Tattoo of a shark: 100 photo ideas, meanings, sketches for girls and guys

One of the oldest and most dangerous inhabitants of the underwater world is considered a shark, which is absolutely deserved. These regal predators thanks to an exaggerated in some way bloodthirstiness can cause terror in humans and at the same time admire their habits and intelligence. In addition, according to numerous archaeological studies, these creatures have lived in the seas and oceans of planet Earth for about forty million years. These facts confirm that sharks survived the dinosaur age and evolved together with lizards. Therefore, it is not surprising that the image of this fish is very popular in artistic symbolism, takes part in the creation of films and inspires fans of the art of body painting. Next in our review we will talk about the shark tattoo.

What does it mean

By nature, the shark is the perfect predator, possessing such amazing qualities as speed, mental acuity and cunning, which are especially evident during the lightning attacks of this animal. Because of this, most people consider them to be bloodthirsty and ruthless creatures, killing for "sport". And although there is a trivial animal instinct behind shark attacks on people, the "intimidating" cultural image of this cartilaginous fish is very stable and there is no escaping it. Therefore, the symbolism of the tattoo with a shark may well mean that in front of you a strong spirit, confident personality, ready to fight to the end, even if you have to be cruel to others. These tattoos are often the choice of purposive individuals who value their freedom and do not depend on public opinion or rules.

A natural feature of the shark, almost constantly be in motion, and if need be to develop the rapid speed can be interpreted in the tattoo, as an ability to adapt to any situation and be a demonstration of their self-expression, a permanent desire for self-development. This can also include the well-known phrase "shark of business", which means that the owner of such a sketch has excellent leadership qualities, has an iron grip, used to always and everything to dominate. In other words, power, strength and the desire to control others in this case are also among the common interpretations of the "predatory" tattoo.

Do not lose sight of the fact that in speech the word "shark" is used in the feminine gender, which for a girl or woman can serve as a strong amulet and emphasize her determination and independence. It is also worth noting that a body worn image with a shark often adorns the bodies of sailors and fishing enthusiasts. In this case, the sketch not only serves as a distinguishing sign of representatives of maritime professions, but also speaks of the courage and fearlessness of its owner.

Ancient meaning of the shark tattoo

If we touch the ancient Polynesian tattoos, the shark represented protection from enemies, predators and other ill-wishers. In Australia, for example, this representative of the sea depths is treated with special reverence and respect, because, according to local residents, the shark connects the forces of land and water. For the ancient inhabitants of America (Indians), the shark symbolized the ability to hunt well, with a particular survivability under all conditions.

No less popular is the shark tattoo among people who have connected their lives with the sea, such as fishermen, sailors or sailors. Tattoo of a shark on the body of a sailor indicated that he was not afraid of the difficulties that await him on the road, and he was proudly ready to overcome them all. Also, such an image from the sailors could symbolize homesickness, an irresistible desire to return there. In the Middle Ages, the shark was considered a strong talisman, and the inhabitants of islands in the Pacific, and even worshiped the image of the shark, considering it an all-powerful creature.

What are the sketches

Having analyzed many photos of finished works and sketches, we can conclude that the sketches with sharks are very diverse, and depending on your attitude towards this creature and what exactly you are going to eventually emphasize or demonstrate, all tattoos can be confidently divided into several categories. The first of them include "threatening" sketches, in which the predator is depicted at the moment of attack. The open mouth with terrible sharp teeth is an integral part of such a drawing. Then there are images of the calm animal, which demonstrate the natural beauty and power of the shark. And complete our small list of drawings in the "cartoon" or "anime" style, which necessarily have a note of humor, such as a cane and a cylinder on the head of the predator. Also popular is the hammerhead shark tattoo. In any of the sketches, the main image of the predator can be complemented by a background of the sea depths, ship, compass, raging waves, a diver swimming in the distance or the image of the sea god Neptune.

