One reason people wear tattoos, whether patchwork, spider, evil-eye, or anyone is the audacious look they get. For one, this body modification has a negative perception and if you have one, society immediately perceives you as a non-conformist. Now imagine wearing an octopus tattoo. Imagine wearing the rounded body, bulging eyes, and eight long arms of this creature on any part of your body. How daring would you look?
That’s what this body art helps you achieve. But before you go and get yours, you need a guide in choosing the perfect one for you. And that’s what this piece aims to do. It’ll show you the boldest, latest, and most captivating octopus tattoo ideas so you can show your artist when it’s time for your appointment.
What does the Octopus Tattoo Symbolize?
To know the answer, let’s look at the symbolism attached to an octopus. These aquatic animals can detach their tentacles to escape any harm and they also have the ability to regrow them. In addition, they have poisonous saliva and have developed self-defense mechanisms (like color and texture changes) that help them confuse predators and hunt for food.
Ocean Jewel Store describes octopuses as creatures with incredible flexibility, creativity, intelligence, and psychic ability. In their words:
“The octopus symbol represents our ability to overcome challenging situations with creativity and intelligence. The Octopus reminds us to express ourselves even if our instincts say otherwise.”
Ocean Jewel Store
Therefore, an octopus tattoo represents magical knowledge, growth, and resilience. It’s a great symbol for overcoming your fears, drawing inspiration from the power of this mighty sea creature.
ALSO READ: ‘Let Them’ Tattoo: What to Know About This Body Art
Where to Place Your Octopus Tat
You can place this tattoo on any part of your body you’re comfortable with. If you want something bold that you can easily hide under your clothes, place it on your chest or back. But if you want a noticeable location with a small to medium tat, your forearm, ankles, wrist, shoulders, and legs will do the job.
Can Octopus Tattoos Feature Colors?
Yes, you can use one or more colors to ink this body art. From black to blue, purple, and other bright or neutral colors, your options are endless.
Types of Octopus Tattoos & What They Mean
Many octopus body art abounds but here are the best you just may love:
Anchor Octopus Tattoo
This is a combination of the octopus and a ship anchor. They represent the depth of the sea and the sailing experience. Most times, this tat features the creature’s arms wrapped around the anchor.
Furthermore, anchor-cum-octopus tattoo symbolizes safety and stability, just as how an anchor prevents a ship from drifting. Hence, it represents a stable and secure person who’s confident in their self-image and stays true to their values.
Cartoon Octopus Tattoo
Instead of going for something realistic, why not opt for a cartoon-like design? You can feature pirates, treasure chests, skulls, hooks, eyepatches, etc., in your octopus cartoon design.
Just mix objects and human elements into it and you’ll achieve a special appeal.
Blue-Ringed Octopus Tattoo
The blue-ringed octopus is an extremely venomous species of octopus found in tide pools and coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian oceans. It contains a venom called tetrodotoxin. This venom is powerful enough to kill humans and is a thousand times more dangerous than cyanide.
Go for this tat if you tilt toward aggression. It’ll let people know you aren’t a weak target.
Octopus and Skull Tattoo
If you want an intimidating yet thoughtful design, go for this one. Right from time, the skull has always had an eerie aura. Now imagine combining it with an image of a creepy creature. How frightening would you look?
The octopus represents many things, sometimes, even a monster. When you combine it with a human skull which symbolizes the absence of life, you create a dark image. But beyond this, this tattoo design is also a symbol of fearlessness, resilience, and triumph over life’s challenges.
Japanese Octopus Tattoo
This tattoo design is a combo of a realistic octopus tattoo that features energetic colors. That is, instead of coming in black like most tattoos, this one features other lovely colors like blue, purple, red, etc.
This design helps to create a vibrant work of art on your body. Furthermore, it allows artists to explore their creativity and try out different elements of Japanese culture. You can even mix different colors together. It all depends on you.
Elephant Octopus Tattoo
One fascinating thing about tattoos is that you can always combine different elements to create a unique design. And the octo tat isn’t left out.
For instance, you can merge it with the image of an elephant to create an elephant-octopus tattoo. It is an unusual combination and this makes it unique. The elephant being a land animal and the octopus being a sea animal creates a fusion of strength and rebirth. Moreso, this tattoo usually features an elephant’s head with the tentacles of an octopus.
Other Octopus Tatoo Designs
This tattoo is beyond an aesthetic. It’s a symbolic body art that redefines you into someone who’s ready to conquer setbacks while appreciating the stability, strength, and resilience of such sea creatures.
Thankfully, its designs are limitless. So if you haven’t found your perfect match yet, scroll down for more options:
