A raven is a gloomy bird that has become a popular subject for tattoo sketches. The most common version of this tattoo is made in black and white. Often the bird is depicted in flight with its wings outstretched. Such a pose gives the image vibrancy, dynamics.
Another common variant of the sketch shows a raven sitting on a branch in profile, looking at the viewer. The bird is rarely portrayed side by side with other congeners - in most cases, it becomes the center of the composition. This is due to the peculiarities of life of a solitary raven.
In full-face and close-up, such a mysterious bird is also applied to the skin. But in this case, the tattoo sketch is often supplemented with background elements. Possible images in which only the head of the raven without wings torso merges with other objects that match the meaning and atmosphere.
Division of the Raven tattoo into styles and colors
The typical color for raven tattoos is black - blue flecks are possible in darker images. Red is also a popular color that depicts additional elements next to the bird.
If the tattoo has colored details, there are usually few of them. Bright backgrounds (such as a red sunset or blue night) can make the tattoo more expressive. Some owners of such images on the skin add a few colored feathers in the plumage of the bird.
Turning to the style component of the sketch, common styles for a raven are realism and minimalism. Realistic images should match the bird's appearance in detail and resemble a photograph. Minimalism and graphics, on the other hand, try to convey only the basic outlines of the figure.
Modern tattoo designs can combine these styles. For example, a realistic raven head can be complemented by geometric figures. Interesting and bright images are distinguished by such a style, Thrash polka. It is a combination of red and black colors with the addition of letters, as well as deliberately sloppy blots, strokes and dots.
Raven in Abstraction Style
Abstraction forms the image of a raven from a mixture of reality and informal methods of visually depicting objects. Drawings often tend to be perceived from a distance, where the entire tattoo comes into view and it is possible to determine where the wing and where the bird's tail are. Smudged strokes and crisp lines serving as outlines are not uncommon.
Most of the abstract works with a raven are in black.
Raven in Watercolor
A watercolor raven remains black under all circumstances. Only the background color surrounding the bird changes, depending on the personal preferences of the tattoo owner. The colors are not bright and often do not have the property of flowing from one color to another, as can be seen in other Watercolor tattoos.
The preferred color of watercolor stains by many is blue.
Blackwork Raven
A black raven is also a card in the paws if it is applied to the skin in Blackwork style. There are several ways to do this. The first is the bird is applied to clean skin. In this case, there is an opportunity for natural skipping stripes or fragments that act as contour lines, visually forming the image. The second is the overlapping of the old tattoo. For this purpose, a silhouette of a raven is applied to the area of the old one using black dense paint along the contour. Inside the bird details are shaped with white paint, gradually increasing the intensity in the right places with several passes.
Raven in the style of Geometry
Geometry has three ways to depict a raven. To form an image of a bird from geometric figures, and natural forms with a characteristic curve of a beak very much to it or partially transform the feathery, leaving the other part for graphics or realism.
Another method is to decorate the object geometric figures of the secondary plan. For this purpose depict triangles, rhombuses of thin lines in the background, behind the raven.
Limiting the shape of the tattoo to some figure, is also a popular option. A bird in any style is placed inside that geometric figure, such as a rhombus, circle, rectangle, or upside down triangle.
Raven Style Graphics.
The raven graphic gives the intense black color a rest. As is typical of a pencil drawing on paper, the bird is depicted in shades of gray, as if it were drawn on the skin with a slate. The Raven tattoo in the Graphic has shading, but it does not create a realistic volume. The images are flat and have meticulous detail throughout the design.
Linework Raven
In Linework, the raven is presented in a way that is not quite familiar to us. It is colorless, but our imagination completes the missing pieces of the mosaic on its own. The style draws the bird in contour lines, marking with them any curves of the body.
In some versions of the work you can see the shading. They are insignificant, you can characterize them as transparent. The style lacks a background, instead using a decor of secondary elements, such as flowers.
Raven in the Neotraditional style
The Neotraditional Raven has additional shades to the radical black plumage. A deep purple or blue cast adds its own charm to the bird. There are light and dark spots on the feathers besides the cast. The composition rarely consists of a single object, it is often embellished with flowers, jewels, or significant objects that have their own additional semantic weight in combination with the black raven.
Oldschool style raven.
The traditional raven color is based on the contrast of black and white. In this case, the places where logically there should be shadow - black, where the light falls - white. In the tattoos there is no gradient at all, all bordering lines are clear, without smooth transitions. In some versions, the bird's beak and paws are painted in yellow, in others they do gray.
Raven in the style of Realism
Particularly popular are photorealistic images based on dark, monochrome shades, with the raven sitting on a branch and looking away. In this position, it is easier for the artist to achieve a realistic look in the bird. The particular white glare on the black round eye, makes the raven's eye moist and, therefore, alive.
Raven in Sketch Style
The sketch style in the Raven tattoo appears as a rough sketch, which can be confused with Abstraction. A characteristic feature of the drawing is its association with a sketch. It is not clearly drawn wings or appearance. The whole emphasis is built on determining the position of the bird's body, its wingspan, the behavior of the tail, the turn of the head. Everything else is quick strokes denoting some detail. The standard palette of the style is black and gray.
Raven in Steampunk Style
The usual image of a black bird in Steampunk is combining it with a plague doctor, who often has a raven on his shoulder as a "scavenger" or abstracting his head with the doctor himself, due to the characteristic attire of a leather hat, beak-like mask and black as a plumage cloak.
