Exercise: A Tattoo

A Tattoo

21/07/2018

' A friend has asked you to design a tattoo for them based on the word mum. He would also like you to make it into a greetings card that he can send his mother for Mothers Day.

Research the history and conventions of tattoos and body art, as well as the modern ranges look at the designs from the past and other cultures. 

Decide on how complex your design will be and whether you will be using colour. 

Draw up your design on a large scale.

Write up your decision making in your Learning Log.'

History of Tattoo's

  It is arguably claimed that tattooing has existed since 12,000 years BC. The purpose of tattooing has varies from culture to culture and its place on the time line.

  Tattoos have always had an important role in ritual and tradition. In Borneo, women tattooed their symbols on their forearm indicating their particular skill. If a woman wore a symbol indicating she was a skilled weaver, her status as prime marriageable material was increased. Tattoos around the wrist and fingers were believed to ward away illness. Throughout history tattoos have signified membership in a clan or society. Even today groups like the Hells Angels tattoo their particular group symbol.

  In recorded history, the earliest tattoos can be found in Egypt during the time of the construction of the great pyramids. When the Egyptians expanded their empire, the art of tattooing spread as well. The civilisations of Crete, Greece, Persia, and Arabia picked up and expanded the art form. Around 2000 BC tattooing spread to China.

  The Greeks used tattooing for communication among spies. Markings identified the spies and showed their rank. Romans marked criminals and slaves. This practise is still carried on today. The Ainu people of western Asia used tattooing to show social status. Girls coming of age were marked to announce their place in society, as were the married women. The Ainu are noted for introducing tattoos to Japan where it developed into a religious and ceremonial rite. In Borneo, women were the tattooists. It was a cultural tradition. They produced designs indicating the owners station in life and the tribe he belonged to. Kayan women had delicate arm tattoos which looked like lacy gloves. Dayak warriors who had "taken a head" had tattoos on their hands. The tattoos garnered respect and assured the owners status for life. Polynesians developed tattoos to mark tribal communities, families, and rank. They brought their art to New Zealand and developed a facial style of tattooing called Moko which is still being used today. There is evidence that the Mayan, Incas, and Aztecs used tattooing in the rituals. Even the isolated tribes in Alaska practised tattooing, their style indicating it was learned from the Ainu.

  In the west, early Britons used tattoos in ceremonies. The Danes, Norse, and Saxons tattooed family crests (a tradition still practised today). In 787 AD, Pope Hadrian banned tattooing. It still thrived in Britain until the Norman Invasion of 1066. The Normans disdained tattooing. It disappeared from Western culture from the 12th to the 16th centuries.

22/07/2018

  I started with 3 moodboards, One is 80's styled tattoos, Modern Tattoo's and then Mum Tattoos:  

80's Tattoo's Moodboard

Modern Tattoo's Moodboard

Mother Tattoo's Moodboard

  Looking at these moodboards I decided that I wanted to do a modern tattoo style. I remembered the Mandala style that hit the UK by storm. 

Mandala Meaning

  Mandala is a Sanskrit word of 'Circle', and as a tattoo, is composed of shapes and symbols that radiate from the centre outwards in a circular pattern. Like a circle, mandala is meant to reflect balance, eternity and perfection. The distance from the centre of the circle to all points on it remains the same. The Mandala is a unique design that emulates this sense of harmony. 

  I feel that with what Mandala stands for its the perfect tattoo design for 'Mum'. 

  So, I printed of a few mandala pictures and did some sketches of what was already out there to get a feel for it:

Sketchbook 

Sketchbook

  After getting the feel for drawing Mandala designs, I went straight ahead and started designing this tattoo:

Tattoo Design Pencil

  After I was happy with my design in pencil, I then went straight ahead and drew it in pen:

Final Design in Pen 

  After drawing the design out in pen, I took the design into Photoshop and developed it in there:

Final Design in Photoshop

  I added the 'Mum' at the top of the design as its most fitting there, I chose CalliGravity Type. I feel this fits the design perfectly. 

  I then went onto design of the card and I kept it simple, just plain white background:

Photoshop Design Card 

Design on the Card 

  

  After seeing my design on the front of a card that I design I felt it needed more colour. Looking back at the modern moodboard I created I have seen that we use watercolours in our tattoo's now, so I took this inspiration and applied it to my design. Here are the results:

Photoshop Design Card 

Design on the Card 

  I feel that adding the colour to the Tattoo was the right decision and I am happy wit the end results, It also works well on a card design for Mother's Day.