American traditional

Old school tattoo designs on tattoo artist Amund Dietzel

American traditional, Western traditional or simply traditional[1]: 18  is a tattoo style featuring bold black outlines and a limited color palette, with common motifs influenced by sailor tattoos.[2] The style is sometimes called old school and contrasted with "new school" tattoos, which it influenced, and which use a wider range of colors, shading, and subjects.[1]: 61 

The history of American Traditional tattoos started in the late 19th century, American sailors coming back from the Pacific are being bringing the ancient art of tattooing. When sailors return back to the US they would ask for these specific designs and bringing the same techniques back to America. Leading to the birth of American Traditional tattoo style. [3]

Flash designs are often American traditional.[4]

Artists

  • Norman Keith Collins, also known as Sailor Jerry, (1911–1973) was one of the most well-known traditional tattoo artists.[5] Became the first westerner to correspond with and learn directly from Japanese’s tattoo masters. [1]
  • Amund Dietzel (1890–1974), Norwegian-born artist who began his career as a sailor, before settling in the United States. Known as the "Master in Milwaukee".
  • Don Ed Hardy (born 1945) a driving force in incorporating Japanese tattoo aesthetics and techniques into American traditional.[6]
  • Herbert Hoffmann (1919–2010), began tattooing in Germany during the 1930s. Together with fellow artists Karlmann Richter and Albert Cornelissen, he was featured in the 2004 film Blue Skin (German: Flammend' Herz).
  • Bert Grimm (1900–1985). Began his career in the city of St. Louis and then moved to Long Beach, California, to set up a shop at the Nu-Pike. His parlour was said to be the oldest continually running in the continental US and the place for sailors to get inked. Grimm sold the shop to Bob Shaw in 1970.
  • Bob Shaw (1926–1993), American artist who learned tattooing from Bert Grimm in St. Louis. Later worked with Grimm and became the president of the National Tattoo Association from 1983–1988.[7]
  • Samuel Steward one of the "old masters", best known for his memoir Bad Boys and Tough Tattoos, which continues to be used to teach apprentice tattoo artists.[8]

Common motifs

Tattoo design with a naval theme, c. 1900–1945

Many old school motifs derive from tattoos popular among military service members, including patriotic symbols, such as eagles and American flags, along with pin-up girls.[2]

Other old school tattoo designs include:

  • Mermaid
  • Swallow (sometimes confused with sparrows and bluebirds)
  • Heart
  • Anchor (representing stability, you often see these tattoos embedded with mom or the name of a man sweetheart because those are people to keep them grounded) [9]
  • Eagle
  • Panther (they often can represent connections towards nature. they are often tattooed as totems of prowess and virility) [10]
  • Snake
  • Luck (black cats, 13, four-leaf clover, horseshoe, etc.)
  • Navy and sailing symbols
  • Dagger
  • Rose
  • Nautical star
  • Lady Head (associated with beauty Femininity, romance, desire, independence, or good luck. Sailors would often get these lady heads to remind them of their love one back home) [11]
  • Ship Tattoos (Sailor Ships are both practical and metaphorical. It’s where you go for work but also for meaning and adventure.[12]

Examples

Designs circa 1900–1945 by Clark & Sellers:

  • Ship
  • "In memory of my mother"
  • Performer
  • Army nurse
  • Anchor with heart and rose
  • Madonna and child
  • Dragon and snake
  • Woman representing "America"
  • Butterfly

References

  1. ^ a b Miller, Jean-Chris (1997). The body art book: a complete, illustrated guide to tattoos, piercings, and other body modifications (Berkley trade pbk. ed.). New York: Berkley Books. ISBN 042515985X.
  2. ^ a b Festa, Joe (2013-02-06). "A Short, Incomplete History of American Traditional Tattooing | New-York Historical Society". New York Historical Society. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  3. ^ "Tattoos". Sailor Jerry. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  4. ^ Michalak, Jodie (February 18, 2022). "Flash vs. Custom Tattoos". Byrdie. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  5. ^ JP (2009-01-29). "The Legend of Sailor Jerry | Tattoo Master Norman Collins". The Selvedge Yard. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  6. ^ DeMello, Margo (2007). Encyclopedia of Body Adornment. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 145. ISBN 978-0-313-33695-9.
  7. ^ Clerk, Carol (2009), Vintage Tattoos - The Book of Old-School Skin Art, Universe, pp 12-15.
  8. ^ Alan B, Govenar (1981). "Culture in Transition: The Recent Growth of Tattooing in America". Anthropos. 76: 216–219.
  9. ^ "Tattoos". Sailor Jerry. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  10. ^ "Tattoos". Sailor Jerry. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  11. ^ "Tattoos". Sailor Jerry. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  12. ^ "Tattoos". Sailor Jerry. Retrieved 2024-12-19.