EMMA FREEMAN
SPECIALIST PRACTICE
I used this Russian criminal tattoo encyclopedia to help me with designing and the placement of the tattoos. I scanned these images in and I used photoshop to place them onto my body template. I selected each of my design, copied it and transferred it onto the body template. I played around with the placement of the tattoos continuously using the Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopaedia for exact reference. If I were to peform these tattoos in industry, I would create a simialr design to this with annotations. For continuity, I would take photographs of each of the tattoos, and ensure to line them up with a placement on the body i.e a freckle/a mole or a central part on the body. This will ensure the tattoo transfers are applied exactly the same way on every application
TATTOO DESIGNING
INSPIRATION
I used this Russian criminal tattoo encyclopedia to help me with designing and the placement of the tattoos. I scanned these images in
A cathedral (or monastery, church, castle or fortress) tattooed on the back, hand or chest tends to denote the amount of time the bearer has been in prison, with each steeple representing a year. It can also indicate the number of times the bearer has been incarcerated, if he's served time for multiple offenses.
Cobwebs typically represent a lengthy term in prison. The symbolism is associated with spiders trapping prey; or criminals trapped behind bars. This tattoo is commonly found on the elbow, signifying sitting around so long with your elbows on the table that a spider made a web on your elbow, though it can also be located on the neck.
Cat tattoos serve as the mark of a thief. A single cat means the thief acted alone; multiple cats say the thief was part of a bigger gang.
A dagger through the neck means that the bearer killed someone while incarcerated. It also indicates that he is available to be hired for a "hit". If there are drops of blood tattooed on the blade, those indicate the number of murders the bearer committed.
Stars tattooed on the knees mean the bearer will bow down to no man. On the shoulders, they can mean the bearer is one of discipline, high status and tradition, or they denote that the bearer has been promoted to captain of the mafia.
This pirate tattoo means the bearer has committed armed robbery.
Read more at http://www.viralspell.com/in-russian-prisons-tattoos-tell-stories-indicate-rank-accomplishment-and-prestige-here-is-a-sample/#qdlJj7sY8q1fCktb.99
The tattoo on the neck reads ‘I don’t need happiness’
Skulls indicate a conviction for murder
The rose means he turned 18 in prison
The skull and crossbones show that a prisoner is serving a life sentence
An anchor could mean crossing the equator, the soul of a dead sailor or symbolise hope – we may no longer take perilous journeys on high seas but still seek to "anchor" our self