Ubiquitous Design: How Casino Images Have Blended Into Body Art
Body art, once a contentious subject and even the preserve of circus shows rather than everyday life, has become far, far more accepted in today’s world. That uptick in acceptance has led to people from all walks of life finding new and creative ways to decorate their bodies and express their interests through ink. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given how popular casino games are, many casino motifs have crept from the gambling world and onto our skin. In this article, we’re going to explore the top images we’ve seen move from the world of cards and dice to the world of the human body.
Poker Tattoos
Is there any game more beloved, more revered, more recognized than poker? We’d say not. Is there any game, therefore, more suitable for transcription onto the skin? Again, no. Poker tattoos can be beautiful, and are becoming increasingly commonplace.
Poker has many, many associated images that have been transcribed from the gambling sphere into the world of ink. To list but a few, you’ve got all the different suits, plus the card faces – the queen of hearts, for example, is a particularly romantic image that has often been turned into stylized tattoos. Of course, kings, jacks, aces, and jokers have their share of fans as well – but the number cards also attract people looking to create a luck-based tattoo, or something that holds unique and special meaning to them.
Many of us feel inexplicable connections to certain numbers or cards, not necessarily rooted in logic. Maybe the 5 of spades just feels right to you. Perhaps it’s the 7 of clubs. Whatever it is, there’s so much scope for poker cards to be turned into meaningful tattoos. You can even keep it simple and just go for one of the deck’s icons – a heart, a spade, a club, a diamond… or maybe all four.
Perhaps having your favorite pair of cards would even make you feel luckier at the game. Imagine having the queen and jack of hearts tattooed on your body and then seeing them come up in the game…
But it’s not just the cards. What about chips? There’s no clearer way to showcase your love of gambling than with a handful of bright poker chips scattered across your arm or maybe on your hip. Poker has so much potential in the world of art, and its images enjoy worldwide popularity.
Roulette Recognition
Poker might be one of the most popular casino games ever, but roulette has an undeniable iconicness that few could miss. The red and black, interspersed with flashes of green, can be woven into dozens of tattoo ideas. It doesn’t have to be a roulette wheel, though plenty of people certainly go there – these striking colors can be used in a ton of imaginative ways.
Maybe you just use the colors, or perhaps you borrow other imagery, such as the stylized numbers or the plain white ball, to create a cohesive feel. The nice thing about these is that they give you flexibility in the extreme, letting you blend in other images or stick with the gambling theme. It’s totally up to you. A really clever designer might even be able to create a sense of motion in the tattoo, reflecting that thrilling spin that comes before – hopefully – a big win.
Slots Inspiration
Slots offer a pretty much infinite well of inspiration in today’s world. They’ve got themes galore – meaning you’ve got tattoo themes galore if you want to use one of your favorite games as the springboard for your next tattoo idea. Greek gods, mythical beasts, lighthearted leprechauns, jungle creatures, and anything else you can think of, you’ll find in the slot machines.
Of course, there’s the classics to turn to for inspiration too. Who wouldn’t recognize the ultra-iconic cherries, bars, or lemons anywhere? These machines create an instant spark of nostalgia, making them an ideal pick for a tattoo. You also have the option to blend the old with the new, combining much-loved classics with your favorite modern slot.
Other Casino Symbols
This is a world where symbols abound, so don’t feel like you’ve got to stick to a single game for your body art ideas. Dice might be an excellent catch-all to demonstrate your love of luck, and you have full control over which way they’ll land – pick lucky sixes to demonstrate your confidence in the universe, or go for ones to suggest a darker twist. Anything in between can also carry meaning that’s personal to you.
And beyond dice, other symbols also hold lots of promise. How about some coins in a nod to the original “penny machines,” or a lever for the one-armed bandit? Maybe a stack of flying cards or something inspired by old-school Plinko? Really, the casino offers endless inspiration for the creative, and as these iconic images are explored and built upon, the world of art gets ever more creative. No matter what narrative you want to tell with your body, poker tattoos and other casino inspiration can be your friend.
By Chadd Scott