The sea can be a scary place. Even if you are heavily equipped and consider yourself a voyager, you can stumble in the rough seas. The sea can appear as peaceful as a cucumber one moment and then shriek like a dragon the next. In this moment of distress, a lighthouse is always like a lifesaver giving guidance. A lighthouse tattoo can be just like that to your life.
Lighthouses have been saving sailors from harm for decades. It basically just shouts “Stay away, Don’t come here.” So, when someone sees a lighthouse they know that the road is rough ahead.
Lighthouse tattoos can also be an indicator of tough times ahead. It will give you a heads up that no matter what happens you have to keep on moving forward.
Contents
- Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Lighthouse Tattoos: Deciphering The Meaning
- Fantastic Lighthouses And Where To Find Them: Pop Culture’s Use Of Lighthouses
- Unbelievable Lighthouse Tattoo Designs For You To Stay Strong!
- Traditional Lighthouse Tattoo
- Forearm Lighthouse Tattoo
- Small Lighthouse Tattoo
- Lighthouse Sleeve Tattoo
- Ship and Lighthouse Tattoo
- Realistic Lighthouse Tattoo
- Bioshock Lighthouse Tattoo
- Lighthouse Memorial Tattoo
- Lighthouse Leg Tattoo
- Feminine Lighthouse Tattoo
- Black and White Lighthouse Tattoo
- Lighthouse Storm Tattoo
- Sailor Jerry Lighthouse Tattoo
- Lighthouse Anchor Tattoo
- Kraken Lighthouse Tattoo
- Barnegat Lighthouse Tattoo
- Lighthouse Chest Tattoo
- Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Tattoo
- Lighthouse Thigh Tattoo
- Geometric Lighthouse Tattoo
- Japanese Lighthouse Tattoo
- Nubble Lighthouse Tattoo
- Watercolor Lighthouse Tattoo
- Lighthouse Compass Tattoo
- Lighthouse Back Tattoo
- Lighthouse Outline Tattoo
- Lighthouse Abstract Tattoo
- Lighthouse Neck Tattoo
- Journey Along The Minds Of A Professional Artist To Get A Grasp of Lighthouse Tattoos
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Lighthouse Tattoos: Deciphering The Meaning
A lighthouse symbolizes a myriad of things. It completely depends on your perspective. For centuries, a lighthouse has been viewed as a metaphor for safety.
When the waters start to get shallow and rocks become more and more perilous, a sudden lighthouse feels like seeing a pond in the middle of a desert. Apart from this, the lighthouse tattoo has many other meanings. Without further ado, let’s dive deep into them.
Beacon of Uniqueness: Lighthouse Tattoo for Personal Expression
You will notice that a lighthouse always stands alone. You won’t find a single lighthouse that has any other building in its near sight.
This teaches us a valuable lesson that in life we have to walk alone. Like voyagers, people will come and go. But at the end of the day, it is you against the world. So you should stop caring what others think and focus only on yourself.
Guiding You Through Life: The Symbolism of Lighthouse Tattoos
You can lose your purpose at any moment in your life. You will start to feel like nothing matters anymore. But the key is to keep going. Imagine, if the sailors in the deep Atlantic stopped their journey and gave up. They would eventually meet their death some way or another.
But just like a lighthouse, you have to continue to search for new paths. Who knows that new path may be your destiny and you will find meaning in life again.
Resilience And Lighthouse Go Hand In Hand
The lighthouses we can see perched on a little rock have been there for a very long time. It has withstood thundering storms and tidal waves alike. That’s why lighthouses symbolize resilience.
Just like lighthouses, no matter what kind of situation we are in, we have to stay strong. We must constantly keep in mind that brightness always follows darkness.
Fantastic Lighthouses And Where To Find Them: Pop Culture’s Use Of Lighthouses
If we start naming movies where a lighthouse was used to represent an abstract idea or just shown for aesthetic effects, then this article will go on forever. In the Great Gatsby movie, the protagonist always looks up to the lighthouse across the other side of his house. He looks at the green light and tells himself that he is closer to achieving his dream.
