Steampunk is one of the most famous subgenres of science fiction to this day. Modern day technological advancements put into the perspective of a futuristic 90’s aesthetic, the Steampunk era is one that is filled with creative talent from various artists in various mediums; case in point, Steampunk tattoos.
Spawning games, movies, and comic books, there is no doubt that Steampunk inspired art would eventually make its way to tattoos. Since Steampunk tattoos are only limited to the imagination of both the artist and person requesting the tattoo, there are almost limitless styles and types of tattoos that you can get.
So, if you find yourself inspired by the Steampunk era, but can’t quite decide which tattoo to get, here are 10+ great Steampunk tattoo ideas to get you started.
Steampunk Wings
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Greatly resembling the wings of the Spiderman villain the Vulture, Steampunk wings are one of the best Steampunk tattoos to get. This tattoo features a monochromic color pallet, but more than makes up for it thanks to the incredible attention to detail.
The tattoo is able to properly show off the somewhat futuristic technology that lacks a certain degree of polish. Steampunk art, while featuring advanced technology, always does so with the lack of polish and is a lot more grounded; this shows that this technology is still lacking. The Steampunk wings can often stand for freedom and liberty, but can also be entirely aesthetic based.
Steampunk Clock and Gears
This Steampunk clock and gears tattoo shows an ordinary clock surrounded by a multitude of gears in a monochromic aesthetic. The tattoo features incredible detail and is one of the most versatile tattoos in this list.
The nature of the tattoo allows it to be placed anywhere on your body, even if this tattoo is just above the wrist. Gears are a staple of the Steampunk era as they show a very realistic side of this somewhat futuristic technology. This tattoo’s meaning is more derivative and relies more on the interpretation of the wearer.
The Cat in Goggles
The cat in goggles tattoo sees an adorable cat sporting incredibly advanced Steampunk gear and goggles. Along with wearing goggles on its eyes, the cat is also wearing a color that is holding a complex mechanism connecting the collar to the goggles.
The portrait has an ultra realistic aesthetic along with incredible attention to detail. The portrait does not feature a lot of color, and shows a consistent color throughout the portrait. Other than being simply beautiful to look at, the tattoo is also incredibly diverse in its placement and can go anywhere on the body.
Steampunk Owl
The Steampunk owl is a tattoo that combines a neo-traditional art style along with a very cartoonish art style. The tattoo shows a Steampunk owl made of cogs and various other mechanisms, while a mouse with a top hat controls the mechanized owl.
The owl carries a neo-traditional art style, whereas the mouse itself carries a more cartoonish aesthetic. The tattoo, in general, carries a monochromic tone, and even traces of dot work to create more detail in the tattoo.
In terms of placement the tattoo is also very diverse as it will look good on any part of your body.
The Puzzle Piece
Since the past decade there has been a surge in the popularity of tattoos, like the Puzzle Piece, that show some form of machinery under the skin. The Puzzle Piece tattoo shows a small puzzle piece being removed to expose golden cogs and gears within the body. The tattoo features very less color but has impressive amount of detail to make both the puzzle piece and the exposed interior look incredibly realistic.
The tattoo is more of an optical illusion than just a regular tattoo. The tattoo itself is also incredibly small, making it great for people getting a tattoo for the first time.
Steampunk Butterfly
One of the more popular types of Steampunk tattoos are those that feature mechanized animals and insects, especially ones that show half nature and half machine. This Steampunk butterfly is no exception as it shows off an intricately crafted butterfly made of gears and bolts.
This tattoo does not have much color, but has incredible attention to detail. The tattoo has a very realistic art style and thanks to its size it is great for people that are getting a tattoo for the first time.
Steampunk Bird
The Steampunk bird features an incredibly colorful mechanical bird with visible cogs and gears on its belly. The bird also has incredibly large eyes and a hole in its chest that shows off the inner workings of the bird. This tattoo manages to break the trend of monochromic and single color tattoos, with its incredibly colorful nature.
The tattoo itself carries an incredibly cartoonish vibe, something that is supported by a bright yet bold choice of colors for the tattoo. Although this tattoo resides on the forearm, it can also look good on calves and even shoulders.
The Plague Doctor
During the time of the Black Death epidemic, people were diagnosed with the Bubonic Plague that was the cause of a multitude of deaths throughout the 1300s. Plague doctors were physicians hired by European cities to treat the victims of the epidemic, and their masks have become a staple of the Steampunk fiction era.
This Plague Doctor tattoo shows a plague doctor in all of its creepy and haunting glory. The tattoo shows the doctor holding a needle with glass floating across them. The tattoo itself, although incredibly colorful in nature, has very bold and dark colors that add to the overall haunting atmosphere of the tattoo. This tattoo shows its placement on the shoulder, which is possibly the best place as it has a lot more visible and has a lot more space for the tattoo.
Steampunk Camera
Cameras have become a staple of our society and are possibly one of the best inventions of all time. This Steampunk camera tattoo shows off what an advanced camera would look like in the 19th century.
The tattoo itself comprises somewhat dark yet varied colors showing off the many small details in it. The tattoo also shows off the many small mechanisms on the camera, such as the flash and many smaller lenses. If you happen to be a huge fan of photography, or have a certain appreciation for the art form, then this just might be the tattoo for you.
Steampunk Fashion
This particular tattoo is quite different from other types of tattoos on this list. The Steampunk fashion tattoo features a woman wearing 19th century fashion ware, mixed with certain Steampunk elements.
The tattoo has a very ultra realistic style to it and boasts very dark colors and bold colors that add to the overall aesthetic of the tattoo. The tattoo is present on the ribs, as they have a lot of space to accommodate the incredibly large tattoo.
Steampunk Heart
The Steampunk heart tattoo sees a partially mechanized heart beating. The tattoo shows a multitude of gears and cogs inside the heart, with smaller pipes above and below the heart. The tattoo does not make use of a multitude of colors and takes on a more monochromic approach. When it comes to placement of this tattoo, it is quite obvious that the tattoo will look the best on the chest.
Not only does the tattoo look thematically appropriate on the chest, but it simply looks a lot better. While you can place it on your arms and legs, it won’t look as good as it placed on the chest.
Day of the Dead Meets Steampunk
The Day of the Dead is one of the biggest holidays in the United States, and people often celebrate it with their very own Day of the Dead tattoos. This tattoo mixes aspects from one of the most famous festivals in the United States and the most famous science function genres, to create an absolute masterpiece.
The tattoo features a mechanized skull painted with the many festive colors of the Day of the Dead. The skull also features big goggles that are synonymous with Steampunk lore. Although the skull itself does not have much color in it, it is covered with incredibly bright and festive colors of the festival.
Conclusion
Tattoos are one of the most, if not the most, famous forms of body modification. They are generally considered a form of art now and for good reason. However, even if you are ready to get a tattoo, you should understand that getting a tattoo is a huge commitment.
Not only getting it but you will also have to care for the tattoo so it doesn’t get an infection or fades too quickly. Once you get a tattoo, it can rarely ever be modified; and removing it is another hassle all together. So, it is always a good idea to take your time before settling on the tattoo that you want to get, as these tattoos stay forever.
