125+ Owl Tattoo Design Ideas For Your Next Ink With Meanings

In the minds of those with tattoos, they are more than decorations; they are works of art filled with meaning, symbolism, and style. Tattoos are some of the most permanent and personal decisions someone will ever make in their lifetime. Since tattoos last a lifetime, it is important to choose the images carefully.

The most meaningful tattoos among all the designs, symbols, and images are animal tattoos. Many cultures worldwide attribute much of their spiritual and cultural beliefs to animals based on their histories, mythologies, and folklore. The popularity of animal tattoos remains high due to this fact.

There are many meanings associated with owl tattoos. Animal tattoos are among the most popular options available today. There are many types of owl tattoos available. The owl has a way of captivating and aweing those who watch it. Owls have been revered, feared, admired, and considered wise and foolish throughout history. Their association with witchcraft, weather, birth, death, and medicine arose from their occurrences.

The owl is famously symbolizing darkness and wisdom, which is why many people have owl tattoo designs. While most people associate owls with intellectual wisdom, they are truly connected to soul wisdom. The ability to see in the dark symbolizes the ability to see past illusions and deceptions. True wisdom comes from seeing what others can’t. The owl can see what others can’t.

Make Room For Background & Associated Imagery

It can be challenging to determine just what exactly will complement an owl chest tattoo, whether large or small. A good way to showcase your owl chest tattoo’s power would be to show it in flight, which is best done on large areas like your chest and back.

The owl would be most appropriately placed among tree branches, stars, and moonlight. While most tattoo artists will tell you that owls tend to be paired with other symbols, such as flowers, keys, clocks, or anything else that a person feels intuitively comes naturally to them.

Owl tattoos for men

Creative Freedom To Explore Designs

Tattoo artists sometimes take liberties with the owl design and attach jewels to the eyes of their owls or have owls grab lanterns in their talons. Many owl tattoos show owls with clocks or hourglasses since owls are associated with time. Further, owl tattoos are sometimes chosen by parents as a symbol of their children. Children may even choose to tattoo a pussycat alongside their owl tattoo, just like in the nursery rhyme “The Owl and the Pussycat.”

Even though black and grey can showcase amazing detail, try to include some color to spice up the look. There is nothing more vibrant and life-affirming than a golden owl.

An owl’s iconic image never ceases to fascinate the imagination due to its rich symbolism. In addition to having impressive flight, nocturnal behavior, and large and alert eyes, the owl is also known for its deep, resounding voice, making it an attractive tattoo candidate.

Owl neck tattoo

Despite its nocturnal nature, the bird is unfairly associated with negative connotations because it is always active at night. Furthermore, favorable impressions of the owl can be attributed to its physical appearance, which includes a large, shiny, and curious eye.

The modest flight of owls betrays their sensitivity. At night, when sensitive eyes are needed, their eyes cannot withstand exposure to light. It depends on the bearer’s cultural beliefs and the merit of owl tattoos to reach a final decision.

Owls can also represent death on rare occasions. A term used to identify owls, mainly because of their association with the nighttime, is “angel of death.”. Few cultures view owls as omens of impending death, whereas many view them as positive symbols. In these cultures, owls are believed to cross from life to the afterlife at any time. Those with owl tattoos appreciate how owls are capable of guiding souls from one realm to another.

Owl chest tattoo

Types of Owl Tattoos

To give pride of ownership, the design should communicate the message and be attractive and elegant. It is possible to have an owl tattoo in color or monochrome or both. Having owl design motifs on your tattoo is a great way for tattoo artists to display their skills.

Barn Owl Design

The snowy owl’s white feathers particularly impress onlookers, who are astonished at its beauty. This bird has a distinguished appearance characterized by elegance and dignity. In this tattoo design, the viewer is able to appreciate its beauty and the mysterious virtue associated with the barn owl, which is the real purpose of this tattoo.

Owl with Hourglass Design

The hourglass motif is ancient and associated with owls and time. In some cases, people request that the design of the owl include the names of their children as a way to represent their love for their children.

Tribal Owl Design

There are several design options that are inspired by Native American Culture, including turquoise, coral, and earthy dune colors. A owl is considered a symbol of impending misfortune in this culture, including death. The bird’s nocturnal lifestyle might have given rise to the belief. As well as protecting from their gravest fears, the bearer views the design as a means of protection.

Celtic Owl Designs

Ancient Celtic designers incorporated Celtic spirals, knots, and key patterns into their designs. In addition to representing the threat of death to this bird, the design template also represents the wisdom and intelligence associated with it. A motif’s significance depends on the bearer’s interpretation.

Ideal Placement of Owl Tattoos

A right owl tattoo design compliments a right tattoo placement. An owl figure is inherently intricate and richly detailed. Despite the fact that a silhouette alone can be easily recognizable and can stand alone as the design subject, many people prefer to include more elaborate detail in their designs.

The bird is usually depicted as being static in a pose or flying dynamically. However, the placement of the tattoo can still determine whether or not it will be successful.

A tattoo on the shoulder conveys a sense of guard and protection. Having an owl tattoo on the nape mimics the real lifestyle of the bird by concealing the bird during the day and revealing it at night. The tattoo artist should be consulted on the placement because there are many places apart from the shoulder and nape where tattoos can be placed.

Tips for Getting an Owl Tattoo

Before going ahead with getting a tattoo of an owl, any prospective tattoo bearer should consider the following tips.

1. Prior to going to the tattoo shop, you should eat a healthy diet, without being too fat or too lean. To neutralize the effects of intensive tattooing, it is necessary to eat sufficient food. Nutritional supplements help heal the body.
2. Dress according to the procedure. During the tattoo session, wear something easy and light so you don’t have problems switching clothes afterward. While getting tattooed and afterward, consider wearing comfortable clothing.
3. In case a tattoo session is going to be lengthy, prepare something fun to occupy your time. Tablets, music players, books, etc., are all very useful.
4. Before getting your first tattoo, prepare your own aftercare supplies. It isn’t a bad idea to prepare an aftercare product for yourself, even if the tattooist offers one. The more suitable products you choose from your personal tattoo aftercare kit, such as antibacterial ointments and gauze, are based on your preferences.