TattoosByMarky
"Tattooing with Intention"
Custom tattoos, made for you.
I’ll help you turn your ideas, values, and personal story into a tattoo that feels unmistakably yours—thoughtfully designed, expertly executed, and made to last.
↓ Explore my approach ↓
From Meaning to Design
You don't need to know exactly what your tattoo should look like before you begin. We start with what matters to you—your ideas, experiences, values, and the things you want your tattoo to represent. From there, I help translate those ideas through the symbolism, traditions, and visual language of Japanese tattooing, creating a design that is both personally meaningful and true to the art form.
The example below shows how these ideas come together in a full arm, but the same principles apply whether you're planning a small piece or a larger project.
01
Start With the Main Subject
What do you want your tattoo to represent?
In this example, we’ve chosen koi as the main subject. We’ve decided to have the koi swimming upstream to represent spring, and gold in colour, to represent wealth and luck.
The subject matter is extensive. We could work with a dragon, snake, oni, Kintaro, kitsune, or any number of traditional subjects. Floral themes such as peony, chrysanthemum, lotus, or maple leaves offer another direction.
02
Add Related Elements
Elements around the main subject should also support the story.
Because we’ve chosen koi swimming upstream, we’ve added flowing water and waves to convey the ebb and flow of life, as well as the perseverance required to navigate the obstacles along one’s chosen path.
We could take the design in another direction by incorporating elements such as waterfalls, rocks, or clouds, depending on the story we want the overall design to tell.
03
Layer in Symbolism
Additional elements can deepen the meaning of the design.
Because we’ve chosen to represent spring through the koi swimming upstream, cherry blossoms become a natural addition. They bloom in spring and bring additional symbolism to the design—birth, delicate beauty, and the fleeting nature of life.
We could tell a different story by choosing another flower, such as the lotus, or by incorporating some of the other elements we've already considered.
04
Bring It All Together
The individual choices become one cohesive tattoo.
The result is more than a collection of meaningful elements. The subject, supporting elements, symbolism, composition, and placement all work together to create a tattoo that feels cohesive and personal to the person wearing it.
This example only scratches the surface of the symbolism that can be explored in a Japanese tattoo. The goal here isn't to cover every meaning, but to show you how the different elements come together to create a considered design.
“Go see Marky! He will take your idea and create something better than you imagined. He is genuine and professional, couldn’t ask for a better tattoo experience.”
“I’ve been getting tattooed by Marky for nearly 20 years and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love the fact that you can always tell when it’s one of his pieces.”
“Marky is the absolute BEST. His ability to make every person feel comfortable and excited about their tattoo is rare to find, whether it’s your first tattoo or one of a hundred.”
Where do you want to go next?
LEARN MORE ABOUT ME
My experience, influences, and approach to tattooing.