Vampire Tattoos

You probably won't encounter vampire tattoos as often as you find designs filled with roses, butterflies or stars. However, there is a certain amount of demand for this genre, and most tattoo artists are capable of creating awesome original works of ink when the occasion arises.

Of all the things that go bump in the night, the vampire seems to have captured the human imagination the most. There's just something compelling about a creature that was once human, but that now stalks those he once walked among. Real or imagined, vampires live in the periphery of our collective psyche.

For some of us, that periphery isn't quite close enough. Undeniably, some people like to flirt with the unknown, the unexplored, the unimaginable. In a way, vampire tattoos can make the illusion seem more real. The ink leaves an indelible mark that the ellusive vampire never can.

If you're intrigued by the legend of these creatures, vampire tattoos might hold a fascination for you. There are plenty of full-figure vampire tats to view in flash art at your local tattoo shop. If you're looking for something slightly less pedestrian, consider one of these designs.

The tell-tale kiss of the vampire certainly makes a fascinating tattoo design. Two fresh puncture holes still weeping blood leave a very strong impression. Perhaps a bit too strong in some circles. It's very difficult to cover a neck tattoo, the favorite location for this design, and not all employers will tolerate your body art. If you do like the idea of inking a vampire bite somewhere on your body, think about alternative locations that can be covered up during business hours. The upper chest, just above the breast or in the curve of a waist are just a few places to ink this seductive design.

Vampire skulls put a different twist on a popular tattoo genre. Just add a set of dripping fangs to your favorite bone man and the skull immediately takes on a more sinister nature, as if such a thing were possible.

Of course, you can give your vampire skull even more character with an additional embellishment or two. A spider just emerging from an empty eye socket lends a chilling effect to the scene. On the other hand, a single long-stemmed rose inked in blood red creates an aura of fatal romance. Webs are also a favorite detail many artists add to this type of design.

Bats still hold a powerful place in vampire lore, although Ann Rice has done a lot to dispel the notion that fashionable vampires morph into these "children of the night" as Bram Stoker once called them. Still, a set of bat wings artfully tattooed on your back can make a very dramatic statement, especially the first time you reveal them to someone.

A design like this gives your artist a chance to work in some fine details. The wings are filled with tiny veins, and each "spine" is actually the extension of a single finger. Bat wings are usually inked in dark brown or black, but if the wings are outstretched, they can be shaded with flesh tone to make them appear more like skin.

Looking for a design that is a little less Gothic, yet still filled with a certain sense of dark awe? A tribal vampire tattoo will fill the bill quite well. Tribal designs are often used to anchor more common tattoo designs. For vampire tattoos, consider adding a single vampiric element to the center of the piece. You might choose a single drop of bright red blood against the slashes of a tribal band. A blood red ruby would give a similar effect. A set of hypnotic vampire eyes would also blend well with this style.

You might even decide to go totally tribal. In this case, your artist would create the element of your choice as viewed through the tribal prism. A bat's wings become sharp arcing lines; fangs become scythes. The possibilities are truly endless.

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