Angel and cross tattoos in Knoxville

Faith-based tattoos range from a small cross to a full angel across the forearm. Julie’s include a biblically accurate angel covered in eyes and wings, classical winged angels in black and grey, ornamental crosses and angel numbers.

What “biblically accurate” means

Most angels in the Bible look like people. Hebrews says some have “entertained angels unawares”, and the angel at Jesus’ tomb had a face “like lightning” and clothes “white as snow”. The many-eyed, many-winged beings people call “biblically accurate angels” come from a few specific visions. Each is different, and it helps to know which one you want:

• Seraphim (Isaiah 6:2): six wings each: two cover the face, two cover the feet, and two are for flying. Isaiah doesn’t mention eyes.
• Cherubim (Ezekiel 1 and 10): four faces and four wings each, with the faces of a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle. Ezekiel later says their whole bodies, backs, hands and wings were “full of eyes round about”, and he names them cherubims.
• The wheels (Ezekiel 1:16–18): “a wheel in the middle of a wheel,” with rims “full of eyes.” The Bible calls them wheels; the Hebrew word is ophanim. Later Jewish writings, like a Dead Sea Scroll and the Book of Enoch, treat them as heavenly beings.
• The four living creatures (Revelation 4:6–8): six wings each, “full of eyes before and behind”, like a lion, a calf, a man and a flying eagle.

Julie’s forearm piece, with layered wings covered in eyes, is closest to the four living creatures in Revelation.

Designing a many-eyed angel

• Size: every eye needs its own lid, iris and highlight. Most people need the full length of the forearm, the sternum or the upper back so the eyes don’t blur together.
• Symmetry: the wings mirror each other, so the design should be centered on the arm or spine. Julie places the stencil while you stand naturally.
• Wheels and rings: for the wheels in Ezekiel, add interlocking rings lined with eyes behind the wings.
• Script: the meme says “Be not afraid,” but the King James Bible’s angel says “Fear not” (Luke 2:10). Choose the wording you want before the stencil.

Classical winged angels

The other tradition is the angel as a human figure with feathered wings, like a Renaissance statue. Julie’s are black and grey with soft shading on the robes and wings. Two are framed with sun rays and a halo of dots. They suit the upper arm and forearm, where the wings can spread.

Dark angel wings

Not every angel tattoo is feathered. Julie’s single wing on the upper arm has bat-style ribs and sharp, torn edges, filled with dotwork smoke. Wings like this work for a fallen or dark angel, or as one half of a pair, with a feathered wing on the other arm.

Angels and dragons

Angels and dragons meet in Revelation 12:7, where “Michael and his angels fought against the dragon” and the dragon was cast out of heaven. It’s the scene behind Saint Michael tattoos, and a dragon is one way to tell that story on the skin. Julie’s two dragons:

A dragon can stand on its own or sit under an angel’s feet, wrapped around a sword or a cross. More on styles and placement is on the dragon tattoos page.

Cross tattoos

Julie’s crosses are ornamental: one is filled with scrolling filigree, and one is a gothic cross with pointed, flared ends. Tips:

• Placement: the forearm, sternum, spine and back of the neck all suit a cross’s vertical line. A small cross also fits behind the ear or on the wrist.
• Fine detail: filigree needs space between the lines to stay crisp, so a detailed cross should be at least a few inches tall.
• Pairings: crosses pair well with roses, rosary beads, a halo of sun rays or a verse in script. More flower ideas are on the floral tattoos page.

Angel numbers

Repeating numbers like 111, 222, 333, 444 and 555 are called angel numbers. The idea comes from modern numerology, not the Bible, so most people pick a number that already means something to them. Julie’s 444 has small sparkles, and her angel numbers flash sheet has 222, 333, 444 and 555. See the flash page.

Scripture tattoos

A verse can sit under an angel, along a cross or by itself in script. Wording changes between Bible translations, so send Julie the exact text from the version you read, and check the spelling on the stencil before she starts.