Choosing a drawing for a candle tattoo on the body in different designs
On the inspiring photos of beautiful and original tattoos, everyone will be able to appreciate the fragility of a burning candle or the powerful message of a smoldering wick. Putting in each image its meaning, it is important to understand the symbolism and carefully select the sketch for its application by the master to the individual parts of the body.
In modern tattoo parlors you can choose a huge variety of drawings that are suitable for men and women. They will become an elegant decoration of the body and can carry its meaning, known only to the owner and his inner circle or tell a whole story with vivid turns of the plot.
Tattoo Styles
Tattoo in the form of a candle is performed in a variety of styles:
- Realism. The appearance of a realistic candle is admirable. She on the forces not all masters, as realism - the most complex tattoo-genre in terms of performance - dotwork. The picture in this style is made up of points of various diameters. Traditionally, dotwork involves the use of only black color. If you still want to create an original tattoo, it is allowed to use a variety of shades. Dot-work combines well with line-work (a style of creating an image using lines); - Trash polka. Candle tattoos, made in this style, get expressive. The candle draws attention to itself in black and red colors. Excellent visual effect is achieved through the master's use of graphic and realistic elements; - Engraving style. Such tattoos are stylized as an engraving. Their main color is black. Sometimes the master applies gray shades in order to emphasize the volume of the inflicted object; - new-sculpture. It is characterized by bright, complex and unusual patterns. This style will be a great option for fans of all the extravagant and original; - old school. This classic style is represented by a variety of designs. The meaning of the tattoo depends on the auxiliary elements used. For example, a candle can be depicted next to such elements as a lighthouse, a rose, a compass, a turtle, ribbons with inscriptions. Tattoos in this style often carry deep meaning. Before you apply the tattoo, you should think well about the future sketch, using the advice of the master.
Historical and cultural references to traditional symbolism
It is important to understand that the idea of an image applied to the body, in any part of it, can have several meanings and is interpreted differently. There are several common meanings that an image can have and only a good tattoo master will be able to convey every detail of the sketch:
- In the tradition of Christian religious culture, the image of a lit (burning) candle is associated with a person's involvement with the divine spirit. Transparent and melted drops of wax represent purity of the human soul and its ability to repent for the deeds committed;
- Slavic mythology interprets the image of a burning candle in the tattoo as sacred fire, a powerful and miraculous element. A lit candle is a symbol of purification from evil forces, protection from magical influence on destiny, reverence for the powerful forces of nature and recognition of the imperfection of human nature;
- In Judaism, candles are traditionally used in the Minor, a beautiful candlestick with seven stands, carrying the meaning of the divine presence. It is not uncommon to find tattoos depicting the minora, which has the meaning of the tree of light, the axis of the world and even the cosmic tree, with the burning planets;
- Secret religious societies of the Middle Ages used the candle to express divine apparition and illumination with wise thoughts. The candle can embody a person's desire for knowledge, including secret knowledge, the power of wisdom and thought that came from divine knowledge and prophecy.
Any chosen version of the semantic filling of a body image can embody a beautiful drawing of a candle on the body. If an interesting and original design and additional elements are chosen to it, such a tattoo becomes exclusive and attracts the eyes of others.
Prison and life behind bars
Many Russian criminal tattoos are in one way or another associated with cult objects. Even though biblical commandments forbid people to kill or take things from others, those who violate them daily hope for the grace of God. They pierce images of saints, angels and candles on their bodies. That is what we are going to talk about. I must say that the candle as one of the elements of the thieves' tattoo, was used by Russian criminals more than a century ago. Preserved tattoo of one of the old convicts, depicting a convict with half shaved head and a candle in his hands on the background of a cross. This tattoo originally adorned the body of the present owner's grandfather. The story goes that he was exiled from the Samara region to the famous Sakhalin hard labor camp under Tsar Alexander II and was released from there in 1872 under the open supervision of the police. The tattoo was made by a camp ringman based on a description provided by the grandson of a Sakhalin convict, a thief nicknamed "The Head. He was serving his sentence in one of the Kolyma camps. Golova was very proud of this tattoo and considered it a kind of family heirloom.
