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Home Tattoos 101 Best River Tattoo Ideas You Have To See To Believe!

101 Best River Tattoo Ideas You Have To See To Believe!

by Jamie Wilson
River Tattoos

Are you a river tattoo fan? If yes, then here’s a list of some cool river tattoo ideas that will surely help you before you get one on your body.

River Tattoo
@kodzunak via Instagram – Love this design? Try a Temporary Tattoo

Like any other nature tattoo, river tattoo outlines have high demands too in most of the tattoo shops.

Water bodies including oceans, seas, rivers and lakes comprise 71% of the earth surface and it is needless to mention the utility that has been served by the rivers from the beginning of civilisations in this world. No wonder the human kingdom shares a close bond with rivers.

Though water symbolises life, different water bodies have different significances. River in general symbolises strength, spirit and determination. But rivers are like human personalities. Some are strong and violent like restless and aggressive people, whereas some are gentle and serene or lively. However it is, a river should always continue flowing. A dead river is like a human without a healthy mind.

Tattoos are body art that speaks to one’s personality. River tattoo ideas come with deep significance according to their depiction of human skin. When some go for the turbulence as a sign of stern and dominating attitude, some reveal their placidness through a river tattoo. Hence people are obsessed with the mysteries of river tattoo outlines. Let us dive in then!

The Asian ‘Flow From The Heaven’ River Tattoo On Forearms

The Asian 'Flow From The Heaven' River Tattoo On Forearms
@xiaolun_tatt via Instagram – Love this design? Try a Temporary Tattoo

Rivers do carry symbols. Every civilisation in the world has emerged and flourished on the banks of rivers. Rivers carry the culture. The river tattoo in this image is a clear indication of the Asian culture of painting. The design reflects the traditional styles of art in South-East Asia, namely China and Japan. The flow of water in the tattoo is long, starting from the top of the forearm to the wrist of the tattoo owner. The stream is flowing down from heaven to the end without maintaining a definite direction. It clearly gives away the meaning of the journey of human life.

The Meaningful ‘Human Mind Is Flowing’ Blue River Tattoo For The Thinkers

The Meaningful 'Human Mind Is Flowing' Blue River Tattoo For The Thinkers
@kodzunak via Instagram – Love this design? Try a Temporary Tattoo

It is true that tattoos speak the inner voice of people. Take a look at this river tattoo carefully. This river tattoo is the outcome of the sheer artistry of the tattoo artist. The tattoo shows a river coming down from the top, falls on the head of the person measuring the depth of his mind to the bottom covering the major portion of the arm. The face in the tattoo indicates the features of a man of typical Asian descendants. The smaller figurines in this river tattoo seem to be drowning in the river of thoughts of that man. The dark blue and the black combination is equally flawless.

The Stunning Grey-Black Mountain Lake And River Tattoo Sleeve

The Stunning Grey-Black Mountain Lake And River Tattoo Sleeve
@tonytattooer via Instagram – Love this design? Try a Temporary Tattoo

If you prefer scenic beauty to any other special indication, then a river tattoo is the best choice for you. A perfect sketch of nature is all you can ask for. The mountains, the trees, the lake and the narrow stream flowing down from the ultimate picture of serenity. Notice how the reflections are made on the water differentiating the lighter shades from the darker ones. The minute details in this river tattoo have been dealt with patience by an efficient artist. Before you choose anyone from your ‘Tattoo Artists Near Me’ list, make sure the artist to be a perfectionist in shading art since it will take hours and skill to get the exact sketch on your body.

The Perfectly Crazy Real River Tattoo Art on Body

The Perfectly Crazy Real River Tattoo Art on Body
@border.line.tattoos via Instagram – Love this design? Try a Temporary Tattoo

Imagine drawing a real river with all its tributaries across one’s body from finger to the other side of the shoulder; that too everything in their definite positions! Crazy right? This river tattoo is perfect in many layers; a perfectly crazy river tattoo for a perfect river tattoo lover. For people who are not aware of this river here tattooed is the river Indus with its five tributaries, namely, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. An important river that links both India and Pakistan with the common history of Indus Valley Civilisation. Kudos to the artist who spent hours bringing out the perfect course of strokes in this river tattoo. If you are interested to pay tribute to your history, you can opt for any river like the Ganges or even the great Nile river.

The Fantasy Inspired River Tattoo

The Fantasy Inspired River Tattoo
Image Credit: @_hoonah via Instagram – Love this design? Try a Temporary Tattoo

Let us just admit that we all believe in some sort of fantasy world. So what’s wrong with getting a river tattoo that evokes our childhood love for fantasy! Dragons are a hot favourite in the world of fantasies. This mythical creature is an important character in the folklore of China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines and other south-east Asian countries. The dragon in this river tattoo gives away the vibe of being a Korean legendary creature, Imugi. Imugis are the hornless ocean dragons that resemble gigantic serpents, though not the full-fledged ones. Recent Korean dramas have portrayed Imugi as an anti-hero opposite Gumiho, a nine-tailed mythical fox. The tattoo is more or less simple. Different colours have been used to make it more appealing. The interesting part is that the artist did not give the ocean its conventional blue shade. If you are a fan of Korean culture and ship villains like Imugi (as shown in The Nine-Tailed Fox), wear your confidence and go for it!

