Old school tattoo

The popularity of tattoo art is growing rapidly – more and more people of different ages apply tattoos on the body, putting their own meaning into them. Today, a body drawing can become both a talisman and a memory for the owner, and a stylish decoration. In addition to the image itself, the style in which the tattoo is made plays a huge role. One of the most popular and well-known styles is the traditional Old School. The old school is still very popular and offers many interesting, original tattoo options in this technique.

The history of its origin.

This style appeared quite a long time ago – at the end of the ArrayArrayth century. The first carriers were navigators from Europe and America, who during their travels saw amazing drawings on the bodies of the aborigines of the Hawaiian and Tahitian tribes. Having adopted this tradition for themselves, the sailors also began to decorate their bodies with drawings. Most often they were kind of amulets, ribbons with inscriptions, images of wives, mothers or beloved girls, memorable dates and names, hearts, mermaids, ships, cannons, skulls, flowers, angels, women, anchors and many other pictures that had a special meaning for each sailor. Over time, tattoos in this technique have become increasingly popular. Later, the very first tattoo parlor appeared in Honolulu's Chinatown, where you could get a tattoo in the Old School style. The owner of the salon and the master was a former American sailor-Norman Keith Collins, or as he was also called Sailor Jerry. During his travels, he gained new knowledge and boundless love for this art form. At that time, mostly soldiers and sailors came to him. Nowadays, it is the Sailor Jerry who is considered the founder of the Old School style.

Distinctive features of the style.

Tattoos in this technique have their own specific features that make it easy to recognize and distinguish them from any others. The main features of the Old School style are:

rich, bright colors – most often blue, red, green, yellow, orange; thick and clear dark contours, mostly black; simple, ordinary forms that are not distinguished by correctness and realism;
• not intricate, as simple as possible plots;
marine motifs of the drawing, which remind of the origins of the style.

The technique of performing Old School-tattoo.

Of course, over time, the technique of tattooing in this style has become more qualitative and has moved to a new level. However, as in the old days, the master first applies the outline of the drawing, and only then begins to fill it with paints. The color of the drawing must not be transparent and as dense as possible. Shadows are acceptable, but the color transitions are quite sharp. Such pictures are noticeable from afar and attract attention, because they turn out to be very juicy and colorful, saturated. A bold, black outline adds an organic contrast that looks perfect with such images. Tattoos in the Old School style are durable – they do not fade over time, do not lose their color, clarity and do not blur. But only if the tattoo is made with high-quality materials and a qualified specialist. Tattoos in this technique require special skill, they are not as easy to perform as it may seem at first glance.

Where is the best place to apply an Old School tattoo?

Nowadays, this type of body drawings can be applied anywhere – this is a personal choice of each person and there is no special strictness here. However, the most successful places for a tattoo in the Old School style are the arms, legs, chest, shoulders, neck, ribs and stomach, that is, all prominent places. In addition, the "sleeve" in the Old School style is particularly popular. A variety of color drawings in this technique throughout the hand is very unusual and bright, such a "sleeve" looks stylish, original and will definitely not remain unnoticed. If we turn to the sources, then earlier soldiers and sailors applied such tattoos mainly on the arms, chest and stomach. Although even then there were those who decorated almost the entire body with them.

Popular Old School images and their meaning.

Drawings, invented once by sailors, as well as sketches of the first tattoo artists have remained relevant and popular to this day. Modern connoisseurs of the old-school style still use popular pictures, such as:

• heart rose is a popular symbol of love, strong feelings, passion, and romance;
• swallow, a symbol of a safe return home, fortune, and safety;
• anchor – strength, stability, confidence, a symbol of hope;
• compass – symbol of the right path, which no one and nothing can knock;
• skull, knives, swords mean that you need to appreciate life here and now, as death can come suddenly;
• dice – luck, luck, luck;
• mermaid – symbol of femininity and beauty;
• cross the main amulet that symbolizes the protection of the higher powers;
• girl style Pin – up sexuality, femininity, rebellion;
• dove symbolizes loyalty, kindness, rest;
• star – symbol of the path of light.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that the Old School style is an ageless classic in the art of tattooing, which remains relevant at any time. Despite the large selection of other modern styles, the old school remains a popular and popular technique that distinguishes the owner of such a tattoo from the crowd.