Mountain Tattoos: Symbolism and 40+ Best Design Ideas for 2021

Nature, especially mountains, has been a source of inspiration for many artists for hundreds of years. The symbol of the mountain, as this constant, motionless, but ever-changing and almost spiritual place, has survived to this day. People will be forever inspired by massive peaks and heights, nature and wildlife habitats.

This is why mountains not only remain a source of inspiration for various types of art, but have become an almost mainstream symbol used in body art.

Mountain tattoos have become extremely popular in the last few years, as people began to move away from the hustle and bustle of city life in search of peace and harmony in nature. And for those who are unable to get away from modern life, a mountain tattoo can serve as a reminder that life can be peaceful and harmonious wherever you live, as long as you wear nature and mountains nearby.

And what could be better than a tattoo?

Therefore, in the following paragraphs, we will look at the symbolism of the mountains and recommend some exceptional tattoo design ideas. So, without further ado, let's get started!

Mountain symbolism and inspiration

Throughout history, mountains have been considered a source of divine inspiration and a center of spiritual uplift for every individual. The ancient peoples considered the mountains to be the place where the gods live. Take Mount Olympus in Greece as an example; this mountain is known in Greek mythology as the home of the Greek gods and the sanctuary of Zeus, who was the king of the gods.

Today, although more distant from mythological interpretations, the mountains still retain this status of "source of divine inspiration". Maybe they are not seen as the dwellings of the gods, but the mountains are perceived as a place where humanity transcends ordinary life and moves upward, towards the heights and the sky.

Some meanings and symbolism of mountains include;

• Symbolism of the nearness of God
• The ability of a person to transcend ordinary life and achieve "heights" and success
• A person's ability to achieve inner elevation (by climbing a mountain)
• The space between the material and spiritual worlds
• The space where a person goes beyond the physical, earthly life
• The ability of a person to rise and improve spiritually and mentally
• A person's ability to overcome obstacles and move forward in life
• Love for nature, adventure, hiking and climbing

Mountain tattoos and design ideas

mountain landscape tattoo

Lovers of nature, adventure and hiking get this tattoo. It is a perfect depiction of the beauty of the wildlife and natural scenery at the foot of the mountain. A landscape tattoo is the perfect way to pay homage to wildlife and its beauty.

A mountain landscape tattoo looks best on flat and smooth areas of the body. We recommend forearms, upper back, chest and thighs. These tattoos are often in color but can also be done in the traditional black and gray style. Tattoos tend to look more like a landscape painting than a tattoo, which is also great for art lovers.

Mount Fuji (Wave) Tattoo

As we mentioned earlier, mountains have traditionally and historically been a source of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years. One such mountain is Mount Fuji, a famous Japanese mountain located southwest of Tokyo. The mountain is considered one of the Three Holy Mountains of Japan and has served as a source of artistic and spiritual inspiration for artists and poets for hundreds of years.

One such artist was Katsushika Kokusai, a Japanese ukiyo-e artist whose personal inspiration and artistic obsession was Mount Fuji itself. One of the most famous depictions of Mount Fuji is Hokusai's The Great Wave Off Kanagawa, part of the series known as the Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.

To this day, Hokusai's work is a source of inspiration for art and nature lovers around the world. His depiction of Mount Fuji has made this mountain internationally recognizable and hence made it a popular design choice for many art and tattoo lovers.

Read also: Japanese tattoos: history, meaning, symbolism and design.

Simple Mountain Outline Tattoo

Mountain tattoos don't have to be intricate and intricate. Symbolism and meaning can also be translated using simple lines. This is why mountain outline designs are becoming more and more popular in the tattoo world.

These tattoos have multiple lines that serve as the main shape of the mountain. There may also be related elements, like trees, birds, sky, but the mountain is the central element. These tattoos sometimes have a bit of shading and dots to make the design more elevated and voluminous.

Mountain outline tattoos can be placed anywhere on the body and they will still look great. This design is also ideal for those on a tighter budget for a tattoo, as outline designs are significantly less expensive due to the simpler design, black and gray coloration, and smaller tattoo size.

Geometric Mountain Tattoo

For those looking for a more alternative mountain tattoo design, we recommend the geometric tattoo style. These tattoos have a lot of lines, use of negative space, shading, dots and interesting patterns. The lines are straight, bold and deliberate. That is why these tattoos are made by tattoo experts and professionals.

Read also: 20 best geometry tattoo artists from around the world

Geometric mountain tattoos focus on shapes and patterns in nature rather than spiritual symbolism and meaning. This does not mean that they are devoid of such symbolism. However, the focus is shifting, and this design is more suitable for people who are usually very attentive to details.

Smokey Shading Mountain Tattoo

The mountains rising from the mist and mist on an autumn morning are a rare and special landscape worth seeing. Such landscapes are simply breathtaking for many. Many have tried to translate this into a breathtaking design, but fog and mist tend to be hard to capture in an image.

However, the shading method used in the tattoo is ideal for creating hazy and hazy effects. Smokey shading is meticulously performed by tattoo artists who create works of art on the skin. So, if you want to get such a mountain tattoo, be sure to go to the best tattoo artist in town.

mountain moon tattoo

Some of the most popular mountain tattoo designs include elements such as the night sky or the moon. This design conveys a mysterious atmosphere and showcases a beautiful night scenery. Such tattoos can be of any style; however, the two main styles seem to be more natural depiction of mountains/nature and the geometric pattern of mountains.

Either way, the moon and mountain together create powerful imagery and energy for any nature and adventure lover. Watching the moon over a mountain in the middle of the night can be one of the most incredible and serene moments one can experience.

Moonlight further emphasizes the beauty of the mountain, which is why the moon as a tattoo element is so popular, and sometimes even necessary to elevate the design.

Where should you place your mountain tattoo?

The key to a good tattoo isn't just in the design; it is also placement on the body. Some styles of tattoo look best on certain areas of the body, so it's important to visualize the tattoo on the body as you work on the design. Here are some guidelines on where you should place your mountain tattoo;

Forearm

Our favorite area for tattoos is the forearm; the area is smooth, straight and can act as a canvas, perfect for small landscape tattoos. The forearm is great for geometric tattoos, but any other tattoo style will do. However, you will need to adjust the size of the tattoo to keep it crisp and clean.

Wrist

We have noticed that many people tend to use the roundness of the wrist to create mountain range tattoos. This is a great and very creative idea that many people can bring to life. If you're feeling adventurous with a new tattoo, try the wrist area (but be mindful of the tattoo policy of where you work because this tattoo will be visible).

Biceps area

This area is ideal for both large and small tattoos. There is enough space here to do a whole mountain landscape design or just outline a mountain. Whatever you choose, you can be sure that it will look good. Your mountain tattoo will be easy to hide, but also easy to spot, depending on what you're wearing.

Upper back/shoulder area

Another area that can serve as a canvas is the upper back/shoulders. The area is straight and smooth so this is the perfect place for any tattoo design. So if you want a more intricate mountain drawing that includes thick lines, detailing, or even coloration, we recommend that you get a tattoo in this area. However, this area also makes for a nice little mountain tattoo.

Lateral region of the rib

Even though this tattoo will be quite painful, we recommend it because mountain tattoos look incredible on the ribs. The chest area seems to have such incredible anatomy that the mountains almost come to life. Regardless of the tattoo style, we definitely recommend that you consider this area for a mountain tattoo.