Bee Tattoos Design

Bee Tattoos: Design 

Bee Symbolism

There are numerous meanings attached to the humble bumble bee, any of which you could choose to assign to your bee tattoo design. For example, some early civilizations believed that honey bees were heaven sent because they could always find their way home. As a result the bee came to represent the soul and because of this meaning it was considered bad luck to kill a bee. Others see the bee as symbol of fertility and sexuality. Whereas many Christians have adopted the bee as a symbol of hope, focusing on the social order, cleanliness and work ethic of the little bee. They have also been associated with family, royalty and warfare - hives were actually used as a weapon by the ancient Mayans. Who knew there was so much meaning in such a tiny, buzzy package?

Of course you can decide to assign your own meaning to your lovely bee tattoo. Maybe even incorporate a word into the design as shown in the picture on the left. This is one of my all time favorite tattoos. The person wanted a reminder to always be true to themselves and came up with this lovely design to "bee me." Fuzzy, bumbly wisdom. I love it!
Realistic Bee Tattoo Design

A lot of tattoos I have are inspired by nature like; butterflies, trees, leaves and roots, so a swarm of bees tattoo would fit in perfectly. To me a bee represents hard work and good things to come. I love the idea of a group of creatures working together to create something delicious and life sustaining. The honey bee plays an important part in the ecology of earth. If they didn't pollinate many of our plants and flowers we would have a food shortage on our hands. (And I'm proud to say that I learned this by watching "A Bee Movie," with my girls.)

Did you know that each flower produces nectar that has it's own distinct flavor thus producing different flavored honeys? Bees are so cool.

The dilemma with going with a realistic design for a bee is size. If you go true to size they are not very big leaving you little room for detail. And as any tattoo artist worth their salt will tell you, forcing a lot of design detail in a small space will make for a bad tattoo that will bleed and not age well.

So if your heart's set on realism and you want to get every tiny fuzzy-wuzzy bee leg hair tattooed, you'd better bump up the size.
Tiny Cute Bee Tattoo Designs

I just love a tiny tattoo and a cute, little bee makes for the perfect tiny tattoo design. Obviously the simpler the design the better. Depending on the placement you could opt for one simple bee in a discreet spot or go with a number of the sweet bee tattoos and have your own little swarm like I plan to do.

The addition of wisps and dashes can add motion to your tattoo and greatly enhance the design. Why not pick a curved part of your body and go for a swirl or a heart.
artoon Bee Tattoo Design

Feeling a little bit cheeky? Then why not pick a bee tattoo design to reflect that attitude. Cartoon bee designs can emphasize whatever attribute you like most about them and yourself. How about a queen bee for your inner diva or an extra large stinger to send a message that you're not to be messed with. What about a super smiley honey bee that says you are all things sweet and lovely? Let your imagination run wild, exaggerate the features you like best, amp up the color and have fun.

Angry Bee or Wasp Tattoo Design

Want something edgier, with more attitude in your bee tattoo design? Then why not go for a swarm of killer bees or an angry wasp? In my quest for the perfect bee tattoo design for me I came a cross a lot of angry bee tattoos, which surprised me as I don't think of them as angry or aggressive in anyway. (Mind you, if you asked me right after I've been stung by one I might feel differently.)

Although these designs don't appeal to me, I can see how a tattoo like this might seem slightly more manly then a chubby little honey bee. So if manly is what your aiming for, slap on an extra big stinger and show people you mean business with your bee tattoo.

Bee and Flower Tattoo Design

Adding a flower or a whole bouquet of flowers to your bee tattoo design can add some beauty and color to your piece. Flowers and bees are the perfect match. Consider opting for a a flower with contrasting colors to compliment the vibrant yellow of your bees. And do a little research to add realism to your art by picking a flower that bees are actually attracted to like a sunflower or a poppy. You should also decide whether you want the elements of your tattoo to be to scale, what is the focal point of your tattoo, the bee, or the flower? To get the detail you may be looking for on your bee you may have to play with proportions a bit. Either way you are bound to get a sweet tattoo.


Bee with Other Insects Tattoo Designs

Insects are amazing and beautiful, mother nature has created miniature works of art in everyone of them. And they are a wonderful subject for tattoos. So why not recreate a field of flowers and add some friends for your bumble bee, like butterflies, ladybugs and dragonflies as seen on the picture on the left.


Bee with Honeycomb or Hive

Some of the coolest bee tattoo designs I've seen have incorporated honeycomb into the design, as if the inside of the person is in fact a hive, pulsing with activity and insects. Although this might some creepy to some there is no denying that the results are quite dramatic.

If the element of home and family are the aspects you are trying to emphasize in your bee tattoo then adding a hive to you design sends that message loud and clear. Make sure you have chosen a spot on your body that allows for enough space to showcase the work. Why not take it a step further and include a branch for your hive to swing from?



Ornate Bee Tattoo Design

Seriously, is that not one of the most amazing tattoos you have ever seen? Gorgeous, brilliant, unique. Never in a million years would I have thought to incorporate an intricate design with a bee and yet the results are stunning. Obviously you would need to commit to a rather large tattoo to pull this off, but wouldn't having something as beautiful as this on your arm be worth it? A number of style options could be mixed in with this style of design, including Celtic, tribal or even biomedical.


Bee Happy!

Tattoos are a wonderful way of expressing yourself through art, so choose a design that really speaks to who you are and what you care about. And with its diverse symbolism and many design options, a bee tattoo may just be the perfect choice for you. It certainly is for me.

Stayed tuned, as my 40th birthday rapidly approaches I plan on posting a picture of my own lovely swarm of bees tattoo that will serve as a reminder to "bee happy." Thanks for reading and happy inking!