arrow tattoo
An arrow tattoo in line art is a shaft with a pointed head and fletching at the back, usually drawn horizontally with three short lines behind the point. It reads as direction and forward motion, and the number of arrowheads is the main variable: one arrow points a single way, three fletching lines read as a past or a family.
Size guide
Single arrow: 5–8 cm long. Three stacked arrows: 8–12 cm vertical. Band of small arrows around wrist: 1.5–2 cm each.
What does the number of arrows mean?
One arrow points toward a single goal or person. Three arrows commonly represent past, present and future, or the three people in a family unit. Multiple arrows stacked together usually mean a group or a team. The meaning is conventional rather than fixed, so the safest approach is to tell your artist what you personally mean.
Should an arrow tattoo follow the arm?
On the forearm and calf, yes. A horizontal arrow that runs along the limb reads as movement and follows the taper of the arm; the same arrow placed across the forearm crosses the form at an angle and looks smaller than it is. On the ribs, a vertical arrow fits the long axis of the torso.
Frequently asked questions
Where to place a arrow tattoo
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