The Most Minimalist River Tattoo One Can Ask For!

The Most Minimalist River Tattoo One Can Ask For!
@ina_inktoxicated_tattoo_s via Instagram – Love this design? Try a Temporary Tattoo

A minimalist river tattoo? What’s that? Just a curved line! That’s it.

In most cases when people want a simple design for their long river tattoo, this super simple one is something they can barely ignore. But do note that, this is not just a curved line with another line drawn with it, but the Buna a.k.a Bojana River Europe! It is a short river in Albania that flows to the Adriatic Sea. It is a perfectly drawn real river with its tributary, the Great Drin attached to it. The river itself lends the impression of downright minimalism and so the tattoo. Though this river tattoo is like ice on the cake for the Albanian people who want that crazy real river on their skin, you can totally accept it as your own! Because, seriously, who cares!

The Sword And River Tattoo

The Sword And River Tattoo
@hemi_tattoo via Instagram – Love this design? Try a Temporary Tattoo

A sword tattoo represents bravery and strength. This sword and river tattoo can be a fine choice for gamers. The work of shading is splendid on the sword. The stream of the river is carefully inked with patience. Determination of river is combined with the symbol of bravery of the sword in this river tattoo.

The Soothing Crane And River Tattoo On Arms

The Soothing Crane And River Tattoo On Arms
@thetattooshop.co.uk via Instagram – Love this design? Try a Temporary Tattoo

Not everyone praises the grandeur and strength of the river. The tranquillity of the river is a therapy for one’s restless mind. This river tattoo is the messenger of peace. The bright blue colour of the river beneath the flying cranes reveals the calm and composed character of the owner. The light and dark shadings on the river with fine lines add more perfection to this simple river tattoo. The cranes add further elegance to the piece.

The Conventional Mountain River Tattoo

The Conventional Mountain River Tattoo
@victoria.tattoos via Instagram – Love this design? Try a Temporary Tattoo

Sometimes the most conventional things do the magic. This one is a very basic design for a river tattoo. The flowers and leaves though look mismatched change the whole outlook of this too common river tattoo. The dot work on the leaves adds more weight to it.

The Woodcut River Tattoo For The Old School Soul

The Woodcut River Tattoo For The Old School Soul
@melissadowart via Instagram – Love this design? Try a Temporary Tattoo

If you find all of the above suggestions too boring and basic, let me give you the advice to get an off-beat, fun river tattoo design – the woodcut river tattoo design.

Though not many people are aware of this, this unique style has managed to draw attention in some specific tattoo shops like East River Tattoo in New York. This woodcut tattoo reminds us of the older days; specifically the days of woodcut printing. Nature scenes go well with the wood carvings and will surely go well with tattoos. This river tattoo is an outstanding example of a woodcut tattoo. The clouds and riverbeds are drawn carefully with bold lines. It’s a guarantee given to tattoo enthusiasts that this river tattoo is enough to catch the eyes.

River tattoo is not only a mere tattoo theme but also an inspiration to many tattoo shops in the United States of America like the East River Tattoo in Brooklyn. Founded by Duke Riley in 2000, the artists of this tattoo shop offer quality custom tattoo designs of various styles. Such tattoo studios are James River Tattoo in Lynchburg, Whiskey River Tattoo in Virginia, Eagle River Tattoo in the downtown of Eagle River and so on.

So, type ‘Tattoo shops open near me’, find the one you like, walk into the shop and get it done! Happy inking!

Here are some suggestions for you:

feature image from Pinterest

What is a river tattoo?

A river tattoo is a type of body art that features flowing water or a river as the main design element. Many people opt for this type of tattoo to represent the ever-changing nature of life, and it can also be used to symbolize growth, strength, and courage. The designs are usually very intricate and often include additional elements such as trees, mountains, and animals. River tattoos can range from small and simple to large and elaborate – it all depends on the individual’s preference. No matter the size or design of a river tattoo, they are all beautiful works of art that show off the wearer’s personality and style.

How do I choose a design for my river tattoo?

When choosing a design for your river tattoo, you should consider what the design symbolizes to you and how it will look on your body. Think about any elements that you would like to incorporate into the design, such as trees, mountains, animals, or symbols. You can also choose between different styles of tattoos such as black and grey or full color. Once you have an idea of what you would like your tattoo to look like, it is important to find a reputable artist who can bring your design to life.

How much does a river tattoo cost?

The cost of a river tattoo varies depending on the size, complexity, and color of the design. Generally speaking, larger tattoos with more detail will be more expensive than smaller ones. Be sure to ask your artist for an estimate before booking an appointment. It’s also important to factor in the time it will take to complete the tattoo, as this can also affect the cost. And, of course, be sure to factor in the cost of any touch-ups that may be needed down the road.

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