brought underneath the skin has not undergone any significant change during the course of history. There are, however, depending on the state of development and degree of inventiveness, great variations in the quality. And then there are the craft aspects: the application of the correct amount of pigment; correct penetration, not too deep, without leaving scars, damaging muscles, rupturing arteries or chipping the bones. Even primitive cultures whose practices involve the piercing of the cheeks - a technique used sometimes with Maori facial tattooing - have developed astonishing tattooing techniques.

tattoo designs

Tattoos Techniques
In the case of other techniques, the skin is divided up into areas by a series of preliminary cuts. These areas are then filled with figures such as lizards or simple forms such as diamonds, circles and stars. Another, less precise technique involves the drawing of lines and curves with a sharp stone. This technique, which permits complex tattoos with long rows of dots, spirals or other forms, was used by the peoples of Europe in ancient times and is still employed today by the North American Indians. The technique does not, however, employ black or shaded areas of a larger size. It is, of course, a very good technique the tattooing of writing, with which we are familiar all over Indochina. There people use the so-called chisel with one hand and hammers on its handle in quick succession with a type of mallet held in the other hand. The points are thereby driven through the skin, which is drawn tight by assistants.

Another sophisticated manual technique is the Japanese method. In the case of the so-called bokashi technique, twenty-seven needles are capable of creating the most beautiful shades of grey in the world, going from black to 9 colorless in one smooth transition. Since the invention of the electric tattooing machine, however, the Japanese manual technique is now used only by experienced prison tattoo artists.

tattoo designs

tattoo designs

tattoo designs

tattoo designs

Henna Kits - Artists KIt for $14.95

I have just finished a fresh batch of spicy fragrant henna tea.. and now have about 15 henna kits Ready To Sell!
These kits include 35 grams of 2006 Jamila henna.. you know.. the incredibly finely sifted powder, essential oils (two premeasured vials), instructions.. but most interestingly, the henna tea blend I have been using for the past 5 years.

I use the tea when I am doing Bridal Tattoo in particular. It seems that all the different ingredients help the stain. I am sure that there are excellent recipes that don't require the tea. In fact, I often make henna paste without it.

However, if I know that I am going to be doing a large tattoo, or one that is really important.. I use the tea when mixing the paste along with the essential oils & lemon juice.

So.. I thought I should let you know the tea is fresh & the kits are ready to sell. I offer free shipping within the Continental US, so there are no surprises on the price. It's $14.95 by First Class Mail. Click the title for more info.
Wishing you joy, Ann George

Henna tattoo for summer - bold henna tattoos

Here is a photo of a bold leg tattoo I did just this past Saturday at BLU salon. My client knew just what she wanted, she chose a bold floral design for the leg from my photo portfolio.

Of course, no two designs should ever be the same, and it is important to fit the style & the pattern of a piece to the client. I think this pattern, which wraps around to the front of the leg, works well.

For those of you who are new to henna tattoo, this is NOT a photo of black henna. This is a photo taken with the henna paste still on the skin. The paste, which goes on a dark green color, dries to black.

When the paste is taken off the skin, the traditional dark red, red brown, red orange stain remains.
Have an artist on your shopping list? Visit my henna site to get a quick & easy henna kit. A great gift.

Sexy Girl Tattoos

While most tattoos are still applied to men, girls and women are also getting into the act. The popularity of tattoos among girls and ladies has increased and so has their acceptance. This is due largely to an increase in celebrities happily sporting them.

Girl Tattoos

Tattoos for girls are typically more feminine in nature. They are generally smaller and more delicate with thinner lines and are usually isolated to one or two parts of the body. Almost like accessories or accent pieces. Where men like to have their tattoos on the upper arm, or chest, or shoulder, most girls are aware that what they’re doing has to work with the somewhat more revealing fashions. Thus, a girl needs to think about whether or not a tattoo will look good with a bikini, or a prom dress, or an evening gown. Likewise, girls tend to be a bit more careful about making sure that a tattoo is concealable with professional or casual attire.

So, when looking for a cute girl tattoo, the first thing to think of is “where to put it” – on the back, between the shoulder blades is a common place, as is a circle around the upper arm, or a circle around a wrist or ankle. Another popular place is at the small of the back, right over the crease of the buttocks, because it can be hidden with a modest swim suit – or shown off with a low cut one.

The positioning of girl tattoos can also give away their characteristics. For instance, a girl who is a romantic at heart will often chose the shoulder for her tattoo, especially if she isn’t ashamed to own up to being a romantic and a bit of a day dreamer.

Girl Tattoos

Girl Tattoos

Girl Tattoos

Girl Tattoos

Girl Tattoos

Girl Tattoos

Girl Tattoos

Girl Tattoos

Henna tattoo artist at work.

I almost forgot to post a picture from the Grey Goose Gala - a film festival in Jacksonville, Florida.

I really appreciate the opportunity to celebrate film.. and cultural diversity!

Here is a photo of henna in process at a very upscale evening event where I had a great time.
The event co-ordinators who hired Spirit Vision Henna Tattoo were pleased that so many people enjoyed a Mendhi moment.

Notice those extra goose neck lamps?

We were outside on a lovely Spring evening.. and they came in very handy.

Christina Aguilera Tattoos

Christina Aguilera Tattoo

Christina Aguilera Tattoo

Christina Aguilera Tattoo

Christina Aguilera Tattoo

Christina Aguilera Tattoo