Forearm Tattoos

Celtic Tattoos are my favourite type of forearm tattoos. Admittedly I am biased as I have Celtic roots being from Cornwall, England. A traditional Celtic tattoo on the forearm or wrist is a good place – and more increasingly we see elaborate designs on the back and chest areas.

Celts come from Europe (usually the edges) and speak or spoke the Celtic Language (eg Welsh, Cornish). Celts not only had their own language, they also had their own unique culture and religion. The main Celtic areas are that of Brittany (France), Galicia (North West Spain), Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Asturia (Northern Spain).

The Celts stem back as far as the Iron Age where they lived in tribes. The Celts controlled most of central Europe and by 700BC they also conquered the lands of Northern Spain. The Celts were a force in Britain by 480BC. Celtic tribes continued to migrate to Britain and to dominate the country until the Roman Empire expanded in Europe pushing the Celts to the edges (mostly hugging the Atlantic Coast). Between the fifth and eighth centuries AD the British Celts had become an established cultural entity, whereas the Continental Celtic had largely disappeared..

Celtic art is typically ornamental which avoids the use of straight lines and only occasionally using symmetry. Popular styles of Celtic art used for tattoos include Celtic crosses, Celtic knotwork, Celtic symbols and the Celtic love knot.

The Celtic cross is a popular design which is depicted as a symbol that combines a cross with a ring surrounding the intersection. Current theories surrounding Celtic crosses is that they were used as an ancient measuring instrument for navigation, astronomy and / or surveying.

Celtic tattoos are usually always done with black ink and the lines can be a combination of thick and very thick. 

A Celtic Tattoo design is great for people of Celtic origins to show of their Celtic Heritage – but anyone can have a Celtic Tattoo – we don’t mind – because they look super-cool.