Planning to get inked?

Minimalist, geometric designs and plant stencils are some of the trending tattoo designs for this year.

Less is more is the phrase that tattoo lovers are increasingly opting for. Minimalist, miniature designs as well as geometric and small animal designs are some of the creatives in demand this year, say tattoo experts.

Tattoo artists Vikas Malani and Sudhir Rao have listed the top trends for this year:

* Minimalist: Often, it’s the minuscule and subtle tattoos that have a great effect. They don’t immediately grab your attention when you meet someone, so the surprise is greater when such a small tattoo peeks out from somewhere. Individuals also take to small tattoos to put across a certain powerful message.

* Geometric: Along with minimalist tattoos, we are seeing a lot of mandalas and geometric patterns that people look at getting done. Geometric tattoo form is going to see a surge this year. Geometric tattoo is the visualisation of balance, perfection, symmetry and harmony. A geometric tattoo should be flawless which is why it is important to find a skilled artist who is able to execute your design. Geometric tattoos not only include circles and squares; artists can transform wolf/feather/ your zodiac sign or flower in geometric form as well.

Mandala and geometric tattoo designs are sacred and fall into the category of spiritual tattoos as they have a deeper meaning,which make them very different from the rest. Tattoo trends may come and go, but these type of tattoos are here to stay.

* Gemstone: From diamonds to emeralds, there are various types of jewel tattoos that are popular. A blue gem signifies serenity, love and affection. They can be given a three-dimensional realistic effect to make them look real and shiny. These tattoos can also be juxtaposed with other art forms like mandalas for a unique design.

* Animals: These tattoos are symbolic, personal and have a strong meaning .Those who opt for animal tattoos commonly select an animal design that represents a quality that the person herself/himself believes in. A peacock represents beauty, pride and dignity, while a cat stands for mystery, power, femininity. A lion denotes leadership and strength. If you want to get unique animal tattoos, you can try geometric animal tattoos as well.

* Plant stencil: The plants and flowers are directly dipped into the stencil ink, instead of using hand drawn stencils to make the design. The tattoos are then done along the lines of the plant’s stencil followed by shading — thereby creating a realistic version of the plant.

Source: ians