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70 Tattoo Prompts to Help You Find the Perfect Design

Are you looking for some inspiration for your next tattoo? Check out these 70 tattoo prompts! These ideas will help get you thinking about the perfect design for you. From geometric shapes to nature-inspired designs, there is something for everyone here. So what are you waiting for? Start browsing through these prompts and find the perfect one for you!

Tattoo Design Templates for Body Art

Tattoo prompts are a great way to get new ideas for your next tattoo or tattoo design journal. Whether you want to add to an existing tattoo or get your first tattoo, these suggestions will get you thinking and help you find tattoo inspiration.

  1. A tattoo of your favorite city’s skyline.
  2. A tattoo inspired by a piece of fine art you love.
  3. A tattoo that represents a historical era that you find fascinating – for example, the Victorian era!
  4. A tattoo of your favorite constellation (because they’re just so dreamy).
  5. A tattoo with a symbol that’s personal meaning to you (eg, cherished memories) – maybe it’s the symbol for your birth month? Or maybe it’s something else like an infinity sign or a peace sign? Whatever it’s, it’ll be meaningful because it’s yours!
  6. A tattoo inspired by nature or animals (you could get an owl, a tree, or a flower, for example).
  7. A tattoo inspired by a famous person – for example, Elvis Presley’s signature hairline or Marilyn Monroe’s lips could be a great inspiration!
  8. A butterfly.
  9. A dragonfly.
  10. An ocean with a dolphin in it.
  11. A tree with a bird on it.
  12. A tattoo that represents your personality.
  13. A heart with an arrow through it.
  14. A broken heart.
  15. A lion.
  16. A tiger.
  17. Your astrological sign.
  18. An eye.
  19. A movie character.
  20. A cartoon character.
  21. A flower.
  22. A tree.
  23. A sunset.
  24. A dragon.
  25. A snake.
  26. Your self-portrait.
  27. A constellation.
  28. A planet.
  29. A ship in a bottle.
  30. A bird in flight.
  31. An eagle.
  32. A leaf.
  33. An anchor symbolizing hope and stability in difficult times.
  34. A fish.
  35. A shark.

Words and Sayings

There are several tattoo styles for those who don’t want a drawing. The phrase tattoo is one of them. This type of tattoo is a great way to show your personality. It’s also perfect for those who have a lot to say and don’t have enough space on their body to cover it with ink.

  1. A personal motto, phrase, or quote that’s meaningful to you.
  2. A tattoo of a famous quote that inspires you.
  3. A tattoo of your favorite book cover enlarged and as a print.
  4. The name of your first pet.
  5. Your favorite movie quote.
  6. A word that describes your personality.
  7. A quote from a book you love.
  8. Your favorite song lyrics.
  9. An important date or event in your life, like your birthday or the day you met your best friend.
  10. A food that reminds you of a special person (for example, if you always had pasta for dinner when you were a kid, you could get a tattoo of spaghetti noodles).
  11. The name of someone who’s gone to the other side and is still greatly missed by family and friends (ideally, this person was very close to you).
  12. The name of an animal (if you get a tattoo with an animal as part of it, write it here).
  13. Something meaningful about the place where you live or grew up (for example, an important landmark or famous building)
  14. Beautiful sunset with a single word in the middle: “home.”
  15. An important milestone in your life is your graduation from high school or marriage.
  16. You miss the name of a deceased family member every day but are also proud of what they did for the world while they were alive.
  17. I’m an artist.
  18. I love coffee.
  19. [Name] is a blessing to me.
  20. [Name] is the best thing that ever happened to me.
  21. [Name] is my happy place.
  22. [Name] makes me feel safe and unconditionally loved.
  23. [Name] makes me feel like I can conquer anything in life with him/her by my side!
  24. Your favorite number (i.e., your lucky number).
  25. A Japanese word meaning “courage” or “strength.”
  26. Your name is in different calligraphy.
  27. I’m not perfect – I’m just great!
  28. You’re what you eat.
  29. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
  30. If you love something, set it free.
  31. Live every day like it’s your last.
  32. Make today count!
  33. Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
  34. Be true to yourself.
  35. Be kind.

Beware of Risky Color Combinations

Tattoos are permanent. That’s why choosing a tattoo design idea you can live with for the rest of your life is important. But choosing the right tattoo idea can be tricky. If you get something you don’t like, it’s hard to eliminate it. That’s why you should know exactly what you want before you get a tattoo.

Tattoo designs come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. And some colors look great together, while others don’t. You may think combining two bright colors is a bold statement, but in reality, it can look garish or tacky.

For example, combining red with yellow can sometimes give an orange tone that’s not flattering to darker skin types. Combining blue and green is also tricky because it results in what some people call “neutrals” – colors that aren’t either blue or green but a mixture of the two. This means they can clash depending on their placement on the body or how dark they’re applied.

Choosing the Right Tattoo Shop

The first step in choosing a noted tattoo artist is finding the right tattoo shop. Many factors can affect your experience at a tattoo store. These include:

Location

  • Where’s the store located?
  • Is it easy to get to? Some people prefer stores close to where they live or work so they can stop by between appointments and get their work done.

Cleanliness

  • How clean does the store look?
  • Are there unsightly stains on the walls or floor?
  • Does everything look neat and clean?

These things can give you an idea of how well the equipment is maintained.

Price

  • How much does tattooing cost at this store? You want to make sure you’re paying fair prices for quality work.

The Artist’s Portfolio

Check out some of his or her past work before you make an appointment! If he or she only has one or two works, they may not be ready yet!

What Should Be Included in a Tattoo Portfolio?

A tattoo portfolio is a collection of your best work that you usually put together as part of an application for a job at a tattoo parlor. The portfolio can also market you as a noted tattoo artist and showcase your tattoo art so potential clients can see what tattoo style you’re capable of creating.

You can showcase your work on your website, ask a website owner (related to your industry) to mention your work, share it on social media, etc.

If you’re a tattoo artist or doing a tattoo apprenticeship, the exact contents of your sketchbook will depend on where you’re in your career and what industry you’re aiming for.

However, some basic rules apply to your tattoo design journal, regardless of its content:

  • Act professional. You want your potential employers or clients to take you seriously, so keep your sketchbook clean and neat – no frills or embellishments. If you add anything personal, such as photos of people who’ve gotten tattoos from you, make sure they’re tasteful and appropriate for the audience viewing them.
  • Make sure it’s easy to read. If someone isn’t familiar with your drawing style, they might think it’s hard to understand because there are too many words on each page or too much text in general. Make sure that each page has only one or at most two parts. Otherwise, it’ll be too confusing for readers unfamiliar with your work.