Spider Tattoo Pictures: Top Design Ideas For Girls And Guys

Some of the more interesting spider tattoos are designed to pop off the skin. They have great depth and appear to be real spiders sitting on top of the skin, rather than ink dug into the skin cells. These spiders range from small bodies with long skinny legs to tarantula images with thick hair, legs and wide bodies. They can be presented in solid black ink, sketched on like stick figures, or decked out with bold coloring.

Beyond realistic images, spider tattoos also include those fashioned after the famous comic book character turned television superhero, Spider-Man. These tattoos often work with the image of spider webs and the black spider symbol associated with the Spider-Man character.

An example of this is the Spider-Man tattoo etched across the chest of basketball player Darren Moore. He is such a huge fan of the Spider-Man comic books and movie series that he covered his chest in an elaborate spider web with a large black spider image presented right in the center. The image doesn't necessarily tie itself directly to Spider-Man, but Moore confirmed that was the inspiration through several interviews.

Spider tattoos are also commonly associated with Halloween. Many designs include spider webs, fangs, venom and other details that bring the spook factor that is common with Halloween lovers. They aren't always intended to reference the holiday, but that is usually the vibe that they give off to others.

Much like snakes, tattoos featuring spiders are also very versatile. You may see one small spider etched on the side of the wrist or an over-sized spider resting between the shoulder blades. They can be subtle in black or designed to stand out with bold colors or intricate designs.

Some are made to look so realistic and three-dimensional they can actually scare others upon first glance. Others are generic images that lie flat on the skin and don't have any realistic qualities at all. With so many variations to choose from, there is definitely a style for everyone.

Picture of creepy large black window artwork on top of the right foot, stretching around to the ankle.
Photo of a lightly colored design featuring a somewhat cartoon-like creature. Located on the upper arm area.
Picture of shocking spider tattoo design on the inside of the hand. Featuring a large web with a pair of creepy crawlies. One on the pair and another on the fingers.
Picture of another brightly colored masterpiece. A hybrid design that combines a large heart as the body of the insect.
This is a snapshot of the before-mentioned basketball player, Darren Moore, showcasing his elaborate spider chest artwork.

Snake Tattoo Pictures: Best Artwork Concepts And Ideas

The long, slithering nature of the snake makes it the perfect animal for tattoo artistry. Snake tattoos are extremely versatile and are often worked into more complex images. For instance, one popular tattoo idea is the image of a long sword with a snake wrapped around the shaft and down over the blade. Snakes are typically used for their ability to be wrapped and crossed throughout an image to add depth and detail.

Many snake designs in the tattoo world are black and grey images without a lot of detail. They are used to create substance or as a secondary element in a larger and more complex tattoo. Yet, that is not the rule. Some artists do create very detailed snake tattoos with a lot of color, intricate scales, and interesting plays on the eyes and forked tongue commonly associated with snakes.

A snake tattoo can wrap around the bicep or calf or even form a border or centerpiece for a larger tattoo. It can be colorful or all in black and grey. It can reflect the fantasy world or take on a more realistic appearance. This is definitely one of the most versatile of all tattoo genres.

Snake Tattoo Pictures:
There are thousands of snake tattoos presented around the world and new ones are created every single day. The variety of concepts is virtually limitless.

Snakes are often depicted as a part of other tattoo genres. For instance they appear in many fantasy tattoo images and are very common with pirate tattoos. They are often presented with swords and are frequently associated with the world of martial arts.

Then there are snake tattoos that play on the concept of poisonous venom. These tattoos will portray snakes standing tall with prominent fangs and a spray of venom coming from around the mouth. These are among the more realistic looking snake designs since they don't play on mythological or fantasy worlds like many other snake tattoos.

Picture of tremendous cobra artwork located on the left hip and lower back area of a girl.
Picture of snake tattoo featuring excellent color and detailing, projecting a three dimensional appearance.

Closeup photo of partially coiled cobra with long slithering tongue.

Picture of a masterful chest design including: two snakes which are interwoven with a red center-piece skull with three eyes, a perched bird, and a pair of roses.

Pirate Tattoo Pictures: Design Ideas For Men And Women

Pirate tattoos are often closely related to nautical tattoos, since they all deal with images brought into the world from sailors and others who spend their life out at sea. Many think of pirates in a historical sense, but they are just as real today as they ever were in history. As long as valuable goods are transported through the water by ship, there will been pirates patrolling the seas in an effort to board ships and steal valuable possessions.

Just like nautical stars, those wearing pirate tattoos are not necessarily those with direct connections to ships and the sea. They are often people who identify heavily with images of the sea or that type of life. Some are drawn to ideals of the pirate, such as the stereotypical patched eye or hooked hand.

