Tattoos come in different sizes and shapes. Each tattoo design and genre has its own meaning and depicts a certain quality. Just like the tattoo of a rose depicts love or a tattoo design based on a dragon depicts strength and fierceness, a tattoo design based on water (or water tattoos) depicts the qualities of water.

Water tattoos are usually associated with the feminine side of people, however this notion varies. What qualities a tattoo depicts depends upon its portrayal i.e. the drawing style, theme, choice of colors etc.

Water tattoos come in various shapes and sizes; here are some of the popular ones:

Water tattoos based on sea waves: A wave is huge and has massive kinetic energy. A surfer riding along a wave however changes the meaning all together. The tattoo design then depicts fun, frolic and a free spirited nature. Wave tattoos are usually inscribed on the back and the chest and are larger in size when compared to other standard designs.

Water tattoos depicting fish: Depicting the Pisces Zodiac symbol along with a little water based design strewn around too is becoming popular. Depicting other types of fishes in their natural water environment like sharks, whales, goldfishes, turtles, dolphins, starfishes, corals or just the fishes themselves is also very popular.

Water tattoos depicting mermaids: Having a mermaid(s) swimming in water or sitting on a rock among the waves is another way to adorn your body.

Beaches and beach based objects: Inscribing a drawing of a sand castle along the beach or a bucket and shovel along with it. Other objects include water skis, boats, etc. The basic theme of these drawings is usually the calm or the fun atmosphere of the beach.

Other animal based designs: Sometimes animals like snakes, tigers etc are adorned with moving water to create a different design that stands out from the other standard ones.

Birds that fish: A kingfisher or a seagull depicted while fishing or just perching on a rock.

These are just an inkling of what is possible with water based tattoos. Every style and theme in water tattoo design can be mixed and matched as the artist desires; the prevailing theme however remains the depiction of water. Water based designs are generally blue or watery green in color and are not limited to the ones described above. If the qualities of life, regeneration, purity, freedom and persistence are closer to your heart, maybe water based tattoo designs are the ones that will suit you.