As a symbol of California state, redwood tree is one of the most common choices as a memorial tattoo along with California poppy flowers. It's believed, that Redwood represents wellbeing, safety, longevity, wisdom, and bonding.
Redwoods have been around for about 240 million years, that fact makes them as old as dinosaurs. You might be surprised to know that a 2,200-year-old Sequoia is still standing strong in the forest of California.
Take a look at these Redwood tattoos by me and don't hesitate to contact me with your very own idea!
I present to your attention a newcollection of tattoo designs—Vogue Tattoo Flash. Charismatic and at the same time incredibly elegant characters came off of vintage magazine art-deco covers. A series of graphic illustrations referring to the magnificent artworks of Vogue magazine. The tattoo designs are a perfect fit for both: fashion fans and lovers of floral and fine-line tattoos.
“Fashion starts from a drawing; Vogue started as an illustrated magazine,”
Once in a bookstore, I came across a great specimen from the 80s. A selection of illustrated vintage Vogue covers. When I got my hands on the book, I knew I had to create this tattoo project.
It's telling that I was attracted to those pages. Flower arrangments, beautiful graphic folds of fabrics, fine lines of ink—ideal for being embodied in someone's tattoo. I love my job! The world around us is full of inspiration, you just need to reach out.
I wanted to find common features and combine illustrations from different years and different artists into a single homage—Vogue Tattoo Flash. It was so great to go through all the pages to choose the covers that speak to me the most. Finding those little details, beautiful curves, or textures that I love so much. And was so fun to decide how to translate them to the limited color palette that I prefer. And rendering them in fine lines which you all know me for:)
As a fan of botanical illustrations and a tattoo artist based in the Bay Area, it's essential for me to share a selection of Poppy Flower tattoos. One of the most trending symbols of California state. The growing popularity of such tattoos is challenging me to work harder on the uniqueness of each design. I set a goal for myself to achieve originality for every client. As you can see, not a single tattoo is repeated.
Enjoy the selection of Poppy flower tattoos I did including CA Poppies. Each one is unique. I'd be glad to add yours to this collection.
The selection of Poppy flower tattoos I did including CA Poppies.
History
Long before the Europeans came to the “New World”, indigenous people used various preparations of the California Poppy plant for toothaches, to relieve headaches and stomach aches, as well as a sleep aid.
When the early Spanish frontiersmen of California saw slopes overgrown with Poppy flowers, they called the plant “cup of gold” (“Copa de Oro”). It is also known as the Golden Poppy and Cups of Flame. Because of the magnificent spectacle, the coast was called the “land of fire.” And a Poppy Flower became a symbol of ”True Gold is in the Heart”.
As I've mentioned earlier, the Golden Poppy has been California’s symbol for over a hundred years. However, the way Poppy got its recognition is thorny and long. It took a whole decade for Sara Allen Lemmon to achieve official acknowledgment of the poppy as a symbol of the state.
Lemmon, previously Plummer, is attributed to discovering 110 species, roughly three percent, of all known species of California’s vascular plants and has two plants named directly after her, baccharis plummerae and plummera floribunda. Lemmon and her husband had two of the genera they discovered named after them, Lemmonia and Plummera, one of the highest botanical honors to be bestowed. She also provided scientific illustrations for her husband’s books—illustrations that were so revered that she was the first woman allowed to speak to the California Academy of Science.
I encourage you to read the history of the poppy becoming the flower of the state in tribute to Sarah.
The Golden Poppy’s place as California’s state flower rests on the talent and incredible determination of Sara Plummer Lemmon. Her botanical passion and steadfastness in the face of legislative roadblocks and dismissal shows that like the Golden Poppy, she too has a rich, layered, and forgotten history. All around California, the Golden Poppy grows wild, beaming up at the sky with its satin-like petals and stored-up sunshine, radiating through its deep, golden-orange hue. Its glow serves as a reminder that it is thanks to Lemmon that the Golden Poppy has secured a permanent place in Californian history.
The flower has various meanings: eternal sleep, imagination, oblivion, avoidance of problems, remembrance, and more. Poppy expresses the power of ambition, attitude, clear thinking, higher understanding, luck, and spiritual concepts.
What a California Poppy Flower tattoo can say about an owner? Poppies are popular among the public as symbolic tattoos, which are widely used to represent dreams, rest, and calmness. According to Floriography, the California Poppy flower can also be regarded as a declaration of love. As well as a memento about California.
Recently, I was approached by K. and D. with an interesting idea for pairing tattoos. The Star Wars inspired tattoos. Their concept is based on the love story between Princess Leia and Han Solo from Star Wars. A portrait of Leia for K. with words "I love you", and a Han Solo's blaster with "I know" for D. Also, to my great pleasure, there was room for a flower arrangement! I love how designs are different and matching at the same time.