Remember the Blockbuster movie Titanic? While the lighthouse doesn’t carry that much weight, imagine if there was a lighthouse near the iceberg in which the ship crashed into. Millions of lives could have been saved.
There is also a modern black and white movie titled “The Lighthouse”. The entire movie is shown inside of a lighthouse. The survivability and the descent into madness while living in a small space is depicted amazingly in this movie. Therefore, we can understand just how popular this structure has become. So, it’s evident that people want to engrave it with them forever.
Unbelievable Lighthouse Tattoo Designs For You To Stay Strong!
While many would claim that lighthouses aren’t that much of a structure. It’s just a white building with a light revolving around. Well, it’s true. But this blandness of color creates an enigma which is hard to describe. If you look at a lighthouse, you will feel a sense of emptiness as well as feel hope.
That’s why lighthouse tattoos represent two aspects of life. One is the motivation to keep going while being careful of the current condition. Most artists don’t use too much color while doing lighthouse tattoos. The outline itself is mesmerizing enough. With some variations and touch ups, it’s going to look awesome on your body.
Traditional Lighthouse Tattoo
Nothing beats the traditional lighthouse tattoos as there is a certain aesthetic to it which can’t be found in contemporary tattoos. To achieve the reality, it employs soft hues and finely drawn shapes.
Artists have a lot of flexibility when it comes to traditional lighthouses. You are not confined to make it to a particular format. You can experiment with different things but at the end of the day it has to look vintage.
One of the best designs is to draw the lighthouse inside a bottle. It will appear as though you have captured the lighthouse and that time has stopped completely.
Forearm Lighthouse Tattoo
The ideal location to display your tattoo is always on your forearm. Whenever you twist your hand, you will be able to see the tattoo and keep getting inspired.
The forearm lighthouse tattoo employs a dark black and gray color. Around lighthouses, the skies are not the calmest and are heavily clouded, giving the impression that a storm is just around the corner. That’s why artists use a dark undertone in the background to illuminate the shadows that gather during storms.
While there are some variations where bright colors are used, the best is to keep the tattoo as dark as possible. Usually, you don’t want to draw anything colorful on the forearm because that would beat the purpose.
Small Lighthouse Tattoo
There is a norm to make the tattoos as big as possible so that it gains a lot of attention. However, the best course of action is to adopt a minimalist mindset.
A small lighthouse tattoo in your arm or a leg or even the neck will be far better than tattoos that take up the entire space. The small tattoo would give the impression that a lighthouse is protruding from your skin, and the skin around it would be like the ocean.
Due to its size, artists sometimes don’t flesh out the details with a lot of attention to detail, preferring to give the tattoo an overall appearance that evokes the idea of a lighthouse. But it doesn’t mean it’s easy to do.
Lighthouse Sleeve Tattoo
This tattoo will go perfectly with a sleeveless dress or a t-shirt if you are that kind of person. Otherwise, what would be the point of getting a lighthouse sleeve tattoo if you were going to hide it eventually?
The lighthouse Sleeve tattoo is a bit different than the forearm tattoo as you have more space to work with.The entire forearm can be used to create a panorama-style tattoo.
Artists incorporate a plethora of shapes to make the tattoo stand out. Using dots or spirals is always a good way to go. The color should be mainly black but it doesn’t hurt to experiment with other dark colors.
Ship and Lighthouse Tattoo
The ship and lighthouse are two components of the same atmosphere. You can’t say the word “lighthouse” without associating ship with it.
Lighthouse has been the savior of countless ships that hover aimlessly across the sea. It gives them the direction to either land or in other words safety. That’s why the thought of putting both lighthouse and ship in a tattoo is an interesting concept.
But to make it perfect, the ship has to be drawn to great detail. If you want to convey a sense of dread, you must also include raging waves and a stormy sky. Perspective plays an important role as well. Make sure beforehand if you want your tattoo to be vertical or horizontal.
Realistic Lighthouse Tattoo
If you want to capture the aesthetics of the nautical imagery then there isn’t a better tattoo than the realistic lighthouse tattoo.
