Translated from English, "old school" is a popular tattoo style that existed in Europe and America. This style appeared in the 19th century, when drawings of anchors, ribbons, skulls and angels were usually depicted on the body. Such tattoos were made by sailors, so the names of local residents, quotes and names of famous events often appear in this style. This type of tattoo is done with the help of very bright colors, which are outlined with bold black lines.
The story goes that sailors are the first people to revive various art and tattoos in Europe. The life of sailors was not easy, and only the strongest survived. They were quite superstitious people, so they believed that by depicting some signs on the body, they could be saved from an impending storm or a shipwreck. Drawings of fluffs and sailboats were popular among sailors. However, despite the fact that they led a hectic life, they constantly thought about their families and children, so hearts, mermaids and names were often depicted on the body. And so a new trend of tattoo appeared - Old School.
To date, among the most popular tattoos in the style of Old School are: anchor, swallow, heart and rose.
The Meaning of Popular Old School Style Tattoos
Anchor is a very ancient tattoo, invented in Western Europe. It symbolizes a sign that helps to always stay afloat, that is, it gives hope for strength and salvation. Sailors loved to draw an anchor, as it is strongly associated with marine work. Such a tattoo is close to sailors from all over the planet.
The swallow is a symbol of happiness and good luck. Sailors made such a tattoo after they made a long journey. For them, the swallow symbolizes the return home, which was safe. After all, swallows are a sign that a sailor is sailing to land.
The heart symbolizes femininity, therefore it is a sign of the expression of love. It contains everything: loyalty, friendship, and understanding. In the Old School style, he is often depicted on his chest, thereby expressing his energy and mercy.
The rose, like the heart, expresses sincere and pure love. She is the ideal of things in the world, therefore she is popular among both men and women. A fiery red rose simply speaks of love, but a rose without thorns speaks of love at first sight. Previously, in ancient times, a white rose depicted on the body meant virginity.
You can follow the best masters in style old school (old school tattoo) in our
Old school tattoos have not lost their popularity over the years. Introduced by the sailors, this style has stood the test of time and acquired the status of a classic. Today, bright tattoos in the traditional style are chosen by men and women around the world.
Tattoo Oldschool — History of Old School Style
The history of the Old School style begins with sailors, the origin of the style dates back to the end of the 19th century. It is the people whose life was connected with the sea that we should be grateful for the bright, concise, but meaningful tattoos. The sailors were very superstitious, and best solution always carry a lot of talismans and amulets have become tattoos. The most popular stories at the time wereanchors, swallows, heart, wind rose .
Because of homesickness and family, romantic subjects appeared: roses, portraits, mermaids. Well, do not forget about the magnificent beauties in the pin-up style, which, like the old school, is strongly associated with sailors.
Tattoo Oldschool— Characteristics of the Old School Style
The old school style is characterized by thick black outlines, the most simple colors (mostly black, red, green, blue) and concise drawings without unnecessary details.
The old school style today differs from the style in which the first masters worked, but retained its fundamental features.
Tattoo Old School - Popular Plots Tattoo Old School
Tattoo Ship Old School
For sailors, their ship was a home and a small world, their team was a family and support, so the ship tattoo carries a very deep meaning. The ship embodies hope, movement, freedom.
Today, tattoos with a marine theme in the old school style are made not only by people whose profession is somehow connected with the sea. The main thing in a tattoo is a meaning, a message that has been formed for many decades and absorbs the experience of generations. Old school tattoos, including a ship, are chosen by people who honor traditions and history.
Compass and Windrose Tattoo
Denotes the search for the right path, a clear direction in life and confidence in one's convictions. The compass has long helped people find the right direction and saved them from death at sea.
Today the compass has a figurative meaning. People do not need to care about the direction of transport. But it is always worth thinking about finding your own life path.
Old School Mermaid Tattoo
A mermaid tattoo (in some versions, a siren) in the old school style is associated with the beauty, temptation and danger that the sea carries. This mythical creature promised sailors both luck and death in equal measure.
Tattoo Butterfly Old School
Means life path and development of personality and soul. This insect received such a symbolic meaning due to the transformation from a caterpillar into a beautiful fluttering butterfly. For most cultures and religions, this cycle of development means the formation of the human soul. The possibility of easy flight, inspiration, brightness and airiness that butterflies personify made them a popular tattoo plot.
