The dolphin image is a versatile one, and the wide variety of dolphin tattoos available are testimony to this. This is partly because of the various shapes in which a dolphin can be depicted – normally oblong, it can be curled into a near-spherical shape without looking distorted or overly stylized. So, you can have an outstretched dolphin – or even a chain of them, nose to tail, to form a band – or you can have a dolphin image curled around your bellybutton or on an ankle or shoulder. The latter are were very popular tattoo designs a few years ago, and slightly updated versions remain in hot demand today.
Dolphin tattoos can also be adapted to a variety of other tattoo styles. For example, there is a Celtic dolphin and a tribal dolphin. The universal dolphin image adapts itself well to both of these styles. The tribal dolphin tattoo designs show a dolphin as a totem animal of sorts – a bold and beautiful artistic statement. The Celtic dolphin incorporates the dolphin into a knotwork design – often the curved dolphin, simply depicted, sits within a complex Celtic border.
If dolphins appeal to you, or if you have an affinity with the ocean in general, a dolphin tattoo is something you will never tire of. When in doubt, of course, start small – a simple dolphin encircling your ankle bone, for example. Dolphin tattoos are likely to remain a favorite for some time to come. In fact, many people view dolphins and dolphin tattoos as highly symbolic – a benevolent protector, or a symbol of the joy and abundance that is associated with the ocean. A lifelong interest in these graceful, happy creatures is a good indication that a dolphin tattoo just might be for you.
