Old school tattoo. Tattoo Old School

29.06.2020

Free carefree life, the spirit of adventure and treasure hunt, mermaids and robbers... Old school follows the old traditions, which still conquers - well, we submit to the old school and share our impressions with you.

Style history

Old school, literally "old school", originated at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. This is not only a tattoo style, it is a lifestyle - love for the old order of things, worship of "that" music, films, atmosphere. It would seem, what is the difference between old school and retro? The line is thin, but there is: if a retroman is a fan of mass culture, the "mainstream" of a certain time, then the fan " old school» Emphasis on personal experiences.

“Retro is common, but everyone has their own old school”

- the hero of the book "Oldschool"

This style expresses the history of a person, not an era or a country. Children of the seventies are nostalgic for the irrevocably gone USSR, children of the nineties are sad about Nokia 3310, Tamagotchi and VHS cassettes. Everyone has their own nostalgia and their own personal, real, old school.

Old school tattoo

The style went to the masses from sailors who went on long voyages and made tattoos-amulets and tattoos-reminders of those who remained on the shore. Old school is different from other marine tattoos (read about them in a separate article): the drawings are not very realistic, without volume and shadows, always with thick, black outlines and bright colors. As a plot in the 21st century, they often choose not ships and mermaids, but something personal, topical and not related to the sea.

Popular motifs in old school tattoos

Martin

Made for good luck. For sailors, it means a safe return home - swallows fly close to land and board ships to rest. True sign that there is not much left before the end of the journey.

A heart

A symbol of love, kindness and honor. Often stuffed with a ribbon on which the name of the mother, dear person, friend. Sometimes an old-school heart is made as a memory of a departed love.

Anchor

Old school classic. It is believed that with an anchor a person will not go astray and will remain himself in any situation. Often supplemented with inscriptions, mermaids, wind roses or lighthouses.

Flame

Passion, a symbol of transformation and rebirth, destruction, creation and purification. Fire means something in every culture, it inspires fear and respect and is one of the four elements of life along with Water, Wind, Earth.

Eagle

A popular patriotic symbol of the US Navy, it is often depicted with the American flag and personifies honor, courage, and strength.

Despite the fact that old school tattoos appeared almost 200 years ago, this genre is still popular today. The first old school tattoos adorned the bodies of sailors and most often they were bright images of skulls, anchors, hearts, mermaids or birds with a clear outline. The sailors were quite superstitious and believed that the body pattern protected them from the elements and falling overboard. And although old school tattoos have changed over time, they have their own distinct features that do not allow such a pattern to be confused with any other genre. We will introduce you to this style closer and show you beautiful tattoos in old school style for girls.

Features of a tattoo in the old school style

The name of the style old school is translated as “old school”. Old school tattoos are always bright and concise. When creating them, the master does not aim to achieve realism or detail in the drawing.

Tattoos in this genre have a number of features:

The plots of old school tattoos are often uncomplicated and very monotonous. Sketches most often have a marine theme, but girls usually stuff roses, ribbons with inscriptions, anchors, hearts, animals and birds.
Old school tatto is always very contrasting. A bold black outline of the drawing helps to achieve this.
Elements inside the contour are usually filled with bright colors. Basic old-school colors: red, blue, green, yellow. The pigment is clogged tightly.
Classic tattoos in this genre look flat, they have no shadows and volume. Modern masters are increasingly adding subtle details to their work, drawing shadows and using a wider color palette of paints to make the drawings more expressive and interesting.

If a tattoo in the old school style was performed by a professional using high-quality pigments, over time the drawing will not fade, will not float and turn into an unintelligible spot, but will remain clear and bright.

The origin of the old school

The founder of the style is considered the American Norman Collins. The great tattoo artist is better known as Sailor Jerry. Norman served in the Navy, and therefore the theme of marine tattoos was close to him. After the service, he opened his own tattoo studio in Honolulu, in the lobby of which Romeo, a pet monkey, met visitors. Collins was a big fan of Asian painting and created a completely new style in his salon, combining traditional tattooing and multi-color Asian techniques.

