Does a character in your novel have a tattoo that provides vital information in a sub-plot you’re writing? Do you need some help in explaining the tattoo? Read on to learn how to describe a tattoo in a story.
1. Intricate
Definition
Having several interlocking parts.
Examples
“The tattoo was so intricate that you couldn’t tell where one part ended and another part began.”
“I couldn’t stop tracing my fingers over the intricate tattoo pattern; there didn’t seem to be an ending.”
How it Adds Description
Intricate suggests that the tattoo has a lot of really fine details that took a lot of time to get just right. If the tattoo is mystical or if it is intended to move, then describing it as intricate will allow the reader to imagine the kind of magical effort that went into creating it.
2. Elaborate
Definition
Complex or complicated with many fine details or elements.
Examples
“The original tattoo design was no where near as elaborate as what he finally put on my arm.”
“The overlapping images along his back and arms created a single elaborate tattoo with a lot of stories and characters.”
How it Adds Description
As with intricate, describing a tattoo as elaborate creates a better image in your reader’s mind of how big and detailed the tattoo is supposed to be. Elaborate is a good way to describe a tattoo that is meant to tell a story or pass on folklore.
3. Simple
Definition
Without fine or detailed elements; straightforward.
Examples
“I decided to get a small, simple tattoo of a butterfly first, on my shoulder, to make sure I could handle the pain.”
“Even though it was a simple tattoo—just a semi-colon—it held a lot of meaning.”
How it Adds Description
Contrary to intricate and elaborate, some tattoos can be simple and have just as much, if not more impact, as the more detailed, story-telling ones. Think of the meaning of the semi-colon (suicide survivor) or the various cancer-awareness ribbons. Those are simple tattoos but have deep meaning to the people who adorn them.
4. Half sleeve
Definition
Beginning at either the shoulder or the wrist and reaching to the elbow only.
Examples
“He had a half sleeve tattoo on each arm, each one of a different child.”
“I could see the half sleeve tattoo peeking out from under his rolled-up shirt sleeve.”
How it Adds Description
Half sleeve helps your reader envision how big your character’s tattoo is by defining exactly where it exists on their body. A half sleeve tattoo also usually implies that the design is relevant (because it takes up such a large, prominent part of the body) or unfinished (as most develop them into a full arm tattoo).
5. Outline
Definition
- A drawing with no color or shading.
- The outer markings of a picture with little to no details inside it.
Examples
“He couldn’t help but notice her outline tattoo of a small dog, and he wondered what was so important about it.”
“She’ll eventually get it shaded in but, for the time being, she quite liked her outline tattoo.”
How it Adds Description
Outline only tattoos are interesting because they can be either simple or elaborate, depending on the context. In the examples above, the dog outline tattoo is simple because the reader envisions the basics of a dog: ears, feet, body, and tail. The second example could be something more intricate since there is an intention for shading; maybe the outline is that of a tribal symbol or a flower and vines. Either way, the reader knows there is no color, only black ink, and little shading.
6. Meaningful
Definition
- Having a reason or purpose.
- Important or poignant.
Examples
“The artist designed one of her most meaningful tattoos–two awareness ribbons interlocking around a candle—to represent the deaths of the two most important people in her life.”
“While not all of his tattoos were relevant, the most meaningful tattoo he had was on his chest, right over his heart.”
How it Adds Description
People get tattoos for different reasons: because they like the art, because they like getting tattooed, or because they want to remember something important. Using meaningful to describe a tattoo shows the reader straightaway that the character has something or someone they hold dear enough to imprint on their body for the rest of their lives.
7. Tribal
Definition
Including symbolism or traits characteristic of a certain culture or group of people.
Examples
“She was shocked to find out her new tribal tattoo meant ‘garbage’ instead of ‘courage,’ like the artist told her.”
“The tribal tattoo included Nordic runes and Japanese characters to represent his heritage.”
How it Adds Description
Now that there are a variety of tattoos out there, it’s important to describe the kind of tattoo your character has so the reader can begin to imagine it. Tribal tattoos have distinctive looks, depending on the culture being represented, and describing them as tribal (as well as which culture) will help the reader imagine it more easily.
8. Celtic
Definition
- Related to the Celts.
- A design included thick, infinite bands or interlocking circles.
Examples
“The Celtic tattoo encircled his arm in a thick band.”
“The new couple got matching Celtic knot tattoos on their ring fingers to represent their eternal love.”
How it Adds Description
Celtic tattoos are a very specific kind of tribal tattoo with which most readers are familiar. The Celtic knot tattoo (often included at least 3 interlocking rings) is one of the most popular tattoos that readers would be most familiar and often signifies either magic or antiquity.
9. Snaked
Definition
To wind or curl around something.
Examples
“The vine tattoo snaked its way down his arm, from his shoulder to his wrist.”
“The tribal tattoo snaked around her thigh and up the small of her back.”
How it Adds Description
If you want to describe more how the tattoo looks rather than what kind of tattoo it is, describe how it snakes around a person’s body part. Not only does the verb visually represent how the tattoo is laid out but also gives it an ominous feeling.
10. Lifelike
Definition
- Looks as if it is real.
- Could be mistaken for a photograph.
Examples
“The portrait was so lifelike; he almost cried seeing his baby girl’s face again.”
“The tattoo artist was known for his lifelike tattoos, but this was not one of them.”
How it Adds Description
If you want the tattoo to come to life, either literally or figuratively, then describe it as lifelike. Especially if the tattoo is based on a photograph, lifelike will allow the reader to visualize how good the details are on the tattoo and imagine it looking like the original.