Megalodon

The largest shark existed during the dinosaur age, and it was called - Megalodon. Draw the predator will help the following guide:

From the upper right corner of the sheet to the lower left corner of a long arc. At the end of it to form a fish tail. From there draw an almost straight line in the opposite direction, depicting the back.
As a square to form the mouth. Behind it, by dashes, depict the gills.
Arrange the fins. Upper - on his back, in the middle, closer to the head. Two small: close to mark the corner near the tail, far - a little closer to the belly. Two large: the far side of the mouth, near - behind the gills, along the body.
Draw eyes and nostrils. Equip the mouth with many sharp teeth, detail the mouth.
Colors for coloring it is desirable to take: gray (upper body), red (mouth), orange (middle of the mouth) shades.

Tattoo of a hammerhead shark

This type of shark is not only one of the oldest fish, but also differs in the most strange appearance, a more ferocious disposition and aggressiveness. That is why we decided to talk about a tattoo with this type of shark separately. This species has an unusual head shape, similar to the tool of the same name, which on a subconscious level associates it even more with the underwater mysteries of the seas and oceans, going back to the distant past. In addition, the hammerhead shark is famous for its amazing skills of tracking its prey and cunning, which it uses during the hunt. On this basis, sketches depicting this species of sharks can act both as a talisman and symbolize all of the above-mentioned meanings, to which is added cunning.

On a sheet in a cell.

This image of a shark will really appeal to a child, as it will be closer to the cartoon image. Needed:

In the middle of the sheet, draw a figure that looks like an unfinished infinity symbol. The left side of the figure will serve as the nose, the right side - the outline of the grin. Wavy line indicate the eye area.
Draw eyes and pupils. Doris frowning eyebrows. Outline the area of the grin with an additional line, fill the interior with teeth.
Bent line indicate the lower jaw, from it under the grin to draw a line, curve in a wave in the opposite direction to the bottom, stopping at a level below the near eye (lower part of the torso). At the end, draw a tail, pointing, like the muzzle, forward. From the tail, draw a large arc to the far eye (back and head). Separate the head and back with a fin.
Figure the bottom fins: the far one is slightly away from the lower lip, the near one - from the grin, above it dashes to indicate the gills. Divide the dorsal part of the body and abdomen with an arc.
Color the finished drawing in appropriate colors.

For men and women

Tattoo with the image of a shark refers to sketches that do not have a strict gender binding, so it can be confidently called universal. The difference in this case is observed only in the details of the sketch and the meaning that was invested in the drawing by the owner of the tattoo. The personal characteristics of the shark can simultaneously emphasize the character traits and the life position of the representative of any gender. And if we judge about the additional details present in male and female body drawings, the ladies in most variations are inclined to less aggressive and "bloodthirsty" images. Tattoos on the male body in this case are characterized by a more open demonstration of strength and dominance.

A quick way to draw a shark

Like any fish, the shark has an almost cylindrical body.
So, according to this mark, depict this shape in the right proportions for your shark.
Draw an outline of the shark's torso and mouth. It is very easy to draw on it.
On the body of the shark, add guides for the fins.
Gentle movement of the lines begin to form the fins, mouth and eye of the shark.
Work through the whole shark, add details in the form of lines on the body representing the gills, and add teeth.
Add air bubbles to your composition and work in every detail.
Your shark is ready, gently erase any unnecessary lines.

Where to stuff it

When the sketch of the tattoo is already chosen and agreed with the master, each lover of body art is faced with the urgent question - on what part of the body to place the selected image? For the tattoo with a shark, in this case, there are no restrictions, because the symbolism of the sketch does not change depending on its location. Only your personal desire to openly demonstrate the tattoo, or, on the contrary, if possible, to hide it from prying eyes is taken into account. The most common areas of the body are considered the shoulder, forearm, wrist or hand. In this case, men apply the shark in the bicep area, which allows you to emphasize the muscle relief and demonstrate their strong character traits at the same time. Also looks very original image of a fish in the calf or thigh area, on the side, chest or stomach. Daredevils often paint a sketch on the neck or even on the back of the head, thus challenging society and generally accepted rules.