Raven in the style of Thrash Polka.
A black raven is one of the prominent clichéd tattoos in the Thrash polka style along with a wolf, a black rose and a skull. It is the perfect object for creating a bleak picture of impending death and a deep philosophical reflection on earthly life. The image of the bird is embellished with the decor typical of the style, based on the contrast of red and black.
For a more expressive effect it is combined with inscriptions, and the above items such as a human (not necessarily) skull.
Realistic Trash polka: wearable art or trash?
A zealous fan of painting would probably be outraged if a tattoo was called art. Surely a butterfly on a girl's ankle or an anchor on a former sailor's forearm can be compared to Rembrandt portraits and Monet landscapes? But there is a category of people who sincerely consider body patterns to be the ultimate expression of modern art. And it's hard to argue with them, especially when looking at tattoos in the style of Realism Thrash Polka. Complex ornaments, original construction of the drawing, eye-catching coloring - not every artist will repeat such a thing.
Realistic Trash Polka is a style of tattoo that originated a couple of decades ago. Like the patterns of African and Indian warrior tribes, as well as prison and military tattoos, Trash Polka is a message to society. The bearer of the tattoo is trying to convey his philosophy to everyone, challenges the monotony, drab, conservatism. Trash translates as junk and trash, Realistic - the imitation of reality. And that means that in this trend there are no rules, no boundaries, no conventions. But there is a place for epatage and absurdity. Be ready for non-standard lines, original palette and logic-breaking plots.
The parent of Realistic Trash Polka is the German graphic designer Volko Mershki, who took the plunge into nude art in the early 1970s. The young artist became interested in the tattoos of the military serving at a NATO base not far from home. And a long road of creative wanderings, mistakes, achievements began. In 1998, Mershki met a person with whom he "breathed" in the same direction - Simona Pfaff, a partner, a like-minded person, a future spouse.
The creative couple was looking for themselves. They collected clippings from newspapers and magazines, sought out interesting photographs and inscriptions. The main condition for the selection of material was black and white coloring, to which then, when the drawing was transferred to the body, a bright red color was added. It was unusual, stylish, extravagant. So challenging that the work of Volko and Simone caused a furor first among the bohemians and then the entire civilized world.
What is so unusual about Realistic Trash Polka? The style is based on geometric and graphic elements, to the point of surprise, horror and disgusting realistic plots. The drawing is done in black ink and then supplemented with expressive colors, mostly red.
What is drawn? The theme of death is actively used in Thrash Polka, so the skull, skeleton, cross, imitation wounds, internal organs are almost always in the center of the theme. Typography, black and white landscapes, and animalistic drawings take second place. And that is what will be the environment "protagonist", depending on the future of the bearer of the tattoo. Thus, the rigorous skull can be decorated with delicate florals, and a pretty face of a girl - distorted empty eye sockets and grimace of fear.
Realistic Trash Polka looks good on the back, chest, arm, leg. Everywhere, in a word. And in a variety of sizes. They say you just have to trust the master and give him complete discretion.
Compositions with other elements
A popular combination is the raven and the skull. In such images, two compositional options are possible: the bird sits on the skull or its figure smoothly merges with it.
Unlike the raven, the raven is a predator. At unfortunate moments in history, these birds were reputed to be carrion eaters. That's why the grim figure of a raven is sometimes depicted together with crosses. The image of a dial or hourglass also fit perfectly into the composition of such tattoo sketches.
More romantic is the image of a raven with a flower. Most often, the bird is depicted together with a bright red rose - this option is well suited for girls. A raven can be applied with a forest background, tree branches, a key, feathers, as well as a full moon.
Sketches in which there is an eye look original. This element can be placed in the image separately or on the head of the bird as a third. The most common animal with which the raven is combined is the wolf.
Scandinavian runes often become part of tattoo designs with such a bird. This is due to the great role played by the raven in Scandinavian culture. In the myths of the Scandinavians, he accompanies the main god of the pantheon - Odin.
Is it worth doing a tattoo in the form of a thrash polka?
I can never say unequivocally to a client whether a tattoo is right for him or not. It's a matter of personal taste and independence from public opinion. As for my opinion, I think the thrash polka is an attractive style that's only suitable for bold personalities. This trend will gain general popularity in the near future.
Come to me for a consultation, and I will tell you a lot more about the features of this amazing style. I boast own designs of tattoos which already embodied on a skin of clients. In portfolio there is a photo in the just applied and already healed condition.
I work on sketches of new subjects for tattoos. I am ready to realize your ideas too!
Popular Places to Apply
The sketch of the tattoo depends entirely on the place where the image will be applied. For example, a vertical tattoo sketch of a raven sitting on a branch is well suited for application to the hand. The bird with open wings in shape fits perfectly on the chest.
The raven is rarely applied on the lower torso or on the abdomen. Almost never for the bird choose a place on the neck, ankles, waist. Also, it is not recommended to apply a large image of a raven on the forearm, especially close to the wrist.
Suitable places would be the shoulder, shoulder blade, back or chest. Apply such sketches on the chest mainly men. Applying on the thigh is well suited for girls.
Before developing the sketch is to think about not only the location, but also the size of the future tattoo. A small image will fit perfectly on the shoulder blade, and a large - on the back or chest. It is popular to apply a raven to the area of the body where the ribs are located.
