Tattoos come in a vast multitude of designs and styles. The Yggdrasil tattoo design is a particularly impressive piece of art that displays the image of a tree, one known well in Norse mythology.
Yggdrasil, or Yggdrasill in Old Norse, as explained by the Encyclopedia Britannica, is “Old Norse Mimameidr, in Norse mythology, the world tree, a giant ash supporting the universe.”
As you can see, this tree was no small matter to the Norse. Legend says it connects the underworld, giants, and . Encyclopedia Britannica says one of the roots of the “extended into the underworld; another into the land of the giants; and the third into the home of the .”
Below are several examples and a variety of interesting takes on the classic Yggdrasil tattoo design.
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This piece fits nicely on the upper back as it spans down from the bottom of the nape between the shoulder blades. It incorporates two simplistic diamond shapes in the lower half of the and displays simple but effective black and white shading to fill in the foliage of the . It is a fairly simplified in some regards but it is clear from one close look that there was certainly an abundance of truly skilled handiwork involved in its creation.
This is a slightly more complex version of the Yggdrasil design as it incorporates multiple symbols, such as the Valknut and the , a made up of Viking . This displays a good deal of solid and makes good use of negative space to draw the viewer’s eye toward the detailed linework, particularly the . The inspire interest and the piece fits the shape of the back of the leg.
This piece of with some grows from the mid-arm area up to the shoulder and features multiple lush segments of color. Whether it be the greenery at the crown of the , the brown and white throughout the , or the various designs on each respective level, this design in vivid colors has an attractive and comfortable feel and is a solid, creative piece of artistry.
This occupies most of the and makes effective use of space. It displays several small creatures, flowers, and an eye among the and roots. These various elements come together for a unique, almost eerie feel. Nevertheless, this is some sick ink.
This is a seemingly minimalistic take on the Yggdrasil design. This piece, however, proves to be more intricate when examined up close. The dotwork technique employed around the of the , for example, shows that with this Yggdrasil, there may be more than meets the eye. Not to mention the fact that this is undeniably well-drawn.
This version has been laid out in a circular form, giving it a tighter, more cohesive look. The three birds placed just outside the sphere could be interpreted as standing out from the crowd in a symbolic and metaphorical sense.
Here is an interesting one. With a very similar design used for both the top and bottom of the piece, accented by multiple emblems throughout, this piece feels both unified and filled with variety. The bird perched on top of the and spreading its wings is an aesthetically pleasing touch as well, as is the shading in general.
A more raw and stripped-down take on the classic design, this piece utilizes a more simplified look without losing any of the original or attitude. While it may initially seem a bit jagged and rough around the edges, these aspects of this Yggdrasil are what truly give it character. While many people may prefer a cleaner, more standard approach, there is certainly a demand for bold and rustic like this one.
This Yggdrasil is rather unique as it is divided by a large, pointed shape in the middle, which is made up of multiple elements, including what appears to be a Celtic knotting design on its blade, a substantial amount of dotting technique around the inside border, and other smaller shapes.
Matching adorn each inner arm, with the on the left arm bearing the and the other showing another of protection in the , this time with curved prongs. While it may appear at first glance that this is the same ink twice, it certainly is not. Aside from the different Norse symbols, the on the right arm is filled with foliage and the other has bare .
Quite a creative take on the Yggdrasil, this shows versatility in the way that the ‘s extend over the shoulder and down to the chest. Integrated into the are a collection of what look like birds and wolf faces in addition to what appears to be a dagger, all with the Celtic knot design. This approach to the Yggdrasil is quite impressive and refreshing as it literally comes at you from a different direction.
Here is another Yggdrasil piece that is done within a circle. This striking is split into two portions. One is a darkened portion that displays the by using the negative space. In turn, the bottom half quite effectively does the opposite effect with the ‘s roots. It’s an exceptionally cool and certainly one that originated from a tattoo artist’s strong and thoughtful creativity.
This Yggdrasil is composed of minimalist lines showing the two barren treetops placed opposite each other and joined at the center of the artwork in the form of a spiral. This work is simple but well-done and, despite the amount of untouched ink on either side of the spiral, still fills this portion of the subject’s arm quite effectively. Even with its reduced approach, this minimalist piece of stands out with its interesting shape and nicely done linework.
This Yggdrasil includes much more than the bare minimum as it incorporates a cracking surface at the bottom of the , possibly intended to symbolize shattered earth, as well as an hourglass that supports the main element of the piece, the . Hourglasses commonly symbolize the passing of time. This particular combination of the Yggdrasil and the hourglass most likely has a more complex than one would find with only one of these elements. The range of possibilities is vast.
This is a particularly minimalistic, straightforward, and interesting Yggdrasil as it utilizes white space for both the trunk of the and much of the foliage as well, yet still maintains a bold look and feel. Additionally, the contrast between said white space and the dark bottom portion of what appears to be a sort of soil and earthen materials, which is quite dark and bold, is certainly a strong feature of this . Negative space has the potential to play a key role in , particularly when the artist is skilled in that area. This take on the Yggdrasil is an exceptional example of this.
This is a rather complex and embellished Yggdrasil, although certainly not in a negative way. This an untraditional approach to the well-known by only showing a portion of it, that being most of the ‘s top portion, with the rest being covered by a valkyrie clad in highly detailed armor of the fantastical variety.
Inked onto the upper leg, this Yggdrasil stands out with its simplicity as a design that takes few risks but maintains the core elements of the piece, such as the and roots of the and the tastefully designed birds that reside in a group not far above the ‘s crown. Sometimes more is better, but in this case, the did more with less.
This version of the Yggdrasil takes a more abstract approach but certainly still retains balance as either end of the , the , and the roots flow into respective triangles, giving them a type of mirror-image effect. The splashes, or perhaps clouds, of paint make the clearest difference between the two halves as one is blue and the other is more of a reddish-purple. Nevertheless, this presents an interesting and well-done interpretation of the Yggdrasil.
This artist went about the Yggdrasil from yet another angle, creating what in some ways looks like an intentionally early sketch, yet with a great deal of strong line work. The piece is minimalistic, to say the least. This less-is-more approach is in no way a hindrance to this artwork, as the stripped-down style is beautifully done and applied to the subject’s arm in such a way that makes it seem as if it is a natural extension.
This artist went about the Yggdrasil from yet another angel, creating what in some ways looks like an intentionally early sketch, yet with a great deal of strong line work. The piece is minimalistic to say the least. This less-is-more approach is in no way a hindrance to this artwork as the stripped-down style is beautifully done and applied to the subject’s arm in such a way that makes it seem as if it is a natural extension.
Here are more Yggdrasil tree tattoos you can explore.
