35+ Turtle Tattoo Designs that portray beauty and tranquility

The turtle is a widely revered creature and often perceived as a symbol of strength, stamina and stability given its ability to effectively navigate through land, sea and other conditions deemed as harsh by human beings.  The turtles seem to live such a peaceful life by always minding their own business as they go through daily life experiences. Since a turtle is pretty much ubiquitous and found all over, each culture endows it with its own meaning and significance. Turtle tattoo designs are usually just as diverse and meaningful. While it is a design element that can be depicted solely or as part of a more diverse tattoo – usually each turtle tattoo is quite different in nature.

The turtle is often associated with various myths revolving around creation especially in India and North America. The art of turtle tattooing is a common practice in Polynesia where turtle rattoos are used as talismans of protection and spirituality. Wearing a turtle tattoo symbolizes deep and intertwined meaning as depicted in the versatile characteristics of the turtle.

The tribal turtle tattoo is a popular choice for tattoo lovers with the design featuring artistic styles that clearly demonstrate the dominant characteristics of the turtle. The turtle tattoo design below is a real display of fine artwork and design that looks cool on both men and women.

The turtle is known as a very exceptional creature with a very long life span and a very hard shell that keeps it safe from diverse climate and whether conditions. Having these tattoo symbolizes some element of longevity and ability to endure.

Turtle tattoos can be worn on any part of the body with designs that are either small or large depending on the wearer’s preferance. The below turtle tattoo design fits well on the leg where it’s worn.

Turtle tattoos are usually pretty realistic in color and detail, however you will often see these designs in Pacific or Hawaiian style, which is generally drawn in black ink. Some people may want to incorporate bright and unusual colors of the Pacific turtle into the shell of the design. In most cases, turtle tattoos depict the complete turtle, though it is not uncommon to see just various parts of the turtle such as the head or just the shell. These shells are often colorfully embellished in the Pacific style of art.

According to the Japanese culture, turtle tattoo is perceived to symbolize protection especially for those travelling by sea. Given the turtles are also known to indwell the seas and oceans, having it on when you sail signifies the character of the turtle as they navigate both the land and the waters.

The Vietnamese are known to dorn different colours of the turtle tattoo which according to them symbolize a golden god that come to rescue when they are goind through some challenge or trouble.The turtle tattoo below looks spectacular on the wearer and quite ideal for women.

You will also often see the cartoon version of the animal when researching turtle tattoo designs. When done with painstaking detail the tattoo of lifelike turtle will look really striking. You can also provide a feminine and cute angle to the look of the turtle tattoo if you so desire. If you feel that it will look good you can even get the outline of the turtle done.

One aspect of the turtle that stands out quite often is it’s peaceful nature especially as it interacts with other creatures. As shown in the below tattoo, it’s easy to spot the turtle peacefully interacting with different creatures harmoniously as it goes through its life.

In the pacific area, a turtle is supposed to embody peace, calm and a feeling of complete serenity. The same sort of significance is attached in the Polynesian and Hawaiian culture. Among Native American people it is believed that the turtle played a part in the creation of the Earth.

It’s normally inspiring how the turtle manages the transition between the land and waters. The whole process is carried with an aspect of calm and fits so well with the Indian myth regarding the turtle that it carries the whole world on its back given its versatility in the land and sea.

The turtle tattoo has a lot of deeper meaning for those who get the tattoo. Some of the qualities associated with the turtle entail peace, bravery, willpower, security, long life, good health, kindness among many other sterling qualities.

Large turtle tattoos looks quite elegant on men especially when worn on the upper arm and the back. It enhances the personality of the wearer with a perception that the same characters as displayed in the turtle is also part of the wearer’s personality.

The tattoo is also a symbol of productivity given its ability to reproduce in large quantities. Wearing the tattoo can be perceived to symbolize productivity in various areas of life.Though everyone is free to determine the meaning that the turtle tattoo being worn symbolize.

The variety of meanings linked to the turtle tattoo means that the wearer can get to decide what his or her tattoo means. But usually people tend to associate the turtle with a long life and perseverant nature. The fact is turtles can and do live longer than humans. Turtles are also known not to let their slower speed stop them from doing what they set out to do. To many a turtle is something to be considered spirituality and thereby having healing properties. Since the turtle retreats into its shell when it senses danger, the turtle is also associated with self-protection.