Sailor Jerry worked as a tattoo artist almost all his life and was among the first to get tattoos in disposable gloves. Norman shared his sketches with tattooing friends, of whom he had many. He sent them in letters to all corners of the world, which is why the old school tattoos of most masters are similar. Sailor Jerry called his competitors “bastard scratchers” and his business cards were decorated with the words “my work speaks for itself.”

Old school tattoos today are performed by many masters around the world. This technique is considered not very difficult, and the whole process of creating a tattoo does not take much time, which explains the popularity of the style.

Location of old school tattoos on the body

The place for applying an old school tattoo can be chosen arbitrarily, but usually it is open areas body: hands, neck, shoulders, legs. This technique is widely used in the creation of . Drawings made in this genre are saturated, and each element of the “sleeve” is well read thanks to a clear outline.

Themes and plots of old school tattoos

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the most popular tattoos in this style and their meaning:

Anchor. Such a tattoo was very symbolic for the sailors, it helped to achieve their goals, despite the oncoming winds and currents. The anchor is considered a symbol of security and balance.
Martin. This symbol brings good luck, it is especially popular with girls. with the image of a swallow are usually stuffed on the lower back and collarbone. For sailors, a swallow meant a safe return home, because when they saw a swallow, the sailor understood that there was land nearby.
Roses. Often on tattoos made in this style, there is a rose. In interpreting the meaning, the color of the flower itself is important: a yellow rose means joy, a red one means love, and a white one means respect.

Russian folk old school

Classic American old school tattoos depicting eagles, sailboats and flowers are undoubtedly popular with young people in our country. But lately there has been a trend of Russification of the old school tattoo. Increasingly, purely Russian motifs began to appear in the plots of the drawings, for example, for girls, these are images of nesting dolls and Khokhloma, and men's plots are samovars, portraits of heroes, the image of a hammer and sickle. Sometimes an ornament in the Slavic style is added to the traditional picture, and then the tattoo takes on a completely different meaning.

Tattoos in style Old school(Old School), which is translated from in English means "old school", appeared and gained popularity in the 19th century. According to legends, the first people who made tattoos in this style were sailors who went on a long voyage. They believed that these images would help them escape and survive if a storm overtook their ship. Tattoos of sailboats, anchors, ribbons, skulls and cannons, as well as images of mermaids, hearts or the names of loved ones left on the shore, were very popular. After all, despite their largely disordered life, they yearned for wives and children.

Features of tattoos in the style of Old School

Tattoos in this style are characterized by a bright saturation of the color palette and a thick, black outline. The images do not claim to be realistic and harmonious objects, and there are no three-dimensional images in this direction. The main theme is related to the sea: these are ships, seagulls, ribbons, dolphins, sharks, mermaids. Girls, hearts and roses are also often found in these images, and the names of loved ones or favorite quotes are used as an inscription.

Old School tattoos in the modern world

In our time, the meanings of Old School tattoos are not given as much importance as they used to be. In most cases, people make them as an adornment of their body and do not consider the hidden meaning of the image. Increasingly, these wearable designs are made in a rich palette of colors, while in past centuries black color prevailed in tattoos. Often they are chosen when they are trying to find a bright pattern that will remind you of the sea or interesting travels.

The most common old school tattoos and their meaning

Huge variety of tattoos this style can be divided into several groups:

marine symbols (sailboats, daggers, sharks and other attributes of marine life);
protective talismans (amulets) and symbols (religious themes and inscriptions);
memories of loved ones (mermaids, names).

One of the oldest tattoos is considered to be an anchor, which gives hope for salvation - it constantly keeps afloat. This image was clear to sailors, it is inextricably linked with the sea and reminded them of their work.

