Commonly associated with knowledge generation , the owl has been revered for a long time, from the most ancient civilizations. Worship of his figure began in the Ancient Egypt, for it was considered the favorite bird of the god of wisdom, Thoth.
The owl has not lost its importance over the years, on the contrary, it is still a bird that exercises great influence on contemporary society, no wonder there are so many tattoos in his honor.
“The owl is the wisest animal of all, for the more it sees, the less it speaks” – African Proverb
As a nocturnal hunter, the owl has the ability to rotate its neck up to 270º to observe what is happening around it, remaining with the rest of the body static. Remarkable features of its anatomy such as the big eyes and the rounded body are greatly used by artists when it comes to getting an owl tattoo, but there are several other details that can make your design even more incredible. In this post we bring 60 inspiring owl tattoo ideas and explain the meaning it carries.
owl tattoo meaning
Like most animals, the owl has a vast symbology. She represents the knowledge, wisdom and attention, being commonly associated with philosophy. This association dates back to ancient times, as the Greeks considered the night as the right moment for the philosophical thought. Due to its nature as a nocturnal animal, the owl was seen by the Greeks as a symbol of the search for knowledge.
“The night is purer than the day, it is better for thinking, loving and dreaming. At night everything is more intense, more real. The echo of words that were spoken during the day takes on a new and deeper meaning.” – Elie Wiesel
As she spends most of the night observing what is going on around her, she needs to keep an eye out for her nocturnal hunt to be successful. In this way, the attention and wakefulness of owls are characteristics that give an even more special meaning to the tattoo.
As it is a nocturnal and silent bird, the owl is also very associated with the mysticism. There are those who believe that the animal is endowed with Psychic powers and has a spiritual connection with the beyond-world, which makes his figure symbolize the obscurity and the supernatural.
“The fact that the owl is such an effective hunter is due to its extremely keen hearing and its ability to see in the dark. In addition, it has a very silent flight thanks to the feathers on its wings that act as silencers, preventing it from being detected.”
Another very strong meaning of the owl tattoo are the freedom and vision accurate. The first is due to the fact that the owl is a free bird, capable of flying anywhere at the most convenient time; the second is due to his ability to see precisely, even at night, which can be a great metaphor for people who want to express their keen vision, whether in the business or entertainment world. make sound decisions in difficult times.
Owl Tattoo Pictures and Ideas
With a variety of designs Incredibly, the owl tattoo is a great option for both men and women. Furthermore, it can be done in practically any part of the body in several different sizes. From small and delicate tattoos to large and complex tattoos, the owl figure makes a infinity of possibilities as presented in the topics below.
Women
There is no glaring difference between the female and male owl tattoo. The tattoo has a high neutrality and it suits both genres perfectly without needing major alterations. What you can do to give an owl tattoo a more feminine touch is to work with the lighter colors and strokes no design.
Men
The male audience generally prefers owl tattoos that are larger and that emphasize the dark side of the animal. Therefore, elements that show the mysticism about the owl, such as the clock and forest, are frequently adopted.
For larger tattoos, ideally the owl has its wings spread out. Thus, the space occupied by it is greater and the tattoo is even more imposing.
On Leg / Thigh
The owl tattoo on the leg/thigh is often great e full of details, so take advantage of the large amount of space available to think of charming designs!
On the Calf / Potato
The rounded shape of the owl's body matches the calf space perfectly. In this region, the most common tattoos are those that take advantage of the animal's entire body to fill the spot more evenly.
on the finger
The less the better. Keep this in mind when choosing a design for your finger tattoo. Remember that the finger is a place on the body that is very exposed to the sun and that it is very small, so the tattoo must be simple and direct, without too many unnecessary details or adornments.
The tattoo could be a reference to a movie or series that you really like. Use creativity to create amazing references!
On the arm
The upper arm is a great spot to get an owl tattoo! think about incorporate other elements to your tattoo, like a forest for example. Thus, it is possible to close the arm with a tattoo that oozes meaning and still has an amazing look.
As it is the natural habitat of the owl, the forest is a recurring element in this type of tattoo. It can also add an air of mystery to the tattoo.
no pulse
Like the finger, the wrist is a place on the body that does not support very complex tattoos. Simple is mandatory when it comes to wrist tattoos.
In addition to the inner part, the side of the wrist is also a great place to get a tattoo.
on the forearm
The forearm is one more place on the body totally compatible with owl anatomy. Make the most of the forearm extension for an even more striking tattoo.
You can use geometric shapes to limit the space of the tattoo.
on the shoulder
In general, birds are creatures that make for great shoulder tattoos. Owl tattoos are not much different from eagle tattoos – you can take advantage of the eagle’s eyes and beak to perfectly adapt the design to the shape of the shoulder.
In the rib
The rib allows for both larger tattoos and simpler tattoos. In addition owl figure on the rib looks great on men and women, just adjust the design to your preference.
Adding phrases to complement the design is a common technique in the tattoo world and can work very well with owls.
On the back
Tattoos on the back are often large and rich in detail, and the owl tattoo is no different. you can enjoy the wing dimension that she has to create even more breathtaking designs.
Take advantage of the large space available on the back to make large and detailed tattoos.
Small / Delicate
This type of tattoo can be applied to virtually any location on the body, but there are some more common ones that provide incredible results, such as the rib and behind the ear.
Watercolor looks great even on small and delicate tattoos.
Colored / Watercolor
Watercolor colors give more liveliness and fluidity the tattoo. When applied to the owl design, ideally the tattoo should be great, because that way it is possible to apply a greater variety of colors and guarantee visually fantastic effects to it.
When getting a watercolor tattoo, look for a professional who has complete mastery of this technique, that way the result will be much more pleasant.
with skull
The tattoo of an owl resting under a skull is quite common and usually has amazing visuals. But this tattoo goes far beyond aesthetics: the skull symbolizes ephemerality of life and the owl is the representation of knowledge and wisdom. Together, these two elements have a very deep meaning that refers to the people who went through a difficult period of their lives and after overcoming it, became wiser and more evolved.
The Mexican Skull is a Symbol used in Day of the Dead rituals not Mexico, representing life ea protection from evil spirits. It is also a widely used symbol in tattoos, including owl tattoos.
Thanks to the incredible visuals and meanings that are highly compatible with the human personality, the owl is a symbol that yields amazing tattoos. Among the 60 inspirations that we present in the post, which one is more your type? Tell us in the comments! For other posts like this one, visit our Tattoo Piercing section.
