Old school tattoos. Tattoo in the style of Old School - photo, sketches, meaning

The choice of travelers and dashing adventurers are old school tattoos. The body decor of American and European sailors originated more than a century ago, attracting the attention of lovers of vivid images. Do you want to decorate the body with a colorful series of drawings, protecting from the evil tricks of fate?

Old school tattoos for women and men: romance of travel in your life

Hearts and ribbons, angels and crosses, roses and birds. Sailors who adopted the culture of body painting from the Tahitian and Hawaiian tribes believed in the luck of their own symbols.

Come up with your own personal graphic amulet. And our masters will transfer your idea into a colorful and imaginative body drawing. Fashion tattoos in the style of old school and new school they will protect against failures and remind you of the courage of romantic wanderers.

Bodily beauty coming to life under the hands of a master

Find the harmony of images and create original plot our artists will help. You will quickly and painlessly become the owner of a high-quality tattoo. Samples of work are located at the bottom of the site page. Explore the catalog, which presents the meaning of old school tattoos for girls and guys!

Old School, or Old School is a tattoo style that originates in XIX-XX centuries in America and Europe. Sailors were the founders of this still fashionable trend. Being superstitious people, they believed that tattoos would bring them good luck and protect them from misfortune. Therefore, the drawings were given a hidden meaning, sometimes understandable only to the owner himself. It could be the name of a place, an event, the names of people close to the navigator, and so on. But, like every style, the Old School has a few characteristic features that are unique to it.

regular tattoo in the style of Old School

All tattoos are done in very bright colors and outlined in thick black lines along the contour. Thanks to its flashy simplicity, Old School has become famous all over the world, and in almost every salon there is a master working in this style. Over time, any meaning has ceased to be invested in the drawings, you can simply fill in the drawing you like. But the basic symbols of the Old School have become so popular that it is impossible not to think about their meaning. In this article, you will get to know them.

When the question arose of what style to make the sleeves, I chose without hesitation old tattoo cheekbones The sketches amaze with their diversity, and the drawings are easily combined with each other and add up to a single whole. Completely satisfied with the result!

Maxim, St. Petersburg

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.

Video: tattoo artist stuffs a tattoo in the style of Old School

Old school tattoo sketches

The popularity of tattoo art is growing rapidly - more and more people of different ages put tattoos on their bodies, putting their own meaning into them. Today, a wearable pattern can become for the owner both a talisman and a memory, as well as 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 famous styles is the traditional Old School. The old school is still very popular and offers many interesting, original tattoo options in this technique.

History of occurrence.

This style appeared a long time ago - at the end of the 19th century. The first carriers were sailors from Europe and America, who during their travels saw amazing drawings on the bodies of native Hawaiian and Tahitian tribes. Having adopted this tradition for themselves, the sailors also began to decorate their bodies with drawings. Most often these were peculiar 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 every 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 former American sailor Norman Keith Collins, or as he was also called Sailor Jerry, became the owner of the salon and the master. During his travels, he gained new knowledge and boundless love for this art form. At that time, mostly soldiers and sailors came to him. In our time, Jerry the Sailor is considered the founder of the Old School style.

Distinctive 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:

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

Technique for performing Old School tattoos.

Of course, over time, the technique of applying a tattoo in this style became better and switched to new level. However, as in the old days, the master first draws the outline of the drawing, and only then begins to fill it with paints. The coloring of the picture must be opaque 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 is perfect for these types of 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 done quality materials and a qualified professional. Tattoos in this technique require special skill, they are not as easy to perform as it might seem at first glance.

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

Nowadays, this type of wearable drawings can be applied anywhere - this is the personal choice of each person and there is no particular rigor here. However, the most successful places for an Old School style tattoo are the arms, legs, chest, shoulders, neck, ribs and stomach, that is, all prominent places. In addition, the "sleeve" in the style of Old School is especially popular. A variety of color drawings in this technique throughout the arm is very unusual and bright, such a “sleeve” looks stylish, original and definitely will not go unnoticed. If we turn to the origins, then before soldiers and sailors applied such tattoos mainly on their arms, chest and stomach. Although even then there were those who adorned almost the entire body with them.

Popular old school images and their meaning.

Drawings once invented by sailors, as well as sketches of the first tattoo artists, have retained their relevance and popularity to this day. Modern connoisseurs of the old school style still enjoy popular pictures, such as:

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, old school remains a popular and sought-after technique that distinguishes the owner of such a tattoo from the crowd.

Tattoos in the style of 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 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