As the master of evil and a symbol of temptation, God’s nemesis Lucifer, or Satan as he is more often referred to, has proved to be a popular image used in body art designs by those who favor tats with more edge and attitude. However, while a devil tattoo design certainly indicates a darker side to the individual’s personality, some of the more frightening depictions are often chosen as much for their shock value, as for their symbolism. Some illustrations simply show the head and shoulders with traditional pointy faced and eared red devil complete with horns while others show full bodied images with the trademark pitchfork tail and hoofed feet.

According to the bible, several of Jesus disciples were fishermen so the sign of the fish, or Ichthys as it was originally referred to, has been a symbol of Christianity for centuries. In modern times, there are many Jesus Fish tattoos that have proved to be a popular design among young Christians today who opt to express their devotion to their faith through their choice of body art. This symbol consists of two intersecting arcs with the ends of the one on the right extending beyond the cross section so that is closely resembles the shape of a fish. These are suitable for tattoo designs for a variety of different body parts however they are most favoured as smaller images.

If you have an interest in tattoos then you may be aware of a phenomenal trend that has emerged in recent years, which has seen written body art designs replace more commonly used picture imagery. These are popular for a wide range of themes including many designs for scripture tattoo designs which can be depicted in a variety of different font types and sizes. There are many elaborate old fashioned writing styles that look amazing when inked on the human body as well as a variety of differing lettering styles whether you want bold block letters for a strong visual impact or a gothic style to give your design an authentic medieval feel.

It has been the conclusion of many philosophers over the centuries that good and evil go hand in hand because one simply could not exist without the other and this reflecting in many body art designs today following a theme of faith. There are now just as many designs for evil tattoos as there are for more angelic and virtuous ones, with many also incorporating both sides. There are some beautiful images of angels and demons entwined in battle to depict the ongoing fight of good against evil as well as numerous designs featuring the devil, the grim reaper and popular mythological creatures like the vampire and werewolf, as well as monstrous movie creations like Freddy Kruger and Chucky the demon doll.

The demand for body art continues to grow and many tattoo enthusiasts opt for a design that reflects their personality or beliefs and this includes popular peace tattoos which are popular with people of all ages. From the bible’s symbolic dove and olive branch, to the universally recognised peace symbol, there are many different images that can be incorporated into designs of this kind. These include lesser know symbols which are proving more and more popular in our increasingly troubled modern times such as the broken rifle that originates from the War Resisters International movement in the early 20th Century or the White Poppy. The latter was adopted by pacifists as a contrast to the Red Poppy which remembered fallen and serving soldiers.

Whether you are a Christian, Catholic, Buddhist or Jew with an interest in body art, you will find many different designs available for religious tattoo art today. These range considerably in size, shape and style whether you want a simplistic design for a smaller body part or a more intricately detailed one for a larger canvas. From the Latin Cross and Crucifix, to the symbolic dove and olive branch, there are numerous images that can be used for this purpose. Among the most popular are images of Jesus – full bodied or with the head and shoulders only – often adorned with a crown of thorns, archangels on their own or combined in battle with one of Lucifer’s fallen angels and also written designs featuring scriptures and biblical verse quotations.

There are many beautiful written designs that use words and text in place of pictorial body art images and this has proved to be a popular trend in recent years that continues to grow. If you are considering a design that reflects your faith and religious beliefs, then you may want to take a look at scripture tattoo designs as these are ideal for this purpose but also tie in with this current fad too. There are certain elements that should be considered before you proceed including the amount of words involved in the chosen text as it needs to be scaled to suit the desired placement areas. Longer, more intricately detailed passages are most popular for areas like the back, side, chest and forearms.

Many female body art fans seem to be attracted to winged beings like the butterfly, dragonfly, angel and fairy not least because these images often have both symbolic and visual merit but also because these are very versatile images that come in many styles. Take for example, popular fairy tattoos for which there are a multitude of different options from cartoon favorites like Peter Pan’s Tinker bell and Pinocchio’s Blue Fairy to more fantastical designs that incorporate butterfly wings and elfin-like features onto this popular image. There are even darker designs that depicted ‘bad fairies’ which transforms the fluffier feminine version of this image to give it a more sinister and menacing air.