Anything portrayed with a patched eye or surrounded by skeletons is often thought of as a pirate tattoo. Many of the tattoos created today do not feature realistic looking pirates. They may feature pin-up style girls in skimpy dresses with a patched eye and wild hair or they may feature skeleton heads with the big black hat and eye patch. Elements of the tattoo reflect the pirate image, though an actual pirate is not portrayed directly.

Pirate Tattoo Pictures:

Pirate tattoos also prominently feature ships and rolling water waves. Treasure chests and gold coins are popular with some artists as well. Most tattoos have a dark nature or vibe, but it is also common to find these tattoos adorned with red roses for women. The designs vary depending on the vision of the artist or the intended meaning of the person wearing the tattoo.

Many people who go in for pirate tattoos are just drawn to the image and stereotypes surrounding the pirate life. Most are not thinking of it in terms of real pirates that still hunt the seas for ships carrying valuable goods.

Retro style artwork featuring pin-up girl in lingerie, heels and a hat while brandishing a sword.
Picture of excellent design portraying a large ship at see with skull sails, and a large eerie skull looking down from the clouds.
Picture of sensationally colorful depiction of a pirate setting, including skeleton on a sandy beach with treasure chest, plus a large ship at sea with a skull and crossbones in the sky.
Skeleton wearing bandanna while manning the ship with a "Do or Die" slogan underneath.
Picture of cute colorful cartoon like pirate girl with gun, sword and traditional hat. Topped off with a ghostly background effect.

Nautical Tattoo Pictures: Popular Style Tips And Ideas

The most popular image used for nautical tattoos is the nautical star. This is a star with five points that features very distinct shading. The star is often represented in black and white ink, though some will give it a personal touch by using a color in place of the usual black shading inside the star. It is the unique shading and play with color that gives the nautical star tattoo its recognizable appeal.

The nautical star is traditionally a sign of membership with the U.S. Marine Corp or Navy. Yet, most people who get nautical star tattoos are not affiliated with the military at all. They may be people who make a living at sea or who have ties with others who spend a lot of time out at sea. Or, they can just be people who are instinctively drawn to the appearance of the star.

Other images commonly used for nautical tattoos include anchors, pirates, ships and character images of sailors. Most of these images are brought to life with a creative edge, rather than being portrayed in a realistic manner. For instance, there are sailor pin-up girls and anchors featuring bright red hearts where the hook would traditionally be pictured.

Nautical Tattoo Pictures:

Nautical tattoos are often presented in color, though some sentimental images can take on a more realistic appearance with only black ink. It is also popular for these tattoos to be mostly in black with one bright splash of color to draw attention to a particular feature of the tattoo.

Skeletons are not always associated with nautical themes, but they can be turned into nautical tattoos when presented with nautical details. For instance, one popular tattoo features a pirate-like skeleton head with a black patch over one eye and a larger black sailor hat.

While nautical tattoos reflect life on the sea, they aren't limited to those with a strong connection to the water. They are just as likely to be used for appearances sake.
Picture of fabulously designed back piece tattoo consisting of a large anchor with pink bow and red heart. The anchor acts as a picture frame to the ship.
Excellent colored displayed in this closeup picture of a sailor skull with stars and a colorful anchor with a spiderweb background.
Picture of black star splashing into water. Located on the left side of torso.
Betty Boop-esque pin-up girl wearing sailor uniform while sitting barefoot on an anchor, with a tattoo of her own.

Mermaid Tattoo Pictures: Men And Women Ideas

Mermaid tattoos are typically pictured with multiple bright colors. From the long flowing hair to the beautiful scaled tail, there are many opportunities to brighten up the tattoo and add to the natural feminine appeal of the mermaid creature. Half woman and half fish, this imaginative fantasy figure has relevance for both women and men today. Not to mention sailors.

It is amazing how different mermaid tattoos can look, depending on who is wearing them. Most men are drawn to mermaids with a very sexual nature while women typically see them as signs of true beauty. These tattoo designs on a man will often feature bare breasts, seductive facial expressions, and long flowing hair with curls and waves. Mermaid tattoos designed for men are often in pin-up style with the mermaids depicting characters or cartoons rather than real women.

Tattoos on a woman will usually cover the breasts with the hair or with a bikini style top. The hair is still wild and passionate, but the facial features are often softer so the tattoo takes on the flavor of beauty and passion rather than a portrayal of lust. Women are also more likely to surround their mermaid tattoos with flowers, hearts and other images that work to beautify the image even more.

Of course, these are just general terms and are not necessarily followed by all men and women. For instance, British television star Fearne Cotton has a pin-up style mermaid tattoo on her back.

Mermaid Tattoo Pictures:

Sailors and fisherman who spend a lot of time on the water will naturally feel drawn to mermaid tattoos as well. There have been some historical accounts of sailors insisting they saw real mermaids, though it is believed that the creatures seen were delusions resulting from long periods of time away from women and the lack of sleep they endured.