Star Wars Inspired Tattoos – Making the Design
Check out the process of bringing an idea to life.
Final Look of the Star Wars Inspired Tattoos
HealedHan Solo's gun after first session.
The Inspiration
Working on this project I combined my favorite style and art skills. Portraits, Hair, Star Wars-inspired tattoo flash and Flowers.
Portraits.
I honed my illustrative style by drawing tons of them! Would love to do more portrait tattoos.
Hair.
You can't imagine how I love drawing hair 🙂 That's why I created these tattoo designs with just hair-dos.
Star Wars-inspired tattoo flash I have. Yes, hrrrm..
A mix of Russian folklore and Star Wars. Meet Luke-Ivan Tsarevitch and others. You can find a fairy-tale about each one by clicking on the image or read it below. All the illustrations are available as a tattoo designs.
Short descriptions of the fairytales
Leia / Alyonushka
Alyonushka – is an orphan. Her little brother doesn't listen to her, drinks water from a hoof print in mud and turns into a goatling. A king has married this beautiful girl, but a witch, who wants to take away her husband , drowns Alyonushka in a pond and becomes her. Only her little brother (the goatling) knows the truth and can save Alyonushka and himself from the evil witch.
C-3PO / Sirin
Sirin (from a greek "Σειρῆνες " ("siren")) – is an edenic bird with a woman's head. It's also depicted with another edenic bird, Alconost, but unlike that bird it sings sad songs. Sometimes these songs could hurt people (they could lose their mind). That's why in some legends, Sirin has a negative connotation and it's considered to be a dark bird, the underworld messenger.
Darth Maul / Baba Yaga
Baba Yaga – mistress of the forest, animals and birds, almighty prophetic old woman, guardian of the other world's borders. Her name is derived from a Proto-Slavic word "ęgа" representing snakes and reptiles. Baba Yaga casts spells, flies in a pounder, and ensnares good fellows and children in order to eat them. She dwells of the forest border in a hut on chicken legs, surrounded by a fence made of human bones and skulls. In ancient times the dead were buried in such little houses located above the ground on tall stumps that looked like chicken legs. A zombie grandmother lies still and can't see a person who comes from the world of the living (the living and the dead do not see each other). She finds out about a person's arrival by the smell.
Ivan Tsarevich (meaning Ivan, the King's Son) – is one of the main characters of Russian folklore. He is the youngest of three brothers. Koschey (the immortal warlock) stole his bride and in order to save her. Ivan Tsarevich needs to enter the Far Far Away kingdom (i.e. the underworld), pass many trials, and cunningly overcome Koschey.
Memorial pet portraittattoos have a special place in my heart. In addition to the Familiars project, I have accumulated a large number of works with animals.
Memorial Pet Tattoos
A simple fine line tattoo with a little bit of shading becomes a celebration of the exceptional bond between a client and their dog/cat, or even an eland. Besides being a popular tattoo choice, it is also an expression of love.
As a tattoo artist, I'm happy to share a selection of tattoo ideas for pet portraits with you. Behind every tattoo you see below there is a touching story. Each illustration is unique.
Where do I start before getting a tribute tattoo?
There are no criteria about when you can get a tattoo in honor of or inspired by your pet. A tattoo is a permanent reminder of the impact your friend had on you and also the way to celebrate their life. Take your time. Here are some pieces of advice for you.
First of all, look for a few favorite photos of your pet. Pictures can be made from a different perspective but should be of good quality.
Prepare a shortlist of details you want to be embodied in a design. It could be a heart-shaped nose or a funny-looking spot. Anything, that characterizes your pet.
Describe your Idea. Feel free to share your thoughts with me. Your cat can become a magic dragon! I'll be there to answer all your questions.
Ready for more pet portraittattoos? Check out my portfolio.
A small fine line tattoo with an original design could be your first tattoo. Looking for inspiration in Bay Area? I can prepare a custom design of a memorial tattoo specially for you. Here is an inquiry form.
The theme of insects in a tattoo brings numerous feelings in people. In this article let's explore the beauty and symbolism of butterfly tattoos we see most often nowadays.
Butterfly Tattoo
The butterfly image has always been one of the top choices for a tattoo design. And you can tell why. As a representation of natural symmetry, fragility, and a source of divine colors, a butterfly is the best example of flawless beauty.
What is the meaning of a butterfly?
The tenderness of these creatures has drawn the interest of people in different cultures from all over the world.