A swallow is considered a lucky symbol of good luck, this image was made after returning from a long voyage. The swallow represents a successful return to the native shore. The image of the heart communicates love and fidelity, often the drawing is done on the chest.

Sincere and selfless love is expressed by a rose, the tattoo of which is popular today among men and women. Moreover, if a red rose means love, then a rose without thorns communicates love at the very first sight. In the old days, the image of a white rose was evidence of virginity.

Location on the body

Applying an old school tattoo is performed by many specialists, the technique itself does not take too much time. Tattoos are usually applied to any open areas of the body: shoulders, arms, legs. Often tattoo sleeves are created, where, thanks to the clarity of the contour, every detail is perfectly visible. The so-called "sleeve tattoos" can also be applied to the legs, however, if earlier it was done mainly by men, today girls also decorate their bodies in this way.

Men's tattoos in the style of Old School

Men's tattoos in the old school style are similar to the drawings of sailors who conquered the vast expanses of the seas and oceans many years ago. To this day, they look great on the body of any man, reminding him of his strength and brutality. on the most aggressive male tattoos there is such a dangerous creature as a shark. Knife and dagger tattoos are also popular with men, as they are a symbol of courage and fearlessness, a willingness to take on a challenge and respond to it without delay.

Women's tattoos in the style of Old School

Girls prefer tattoos in the form of a rose, a swallow, a heart, or inscriptions with ribbons on the back, collarbone or neck. These tattoos express all the subtlety and sensitivity of a woman, and also serve as an adornment for her.

Women's tattoos usually have small size, and the image is made in a brighter color and symbolizes beauty and tenderness, but at the same time, their main style feature is preserved.

Old school tattoo photo

Tattoo appeared at the dawn of the formation of the very principle of tattooing. Its origins go back to the 18th-19th centuries, when sailors adopted the tattoo culture from the natives they met.

Gradually, the symbolism has undergone changes, acquired an original meaning. Modern old school is a destination for the strong-willed and adventurous seekers.

The list of characters includes more than 1500 images. The style is unique and 100% recognizable.

Tattoo old school characteristic features of the style

Old school has a unique style. On the one hand, the drawings seem lubok, simple and unsightly. On the other hand, applying an image and making it colorful is a whole art.

The applied drawings look a little playful and deliberately representative. In such an expression, the roots of the origins of style are visible.

To find out what old school is, just look at the photos with the sailors. The harsh conditions of many weekly crossings on the water and the test of the elements tempers the character.

Perception also undergoes transformation. Without humor and strong nerves, the sea can break a person. It is this theme that reflects the old school tattoo.

The characteristic features of the style are:

application principle;
subject of images;
style;
color selection;
unique font.

Being on the ship, the sailor did not have access to complex devices. That is why the drawings were stuffed with darning needles.

The paint was wound up to a depth of 3 mm almost to the surface layers of the muscles. Modern technology more forgiving. But the drawings are still full of artsy colors and marine themes.

The idea of the old school spread thanks to the fashion for vintage. Typical paints:

green
blue
the black
Red
Orange
yellow
blue.

Paints do not have shades or overflows. The lines are drawn with a thick black edging. Gradients and penumbras are performed by the absence of color or a transparent background.

Dagger and rose tattoo

Significance for men and women

Old school tattoos have one set of characters but different meaning for men and women.

Men's tattoos are addressed to inner strength, courage and the ability to resist fate. That is why among the sets of drawings there are many anchors, lighthouses, images of the coast, birds.

The meaning of male tattoos:

anchor - reliable, a symbol of St. Nicholas, the ability to withstand the blows of fate;
swallow - luck, knowledge of your path, strength not to stray from the right course;
hourglass - the power of time, "over the years I become more reliable";
lighthouse - the way home, the search for your own path, which will end in success;
ship - home, family;
mermaid or female forms - fortune, favorite of fate;
- "I'm not afraid of death", you are with death.