According to the Polynesia tribal culture their war god Tu was represented by a turtle which made the warriors wear turtle tattoos as a sign of an armour for protection from the battle. According to the Takitumu tribe in Rarotonga, the turtle tattoo was a preserve for the chiefs only.

The turtle is also known for its nature of slow movement yet diligently reaches the end of the journey without giving up on the way. The turtle often makes slow steps but consistently advances until the destination is reached. This can be symbolized to identify with the ability to never give up on a worthy course despite the challenges being encountered in the process of attaining the course.

The turtle can survive on land as well as water and there are many designs with the turtle as the central theme. These include showing the turtle in many of its habitats or with a variety of plants and other animals. You can do your research to determine what you want your turtle tattoo to look like.

The turtle tattoo below is a blend of other colours and features that combines quite well. Various elements can be incorporated into designing turtle tattoo for a more themed symbol and meaning as deemed fit by the wearer.

Though perceived to be slow in movement, they are very sure of reaching their destination and the turtle tattoo placed on the feet below is a suitable symbol to explain that character of the turtle.

As with any tattoo design that has so many meanings, symbolic value and deeper implications, the right thing to do is explore why you want the tattoo first. Then you need to determine where is the exact design that you want along with the area of your body that you want it inked on. Make sure that you know what you are going on for and whether it is what you want in the long run before going in for it.

The turtle tattoo appears in different shapes and sizes with some large or small. Others designs take the shape of the turtle while swimming, standing, when having the head coiled within the shell or when all the legs are spread out. Regardless of the design chosen, the turtle tattoo is a perfect demonstration of versatility and longevity.

The below turtle tattoo is quite simple without a lot of features that makes a tattoo look more sophisticated. The tattoo is of medium size and placed in an ideal place making it look beautiful on a lady.

The turtle ability to travel thousands of miles makes it such a preference for tattoo lovers as it denotes perseverance and endurance. The turtle tattoo shown below displays some element of motion and progress which can be assumed to mean progress as the cross denotes the four corners of the earth.

The sea turtles are known for the ability to return home even after taking time wondering and navigating other places. That character symbolises faithfulness, guidance and goodness.

The tattoo is also known as a creature of fidelity and loyalty. The design of the turtle tattoo below is quite stunning and attractive. Most turtle tattoos are done in one colour of either grey or black apart from very rear cases where different blend of colours are used.

Some of the common symbols of the turtle include fertility, wealth, creation, steadfastness, endurance, guidance stability, security, strength, immortality, good luck and many more. It’s good to choose a turtle tattoo design with a meaning that depicts a character you would be excited to identify with.

The turtle has its own special place in the societies and cultures around the world. Africans are known to refer to the turtle as symbol of a trickster mostly derived from the story of the turtle and the rabbit and how the turtle ended up winning the race. The turtle tattoo worn below appears quite dynamic with a blend of other features that makes it appear more complex.

Turtle tattoos appear magnificent when used as stand-alone tattoo, however can be combined with other features if the wearer is interested in a more complex design.

The turtle tattoo design shown below with the turtle in the diving position is quite an incorporation of a fine work. The colours used are bold and cool bringing a clear picture of the tattoo.

Celebrities also influence the type of tattoos one wears. There are many celebrities that have specifically identified with the turtle tattoo making it a very popular choice amongst the celebrities fans.

The turtle tattoo design below is just simple and elegant. Turtles are also perceived as a bridge of world’s and a good tattoo designer is capable of enhancing any perceived meaning in a tattoo.

The below turtle tattoo illustrates a turtle diving deep into the sea with the head downwards as it dives deep into the seabed. The colours used blends so well making the entire turtle tattoo look fantastic. The large part of the chest where the turtle tattoo is worn provides enough space that accommodates the tattoo so well.

Apart from the tribal turtle tattoo that are normally very common, the cartoon turtle tattoo are often depicted as happy characters. The face of the turtle is designed to show a smile and radiate elements of happiness.

This turtle tattoo below looks beautiful and quite sterning with the footsteps of the little turtle displayed on the tattoo as it makes slow movements. The grey colour of the tattoo and the ladies complexion blends so well.