Tattoos are one of my favorite forms of art. I love seeing how everyone chooses to decorate their bodies and hearing the stories of the inspiration behind my friends' pieces. Hearts are on the mind with Valentine’s Day coming up and it's the perfect time to remember the importance of love. No matter what kind of love, a heart tattoo is a great reminder to love unconditionally, so we've compiled a list of 10 of the best heart tattoos to take inspiration from.
View this post on Instagram
Sternum tattoos are supposedly painful. However, it's all worth it because of how gorgeous these ink masterpieces turn out. The stippling surrounding inside the heart perfectly draws attention to the eye in the center, which helps add dimension to the piece. Also, I love how the artist added lace around the edges of the heart and wings to help extend the tattoo out across the sternum.
View this post on Instagram
This heart lady tattoo is super unique! Traditional tattoo work is often very similar, so,I love that the artist created something new and different in this particular style. The face in the heart is well shaded and has a ton of life in her eyes, despite not being realistic. I think a fun way to take inspiration from this tattoo is by swapping out this face for a portrait of your significant other or a loved one.
View this post on Instagram
The trend in tattoos today is often heavily influenced by thin lines and black and white art, so this over-the-top girly heart is fun to see. I love how there are no harsh lines or colors and how all the tones are in light colors that perfectly compliment the client's shade. The delicateness and use of dots and sparkles are nice touches to the tattoo and would look amazing on anyone creative and outgoing! To help customize the color palette to compliment your skin tone, make sure to ask your artist for a color test, which will help you determine how each color shows up and lasts on your skin.
View this post on Instagram
Peonies symbolize love, happiness, romance and beauty, making it a beautiful flower to make up this heart. I love how the tattoo doesn’t have an outline to create the shape and is instead made up entirely of peonies. The shading and detail on these flowers are impeccable and the blank space still allows a more airy feel.
View this post on Instagram
The Queen of Hearts is a classic and well-known character and is often a representative of someone who is a master of their heart and love life. This artist is extremely talented and specializes in fine art style with a unique twist. Most of her pieces have a pop of red and when it comes to this tattoo, it works perfectly. I love how the woman’s face is peeling off and exposing a gory skull underneath. The juxtaposition surprisingly works well with the otherwise romantic aesthetic.
See Also: 20 Nail Art Designs for a Festive Valentine's Day
View this post on Instagram
Fine line tattoos are extremely sought after right now. However, it can sometimes be tricky to find a skilled artist. When it comes to this anatomical heart tattoo, the artist did precise line-work and seamless shading, which most fine-line pieces lack. Not only is the heart depicted anatomical, it is also sliced in half and exposes another heart with flowers growing out of the arteries.
View this post on Instagram
The Flemish are a group of Dutch people in Belgium who are most well-known for their artwork, specifically their engravings. The heart tattoo was inspired by a 16th-century Flemish engraving, explaining why it almost has growth rings like a tree. This remarkable piece is truly unique and if you love 16th-century art or engravings, you should take inspiration from this for your next tattoo.
View this post on Instagram
If your aesthetic is witchy and you are drawn to dark things, you should get something like this love elixir. Despite the darkness in the tattoo, it uses blank space and shading to open it up and give it dimension. My favorite subtle detail is how the love elixir is subtly in the shape of a heart!
View this post on Instagram
Have you lost someone in your life and want to get a piece in honor of them? Well, this might be a great one-of-a-kind option for you. Although fingerprint heart tattoos are common and a great way of remembering someone, every fingerprint is different, making it is still meaningful for each person. This is a great piece to get matching with someone else so you both can remember the person!
View this post on Instagram
I love the horror genre, especially the Scream franchise! This tattoo is super cool and weirdly cute despite Ghostface, the killer in these cult classic movies, being in the middle of the heart. If you want to personalize this tattoo, I recommend swapping out Ghostface for your favorite character.
Photography by: Coline Haslé