How to draw a gray reef shark

Start by drawing the body of the shark. Choose the desired shape and size. Apply the preliminary strokes.
Add the lower part of the body with the formation of the mouth and lower fins.
Step by step with a pencil, continue the upper and lower body line to the tail.
Connecting the two arc shapes, draw a cute little tail.
Draw a small mark for the nose, a small circle for the eyes and some lines for the gills.
Draw a V-shaped dorsal fin. Its shape and size, choose at your discretion.
Add 2 pectoral fins along the bottom line of the body.
Now erase the outline inside the fins and draw waves on the water.
Using colored markers, paint your shark and trace its lines with a different color marker.

Available Techniques.

The sketch discussed today can be done in any style you find more appealing. If the tattoo is assigned the role of a talisman, then intricate patterns and lines in the style of Polynesia are the most appropriate solution. Old skool slightly distorts the anatomical features of this predatory fish, but provides a clear symbolic meaning. The graphics allow you to be imaginative and combine several directions in one image at the same time. Dotwork is a one hundred percent guarantee of neatness and restraint of the sketch. For the application of bright, colorful drawings with the presence of clear lines, watercolor is used. The most "lively" images, with a maximum transfer of detail tattoo obtained in the technique of realism. Such sketches look like a photo of a predator in reality and look like true masterpieces.

Despite the universality of the shark tattoo, still do not need to make a hasty choice sketch, because any body drawing is not only a demonstration of some qualities and traits of his master. This is first of all your inner world, the so-called second "I". A shark will be the perfect companion for a self-confident person who is stubbornly moving in the direction of his goal, but will not be at all relevant on the body of a shy romantic.

How to draw a cartoon shark face

Cartoon drawings are very beautiful and good for their simplicity. In the above part of the article, we learned how to draw the whole body, but why not just focus on the scary shark face.

With your drawings, you can illustrate to everyone how to draw a shark in pencil.

The great thing about cartoon drawings is that they are very simple and fun.

Why not draw a scary face instead of the whole body. By drawing sharp teeth, eyes full of anger, and filling them with color, you can illustrate the majesty of the shark.

Start drawing the shark's muzzle by drawing a long flattened arc with a large open lower end and a pointed upper right end.
Place a small eye halfway from the upper pointed end.
Draw a small round nostril slightly forward and down from the eye.
In the lower right corner of the head, draw a large oval mouth with jagged teeth. Below the mouth, add a small convex lower jaw.
Just below the top right of the head, draw a line to the top left corner to get a pattern of skin.

The drawing is done. Now you know how easy it is to draw a shark's snout! You can draw it as a single element or you can apply your skills when drawing a full shark.

A little bit about the reputation of sharks

As we mentioned earlier, the image of the shark carries a very contradictory character in the minds of representatives of different peoples of the world. Some people admire the power of these predators, their antiquity and strength, while others consider them to be bloodthirsty monsters that should be subjected to total extermination. However, it is worth remembering that, unlike humans, sharks do not kill for fun, but only for food. Well can predators be vegetarians, so they will not get the necessary nutrients for their life. In addition, contrary to the firm beliefs of drama buffs, sharks very rarely hunt humans. If this predator does attack humans, it is solely by mistake, confusing them with some oceanic mammal.

Oldschool

Surely many people know that oldschool in English means "old school. It's not hard to guess that this style in tattoo art was popular even before the invention of a special machine for applying drawings to the human body. The main theme of old-school was just everything related to the sea: fish, anchors, chains, mermaids, fancy inscriptions. A characteristic feature of this style is the use of bright colors and black outline. Sometimes works in the style of old-school can resemble children's drawings, so they are colorful and uncomplicated. Nevertheless, oldschool is still very popular.

