American Traditional Tattoo

      Old School, or American Traditional is a style of tattoo that is characterized by its use of bold, black outlines, limited color palette, little to no shading, and its simplified design elements. The American Traditional style of tattooing emerged around the late eighteenth century, early nineteenth century. The tattoos were poplar among sailors as a way of marking their bodies for identification. It was something unique to them and them only. Also, since they could not keep many possessions with them, sailors used tattooing to serve as mementos for family members or any significant events they themselves had weathered in their life. As had been mentioned above, American Traditional/Old School tattoos feature bold, black lines, a limited color palette, little to no shading and a simplified design. Along with these four requirements are some common motifs often found in this tattoo style. Common motifs include: Pinup Girls, mermaids, swallows and sparrows, sacred hearts and hearts,

anchors, eagles, military symbols (mostly Navy), Skulls and Daggers, snakes, roses, beveled/nautical stars, and banners. The "limited" style of these tattoos was characterized y  the tattooing technology of the time. Tattoo machines (if they used a machine at all) were primitive in comparison to today's methods and practices. Line width and shape and were limited. The colors were also limited to the availability of resources able to produce pigment that would hold in the skin. Anything from Urine to Gunpowder was used as a viable way to color a tattoo.