As the name suggests, artists have to work meticulously to make it as realistic as possible. The calming nature of the sea along with the wilderness has to be depicted perfectly. A realistic lighthouse tattoo is a work of art that should be cherished for years, not only for show.
Bioshock Lighthouse Tattoo
One of the scariest things you can think of is when lightning and a lighthouse combine. If you have the good fortune to witness it in person or have seen it on camera, it is a moment not to be missed.
Usually, the shock or lightning is done in a bright yellow color to showcase its intensity. You can give a bit of a trippy effect by incorporating elements such as angels and demons.
Lighthouse Memorial Tattoo
Want to pay homage to someone that you love or deeply respected? What better way is to get a lighthouse memorial tattoo. Then they will always live with you.
Usually, a memorial tattoo involves some kind of words or one liners to go with the scenery. Not something too wordy. A little mixture of black and gray color is the right approach to take for this kind of tattoo.
The sizes can be of various types. But the size should be a bit geometric and should go well with your skin. Since it is a tribute, this type of tattoo is rarely thought to be minimalistic and is instead a little more realistic.
Lighthouse Leg Tattoo
This one is for tattoo fans who enjoy exposing a little bit of skin. There is no doubt that you get a lot of space, even though many people don’t think the leg is the best place to have a tattoo.
The size of this kind of tattoo varies but usually it’s on the larger side. With amazing elements such as background birds and shadowy swoops, your lighthouse leg tattoo will come to life.
Feminine Lighthouse Tattoo
Lighthouses are often associated with masculinity as most voyagers who stumble to find a lighthouse are men. But it doesn’t mean that it can be feminine.
Sacagawea, a famous women traveler, led alone a vital expedition in the Louisiana territory. She traveled across countless nautical miles of sea and came across a number of lighthouses. So, you can understand that a lighthouse is not only reserved for men.
To make the tattoo a bit more feminine, you can incorporate elements such as flowers. A single rose or bouquet in the background can carry plenty of meaning to your tattoo.
Black and White Lighthouse Tattoo
You will be astonished to see just how much emotion you can convey with just two colors. Black and white is the core element of all the colors we know and love. It represents the dichotomy between good and bad.
Therefore, black and white lighthouse tattoos can have a myriad of meanings associated with them. The key to this kind of tattoo is utilizing the white color perfectly. Mashing both black and white together doesn’t bring a good outcome. Usually, tattoo artists try to keep the background black and everything they want to highlight is in white.
Lighthouse Storm Tattoo
Whenever you see a lighthouse, you will see that clouds are building up in the background. Lighthouses are there to prevent sailors from going into directions that have bad storms or rough water. Therefore you can understand that these two elements go quite hand in hand.
One of the main components of a storm is lightning. So make sure you draw the lightning with precision. Only then you will be able to ride the lightning.
Sailor Jerry Lighthouse Tattoo
Since the 16th century, there has been a rise in the popularity of sailor tattoos. People began to enjoy getting tattoos of lighthouses, anchors, and tidal waves. They acknowledged the symbolism that each of these carries.
A Hawaiian tattoo artist came into prominence with his distinct style of tattoos associated with the sea. He was so respected that now there is a tattoo style solely dedicated to his name. The Sailor Jerry lighthouse tattoo strives to capture current trends while incorporating nostalgic features from bygone eras.
Lighthouse Anchor Tattoo
Anchors are a pivotal part of the ships as it is used to moor the ships to the bottom of the sea so that it doesn’t drift away by the waves. This symbol represents that people also should stick to their guts and don’t let anything stray them away from their goals.
Usually the lighthouse anchor tattoo comes in various shapes and sizes. Some tattoo artists strive to make the anchor larger than the lighthouse to demonstrate a little more depth, while others simply include it as a background to the side of the tattoo. Either way, it sure looks badass. There is no denying that.
Kraken Lighthouse Tattoo
Imagine you are traveling by sea. Your boat is suddenly encircled by a massive tentacle, and you are soon at the bottom of the sea.. This type of incident is depicted in the lovecraftian horror stories where there was a giant sea creature known as the Kraken who used to run terror.
You can use this terrifying beast in your tattoo. The best way is to draw a Kraken that is slowly crushing the entire lighthouse with its tentacles. How bone chilling is that!