Often butterflies symbolize resurrection, healthy transformation, and spiritual awakening due to their lifecycle. For instance, a butterfly tattoo meaning in Japan is femininity and elegance; two flying butterflies represent family happiness and prosperity. However, butterflies were considered to be the harbinger of war in Ancient Rome. In Chinese culture, it is a sign of immortality, wealth, and longevity. In some cultural traditions, a butterfly symbolizes a soul.
Memorial tattoo
I had the occasion to create projects that had a memorial value for clients. As it carries the meaning of the soul, once, a butterfly was a symbol of connection with a departed loved one.
Matching butterflies tattoos for friends by Natasha TsozikA Butterfly as a symbol of connection with a departed loved one.A butterfly tattoo in memory of the city of San Francisco.
Why is it a popular tattoo design?
Symmetry
Firstly, symmetry. They say it is a manifestation of the desire for reliability and strength. So, it has always caught the human eye. It allows creating enchanting designs that embellish your body.
Colors & patterns
Secondly, the exceptional colors and patterns of the butterflies inspire to create unique and meaningful art. You can add more symbolism to the design, by encrypting the date or name in the ornament.
Sense of lightness
The natural airiness that a butterfly emanates can be used to create your own tattoo style.
Dynamics
In addition, the flight creates a dynamic pattern, a movement effect, that emphasizes the muscles and contexture in general.
Butterfly Tattoo by Natasha TsozikButterfly Tattoo by Natasha TsozikButterfly Tattoo by Natasha Tsozik
Symbolism of Butterfly Tattoos In a Nutshell
The image of a butterfly can have variable meanings. From grace to immortality. You can also add your personal connotation to the tattoo using color and pattern. Thanks to the wonders inherent in nature, a butterfly inspires a unique piece of art creation. Therefore, a myriad of their shapes allows you to choose what exactly fits you and your personality.
I can create a custom butterfly tattoo design just for you. Explore my latest tattoo projects and available designs as an inspiration for your future tattoo.
Butterfly Tattoo by Natasha TsozikButterfly Tattoo by Natasha TsozikButterfly Tattoo by Natasha TsozikButterflies tattoos by Natasha TsozikButterflies tattoos by Natasha TsozikButterfly tattoos by Natasha Tsozik
It's always a pleasure to visit Explorer Tattoo Conference. The one in 2018 in Los Angeles wasn't an exception. Three days full of seminars by tattoo & art professionals, discussions, raffles with cool prizes, presents for each attendee, mingling & portfolio review. There was so much stuff in the present bag, that I thought it certainly wouldn't fit into my luggage ? Like full-size products for tattooing as a big jar of tattoo glide, a bottle of a transfer medium, cartridges and needles, etc.
All are superb professionals, have been tattooing around the world and had great stories & experience to share.
For example, Liz, DJ, and Kelly took part in different tattoo TV shows. Tony is the creator of the Walking Dead. Kari has been tattooing since 1979 and owns the oldest tattoo shop in America.
Attendees come from all over the country
and even from overseas. So it's a great opportunity to make friends with a ton of great artists, get some guest spots, and level up as a tattooer. I love meeting the same people I got acquainted with.
This tattoo conference definitely helped to move forward, to adjust, to deal with an artist block for a lot of attending people. You get out of your routine and gaze on your craft from a different angle.
Seminar topics ranged from color theory, history of tattooing, how to plan big tattoo projects to how to deal with social networks.
I try to go to Explorer at least once a year.
This was my second time. The previous one I went to was in Washington. They try to organize them in different cities several times a year, so it's available & affordable for more people.
Every October there's an art marathon. You have a list of words for every day of the month. Last year I chose to draw yokai, Japanese ghosts, and monsters. 31 supernatural tattoo sketches. They can be found on Instagram via #yokai_inktober. More about other yokai is at yokai.com.
I took classic yokai descriptions and reimagined them in a more modern way. All the sketches are closer with descriptions down below.⬇
I was lucky enough to spend 3 full days of June at Explorer Tattoo Conference in Washington, DC. It is an event for professional tattoo artists who want to move our industry forward. Organized by super professionals: Teresa Sharpe (owner of Unkindness Art), Timmy B (owner NiteOwl Tattoo), Jes Farris and Jake Farris (owners of Studio 13 Tattoo), and Nathan Evans (owner of Killjoy Tattoo).
What happened there
Every day was filled with lectures and discussions by great presenters. Therefore I learnt a lot of new things on color theory, equipment, composition, visual storytelling and technique. And we even had an opportunity to be reviewed by a presenting artist. I had a nice talk with Cody Eich. Love his art so much and want to get a tattoo by him when he opens his books:)
Each attendee even got a bag full of presents: conference t-shirt, ink, aftercare, tube and needle samples, and signed print by Teresa Sharpe.