Tiger Tattoo Old School
Tiger tattoo is a symbol of stamina, militancy, readiness to confront difficulties at any moment and join them in battle. The tiger is equivalent in meaning to and carries the same meaning.
Tattoo Dagger Old School
The main meaning of the Dagger or Blade tattoo is fearlessness, risk, willingness to fight to the end and maintain honor. This is a noble symbol, which in modern times has a metaphorical meaning. It is meant to fight not with the enemy, but with difficulties, life traps and difficult situations.
Black and White Tattoo Old School
Although the style is characterized by bright colors, black lovers decided to return to the very origins of the tattoo. The old school tattoo artists who tattooed sailors didn't always have all the colors on hand to work with, but black can replace all the others. In black, the laconic old school looks even more authentic.
Old School Tattoo - Popular Spots for Old School Tattoo
Old school tattoo on arm
Traditionally, the drawings in this style were small and the hand was ideal for drawing them. The Old School tattoo can be placed on absolutely any part of the arm, depending on the idea and the shape of the sketch.
Tattoo Old School Sleeve
Most often, an Old School sleeve is a set of small sketches on a common or similar theme. Since the style is characterized by a small detail of the drawing, it is impossible to make one continuous drawing on the hand. Due to the similarity of plots and meanings of each individual sketch on the sleeve, the overall motif looks harmonious and stylish.
Sketches of Tattoo Old School
Old school (Old school, "old school") is a traditional style in tattooing. It originated in the 19th century. Rumor has it that a sailor was the first to get such a tattoo. Later, this tradition spread to other sailors. On their tattoos, they depicted everything that was connected with their life.
The sailors went to sea for a long time and got tattoos as a reminder of those who were left to wait for them on the ground. It could be the names of close people, their faces. The work at sea was hard and dangerous. Tattoos were a kind of protection from all sorts of troubles. Gambling was common among sailors, so you could often see , on their tattoos. Now old-school tattoos are common among a wide variety of people, and masters working in this style can be found in almost any tattoo parlor.
Old school tattoos are characterized by bright and rich colors, thick outlines. For tattoos in this style, three-dimensional images are not typical, they do not differ in the realism of the depicted objects, the correctness of the forms is also not very important for them. The old school is characterized by a marine theme:, sea,. They refer us to the origins of this style.
Often depicted,. Such tattoos symbolize love, relationships. The inscriptions on old school tattoos are quotes or names of loved ones. Hands folded in prayer - all this is also used in old school tattoos as a kind of amulet that can protect against evil.
Tattoos remind of death and the value of life. symbolize danger, cruelty, courage. Pinup girls are often depicted, girls in the form of a devil, a witch. Also on tattoos in the old school style you can see razors, and many other designs.
However, do not pay too much attention to the symbolism. If earlier a hidden meaning was invested in tattoos, now they are made simply as an ornament. You can attach special meaning to your tattoo, perceive it as a reminder of something important to you, or you can simply fill in the drawing you like.
Now old-school tattoos are beaten by those who like this uncomplicated and bright style. They are reminiscent of the sea, travel to distant lands and dangerous adventures. But despite the seeming simplicity, old school tattoos also require a good command of the technique. You should not trust their execution to just anyone - find a good master who can make a quality tattoo.
The popularity of tattoos is currently only increasing. Despite such a rather painful and expensive pleasure, an increasing number of people prefer to decorate their bodies with a bright picture that will not disappear over time. Tattoos have a fairly large number of styles. All of them differ from each other in the thickness of the contour, the palette of colors used, and the technique of execution. The old school style is still recognized as one of the most popular. A tattoo made using this technique is very difficult to confuse with anything and attribute to another category. It has a lot of distinctive features that immediately catch the eye. So, what is this tattoo technique?
A bit of history
This style is American in half with European origin. It originated in the 19th century. The first owners of tattoos of this style were sailors. As a rule, for them, such a pattern on the body was associated with some memorable event or person. Direct knowledge of the tattoo came to sailors from Polynesia, whose islands are located in the Pacific Ocean. The first sketches of such decorations on the bodies of the local population were brought by Captain Cook after exploring Tahiti, Hawaii, and Zeeland. However, those drawings were very different from modern ones.
