Tennessee tattoos in Knoxville
State outlines, Smoky Mountain scenes and Tennessee’s official flowers, birds and bugs.
A Tennessee tattoo is a way to carry home with you, whether you grew up here, moved here or are getting tattooed before you leave. Julie has done state outlines with mountains, Smoky Mountain scenes and Tennessee irises.
State outline tattoos
Tennessee’s long, narrow shape fits the forearm, collarbone or behind the ear. The outline can be filled with mountains, flowers or a pattern, or left empty with a small heart over Knoxville. Some people add the three stars from the state flag, which stand for East, Middle and West Tennessee.
Smoky Mountain tattoos
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country, and it’s about an hour from Ink Cathedral. Layered ridgelines work in fine line, black and grey, or framed inside a circle or oval. Add pines, a moon, or fog between the ridges.
Tennessee’s state symbols
Tennessee has official symbols for almost everything, and many make good tattoos. These are from the State of Tennessee:
- Flowers: the iris is the state cultivated flower, and the passion flower and Tennessee coneflower are state wildflowers.
- Bird: the mockingbird. See bird tattoos.
- Butterfly: the zebra swallowtail. See butterfly tattoos.
- Insects: the firefly and the ladybug, plus the honeybee as the state agricultural insect.
- Tree: the tulip poplar, with its tulip-shaped flowers.
- Animals: the raccoon as the state wild animal, and the eastern box turtle as the state reptile.
- Gem: Tennessee River pearls.
Put a few together and you have a Tennessee sleeve, for example an iris, a tulip poplar bloom, a firefly and the state outline.
Synchronous fireflies
Elkmont, in the Smokies, is famous for its synchronous fireflies. The species, Photinus carolinus, flashes in unison five to eight times, then go dark for about eight seconds, usually between late May and mid-June. A few glowing dots in a dark forest scene or tucked into a mountain outline make a Tennessee tattoo few people will have.
Passion flower
The passion flower has a fringe of thin filaments around the center, and that detail makes it one of the most intricate flowers to tattoo. It suits a larger piece where the fringe has room.
Tennessee by Julie
3 pieces by Julie. Tap any photo to see it larger.
Questions
How old do you have to be to get a tattoo in Tennessee?
Eighteen. Tennessee law only allows a minor 16 or older to be tattooed to cover up an existing tattoo, with a parent present and written consent.
Can you put my hometown on the outline?
Yes. A small heart, star or dot can mark where you’re from, with the name in script.
Can you work from a photo of my favorite view?
Yes. Send the photo, and Julie will simplify the ridges and trees so the scene reads well at tattoo size.
How do I book?
Send Julie your idea, size and placement. Request a tattoo