If you want some ideas regarding how to draw a kraken, look up some images of squid. They are quite similar with a huge difference in size.
Barnegat Lighthouse Tattoo
At the edges of Long Beach Island, there stands a lighthouse that has a rich history and events associated with it. Barnegat lighthouse has made its way to a number of novels where it has been the subject of the protector of the tower.
The view from this tower is breathtaking. Therefore, if you want to get a tattoo of the Barnegat lighthouse make sure to include the view. There are also other elements such as foghorn or small rocks which you can add to take your tattoo to the next level.
Lighthouse Chest Tattoo
If you love showing off your chest, then this is the perfect tattoo for you. To be honest, apart from your back, your chest has the highest amount of space to get a tattoo. So, you should definitely think about getting one.
The tattoo itself can be anything related to the sea. From the crescent moon to irony anchors, you can mix multiple elements to create a work of art. Although you can make it colorful, most experts suggest getting the lighthouse chest tattoo in black and gray.
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Tattoo
As we are in the topic of historical lighthouses, it would be a crime not to mention the Cape Hatteras lighthouse. This striped lighthouse is in one of the most dangerous areas of the US southern coastline. You can imagine just how much of a storm and dangerous waves this lighthouse has to withstand daily.
The area of Cape Hatteras is quite humid with very little rain and rare winters. So, when you are getting the tattoo make sure you capture the weather and the atmosphere that is around Cape Hatteras. Try to use vibrant colors such as watercolors that will give subtle details to the tattoo.
Lighthouse Thigh Tattoo
One of the popular requests to any tattoo artist is to give the clients a thigh tattoo. While it may seem inconvenient and a bit uncomfortable but after taking the visuals into consideration, it always starts to make a lot more sense.
Thigh definitely contains a lot more muscle which is always a good thing as the artists have more space to work with. For a lighthouse thigh tattoo, one of the best designs is to mix a lighthouse with another element of nature such as a flower or a sea animal such as a Shark or a Whale. When you wear shorts, the tattoo will feel like it’s going to pop out from your skin.
Geometric Lighthouse Tattoo
When you were young, studying geometry was one of the most painful tasks imaginable. Remembering those unnecessary equations and figures gave us nightmares. But who would’ve known that this knowledge will help us curve the most amazing type of lighthouse tattoo.
As the name suggests, geometric lighthouse tattoos are curved with a lot of precision. The most important factor is the proportion. It cannot look like it’s out of place. The lighthouse has to be completely perpendicular to your body parts. Only then will it make sense.
Japanese Lighthouse Tattoo
Japanese people have a fetish for snakes and other kinds of reptiles. They love these animals to the death for some reason. That’s why Japanese lighthouse tattoos incorporate the lighthouse in a position deeply associated with different kinds of animals. It can be a snake trying to swallow the entire lighthouse or a dragon spreading fire. The options have no bounds.
Nubble Lighthouse Tattoo
Imagine a lighthouse so fascinating that many people believe that aliens have built it. That is what happened for the Nubble Lighthouse. This lighthouse in Maine has been the talk of a lot of speculation since its inception.
The tattoo of Nubble lighthouse employs all the characteristics of this vintage lighthouse. From the picture perfect bricks to the sheathing of iron, you have to depict everything if you want to make it look good. It’s always a great idea to draw some birds flying around the lighthouse as it feels a bit welcoming.
Watercolor Lighthouse Tattoo
Getting tired of all the outline based tattoos? Here is something exceptional for you then. The best thing about watercolor is that it doesn’t break the outline nor does it stay it in the same place like other kind of paints
Instead, it moves around and mixes with your skin as if it’s another iteration of blood. The outcome of it is something to die for. Employ as much color as possible as there are no restrictions when it comes to watercolor lighthouse tattoos. Give the colors their own freedom and be whimsical.
Lighthouse Compass Tattoo
Lighthouse compass tattoo is the combination of two of the saviors of mankind. Just like lighthouses, compasses have been giving direction and taking people to safety for centuries. Therefore, it is obvious that they should go well with each other.