Many tattoo enthusiasts are feeling the allure of tribal artwork whether it is depicted in the style of ancient civilizations like the Celts or Maoris or in more modern imagery such as those derived from the Native American Indian culture. Among the most popular designs for the latter is the symbolic dreamcatcher tattoo which have proved to be immensely popular with today’s body art fans thanks to celebrity endorsement from the likes of Miley Cyrus. The actress and pop star has a design of this kind inked at the top of her rib cage just below her underarm area and this seems to be a popular placement area for this design, despite being a notoriously sensitive area to have inked.

Even in our modern age, there are still those who believe that God considered tattooing to be a pagan act and did not want his followers ‘defiling’ their bodies in this manner. This has been widely debated however and many now see this view as outdated so many young Christians are opting for body art designs using iconic imagery like thee Latin cross or Jesus fish to reflect their religious beliefs and as a celebration of their faith.

There has been a phenomenal demand for body art designs in recent years that use text or written characters to replace the more widely accepted pictorial images however any tattoos of this nature inked in a foreign language or script have particular kudos. These include very distinctive Hebrew tattoos which can reflect a deep devotion to the faith or simply a love of the more spiritual aspects associated with related theological practices such as Kaballah. The Hebrew alphabet consists of twenty seven characters, or letters, and is written and read from right to left. Among the most popular phrases and quotes used in body art designs are those relating to love, faith and inner strength.

When it comes to angelic beings, there are many different kinds of angels which can be used for body art designs following this theme from male and female, young and old, good or evil, however my personal favorite has to be cute and cuddly cherub tattoos. These are literally baby angels with golden curls and chubby cheeks wearing very little other than their wings and a small loin cloth, although some designs depict them entirely nude. Many of these also show these celestial beings as carrying a bow and arrow and this is down to one of the best known cherubs, who is of course the universally recognized Cupid synonymous with love and romance.

There are many faith related body art designs that follow both religious and spiritual practices however these are also popular with those who have little or no theological beliefs, simply because they like the artistic value provided by them. Millions of travelers flock to Thailand on holiday every year and many of them come back with Sanskrit tattoos to serve as a reminder of their time in this Buddhist country. However this trend has caused a bit of a stir in recent times to such an extent that their were calls for the government to prohibit this practice as local people deemed this to be disrespectful to true followers of Buddha as opposed to those who sport these designs for superficial reasons.

If you want to pay homage to the memory of cherished loved one then you may want to express your eternal love for a deceased friend, lover or child with one of the many designs available for memorial tattoos. While many of these incorporate a banner, often within a heart and inked with the deceased’s name, initials or dates and accompanied by a floral image like the rose or lily, there are many differing ways these can be represented. There are some beautiful designs of this kind featuring angels in one form or another, from baby-faced cherubs – a poignant but very relevant choice for those mourning a child – to guardian angels inked on the skin to remind the wearer that the departed is still looking over them.

There are many iconic religious symbols and images that are widely requested for body art designs following a theme of faith, particularly among followers of Christianity and Catholicism; however a Jesus tattoo has to be one of the most favored overall. These are often beautifully detailed works of art that can be depicted in a variety of different ways whether the individual prefers a full-bodied version or one that focuses on the facial features only. The former often include Christ on the cross while many of the latter show His face writhing in agony with a crown of thorns on His head but either can be scaled to suit differing skin surfaces or incorporated with related imagery for larger more elaborate designs.

When it comes to iconic body art designs that follow a religious theme, there is one particular image that comes to mind and shines out above the rest. I am of course referring to the beautiful sacred heart tattoo, a popular design among followers of the Roman Catholic faith in particular and a side from its artistic value this is also a potent image whose origins can be traced back centuries. A young nun in a French monastery was among the first to see this symbol in a vision when Jesus appeared to her over an eighteen month period with his ‘burning’ heart exposed in his chest, surrounded by flames and radiating with love.

In the modern world of tattooing, more and more body art fans are seeking designs with more profound significance, whether this is a matter of personal preference or because the design represents something of great importance to the individual. The latter often include themes relating to the individual’s personal beliefs, morals, faith and peace sign tattoos definitely come into this category. These are often accompanied by other images of a similar nature such as the dove and olive branch as well as rainbow imagery, which is also a popular choice as the background to contrast against the distinctive black sign contained within a circle, which is synonymous with this movement.