There is just something enticing about mermaids for all people. Most of the mermaid tattoos created today are brightly colored and feature some element of water. The blend of the ocean reference and the seductive allure of femininity truly comes together in this one figure.

Picture of cute and colorful artwork with magic clam and sea life, located on the arm.

Photo of evil looking mermaid laying on stomach with flower in her hair. Design located on the lower back with black ink.
Picture of tremendously unique and stunning body art of two intertwined figures surrounded by both living and skeleton fish in a soft water current effect.
Image of classic portrayal. Stranded on small sandy island with palm tree. Long flowing blonde hair.
Cleaver design with girl in foreground bearing her back, and fisherman casting a line in the background.

Fantasy Tattoo Pictures: Popular Design Style Ideas

Fantasy worlds are big business today. There are elaborate video and computer games created around fantasy worlds and some of the most popular movies now involve complex worlds created out of pure imagination. It only seems natural that fantasy tattoos would be massively popular as well.

The only limit on this type of tattoo is the creative mind of the artist. Some fantasy tattoos are created with images representative of the environments found in video games or movies, but many others are created purely from the imagination of the individual artist. Many of the designs found in these tattoos hold sentimental meaning for the recipient of the artwork.

Fantasy tattoos can be purely custom drawn by tattoo artists and offered to clients, but they are often brought in with the client and handed over to the tattoo artist. Some may be the unique creations of the client while others are taken from various sources.

Fantasy Tattoo Pictures:

One thing that many fantasy tattoos have in common is the representation of mythical or fantastical creatures. Some of the most popular fantasy designs include: beautiful unicorns, powerful dragons, and cute whimsical fairies. Plus men and women that are half animal and half human are pretty common as well.

Powerful women with special powers and futuristic clothing are also very common in the world of fantasy. The human depicted in many fantasy tattoos look much like the avatars being created through online role playing games. In many cases these fantasy humans are representations of the person wearing the tattoo. They create a different version of themselves which reflects the person they believe they really are inside.

Fantasy tattoos are exciting to look at because they are all so different. If you took twenty different images that fall into the fantasy category, you would get twenty very different worlds with few to no similarities between them. That is what makes fantasy so popular around the world today. Creativity is allowed to run free and wild imaginations are encouraged.

Picture of lady riding white unicorn with beautiful backdrop of lightning and clouds.

Picture of youthful butterfly girl dancing alongside a large flower centerpiece with falling peddles.
Photo of gothic looking artwork of winged woman with long curled black tail, located on lower back.
Picture of enchanting red fairy posing in matching red dress with long flowing medusa-like hair.

Dragon Tattoo Photos

Dragons have been presented differently in literature and can also be represented in different ways in artistic tattoos. What all dragons have in common is the body of a large reptile with scales and fire shooting from the mouth. This is the basic representation of the dragon, though dragon tattoos and references of dragons in literature will report different physical features and mannerisms building off of this basic representation.

Dragons have never been proven to actually exist in real life, though many believe their representation was formed from early day sightings of dinosaurs. Since dinosaurs have been extinct for many centuries, this dates the idea of dragons far into the past. This could explain why some dragons are featured with wings, since some dinosaur species were believed to have wings.

Today, dragons are often thought of as fantastical creatures with a variety of special powers. Some are portrayed as good and loving, such as the "Dragon Tales" cartoon many children love today. Others are portrayed as vengeful and angry with fire spitting from their mouths and large claws ready to draw blood.

Dragon Tattoo Pictures:
No two dragon tattoos are ever the same. This creature is designed differently depending on the vision of the artist or the message desired by the client. You will find sinister, evil looking dragons in black and white as well as bright, colorful dragons that almost seem to be smiling back at the world.

Oftentimes, dragon tattoos stand alone with no other images or decorative features around them. It is the figure of the dragon that is on display. At other times the dragon will be surrounded with the glow of fire or a halo of faded black. The happier portrayals of dragons may be accompanied by flowers, which give the dragon a more feminine touch.

Millions of people around the world have dragon tattoos, but the most famous of all has to be the black dragon gracing the arm of hollywood actress Angelina Jolie.

Dragon tattoos are often large in size, which is why the back is an ideal and often the most popular location for this type of body art, as demonstrated in many of these pictures. Although, smaller designs on other areas of the body are not uncommon.

Bright and colorful Asian style dragon tattoo covering entire back of male subject. Featured are prominent claws, small lily flowers and a crystal ball.
Picture of young woman with a black and red piece of artwork inked on her right shoulder area, streaming around to the top of her back.
In this picture we see a marvelously designed masterpiece, once again located on the back. Purple, red and green are the main colors used here.