The culture and traditions of Caledonia provide endless inspiration for Scottish tattoo designs.
One of the most popular designs for those with Scot bloodlines are thistle tattoos.
The following collection of thistle tattoo ideas are sure to help inspire your Scottish roots for a new tattoo design.
1. Realistic Thistle Tattoos
2. Ankle and Lower Leg Tattoos
2. Upper Arm Tattoos
3. Tattoo Designs for the Back and Chest
4. Blackwork Tattoo Designs
5. Forearm Tattoos
6. Leg Tattoo Ideas
7. Side and Rib Tattoos
8. Small Thistle Tattoos
9. Watercolor Style Tattoos
Scottish Thistle Meaning
The national flower of Scotland, the thistle is admired for its rugged beauty and hardiness as well as epic prickles that often deter even the most ardent plant eaters.
From Celtic knot work to the multi-colored tartans that represent the different Scot clans, the thistle can help bring a Scottish themed tattoo to life, whether in fine detailed black and gray or beautifully stylized watercolor ink.
FAQs
What does a thistle tattoo symbolize?
A thistle tattoo is the perfect way to demonstrate pride in having Scottish bloodlines.
The Scottish thistle has a long and storied history in the Gaelic nation, with one tale even giving credit to the humble flower for foiling a Viking invasion in the 1300’s.
The national flower of the Scots, the thistle has become an instantly recognizable symbol of Scottish tattoo convention.
What style of thistle tattoo should I get?
The thistle provides excellent material to work with for versatility in design style and application technique.
Their spiky nature and mix of color – purple for the bulb, and hardy green stalk – give each tattoo artist creative avenues such as watercolor technique or very delicate single needle ink depictions.
Thistles also produce fantastic realism style designs that look like they could give you a prickle if you reached out to pluck them from the subject.
Also, thistle tattoos can work bunched or tied with tartan, or as a single expression running along the forearm, wrist or calf.
What are some other popular Scottish tattoos ideas to combine with a thistle?
Combining a mixture of themes with a Scottish thistle can add more layers to your tattoo design. Some popular Scottish tattoo symbols and themes include:
- The Scotland Flag
- Scottish tartan
- Football club logos
- Family/clan names
- The Lion Rampant of Scotland
- Traditional Celtic symbols such as the Celtic Knot
What does a tartan tattoo represent?
Tartans were used by the different clans in the region to differentiate from each other and express pride in their respective groups, and they’re still deployed as traditional aspect of Scottish life.
Today, with the development in tattooing skills they can be made to look almost like the real thing.
A tartan tattoo can be made to represent the wearer’s pride in their clan or simply demonstrate the importance of Scottish heritage in their life.
Where should I place my thistle tattoo?
The bulbous head of the thistle is matched by the long, often spiky stem and leaves, which naturally gives it a design advantage where longer tattoos are placed. The wrist, inner forearm, outer bicep, and lower leg are all popular placements.
Other areas in which a stylized thistle tattoo might complement the flow of muscle include the center back area, the upper chest between collar bone and shoulder, or even along the ribs and side.