Main motives
The tattoo in the old school style has pronounced characteristic distinctive features. First of all, the motives of the drawing are strictly observed. Since the first owners of this kind of tattoos were sailors, the subjects related to sailing on ships were taken as the basis for the sketches. Drawings very often depict various waves, charming women, anchors, crosses, mermaids, roses (exactly these flowers). Various inscriptions and quotes are also widely used, and they can be done in any language. More often, masters perform stars and hearts with daggers in this technique. Old school tattoo "sleeves" have also become common. What is it? The arm from the wrist to the end of the shoulder is completely covered with drawings, between which, as a rule, there is no free space, that is, the tattoo turns out to be one-piece. At the same time, it can consist of separate sketches that the master connects to each other. "Sleeve" is made in the same style. The old school technique in this case is very popular. "Sleeves" are bright, clear and saturated.
Technique
Main distinctive features these tattoos are. Bright simple colors are used (black, red, blue, white, green). The coloring becomes dense, opaque. But colors are possible. smooth transitions, shadows. In general, the drawing is far from realism, but very juicy and bright. The contrast is added by a wide black outline. This is a prerequisite for the old school style. A tattoo, as a rule, does not lose its brightness over time, does not lose clarity and does not blur into a spot (unless, of course, it was performed by a qualified master with high-quality materials).
The best places to apply
There is no particular rigor in choosing the location of the picture in this case. Basically, tattoos of this style are made in prominent places - for example, on the arms, chest, wrist, abdomen, calves, ribs. The last option is the most painful, as there are many nerve endings, and the skin is close to the bones. The same goes for the wrist. But the shoulder is the most painless option for a place to get a tattoo. In principle, you can make a similar drawing anywhere. It's not that important. The main thing is the meaning that is invested in the tattoo. There are also general ideas about the meaning of such drawings. However, it should be remembered that today the tattoo is perceived solely as Nice picture on the body, no more.
Old school tattoo: meaning and meaning
Consider the most common motives. The classic version is the anchor. In the West, its popularity has been at its height for a couple of hundred years now. And the symbolism of such an image is very ancient. Its roots will go deep into history for about two millennia. Such a symbol was considered a real guiding star protecting sailors. Old school tattoo with an anchor helped not to stray from the intended course and clearly follow the chosen goal. Another meaning of such a pattern is to always remain yourself, steadfastly withstand all oncoming winds and currents.
The second, no less successful and popular plot for an old school tattoo is a swallow. In this case, it turns out to be a little cartoonish. This bird brings good luck and happiness to its owner. Ladies make them, as a rule, in the collarbone area, on the back or near the ankle. However, old school tattoos for men are also often created based on images of pretty swallows. True, maybe not so colorful and feminine. As for the same sailor, he will make such a tattoo only if he passes 5000 on the water. For him, the swallow symbolizes a safe return to his native shore. After all, this bird is a sure sign that the land is somewhere nearby. Two swallows are perceived as a successful journey.
Quite often, old school tattoos had religious significance for their owner. A prime example is the Rock of Ages. It is considered a real classic in Christian allegory. These are hopes, protections and supports. It is believed that such a tattoo served as a talisman for a sailor. Very often, such a pattern was combined with some inscriptions like "Hold on!". This was supposed to support a person in a difficult situation and inspire faith in the best.
Old school rose tattoo is another interesting point of the style in question. She is a symbol of special pure love, passion, but also chastity. The color joy plays a huge role, white - respect and reverence, orange - joy. The red rose, of course, is associated with love in all its manifestations.
Choosing a master
The person to whom you are going to entrust your precious body must be a real professional. Such have diplomas of completed studies, very often art education, as well as a fairly voluminous portfolio (examples of previous work). If the master refuses to draw a sketch for you on his own (even for a fee), you should be wary. Try to make tattoos exclusively in salons where a contract is previously concluded in writing. This will save you from further problems in the event of a poor-quality drawing.
How to care
An old school tattoo needs exactly the same healing method as all other drawings applied with a needle under the skin. After the end of the session, the master will apply a special film compress to you so that you can safely get home. The film will not allow clothes to stick to a fresh pattern and cause discomfort. In the early days, the tattoo will ooze with ichor. It must be rinsed off carefully with warm water. This should be done as moisture builds up. After washing, it is necessary to apply a thin layer of a special ointment to the tattoo. The master himself will tell you the name. In no case do not scratch the drawing, do not peel off the top layer that is peeling off on your own, do not sunbathe, do not visit the solarium, do not drink alcohol!
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 tattooing in the old school style can be chosen arbitrarily, but usually these are open areas of the 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 suggest you 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 in recent times there is 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 matryoshkas 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.