Another criminal had a skeleton on his abdomen, holding a candle. This tattoo was made in 1952 in Solikamsk. The thief in law was bragging about his position among other prisoners. He stuck to his thieves' principles and wasn't going to retreat from them. This could be seen from the motto, which was an integral part of this tattoo. It read: "Only death can fix me!" And if the aforementioned tattoo could be considered hooliganism, the other one, depicting an angel with a burning candle, could not be called anything other than a talisman. It should symbolize the life of a convict, like the flame of a burning candle. One strong gust of wind and it goes out. The image of a candle as a component of the classic thief's tattoo of a reputable recidivist thief also became a talisman. This is the so-called subclavian star. The tattoo was gouged out on the body of a three-time convicted felon convicted of stealing state and personal property. Despite the fact that the thief grew up in a broken home (his father drowned in a drunken camp), he managed to complete 10 classes at a school in one of the colonies in the Arkhangelsk region. The convict was very fond of Yesenin's poetry. Perhaps poetry pushed him to place a burning candle in the center of the thief's subclavian star instead of the usual "grin. The meaning of this tattoo was "I live as long as my candle burns. The burning candle as a symbol of the transience of earthly existence is found in many other criminal tattoos. It must be said that the owners of such tattoos made great efforts to ensure that the candle of their lives burned out as quickly as possible. Many of them did not live to a ripe old age, giving up their sinful souls in a camp hospital bed. They were not helped by their amulet.
Sergey Shchukin Copies of the tattoo by Danzik Baldaev Based on materials from the newspaper "Za Za Prison" (#3 2010)
The image of a torch in his hand symbolizes the desire for freedom and camaraderie in prison
The image of a flaming torch symbolizes being in a penal colony for those who committed crimes out of recklessness and the desire for freedom.
Such a tattoo is pecked out to commemorate a long stay in a maximum security colony. The number of knots on the wire corresponds to the number of years spent in prison.
A. Kapitansky V. Litvin The Art of Criminal Tattooing
Candle tattoos for men
Men's world, which seems far from symbolism, remains full of meaning and each tattoo on a guy's body can have its own meaning:
- The inner struggle, the contrast of good and evil present in the human soul and their constant battle is reflected in the image of a brightly burning candle, and here the drops of wax are the results of such a struggle;
- sign of grief, for its expression is often used fading light or burned wick, it can mean the event experienced, the loss of a loved one, in conjunction with the date is a reminder of a certain day
- the symbolism of the transience of time, this meaning corresponds to almost burnt out candle with a small or fading light, such a picture, it is an incentive to move forward despite the obstacles.
Choosing a beautiful and unusual candle for a tattoo, it is better to consult with the master, not rejecting the original, attracted by the sketch.
Where to "score" a tattoo?
If you have decided to put on your body such a tattoo, you probably have a question of finding a tattoo salon in which the work would have been done. It should be noted that today there are many tattoo salons and accordingly it is not always possible to encounter professionalism of masters. If you applied to the salon in the quality of services of which you are not sure, it is recommended to make sure that the master is working for a long time and has a portfolio. Responsibly approaching the question of choosing a salon and a master, you can be sure that you will be left with the work that was carried out.
Tattoo candles for girls and women
For women, more subtly perceiving signs and their symbolism, there are several meanings of tattoos with candles, which are quite popular:
- The presence of higher forces in destiny, several thin church candles are depicted on the body of a girl or woman, and the symbolic circle of light around them means spirituality and the desire to purify;
- the desire to know oneself, the flame of the burning candle purifies and shows the way to the hidden knowledge and inner strength that lurks in every woman and going on such a journey it is important to have a reliable reference point;
- Romanticism and mental perception subtlety, for the romantic natures often the image of a candle is combined with flowers or other floral motifs, and the meaning of the tattoo is complemented by bright colors and shades of color.
On this site you can see bright examples of work, which invested different meanings, but the technique of their implementation remains excellent.
Styles and Subjects
The high-quality realistic images of candles look really impressive. The flames themselves are mesmerizing, it is not for nothing that it is said that you can look at them forever. Therefore, realism is one of the most appropriate styles for such work. He is difficult in the performance, therefore it is necessary to choose the master responsibly, if you do not want your tattoo to fill up the collection of photos of unsuccessful works.
