Almost every kid have dreamed about going in the clouds. They would imagine it as a big, white, fluffy space where they can jump up and down in glee. By the time they’re in school, they would realize it is not possible as clouds are gaseous. Still, our fascination with clouds and the sky is still not completely gone. That may be why cloud tattoos are rather popular.
While not mainstream, there are many tattoo enthusiasts who got cloud tattoos. Usually, this is a part of a larger design and is used to give emphasis to the subject. These are oftentimes created as the background or an added element. But that is the thing with cloud tattoos – they can help set the mood of the entire tattoo.
Clouds are an interesting choice when it comes to body art. That is why you’ll normally see it in the more creative tattoo designs. In this article, we’ll get to see some of the best and glorious cloud tattoos that can inspire your next ink.
Meaning of Cloud Tattoo
Tattoos have different meanings based on how the wearer perceives them. Nonetheless, cloud tattoo has this general meaning that most tattoo enthusiasts who have it go by.
Usually, the meaning of each tattoo comes from the stories surrounding it and their characteristics. For clouds, the meaning came from the stories. Perhaps the most popular is the notion that clouds are the home of the gods. Sure, we’ve learned in science that it’s not possible. But many cultures around the world believe otherwise – by way of magic and alternate realities.
For example, the Greeks always believed that the clouds hide Mount Olympus – the home of the Olympian gods. In paintings and even in books, the Olympus is a glorious castle at the top of the highest mountain and surrounded by clouds.
Christians also believe that heaven is made out of pure white clouds. You’ve probably seen this depiction of heaven a hundred times already. The gates of heaven would open up to a place filled with dazzling white clouds. That could be the very reason why cloud tattoos are seen as representation of the divine. It’s also a representation of a message of hope.
In Chinese culture, clouds are seen as a symbol of transformation. Many see cloud tattoos depicting Zen.
Many other cultures, including Japanese, see clouds as representation of good luck, fortune, and wealth.
Types of Cloud Tattoo Designs
The cloud tattoos you’ll see these days could be dropped into several categories. These are based on how they are done and not with the design. You can choose which type you’ll be doing your ink.
Japanese Style
Most cloud tattoos you will see is made with Japanese style. This might probably because clouds are really popular in traditional Japanese art. Demons and spirits in Japanese paintings are often surrounded by it. Even scenery paintings have them as the background.
Japanese tattoos have distinct features. They are bolder with thicker outlines and vividly colors. Apart from that, these tattoos are often big. That’s why cloud tattoos are rather popularly done and seen in these types of tattoos. They become backgrounds and give the vibe of the whole tattoo.
White clouds would usually create a happier and calm vibe. Storm clouds, meanwhile, would make the whole design appear more gloomy, terrifying, or even bad-ass.
Japanese style tattoos also have common motifs. These are the usual designs that comes with cloud tattoos. It could be mythical creatures such as demons, spirits, and dragons. Or it could be flowers, plants, or nature’s scenery.
Realistic
Realistic cloud tattoo is hard to do. That’s pretty much because there is no significant feature other than their fluffiness and white color. In the tattoo world or even in art as a whole, creating a realistic cloud would take mastery of skills and techniques.
That’s why if you are going for a realistic cloud design, you’ll want to find a good tattoo artist. It’s better if they have experience in doing this or at least proficient in the style. They have to be good at creating depth through shadowing and highlighting.
As with most cloud tattoos, the ones that are realistically made are still used as backgrounds. It could be a background for a scenery or if you’re wanting to insinuate something happening in the sky. For example, a silhouette of a plane cruising the heaven.
Most realistic cloud designs are also done in black and white. These days though, many tattoos are done with colors so you’ll see them in shades of blue, purple, oranges, and pinks. This depend on how they are depicted.
Abstract
Abstract designs offer stunning visuals but you can never be too sure about its meaning. And that’s the beauty with it. Many get abstract designs created in a modern style that they could only decipher. The designs are more personal, created with elements that plays a huge role in the main plot.
As far as cloud tattoos go, they can be take center stage or act as support for the main elements. There are various designs so anything is possible.
Most abstract designs also have that surreal vibe. They can be made in 3D, in traditional style, minimalist, etc.
Traditional
Traditional style of tattooing is the most popular. It’s in 2D so there is usually no worry about great techniques. However, some designs require mastery in art.
When it comes to traditional cloud tattoos, the designs are oftentimes similar to drawings you’ll see. The clouds are depicted as fluffy pieces in the sky, usually in black ink only. These are the easiest to do and among the most versatile when it comes to designing.
Among traditional tattoos, clouds are often set as the background or a tool to emphasize the main subject. You can see them on ship and ocean tattoos. They could tell whether the picture denotes a sunny or a rainy day. This plays a huge part in the meaning of ship tattoos. Sunny days represent the wearer is in a happier state. Rainy days could say that the wearer is going through a tough time.
Popular Cloud Tattoo Designs
Cloud tattoos are often rather simpler but has an overall tone. Here are some of the designs we have found.
Wind God
Air and water is what mostly makes up a cloud. It’s normal that wind gods are often portrayed as clouds or have cloud accents in their bodies or garment. One popular cloud tattoo design is a wind god. It does not have to be any god in particular. You can just create a cloud blowing some wind. It could be on a scenery, a ship, or a man. To make your cloud tattoo the center, you should make the other elements and ore of a design.
You can also create the vibe of tattoo. Your wind god could either be angry or powerful by making it a storm cloud. Happy and go-lucky design would include a white cloud and a happier face.
Sailing ship
As previously mentioned, clouds are big elements on a ship tattoo.
Ships are said to be a representation of the wearer himself. It can show his state of mind and heart, where he is at this moment of his life, and the challenges he has gone through. The clouds could signify whether they are happy and satisfied, or troubled.
As a piece of art, a full vista of a sailing ship with the heavens above is a simply stunning design.
Rain and thunder
When we think about clouds, we also think about rain and thunder. Also, they are most visible when it’s about to rain.
If a cloud tattoo is accompanied with rain and even thunder, people consider it bad luck or misfortune. In order to portray this well, the designs are more traditional and often cartoon-ish.
All seeing eye
A popular tattoo includes an all-seeing eye in the middle of it. This often has a religious background. The all-seeing eye represents God as he is able to see anything – from past to future. Since clouds are known as the home of the gods or of heaven, it’s fair to say that this kind of tattoo represents the wearer’s faith.
Religious cloud tattoos
Apart from the all-seeing eye, there are other ways to depict cloud tattoos as a religious design. They can be done with the image of God or Jesus Christ. You can accompany it with a flying dove and divine light. Doves are associated with Christianity as it had a huge role during the Great Flood. Christians also believe that it embodies the Holy Spirit.
Scenery
Perhaps the perfect way to create a cloud tattoo is to make it as a background of an amazing scenery. This kind of tattoo may be for pure aesthetics only. However, it can also mean something deeper for the wearer. They can create a design of their favorite place or their home. It can also be a scenery of a forest or a mountain range – both with positive deeper meaning.
What’s your favorite design of all? Do you want to get any of these cloud tattoos?
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