Women's tattoos are addressed to the personal qualities of the wearer. A stuffed rose means that the drawing means the power of attractiveness, fatal passion.

The old-school image of a rose was originally stuffed by "port wives". By the symbol on the shoulder or arm, the sailors could single out from the multitude of women the one that was ready to warm them with her love.

Gradually, the original meaning faded into the background, leaving only the image of strong passion and love on the material level.

Another meaning of the rose says that the bearer will not allow herself to be pushed around. She is a strong and confident woman.

Ribbons and decorations show that the girl or woman is fully aware of her attractiveness. A swallow on any part of the body means "bringing good luck."

For a guy, an old school tattoo with a woman's name is a reminder of his beloved. Many men going to sea portrayed objects or words that allowed them to remember their loved ones.

Not many people could afford to carry an image in the form of a miniature. But the drawing on the skin made it clear the seriousness of the relationship to a loved one.

Anchor old school

A tattoo that is close to all sailors without exception. According to beliefs, it helps to always stay afloat, a sign of security, strength and hope for salvation. Traditionally, it was pricked after a sailor first crossed the Atlantic Ocean.

The image of the anchor on the body in the old school style

Did you know? It is noteworthy that the anchor can be combined with any other symbol. This kind of flexibility is another Old School trait that we can't be happier with. And this applies not only to the anchor, absolutely all Old School tattoos easily and organically coexist with each other.

Swallow in flight in old school style

Considered such a star purely prison tattoo. But then I got a better understanding of the symbolism and realized that the prisoners simply took an already existing idea and rebuilt it in their own way. I like the concept, I'm thinking about where and how exactly to fill this sign so that they don't mix it up.

Oleg, Murmansk.

Advice. In order to avoid being mistaken for a tattoo made in prisons, you just need to add other elements of the old school to it or simply make it in color. But even without this, prison stars are fundamentally different from sea stars and the quality of execution, and the fact that they are pricked on the elbows, shoulders, knees or hands strictly symmetrically and change their meaning depending on the place of application. So there is absolutely nothing to worry about.

Heart in old school style

One of the most "intelligent" old school fallen women

Of course, a symbol of love. Often depicted with a ribbon on which the name is written loved one. Stuffed on the chest, although this is not necessary. The heart is also used as a sign of the soul, life force and high moral principles. Almost everything can be embodied in this symbol: romance, passion, friendship, courage, kindness, honor. Even the divine principle is present in the image of the heart, as it reflects the sacrifice of Christ in the name of humanity.

Fallen woman

This is how the heart is depicted in the style of old school

Depicts the vices common to almost all sailors. Women, gambling and alcohol. Depending on the main addiction of the owner of the tattoo, the devilish woman holds a bottle, cards, dice or other things related to entertainment in her hands. Close to this topic are tattoos of girls in the Pin Up style, popular in the 50s of the twentieth century.

Female attractiveness will definitely never go out of fashion.

Cross old school

Square cross in old school style. Usually goes in combination with something, in this case with the inscription

Despite the riotous lifestyle, the sailors did not forget about religion. Therefore, such symbols as words of prayers, quotes from the bible and crosses were quite common. However, long before the advent of Christians, the cross was a symbol of immortality, protection and interconnectedness of all living and non-living things in the world. The intersection point of two lines is understood as a combination of the material and spiritual essences of a person, their dependence on each other and the impossibility of the existence of one separately from the other.

The cross is the most recognizable symbol on earth.

Panther old school

Panther grin in old school style. Usually the panther is depicted as attacking with fangs and an open mouth.

A cunning and dexterous animal, the only cat that can hunt in water. In the myths of many cultures, it is a symbol of shamans who have access to other worlds, including the afterlife. There was an opinion that the panther was a werewolf, passing from one state to another. In fact, panthers come in two different colors, and tattoos with them have different meanings.

The black panther is the patroness of the night and the moon.
The yellow panther, better known as the jaguar, is associated with bright sunlight and the sun itself.