The original look of the work is in the newscool style. He implies the use of bright colors, clear black outlines. Such tattoos immediately catch the eye. Newscool has a lot in common with its older brother - oldscool. Many people think the oldschool too primitive, because since its inception, he has not undergone so many changes. On newskul not the same can not be said: and the color palette is wider, and plots more interesting.
Candles are depicted both on their own and as part of a composition. Sketches of oblong shapes, such as candles in a candlestick, will work well on the shoulder, forearm, or shin. Larger works would look good on the chest, back or hip.
Looking through the photos of the candle tattoo, you can get a lot of interesting ideas. There are works in which the candle is depicted standing on a skull, books, seashell, hourglass or pocket mechanical clock. You can often see candles with flowers, in candleholders of fanciful shapes, with the flame taking the form of any figure. Books, skulls and watches are the elements that most often accompany the image of a candle. Such tattoos speak very eloquently about the transience of life, because they combine several elements with similar symbolism. Images of thin candles, which carry religious meaning, are popular. Usually in such works there are also other Christian attributes: crosses, rosaries, portraits of saints, angels, hands folded in prayer. Such tattoos are chosen by people who consider themselves deeply religious.
To look at photos of ready works and sketches, of course, is worth, somewhere in fact it is necessary to take inspiration for your own ideas, but the original sketch, created especially for you, certainly wins over a picture from the Internet.
Additional elements on the candle tattoo
The tattoo is invested with a special meaning, which can change thanks to the elements that complement the natal image:
- flowers, are chosen by romantic and delicate natures who believe in love;
- The clock, which symbolizes the frailty and vanity of life, and appeals to the value of time;
- The circle of light, to get rid of the darkness, to discover the world and one's own power;
- drops of wax, speaks of repentance and remorse for the decisions and actions taken;
- the holding hand, could mean outside support or a request for help;
- grating, prison drawing, most often a symbolic depiction of an article.
In the sketch of a candle can burn brightly or smolder, the light is clearly defined or fading in a gust of wind or rain drops.
The variety of themes and subjects, performance techniques and values of the tattoo allows you to pick up the necessary sketch for each person. In this picture, everyone will find something important for themselves, and the hidden meaning will be a daily reminder of the symbolism and important life decisions.
Tattoo with a candle in the criminal world
Among criminals, the candle tattoo is very popular. Depending on the additional elements, the candle can have many different meanings:
- The connection between life and death, the inevitability of the end of life;
- The youth spent in the zone. Most often women do tattoos with such meanings, and the candle can coexist with the cards of the suit of spades and ribbons;
- Criminal luck, or, as it is also called, luck of the thieves;
- the desire to get out as soon as possible.
Old school style candle tattoo
Cross Tattoo for Men
For men, the cross tattoo symbolizes strength, courage and honor, commitment to principles. Such a tattoo on a man's back means "I choose my own destiny and am responsible for it".
Symbol for women
The meaning of the cross tattoo in girls is an expression of defiance, disagreement to meet the requirements of others. The girl herself has the right to be the mistress of her destiny and choose her own path. She knows what she wants from life, and will go to her goal.
Such a tattoo can also mean care of honor, resistance to trials of life, faith in God, the search for the meaning of existence, the attempt to decipher the mysteries of existence. Such tattoos choose deep, spiritually rich individuals.
The meaning of the cross tattoo
The cross was used in the symbolism of different peoples. We can say that the cross is one of the oldest geometric symbols on earth. This symbol has many variants and, as a consequence, has many meanings. In Assyria, it symbolized the four sides of the world: north, south, west, east. In a number of ancient cultures the symbol meant the masculine and feminine. The ancient Babylonians believed that by honoring the cross they could please the moon god.
Nowadays, a tattoo depicting a cross can symbolize:
- Rebirth, the beginning.
- Destiny, the path that each person must take.
- Suffering.
- Life.
- Power.
- Honor, nobility.
- Strength.
- Connection with God.
- Mind, spiritual development.
- Cyclicality, eternity, immortality.