Drawing tools

As with most of our pencil drawing workshops, you won't need a large set of supplies. Chances are, you already have all of these at home. And if not, you can buy all the materials at any stationery store.

So, for master classes on drawing a shark You will need:

HB drawing pencil
Drawing paper 200g/m3
Eraser
A clerical knife for sharpening a pencil

This is the minimum set of materials that you will need in drawing. By the way, it is better to take thicker paper, at least a landscape sheet, because office paper is very thin, only 80 g/m3 and the drawing will not look very good on such paper.

Polynesian Tattoo Guide. Part 2

Chapter 3: Symbols and Their Meaning.

This chapter provides a brief list of the most common symbols and motifs. There are many more symbols than we list here, but either their meaning is not known or we cannot be completely sure of it. Oceania has dozens of large islands and hundreds of small ones, so it is almost impossible to give a single definition for each symbol. For the same reason it is incredibly difficult to "read" the already ready tattoo - because a lot depends directly on the choice of tattoo-master. Large elements are composed of smaller ones, each of which has its own meaning, which affects the overall meaning. Most of the known symbols come from the Marquesan tradition, the most complete record of which appeared in 1928 based on notes made by Carl von den Stein during a trip in 1897-98.

Enata.

The human figure, or enata means man or woman...or less commonly... deity. This pattern can be placed in a tattoo to denote friends, loved ones и dearest people, relatives .. If placed upside down in a tattoo, this pattern will signify .. Below I give some examples showing how the pattern can evolve artistically and acquire new versions of the image:

First Simplification:

Second Simplification.:

Even more stylized, this motif is called ani ata - people forming a circle. In translation, this motif is called "cloudy sky." According to legend, Rangi (Heaven) and Papa (Earth) once came incredibly close to each other and their children lived between them in total darkness until a deified man pushed Rangi back up and thus let the light in. This is a common motif for all Polynesian peoples and is used to represent skyas well as ancestorsprotecting their descendants.

Human figures paired together traditionally represent weddings, marriages.:

Often the image of a man and a woman is different:

Warrior.

Another version of the human figure is often used to represent warriorespecially if the figure is holding a spear above his head:

Like the others this original image generates a variety of simplified patterns.The version b leaves only the torso and head from the original picture:

Spear.

Another classic symbol to represent the warrior - lance:

Often the spear is styled in a circle of tips, there are several variants of the image:

Likewise, this pattern can symbolize any sharp objects. and even sting of a sea stingray or other animal.

Tesla, a hoe.

This stone tool was used for many purposes, including warfare. Mostly, it was used to carve canoes and build houses. In the tattoo, it symbolizes skill, overcoming obstacles, strength (physical and spiritual), authority.

Centipede.

Even if the poisonous spines on the head of the millipede are not depicted, it still means an aggressive environment, nature, the animal beginning .. In the tattoo, it symbolizes fighting spirit, warriors, determination, rebellion. As usual, below are simplified images:

Stick (measure).

A flat short truncheon used in battles mainly by chiefs. In this case, this symbol means chief, leader, honor, respect, greatness, nobility, nobility - in short, all the qualities inherent in a tribal chief.

Lizard.

Lizard or gecko in Polynesian is pronounced mo'o or moko and plays an important role in the Polynesian myths. The gods (atua) and spirits often appear to humans in the form of a gecko and perhaps that explains why the design elements used to represent the lizard are very similar to those used to represent humans. Lizards are powerful creatures that can bring luck, connection with the gods, access to the invisible world. At the same time, they can bring death or bad signs of disrespectful people. In Australia, lizards symbolize regeneration, transformation, survival in difficult conditions. In Maori culture, they are rather protectors and caretakers, so they are often buried in new, freshly built homes, as well as carved on the walls. In the same way, the lizard is sometimes perceived as the ancestor of man. The lizard is also sometimes perceived as the ancestor of man, and this probably explains the similarity between the simplified depiction of the gecko and man:

