Butterfly Arm Tattoo – 2 Photos of Works on theYou

Meanings of Butterfly Arm Tattoos

Tattooing turned from a tradition of different cultures into a stylish and unique way to decorate the body. This type of body art especially appeals to creative people who want to express their true selves, emotions, and attitude to people around them.

Symbolism is very important in the art of tattooing. Ancient Celts, Native Americans, Chinese, and Slavs associated butterflies with souls of the deceased. In medieval times, people believed that butterflies had something to do with witchcraft and black magic.

Modern meanings are more optimistic. Butterflies represent:

immortal beauty, delicacy, and fragility;
happiness and harmony in a family;
striving for rejuvenation and improvement;
freedom of action, strength of purpose;
femininity and playfulness;
joy and love.

By the way, some believe that a butterfly tattoo is associated with ‘ladies of the night’. However, these prejudices are absolutely groundless. Such an interpretation is definitely offensive both to this graceful creature and to women wearing its image on their body.

A huge diversity of butterflies and moths enables tattoo artists to bring any ideas to life and play with color combinations, shapes, and sizes. For example, an arm tattoo of a butterfly and flowers represents faithfulness and purity of thought, while a combination with patterns and runes speaks about a person’s desire to take control of their life.

Popular Styles for Arm Tattoos

Numerous professional salons offer various services related to lifelong body art. The first and very important step is to choose the placement and design of a future tattoo.

Arms are a very convenient location for tattoo artists. An image of a butterfly can be located:

on one or both hands, creating the effect of spread wings;
on the forearm that can accommodate a sketch of various sizes;
on outer bicep that is the most visible placement;
on the shoulder or elbow.

Drawing a sketch is a separate step. There are many styles and techniques: from simple drawings to photorealistic 3D images. Let’s dive into the world of beauty and discuss the most popular styles for butterfly arm tattoos.

3D

Three-dimensional images are an incredible mix of optical illusions and artistic devices. They are very challenging to execute, but the result is stunning and unique. There can’t be two identical 3D tattoos.

3D body art impresses with its realistic look, making people want to study it closer. Any idea will do – from simple geometric patterns to a complex fantasy scene. Artists especially love to create colored butterflies on the arm. A tattoo can fade a bit with time, but simply remember to get it touched up when needed.

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Linework

A distinctive feature of butterflies executed in the linework style is the use of simple lines that make up a recognizable picture. There are no limitations as to what color to use, but red and black are the most common ones.

Linework is one of the best styles for fans of minimalism, stylized designs, and geometry. The laconic design of a tattoo will appeal to both men and women.

Watercolor

Body art performed with watercolor inks resembles a watercolor painting on the body. This is a highly artistic process that requires great tattooing and shading skills. The end result will look like it is done with common paintbrushes, not with a tattoo machine.

Minimalism

Minimalism is all about laconic and simple compositions. Elegant images in this style are usually small and feature few colors and simple geometric figures. Despite these limitations, such butterfly tattoos look neat and classy.

Realism

This is one of the most difficult techniques that make tattoos look ‘alive’. Not every artist can master it, because even monochrome images feature a myriad on shades, not to mention full-blown colored designs.

For Men

A butterfly tattooed on a man is a true rarity. Men do not agree with women on the symbolism behind this imagery and keep associating butterflies with their loved ones who passed away. If men choose this motif, they most often opt for a black, dark green, or dark blue image.

For Women

It is sometimes believed that eye-catching tattoos depicting butterflies are reserved for women. Young women simply adore vivid images of butterflies. Creative personalities love to combine butterflies with other elements, giving a profound meaning to the design.

Women tend to get butterfly tattoos on wrists, forearms, hands, or fingers. The preferred styles range from the simplest linework to 3D images.

An arm tattoo of a butterfly is a trending motif in the tattoo world in 2023. Feel free to express your individuality with the help of these marvelous insects. Do not forget that the meaning of a tattoo depends solely on you.