Generally small in nature, these tattoos are filled in with fun colors, such as blues, pinks, oranges or neon greens. In addition, they feature simple, thick black lineage and happy characteristics, such as a flower held in the trunk or a smile on the elephant's face. Add words above or below for added personalization, such as your name or an inspirational word.
The elephant head or bust is highly detailed, so it's usually best as a larger tattoo on the back, arms or legs. This tattoo takes on a more realistic quality, and usually features a monochromatic palette, such as blacks in varying shades. A popular take on this tattoo is a "side" view of the elephant, in which the animal is depicted as lifting its trunk. Want more elephant? Tattoo the entire body on your desired area. While this adds more decisions to the depiction -- the elephant can be swaying or charging -- you'll likely have to scale down the tattoo size and amount of detail to accommodate the full body. If you don't want a monochromatic palette, go for natural tones, such as soft olive green or brown shades.
Elephants are highly regarded in the Hindu religion, mainly because of the animal's representation in the depiction of the Hindu god, Ganesha. The depiction portrays an elephant-faced entity with four arms, one tusk, large stomach and a large crown on the head. The surroundings and design can vary with personal taste, desired size and detail, and placement. For instance, larger tattoos may feature the entity sitting in a highly detailed environment, such as the outdoors or in a royal seat. Smaller tattoos would be less detailed and scaled down version of this image, or a detailed bust without an environment. Color these in any variety of tones.
Circus elements are another common depiction of this animal. These images usually feature an elephant on a circus platform with decorations on its body, such as flowers or abstract designs. Since the circus theme implies a sense of whimsy and excitement, color the elephant in gray or brown and embellish its surroundings in bright blues, reds, yellows and greens. Add stars around the tattoo for more mystique or whimsy.