There are numerous styles you can try out when it comes to this kind of tattoos. Here is an innovative one for you completely free of charge. Suppose in the tattoo, a lighthouse is standing proudly on the surface of a compass. How cool is that!
Lighthouse Back Tattoo
The back is arguably the best location to get a lighthouse tattoo. For other places, you always have to consider the spaces. But that is not an issue for the back.
You can even get a huge lighthouse tattoo and it will look amazing. The positioning is important if you are thinking of getting this kind of tattoo. Try to draw it right in the middle or in the edges so that it sticks out better.
Lighthouse Outline Tattoo
Have you heard the story where a painter draws a painting using a lot of details and colors? When he brings it to his master, he looks at it and laughs. The master tells the student that a good painter doesn’t use too much color nor details. He tries to present it in a way where it is both comprehensible and minimalistic. That’s the main principle behind lighthouse outline tattoos.
Shading is important for these kinds of tattoos. Also you have to make the edges a bit more deep compared to other tattoos so that it highlights better.
Lighthouse Abstract Tattoo
What a tattoo means completely depends on how you perceive it. Even the most innocent looking tattoo can mean something nefarious to someone else.
That’s why abstract tattoos are the best. You have no worries at all to offend anyone. Moreover, a lighthouse abstract tattoo can interpret a lot of things. Everytime you see it, it will mean something different to you.
Lighthouse Neck Tattoo
Tattoos are not for hiding. If you are willing to get one, why not get one which you can show to everyone? But beware. A lighthouse neck tattoo isn’t for the faint hearted. It is for the die hard tattoo freaks out there.
Apart from being courageous, a lighthouse neck tattoo is immensely aesthetic. It just blends with your entire persona. Whenever someone sees you, they will think this guy is different. He is not someone who is part of the herd. He is a lone wolf.
Journey Along The Minds Of A Professional Artist To Get A Grasp of Lighthouse Tattoos
After seeing the final outcome, we often don’t realize just how much effort it goes to construct a tattoo from a scratch. While you may freehand it, you will still need a mountain ‘s worth of patience along with multiple finishing touch ups. Lets not forget you have to be competent with inking tools such as cartridges , needles and stencils. Even then there is a good chance you can mess up.
So here is a video which showcases the entire procedure from start to finish of drawing a lighthouse tattoo. Give a quick look. Who knows this can open a spectrum of ideas in your mind.
FAQ
Lighthouse tattoos is a concept that has an endless spectrum to it. While we have covered every nitty gritty of it, there still may be some parts unchecked which you may be searching. So here is a compiled list of questions only for your sake that will help you find what you were looking for.
Q: What Goes Best With A Lighthouse Tattoo?
Ans: A traditional tattoo is the perfect partner to a lighthouse Tattoo. You can get a tattoo of a compass or binocular next to your lighthouse tattoo. This will create a dual meaning such as after finding your true path, you are now looking closely at it and willing to try your hardest.
Q: Do Lighthouse Tattoos Symbolize Religion?
Ans: If you look closely at a lighthouse, you will notice that it resembles a lot like a church. In the 18th century, many christians used to pray to God in lighthouses. Some voyagers even prayed to the lighthouses thinking that it would protect them from the sea. So, there is definitely a religious aspect to lighthouse tattoos.
Q: Are Lighthouse Tattoos Romantic?
Ans: They definitely are. Many of us have a dream of being isolated in a lighthouse with our loved one with no one to disturb us. In traditional literature, there have been many romantic relationships that have formed in some way due to lighthouses. So, get yourself and your soulmate a lighthouse tattoo.
Conclusion
Even if you’ve never seen a lighthouse in person, you will still have a deep interest in them. Out of nowhere a tall building with a light coming out of it stands. It’s as if it’s keeping a watchful eye to everything that’s around it. How intriguing is that!
That’s why people have gone into a frenzy in getting these lovely tattoos. By incorporating components like flowers, anchors and ships with the lighthouse, they are completely personalizing their own tattoos. Soon, you will see everyone having a different lighthouse tattoo not resembling even the slightest with another. That’s the world we want to live in.