Monkey Tattoo Pics and Ideas: Amazing Tattoos!

Monkey Tattoo ideas for all your monkey needs! Want to laugh? CHECK. Want to get a monkey tattoo? CHECK CHECK. You’ll love these amazing monkey tattoos.

2016 was the Year of the Monkey, which makes it a great occasion for you to get a monkey tattoo. If you have no interest in the Chinese calendar, you might find other reasons to get a monkey inked in your skin. These creatures are considered intelligent, witty, resourceful, playful, courageous and have a role of protection. On a more spiritual note, monkeys are symbols of repentance and salvation. The notorious “monkey mind” should be muted in order to receive enlightenment. Buddhists have numerous legends about monkeys with impressive skills.

When it comes to a monkey’s true nature, it seems that it is extremely caring. The way it shows it cares about its fellow is by cleaning its fur and skin. Indeed, monkeys do goof around a lot, but their shenanigans are directed to carefully chosen individuals. You might feel that some of your traits are similar to a monkey’s. This animal is curious, thinks fast and it might play dumb if that benefits it. Portraying it becomes challenging in case you want to incorporate too many of its features.

There are more types of monkey tattoo, such as chimpanzee, tribal, grease, baby monkey and so on. As it follows, you’ll see various interpretations of the monkey. Some of them present it in common circumstances, while others are inclined to show its human side more. The “Hear, See, and Speak No Evil” motif is very popular and inked in various techniques that are more or less appreciated at the moment. These days, the emphasis is on the realistic manner, but you’ll be surprised how well other tattooing techniques succeed in highlighting the most subtle features of a monkey.

 

Our Favorite Monkey Tattoo Ideas:

Affectionate baby monkeys

Generally speaking, infants are symbols of innocence and youth. For example, these two baby monkeys are affectionate with each other. They could be brother and sister and be inked on the skin of a proud mother. They could also commemorate this woman’s childhood. A pretty basic tattoo, it’s not impressive thanks to its technique, but more thanks to its message.

Hear, see and speak no evil

This monkey tattoo refers to Confucius’s Code of Conduct and Morals. In fact, its origins go way back in the 8th century, when this concept had no connection with monkeys. The confusion appeared when several people mispronounced the word “zaru”, by calling it “saru”. Saru is Japanese for monkey. As a tattoo, it is not impressive because of the naive technique, but you’ll find better examples below.

Three children, one monkey

This baby monkey tattoo is an excellent alternative to children’s portraits. Besides avoiding the risk of getting bad portraits inked permanently in your skin, you may also get creative and insert names and birthdates in the design. It’s not like one could forget the birthdates of their children, but they serve as wonderful reminders! This includes a simple outline and calligraphy, while catching the playfulness of a kid.

Monkeys jumping around

If one monkey tattoo is not enough for you, then you can get four tiny ones! Behind the ear is not a body area where you can get complex designs, but it can accommodate the silhouettes of four energetic monkeys.

Green is the new way

Baby and monkey in one

A geometrical interpretation

As you can see, the body of this monkey is made of geometrical figures. The secret consists in dividing its body in various shapes and highlighting the right ones. When students learn how to draw, they first find out how to build people and animals geometrically. This is an up to date monkey tattoo!

The evil side of the monkey

If you are familiar with the original drawing by Eliphas Levi of Baphomet, you’ll immediately see the resemblance. This design is funny because these two creatures have nothing in common. The original drawing contains a goat, not a monkey. However, there’s some excellent dot work on this piece!

The monkey with a big smile

This monkey has that sort of facial expression that says, “It wasn’t me. I didn’t do it”. It represents a more complex example of dot work than the previous one. It doesn’t combine curved lines or more techniques, so the result is striking. Its bow tie makes it look human.

The candy skull of a monkey

Even if this is not the typical shape of a monkey’s skull, it accommodates the decorations nicely. The skull speaks of death, while the monkey is a symbol of humanity as a whole. If you believe in the theory of evolution, you’ll understand how that works.

A realistic portrait

Sitting on one’s ankle

Desire for knowledge

Disney’s monkey and its wisdom

The three wise monkeys

Embracing spirituality and harmony

Modern view over the three wise monkeys

Monkey in nature

A humanized monkey

Monkey the old school way

As you’re probably used by now, there is no tattoo symbol that wasn’t drawn in the traditional way. There are too many characteristics that make this style very appreciated and give it few changes to become outdated. After all, every monkey tattoo deserves what’s best.

Stained glass view over the monkey

Practically based on the geometrical technique, the stained glass technique introduces colors. The dark ones are supposed to give the impression of depth, while the light ones illuminate key features. This type of tattoo requires talent and it is mastered by few.

A deep thinking monkey

When too much color is right

The clever side of a monkey

A monkey’s perception is different than a human’s perception. This combination of inking styles is meant to demarcate the way we see monkeys from the way they really are. This monkey tattoo breathes innovation and exhales talent and insight!

Baby monkey in space

Not far from the truth, but not accurate either, this baby monkey is wearing an astronaut’s suit. It’s body is floating somewhere in space, but the look on its face doesn’t say much about what it sees. With a wonderful coloring and concept, this monkey tattoo is on my list!