Psychedelic music was first introduced in the 1960s. The aim of the music was to induce a trance-like state of euphoria. Inspired by the trippy sounds, artists began to paint what they heard, creating psychedelic art. Although psychedelic tattoos are not all that popular, they do make very interesting body art pieces, especially for those with psychedelic personalities.
Trippy Tattoos tell Tall Tales
Psychedelic paintings and designs are often referred to as being trippy, because they were mostly enjoyed by hippies who were tripping on LSD, also known as acid. LSD is an hallucinogenic drug that causes a person to hallucinate; seeing things that aren’t there, and seeing reality distort and take on new forms. Under the influence of the drug, psychedelic designs transform and change right before the person’s eyes. This is why trippy tattoos are mostly favored by those who spent time around people who use this psychedelic drug.
Fractal designs are sometimes chosen for psychedelic tattoos as they often have flowing lines of movement in the design. These aren’t actual lines, but are instead hidden in the shape of the design, drawing the eye from one section of the art work to another. Tattoos of fractals work well on the human form, shifting shape as the person moves, adding psychedelic value to the design.
Trippy tattoos are also known as LSD tattoos, acid tattoos, trance tattoos and psychedelic tattoos. The modern version of 1960s psychedelic music is known as trance, dance music that is made electronically. The repetitive rhythms and unusual sounds in trance music can induce a trance-like state, a sensation that some people heighten with mind-altering drugs like acid or magic mushrooms.
Psychedelic Tattoos are Hallucinations on Skin
Hallucinogenic drugs like LSD and magic mushrooms alters the mind so that the person is attracted to bright colors. Because of this, a lot of psychedelic tattoo art is inked into the skin in bright, vivid colors. UV art, also known as glow art, neon art or black light art, is popular at trance music festivals, adding bright colors to an otherwise dark dance floor. This art form is reflected in tattoo designs in the fast-growing art form of black light tattoos. Read more about UV tattoos on Art-Sci in Tattoos that are Invisible in Daylight.
The flowing perspective lines in trippy tattoos combines perfectly with creatures that twist and curve, such as fish and dragons. Fractal tattoos are often quite floral in nature, so flowers can be included in the design to make it appear as though the flowers are emerging from the fractal tattoo. For people who have grown bored of a linear tribal tattoo, the addition of trippy fractal designs can add life and perspective to a previously 2-dimensional design.
Trippy tattoos can include symbols in the design to add more meaning to the tattoo, but for most people, the hallucinogenic nature of the tattoo design is meaningful enough, reflecting lifestyle choices and the person’s psychedelic personality. Whether in color or black ink, trance-inducing tattoos are appealing to the eye, drawing even sober observers to take a closer look.
Before settling on a specific fractal, vortex or mandala design, speak to your tattoo artist about psychedelic tattoos. Because of the shape of the body, you may find that your chosen design will need to be placed somewhere other than where you initially wanted it. You may have to sacrifice some detail in the design if the ink is likely to merge under the skin and blur the tattoo over time. Trippy tattoos work best in large formats, so the waist, chest or the entire back are often chosen for psychedelic tattoos.