As a relatively new type of tattoo style, watercolor flower tattoos have surged in popularity since their emergence over a decade ago.
Incorporating gorgeous, bleeding colors and flowing tattoo designs, these pieces are as stunning as they are unique.
For a truly expressive, illustrative, fluid take on floral ink, check out these themes, meanings, and designs and gain inspiration for your very own watercolor flower tattoos.
Watercolor Flower Tattoo Meanings
In spite of their feminine features, flowers are fit for any gender and can be worked into almost any image or story behind tattoos.
This is not only because they have such a wide variety of looks but also due to the abundance of meanings.
Every flower has its own underlying message which can be altered depending on its color and shape.
By lacking the typical bold black outlines of many tattoo styles, the appearance of these tattoos screams freedom, creativity, and individuality.
With an emphasis on color, your floral tattoos will truly flourish in a watercolor style.
After all, black lines are rarely spotted on an actual flower.
Main Themes
One of the greatest qualities of watercolor flower tattoos is their versatility.
They can be placed anywhere, following any curve of the body, or paired alongside just about any image and blended in flawlessly thanks to their free-form style.
You can make any watercolor flower your own by introducing a color palette personalized just for you.
You could even change the way the flower is colored – try a splatter or splash of color rather than a simple, realistic type of coloring.
Watercolor Sunflower Tattoos
Sunflower tattoos are amongst the happiest, most positive flower tattoo options, with their bright yellow hues evoking warmth and optimism.
These flowers are a flexible choice befitting any place you choose, varying from tiny to huge tattoos.
Watercolor Rose Tattoos
For a timeless piece symbolizing everything from love, passion, and friendship to grief, mystery, and sorrow, opt for a watercolor rose tattoo.
The color of the rose tattoos changes the meaning drastically, although these tattoos are sure to be spectacular even if they’re completely colorless.
Alternatively, you could create a rainbow rose, blending several colors into each other to construct a magnificent image with significant meanings.
Watercolor Lotus Tattoos
The lotus tattoo is a popular symbol of inner peace, relaxation, self-control, enlightenment, and spiritual awakening.
They are also associated with wisdom and choosing to thrive in any situation as these flowers grow and blossom in muddy conditions.
They make for a flawless watercolor tattoo, especially when linked with flowy water designs for an eye-catching piece of art.
Watercolor Hibiscus Tattoos
These ancient tropical flowers have a myriad of meanings, but the most commonly associated ones are beauty, love, lust, femininity, and glory.
The watercolor tattoo style enhances the alluring red and purple shades and the trumpet shape of this botanical flower.
Watercolor Bouquet Flower Tattoos
For anyone that’s indecisive or simply wants multiple flowers and many meanings, whether they’re the same flower or a bunch of different ones, a watercolor bouquet tattoo is a beautiful choice.
Intertwine the meanings and appearances of several flowers for a fully customized tattoo that’s special to you.
Watercolor Flower and Butterfly Tattoos
Adding a gentleness and fragility to a watercolor flower tattoo, the butterfly symbolizes a transition, change, or new beginning.
Many women choose to get a butterfly tattoo to represent an important time in their life or when they feel they’ve endured a metamorphosis.
The beauty of these tattoos is the flexibility in color and the ability to blend any colors you choose into this design.
Butterflies and flowers can be virtually any color, so this tattoo allows you complete freedom in color choice.
Watercolor Flower Tattoo Sleeve
The arm provides a great canvas for fitting all of your sleeve wishes.
You can decorate your arm from wrist to elbow, elbow to shoulder, or the entire arm if you so desire.
Whether you stick to florals only or incorporate birds and butterflies, your connection to nature will be beautifully displayed with a watercolor flower tattoo sleeve.
Regardless of the tattoo design, a watercolor sleeve is guaranteed to be impressive.
Watercolor Sweet Pea Flower Tattoos
Possibly most well-known for being the birth flower of April, the sweet pea is a lovely choice for a watercolor tattoo.
The small petals and cheery colors make for a striking image that may also be used as a symbol of remembrance for or goodbyes to loved ones.
Watercolor Magnolia Tattoos
Magnolias are hardy flowers symbolizing persistence, endurance, eternity, and nobility.
If you’re looking to portray your desire to have something or someone in your life forever, a magnolia tattoo is a fantastic way to express your feelings.
These flowers tend to have subtle colors yet a large, striking appearance, ideal for a watercolor technique with the colors and shape blending perfectly with the whimsical style of tattoo.
Watercolor Hummingbird and Flower Tattoos
Frequently featuring a rainbow of joyful colors, a watercolor hummingbird tattoo is a positive symbol for the beauty and joy of life as well as bringing good luck and fortune to the wearer.
People often get a hummingbird tattoo to display their strength from overcoming turmoil or hope for better days.
Hummingbirds and flowers are co-dependent, so a tattoo of these can symbolize a relationship or merely your love of nature.
By blurring the lines and omitting dark lines, you can create a hovering appearance that adds even more realism to the image.
Small Watercolor Flower Tattoos
Despite their size, small watercolor flower tattoos can pack a powerful punch in terms of appearance and meaning.
Whether you’re new to tattooing and testing the waters with a tiny tattoo, or simply love the look of small flowers, a little watercolor floral tattoo is a perfect choice for the wrist, ankle, or behind the ear.
Abstract Watercolor Flower Tattoos
For a depiction of a flower that’s full of freedom, go for an abstract tattoo design.
Watercolor tattoo styles are known for their carefree imagery and lacking the need for a literal tattoo design, so dig even deeper into this and make it an abstract flower tattoo.
Black & Grey Watercolor Flower Tattoos
Not all watercolor tattoos have to be lively and full of energetic colors.
If you prefer to tone down the vivaciousness and prefer a colorless tattoo with gradient shades producing the vibrancy, opt for a black and grey watercolor flower tattoo.
Watercolor Flower Tattoos with Words
To really drive home the meaning behind your tattoo, add words of wisdom or lettering tattoos to the piece.
They can be implemented into the stem of the flower, overlaid in black ink, written next to the blossom… your options really are limitless here.
Whether you want a whole quote or just a singular word or name, they add another level of splendor and meaning to your tattoo.
The watercolor tattoo style catches people’s attention, but words will tell them how meaningful your ink truly is.
Watercolor Flower Tattoo Designs
For your viewing pleasure, take a look at these stunning pieces of art – they’re sure to inspire you, no matter your tattoo preferences.
Summing Up
Watercolor flower tattoos are breathtaking in their uniqueness and bold beauty, with a bounty of meanings, placements, and design possibilities.
These tattoos are so easily personalized, you could have a hard time filtering through the options to suit your needs.
Eventually, you’ll get there, with the help of these explanations and collections of images.
From sunflower tattoos to rose tattoos, you’re sure to find a flower with a personal connection that decorates your body in the exact way you desire.
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