How to Pick a Celtic Knot Tattoo
Celtic knots are intricate tattoos that utilize interwoven knot work to make a stand-alone design, usually a band, or are used within a basic design, such as a triangle or circle, or more complex design such as a shamrock, heart or cross. The knot work is made up of complex interlinking strands that never end, but flow together throughout the piece. Read on to learn how to pick a Celtic knot tattoo.
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Instructions
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Study Celtic knots. There are many websites with samples of Celtic artwork including knots, books that showcase Celtic artwork and lots of tattoo flash to help you find some common themes.
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Determine if there's a meaning behind your tattoo. Some people will pick a specific Celtic design because of the commonly accepted meaning behind the design. For example Celtic knot work that form animals tend to have different meanings attached to each animal, the Holy Trinity and crosses have religious connotations and Celtic shamrocks generally symbolize good luck but have also been said to symbolize excellence.
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Choose a design. Do you simply want a Celtic knot which can be fashioned as a band or do you want knot work formed into an animal such as the popular lion, tiger, dog or dragon? Does a Celtic cross strike your fancy or maybe a shamrock or heart with a Celtic knot used in the center?
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Consider size. Depending on the intricacy of the specific knot work you're getting, it can almost always be increased, but often can't be decreased in size. Because of the specific ins and outs required to form the knots, some designs are too detailed to do at smaller sizes.
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Decide on placement. Many Celtic knot designs are structured so that they can be wrapped, thus the popularity of Celtic armbands. There are, however, many pieces that can be placed anywhere you like with the only limitation being the size required to successfully tattoo the design.
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Think about color. Typically Celtic knots are not fully colored in, but shaded to better showcase the "braiding" of the knot work. If you make it solid, then you lose the illusion of the in and out effect. For your shading, you can choose a variety of colors with green being among the most popular choices, especially for those of Irish decent.
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Find an experienced tattoo artist. Celtic knot work takes patience and a steady hand in order to achieve the best results. It's best to find an artist who's had plenty of experience in the art form and who enjoys completing these tattoos.
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Tips & Warnings
No matter the tattoo design, your knot work should be never-ending, free of any kind of gaps and with no set beginning or end.
Two common conceptions about Celtic knots are they represent the never-ending cycle of life and death and everlasting love. These underlying meanings are often linked to their ongoing appeal.
Many people are attracted to Celtic tattoos because their steeped in cultural significance. Although you don't have to be Irish to appreciate the beauty of these pieces, they're very common choices for those with an Irish heritage.
You may be told that each Celtic knot holds a specific meaning, but this is not always the case.
Some tattoo artists don't like doing Celtic knot work because of the intricacy of the designs, so be sure you find one that's enthusiastic about the project.
There are tattoo artists who can create unique pieces of Celtic knot tattoos by either combing several pieces or drawing up a new piece from scratch using the art form.