In addition, "moko" is the name of Maori facial tattoos, also incredibly sacred, so perhaps the name "moko" came from earlier drawings in which the image of a lizard was considered a sign of divine origin. These motifs are intrinsic to early Hawaiian tattooing, so it is easy to assume that the travelers who discovered these lands knew them. The myths say that only people of divine origin can wear a moko, and non-Maori (non-Maori, "pakeha") people should not wear them. The moko elements are as important as their placement, communicating information about the wearer, his rank and that of his ancestors. However, such people can wear Kirituhi (literally - blackened skin) or other decorative styles that can be applied anywhere and by anyone.

Turtle.

The turtle ("honu") is another important creature in all Polynesian cultures. It has several meanings, mainly - health, fertility, long life, peace, rest, seafaring. In Polynesian, the word "hono" also means "to join, to stitch together," which explains such meanings of this symbol as community, family (This can also be explained by the fact that turtles cross great distances to return to the place of their birth and there give life to the next generation). The ocean is life for islanders, but it is also a place of rest. Earth and the ocean are two halves of the world and the turtle can exist in both halves and move freely between them. From this point of view, it is believed that the turtle is just as free to travel from the world of the living to the world of the dead and back, accompanying the dead on their final journey, safely delivering them to the place of eternal rest. To safely depict the deceased being guided by a turtle to its place of rest, it must be placed on or near the image of the shell.

Two symbols similar to the human image (enata) are the traditional depiction of the turtle:

The other pattern denoting the turtle mimics its shell:

Fish.

Fish is the main type of food for the islanders. This symbol means wealth, abundance, prosperity, life. Fish, as a symbol of abundance, is painted on the walls of houses and canoes, attracting the blessing of the gods.

Styling:

Another pattern, depicting fish scales, brings protection to the wearer:

Shark.

According to Hawaiian legend, a woman was once bitten on the ankle by a shark while swimming. Even though the shark was her totem, she grabbed it without recognizing it. The woman shouted her name loudly and the shark immediately let her go, apologizing for her mistake. The shark promised that this mistake would not happen again, as the woman's ankle would be scarred by her teeth and she would immediately recognize her. Since then, many tribes have been putting a pattern of shark teeth ("niho mano") on their ankles, which provides them protection in the water.

Shark teeth also signify protection, guidance, strength, fearlessness. At the same time, in many cultures the shark is associated with adaptability, adaptability.

Hammerhead shark.

Hammerhead shark symbolizes tenacity, strength and determination. At the same time, it has the meaning of community, of sociality. because this species always moves in a group of several individuals.

Bonito (tuna).

A pattern similar to the teeth of a shark is called a "tuna tail" or "hiku-atu". Means vigor, dexterity, skill and abundance.

The moray.

In Polynesian myths, the moray is mainly played by of an evil spirit. Most stories describe how morays deceive and devour people. Symbolizes Evil spirits, misfortune, disease.

Whale.

The whale symbolizes abundance, family, caring, nurturing.

Other sea creatures with specific meanings:

Dolphins symbolize playfulness, joy and friendship.

Barracudas - ferocity и determination.

Marlins - speed и sharp mind, Directionality to a goal.

Stingrays - elegance, wisdom, protection и freedom.

Sea urchins are sharp and tough on the outside, but soft and tasty on the inside. For this reason, they symbolize light in the dark.

Orcas are. strength, family, speed.

Ornamental

Ornamental is probably one of the oldest styles of tattoo art. In the modern world, tattoos in the ornamental style have not lost their popularity, although their meaning is completely different. In the modern world tattoos in the style of ornamental do not lose their popularity, although have a completely different meaning. It is not uncommon to depict sharks in this style, which only emphasizes the ancient origin of these amazing inhabitants of the ocean depths. The distinctive feature of the ornamental is a whimsical intertwining of rich black patterns.